Wednesday, July 9, 2003
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Wednesday, July 9, 2003 |
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Tom Pilgrim appointed new senior pastor at Fayetteville First UMC LaGrange native Tom Pilgrim, former pastor of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Marietta, has been appointed the new senior pastor at Fayetteville First United Methodist Church. Pilgrim replaces Sam Matthews who was assigned to Marietta First United Methodist Church. The shifts are part of regularly scheduled changes in pastoral assignments made by the North Georgia United Methodist Conference. Born in LaGrange and raised in the Savannah area, Pilgrim, himself, is the son of a Methodist minister. He met his wife, Shirley, through her family's membership in the Savannah church pastored by his father. They were married in 1964 and, shortly after, in 1966, Pilgrim was called to the ministry and served his first assignment as student pastor of the Mountville circuit in LaGrange. He simultaneously worked on his bachelor's degree from LaGrange College and went on to receive his master of divinity from Candler Theological Seminary at Emory University. The Pilgrims have three grown children two daughters and one son, with accompanying spouses, and six grandchildren. One daughter is expecting the seventh grandchild next month. Pilgrim enjoys fishing, playing golf, watching NASCAR (Bill Elliott is his favorite driver), as well as rooting for the Braves and the New York Yankees. He collects manger scenes and Bibles. His wife's interests include her China doll collection and shopping. They both say they love to travel. Pilgrim has served nine more churches since his beginning at Mountville churches in the LaGrange, Augusta, Gainesville, Dalton, Atlanta-Marietta and Atlanta-College Park districts. Pilgrim says he is glad to return to the LaGrange district as he begins his new assignment at Fayetteville First. "Shirley and I are happy to be in Fayetteville and we thank the congregation for its gracious reception," Pilgrim says. "We look forward to getting to know the people and working with them in the months ahead. Fayetteville First has a great reputation, a rich heritage, and a promising future. We already have a well-rounded program with many fine ministries. I'm sure there are also opportunities for us to continue to develop our ministry here in our community and also to the far corners of the earth." The church, located at 175 E. Lanier Ave. in Fayetteville, has Sunday worship services at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. For more information, call the church office, 770-461-4313. |
