PILGRIM CHURCH WEYMOUTH, UCC
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Prayer: The Missing Ingredient in a Fight for the Environment

7/21/2017

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By Tiffany Vail, Massachusetts Conference, UCC. For original article visit this link.
In the fight against a natural gas compressor station in Weymouth, environmental activists thought they had tried everything.

But one thing they were missing - prayer - may just have been the missing ingredient.

Gretchen Elmendorf, Pastor of the East Weymouth Congregational Church, says the story began two and half years ago, when Massachusetts Conference Climate Justice Intern Patrick Cage called her office and asked if she might be interested in joining with other churches to work against a compressor in Weymouth.

"I said that sounds great, I sent out an email, and I forgot about it," she said. "But you know how God doesn't knock on your door only once?"

Fast forward six months, and Gretchen and Tina Walker-Morin, Pastor of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC, Weymouth, were marching together with other residents against the compressor station. Since that time, they have been going to town hall meetings and marches, making calls and writing letters, and Elmendorf spent time sitting in the Governor's office with a woman doing a sit-in there. And at the State of the Town Meeting, she heard Mayor Robert Hedlund say that no where else in the nation was there a compressor station proposed for such a densely populated area - and no where else were town leaders so passionately working against one.

Then Elmendorf heard the Rev. Paul Nickerson say that vital churches are the ones that fall in love with their communities. 

"As a pastor, I fell in love with Weymouth," she said. "I am awed by the civic and political leadership in this town. I asked God in prayer: what else would you have me do to help?  And the answer that came to me was to start an open prayer group for the community - not in the church but at the dirty, industrial site of the proposed compressor station."

So, in partnership with Walker-Morin and a local Baptist pastor, Betsy Sowers, Elmendorf tonight will lead the first of a weekly prayer circle at the site. Activists gather at the site every Wednesday evening at 5 PM and hold signs; now at 6 PM they will have a chance to join in prayer.

Elmendorf said when she went to a Fore River Citizen's Action Against the Compression Station meeting to propose the idea, it was embraced.

"To my amazement, in this secular meeting, they were unanimously for this," she said.  "They said 'we've tried everything' and I thought to myself, ah yeah, but then there is the spiritual." 

"I tilled the land of the prayer site by going and offering prayers during the day and at night and creating prayer videos that I posted on social media," Elmendorf said. The first prayer, which you can see here, was viewed over 2,000 times in 24 hours. 

Youth work on a prayer wall at the site

"I wanted to involve the children and youth of the church in this movement, so they developed a prayer wall and said some prayers as well at the site," she said.

"What's stunning now is how the awareness about this multi-layered movement is growing exponentially and every day seems to be filled with serendipity, or divine Providence," Elmendorf said "The Boston Globe is turning its attention to the issues, and Governor Baker said he would get involved."

"It's like there is that last ingredient needed to make the soufflé rise – adding the Holy Spirit to the mix is just right," she said.


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Helping all god's creatures

4/23/2017

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The Sunday School children delivered the funds they raised ($173.59) during Lent to the Scituate Animal Shelter today. Derryk contributed as well by bringing a couple sacks of food.
Great Job Kids!!

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Helping Friends of the Homeless South Shore

1/10/2017

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Thank you to everyone who made and got warm items to our giving tree. These wonderful items will be brought to the Friends of the Homeless South Shore to help keep folks warm this winter. ~Danielle

​The Friends of the Homeless of the South shore Christmas party was held in Hingham December 13th.   Families from their sponsored shelters were invited for dinner, crafts, and a visit from santa. Pilgrim church again provided the room and table decorations. Thank you to the many church members who helped make the room look so festive. Also thank you to Rev Tina, Jean, Debbie, Shirely, Jack, Sally & Jay for helping with the set up. 

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Help FHSS

10/11/2016

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We invite you to join us in supporting Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore!

There are two projects currently going on at Pilgrim which support FHSS:

1) If you shop at Shaws Supermarket we ask you to collect the proportional stamps for the Faberware Cookware. Shop at participating Shaw’s locations between September 14, 2016 and January 3, 2017 to collect stamps.
 
Earn one stamp for every $10 you spend, spend $20 receive two stamps, $30 three stamps and on and on. Save the stamps and turn them into Linda Ames at church. She will gather them all up for FHSS so they can redemmer them for NEW Farberware Millennium Stainless Steel Cookware! http://www.shaws.com/earn-free-farberware/

The cookware will be given to a family who was previously experiencing homelessness and have just moved into their new home. 

​2) Join us on Thursday, October 20 for a Santa's Workshop  to create Christmas decorations for the annual FHSS Holiday Party!
Click here for more information.
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Cleaning Up Beal's Park

5/2/2016

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On Saturday, April 30, 2016 members of Pilgrim Church took part in the city wide annual tradition of cleaning up Weymouth. Beal's Park is located right next door to Pilgrim and in truly neighborly fashion we picked up trash, racked leaves and spread play ground mulch. Below are some pictures from the fun filled morning!
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Chicks for Lent!

4/11/2016

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 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:15-17
This Lent the children of Pilgrim Congregational Church collected loose change for Heifer International. The goal of this mission Lenten practice was to teach the youth about how to "feed my lambs", "tend my sheep" and "feed my sheep" and the power of Christ's resurrection!

All together the children raise $200! Enough to purchase 10 flocks of chicks through Hiefer!

Did you know?
  • Chickens require very little space, allowing families with small plots of land to maximize what they plant. Chickens help farm production by eating insects, removing weeds and even fertilizing crops.
  • When they get going, chickens can run at speeds up to 9 miles per hour. The average human jogs at about 6 miles per hour, so good luck catching a chicken!
  • A single chicken lays an egg every 24-26 hours, providing over 200 eggs or chicks per year. In addition to providing food source for a single family, these eggs and poultry can also be taken to market and sold, raising funds for medicine clothing and more.
  • While chickens are not capable of sustained flight, they can get off the ground when needed. The longest flight of a chicken on record is an incredible thirteen seconds!
  • Scientist believe that chickens are the closest living relative of Tyrannosaurus Rex. We have living breathing, feathered dinosaurs all around us!
http://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/animals-nutrition/flock-of-chicks-donation.html

 


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Easter Candy Donated to Families in Need

2/22/2016

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During Lent this year, the people of Pilgrim sprang into action when they heard that Interfaith Social Services was in need of candy for their annual Easter baskets. The congregational quickly pulled together and donated thousands of pieces of candy.

Every year Interfaith Social Services distributes Easter baskets to clients who have children age 12 and under. These parents can't afford to buy Easter baskets for their children, and this is one way that they can brighten the lives of children who are living in some pretty difficult circumstances. The organization anticipates serving Easter baskets to about 350 children this year.

Thank you Interfaith Social Services for all the work you do and for allowing us to have a small part!

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Winter fun!

1/25/2016

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Last week prior to our latest snow storm, the Friends of the Homeless South Shore contacted Pilgrim Congregational Church in search of a sled for a 5 year old boy. We sent out an email to our church community and with in 3 minutes multiple people offered up sleds! The Spirit moved and Sunday morning the boy was out feeling the wind in his hair as he flew down the hill at Beals Park. 

Thank you Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore for all that you do and allowing us to have a small part in your work!

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Warming Hearts and Hands

1/4/2016

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Thank You!

Once again this year's Giving Tree was full from top to bottom! A big Thank You to everyone who donated new hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, and other warm winter apparel this Advent and Christmas Season. These items have been donated to the Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore. Your donations are greatly appreciated! 

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Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore

12/16/2015

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Once again Pilgrim Congregational Church worked held Santa's workshops once a month for the past six months to create decorations for the annual Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore Christmas Party. The event was a huge success! Not only did Pilgrim create the decorations but members of the congregation set-up, volunteered during the event and helped clean up. Over 200 hundred people were in attendance including Santa! What a joy to see all the hard work of our parishioners come together in the beautiful decorations and to see the joy on the children's faces taking their new Christmas items home. Big thank you to our creative leader Shirley Richardson!

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What a blessing to be involved with a great organization which helps families right in our own neighborhood. 
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    Mission at Pilgrim

    Pilgrim Church is an active faith community which works directly with our surrounding communities. Involvement includes:
    * Beals Park Clean Up 
    * Weymouth Food Pantry
    * Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore
    * Christmas Giving Tree
    * Opportunities for Weymouth High School Youth to volunteer
    * Father Bill's
    * Weymouth Addiction Support Team
    * Learn to Cope
    * ​Scituate Animal Shelter
    ​* AA and NA

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