Pilgrim Congregational Church 26 West Street … Congregational Church 26 West Street Leominster, MA 01453-5654 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED DATED MATERIAL If you no longer wish to receive

Pilgrim Congregational Church 26 West Street

Leominster, MA 01453-5654 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

DATED MATERIAL If you no longer wish to

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return this page to the church

office.

A Newsletter from Pilgrim Congregational Church Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

The Reverend Dr. Keith C. Alderman, Minister Cell phone: 978-407-8502 Associate Pastor Daniel R. Woodman Robert Johnson, Organist and Music Director Sarah J. Fuller, Director of Christian Education Steve Keogh, Sunday Sexton Penny Alderman, Admin. Assistant Sharon Melanson, Admin. Assistant Office: 978-534-5164 Fax: 978-534-7679 E-mail: [email protected] Web Page: www.pilgrimchurch1743ucc.org Worship Service: Sundays, 9:30 AM

DEADLINE FOR THE November “MESSENGER” NEWSLETTER IS Oct. 16th

Pilgrim Congregational Church 26 West Street Leominster, MA 01453-5654 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

DATED MATERIAL If you no

longer wish to

receive this

newsletter,

please return

this page to

the church

office.

A Newsletter from Pilgrim Congregational Church Office Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday

The Reverend Dr. Keith C. Alderman, Minister Cell phone: 978-407-8502 Associate Pastor Daniel R. Woodman Robert Johnson, Organist and Music Director Sarah J. Fuller, Director of Christian Education Steve Keogh, Sunday Sexton Penny Alderman, Admin. Assistant Sharon Melanson, Admin. Assistant Office: 978-534-5164 Fax: 978-534-7679 E-mail: [email protected] Web Page: www.pilgrimchurch1743ucc.org Worship Service: Sundays, 9:30AM

DEADLINE FOR THE November “MESSENGER” NEWSLETTER IS Oct. 20th

From the Pastor

As Karen McNall is fond of saying, “it takes a village.” I would like to thank the village of people at

Pilgrim Congregational Church who were responsible for the process and purchase of obtaining the

new AED device which is located in the Day Room / Fellowship Hall and which was installed over the

summer season by Dr. John Sampson. An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable device

that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal

rhythm. Automatic external defibrillators are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac

arrest is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating.

Although Lucille and Jack Sampson and Karen McNall have been thanked in the worship services, I

would like to thank them and everyone involved in this process. First, I would like to thank Cliff

Bohnet and the Board of Trustees for voting to purchase the AED device and researching what device

of this type would be the best for our church. I would also like to thank the Trustees for the purchase

of a new flat screen TV and Blu-Ray player so that we may properly view the training materials which

will be presented to us in the coming weeks.

Secondly, I would like to thank Lucille and Dr. John Sampson and Karen McNall for the financial

support of purchasing the device.

Next, I would like to thank Kathy Johnson who began the process of teaching us how to use the AED

device on Sunday September 17, 2017 after the worship service. No matter what kind of equipment

we have, the installation is not complete until we know how to properly deploy and use it.

In advance, I would like to thank Paul Dubenetsky who will continue the educational process at

Pilgrim Congregational Church by offering in-depth training on how to use this AED device. Paul has

extensive training as a medic and First Responder and will offer multi-hour in-depth training on how

to properly use our device should the occasion arise and it needs to be deployed. Paul is also covering

the cost of class materials and CPR certification. The certification is effective for two years. The

classes which Paul will teach will be offered on three consecutive Sundays, which will be held on

October 22, October 29, and November 5, 2017. Space is limited in each class, and we encourage you

to sign up. I will be attending the class which will be held on November 5, 2017. I have encouraged

the other staff members at Pilgrim Congregational Church to sign up as well so that we all may have

the proper and correct training should the occasion arise here we would need to use this type of

device.

We thank you all for the generous spirit that your work reveals.

In Christ,

Rev. Keith Alderman

Letter from the CE Director

We’re off to a great start at Sunday School!

I’m so happy to be here, and it’s been great

getting to know all of the children over the

past few weeks. We’ve got a lot of fun things

in store for you this year, and I can’t wait to

share them all with you! Please check in often

for updates about upcoming events and other

CE happenings.

‘Tis the Season…

Believe it or not, it’s already time to start

thinking about the Christmas Pageant!

Rehearsals will be starting at the end of

October, so if you’d like to be involved,

please let us know!

Calling all Teachers!

We are still looking for more volunteers to

teach this year. We have a need for teachers

in the Preschool-1st grade classroom, as well

as the 5th & 6th grade classroom. If you are

interested in volunteering, please let us know!

Sarah J. Fuller, Director of Christian

Education

OCTOBER

10/1 Sarah Douglas

10/2 Sally Brown

10/4 Robin Gallagher Tracy Trickett

10/5 Jill Clifford Elena Elliot

10/8 Cliff Bohnet

10/9 Eva Kelly

10/11 Alyssa Burgwinkel

10/12 Lisa Schaffter

10/13 Murray Smith

10/15 Sue Jeffers Pat Reilley

10/19 Karyn VanGuilder

10/26 Phyllis Foster Janice Yoder

10/28 Clara Schaffter

The Growth Committee will

host Coffee Hours the month of

October. There will NOT be a Coffee

Hour on Oct. 8th.

*****************

DEACONS MEETING

Tuesday, October 3, 2017 – 6:30pm (Day Room)

SCRIP/Hannaford - The

upcoming order dates for this fundraising activity are as follows:

Oct 8th

Nov 12th Please give your orders to Mary or place them in the vice moderator's mailbox in the church office.

*****************

STEWARDSHIP Speakers - Do you love Pilgrim Church? Would you be willing to share a few words about why the church is important to you and why you give to Pilgrim Church with your pledge? Then, the stewardship committee is looking for you!!! Contact Mary Mullahy or the church office to sign up to offer a short stewardship moment on one of the Sundays leading up to our pledge Sunday. We are looking for someone to present on October 15, October 22, and October 29. We only need a couple of minutes of time that you share why you support Pilgrim Church and its ministry. Thanks in advance for your willingness to share your faith.

*****************

FOOD PANTRY Bags of groceries seemed to

fly out of the office during

the summer, especially

during the weeks that

Ginny’s was closed. Help us

replenish our shelves by

bringing in non-perishable

food items such as peanut

butter and/or pasta. Items may be placed in

either of the two donation baskets in the Narthex

or near the organ. Thanks for your support!

THANK YOU NOTES RECEIVED

Dear Rev. Keith,

I would like to take this opportunity to

extend my grateful thanks to Jack and

Lucille Sampson, and Karen McNall for

their generous donation of the Atrial Emergency

Defibrillator (AED) to Pilgrim Church.

It is a comfort just knowing the AED is there if

needed.

Sincerely

Beth Lyle

*** Missions Committee will be sponsoring the 9th annual Crop Walk for Hunger October 22nd with more details to come. Remember "One Step at a time to fight Hunger.” Members or friends can either sponsor someone or walk to raise awareness for the hungry in America.

Thank you. Missions Committee

*****************

Our sympathy is extended to the following church

members who have lost a loved one since our last

newsletter was published:

Natalie, Pam, Steve and

the entire Keogh Family on

the passing of Robert

“Bob” Keogh. Bob was a

long time PCC member and

will be greatly missed. His

funeral was held at PCC on

Sept. 15th, with Rev. Keith

officiating.

***********

Women’s Book Bash November, 2017

The Zookeeper’s Wife – A War Story by Diane Ackerman

An eye-opening and poignant read, The Zookeeper’s Wife is based on a true story in which the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved many people from Nazi hands. After their zoo was bombed, Polish zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski managed to conceal more than three hundred people from the Nazis by hiding the refugees in the empty animal cages. With animal names for these “house guests”, and human names for the animals, it’s no wonder that the zoo’s code name became “The House Under a Crazy Star”. Best-selling naturalist and acclaimed storyteller, Diane Ackerman, combines extensive research and an exuberant writing style to re-create this fascinating, true-life story-sharing Antonina’s life as the zookeeper’s wife, while examining the disturbing obsessions at the core of Nazism.

A powerful and heart-warming story, The Zookeeper’s Wife, will surely generate some lively discussions.

Come join us for some good food, socializing and

stimulating discussions. We will meet at the home

of Sally Hens, 97 Eugene St, Leominster on Nov

26, 2017 from 6-8:30pm. If you have questions or

need a ride, call Beth Lyle, 978-537-6964.

Read Ahead:

Nov 26, 2017 – The Zookeeper’s Wife – by Diane

Ackerman, at the home of Sally Hens.

Dec 17, 2017 – The Tea Girl of Hummingbird

Lane – by Lisa See, at the home of Karen McNall

Jan 21, 2018 – The Underground Railroad – by

Colson Whitehead, at the home of Amy Tetreault

Feb 25, 2018 – What Alice Forgot, by Laine

Moriarty, at the home of Laura Sykes

***********

Free support group for parents and friends

dealing with addiction The Christian Life Center of Leominster, MA is offering a free, weekly support group for anyone who has someone in their life who is struggling with an addiction. It is designed to support parents, friends or other family members of those who are addicted. Members of your congregations are welcomed to attend. Could you please circulate this announcement to anyone you know who might benefit from our group?

Details of the date, time, and location of the group is as follows: Christian Life Center 53 Main St, Leominster, MA 01453 Group starts: Monday, October 2nd, 2017, 7-8:30PM, runs continuously every Monday. For further information, please feel free to contact Peter at 978 660 9827 or Tammy or Tim at 978 660 2532.

Hanover Theater Worcester

THE KING AND I

May 15th (Tuesday) 2018 -7:30 PM

Growth Committee has reserved 50 group discount tickets with orchestra seating.

Price: $74.20 each DUE: April 1, 2018

Make check payable to Pilgrim Congregational Church with ‘King & I’ in memo.

Signup sheet on opportunity table. One name per line. Waiting list available

You will be responsible for your own transportation to and from the theater

Be prepared to “Dance!”

PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS IN

THE “MESSENGER”

Pilgrim Congregational Church invites

members and friends to advertise your

business in our monthly newsletter. The cost is

$25.00 per calendar quarter. Simply submit a

business card or equivalent-size notice to the

church office, along with payment, for however

many quarters you’d like the ad to run. This is

a wonderful opportunity to promote your

business while contributing financially to the

church’s operations. We thank the following

for advertising in the “Messenger”:

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY

Pastor Dan Woodman will be leading a four-

part Advent Bible Study based on the book

“Faithful” by Adam Hamilton. The study

will be held Monday afternoons at 2:00 p.m.

and Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. The first

study will be Monday, Oct. 23, then Oct. 30,

Nov. 6 and Nov. 13. There is a sign-up sheet

in Fellowship Hall. Please indicate which

session you will attend. The course will

meet on the 2nd floor.

The books are complimentary, but donations

are gratefully accepted! The cost of each

book is $13.00 if you would like to help

underwrite the cost.

**************

King of kings, Word of words

When Jesus Christ utters a word, he opens his mouth so wide that it

embraces all heaven and earth, even though that word be but in a whisper. The word of the emperor is powerful, but that of Jesus Christ governs the whole universe.

—Martin Luther, Table Talk * * * * *

Reformation milestone: celebration and repentance

October 31, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther posted his “95 Theses” on a church door in Germany. This wasn’t an unusual act at the time; Luther was simply welcoming scholarly debate. But his ideas opposing certain teachings and practices of the

Roman Catholic Church led to a monumental shift in Christianity. Along with other reformers, Luther taught that Scripture is the supreme authority for the believer; that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone; and that baptism gives all full access to God in Christ (“the priesthood of all believers”), so there’s no need for an intermediary such as a pope, priest or saint. Initially, the reformers intended not to leave the Catholic Church but to reform it. But those who protested church practices became known as Protestants, and eventually, multiple

denominations arose — Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Anglicanism and others — and did, in fact, separate from the Roman tradition. Sadly, woven amid the good intentions to rightly teach and live the faith were sins on all sides: Luther hurled insults “with the best of them”; the pope excommunicated him and had other reformers executed; the beliefs and faith of theological opponents were regularly disparaged. As Heinz Josef Algermissen, a present-day Roman Catholic bishop in Germany, states: “In commemorating the Reformation, we cannot just see it as a jubilee, but should also admit our guilt for past errors and repent on both sides for the past 500 years.”

* * * * *

Special dates

World Communion Sunday, October 1, 2017

Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2017

Reformation Day, October 31, 2017 * * * * *

[One-liners]

“The Reformer is always right about what’s wrong. However, he's often wrong about what is right.”

—G.K. Chesterton * * * “Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.”

—Jim Bishop * * * “You aspire to great things? Begin with little ones.”

—St. Augustine * * * * *

Advice from a pumpkin

Be well-rounded. Get plenty of

sunshine. Give thanks for life’s

bounty. Have a thick skin. Keep growing.

Be outstanding in your field. Think big!

—Ilan Shamir * * * * *

Women of the Reformation

Although the names most often associated with the Reformation are male, women also played key roles in maintaining the integrity of the church. “Most were wives and mothers,” professor Justin Holcomb writes. “Some were also authors, apologists, ex-nuns and queens. All were faithful servants of Jesus.” Women who made notable contributions include:

Katherine von Bora, the former nun who married former-priest Martin Luther

Argula von Grumbach, a Bavarian noblewoman who published letters and debated with university faculty

Olympia Fulvia Morata, an Italian scholar who lectured on the teachings of Luther and Calvin — and was persecuted and imprisoned

Jeanne d’Albret, queen of Navarre and a leader in France’s Huguenot movement, who tried to peacefully resolve tensions between Catholics and Protestants

Marie Dentière, an aristocrat who left an Augustinian monastery to speak in public — even on street corners! — about church reform

* * * * *

A prayer for neighborliness

O God, we pray for a broader vision of the needs of humanity, and a deeper compassion to fill those needs; for a planting of the seeds of concern for all humanity in our hearts; for a tapping of the wells of generosity. May we live together as people who have been forgiven a great debt. May we be gentle, walking softly with one another. May we be understanding, lest we shall add to the world’s sorrow or cause to flow needless tears. May we be as anxious for the rights of others as we are for our own. May we be as eager to forgive as we are to seek forgiveness. May we know no barriers of creed or race or sex, that our love may be like Yours — a love that sees all people as Your children and our kin. May we be ministers of humanity.

—Peter Marshall * * * * *

Making contact

Prayer is ... a personal contact between

embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves)

and the utterly concrete Person. Prayer in the

sense of petition, asking for things, is a small

part of it, confession and penitence are its

threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the

presence and vision and enjoyment of God its

bread and wine. In it God shows himself to us.

—C.S. Lewis

* * * * *

Appreciate — and act

October is Pastor (or Clergy) Appreciation Month, reminding church members to thank their hardworking ministry leaders. But the people in the pews — though they might lack official church titles — also play important roles in doing God’s work. In User Friendly Churches (Regal Books), researcher George Barna compares the behavior of people in growing vs. stagnant or declining churches. Members of growing churches actively participate in the church’s ministry. “They did not divorce their faith from their lifestyle; their faith was their lifestyle,” Barna writes. “They took seriously the classical Reformation doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.” By contrast, laypeople in stagnant churches tend to observe rather than participate. “They perceived their role as being in the audience in the stands,” Barna notes, “nodding approvingly in efforts to demonstrate religious behavior as the clergy went through their paces.” Appreciate your pastors, but then follow their example by living out your beliefs! * * * * *

Voices of the Reformation “There is not — nor can there be! — any reason for tearing oneself away from the church in schism. Rather, the worse things become, the more one should help her and stand by her, for by schism and contempt nothing can be mended.”

—Martin Luther, German pastor whose “95 Theses” sparked the Protestant Reformation

“Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent or careless, but on the contrary

it awakens us, urges us on and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this.”

—Ulrich Zwingli, Swiss leader of early Reformation movements

“A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent.”

—John Calvin, French reformer who fled to Switzerland; father of the Presbyterian Church

“You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time.” —John Knox, a staunch follower of Calvin who

brought Presbyterianism to Scotland

Bible Quiz

How many times does Jesus say we should forgive others? A. 7

B. 70 C. 77 D. 70 x 7 E. C or D, depending on the translation

Answer: E (See Matthew 18:22.) * * * * *

9

Seek and find

St. Anselm of Canterbury, a 12th-century theologian known as the Father of Scholasticism, presented a “proof” of God’s existence. Philosophers still debate Anselm’s proof, which concludes: “There is … so truly a being than which nothing greater can be conceived to exist, that it cannot even be conceived not to exist; and this being thou art, O Lord, our God.”

That’s intriguing to ponder, but many of us will find this prayer by St. Anselm easier to understand:

O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you, where and how to find you. You are my God and you are my all, and I have never seen you. You have made me and remade me, you have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, still I do not know you. … I cannot seek you unless you teach me or find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in my desire, let me desire you in my seeking. Let me find you by loving you, let me love you when I find you. Amen.

* * * * *

Just show up!

In A Million Little Ways (Revell), Emily Freeman says in order for Christians to “show up as you are with what you’ve been given,” we must confront these statements:

I’m not cut out for this.

Someone else can do it better.

People might not like it.

I have nothing to offer.

I hate my calling.

It’s a waste of time.

It’s too much work.

Who do you think you are? “A million loud voices … keep us from the million little ways [Jesus] wants to show up through us to the world,” Freeman writes.

* * * * *

Christian Symbol Cornerstone — A cornerstone harkens back

to God’s pronouncement in Isaiah 28:16 that

he “has laid as a foundation in Zion … a

precious cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20

declares that Jesus is the cornerstone of the

household of God. The letters IHC and XP are

abbreviations for “Jesus” and “Christ” in

ancient Greek.

10

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

*meets in Day Room ** meets in Chapel

1 9:30 AM Worship Service with Communion/World Day of Prayer

11:00 AM Jr. Choir 1-3:30 PM Iglesia (Sanct.)

2 6-7:30 PM Girl

Scouts*

7-8:30 PM Bell

Rehearsal

3 11 AM Graveside

service, Corrine Rhyll,

Evergreen Cemetery

6:30 P.M. Deacons*

4 8 AM-2 PM Bridge Club*

7-9:00 PM Iglesia**

7:00 PM Senior Choir

rehearsal*

5 6 7 8-9 AM Daily Bread*

8 9:30 AM Worship Service/Bells Play

11—Jr. Choir rehearsal 1-3:30 PM Iglesia 6:30-8 PM Girl Scouts*

9 OFFICE CLOSED

9 AM-3 PM

Bridge Club*

6:00-7:30 PM Girl

Scouts*

7 PM Bell Rehearsal?

10

6:30 P.M.

Trustees*

11 8 AM-2 PM Bridge Club* 7-9:00 PM Iglesia**

6-7:30 PM G. Scouts (2nd

floor)

7 PM Senior Choir*

12 13

14

8 -9 AM Daily Bread*

15 9:30 AM Worship Service/Stewardship Speaker

11:00 AM—Worship Committee Mtg. 11 AM—Jr. Choir 1-3:30 PM Iglesia 6:30-8 PM Girl Scouts*

16

7-8:30 PM Bell

rehearsal

6:00-7:30 PM Girl

Scouts*

17

6:30 P.M. Coordinating Council*

18

8 AM-2 PM Bridge Club*

6-7:30 PM G. Scouts

7-9:00 PM Iglesia**

7 PM Senior Choir*

Rehearsal*

19 9 AM-3:30 PM Rev. Keith @ Committee on Author. Ministry/Board of Directors meeting, Worcester

20

Deadline for

November

“Messenger” articles

21

8 -9 AM Daily Bread*

8 AM-3:45 PM Super

Saturday, Framingham,

MA

22 9:30 AM Worship/Stewardship Spkr.

11 AM Jr. Choir 1 PM CROP Walk 1-3 PM CPR Class 1-3:30 PM Iglesia

23 2 P.M. Advent Study 7-8:30 PM Bell rehearsal

7 PM Advent Study (2nd Floor) 6:00-7:30 PM Girl Scouts*

24 United Nations Day

25 8 AM-2 PM Bridge Club* 6-7:30 PM Girl Scouts

7-9:00 PM Iglesia**

7 PM Sr. Choir*

26 27 28 8 -9 AM Daily Bread*

29 9:30 AM Worship Service/Stewardship Spkr. 11:00 AM Faith Feast 1-3 PM CPR Class 1-3:30 Iglesia/3:30-4:30* 6:30-8 PM Girl Scouts*

30 2 P.M. Advent Study 7-8:30 PM Bell rehearsal

7 PM Advent Study (2nd Floor) 6:00-7:30 PM Girl Scouts*

31 Halloween 500th anniversary Reformation-Reconciliation Day

2017