The Pilgrim Messenger - Pilgrim Baptist Church

A Publication of the Pilgrim Baptist Church—Rockford, Illinois
The Pilgrim Messenger
March-April, 2014
Volume VIII, Issue 12
PILGRIM BAPTIST
CHURCH
1703 S. Central Avenue
Rockford, IL 61102
815-968-4449
www.pilgrimbaptist.org
MINISTERIAL TEAM
Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Board,
Senior Pastor
Minister Ernest Evans
Rev. R. Brady Johnson
Minister Sharon M. Olson
Minister Willie Reed
Minister Carl L. Towns
“A Church inspired by the
Word and Empowered by
the Holy Spirit.”
ALL ARE WELCOME!
WEEKLY WORSHIP
Tuesday:
9:30 am - Bible Study
Wednesday:
12:00 Noon - Bible Study
6:00 pm - Prayer Service
6:30 pm - Adult Bible Study
6:30 pm - Youth Bible Study
Sunday:
9:00 am - Sunday School
10:30 am - Worship Service
10:30 am: Children’s
Church for ages 6-12 except
each first Sunday
for Communion
INSIDE
 Events & Announcements
 Birthdays & Anniversaries
 Thanks from Mrs. Due
 Jayden’s Award
 New Ushers
 Ministry Training
 Ushers Annual Day
 Black History Month
 Transform Rockford
 Pastor at MLK Event
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
We are gearing up for Pilgrim’s Pilgrimage to
the Holy Land from November 1 through 10.
Israel has been the focal point of God’s people
for thousands of years, and every Christ
follower knows the historical, spiritual, and
emotional importance of this amazing place.
It is the will of all believers to
walk and live as Jesus did. What
would it be like to literally walk where
Jesus walked and live a few moments
where He lived?
We are inviting Pilgrim members, family, and friends as well as
other local Clergy leaders, members,
family, and friends to prayerfully consider accompanying us as we experience Israel from November 1 through
10, 2014.
Some of the places on our itinerary will include the birthplace of
Jesus; the Garden of Gethsemane;
the Garden Tomb where Jesus was
laid; the Upper Room; the Sea of Galilee where our Lord stilled the waters;
and much more!
Our total of 45 reservations will
be accepted on a first-come, firstserved basis, and sign-ups are now
in progress. Complete information can
be found on Pilgrim’s Website under
“Events”: www.pilgrimbaptist.org
Negotiated accommodations are
all at selected Five-Star Hotels. The
complete information on Pilgrim’s Website includes such topics as payment,
including deposits and what is covered
in the total price; typical November
weather; travel safety; amount of physical activity, such as walking; and a dayby-day itinerary of travel, lodging,
meals, tours, and other activities
We pray that you and/or your
family can join us. God Bless!
Pastor Kenneth R. Board
Our 2014 Israel Tour
Coordinators:
Leonard Tolbert, Jr.
Joy Tolbert
For more information or to sign up, please visit our Website,
www.pilgrimbaptist.org, under the “Events” section; or Pilgrim members and
visitors may see Bro. Leonard or Sis. Joy after Sunday worship service. You
may also contact the church at 815-968-4449 or [email protected].
PASTOR BOARD’S HOLY LAND TOUR - 2009
In May, 2009, Pastor Board was one of 20 nation-wide ministers who
toured the Holy Land to retrace the footsteps of Jesus. Their many
experiences included crossing the Sea of Galilee and rededication of
baptism and conversion in the Jordan River.
VISION STATEMENT
The vision of the Pilgrim Baptist Church is the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation through the belief in the Ministry of
Jesus Christ and the empowerment of excellence in all people through Christian education and community activism.
Page 2
The Pilgrim Messenger
March-April, 2014
SPECIAL EVENTS & INFORMATION
PILGRIM OFFICE STAFF
Office Manager
Mrs. Beverly Owens
Phone: 815-968-4449
Fax: 815-968-2603
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Lorraine Wilson
815-968-4449
NEWSLETTER TEAM
Senior Editor/Advisor
Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Board
Senior Pastor of Pilgrim
Editor and Producer
Mrs. Helen Ware
815-877-6593
[email protected]
Associate Editor/
Publisher
Sunday Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m. / Communion each First Sunday
MARCH, 2014
05
08
09
09
18
19
12
13
13
17
18
20
Sat.
Sun.
Sun.
Thur.
Fri.
Sun.
24
Thur.
(All are Birthdays unless Labeled Otherwise)
Photography
Copies of our newsletter are
archived on Pilgrim’s
Web site:
www.pilgrimbaptist.org
CONGRATULATIONS
to Jayden Lamb
Leaders Council Training Session for PBC Ministries, 9 am-Noon
Palm Sunday Worship Service, 10:30 am
Kantorei Concert at Pilgrim, 4:30 pm
Annual Maundy Thursday Feast at Pilgrim, 6:00 pm
Church closed for Good Friday
Easter (Resurrection) Sunday:
Youth Easter Program, 9:00 am / Worship Service, 10:00 am
Pilgrim at Progressive Baptist Church, 7:00 pm (Pastoral Anniversary)
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
MARCH, 2014
Mrs. Helen Ware and
Contributing Photographers
Mrs. Jacquelyn Tenard
Ash Wednesday
Health Screening at Pilgrim, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Daylight Savings Time Begins (Turn Clocks Ahead One Hour)
Pilgrim to Allen Chapel at 4:00 pm-Annual Ushers Day (Pastor & Choir)
General Primary Election Day
Presentation by Dr. Sharon Woolwine, 6:00 pm, about the
Murrow Indian Children’s Home
APRIL, 2014
Mrs. Beverly Owens
815-968-4449
[email protected]
Proofreader
Wed.
Sat.
Sun.
Sun.
Tue.
Wed.
01
02
03
11
13
15
16
16
26
29
30
APRIL, 2014
Tracey Iverson
Grace Elliot
Patrick Cook
Akeyla Evans
Vera Forte
Deloras Ransom
Leonard & Dorothy Tolbert
42nd Wedding Anniv.
Jacqueline Prymer
Sataria Angel Foster
Shawndolyn Smith
De’Vonte Sims
08
09
12
17
18
20
20
22
24
27
27
29
Janet Mitchell
Crystal Tolbert
Mary Ish Carter
Leonard, Jr. & Joy Tolbert
Wedding Anniversary
Greta Foster
Clara Anthony
Nan Mynatt
Albara Morris
Matti Chappel
Minister Carl L. Towns
Vivette Hall
Giovanni Van
NOTICE
“The Pilgrim Messenger” will now be
published every other month: January,
March, May, July, September, and November.
. . . who was presented with
an award “In Recognition of
classroom helper at White
Swan School, 2013-2014.”
Jayden also received a letter
from the Principal inviting him
to a special lunch.
Jayden’s family, headed by
Mr. and Mrs. Parnell and
Shawndolyn Smith, and his
Pilgrim family are all very
proud of him. Keep up the
good work, Jayden!
THANK YOU!
From
Mrs. Nanelle Due
Mrs. Due was surprised with
a belated 89th birthday party
on Sunday afternoon, January 19, planned by Mr. and
Mrs. Mitch & Matti Chappel.
She was truly surprised by
many of her friends and
Pilgrim family members.
Mrs. Due extends her heartfelt thanks to all for their
attendance, cards, cards,
gifts, and well-wishes!
Welcome to our Newest Pilgrim Ushers!
Four newer members found their ministry niche by joining the Senior Ushers!
Left to Right:
Sataria
Angel Foster;
Michael Jones;
Roy Purifoy;
Dorothy Tolbert
March-April, 2014
The Pilgrim Messenger
Page 3
Pilgrim Training Seminar - Saturday, January 25, 2014
By Minister Sharon Olson
On Saturday, January 25, over 50 Pilgrim ministry leaders and
members participated in the training session, “How to Become a
Kingdom-Minded Church,” led by Dr. Rodney Smothers, Senior Pastor
of St. Paul at Oxon Hill Church in Maryland. Dr. Smothers led a very
engaging and challenging seminar in which he talked about the changing world outside of the church and how the church needs to turn its
focus outward.
During the morning session, Pilgrim members mapped their spiritual leadership levels. Dr. Smothers drove home the point that being a
church member is not necessarily the same thing as being a disciple of
Christ. He challenged members to exchange the mentality of merely
attending church events for one that participates in God’s Kingdom by
meeting the needs of others.
After lunch, Dr. Smothers divided members into small groups to
brainstorm ways in which we could meet the needs of different age
groups, from infants to seniors. Members were encouraged to think
“outside the box” for ways to address people’s needs. It was encouraging to see the entire group enthusiastically participating in this envisioning exercise and presenting a wide variety of creative ideas to the
group as a whole.
Minister
Sharon Olson
Dr. Rodney
Smothers
Dr. Smothers’ training is only a start.
Pilgrim will be working to align its various
ministries to work together in a more focused manner. To that end, the Leadership
Council has scheduled a follow-up training
session on Saturday, April12, to begin envisioning how to work toward our goal of
“Meeting Needs, Sharing Christ.”
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
For the past 11 years, the Pilgrim
Ushers Ministry has been faithfully
led by Greta Foster. Prior to their
Annual Day celebration on Sunday, February 23, Greta Foster
passed the “white-gloves” baton to
Shirley Aliprandi as President. At
left, Shirley and Greta (R) take
time for a warm embrace!
Special guests for the 4:00 p.m. celebration were Rev. Bennie Reed,
Pastor of True Vine Baptist Church, Rockford, along with choir and
members. Pastor Reed delivered the message. Other special
guests were members of the Rockford & Freeport Ushers Council
who represent 18 churches in the Rockford and Freeport areas. In
addition to their ever-faithful service, Pilgrim’s Senior Ushers do a
wonderful job of mentoring the youth who form the Junior Ushers. A
fellowship reception followed the 4:00 p.m. worship service.
February is Black History Month. Each Sunday
in February this year, Pilgrim’s Special Projects
Ministry created and delivered a special
presentation during morning worship.
Staci Wright narrated a history of
hymns (Negro
Spirituals) sung
by slaves relating to messages
for escape via
the Underground
Railroad and as a
source of
strength! Matti
Chappel sang
one of the
hymns!
Pilgrim was one of several early Black
churches in Rockford recognized during Black
History Month at the Ethnic Heritage
Museum in Rockford. Also recognized were
the pastors of those churches, with the late
Rev. Dr. E.H.E. Gilbert honored for Pilgrim.
Page 4
The Pilgrim Messenger
March-April, 2014
Pilgrim’s Ministry Focus for 2014: “Meeting Needs, Sharing Christ” (Acts 2:42-47)
Visioning Session at Pilgrim - February 15, 2014
Pilgrim was host to the Transform Rockford team and the community from 1:00 to 3:00
p.m. Saturday, February 15. Deacon Oliver Emerson served as coordinator for Pilgrim with
Mrs. Patricia Fricks as co-coordinator.
Pastor Kenneth R. Board is one of the 16 Transform Rockford Steering Committee
members. These community leaders developed the “Case for Change” and agreed to accept the “challenge to dramatically improve the social and economic conditions of our region
and its residents through a structured and inclusive process where all ideas will be heard
and given weight for the betterment of our community.” Ideas are shared by diverse community members through meetings called “Visioning Sessions,” which are the second phase
of the six-part Transformation Process. Meetings are held at various community places.
Moderator
Complete Information?
Go to
www.transformrockford.org
Join the
Conversations!
Break-outs
Sharing
Ideas
Overview
A celebration of the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther
King was held on Monday evening, January 20, at the Boys and Girls
Club of Freeport (Illinois) and Stephenson County.
Keynote speaker for this event was Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Board,
Pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church, Rockford, Illinois, who spoke on the
topic, “Strength to Love.”
An article in The Journal Standard of Freeport quoted Pastor
Board as saying: “This is all about the strength and love of what Dr.
King preached, and it’s a Godly love. My message is about the love of
service and for one to follow the will of God. I want to convey to young
people to sacrifice today’s pleasures for a future with God. People
need to sacrifice for future blessings.”
Photo used with permission of The
Journal-Standard, Freeport, IL
Pilgrim Baptist Church / 1703 South Central Avenue—Rockford, IL 61102
Office Phone: 815-968-4449 / Fax: 815-968-2603 / www.pilgrimbaptist.org
Rev. Dr. Kenneth R. Board, Senior Pastor