Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC

PILGRIM HAPPENINGS
Issue #
Pilgrim
Happenings
September
2016
PILGRIM CHURCH’S NEW ROOF
"Summertime, and
the Livin' is Easy..."
What fun we had at Pilgrim
Church this summer! Inspired
by the music of George
Gershwin, Louis Armstrong
and Ella Fitzgerald, I am so
grateful for the great attendance
this summer. When you come
to church, “the livin’ is easy.”
Thank you to all the people
who braved the fans and went
the extra mile to be close to
God. Thank you for your
enthusiasm and joy. We truly
had fun at Pilgrim Church this
summer! We have had a
successful, busy summer, full
of awesome events
wonderful news.
and
Most especially we are grateful
that on June 5th and July 10th
eight new adult members and
four beautiful, happy little girls
joined our congregation. We
celebrated
them
with
a
covenant of Christian love,
many hugs, congratulations,
and great tasting cakes. These
two Sundays were truly happy
times in our church's life.
Welcome to Pilgrim Church
Anna, Steven, and Olivia;
Angela, Jay, and Sage; Phyllis;
Raelene; Marylyn,
Rylee, and Kylee.
A.J.,
In July, we walked through the
4 chapters of the Book of
Jonah. The Jonah Sermon
Series was well attended and
appreciated. I am looking
forward to doing another
sermon series next summer.
Also in July, God brought an
angel to our door. After
Kristen’s happy news about her
marriage and move to Texas,
Chris Gantner jumped in to help
us out and has been dazzling us
with his virtuosity on the organ
and piano ever since. Welcome
to Pilgrim Church, Chris
Gantner!
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
This
summer
our
own
Community Life put together
some great programs. Our
congregation attended a Silver
Knights game at Holman
Stadium in Nashua on July
15th. I can still see the many
colors of the fireworks lighting
up the night sky. Equally
successful, we had a delicious
Ice Cream Social in our
Fellowship Hall on July 31st.
We also enjoyed a Picnic and
Concert in Greeley Park on
August 24th. Thank you,
Community Life Members, for
all your enthusiasm and playful
spirit! And thank you everyone
who attended the events!
Our summer truly turned out
wonderful. Now we are getting
closer to the busy time of Fall.
School is starting. It’s time to
invite everyone back to church,
especially to join us for our
amazing Annual Welcome
Back Sunday Brunch on
Sunday, September 18th after
the Worship Service. We miss
all of you who were on
vacation! Come and feed your
soul with spiritual food during
the worship service and
afterward sit down and share a
bountiful brunch with your
friends at Pilgrim.
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Happenings at Pilgrim
September 4th 10AM
Worship with guest pastor:
Rev. Paul Rucker
September 5th
Church Office Closed - Labor Day
September 7th 10AM
Thrift Shop OPENS
September 11th @ 10AM
Worship with Communion
Luke 15:1-10
“Counting Sheep”
September 17th
October Newsletter Deadline
September 18th 11AM
Luke 15:11-32
“Welcome Back”
WELCOM BACK BRUNCH
September 23rd @ 7PM
Campfire at the church
September 25th
Luke 16:19-31
“Between Heaven and Hell”
HAPPY FALL!
Welcome back everyone,
Rev. Melinda
Welcome Back Brunch
Sunday, September 18th
Immediately Following Morning
Service
ALL ARE WELCOME!
PILGRIM CHURCH HAS
AN INTERIM MUSIC
DIRECTOR
Pilgrim
Church
is
pleased to announce we
have an Interim Music
Director
for
the
upcoming year. Chris
Gantner.
Chris is a native of
Houston, Texas.
He
moved to New England
to pursue an education
in music where he
attended the University
of New Hampshire and
The Longy School of
Music
in
Cambridge. While in
the Boston area, Chris
was honored to study
with
the
great
harpsichordist
and
organist
Peter
Sykes. While the plan
was to move back to
Texas, Chris, instead,
fell in love and married
a local flutist to whom
he has been married 14
years. Chris and Aubrie
often
give
concerts
together in the local
area.
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
Although music is a
passion, Chris also has
a
passion
for
aviation. He works fulltime at a corporate
aviation company called
PlaneSense,
out
of
Portsmouth, NH.
At
PlaneSense, Chris is a
Pilatus
PC-12
line
captain and is the
Assistant Director of
Training for the PC-12
program.
In his spare time, he
enjoys
building
a
harpsichord and going
on long walks with his
dog Jedi and wife
Aubrie. Chris says it is
an honor to direct the
music this year at
Pilgrim Church and
encourages
the
congregation to look for
the music notes every
month
in
the
bulletin. Chris says he
hopes the music he
chooses will inspire the
spirit, sooth the soul,
and, at times, may even
challenge the mind.
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LITTLE PILGRIM SCHOOL
The Church Choir will
be starting in
September.
The choir rehearses on
Thursday evenings from
7 – 8:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal starts
on Thursday, September
8th.
If you enjoy singing and
like having fun while
learning, this is the
place for you. If
interested in joining,
please speak with Chris
Gantner our Interim
Music Director
Hello to all of our friends at
Pilgrim Church!!
We hope you had a great summer.
The Little Pilgrim School teachers
have been working hard getting
the school ready to welcome back
our friends. We will start the year
with 30 children and still have
some room to grow! Our parents
will come to a Welcome Back
meeting on August 25th. The
children will have a chance to visit
their classrooms, meet the teachers
and see their friends on August
30th and our first day of school is
the 31st. So exciting!!!
Carol Stone, the LPS Director,
will be coming to church during
the month of September to share
our Kids Stuff coupon book
fundraiser with you. It is NOT
just for kids. We appreciate your
ongoing support of Little Pilgrim
School.
As we start a new school year at
LPS we do want to thank all of the
member of the Pilgrim Church
Community for your love, support
and prayers. We are working hard
to make the lives of our 2, 3 and 4
year olds the best they can be and
we are so lucky to have this
amazing building and all of you to
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
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help us with this.
Have a
wonderful month of September!
OPEN AND
AFFIRMING (ONA)
COMMITTEE NOTES
Best wishes from Carol and the
staff and children of LPS
TUNA FISH
Our collection items for the month
of September is, canned
tuna!
The 215th annual meeting of the
NH Conference of the UCC will
be held on Saturday, October
22nd, at the Grappone Conference
Center in Concord, NH.
If you are interested in attending,
please see Mark Maris (World
Care team leader.
WORLD CARE
CORNER
The special offering for September
is for the Nashua Children’s
Home.
From their mission
statement, “Nashua Children’s
Home is committed to the care,
welfare
and
educational
achievement of children and youth
within
its
Residential
and
Educational Programs, and the
successful transition to adult living
of young men and women in its
Transitional Living Programs.
Nashua Children’s Home provides
care and stability to boys and girls
unable to remain with their
families,
special
education
services for students who have not
been successful in public school
settings, and supportive housing
for youth that have ‘aged-out’ of
care.” Nashua Children’s Home
has been in operation (under
various names) for over 100 years,
and Pilgrim Church has a long
history of helping to support them.
The Open and Affirming
Committee has had a few
meetings so far this summer.
The team has been reviewing
ONA material and had Rev.
Carlos
Jauhola-Straight,
Minister of Spiritual Growth
at South Congregational
Church in Concord, NH as a
guest speaker. Rev. JauholaStraight has helped guide
other churches through the
ONA process.
CROP Hunger Walk:
The Committee is made up of
the following people: Dan
Pare, Lisa Lucius, Lee
Bowley,
Nancy
Grant,
Pauline Lones, and Rev.
Melinda.
The Nashua CROP
Hunger walk takes place
on October 30th.
The Committee has the
following upcoming meetings
scheduled:
September 7th & 27th
October 5th & 26th
November 16th
December 7th
If you are interested in
joining this committee, please
feel free to attend any of the
upcoming meetings.
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
Nashua Eagle
Scouts
Recognized in
Dual Ceremony
Adam Brownstein
and Spencer
Richardson
By Daniel Richardson (Open Post)
- July 18, 2016 5:51 pm ET
NASHUA, N.H., July 5, 2016 –
The Nashua community gathered
to honor the commitment of two
young men in fulfilling the aims
and methods of Boy Scouts of
America. Adam Brownstein and
Spencer Richardson joined the
Boy Scouts of Troop 19 in 2009
and completed all requirements for
this honor. Accentuating their
achievements, both Adam and
Spencer were regular participants
in other extracurricular activities
while maintaining excellent
academic performance as
graduating Nashua High School
North seniors.
Life Scout Brendan Paulsen,
Master of Ceremony, called upon
community members to speak to
the contributions of these young
men and the value the scouting to
the community. Assistant
Scoutmaster Michael Howe
provided the welcoming address
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and summarized the meaning of
the ceremony. Reverence is a
component of the Scout Law and
Reverend Melinda LaMontagne,
Pastor of Pilgrim Congregational
Church, was asked to give the
Invocation, thanking God for his
presence and requesting his
blessing.
Mr. Jack Gaylord, District
Executive of Daniel Webster
Council, took the floor to
officially convene the National
Court of Honor. He reminded the
Eagles their position is one of
honor and responsibility,
exemplifying in daily life their
high principles and values.
Demonstrating the community
service aim of Scouting, each
Eagle led and managed his own
service project. Mrs. Mary
Kirkwood, Admissions
Coordinator of Nashua Catholic
Regional Junior High School,
expressed gratitude for
Richardson’s fence repair project
and his process of accomplishing
it. Mrs. Marianne Busteed,
Principal of Nashua High School
North, highlighted the delight in
supporting Brownstein’s project to
create an array of public service
announcements relevant to
students, using the school’s
facilities, staff and other students.
Upon confirmation of their
readiness to be Eagles, Assistant
Scoutmaster Richard Filteau
administered the reaffirmation of
the Scout Oath Principles. The
new Eagles recommitted
themselves to these principles
which they have long adhered.
Symbolizing Scouting’s aim of
good citizenship, Nashua Mayor
James Donchess described
personally taking note of
Richardson’s fence project, as he
resides nearby. He praised the
benefit that Brownstein’s PSAs in
being created by students,
particularly for the student
audience.
Assisted by 5 scouts from Troop
19, Assistant Scoutmaster Lon
Paulsen led the enumeration of an
Eagle Scout’s obligations,
expressed as components of the
Eagle badge: honor, loyalty,
courage, service, and vision.
These are the symbols that remind
the Eagle to observe the Scout
Oath and the Scout Law into the
future.
Troop 19 Scoutmaster Greg
Anthony took great pleasure
presenting the Eagle badges to
these deserving scouts and
oversaw the scouts’ presentation
of parental Eagle pins. Twelve
Eagle Scout guests then came
forward to recite the Eagle Scout
Pledge with the new Eagles. Mr.
Anthony delivered the Eagle
Charge and officially declared
their entry into the Eagle Scout
brotherhood. On behalf of the
troop, Mr. Anthony presented the
new Eagles with membership in
the National Eagle Scout
Association.
Eagle Scout Spencer Richardson
took to the rostrum to address his
guests. “Throughout my scouting
career, many people have risen to
help me along the way ... Scouting
has made a significant difference
in my life. Because of my
involvement with projects of other
Eagle candidates and Order of the
Arrow fellowship weekends, I
have learned community service is
enjoyable … As I continue my
life’s journey, I will be able to
utilize the skills I learned in
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
scouting in many different
situations. In the workplace, I will
able to use the leadership skills
that I learned at National Youth
Leadership Training and refined
during my community service
project to complete tasks.”
Eagle Scout Adam Brownstein
recited the scout law and asked,
"What I just recited to you, the
scout law, is something that I said
at every Scout Meeting since I
transitioned from Cub Scouts to
Boy Scouts ... I believe that if
everyone … were to follow the
scout law, the world would be a
better place ... Is it the truth? Well
the simple answer is yes, but yes
doesn't do it enough justice so let's
look at a list of people who once
also recited the Scout Law, shall
we? On this list we have John F.
Kennedy, Neil Armstrong, Walter
Cronkite, Steven Spielberg, and
Dr. Martin Luther King, all great
men who have said the scout law
and spoke highly of it, as has
millions of other people since the
Scout Law was first uttered."
THURSDAY MORNING
BIBLE STUDY &
PRAYER GROUP
Our Thursday morning Bible
Study & Prayer Group meet
each Thursday morning from
10 – 11:30 AM in the
Conference Room. The group
is led by Rev. Paul Rucker.
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•
Church Office Hours
The church office hours are
back to their regular
schedule as of Tuesday,
September 6th.
Monday – Friday 9AM –
1PM.
“Secret Angels”
The Church continues to receive
many generous donations this
year, in addition to the everyday
generosity of time, talent and
dollars that everyone already
gives.
Here are just a few
examples of the amazing
generosity
of
Pilgrim’s
congregation, and even some
non-members.
•
•
•
•
•
$1,000 donation
$350 donation
Fair baskets
Chapel Stairs cement
repairs
Fellowship
Hall
&
Bathroom Floors stripped
& waxed
•
•
Thrift Store floors stripped
& waxed
Thrift Shop Improvements
Church Cleaning
Thank you to everyone in the
congregation
who
tirelessly
donate their time, talents and $$,
every little bit (and big) counts!
If you know of a “secret angel”
and would like to see the time,
talent
or
dollar
amount
mentioned in the newsletter,
please email someone on the
OpStew team.
PENNY RAFFLE
It’s never too early to start
shopping for the Penny
Raffle table at the Church
Fair. We are looking for
new
items
or
gift
certificates.
If you have questions, see
Kathy Crouse or Holly
Pare’.
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
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To the Pilgrim Church,
Dear Pastor, Staff, &
Parishioners,
THRIFT SHOP
OPENS
ON
Wednesday, September
7th
@ 10:00 a.m.
Thank you for allowing me
to collect books at your
parish for my Be a
Bookworm project. Your
parish was so generous. I
appreciate it very much. My
project has become
successful with the help of
your involvement. Thank
you again.
Elise Roy, Girl Scout Troop
11128
********************
My Church Family,
Dear Pilgrim Church Family,
Just a little note of thanks for
a whole lot of
thoughtfulness. Thank you
for your support throughout
the years.
Troop 19
**********************
Thank you so much for my
Target gift card. I really
appreciate it and all of you.
It’s nice to come to church to
see everyone. Hope to see
everyone at Christmas with I
come home.
Love, Patrick Carr
**********************
Hi Everyone,
Thank you to the benefactor
who treated the Chancel
Choir to dinner at Shorty’s in
June. The choir had an
awesome time!
Thank you all for your thoughts
and prayers and continued caring.
Lynn Marshall-Rene
(If you would like to read Lynn’s
complete thank you note, please
see Kathy in the Church Office.)
SWEATER
COLLECTION
As a community service, the
Davis Funeral Home, One
Lock Street, Nashua, is
sponsoring its 22nd annual
“Sweater Weather” Recycling
Campaign to help the
needy.
Either new or clean, used
sweaters will be collected
between
the
hours
of
8:30AM and 4PM, Monday
through
Friday,
from
st
September 1
to October
1st, 2016.
Bins will be
placed in both foyers of the
funeral home so people can
drop off their sweaters to be
“recycled.”
The
sweaters
will
be
distributed
to
various
agencies in the Nashua area
to be given to those who
need them.
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
8
PRAYER LIST
Marjorie Bryant at Aynsley Place
Kerry Crouse – Kathy’s Husband
Erin – Friend of McClarren Family
Joan Hodge – Sister of Nancy
Grant
September 25th – Ellie Beals
September 30th – Seth
Hafferkamp
Edith Holmes – At Courville
Vivian LaBrie – Friend of Ellie
Louis – Bev Childress’s son
Alice McClellan – Lisa Lucius’ Mom
Luke McGarr – Grand-nephew of
Rowena Carr
Michelle Morency – Friend of Gail
Miller
Polly Parmelee – Cindy Maris’
Mother
September 3rd – Dan & Holly Pare’
September 14th – Don & Sandy
McClarren
September 27th – Bruce & Jane
Clark
Phyllis Powers – Friends of Kim
Fournier
Becky Riggs – Cousin of Gail Miller
Pictures from around
the church
Sarah
John Thayer – Nephew of Nancy
Grant
Rodric Villemaire
Lillian Worcester – Rev. Linda
Hey’s Mother
Keep in your prayers our people
who are in the military
Brush Clearing
Outdoor Worship &
Church Picnic
PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
Church Outing to a Baseball Game
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PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
Thursday Morning Study Group
IT”S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER AROUND PILGRIM CHURCH!
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PILGRIM HAPPENINGS | Issue #
Pilgrim
Happenings
4 Watson Street
Nashua, New Hampshire
03064
11