A Letter from Lindy August 27

Beloved Pilgrims,
 
I greet you in absentia as I endeavor to live into my sabbatical month of August. This month is one of rest and renewal here in Durham with visits from my family. Our month of speakers is a wonderful mix of Pilgrim members and Pilgrim friends. I pray that the words from their mouths and the meditations from their hearts feed and nourish you along the way. We conclude August with Pilgrim’s dear friend, Rev. Betty Morton. Please join with me in surrounding her with your love and prayers as she shares reflections from her journey.
 
In case you don’t know Betty well, let me take a moment to introduce this beloved person to you. Rev. Betty Morton is a UCC minister and a Leadership, Life, and Spiritual Coach. Although we don’t see her here often, Betty is still a member of Pilgrim, and she expresses her continuing love for the Pilgrim community. However, for the last few years, Betty has been exploring alternative church in small group settings that offer more opportunities for discussion of faith, personal, and societal issues.
 
For the last four years, Betty has supported Southern Conference pastors by forming, overseeing, and facilitating learning and support groups designed to give pastors community and to help them thrive. Annually, over a hundred ministers participate in these groups, including myself and many other Durham pastors.
 
As some of you may know, Betty is the co-founder and designer of our local grief support community that meets weekly at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church – “Growing Thru Grief.” Growing Thru Grief offers education, support and community to people mourning deaths. All of us know that grief does not end at the funeral or memorial service. People need time and space to talk about, process, and adjust to their losses. Growing Thru Grief offers that space, as well education on how to cope with loss. Pilgrim is a proud supporter of Growing Thru Grief.
 
Betty is with us Sunday as a fellow griever of loss and hopes to encourage us to be mindful of the hidden iceberg of grief so many of us travel with daily. But mindfulness is not enough. She hopes to inspire us to be God’s enduring compassion to those who grieve losses of all kinds.
 
Please join me in extending our holy embrace to our dear friend!
 
with gratitude,

Pastor Lindy (she/her) why pronouns matter

 
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