Eliot Presbyterian Church | Lowell, MA

Presbyterian Church in Lowell, MA

Eric H. Doss

Traveling to the Holy Land

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Eliot Family:

When I heard God’s call to urban ministry five years ago, I knew that call might mean serving churches in difficult financial circumstances. I wanted to be able to serve where God was calling without putting undue strain on a congregation and without putting my family in a precarious financial situation. I turned to my love and experience with travel to start Progressive Pilgrimage, a business that would meet both of these needs. As the call to Eliot became clear, I was grateful that the search committee and session were open to this “bi-vocational” model for ministry. They offered me a salary the church could afford along with six extra weeks of leave to manage and travel with Progressive Pilgrimage.

This fall, I am grateful to be starting my fifth year at Eliot. I am equally grateful that Progressive Pilgrimage is beginning to thrive. It is a joy to serve you and a joy to take groups of Christians to sacred places around the world. This year the travel schedule is heavily skewed to the fall and winter. You will likely notice my absence for two weeks in September and four weeks in October and November. I am working hard to ensure that the most important ministry needs are met while I am away. My colleague Rev. Whitney Hall, a hospice chaplain, will preach each Sunday I am away to provide consistency in worship. She will also be on call for pastoral care emergencies. Our deacons will be available for routine pastoral care. I trust our elders, lay leaders, and staff to keep programs running smoothly.

I am grateful for your support in this endeavor. In many ways we are a proving ground for how bi-vocational ministry might work in our denomination. I have included my full schedule below. If you would like to know more about the trips that I am leading, to pray for them, or even to join one someday, please ask! You can also visit Progressive Pilgrimage online at http://progressivepilgrimage.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Grace and Peace, Pastor Heather

Pastor Heather’s Travel Schedule

  • October 21 – November 1
  • November 2-16
  • December 29 – January 9

Annual Report for 2018

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This year’s Annual Report booklet includes the story from each committee and group about what God has done at Eliot Church in 2019.

You will also find information about something new: a Khmer Ministry Commission that is being formed to help nurture and lead Eliot folks who are bilingual or speak only Khmer. The hope is that this commission will “model leadership that respects the cultural diversity of our congregation and strengthens the connection between Cambodian leaders and leaders from other cultures and ethnic groups.”

The booklet also includes excerpts from the statements of faith of our nominees for Elder and Deacon, as well as financial information, some of which we will vote on during our annual meeting January 27, 2019.