Welcome to Pilgrim Church of Duxbury
An Open & Affirming Congregation
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Join us TODAY for our ASH WEDNESDAY VIRTUAL WORSHIP service at 7 PM on Facebook Live.
Join us on Facebook Live at 7 PM for our Ash Wednesday Worship Service. If you would like ashes for home use, we have them in the office and you can pick them up from 9 – 1 and 3 -5 today.
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WORSHIP ALL VIRTUAL FOR SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21
With an abundance of caution and the understanding that health is more precious than presence at the moment, we invite you to visit our Facebook page Pilgrim Church of Duxbury UCC or You Tube for the online service. No in person worship service this week.
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This morning we awaken to enter the Church Season of Lent. Today is Ash Wednesday, a journey of contemplation of our mortality towards Easter and our Hope found in God. This year we observe Ash Wednesday within the brutal realities of pandemic. Ash Wednesday last year occurred just before the pandemic was declared, so the 2020 Ash Wednesday service was among the last worship services where you all assembled in person at Pilgrim Church.
Nearly a year later – almost a full year! – the coronavirus still haunts us, in substantial ways, stalks us. Even now we are at risk for exposure, with some encouraging news about the decrease in infection rates as the vaccine takes hold including heeding to the other warnings for mask use and cleanliness precautions.
The possibility of grave illness and perhaps death from Covid-19 is still in the air, among friends, family members, co-workers, wherever people gather in number in person. Who would have imagined before the pandemic that normally nonthreatening and routine gatherings of people could become lethal? The shadow of our mortality is deeply felt – even when the sun shines brightly on longer winter days. That’s what gets to me – how can a pathogen so dangerous, so deadly, be present among people at the same time when I look out the window to see what appears to be a warm, predictable, peaceful world? Death is like that. It can claim us at any time. Ash Wednesday in a year of pandemic is perhaps more intensely touching than in our more ordinary, usual years.
The message remains the same: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” We go to great lengths to deny the reality of our mortality. The fear of death can be paralyzing. Yet, in order to be healthy and well-adjusted, we need at times to acknowledge the presence of death, of our mortality.
Ash Wednesday is one of those occasions.
But our mortality also carries good news. Acknowledging in humility the truth of our humanity actually gives us freedom, peace of mind, and contentedness.
“Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Ash Wednesday is a solemn day, a day to remember and fully acknowledge and to confess our mortality, brokenness, and sin. But it’s also a day full of grace in the reality therapy that we receive on this day that, thanks be to God, we have been given life now, and Eternal life to come with the promise of resurrected life in Jesus Christ. We put away our Alleluias for Lent, to be awakened at Easter with shouts of ALLELUIA! That’s good news indeed.
RB
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Here we are, entering into our 40 days of Lent, taking us to the celebration of the Resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ on Easter Sunrise.
Growing up in the Catholic Church with my sisters and our mother, the tradition was to choose to give up certain things over Lent – like candy – to remind us of Jesus’ walk to the cross. I still honor this tradition today – and it’s still candy I give up.
I later learned, with strong guidance from my mother, how to take something on to help focus on Jesus and Lent. How to walk these 40 days thoughtfully to Easter. In our faith lives, Easter Sunday is a day of celebration.
I see our Lenten journey as a way to step back from so much commotion to a time of prayer, reflection, and hope for brighter new days ahead.
So maybe we can all take something on, like gentle, quiet time to pray for peace in our hearts, our families and our fellow church members. We walk with all the people of God, together with Jesus Christ, to a day of celebration of New Life on Easter morning.
Blessings to you all,
Rev. John
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END HUNGER NEW ENGLAND and
PILGRIM CHURCH YOUTH
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An enormous THANK YOU to the Mission Committee for providing funding for us to staff a 3 hour shift at End Hunger New England yesterday! |
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It was cold and rainy outside, but our souls were warmed knowing we were doing a small part to feed hungry people.
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Want to learn more about it? Watch this video here.
Also, please like facebook.com/EndHungerNE and encourage others to do the same. The national page has 4,114 likes. The New England page has 4,055. When we top the home office, an anonymous donor will give $10,000 in matching funds!
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ZOOM “Sunday” School will be back next Wednesday. Happy Vacation!
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DAILY DEVOTIONALS ONLINE
Each day during Lent, a Daily Devotional will be published on our Facebook page from the “STILLSPEAKING WRITERS' GROUP” composed of United Church of Christ ministers and writers who collaborate on resources for people in the church, outside the church, and not sure about the church. Local churches, conferences, associations, and other settings of the United Church of Christ may use these reflections for any not-for-profit use by any medium (including by not limited to print and website), so long as credit is given to the reflection's author and to this resource.
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PINE STREET INN ~ DESSERT TREATS NEEDED
Cookies, bars or brownies (homemade or store bought goodies) are needed for The Pine Street Inn. Lucy and Dwight will be delivering on February 26.
A table just inside the front door will be set up Monday February 22 - Thursday February 25 for donations. Thank you for your continued support!
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March 2021 Newsletter
If you would like any information included in the March 2021 Pilgrim's Progress, please email it to Melissa
by Monday, February 22nd.
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Super Saturday Registration is Open!
Registration Deadline: March 4, 2021
Thank you to our generous Sponsors:
Super Saturday is a two-day virtual workshop and networking event for lay and clergy, sponsored by the Southern New England Conference. Participants can choose from over 50 workshops covering a variety of topics related to church life, drop-in networking sessions, register for one-on-one professional coaching sessions, browse the virtual marketplace, and celebrate in worship.
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Meet our Keynote:
Rabbi Elan Babchuck
Elan Babchuck is a rabbi and an entrepreneur, and spends much of his time exploring the rich intersections between these two traditions, and the abundant possibilities therein. He is committed to leaving behind a world that is more compassionate, connected, and just, than the one he found, and - in pursuit of that commitment - he is the Founding Director of GLEAN Network, an incubator and network for faith leaders who seek to reimagine the role of religion in an ever-changing world yearning for meaning, belonging, and justice.
Whova
We will once again be using Whova as our event platform. We invite you to imagine Whova as our Conference Center and Lobby. When you enter your session, you will be directed to the presentation. Whova Online User Guide
If you are interested in taking a Whova tutorial, please sign up: Whova Tutorial
We will be offering Whova tutorials during the week of March 8th. Please sign up if you would like to attend. Please email Andrea Bellarosa - [email protected] with any questions.
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VACCINES
From the Duxbury Senior Center.
“We have an opportunity to book 50 seniors 75+ with Skin Esteem in Kingston on Saturday on 2/27. If you have not received your vaccine yet, and you are 75+, please contact us at 781-935-5774 ext. 5703 and leave your name, age, date of birth, phone number, and email address. We will contact you if we can book you an appointment.”
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CAMP ZOOM RALLY NIGHT
FEBRUARY 28, 2021 7 PM – 8:30 PM
Its time to start thinking about summer CAMP! The staff has been hard at work developing the possibilities for Camp this summer, looking at the protocols for safety to make sure CAMP is an awesome experience.
This will be our first year at Camp so I am sure you want to know more about it. On February 28th, we will be holding a CAMP RALLY on ZOOM, with the 4 other churches that have Youth Groups in the program, where you can ZOOM in and get a taste of the experience with staff, other campers and newcomers, music and all sorts of other chances to see what the excitement is all about as we recreate a day of Camp on line for you!
CAMP IS OPEN FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED 7th Grade UP TO GRADUATING SENIORS. Make plans now to ZOOM in! I will send out the address once I get it and join you!
Parents are welcome to join as well, a separate Parent Information ZOOM will follow on March 1.
I’m so excited to be back in this program and will be heading up with you for the week!
RB
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