From the Pastor
The Rev. Dr. Keith C. Alderman
Pointing the Way
Recently someone came into my office with a
long, sharp pointed object, and directed it at
me rather threateningly. I asked what it was,
and the person said, AThis is Harry Potter=s
Magic Wand,@ where people in the movies
about Harry Potter made magical things
happen. On closer examination, it indeed was
something that looked as
if it was a magic wand. It
was a replica movie prop
which was sold as a local
fund raiser.
This month, Janel Milner,
our moderator, is going
to lead an adult study
group on the Gospel
According to John. There
are four Gospels in the New Testament, and
each gives a different point of view as to who
Jesus is to the people of the First Century, and
who Jesus is to modern people. Matthew,
Mark, and Luke are somewhat similar, in that
they seem to be in conversation with the
Gospel of Mark, which is generally considered
to be the first Gospel we have, which was
written about year 60 of the common era. The
Gospel of John is a bit different. The writer of
John certainly knows the Christian tradition,
but has a different point of view from the other
Gospels. Not wrong, but different. The Gospel
of John has many hidden depths of meaning. It
has been compared to a pond which is safe
enough for infant children to play in, but also
has places where it is deep enough for an
elephant to swim.
In some ways, the Gospel of John is
like the Magic Wand in the Harry
Potter movies. It serves to point the
way to a place where the truths
revealed at Easter are made manifest,
and because of this neither we, nor
the world we live in can ever be the
same again. I invite you to come to
this study of the Gospel of John, and
perhaps you will see light where there was
formerly darkness, and you will be able to
behold your relationship to God in a new way.
+ In Christ,
The Rev. Dr. Keith C. Alderman
From the Associate Pastor
Jonathan Elsensohn
It's raining, one of those April showers that are supposed to usher in May flowers. The last
fitful traces of snow have disappeared from road and trail, with a few tenacious holdouts still
hiding in the deep shadowy places. With the celebration of Easter, we have well and truly
moved out of the long winter of Lent and into Spring. Looking at the calendar, this newly made
season of flowers and budding leaves seems all too short. There are only four Sundays this
month, and that hardly seems enough to fit in all of the events we have planned at PCC.
First, on May 4th our First Communion class will join us in worship to receive their first
communion. For them it will be the end of the first stage of their Christian journey, allowing
them to join with the rest of the congregation in one of the most important rituals of our faith.
When we come to the communion table, we can perceive God's hand reaching out to us,
welcoming us wherever we may have come from. I hope that you will be able to join us that
Sunday, to share some of that extravagant welcome with Ian, Lucia, Noelle, Victoria and
Jonathan.
On the 18th, all of the children of the church will have an opportunity to visit Living Stone, a
devotional garden in Leominster. The garden is comprised of monuments and monoliths, all
carved with selections from scripture and images drawn from the Judeo-Christian tradition. If
you and/or your children are interested in visiting this impressive site, please speak to either
myself of Grant Thorne.
In a few weeks, the apple and cherry trees will burst forth into a riot of blossoms. As we enter
this season of flower and fruit, may the seeds that you planted during the long days of Lent
come forth in new life.
Blessings, -Jon
MODERATOR’S MOMENT
Janel Milner
John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The laws of a godly mother
[The writer of Proverbs says, "forsake not the law of your mother."] I
recall some of the unique "laws" of my mother...The first I call "the law of the
warm kitchen." It seemed when I got home from school on a cold winter's day
or when the holidays rolled around, the kitchen was always so warm from
baking and cooking that the windows were steamed. It was also warm with a
mother's love. A second (law) was "the law of a mother's perspective." When
I'd come to her all upset over some childish matter, she'd often say, "Pay no ,tention. Pay no ,tention." Or
she'd say, "Ten years from now you'll have forgotten all about it." But above all was Mother's "law of faith."
Like Lois and Eunice in 2 Timothy 1:5, she had an unswerving trust in God that kept her strong and gentle amid
the fears, pressures and sacrifices of the war years and of the 1950's.
-David C. Egner
Monday,
May 26, 2014
3
Christian Education News
~~~~MAY ~~~~
SUMMER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Upcoming Events
Interested in leading a
Sunday School Session during
the summer?
Children’s Church, Sunday May
4th
Children Pre-K through 2nd grade.
Curriculum will be prepared
and ready to go…look for
opportunities to sign up in
Fellowship Hall.
First Communion: Sunday May 4th
Christian Education Committee
Meeting, Monday, May 5th 6:30 in
conference room.
Youth Group Meeting, Sunday,
June 1st after the service.
Adult CE Event! Potluck :
Saturday, June 7th 5:30-7:30
CE Sunday, Sunday, June 8th
Office Hours – Pastor Jon is in
on Monday and Tuesday,
9 a.m.-3 p.m. and can be
reached through the office at
978-534-5164.
Thank You to Colette Vallee for putting
the CE Basket together for the church
fair.
PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS
IN THE “MESSENGER”
Pilgrim Congregational Church
invites members and friends to
advertise your business in our
monthly newsletter. The cost is
$25.00 per calendar quarter.
Simply submit a business card or
equivalent-size notice to the
church office, along with payment,
for however many quarters you’d
like the ad to run. This is a
wonderful opportunity to promote
your business while contributing
financially to the church’s
operations. We thank the
following for advertising in the
“Messenger”:
==============================
FOOD PANTRY - May
In the merry month of May, our “bag
ladies” are requesting cereal and
peanut butter to fill the shelves of
our Food Pantry. As always, any nonperishable food item is gladly
accepted, as are monetary donations.
Scrips On Line Ordering
(A new way to support this fundraiser)
You can complete your Scrips order form on line and it will be forwarded directly to the coordinators for
processing.
This method will give you access to even more of a list of vendors from which you can purchase and allow you
to order at your convenience even if you are not in church on order Sunday.
If you enroll on line you will need the church’s enrollment code in order for the order to be credited to us.
The website to use is www.shopwithscrip.com
The enrollment code is 4551C6EE22778
You will still need to send/give payment for your order in the form of a check made out to the church directly
to Mary or put it in the vice moderator’s mailbox in the church office so that we can credit your order as paid.
If you choose to mail it, please refer to SCRIPS on the envelope so it doesn’t get misplaced in the church office.
We will be placing orders on the second Sunday of the month. So for May, the next order date is Sunday, May
11th.
Any questions, see Mary Mullahy or e-mail her ([email protected])
As this is a new process for me, please shoot me an email to let me know that you placed an order so I don’t
miss it, especially until we try it a few months.
Mary Mullahy
6
DEACON OF THE WEEK – MAY
May 4 – Mary Mullahy
5/1
5/2
5/3
5/4
5/5
5/6
5/7
5/10
5/11
5/12
5/14
5/15
5/17
5/20
5/21
5/22
5/23
5/24
5/25
5/27
5/30
5/31
Stanley Gordon
Rebecca Paquette
Sandra Taralli
Kathy Lally
Brenda Kenney
Eric Kristoff
Anthony Piltzecker
Harriet Edson
Ruth Rooney
April Firmin
Mary Samia
Ann Douglas
Kathy Cunningham
John Foster
Nancy Hicks
Mark Arena
Robert Brown
Jillian McDowell
Russell Wass
Marcia Furtado
Rob Romick
Gordon Graham
Irene Barry
Dorothy Koski
Deb Peretti
Butch Ojala
Scott Elliot
Denise Permatteo
Rod Schaffter
John MacDonald
Bonnie Hathaway
Assisting Rev. Keith and Mary with
communion will be: Sandra DeRienzo,
Bonnie Clifton, Bonnie Hathaway, Deb
Walker and Charlie Milhans
May 11 – Rod Schaffter
May 18 – Bonnie Clifton
May 25 – to be determined
========================
Progressive Dinner, Sat., Sept. 13,
2014. Babysitting available this year.
Non-committal sign up on Opportunity
Table after May 10.
Rummage Sale, Sat., Sept. 27, 2014
during Johnny Appleseed Festival.
Men’s, Women’s, and especially
children’s clothes needed. NO SHOES!
Growth Committee
Any questions, ask Penny Faul, Natalie
Stassen, Sue Kristoff, or Karen McNall
7
I want to thank all my
church family and
friends for all their
cards, e-mails and
prayers during the time
of my medical
problems. It really
does make a difference. I guess we really are
a church family. Again, thank you all and God
Bless.
Dave Toohey
(First Baptist Church in Clinton, MA), along with
Lucille directing our choir, our choir singing, and
our Pilgrim Church family travelling to celebrate in
Moms service, will forever remain in our hearts
with grace and in deep appreciation. May God
Bless each and every one of you and our Pilgrim
Congregational Church UCC.
Sincerely,
Evelyn Jiménez & Janel E. Milner
Rev. Dr. Keith C. Alderman and Congregation,
Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC
I would like to extend a special "Thank You" to
our Rev Keith Alderman. Keith visited me many
times while I was in the hospital and at my
home. His visits always made me feel better
and lifted my spirits. Needless to say, his many
prayers with me worked just fine. We are a
very lucky church family to have someone like
him. Again, Thank You, Keith and God Bless.
Thank you
Dave
Thank you so much to the children of the
Church School and to others who sent me
Easter cards. I appreciate your thinking of me.
I hope to come back to church some day.
Erika Yule
On behalf of my Mom, Petronila “Toni” JiménezGallardo and our family, we remain full of your
love, prayers, and compassion with Mom’s
passing. The outpouring of our Church family
support has been overwhelmingly welcomed with
such Christian warmth and gratitude. Rev. Keith’s
immediate response in prayer, visitation, counsel
and in at officiating Mom’s service in her church
The family of Petronila “Toni” Jimenez-Gallardo
acknowledges with grateful appreciation your kind
expression of sympathy.
To bring PCC-UCC from Leominster to my mom’s
church, given her Pastor has moved to Puerto Rico,
is a true and kind act of generosity and love for us
and my Mom.
We remain forever grateful for such a beautiful
celebration of Mom’s love of God and life – Faith
and Family truly personified!
Keith,
I cannot thank you, Lucille and Jack, our choir and
congregation enough for all that you and they have
done for my Family and My Precious Blessed Mom.
May you all be forever blessed and cared for
through the eyes and love of our Dear Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
Sincerely, Evelyn, Janel, Marty and Di
8
THANK YOUs (Continued)
Pilgrim Signage
A sub-committee is being formed to explore
On behalf of the Banda family here in the USA
and in Zambia, we would like to thank our
Pilgrim Congregational Church family for the
overwhelming support, sympathy and kindness
that we have received since we lost our son.
We would also like to give a special thank you
for the generous donations given to the Banda
Scholarship Fund. The fund will be put to good
use, and for the purpose it was set up for.
After careful thought and prayers, we have
made a decision on the beneficiary of the
scholarship fund. As a family we have also
decided that we will try to keep the fund going
from family donations for as long as possible.
We are thankful that the memory of our son will
also be tied to the memory of our wonderful
family that we have at PCC who made this
possible and that is a memory we will cherish
forever.
new outdoor signage for Pilgrim Church. Our
Thank you all, and God bless.
raised over $1,000 towards our new pew
Joseph and Rosemary Banda
cushions! It would be great if our flamingos
first meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 20th
at 7:30 p.m. in the Conference Room. This
meeting will take place after the Coordinating
Council meeting. We are aiming for
representation from each committee so that
input will be received from all aspects of our
church community. You do not need to be a
member of a committee to attend this meeting.
This sub-committee is open to all who are
interested in being involved with this vital
mission for Pilgrim Church!
As the weather is getting warmer, our
flamingos will be flocking throughout the
community. Last year, Flamingo Flocking
can help raise funds towards our new signage!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FIRST COMMUNION
Please contact Robin Gallagher
Several students will be receiving their First
Communion on Sunday, May 4th. Join with
them on this important occasion.
([email protected]) if you have any
questions about the Sign Sub-Committee, or if
you are interested in being a part of our
“flocking team” this summer.
POT LUCK DINNER – SUNDAY, MAY 18
After church service. More details elsewhere
in this newsletter. Sign up sheet is on the
Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.
9
Women’s Book Bash
June 1, 2014
Our last book selection of the season is by an author of The Red Tent, one of our
favorite books from several years ago. It is another story in the vein of our previous
selections like Sarah’s Key, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,
and The Book Thief. Like these titles, Day After Night will no doubt be a source of
intense discussion.
Anita Diamant's Day After Night focuses on four women of different backgrounds in the
aftermath of WWII. They are classified as “displaced persons” by the British and are
housed with hundreds in a camp in Palestine waiting for permission to immigrate to
Israel. These remarkable young women meet there and attempt to adjust to life and to
deal with the consequences of what they did to survive the fates that claimed the lives
of their friends and families.
We will meet at the home of Karen McNall, 267 Willard Street, Leominster, MA from
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Karen’s phone number is 978-537-6351. Come join us on Sunday,
June 1, 2014 to share your thoughts and feelings with other women of the church. Call
Beth Lyle at 978-537-6964 if you have any questions or need a ride.
Day After Night by Anita Diamant
The year is 1945. European Jews are evacuating their former homelands and heading for
the British Mandate of Palestine by foot, by leaky boats, by any way they can find. The
British stand at the borders, ready to turn them back. Not to be denied, the "illegal"
immigrants find ways around the blockaded roads or have to be rescued from
floundering boats. For those caught or rescued, the Atlit detention camp becomes their
new home.
Anita Diamant examines these double survivors in her new book, Day After Night. She
focuses on four women, each from a different country, a different situation, but all
intensely avoiding the memories of the past years. The life of the camp and the
interactions of the immigrants make a compelling story interwoven with the pasts and
the futures of these people determined to make a new life in a land that welcomes them.
The tale is straightforward, never melodramatic, and finally satisfying as the survivors
struggle to find their way to safety. This is a story set in the distant past but universal in
its humanity and a story that cannot be told too often.
10
SHOP for MOTHER'S DAY
at
THE SHOPPES AT 'SPRING IN BLOOM' FAIR
May 10, 2014 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Early bird special: 7:30 AM
YARD SALE SHOPPE: many bargains at reasonable prices
All other shoppes open at 8:00 AM
Plant Shoppe: house plants, perennials, hanging plants
Re-sale Shoppe: gently used items or Good Cheap Junk
Luncheon Shoppe: breakfast of coffee, tea, and donuts. Luncheon of famous egg salad
sandwiches, pizza, brownie sundaes, and more
Sweet Shoppe: cakes, pies, cookies, squares, breads, fudge, and candy
Gift Shoppe: wreaths, flower arrangements, jewelry, stylish headbands, dog toys, and
many unique handmade items
Book Shoppe: new and gently used books for adults and kids of all ages
Silent Auction Shoppe: new handcrafted wooden bowl made by Al Faul, set of Red Sox
tickets donated by Brian Kenney, handmade wooden train made by Henry Richter, dish
garden by Nancy Hicks, set of three Fenton Glass animals, Fenton glass bowl, and more.
Last call for bids at 2:15 P.M. with winners announced at 2:25 P.M.
Jewelry Shoppe: sparkling jewelry ready for new owners
Raffle Shoppe: gift cards from local restaurants and stores, homemade items, and many
SURPRISES. Winners announced at 2:15 P.M.
Themed Basket Shoppe: Baby Basket, Wine Basket, Garden Basket, Tea Basket,
Family Fun Basket,Tropical Party Basket, Fun in the Sun Basket, and Golf Basket plus
baskets donated by church committees.
Remember to bring friends, relatives, and neighbors with
you!
11
Sunday, May 18th, we will have Choir Recognition and a Service of Remembrance during the
church service. As an added bonus, Christian Ed. and Worship Committees are sponsoring a
pot luck dinner immediately after the service. A pink sign=up sheet is in Fellowship Hall.
Please sign up if you plan to attend.
If your last name begins with A—C, we are asking you to bring Danish,
bagels, quiche, eggs, etc.
If your last name begins with D—K, we are asking you to bring a salad
(pasta, veggie, fruit, potato).
With a last name of L—P, please bring a main dish.
If your last name begins with Q-S, please bring a dessert.
If your last name begins with T—Z, please bring something to drink.
Any questions, please give Cherie Rivera a call at 978-505-1519.
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
BLANKETS AND TOOLS PROGRAM
The Missions committee is sponsoring Church World Service Blankets and Tools Program again
this year. The program will take place the month of May. This program helps people in need
around the world. The money donated builds a foundation for a more viable future for families struggling. This
program supplies blankets, tools, emergency supplies etc.
If you find it in your heart to donate, please make a check payable to Church World Service Blankets. Special
envelopes will be in the worship bulletins each Sunday in May.
Thank you, on behalf of the Missions Committee and Penny Alderman, for helping make this program such a
success.
12
FOR SALE. Spring is now here! The Schaffters want
to get rid of their elderly, but functional, 38" lawn
tractor. It is a White by MTD from 1997 or so. It can
be YOURS for a donation to Pilgrim Church of
whatever amount you are inspired to give. Contact
Rod at 978.840.4253 or [email protected].
NEW MEMBER
On Sunday, April 6th, Denise Cecile Permatteo
became a member of Pilgrim Congregational
Church. Denise’s husband, Jason, joined previously
on March 9th. Denise is kept busy with their twins,
Andrew and Mireille, but also enjoys gardening.
Welcome, Denise!
Pianos Available for Our Church Members
A local business person is willing to make a
charitable donation to the church of an entry
level spinet or upright piano for any church
member who wishes to have a piano in their
home.
The only cost to the individual would be to pay
to move the piano if
they could not
provide a way to
move it themselves.
Grand Pianos are
available.
Contact: Seven R. Page [email protected] (best); or call
SYMPATHY
Several PCC members have lost family members
since the last edition of “The Messenger”. Our
sympathy is extended to:
978-758-7539 (c).
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FIRST COMMUNION
Evelyn Jiménez and Janel Milner on the passing of
Evie’s mother, Petronila “Tony” Jiménez-Gallardo
on April 8th. A funeral service was held at the First
Baptist Church in Clinton on April 12. Rev. Keith
officiated at the service.
Receiving their First Communion on Sunday,
May 4th will be:
Lucia Maria Joffrion
Jess, Tim and Caia Caouette on the death of Tim’s
father, Gary, on April 16th after an extended illness.
Ian Kenzie Patella
Noelle Julia Piltzecker
Michael and Natalie Stassen and Family on the
death of Michael’s father, Glen, in California.
Jonathan Sampson Raymond
Kathy and Mark Campbell and Family on the
death of Mark’s father, Malcolm, in Bradenton,
Florida this past week.
Victoria Rose Vallee
13
Heavenly thoughts
What is
heaven going to
be like? Just as
there is a mystery
to hell, so there is
a mystery to
heaven. Yet I
believe the Bible
teaches that heaven is a literal place. Is it one of the
stars? I don’t know. I can’t even speculate. The
Bible doesn’t inform us.
I believe that out there in space where there
are one thousand million galaxies, each a hundred
thousand light years or more in diameter, God can
find some place to put us in heaven. I’m not worried
about where it is. I know it is going to be where
Jesus is.
—Billy Graham
***
• Ascension of the Lord, May 29, 2014
***
• “It is not enough to be busy ... The question is:
‘What are we busy about?’”
—Henry David Thoreau
• “A child needs your love most when he deserves it
least.”
—Erma Bombeck
• “[A mother] never quite leaves her children at
home, even when she doesn’t take them along.”
—Margaret Culkin Banning
• “Being considerate of others will take [you]
further in life than any college degree.”
—Marian Wright Edelman
***
Be a praying parent
Celebrating Mom
In spring 2013, a young man named Aba
Atlas wanted to do something special for his
birthday, so he gave his mom a present — and made
a video about the gift and its beloved recipient.
(Locate it on YouTube by searching for
“iProjectAtlas, Dear Mother.”)
For years, Aba’s mother had worked long
hours outside the home and then cared for her kids
each evening. She’d bought a house so her children
would always have a place to call home, yet the
mortgage caused her great stress. Working at a
$30,000/year position, Aba saved enough money to
pay off his mom’s mortgage and, on his birthday,
presented her with a check. According to a caption
in the video, her response was “Wow x 9000.”
“I want to celebrate my life by celebrating
the woman who gave me life,” Aba says.
***
Special dates
• National Day of Prayer, May 1, 2014
• Christian Family Week, May 5-11, 2014
• Mother’s Day, May 11, 2014
• Armed Forces Day, May 17, 2014
• Victoria Day (Canada), May 19, 2014
• Memorial Day, May 26, 2014
Prayer is the
saucer into which
parental fears are
poured to cool. ...
Each time a parent prays, Christ responds. His big
message to moms and dads? Bring your children to
me.
—Max Lucado, Fearless
***
Women of valor
In A Year of Biblical Womanhood (Thomas
Nelson), Rachel Held Evans explores the concept of
the Proverbs 31 woman, whose character is
described as noble or virtuous. Many scholars say
the most accurate translation of the Hebrew phrase
eshet chayil is actually the “valorous woman.”
To many modern-day women, Proverbs 31
seems like an impossible-to-meet job description.
But Evans says that shouldn’t be the case. “The
woman of Proverbs 31 is not some ideal that exists
out there; she is present in each one of us when we
do even the smallest things with valor,” she writes.
“Like any good poem, the purpose of this one is to
draw attention to the often-overlooked glory of the
everyday.”
To affirm the females in her life, Evans
started calling them “women of valor.” What an
honoring way to bless someone’s day!
***
As a mother
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to
you; you are gentle with us as a mother with her
children. Often you weep over our sins and our
pride; tenderly you draw us from hatred and
judgment. You comfort us in sorrow and bind up
our wounds; in sickness you nurse us, and with pure
milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying we are born to new life;
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead; your touch
makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us; in your
love and tenderness remake us. In your compassion,
bring grace and forgiveness; for the beauty of
heaven may your love prepare us.
—Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)
***
Do “eustress” enough?
Stress generally isn’t viewed as positive, but
psychologists speak of both distress and eustress.
Eustress is a level of discomfort not so high as to
make us give up but high enough to urge us
forward.
Winemakers know that the best wine comes
from stressed grapevines, planted in rocky soil and
given only enough water to prompt the roots to
stretch downward to find more moisture. People,
too, grow strong when pushed to work hard, not
when handed everything we want or need. Good
parents know this, as does our good and gracious
God.
When we’re struggling and stressed, God
hasn’t abandoned us, but he may be practicing the
vinedresser’s tough love to help us grow. Perhaps
the Spirit allowed the Bible to be difficult in places
so we’d work to learn what it means. Perhaps God
lets questions challenge our faith so we’ll stretch to
find answers. Maybe God will transform what
seems distressing into eustress — making us the
very best we can be.
***
Holy homophones!
Do you remember learning homophones in
school? We enjoy hearing our grade-schooler make
the connections. Every once in a while, he hears one
— say, chilly — and announces, “Hey! That’s a
homophone of the kind of chili we eat!”
Stuck at home one Sunday morning, I
listened to a local worship service on the radio.
When the pastor prayed, “O Lord God, reign ... ”
my brain — apparently due to the same son’s horseriding lessons — perceived “rein.” In the fraction of
a second before the pastor’s next word, I assumed
he’d say “us in”; instead, he said “in us.”
Ah, I realized, his phrase was “reign in us,”
not “rein us in.” But sometimes God has to do both:
In order to reign in us fully as King of our lives,
God must rein in our tendency to wander away from
him. Only then can we sense the peace that comes
from Christ alone raining down on us! (Aren’t
homophones fun?!)
—Heidi Mann
***
A golden ticket
You are educated. Your certification is in
your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the
good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative.
Think of it as your ticket to change the world.
—Tom Brokaw
***
Beauty in brokenness
Leonard Sweet, author of Strong in the
Broken Places, describes a style of Japanese pottery
called kintsukuroi. It’s the art of repairing pottery
with gold or silver lacquer, leaving the piece more
beautiful for having been broken.
God is like a kintsukuroi potter, healing and
staying near to the brokenhearted (see Psalm 34:18;
51:17; and 147:3). Instead of ashes, mourning and
despair, God provides “a crown of beauty,” “the oil
of joy” and “a garment of praise” (Isaiah 61:3,
NIV).
Although earthly brokenness brings pain, the
Master Creator can turn it into something amazing
that glorifies him. When life seems to fall apart,
remember that our powerful God can make you
more beautiful for having been broken.
***
“Mother and Child”
“I love you,”
said a great mother.
“I love you for what you are,
knowing so well what you are.
And I love you more yet, child,
deeper yet than ever, child,
for what you are going to be,
knowing so well you are going far,
knowing your great works are ahead,
ahead and beyond,
yonder and far over yet.”
—Carl Sandburg
***
Grin and bear it
A preacher decided to skip worship services
one Sunday and head to the hills to do some bear
hunting instead. As the man rounded a corner, he
collided with a huge bear and tumbled down the
mountain, losing his rifle and breaking both legs in
the process. The bear charged toward him, but the
preacher couldn’t move.
“Oh, Lord,” he prayed, “I’m so sorry for
skipping church today. Please forgive me and grant
me just one wish: Please turn that bear into a
Christian!”
Instantly, the bear screeched to a halt, fell to
its knees, clasped its front paws together and began
praying aloud at the preacher’s feet.
“Dear Lord,” the bear said, “bless this food I
am about to receive. Amen.”
Bible Quiz
Complete the following Bible
verse: “A gentle answer turns
away _____, but a harsh
word stirs up _____.”
A. an argument;
obedience
B. wrath; anger
C. jealousy; resentment
D. falsehood; truth
Answer: B (See Proverbs 15:1, NIV.)
***
God is nigh
The simple but powerful bugle melody
“Taps” has been a standard component of U.S.
military funerals since 1891. It’s also played during
each of the 2,500 military wreath ceremonies
conducted every year at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier, including those held on Memorial Day.
Many legends exist about the origin of “Taps” —
both its melody and its lyrics. The words below, by
Horace Lorenzo Trim, make an appropriate bedtime
prayer.
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise for our days
’Neath the sun, ’neath the stars, ’neath the
sky
As we go, this we know
God is nigh.
***
***
Pilgrim Congregational Church
26 West Street
Leominster, MA 01453
A N ew sletter from Pilgrim Congregational Church
Office H ours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Mond ay-Frid ay
The Rev’ d Dr. Keith C. Ald erm an, Minister
Cell phone: 978-407-8502
Mr. Jonathan Elsensohn, Associate Pastor
Lucille Sam pson, Organist/ Music Director
Penny Ald erm an, Ad m in. Assistant
Ashley Keogh, Sund ay Sexton
Office: 978-534-5164 Fax: 978-534-7679
E-m ail: pilgrimchurch1743@com cast.net
Web Page: w w w .pilgrim church-ucc.org
Worship Service: Sund ays, 9:30 AM
Church School: 9:30 AM
2014