Modest, Mournful, and Meek—Yet Happy

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with a manifesto for everyday living. In this passage, commonly called “The Beatitudes,” he insists most of us have it backwards. The key to happiness can’t be found in power, status, and wealth; instead, it’s in their opposites.

Join us at 7:30 pm as Gather begins a three-part series, “The Gospel Guide to Happiness: Believing and Living the Beatitudes.”

At worship we celebrate our relationship with God, we strengthen our relationship with each other, and we explore what it means to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God".

Please join us on this 4th Sunday of Easter when we will lift up a celebration of mothers - mothers-to-be, current mothers, mothers we have lost and mothers in spirit.

Rev. Michelle Hughes is leading worship and preaching.. Our focus scriptures are Psalm 23 and John 10:22-30.

All are welcome to join us!

Adult Education at Pilgrim is a wonderful resource and sustenance for anyone on a faith journey. Meeting in the chapel at 9:45 am Sunday mornings from September to May, it is a time for adults to come together and gather strength for the journey, from God and from each other.

This Sunday Candace Enockson continues our discussion on refugees and immigration using materials from the Foreign Policy Association by way of the League of Women Voters. Each week there is a chapter to read in advance (contact inquiries@pilgrimoakpark.org to request the chapters) and there will be a video shown in class with further information, followed by discussion. The resources are excellent and should stimulate our hearts and minds. Please join us!

Choral Mosaic will feature reflections of love, devotion, and "prophetic joy": Tibetan Buddhist chants, African-American spirituals, and works commissioned for royalty, both modern and bygone—as well as an ethereal piece accompanied by Aaron Marsala on the rarely-heard Hang (handpan).
Click here to purchase tickets

The Sounds Good! Choir (formerly Encore Illinois) provides choral singing opportunities for older adults (55+) in the Chicago area under the direction of a professional artist. Please join us for our free Spring community concert featuring wonderful hits from the American Songbook and film/movie music, including “And All That Jazz,” “Moon River,” “All of Me,” and “The Impossible Dream.”
For more information click here

Atonement Now

We conclude our three-part study on atonement by asking, “Are there redeemable ways of looking at this topic?” The issues it raises are well known: violence, divine abandonment, misguided metaphors, capital punishment, and many others that thwart our ability to discern God’s love and justice in this narrative. How is this concept relevant and acceptable to post-modern Christian thought?

We’ll consider this at 7:30 pm. Come be part of what will be a surprisingly rich and uplifting conversation!

This is the 50th anniversary of the CROP Walk! Our annual participation in the CROP Walk supports the ministries of Church World Service (CWS), an organization committed to bringing food and clean water where most urgently needed, and support to refugees and immigrants around the world. The Hunger Walkathon West (our walk) will share 75% of proceeds with CWS, and 25% will benefit local hunger relief agencies such as the Oak Park Food Pantry.

Please consider walking with us. There are always short and longer walk options, and you don’t have to decide ahead of time which you want to do. If you cannot walk, for whatever reason, please support the walk---Talk it up! Even if your friends and neighbors support the CROP Walk through other walking groups, the result is the same.

1:00 p.m. Registration Begins 2:00 p.m. Walk Begins.
For more information and to register for the Crop Walk, click here.

At worship we celebrate our relationship with God, we strengthen our relationship with each other, and we explore what it means to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God".

Please join us on this 3rd Sunday of Easter when we will are blessed to welcome new members into the Pilgrim family. Rev. Michelle Hughes is leading worship, preaching.and celebrating Communion. Our focus scripture is John 21:1-19.

Please plan to attend!

Adult Education at Pilgrim is a wonderful resource and sustenance for anyone on a faith journey. Meeting in the chapel at 9:45 am Sunday mornings from September to May, it is a time for adults to come together and gather strength for the journey, from God and from each other.

For the next two Sundays Candace Enockson will lead discussions on refugees and immigration using materials from the Foreign Policy Association by way of the League of Women Voters. Each week there is a chapter to read in advance (contact inquiries@pilgrimoakpark.org to request the chapters) and there will be a video shown in class with further information, followed by discussion. The resources are excellent and should stimulate our hearts and minds. Please join us!

The Chicago Metropolitan Association congregations, clergy, laity, and UCC-related community, health and educational institutions will gather together at Bethany United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, May 4, 2019 for our Annual Spring Meeting. This will be a time for celebration, worship, fellowship, learning and faith sharing.

Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served. There will be a pick-up choir for the worship service and the choir will gather at 8:15a.m. – 8:45 a.m. in the sanctuary. After greetings from CMA and Illinois Conference leadership as well as our host pastors, we will join in worship led by our host congregations. The rest of the agenda will consist of a business meeting along with three presentations. The first presentation on the Illinois Conference’s Lilly Grant will be led by Rev. Dr. David Russell, Associate Conference Minister of the Illinois Conference. The second presentation will look at Storytelling in Worship and will be led by Rev. Rebecca Anderson, one of our host pastors. The third presentation will look at the Opioid Epidemic. Discussion will be led by Ms. Deborah Dillon on the Illinois Opioid Alternative Act.

There will be a separate youth event sponsored by Off the Pews.

For more information click here. To register click here.

Need to de-clutter and still be environmentally aware? Bring your items to the Recycling Extravaganza on Saturday, May 4 from 8:00 – 1:00 at the United Methodist Church parking lot, 7970 Lake Street (Lake & Thatcher).

You can bring electronics, scrap metal, housewares, musical instruments, school supplies, batteries and light bulbs. Just about everything. (Exceptions can be found on this poster). If items cannot be recycled, you will have to find another way to dispose of them.

Atonement Theories

“Christ died for our sins.” This phrase is so universal many Christians rattle it off without thinking. Over the centuries a lot of folks have given this idea much thought, resulting in a number of theories about the cross, its meaning, and what it signifies. This week’s segment of our “Once, For All” series surveys atonement theology’s history and how it influences our views of atonement today.

Join us at 7:30 pm for a lively discussion!

At worship we celebrate our relationship with God, we strengthen our relationship with each other, and we explore what it means to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God".

Pilgrim became O & A in the fall of 1998, and we’re celebrating its TWENTIETH year of making that public proclamation! Time to celebrate and reaffirm the covenant we made to welcome persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions into the full life and ministry of the church. We will cap that off with a reception in the parlor - and of course, there will be cake!

Rev. Michelle Hughes leading worship and preaching. Please plan to attend!

Adult Education at Pilgrim is a wonderful resource and sustenance for anyone on a faith journey. Meeting in the chapel at 9:45 am Sunday mornings from September to May, it is a time for adults to come together and gather strength for the journey, from God and from each other.

Please join us this Sunday as Sally Olson and Ann Platzer lead us in an exploration of the history of our Open & Affirming journey at Pilgrim specifically and within our denomination overall.

All are invited to join PIlgrim LGBTQ & Allies group to view and discuss the movie, Boy Erased.

Boy Erased is a 2018 American biographical drama film based on Garrard Conley's 2016 memoir of the same name. Jared Eamons, the son of a small-town Baptist pastor, must overcome the fallout after being outed as gay to his parents. His father and mother struggle to reconcile their love for their son with their beliefs. Fearing a loss of family, friends and community, Jared is pressured into attending a conversion therapy program. While there, Jared comes into conflict with its leader and begins his journey to finding his own voice and accepting his true self.

Boy Erased premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on September 1, 2018, and also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was theatrically released in the United States on November 2, 2018. It has been generally praised by movie critics and we look forward to a thought-provoking discussion following our viewing.

Doors open at 6:15. This event is free and light snacks will be provided. Please join us!

Atonement Origins

With the Passion still fresh in mind, Gather opens a new series, “Once, For All: Reconsidering Atonement.” In this first session, we’ll source the origins of atonement theology in the ancient texts and unearth illuminating details about an idea that has been controversial from the start.
Join us at 7:30 pm as we discover why this topic has consistently mystified Christians of every time and place.

At worship we celebrate our relationship with God, we strengthen our relationship with each other, and we explore what it means to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God".

Please join us on this very special Sunday when celebrate the Resurrection of Christ featuring a special scripture presentation, quiet Easter crafts in back of sanctuary following children's message, special music by our Chancel Choir and the grand finale Hallelujah Chorus sing a long

Rev. Michelle Hughes leading worship and preaching. All are welcome!

Children and youth are invited to join us for an Easter Egg Hunt on the front lawn!

All are invited for Pilgrims Annual Easter Potluck Breakfast at 9:30 in the fellowship hall

All Pilgrim women are invited to join us for delicious food and fun fellowship! Please bring a dish to share. For logistics and more information contact inquiries@pilgrimoakpark.org

Our next men’s breakfast will be hosted by Mike Hanes. He will provide the main dish and attendees are asked to bring a side dish or beverage to share (enough for 3-4 people).

Please contact Bruce (dadcox@aol.com) if you are able to attend., and please let him know what you plan to bring. All Pilgrim men are welcome.

Please join us in the Chapel for our Good Friday Service.
Rev. Michelle Hughes and Rev. Gloria Cox, worship leaders.

Pilgrim members are invited to worship with San Lucas Rev. Marilyn Pagán-Banks, Pastor, 2914 W. North Ave, Chicago.
Dinner will be served. Please RSVP by April 15th to office@pilgrimoakpark.org, or call 708-848-5860 so that we can give them a count of how many will be attending.

Please join us in the Chapel for prayer during the Lenten season. All are welcome.

Join us for a trip back in time when Britannia ruled the airwaves. In the front ranks, marching in formation behind the Beatles, were the Dave Clark Five, the Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, the Searchers, the Hollies, the Animals, the Kinks, the Yardbirds, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Freddie and the Dreamers, Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, Peter and Gordon and Chad and Jeremy just to name a few. Remember those days?

We'll be singing songs from a variety of those bands and singer/songwriters, while expanding to others who hail from the British Isles in later times, incluing the BeeGees, U2, Rod Stuart, Tears for Fears, The Police, Queen, and more.

This will be a journey down memory lane that we know you'll enjoy! Click Here to buy tickets!

At worship we celebrate our relationship with God, we strengthen our relationship with each other, and we explore what it means to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God".

Please join us on this very special Sunday when we will are delighted to welcome our Intentional Interim Conference Minister, Rev. Justo González II as our guest preacher.

Adult Education at Pilgrim is a wonderful resource and sustenance for anyone on a faith journey. Meeting in the chapel at 9:45 am Sunday mornings from September to May, it is a time for adults to come together and gather strength for the journey, from God and from each other.

Please join us this Sunday as Rev. Gloria Cox leads us in exploration of alternative perspectives of the meaning of the Crucifixion that is so central to our faith and yet so mysterious.

Join us for our April Book Club meeting to discuss “The Devil and Webster” by Joan Hanff.

From the New York Times bestselling author of You Should Have Known and Admission, a twisty new novel about a college president, a baffling student protest, and some of the most hot-button issues on today's college campuses. Touching on some of the most topical and controversial concerns at the heart of our society, this riveting novel examines the fragility that lies behind who we think we are-and what we think we believe.

We hope you can join us for what promises to be a lively and thought-provoking discussion!
For more information contact inquiries@pilgrimoakpark.org

As we prepare to enter Holy Week, we’ll conclude our Lenten walk with Howard Thurman by turning our thoughts to all kinds of living hope—hope for our spirits, our communities, and our situations. And we’ll spend some time exploring the riches of deeply held hope that sustains us through our hardest trials and darkest hours.

Join us at 7:30 for this powerful time of reflection.

Please join us in the Chapel for prayer during the Lenten season. All are welcome.