Worship
October 16 – Pentecost 18
Isaiah 45:1-7
God calls Cyrus, the Persian emperor, as the anointed one through whom God will return the people of Israel from the exile. By using a Gentile to accomplish God’s will we know that God is the Lord of all people, Jews as well as Gentiles.
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
This is most likely Paul’s earliest letter. Here he thanks God for the faith and love of the people at Thessalonica which becomes an example for the rest of the church around the Mediterranean world.
Matthew 22:15-22
Jesus’ enemies try to trap him with a question about paying taxes. His answer allows people to know that they have a relationship with both God and others.
October 9 – Pentecost 17
Isaiah 25:1-9
Isaiah has a vision of the great feast at which God not only provides the best of everything, but also wipes all tears from our eyes.
Philippians 4:1-9
Paul’s words bless the church with peace both in individual relationships as well as in the whole community.
Matthew 22:1-14
Again Jesus tells a parable. This time he uses the image of a wedding banquet with an open invitation to speak about the reign of God.
October 2 – Pentecost 16
Isaiah 5:1-7
The song of the vineyard is Isaiah’s poem regarding God’s love and judgment which comes to make the vineyard (symbolizing the people of Israel) a better, more God-trusting people.
Philippians 3:4b-14
Nothing is as important as Jesus, declares Paul in this reading from Philippians.
Matthew 21:33-46
Jesus’ parable speaks about God’s expectations from God’s people. God calls a people to be a blessing in this world, to be the people whose lives show God’s priorities. When the people refuse to do this, God chooses new people to be God’s presence in the world.
Kasja, June 2011
Greetings, People of Pilgrim!
As this is my last article that I will write for the Progress, I thought it would be appropriate to take the opportunity to express my gratitude and love for all of you. I know that the day soon will come when I have to say goodbye to you, and, being the emotional person that I am, I know that I will not be able to then express verbally how I feel.
It has been a little over three years since I first walked through the doors to this church, and I could never imagine how big an impact you have made on me: you have all taken me in, helped me with things both at work and at home, supported me in different projects, come to the concerts I have arranged, and become great friends of mine.
The thing that I will carry with me from Pilgrim is the love you show for each other. How you welcome everyone with open arms and make each person that steps through the doors of the church feel included and appreciated for who they are.
Now it is my turn to thank all of you for who you are, and for letting me be a small part
of your life. You have all left a huge mark in my heart.
Your sister in Christ,
Kasja
Pastor Harris, June 2011
Dear Friends of Christ,
God is good. Martin Luther often spoke of vocation—what is your calling or are your callings in life. One of the great Luther insights was that all Christians have a vocation. Farmer, student, parent, priest, retiree. Worship leader, choir member, acolyte, “in the pew”. In the kitchen, on the council, teaching Sunday School, at Bible Study. These are all ways to serve God.
Vocations change. For me, going on disability at the end of last year was absolutely needed. In some ways it was not even a difficult decision, but something I had to do. Not surprisingly, I found myself missing preaching and administering the sacraments. I missed teaching confirmation class. I missed being part of a community centered in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.
So I now rejoice that the people of Pilgrim have asked me to be a part of your communal life. In this Church we say that the Church’s call is God’s call. I am excited to see what God has in store for us. How will we be used to tell a hungry world of the good news that Jesus the crucified one is risen from the dead. How will we share God’s surprising and amazing grace with each other and with the world.
A number of you have said to me “welcome home”. Even though I was at Pilgrim some nine years ago for only eleven months it does feel like coming home. Of course I am thinking of that other great homecoming story in the bible often called the prodigal son, which is not really about the son at all but the father. Our heavenly Father runs to meet us on the road, in the place that we are, showing to us love. Together, we are called to show God’s love to all the world. I look forward to our common ministry.
Peace and blessings,
Pastor Harris
June 2011
GREETERS
June 5 Deb Vilardi
June 12 Roy Wagner
June 19 Verna Confreda
June 26 Lisa Harrington
ALTER GUILD
June 5 Jennifer Cardillo, Pat Frazier, Kitty Johnson, Marion Kullberg
June 12 Jo-Anne Doyle, Debbie Perri, Linda Phillips
June 19 Cindy Cote, Maureen Johnson
June 26 Alice Burnham, Ruth Lesieur, Muriel Linden
ALTAR FLOWERS
June 5 Available
June 12 Marion Kullberg & Family, Doyle & Morales Families
June 19 The Bergstrom Family, Bruce & Cindy Jacobson
June 26 Available
READERS
June 5 Bob Coletta
June 12 Kathy Gremel
June 19 Helen Varin
June 26 Carl Lozy
ACOLYTES & CRUCIFERS
June 5 Madison Almonte, Paige Lepore
June 12 Joe Marzano, Josh Miller
June 19 Sarah Lowell, Alexis Olson
June 26 Jocelyn Theroux, Kevin Murphy
USHERS
June 5 Roy Wagner, Bruce & Carolyn Vittner
June 12 Bill Dugan, John Merrill, Deb Vilardi
June 19 The Brusick-Stiener Family
June 26 Ron Fish, Pam Himebaugh, Susan Horsch
ASSISTING MINISTERS
February 6 Carl Lozy
February 13 Dave Rouillard
February 20 Karin Kohl
February 27 John Carlson
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS
June 5 Dody & Bob Matthias, Two additional Communion Assistants needed…please sign up!
June 12 Jennifer Cardillo, Tammy Smith-McLaughlin, Andrew McLaughlin, One additional Communion Assistants needed…please sign up!
June 19 Bill Dugan, Three additional Communion Assistants needed…please sign up!
June 26 Joanne & Carl Lozy, Two additional Communion Assistants needed…please sign up!
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Eucharistic Ministers are needed for the month of June. Sign up on the sheet posted on the office bulletin board if you are able to help. Many thanks!
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If you are unable to be here on your appointed Sunday to serve as Acolyte, please arrange for a replacement, and call to let the church office know about the change at 739-2937. Thank you!
COMMUNION ASSISTANTS. Communion Assistants are always needed. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the office bulletin board if you are able to help.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS. Eucharistic Ministers are needed for the weeks ahead. Please sign up on the sheet posted on the office bulletin board. If you have questions about serving as a Eucharistic Minister, please speak to Pastor Kohl.
ALTAR FLOWERS. There will be an opportunity to sign up for altar flowers on Sundays in January after the late service. Look for the table set up in the narthex. If you’re interested in contributing altar flowers, or speak to Maureen Johnson of the Altar Guild.
Coffee Hour Hosts. Hosts are always needed! Please sign up on the sheet on the counter in the Christian Life Center or contact Dee Bianco, Coffee Hour Coordinator.
Newcomers Ministry. Folks to welcome our visitors are needed!Please sign up on the sheet posted on the office bulletin board, or see Joanne Chamberland or Wendy Brusick.
parking
sign up form
June 26 – Second Sunday after Pentecost
Jeremiah 28:5–9
Jeremiah confronts another prophet, Hananiah, about the message Hananiah proclaimed. Jeremiah speaks words of judgment from God. The exile in Babylon will not be easy or something not to be taken seriously. The Babylonian Exile is God’s judgment on a people who have thought only of themselves, forgetting the poor, those in need, and people often excluded from society.
Romans 6:12–23
Whom do you obey? This is a question behind this reading. If we let our self-centered desire determine our actions and life, we are slaves to sin. But by baptism, we now belong not to sin, but to Christ. Life for Christians is oriented outward in service to others.
Matthew 10:40–42
The incarnation of the Word of God in Jesus shows us that the Word of God comes to us in others, also. Jesus teaches this today in his words of who is welcomed when we welcome others. Having an open heart is a way of knowing the blessings God wants for this creation.
June 19 – The Holy Trinity
Genesis 1:1—2:4a
In the first creation story in Genesis (the second is recorded Genesis 2:4 through 25), it is the Word of God which brings about creation in our reading. That Word comes to us in flesh in Jesus.
2 Corinthians 13:11–13
God is a God of order. In his conclusion of the second set of correspondence with the church in Corinth, he uses the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) to as a blessing. In doing this, we see that God’s purpose always is to bless.
Matthew 28:16–20
Jesus calls his Church to teach, baptize and obey all in the name of God.