"My call to come to Pilgrim Church of Duxbury was partly because of my long history in mission outreach which began with my Dad and the fact that he was an engineer and spent a lot of time in developing countries," explained the Rev. Todd Vetter.

 

      Rev. Todd Vetter has been with Pilgrim Church for five years and prior to that he served as associate minister at the United Congregational Church in Orange, CT.  He spent three years in the Peace Corps in southern Africa where he taught high school English and math at a very small village school at the end of a very long dirt road in the Kingdom of Lesotho.  After returning to the US, he spent one year as an intern with the UCC's Office for Church in Society in Washington, D.C., researching the African AIDS pandemic and other issues related to international development.  He has been active in Habitat for Humanity for several years and organized church mission trips to the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. These experiences provided a connection to a congregation at Pilgrim Church which values mission outreach. 

 

     Rev. Todd explained, "Two men at Pilgrim had a history of mission work in Africa.  Chris Blake and Dan Hall went to Uganda and met with a non- governmental, community based organization that operated an orphanage and helped them to build another orphanage and school," Rev. Todd said.  "They were an inspiration to me and to the whole church." 

 

     Another couple in the church exemplifies the mission outreach philosophy of the congregation.  Lynn and Don DeHart work with the Children of Peace organization in Viet Nam.  "We are also quite involved with helping the people of the Philippines post Typhoon Hayian," Rev. Todd said.  Locally, the church started a Crop Walk event which raises money for the Church World Service to help feed the needy.  The Crop Walk began after World War II when farmers sent surplus food crops to war-torn countries.  Now the money raised goes to the Church World Service with 25% remaining in the community designated for local food pantries.

 

Emily Kellar

     While there is an emphasis on mission outreach, Rev. Todd's goals for the new year include a focus on strengthening family ministry.  The Pilgrim youth minister, Emily Kellar is currently in seminary and is working towards UCC ordination.  "She has been with Pilgrim Church for about three years and has an incredible energy which she funnels into our Sunday school," said Rev. Todd.  "A lot of young families come to Pilgrim Church for the kids and our Sunday School.  Now I want to focus on what we can do for the parents.  It isn't the easiest time to be a parent - both children and their parents are pulled in many directions.  We want to learn what we can do to make the church a central part of their lives."

 

     Rev. Todd continued, "Pilgrim Church is a friendly church.  People get a true and sincere sense of welcome when they come.  We want to know how to do it even better.  We are open and hospitable, but it is important that they know we appreciate that they chose to spend an hour or so with us.  We find that many people don't have a 'church experience' - they don't know the drill ... so it may be uncomfortable for them.  It takes a lot of courage to walk into a new church."

 

     Rev.Todd is married to Sarah Hare Vetter, a Methodist Pastor, currently serving as Interim Associate Minister at Old South Union Church in Weymouth.  They have two children: Matthew, age 7, and 5-year old Holly.  Their family includes dog Millie and Isabelle, their cat.  

41 Signs of

Dave Kane

Hope.  Dave is the father of Nicholas O'Neill, the youngest victim of the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island. Dave shares fascinating stories and intriguing evidence that life never ends. In his enlightening presentation of love and laughter, he explains that after receiving a barrage of signs, including vocal messages from his son Nicky, he is convinced that he has not "lost" his son. Instead he has been given the gift of a loving eternal connection with him. Sunday, March 2nd 2 pm - 3:30 pm; Registration required - suggested donation $20 per person.