Holy Week Events at Pilgrim

Monday evening, March 25   6:30 pm  Jesus of Montreal. Award winning film. A group of actors revive a Passion Play and find themselves experiencing contemporary salvation.

Thursday evening, March 28   6:00 pm   Teaching Seder conducted by Neil Glazeman of Temple Israel.  Make a reservation  through the church office no later than Wednesday.  Call 724-8503.

Friday evening, March 29    7:00 pm    Good Friday Tenebrae Service.  Music and Readings for meditation on the meaning of sacrifice.  Held in partnership with Peace United Church of Christ and Glen Avon Presbyterian Church.  Held at Glen Avon, 2105 Woodland Avenue

Saturday, March 30   10:00 am     Community Easter Party. Crafts, Games and a Visit from the Easter Bunny

Sunday, March 31    9:00 am     Easter Continental Breakfast
      10:00 am      Easter Worship with Brass, Choirs, and Handbells

Can't get to worship this weekend?  If you are housebound or caring for someone who is, or working during the usual worship times? Tune in to Channel 7, Duluth's Public Access Television:
       Good Friday Tenebrae will be broadcast on Tuesday, March 26, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm and Thursday, March 28, 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm
       Passion Sunday Worship will be broadcast on Friday, March 29, 7:30 am and 4:00 pm and Saturday, March 30, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
       Easter Worship will be broadcast on Easter Sunday, March 31, and noon, 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm
       

Speaking of Faith

During this Lenten season Pilgrims are reading Krista Tippett's book Speaking of Faith and talking about their own faith questions and experiences.  Sermons on Sunday morning are inspired by our minister's reading of the book and on Monday evenings we are using video and audio clips to hear more from individuals whom Tippett quotes.  Discussion groups and the Monday evening series are open to friends and members of the congregation.

Week of Feb. 13-17        Read Chapter 1
Thursday, Feb. 14            Discussion group at 2:00
Sunday Feb. 17,  10:00    Heresy of Belief, Charlotte Frantz
                                        Discussion groups at 11:20

Week of Feb. 18-24          Read Chapter 2
Monday Feb. 18   6:30      Conversation Partner Reinhold Niebuhr
Sunday, Feb. 24, 10:00     When Darkness Descends,Peter Bagley
                                         Discussion group at 11:20

Week of Feb. 25-March 3  Read Chapter 3        
Monday, Feb. 25, 6:30       Conversation Partner D. Bonhoeffer
Thursday, Feb. 28               Discussion group at 2:00
Sunday, March 3                 Disciplines of Discovery,Charlotte Frantz
                                           Discussion groups at 11:20

Week of March 4-10        Read chapter 4
Monday, March 4 6:30     Conversation Partner, Elie Wiesel
Thursday, March 7            Discussion group at 2:00
Sunday, March 10            Sermon by Charlotte Frantz
                                         Discussion groups at 11:20

Week of March 11-18     Read chapter 5
Monday, Mar. 12 6:30  Conversation Partner, Seyyam  Nasr
Thursday, March 14        Discussion group at 2:00

Please note:  Most of Pilgrim's committees will not meet during March and encourage members of the congregation to participate instead in this Lenten conversation about faith.

Lent Begins on Ash Wednesday

Pilgrim will observe the beginning of the Lenten season with an evening service Wednesday evening at 7:00.  The quiet, contemplative service marks the beginning of the Lenten season.  "We are made of dust and to dust we shall return."  Life is short and fleeting, and oh, so precious.  Let go of regrets and anxieties.  Live in the fullness of God's grace and forgiveness.  Come light a candle. Take time to pray.

During this first week of Lent:
   Speaking of Faith Discussion groups begin--Thursdays at 2:00; Sundays at 11:20
   Worship Sunday morning, The Heresy of Belief, 10:00
   Monday evening, 6:30  Learning from Reinhold Niebuhr

Books and a companion piece for Speaking of Faith are available at Pilgrim.
 

Speaking of Faith, Lent 2013

Lent, the six weeks before Easter, is a time for deepening one's faith and spiritual practice.  At Pilgrim, we've used this season for conversations about the meaning of our own faith.  This year Pilgrims are reading Krista Tippett's book, Speaking of Faith, her own spiritual autobiography shaped by the radio interviews she conducted as the host of NPR's program of the same name.  Sunday mornings will reflect some of the questions and themes in the book.  There will be small groups for discussion of the material offered on Sundays at 11:20 and on Thursday afternoons at 2:00.  In addition, Pilgrim will show videos and use audio podcasts to hear more from Tippett's conversation partners.  These will be shown at 6:30 on Monday evenings.  Reading, discussion groups and the Monday video series are open to friends of Pilgrim and guests as well as members of the congregation.  Copies of the book and a reader's discussion guide are available at Pilgrim.

A Winter Afternoon at Hartley Nature Center

Saturday, February 2, 2013 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Whether you're 8 or 80, come to Hartley Nature Center Saturday afternoon. The center is located at 3001 Woodland Avenue in Duluth. Pilgrim has reserved a large room indoors.  Outdoors, there are trails to walk and ski, a lake for ice fishing, and woods for exploring.  Hartley has both cross country skis and snowshoes for rent, or you may bring your own.  One of Hartley's naturalists will lead a walk at 1:30.  There will be childcare for the youngest children, and some indoor activities for children as well. There is no charge, so dress for the weather and come.  Drop in to visit for just a few minutes or stay for the whole afternoon of winter fun.  For more information about Hartley, go to www.hartleynature.org

Congregational Polity

The word "polity" refers to an organization's governance and authority.  In the Congregational tradition, authority rests among members who have joined in a mutual covenant.  Each year in January and May, members of Pilgrim gather to make decisions that effect the life of the congregation.  In addition, special meetings can be held as needed during the year.

On January 27th, following the worship service, there will be a congregational meeting for the following purposes:  To act on a proposed Constitution for the congregation; to authorize a budget for fiscal year 2013, and to elect delegates to the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ, CHUM, and the United Campus Ministries.

Meetings are open to visitors and guests, although only members have voting privileges.

"The Fierce Urgency of Now" Pilgrim Hosts Guest for MLK Weekend

Sunday morning, January 20,  Brandon Clokey will be Pilgrim's guest minister.  Brandon, who is African American,  is the adopted son of white parents and has always lived with an awareness of difference. Now, as a father of three, an ordained pastor, and community activist, Brandon has often been involved in helping people deal with issues of diversity.  At North Star Academy, he advises students of color and helps them articulate their experiences and communicate more directly with staff and teachers.  Teachers have found him a helpful resource.  

Brandon is an active member of Lincoln Park Community Church.  He believes that people of faith have a unique perspective on racial and economic differences and a particular mandate to work at reconciliation.   Brandon will preach at Pilgrim and stay afterwards for a 2nd Hour discussion.  Worship begins at 10:00.  2nd Hour begins about 11:20.  

"it used to be that everyone within a community looked the same and acted the same.  They came from the same background and shared the same feelings.  Communities prayed together, learned together, and played together.  Everyone seemed to get along or so it seemed. . . . The truth is, diversity has always been a part of our world and our communities.  Whether we handle it with the same love and concern that God has shown us, has been up to us.  As we know, diversity is not always an easy element to overcome, and world events have proven that.  Now is the time to look at one another for the blessing others not like us are to the world and learn what God is sharing with us through them."        Quote from Brandon Clokey

Other community wide events Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend:

Friday, Jan. 18  7:00 pm  Friday night with MLK, Duluth's Got Talent, Denfield High School

Saturday, Jan. 19 6:00 pm  Readings and Reflections on the Work of Martin Luther King, Jr.   

     Universalist Unitarian Congregation, Duluth, 835 College Street

Sunday, Jan. 20  5:30 pm Community Worship Service

      Church of  Restoration

      2623 W. 2nd Street (formerly Boys and Girls Club)

Monday, Jan. 21  7:00 am  Community Breakfast and Broadcast of Marion Wright Edelman

       First United Methodist Church, 230 E. Skyline Drive

Monday, Jan. 21  9:45 am  Community March and Rally

       Meet at Washington Center and march to the DECC