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June 10, 2006
There are four photo galleries: 1. The approach 2. The morning 3. The service and lunch 4. The afternoon and Sunday morning Click the above to view all photos, or click on an image below to view it in its full size.
June 10, 2006 It was a day of reunions, appreciation, celebration, worship recognition and appreciation. A birthday party to remember. The weather was wet, the last gasp of a system that had soaked Maine for a week. Nevertheless, approximately 300 people journeyed to pay homage to the impact the Pilgrim Lodge experience has had in their life. The rain offered several well timed breaks, and the planning of the committee ensured that the weather dampened nobody's spirit. Over 70 people stayed over one or both of the weekend nights. Those who arrived for the day were directed to park at the Goodwin's yard next door. From there they walked to the farmhouse where they registered in the carriage house and waited for their horse drawn ride to the lodge. Waiting at the lodge was an assortment of baked delights prepared by Darci Locke and the PL kitchen staff as well as hot coffee and tea. In the dining room, the first set of performers were cranking out tunes at the coffee house. In the center room by the crackling fire, the PL store had expanded beyond the window to encompass six tables of PL-ware including several items developed just for the anniversary. In the program room, visitors were greeted with a large rear projection screen with six separate slideshows. One featuring slides from the program before PL, and one for each decade of PL life. Over 6,000 photos were displayed. Throughout the day people could be found staring at the screen, often sighting themselves or friends from long past. Beyond the screen was a series of displays encompassing a timeline of the 80 years of outdoor ministries. The time line told the story of Pilgrim Lodge's development through postcards, brochures, photographs and documents. In addition, there was a display featuring 30 years of Balbrook Lodge, the site that became Pilgrim Lodge. Up on the ball field a large tent with chairs began to fill. Ben Bigney led the gathering crowd in songs from the new edition of the PL songbook. Master of ceremonies Tom Hancock entertained the crowd and led the recognition of a list of invited guests (you can read about them in the program booklet) Rev. David Gaewski offered his brief reflections followed by worship. Ben Bigney on guitar and vocals and Jana Dewan on bassoon with a back up choir gave a moving rendition of Christopher Grundy's "Here in This Place." Rev. Bryan Breault offered a homily on radical hospitality. Following the service the crowd moved seamlessly into a cookout featuring the christening of the new PL grill. In the afternoon the mood in the lodge shifted from excitement to relaxed family gathering. The food kept coming, and the performers kept entertaining. People could be found in pockets as reunion after reunion took place. One table featured a collection of group photos from throughout PL history and one could periodically hear squeals of delight as people found their childhood camp photo, or name on a camp list. Another table featured a huge assortment of duplicate camp photos and brochures "free for the taking" and at any given moment one found several people combing through, sometimes finding treasures to be brought home. The ice cream store opened featuring our new flavor developed for the anniversary "Pilgrim Lodge Cobbossee Crunch." Later in the afternoon the rain stopped and it brightened up enough for people to go swimming and boating. Steve Jones offered boat tours of Lake Cobbossee. Most people had trickled out by dinnertime, but a small group stayed the night. An impromptu drumming and singing circle sprung up around the fire in the middle room of the lodge. Sunday morning was a bit drier. The anniversary event concluded with worship in the center room led by anniversary committee members Joanne Bartlett and Sara Godfrey and service of communion offered by Bryan Breault. The weekend brought together generations of PL campers and brought to sharp relief the commonality each generation shares in the ministry of Pilgrim Lodge. Hopefully many of those who re-connected with the spirit of PL will continue their re-involvement by through their offering and by agreeing to be counselors for the newest generations of souls to be touched so deeply by the ministry of Pilgrim Lodge. Over fifty people worked together to make June 10, 2006 happen. Many thanks to all who worked, and to all who came just to be immersed in the PL spirit once again.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR A WONDERFUL DAY!
Pilgrim Lodge Photos by Sarah Bigney Special thanks for
additional photographs by 1. The approach 2. The morning 3. The service and lunch 4. The afternoon and Sunday morning
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The
program booklet handed out at the event
