A Letter from Lindy Dec 24

 “Surrogacy” by Hannah Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org

Beloved Pilgrims,
 
Christmas Eve approaches and I look forward to all of our festivities throughout the day into the evening. I love leaning into Pilgrim traditions, even when multiple fall on the same day. Our morning will be filled with the delight of children’s voices and our evening will hear anew the sacred story of Jesus’ birth in word and song. In between we will gather to break bread and fellowship at our Christmas potluck dinner. I can’t wait.
 
A special note. Our special Christmas Eve offering will be apportioned between three organizations. As has been our recent history, 50% of what we receive will be directed to the UCC Special Christmas Offering which has cared for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.
The balance of our offering will be divided between two organizations: the Jewish Agency for Israel which has been working since 1929 to secure a vibrant Jewish future by providing immediate financial assistance to victims and their families. And the Palestine Children's Relief Fund which was founded in 1991 to provide free medical care to injured and ill Palestinian children who lack access to care within their local health care systems.
 
On behalf of the Board of Christian Service, We hope you will give generously on Christmas Eve as Pilgrim shares its wishes of hope, peace, joy, and love for these important organizations and the communities they support.
 
Pastor Lindy (she/her) why pronouns matter

How does a weary world rejoice? We allow ourselves to be amazed.