A letter from Lindy June 28

Pilgrims,
Thank you on behalf of the worship team for our collective downtime last week, even if some of us did so without much of a change of scenery. It was good to live into sabbath.
 
And now we are back imagining how to move through this summer. Remember when you told me that Pilgrim basically shuts down for summer break, with nary but 3 people in worship? Well, I've learned over three years that this tongue in cheek story is a bit of hyperbole, but still we typically gear down programmatically. The thought Felix and I have been wrestling with is how does that manifest amidst.....this season of multiple pandemics?
 
What I have been hearing from you is that we need beloved community more than ever, if only to nourish and nurture our weary, worried souls. In that, we are planning accordingly...and carefully, so as to enrich and not deplete.
 
Two things happened along the way that helped draw this conclusion of not slowing to a halt. First, when I suggested a postponement or delayed nominating process, concerned about bandwidth, Church Council, Pilgrim Boards and the Nominating Committee believed otherwise because of the urgency of now. 
 
Now more than every, we need church, we need to be involved in beloved community living into Jesus' witness and gospel.  They collectively concluded full steam ahead. So, you will be hearing from members of our nominating team asking you to prayerfully consider serving to help make Pilgrim Pilgrim. I hope, as you reflect on your spiritual gifts as they align with needs of your church, you willingly offer yourselves, for your participation will make Pilgrim better. I have included a primer below of our Pilgrim boards for your discernment.
 
Additionally, we have a number of wonderful people who have journeyed with Pilgrim for some time who have expressed a desire to join when we hold the next New Member Sunday. Our fervent desire was this Sunday would be one we held in person, perhaps even the first of our physical gatherings. But alas the scientific data and best practices are going to keep us virtual for some time and well, as a community learning how to adapt and live into its new reality, we will be sharing in a New Member Sunday on July 26. So for all of you who may have been considering taking this step, please reach out to the Deacon co-chairs--Emily Norboge and Jonathan Earnest, so we can create this celebratory step with you. The deacons will be inviting you to a virtual "Getting to Know Pilgrim" if you have not yet shared in this conversation. Please know any and all are invited to join.
 
Let me close by offering my gratitude to/for the 25+ Pilgrims who waded into the waters last night with our initial 'Becoming an Antiracist Congregation' conversation. Your presence and participation truly revealed the depth of Pilgrim's commitment to living the gospel in our place and time. Please scroll below to learn about next steps and stay tuned.
 
I love that we are on this journey together. "See" you Sunday.
Pastor Lindy