1 The Pilgrim Spire November 2016 Pilgrim United Church of Christ 130 Broad Boulevard Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 Pastor’s Parable CONTACT INFORMATION Office: Phone: 330.928.4847 Fax: 330.928.1017 Staff & E-Mail: Pastor: Reverend Kirk Bruce [email protected]Secretary: Kelly Gerstenberger [email protected]Faith Formation Director: Marilyn Freeman [email protected]Music Director: Kyle Kelvington [email protected]Cleaning Services: Peter Paugh Website: www.pilgrimcf.org You’ll find electronic versions of The Pilgrim Spires; Calendar; Facility Use & Facility Use Policies; Wedding & Funeral Information; Act-It UP! Community Theatre; History and more! The Pilgrim Spire is published once a month. If you have something to share with your fellow Pilgrims, please contact the church office to have it included in the next edition of . . . The Pilgrim Spire. Would you prefer to receive this via email? Please contact the church office. Address changes? Contact the office. Thank you! Pastor’s Parable Ever have one of those days? I am now further behind than when I came in this morning. It is like I am caught in a riptide that is pulling me further out to sea, and the harder I swim, the further out I go. My instinct is to try harder. Our natural feeling when we are swim- ming, and the riptide is pulling us away from the shore, is also to try harder, to pull more water with each stroke, and to stroke the water faster. But we are wrong. We need to stop and rethink our approach if we are going to survive this danger. The only answer is to try something else. We need to try a different approach to life. I am told the answer to the riptide struggle is to swim parallel to the shore and to endeavor to move up the shoreline and, then to land someplace else. We so often keep on trying the same things, expecting different results in life. Someone suggested that is the definition of insanity. When we learn our approach isn’t working, we need to try it differently. Try a new approach. I knew a church that kept on doing the same things that used to work but, they kept having fewer and fewer folks participate. They never had the revelation, try something else. What was it God told the prophet Isaiah, “Behold I am doing a new thing.” God is still speaking the same message in a new way. Can we hear it? I once knew someone who had the same old furniture in his house that he had when he first got married, sixty years ago. It wasn’t valuable, it wasn’t special, it wasn’t an antique, it was just worn out. When he had to move due to health issues, all of the old furniture wouldn’t fit into his new place, and some of it “miraculously” got lost by the friends helping. At first there was a whine and cry for the old stuff, but it didn’t take too long for his heart to be filled with joy in the comfort of something new. Old isn’t bad; new isn’t bad; what’s bad is holding onto what isn’t working. What isn’t working in your life? What needs to change? It is alright to try it differently. See You Sunday. Shalom, Pastor Kirk
You’ll find electronic versions of The Pilgrim Spires; Calendar; Facility Use & Facility Use Policies; Wedding & Funeral Information; Act-It UP! Community Theatre; History and more!
The Pilgrim Spire is published once a month. If you have something to share with your fellow Pilgrims, please contact
the church office to have it included in the next edition of . . . The Pilgrim Spire.
Would you prefer to receive this via email? Please contact the church office.
Address changes? Contact the office.
Thank you!
Pastor’s Parable Ever have one of those days? I am now further behind than when I came in this morning. It is like I am caught in a riptide that is pulling me further out to sea, and the harder I swim, the further out I go. My instinct is to try harder. Our natural feeling when we are swim-ming, and the riptide is pulling us away from the shore, is also to try harder, to pull more water with each stroke, and to stroke the water faster. But we are wrong. We need to stop and rethink our approach if we are going to survive this danger. The only answer is to try something else. We need to try a different approach to life. I am told the answer to the riptide struggle is to swim parallel to the shore and to endeavor to move up the shoreline and, then to land someplace else. We so often keep on trying the same things, expecting different results in life. Someone suggested that is the definition of insanity. When we learn our approach isn’t working, we need to try it differently. Try a new approach. I knew a church that kept on doing the same things that used to work but, they kept having fewer and fewer folks participate. They never had the revelation, try something else. What was it God told the prophet Isaiah, “Behold I am doing a new thing.” God is still speaking the same message in a new way. Can we hear it? I once knew someone who had the same old furniture in his house that he had when he first got married, sixty years ago. It wasn’t valuable, it wasn’t special, it wasn’t an antique, it was just worn out. When he had to move due to health issues, all of the old furniture wouldn’t fit into his new place, and some of it “miraculously” got lost by the friends helping. At first there was a whine and cry for the old stuff, but it didn’t take too long for his heart to be filled with joy in the comfort of something new. Old isn’t bad; new isn’t bad; what’s bad is holding onto what isn’t working. What isn’t working in your life? What needs to change? It is alright to try it differently. See You Sunday.
Dear Pilgrim United Church of Christ: Every gift we receive helps make sure we have the resources to help seriously troubled children we serve. Thank You! Right now, our residential beds are full and we have lengthy waiting lists of children needing our help. Most of these children suffer from the impact of multiple types of trauma. Children throughout our services—residential, alternative education, wraparound, and out-patient - can and do find help and hope through the treatment, education and support we provide. Thanks for caring about the kids! Thanks for helping us change their futures! Sincerely, Ms. Kyle Zanker Chief Development Officer CROSSROAD, Fort Wayne, Indiana Additional: WOW! Thanks for the soda machine $$$. We are so very grateful to you all! We have so many kids right now! We are receiving more and more referrals for young victims of human trafficking and many of our residents are children who were abused by families of drug abuse—heroin, meth, and opioids. Too many children in the Midwest are hurt! Bless You!
Meetings are open to all people attending Pilgrim!
Sharing America’s Resources Abroad (S.A.R.A.): To Be Announced
Diaconate: Monday, November 7 @ 6:30 p.m.
Music Committee: Sunday, November13 @ 11:30 a.m. (after worship)
Stewardship: Sunday, November 6 @ 11:45 am (after worship)
Evangelism: Monday, November 12 @ 9:00 a.m. at Starbucks, Portage Crossing
Community Connections Committee (CCC): Monday, November 21 @ 6:30 p.m.
Council: Monday, November 21 @ 7:00 p.m.
Act-It UP! Community Theater: Contact Shari Schneider 330-785-8791
The Pulse of Pilgrim
Births: Current Addresses:: No Births No changes Known
Rake & Run – November 13th, 1 - 5 pm
Youth will gather after the Stewardship Celebration PotLuck Lunch. Please bring leaf-raking clothes, shoes, gloves, weather appropriate clothing, rakes. If you would like your leaves raked please call the church office and tell Marilyn Freeman.
Christmas Tree Assistance
We need help on November 20 putting up the BIG Christmas tree in the Social Hall. All able-bodied persons are welcome!
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Mitten Tree goes up November 13 Please bring new hats, gloves, scarves in any and all sizes, to keep heads and hands warm in the winter weather. All of our donations go to Good Neighbors.
Acme Register Tapes:
It’s time to start saving those Acme register tapes again! The program began August 11 and runs through December 31. The collection box is in the Social Hall. All proceeds benefit the Mission Trip Fund.
Save Our Steeple Campaign Update
Donations received as of 10/24/2016 totals $102,247.17 of our $250,000 goal.
The finial has been recreated. Look for Frost Architectural Preservation, Inc., workers who are scrapping, priming & eventually painting when it is not raining.
Pilgrim needs people willing to go to local businesses to solicit for donations. Please contact the office to pick-up a folder to take to a business.
Evangelism Meetings-- Evangelism is trying something new to engage congregational interest and help in growing our Pilgrim Faith Community. With that in mind, we will be holding our meetings out in the community at local coffee shops. The meeting places will rotate and as this is an experiment, we will change the meeting times quarterly, seeking a convenient time that has impact. All meetings will be on the 2nd Monday of the month and will occur at 9:00 a.m. We invite you to mark your calendars and plan on attending! Monday, November 14th, 9 a.m. -- Portage Crossings Starbucks Monday, December 12th 9 a.m. -- Dunkin Donuts, State Road Monday, January 9th 9 a.m. -- Panera Graham Rd.
Fall Youth Event – November 19/20 @ Pilgrim Hills
Be The Church: Where do we begin to respond? The cost: $70.
Includes lodging, meals and a live show from speaker and world percussionist, Elec Simon. Check him out at http://elecsimon.com. T-shirts will cost $10 - $12 extra. Please let Marilyn Freeman know if you are interested. Scholarships may be available
December 4 – Toys Around the Manger Bring a new toy or article of clothing for any age/size.
Please don’t forget adults like presents, too! All donated items are taken to Good Neighbors.
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO...
11/16 - Michael & Katharine Subichin
11/19 - Tom & Alice Woodburn
11/23 - Jason & Terri VanHorn
Happy Birthday Date—Name
11/04
Don Robart
Crystal Wagner
11/05
Linda Stimmel
11/06
Donna Ford
11/12
Cady Dannemiller
Date—Name
11/13
Kacy Wagner
11/16 Mark Holzapfel
Don Neill
11/20 Rich Gill
11/29 Karen Day
Ruth Fowler
Do You. . . love music, love to sing? Consider being part of the Choir during Advent!!! Join Kyle Kelvington, Music Director, and the Choir Vocalists! Rehearsals at 9:00 am on Sunday mornings!
From DIACONATE & FAITH FORMATION
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO:
PILGRIM’S ADVENT DINNER WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30th at 6 p.m. Bring your favorite casserole, salad or dessert and join us for a potluck dinner. All present will enjoy good food, singing, crafts and decorating of the Christmas Tree in the Social Hall in preparation for Christmas.
DECEMBER SUNDAY EVENTS: December 4 - Toys Around the Manager AND Annual Meeting, Part I December 11 - Children’s Pageant AND/OR Carol Sing December 18 - Special Music AND Wassail December 24 - Christmas Eve Service - Readings & Song at 7 pm December 25 - Christmas Day Brunch at 9:30 am; Christmas Day Service at 10:30 am
SIGN-UP For... In Social Hall & Ed Wing Bulletin Board
Advent Dinner RSVP & dish bringing begins Nov. 6th Sanctuary Poinsettias begins November 20th Fellowship Hour Teams beginning Nov. 6th
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Thursday WINDOWS!
The 4 Stain-Glassed Windows in the Sanctuary were removed on Friday, August 5th!
Chuck Stanley will continue the coordinating the putty-ing of the remaining windows on Wednesdays 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm!
Ladder holders are needed for the ladders used to reach the higher windows.
“We are gaining on the windows. Thank You!” Chuck Stanley
~ Book of the Month ~
Gifts of the Dark Wood: Seven Blessings for Soulful Skeptics (And Other Wanderers) by Eric Elnes Though commonly understood as a place to be feared and avoided, the Dark Wood is the surest place to meet God. It is a place where you may feel uncertain, empty, lost, tempted, and alone. Yet these feel-ings-these gifts of the Dark Wood-can be your greatest assets on your journey because they invite you to probe, ques-tion, and discover. According to the ancients, you don’t need to be a saint or spiritual master to experience profound awakening. You don’t even have to be “above average.” All you need to be is struggling. Eric Elnes (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is a UCC pastor, author, speaker and host of Darkwood Brew, an online spiritual gathering place for an engaging exploration of Convergence Christianity. He lives with his wife and daughter in Omaha Nebraska.
Prayers for Pilgrims
Pray for the family of Charles Adams and his recent death.
Pray for George Mortimer healing at home.
Pray for Max the dog.
Pray for Kassady Oberacker dealing with complicated medical issues and limited mobility.
Pray for Eric Dempsey recovering from Open Heart surgery and his family.
Pray for Sue Abbott as she works through the grief of Dick’s death.
Pray for a person with emotional issues who is going through a divorce.
David Allen, grandson of Mary Ann Jopperi, having treatments for eye cancer.
Pray for those “dealing with stuff” that makes their lives a bit rocky. Pray for patience, insight &
the ability to make the best decisions given their circumstances.
Pray for healing for Henry Nagel, Alice Woodburn, and Jackie Wanclovic Please pray for Lois Shook and Lena Macale, both on Pilgrim’s Visitation List. Please pray for blessings & (the) gift of the Love of Family. Please pray for comfort & support of a good friend who is struggling. Praises to all our police & fire personnel! Pray for a person with emotional issues who is going through a divorce. Pray for all those in church who are ill, &/or have a sick family member or medical issues & decisions to make. Please pray for the areas in our country and others dealing with droughts, lack of food, uprooted homes caused by floods, civil unrest and wars. Please continue to pray for Rev. Kirk Bruce and his family as they continue to shepherd Pilgrim.
Thank you to Pilgrim Members & Friends from Stewardship Board ~
Pilgrim was able to send out the Benevolence Funds for the 2nd & 3rd Quarters in the amount
of $3956.00 to EOA/WRA, Hope Homes, UCH-Chapel Hill, Family Promise of Summit Co. (IHN), Ohio Con-
ference Camp Fund, OCWM-Disaster Response, S.A.R.A., Seeds That May Grow, Reliant.org Kent State
H2O Church, Back Bay Mission & Pilgrim’s Free Community Lunch.
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Was creation
an accident?
What does created in God’s image
mean?
COME!
JOIN OUR FUN!
Pilgrim Youth in the A.T.T.I.C.
(Attitudes Turning Truthful In Christ)
Grades 6 -12 Book Study –“Attitude Is Your Paintbrush:It Colors Every Situation”
by James W. Moore
We meet every Sunday in the ATTIC from 9:30 -10:15
Once a month we meet at Dunkin’ Donuts at 8:50 for
“Scripture and Sweets” (and coffee!)
We have several other youth activities, too.
Check out our Youth Page on the website,
www.pilgrimcf.org.
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Welcome to L.I.G.H.T.
Learning in God’s House Together
Sunday Morning Lessons 9:30 – 10:15 AM Preschool through Grade 5
Bible Max Theater – Children’s Library –
God’s Trombones, narrated by James Earl Jones; The Creation, narrated by Amy Grant;
Popcorn! Juice! Movies! Create! Learn about God’s design for all of creation.
Experience the Creation Story through art, music, drama, creative movement.
computer lessons, and cooking over several weeks.
What we will learn? What We Will Experience
Finding Genesis and Creation story Co-creating with God
Name the gifts of God’s creation Being created in God’s image
That everything God created was good God’s presence with us always
God was and is always present ??? – ask [email protected] Giving thanks for creation
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Every Wednesday 6:00—7:30 pm
October 5th —December 7th, 2016
January 25—March 29th, 2017
Fall Theme—Parables of Jesus
Light Meal, Bible Story, Crafts,
Games, Music, Skits, Dance, Prayer
Children in Kindergarten through Grade Five
130 Broad Blvd ~ Cuyahoga Falls
www.pilgrimcf.org ~ 330-928-4847
Call the office or go online to register
Pilgrim United Church of Christ
invites you to join us for
J. O. Y. Kids! Jesus. Others. You.
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Fellowship Hour-- Evangelism is trying something different to ensure that Fellowship Hour continues to happen AND
WE need YOUR help to make it work.
WE INVITE YOU to be a part of 4 different Fellowship Hour Teams.
Each Fellowship Hour team consists of 4 members each.
Each Fellowship Hour Team would be assigned one Sunday per month for 3 months.
We envision the teams having 2 members who arrive early for set up AND
2 members who stay after for clean-up;
However, each team can decide individually how they wish to handle the task.
The same goes for providing the refreshments. The basic supplies will be provided (coffee, tea, condiments, punch) but what is served can be either something the team decides to bring and contribute or if members of the team are unable to provide the items served, for whatever reason, there will be cookies available in the freezer.
For the first trial quarter period, all teams will be working with an experienced volunteer who has helped to provide fellowship hour in the past.
There will be a sign-up sheet in the Fellowship Hall. You may contact Janna Redd or Shari Schneider with any questions. We hope that you will consider signing up to be a part of a Fellowship Hour Team! It's an opportunity to make new friends, volunteer with current friends and to serve your church community. We plan to start this trial in January and are asking people to begin signing up for a team now!
More Thank You’s! Dear Pilgrim, On behalf of our staff, volunteer camp leaders and the young people who attend camp each summer, thank you very much for the gift from Pilgrim UCC to be used for camperships. We very much appreciate the continuing support provided by your church. Your generous gifts make a summer camp experience possible for young people who might otherwise not be able to participate. Thank you again for helping campers from around the Conference in this way. Sincerely, Pamela Brown Conference Administrator
2 GS Troop Mtg. 1-2:30pm AMMS,SH 2-8pm WRSS V, CL 4-8pm WRSS C, AL 6-7:30pm J.O.Y. Kids Club 6:30-8:30 pm AIU Rehearsal, SH 7pm Bible Study 8pm Hand Bell Choir
