Pilgrimage to Memphis

Over the weekend of March 26-27, six Pilgrims traveled to Memphis to observe and explore the ways that First Congregational Church [1st Congo] transformed from a struggling church with a handful of members 23 years ago into the vibrant and vital church it is today.

The six of us met for lunch on Saturday at the restaurant in the same shop that Elvis’ mom used to get her hair done.  It was literally a stone’s throw from the church.  We were Mark Barnett, Sarah Coffin, Larry Gaines, Jenny Heim, Carol Moakley and Mark Robinson.  Mark B and Sarah got a head start on the weekend by attending a presentation about the emergent church also held that weekend in Memphis.


After lunch we met with Rev. Cheryl Cornish.  She went to Memphis 23 years ago after serving our church in Augusta, MO.  She spoke to us about the early struggles with the dying church and the decision to move to their present location.


We met with her for three hours asking her about history and process and getting a tour of the church building they now occupy.


One of the occupants of their building is the Global Goods Store which is much like Plowsharing Crafts.  They house a counseling service, a team of midwives who work mostly with immigrant populations, and dozens of other organizations.  The part of the building we stayed in [in the hostel] also housed a bicycle repair and renovation shop.  For more about the programs at the church you can review their web site.


On Sunday morning before worship this space was crowded with a diverse collection of members and visitors drinking coffee, eating baked goods, and listening to live music.  The sound of drumming called everyone together into the renovated sanctuary.



This used to be a theater with theater seating [still extant in the balcony] but a substantial loan from the national UCC helped them clear out the space and add the new floor which includes a labyrinth.



We found the members to be eager to talk to us.  This couple stood in the cold and chatted with us about their history with the congregation and what it means to them to be a part of it.



We will be working to present a consensus report on what we found and what we recommend for Pilgrim.

eNewsletter

Dear Pilgrims:

The Ministry of Communication and Evangelism with the support of the Pilgrim Council has been working on revamping how we communicate to take better advantage of the tools we have through the Internet.

You will begin to get an eNewsletter each Thursday with information about what has been happening and what is about to happen at Pilgrim.  There will be links for more information as the email will be very short with just the basics presented.

Valerie will be publishing this using the information that we have given her and that she will already have posted on our web site.  She will be guided by Pastor Tom about priorities, but she can’t post what you haven’t written, so be sure to get information to her.  This is a way we can all communicate with all of us in a timely and detailed way.

You have already seen a sample of what we are working on as I accidentally broadcast it to everyone.  If you explored it, you know that not all the links work yet.

You may have ideas about what you would like to see in the weekly newsletter.  If so, please let Valerie know and we will look for a way to incorporate it.

Mark Lee Robinson

ML King Sunday at Pilgrim

Tomorrow is a very big day a Pilgrim.  Be sure to be there.

Joint service with Westminster and Union Avenue with

• great preaching from Leah Gunning Francis, Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Eden Theological Seminary
• great music from the combined choirs and full band with both organ and piano on a splendid rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,”
• followed by a Soul Food Buffet luncheon.

There are some things we would like you to do as part of the event.

• Be there early to put on your name tag and greet others as they arrive and be sure they can find their way and feel at home.
• Help with the luncheon by gathering donations, helping people find their way, and be seated, and
• by aiding in the cleanup washing dishes, putting away silverware, and packing up leftover food for Soup Kitchen.

Remember, this party is at our home.  We are the hosts.