MANY THANKS!
To all who helped practice our Pilgrim Church Radical Hospitality at the 4th of July Parade Picnic on the lawn…THANK YOUI!
We served 150 hot dogs, (thank you Kayem Franks in Chelsea for the donation, and to Sue Bradford and the DSU for use of their Hot Dog machine), over 100 freeze pops and amazing cookies and cake (Thank you Karly for the amazing 4th of July cake)! The front lawn was filled with members and new friends, families, and singles, and all were well cared for throughout the day!
We gave several tours of the Sanctuary for people who have never been in our church and welcomed several visitors who grew up here and hadn’t been in the building for years. The hospitality our volunteers showed lived up to the gospel message of Inclusion and Welcome!
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Rev. Bill will be on vacation July 24 thru August 6th. If you have a pastoral emergency, please call the church office 781-934-6591 ext. 101 and/or email office@uccduxbury.org.
UPCOMING PREACHING SCHEDULE
As Rev. Bill takes vacation and respite time, we have been blessed to have several volunteers and guests lined up to share messages and lead worship in the weeks ahead. Come and be supported and supportive with their words and messages.
July 31st – Lynne Devnew
August 14th - Skip Schippers
August 21st – Rev. Terry Martinson
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From our Interim Music Director |
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Although we are still in the middle of summer, it’s time to start planning for Fall activities. Are you interested in joining a choir? Perhaps an adult vocal choir?
A handbell choir? A children’s choir?
Please email me at decusati@verizon.net and let me know of your interest. Practice days/times can be determined by those who are interested.
Help put the “joy in our hearts” through music! ~ Claire DeCusati, Interim Music Director
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From our Christian Education Director |
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I hope everyone is enjoying these summer days with family and friends. I believe it is good for the heart, soul, and mind to take a break from the norm, knowing that when we gather together again in early September, we will be reinvigorated and enthused to once again, gather in earnest in God’s name.
Our Youth Mission Trip to Farmington, Maine the last week of June was everything we were hoping for and more…. Relationships built with families in Maine, relationships deepened amongst our group members, serious work done on houses in serious need, lots of fun and laughing and connecting, and God’s presence moving among us and through us.
You can read all the glorious details about our trip here!
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We would like to thank Goodrich Lumber in Kingston for donating 20 tool belts, complete with pencils, knee pads, hammers, utility knives, and measuring tapes! We couldn’t have done it without you!
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As we look enjoy our last month of summer, we look for ways to connect a few times before we start upon again in earnest in the fall. Youth groups should watch their emails for upcoming summer events!
Our next summer Sunday School will be on August 7 at our 9:30 service.
Final thoughts – I share with you a Mary Oliver poem about prayer that we read as a group one evening during our Mission Trip.
Do you bow your head when you pray
or do your look up into that blue space?
Take your choice, prayers fly from all directions.
And don’t worry about what language you use,
God no doubt understands them all.
Even when the swans are flying north and making
such a ruckus of noise, God is surely
listening and understanding.
Rumi said, There is no proof of the soul.
But isn’t the return of spring and how it
springs up in our hearts a pretty good hint?
Yes, I know, God’s silence never breaks,
But is that really a problem?
There are thousands of voices, after all.
And furthermore, don’t you imagine (I just suggest it)
That the swans know about as much
as we do about the whole business?
So listen to them and watch them,
singing as they fly.
Take from it what you can.
I believe nature has so much of God in it. Take from it what you can this summer.
Peace,
Angelique
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Next Sunday School will be August 7th!
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Blooming News
The Flower Committee would like to thank all the donors who have dedicated flowers recently. If you have been thinking about making a dedication for memorial flowers or to celebrate a special event, you can contact any member of the Committee or let the office know. You will be called about the date you choose to have commemorative flowers on the communion table and for the wording you choose to have in the bulletin that Sunday.
If you are interested in joining the Flower Committee or would just like to try creating an arrangement for a Sunday service, we are always eager to welcome anyone new and are happy to partner with you to get started.
This fall there will be a WORKSHOP open to everyone to come for fellowship and the opportunity to get some important tips on flower arranging, see some different styles, and participate in making an arrangement. We encourage you to join us for the chance to meet new people, get new ideas and have fun. Watch for sign up information in next month’s newsletter.
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Pilgrim’s Pantry
Our very own Pilgrim’s Pantry gives food to local families the last Saturday of every month all year! Please remember we need your donation during the summer months.
These families are so grateful for your generous support!
We are always in need of peanut butter, canned vegetables and fruit, canned soup, tuna, beef stew, canned chicken, fruit juice, pasta, and pasta sauces. THANK YOU!
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Return to Pine Street
Following a long hiatus in our monthly visits to Pine Street Inn, Pilgrim Church members and friends will once again be serving dinner at Pine Street Inn this fall. When COVID curtailed volunteer opportunities at Pine Street, we stopped going in to serve dinner but continued our association with the monthly delivery of dessert items to the facility in Boston.
Beginning in September, we will once again be serving dinner on the 4th Friday of every month. As in the past, volunteers can meet at the church and carpool or drive themselves into Boston. We leave the church at 3:15 to arrive for dinner service which starts at 5:00. We serve dinner as part of a cafeteria style line until 6:00 and then assist for another fifteen or twenty minutes with clean up. Six volunteers are needed each month for our assigned night. While we have some “regulars” who assist often, we are eager to include any newcomers who would like to participate in this monthly outreach opportunity. It is always a very positive experience and a chance to help those needing support at this time in their lives.
We are very grateful to Sandy Bondlow who coordinated this Pilgrim endeavor for a number of years, and to Doug Backland who handled this job prior to Sandy. Going forward, the Outreach and Mission Board will be assuming this responsibility and hopes you will join us in this chance to serve others, beyond our own community. If you would like to be on the list for being contacted and notified of openings in the monthly schedule, or if you have any questions, speak to any member of the Outreach and Mission Board or email Lindy Keay (mmkeay@outlook.com).
Sept. 23rd, Oct. 28th, and Nov. 25th will be our first three serving dates, so check your calendar and let us know if you are available to help.
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Since dealing with COVID put a hold on so many of our normal activities, hitting reset with our Visitation Program is going to be a welcome change for those of us who have been part of this team in the past. On August 15th we will be meeting at 10:00 at church to reconnect, review past activities and to look ahead to plans for the future. If you have served on the team in the past, come and share your thoughts on your experiences and ideas for possible new directions. If you think you might want to be involved in this important work of the church but want to learn more, please plan to join us. We are always eager to welcome new members to the team as we work to provide a caring network of support that is always available to the people of the church.
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We’re back! And we are looking forward to having you join us for our first regularly scheduled meeting September 19th. We will be meeting on the third Monday of each month in the parlor at 1:00. Come for fellowship, sharing and spiritual growth. It will be very special to be able to gather again and we look forward to seeing you there!
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July
4 Dawn Kerivan
12 John Barrett
16 Tanya Trevisan
23 Ellen Barrett
24 Sara Silverberg
26 Ann Marie DeWolf
27 Cam Tokarski
30 Lois Samuelson
31 William Morton
August
1 Isaac Estey
1 Chatham Morton
1 John Morton
2 Rev. John Brink
15 Angela Sinnott
15 Jon Trevisan
19 Rev. Bill Ferguson
21 Kate Taube
27 Doug Backlund
We would love to include your birthday in our monthly newsletter. Please email Melissa (office@uccduxbury.org) with the month and date of your special day!
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Prayer List
People listed below need our continued prayers for God’s blessing and are not restricted to church members. Please call the church office if you have a name you would like to add. Names are usually listed for two weeks unless we are notified otherwise.
Prayers of Healing
Nancy Grim, Michael McGreevy, Bill Wilhelm, Paula, Jack Gagliard, Louise Mallette, Patrick Dundas, Norma George, Carol Lindaberry, Hailey, Jim Grim, Joseph Tripp,
Mary Breidenthal’s daughter, Deidre, Dottie Collins, David Collins, Mason Allaire,
Fred Boericke, Jane Fithian, Kelsey Dewolf, Rev. Bill Ferguson, Lois Samuelson,
Wesley, Isla
Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, look with your gracious favor upon all who are ill. Bless all means used for their recovery. Stretch forth your hand, according to your will, and restore them to health and strength, we pray, that they may live to praise you for your goodness and grace, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Prayers of Support and Safety for those serving our country
Christian Clapp, Holden Clapp
We pray for Christ's peace to rest upon communities in our country and throughout the world, for all those who serve the cause of peace, for members of our armed services, aid workers, volunteers, and missionaries. We pray for Christ's mercy to rest upon refugee communities around the world and for our homeless brothers and sisters in America. We pray for all those persecuted for their faith, for our fellow Christians throughout the world, and for members of other faith traditions as well. May the grace of God rest upon them all.
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About Us:
404 Washington Street
P. O. Box 186
Duxbury, MA 02331
Phone: 781-934-6591
“Like us” on Facebook!
“Pilgrim Church of Duxbury, UCC”
Sunday Worship
9:30 AM
STAFF
Rev. Bill Ferguson, Senior Minister
Angelique Kania, Christian Education Director
Claire DeCusati, Interim Music Director
Melissa MacDonald, Church Administrator
Dawn Kerivan, Bookkeeper
Greg Hunter, Finance Manager
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Inspired by God’s love for all people, we the members of the Pilgrim Church of Duxbury, United Church of Christ, declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming congregation.
Following the teachings of Jesus Christ, we invite people of every age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity and race, physical and mental ability, and socioeconomic status to enter into the full life and ministry of this church.
Guided by the Holy Spirit, we seek to be an expression of that unconditional love and to welcome all of God’s children.
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