Annual Pilgrimage Service
Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
On Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., the annual Pilgrimage Service will be held at the historic Elder Grey Meeting House.The guest minister will be Pastor Mabel Laird of the Alfred Parish Church as well as a Chaplain for both the Maine Air National Guard (Air Force) and the Sanford Police Department. Mabel was ordained through the United Church of Christ in 2023 and is passionate about nurturing individual faith while engaging in work for social justice.
Mabel holds an M.Div. from Regent University in Virginia. She felt called to ministry after enlisting in the Navy in 2009. It was a long distance call, put on hold several times as she met and married her husband (also actively serving in the Navy at the time), welcomed their two children, endured a few military moves and experienced a global pandemic. But in God's time, she has been able to live into a call to serve those who serve, as well as the community of Alfred Parish Church. She lives in Springvale with her husband, children, two elderly dogs, one kitten that thinks she's a dog, and a few fish. Further details including the Order of Service can be downloaded here. The annual Business Meeting of the Elder Grey Meeting House - Cemetery Association follows the service and all are invited to attend.
This will be the 100th anniversary of the first Pilgrimage Service in 1926. In 1924, the neighbors, past parishioners and descendants of past parishioners organized to repair the Elder Grey Meeting House. The building had not been used on a regular basis for many years, the windows had been vandalized, and it had fallen into disrepair. Labor and money were donated by local merchants and individuals.
By 1926, they were ready to hold what they chose to call a Pilgrimage Service on August 29th. Eva Shapleigh had the invitations printed, and Rev. Lester Holmes gave the address. These Pilgrimage Services have continued every year except for the pandemic year 2020.
In 1928, the organization was formally incorporated and registered with the State of Maine. That year at the third Pilgrimage Service it was reported, "The House was full and many that could not get in."
August 3,2025
On Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. the annual Pilgrimage Service was held at the historic Elder Grey Meeting House. The guest minister was Rev. Judy Braun and special music was offered by Tom Osborne. View or download the Order of Service, with details about the guest speaker, the Meeting House Restoration Project (replastering the interior) and a recollection of founder Elder James Gray. The annual Business Meeting followed the service. Read about opportunities to donate to either the Meeting House or Cemetery,
2024 Pilgrimage Service
This year's Pilgrimage Service was held Sunday, August 4 at 2:00 p.m. at the Meeting House on Chadbourne Ridge Road, with the Rev. Judy Braun as guest minister. Special music was provided by Andrew Martelle and his son Sam on the violin and his son Wilder on the guitar.
When it was necessary for Rev. Judy Braun to apologetically bow out last year, we were pleased that she agreed to speak to us this year instead. Rev. Judy retired from her position as a CAT scan technologist at Maine Medical Center in 2012 and that September was ordained as Assistant Pastor/teacher to the Congregational Church in Cumberland, Maine. She served there for six years developing a ministry of artists in the congregation. She also led a weekly Bible study for a group of approximately eight people as well as a ministry to the local assisted living facility in Yarmouth. From 2016 to 2021, she was a hospice chaplain for Northern Light Home Health and Hospice, serving the area south of Portland.
Having grown up in Wadsworth, Ohio, she traveled with her military husband, eventually coming to Portland. She lived in Windham for over forty years where she raised two children. She has three grandchildren in Massachusetts. Besides writing her personal memoir, she is currently serving the Inn at Village Square in Gorham as a group spiritual leader. She is a Master level Reiki practitioner and loves to garden at her home in Alfred where she lives with her dog, Panda.
The Announcement and Order of Service is available here for downloading and printing.
2024 Annual Business Meeting
The annual business meeting was held at the Meeting House following the service and refreshments.
Most Recent Past Services
The annual pilgrimage service at the Elder Grey Meeting House was held on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at 2 pm. It was a perfect day weather-wise, and Rev. John Cole, filling in for Rev. Judy Braun, delivered the sermon. Sharon Michaud once again provided the music on our pump organ. Later in the afternoon a brief military graveside service was held at the cemetery across the road for former President Donald Clowes. Download the Order of Service here. The annual business meeting followed at the Meeting House following the service. 2023-2024 leadership and Association history.
The 2022 Elder Grey Meeting House Pilgrimage Service was held on August 7th, a 95+ degree day. Those who braved the heat and humidity enjoyed the sermon and the music. Alex Luhtjarv, a member of the Robator family, led the service and delivered the address. Andrew Martelle, a member of The Mallett Brothers Band, played two violin solos. Alex's wife Karla has family connections to the Elder Grey community going back many generations. He serves as the Senior Deacon at the United Parish in Winchendon, MA, a blended multi-denominational faith community. Alex has taught social studies for 21 years at Hillsboro-Deering High School in Hillsboro, NH. He and his family recently moved to Hillsboro after living many years in Rindge, NH. Alex and his wife Karla have six children, including five-year-old twins, who do their best to keep them busy. He is president of his teachers' union as well as a local scholarship organization. When not at church or school, he enjoys reading, hiking and cheering on the Boston Red Sox. Here you can read and download the announcement of the 2022 service and the order of worship. The annual business meeting was held at the Meeting House following the service.
The First Service
Every year on the first Sunday in August, neighbors, extended families, individuals with historic ties and/or a special interest in the North Waterboro community, or just plain local history buffs, gather for what has traditionally been called a Pilgrimage Service at the Elder Grey Meeting House. Except for the dress of those in attendance and the cars parked along both sides of the lovely old country road, this scene could have occurred one or two hundred years ago. Read more about that first Service here > >.
The annual August Pilgrimage Service has evolved to be less formal and strict in style and attire. However, even now the children (and adults) may well be advised not to "run out" and "shift seats," as warned against in this 1787 list of rules.
[This page is from A Little Pretty Pocket-Book, first printed by John Newbery, London, 1744; first American edition issued in 1787 by Isaiah Thomas, Worcester, MA and sold Wholesale and Retail, at his Bookstore. Read more in this article by Cathy Hellier, Historian, Department of Historical Research, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. ]
Pewter ornaments depicting the Elder Grey Meeting House and other historic buildings of Waterboro are being sold for $10 each as a fundraiser by the Waterborough Historical Society. These ornaments will be available for purchase at our annual Pilgrimage Service in August.
For more information, please contact us at info@eldergrey.org.