Pilgrim's Progress

Here is a link to our latest newsletter:

July 16, 2008

For earlier newsletters, please scroll to the bottom of the page.
For archived newsletters, call or write Marty at the office.  pilgrimucc@verizon.net  / 489-1381

Special Congregational meeting on Sunday July 20
A special meeting will be held immediately after worship to vote on a limited release to the restrictive covenants imposed on Academy Associates when they purchased the property from Pilgrim in 1974, to allow use of the site as a preschool and elementary school by the International Montessori School.  Barbara Merrill will give a brief tour of the school site at 10 am on the morning of July 20 to anyone who is interested.

Sunday School
Sunday morning classes for all ages take a break during the summer. Sunday morning activities for children will resume on September 7th at 9:30 am.  In the meantime, stay tuned for information about special summer educational opportunities for the whole family.

Interfaith Hospitality Network July 29 and 31

Help host and feed 3 families during 6-8 PM and help provide transportation from the day house to Epworth United Methodist Church as part of this interfaith network for homeless families.  Please call the church office to sign up.

Community Kitchen July 29
Pilgrim will be cooking and serving 200 hungry people at the Community Kitchen on July 29.  We are looking for cooks from 3-6 pm and servers from 6-8 pm.  Sign up on the bulletin board outside the church office.

 
Young Adults Thursday July 24, 7:30 pm
The young adults (currently early 20s to late 30s) will continue their  bi-monthly Bible study on Thursdays in the summer, next on July 24 at Shade Tree on Erwin Rd.  Explore art and faith at the NC Museum of Art on July 19, enjoy an outdoor movie and concert on Aug 1(Carolina Chocolate Drops and Great Debaters).  Please join in!  For information about young adult ministry at Pilgrim or to join their listserv, contact Carla Gregg.

Bilingual Exchange
Bilingual Exchange classes for new English speakers meets at 7:30 pm in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday evenings in July.  We will take a break during August, and return to this work on September 3.

Beyond Benevolences July 21 at 1 PM
Pilgrim funds 16 local causes, but we are also called to offer our participation.  Beyond Benevolences is a series for learning about the organizations that we support.  At 1 PM on Monday, July 21, learn about the Community Shelter Clothing Closet.  Look for sign-up sheets and a bulletin board in the foyer .

Third Wednesday potluck dinner, July 16 at 5:45 pm
All ages are invited to a potluck dinner, followed by a short program for children, youth and adults.  We will explore Joy Jordan-Lakes' book, Why Jesus Makes Me Nervous: Ten Affirming Words of Faith.  Holiness, Abundance, Forgiveness, Hope: what do these words mean for us today?  
Contact the church office to reserve a copy for $12 or order a copy online.

There will be no potluck in August, and in September the meals will change to first Wednesdays and resume on Sept 3.

Art and the Sacred -- July 19
Everyone is invited to join the Young Adults at the NC Museum of Art as we explore the collection and share lunch.  We will begin at the museum at 10 am and conclude by 1 pm.  The only cost will be for lunch.  Please sign up with the church office or on the board outside Carla's office, to help plan carpools and lunch reservations.

UCC National Youth Event July 23-28
Carla and Ginger are taking a van to Knoxville for this UCC event and want to fill it up with youth.  They're planning a fun water park stop on the way in addition to great worship, fellowship and workshop with 3000 other UCC youth.  See Carla for registration and more information.

Durham Bulls trip Aug 29
Pilgrims visit the Durham Bulls on Friday August 29.  Call the church office to reserve a ticket and come cheer on your hometown boys!

Concert on Aug 31
Join the 50+ fellowship group on a trip to the NC Symphony orchestra in Cary.
Other plans include a trip on Sept 20 to the NC Museum of Art movie in Raleigh, and a trip on Oct 4 to the Seafood Festival in Beaufort.

Fall Getaway to Black Mountain Oct 24-26
Pilgrim families are invited to gather on the porches of the Christmount retreat center, explore the trails and markes of Black Mountain and Asheville, and enjoy the fellowship of other families.    Rooms are $70 for one and $10 each additional person, meals are about $25 per adult, less for children.  Look for the sign-up sheets and make sure to sign up by September 24.  See Elzie Laube or Betty Curtis for questions.

Ready, set, grow
In months to come, you will hear more about getting ready to share with the Durham community the extravagant welcome that Pilgrim embodies, and be getting ready to welcome newcomers and introduce them to the ministries of Pilgrim.

For more information, click here to visite the UCC Vitality website.

Bulls Eye Prayer
You are invited by the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham to join in public prayer every other Saturday from 5 to 5:45 pm to affirm God's presence and purpose of peace in Durham at these locations:

July 26 at Holloway st and Guthrie St
West Enterprise St and South St

More prayer events are scheduled for August, September and October.

This summer at Johns River Valley Camp
      In addition to regular offerings for older children and youth, the camp offers a new camp this summer:
   Grandparent/Grandchild Camp for rising 1-6 graders and their grandparents, July 31-Aug 2.
     For more information and to register, see Carla or the board outside her office.

Reuse-A-Shoe
Drop off your worn athletic shoes in the collection box outside the church office, and they will become part of Nike's effort to recycle old shoes into sports surfaces like basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds around the world.  Need more info?  See Denise Thomas.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) training, Fall 2008
Durham's CERT Program will offer training in disaster preparedness on Sept 6 & 20 and on Oct 4.  Training will include fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.  In an event when professional responders are not immediately available, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace.  Contact Betty Moore, Durham's CERT Program Manager to register by Aug 29.