Discernment about our calling as a congregation continues! 
 
The next step in the New Beginnings process is the Action Inquiry phase.  May 3, following worship, we will convene from Noon to 3:30 for "Stir Up the Gifts," which is an all-congregation meeting designed to spark Action Inquiry teams inspired by our purpose.  We call them Action Inquiry teams because we are taking action in order to inquire about and test our sense of what our purpose statement means for what we are called to become.
 
John Forman, our New Beginnings Consultant, and the New Beginnings Committee have provided materials to prepare you for our "Stir Up the Gifts" meeting on May 3rd.  This comes in two forms:
 

• An Overview Document: "Stir up The Gifts" Open Space - This document describes the format for the meeting, called Open Space, and how it works.  This also includes our Guiding Principles, which we will review at the beginning of the meeting.
  
• A Personal Worksheet - This document will provide instructions and a worksheet to help you reflect on your own desires for taking action in response to our purpose statement.

 
Copies of these documents are also available on the New Beginnings Blog.  You can find the blog at the link above or link to it from the Church's Home Page at www.allpilgrims.org.
 
You'll feel much more engaged on May 3 if you take the time now to read these documents and prepare your heart and thoughts in advance.
 
CAN'T MAKE IT MAY 3RD?
If you want to host a conversation but can't make it on May 3rd, here's what to do:

We will be hosting Action Team Rallies in June and August so that teams can report in to the congregation on their progress.
 
WHAT IS NEW BEGINNINGS?
 
If you are new to All Pilgrims Christian Church, you may be wondering why we have an Interim Pastor and what this New Beginnings process is all about.  New Beginnings is our congregational process to discern God's calling for us in this time and place.  Out of this process we expect to be renewed as a congregation and to call a long-term pastor.
 
We began a process starting in 2008 of examining our clarity of purpose as a congregation following the departure of our pastoral team.  We decided as a congregation to revise our mission.  We have been engaged since November in an active process of discernment, listening to our hearts and learning to listen for the voice of God.   We have reached a degree of clarity about our purpose and key elements of our calling. The discernment process continues as we try out our understanding in the Action Inquiry phase and open ourselves to new learning and guidance.
 
This phase is open to all who want to be part of our congregational life.  If you are new to All Pilgrims and are drawn to take part, we extend an enthusiastic invitation for you to join in the process.

Greetings from Rev. Nina Merkle Nestlerode - Interim Pastor 

  Ordination of Lindalee M. Purdy

Everyone is invited to attend and celebrate the ordination of Lindalee M. Purdy as Hospice Chaplain.  This momentous occasion for Linda will be held in the All Pilgrims' Sanctuary on Saturday, May 2nd at 3:00 pm.  A dinner reception will follow.  All clergy are invited to robe and wear their red or most exciting stole. 

 

 

 

Resignation Letter:

CJ Adamo, APCC's Resident Caretaker

 

To the congregation of All Pilgrims Christian Church:
It has been an honor serving as your Caretaker for the past year.  After May 1st, you will see me on Sundays as one of you!   I have learned a lot of valuable lessons while in this position that I will carry with me forever.  Thank you all for greeting me with a friendly smile every Sunday, I look forward to being a part of the congregation and joining you in the pews!
 
CJ  d:-)
 

 

We are sorry to lose CJ whose performance as caretaker was stellar indeed.  We're looking forward to seeing him in the pews as a regular part of the congregation.  A search is underway by the Building & Grounds and Personnel Committees to find a replacement for CJ.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CJ's Father Killed in Traffic Accident

 

Those who attended church last Sunday were shocked to learn the tragic news that CJ's father had been killed the day before in a horrible traffic accident while riding his motorcycle near his home in Oregon.  CJ will be traveling to attend the funeral and is unsure of his return date.  Our deepest sympathies go out to CJ and his family. Please keep them in your prayers.

 

 

 

A Day in the Life of David Phelps

 - Former Caretaker

 

I am the Asst. Resident Manager for The Elizabeth James Senior Housing apartment building.  There are 60, one-bedroom units on three floors that provide low rent and subsidized housing for the elderly and disabled (either physically or mentally).  I have my own apartment in the building, which is a comfortable space for me, although it means I am once again living at my job (the Resident Manager resides at another site and oversees three different buildings).

I work 40-60 hours per week depending on the work load.  Some of it is pretty easy, some of it is the hardest work I've ever done.  Because of the nature of the tenants, even the simplest task can become quite a challenge.  Along with my regular day-to-day duties such as picking up trash, changing light bulbs, vacuuming, mowing the lawn etc., I have to deal with problems that arise from an environment in which the residents aren't always logical or high functioning (one tenant prefers to use 10 dryer sheets per load, for example, which clogs up the dryer vents every other day).  And there are unexpected problems with the building itself that constantly creep up, like sinks that back up and overflow. I have already been pulled out of bed in the middle of the night to tend to flooding apartments, medical emergencies where the tenant was unable to unlock their door for the E.M.T.s, domestic violence and unwanted visitors creeping around people's windows.  You know, fun stuff.

Another major part of my job is to turn over the units between rentals.  I am working on six of them right now. This usually involves a lot of repairs and cleaning.  I am an electrician, plumber, dry wall-er, furniture mover, cabinet maker etc. etc.  Thankfully, I have two maintenance workers I can call for things I can't do - for lack of equipment or knowledge, and professionals to call in for big jobs, like new floors.

My work day starts at 5,6 or 7 A.M. (I get up at 3) and flies by until about 4 or 5 P.M.  Then I sleep for a couple of hours, eat dinner, watch some T.V. on my new HD system (AWESOME!!!!), and then go to bed around 9:30 or 10 PM.   I never know what each day is going to bring, but it is never, ever boring.  The company and my boss are great to work for, and my tenants are friendly and interesting.  It may be exhausting work at times, but I have no complaints.  The weather is getting nicer and soon I will be outside planting flowers, trimming hedges and doing other landscaping projects which will be nice.

 

David Phelps

 

 

David is still an active member of APCC, but says he finds it hard to attend regularly as Sundays are usually his day off.

Groups, Committees & Events 

Misc.

 

New Bible Study

 

Studying the Parables
Wednesday Evenings 6:30 - 7:30pm

 in the Chapel
Begins Wednesday, May 13th

 

Jesus did much of his teaching in parable.  What did these New Testament stories tell us?  Is there more than one way to interpret the meaning of a parable?  Can these age-old stories speak to us today?  Come find out!  Join Pastor Nina for weekly Bible Study and discussion. 

 

All are welcome!

 

Outdoor Chapel Memory Garden
 

Have you noticed our outdoor Memory Garden lately?  It was put together by our youth 5 years ago as bricks were carried from  First Christian Church while it  was being taken down at 1632 Broadway.  The garden has  been ressurrected from the darkness of winter and  taken on a new colorful array of beauty for spring.  Thanks to Linda Jones, many plants were placd in it for our enjoyment. Plants will be added through the year to remember friends and family members.