Family/Youth/Education updates from Felix

Greetings Pilgrims,
As I write this my husband Brian gives me the three finger Hunger Games solute as he ventures out for groceries for the second time, having abandoned his Costco trip earlier in the day from just seeing the line. At the same time I can hear baby Ed grumbling on his pack and play next to me while the sun shines on all the dog hair on the floor of the screened in porch. I feel there is an opportunity for a strange and tender present-ness these days if we are open to it.
 
I would sincerely like to speak to any of you about the moments you're encountering... or anything else you'd like to talk about. With that in mind I have re-titled my office hours as "drop-in and chat time," in the hopes that it will assure y'all that you need not be in serious distress to come and talk. You can just be in the mood to talk. If you want one on one time I am also open to setting that up too. Youth and children are of course also invited :).
 
We've also gotten a better feel for how to go about Evening Prayer, typically with myself leading on Mondays, Richard Whitaker on Tuesdays, Pastor Lindy on Wednesdays, Camille on Thursdays, and Nancy Ruth on Fridays. We've also made some tweaks to Children's Time and Pub Theology so know you've got opportunities to be with members of your Pilgrim community almost every single day of the week. Also as you may have noticed, we've been beefing up our online presence and continue invite you to share moments in your journey on our social media, be it Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube. This is also a gateway to provide community to others in need out there.
 
Please continue to care for each other and yourselves, make phone calls, and be brave enough to ask for help. Showing our vulnerability can be nerve-wracking, and it's the only way that others will have the chance to be beloved community for you.
 
To quote Richard Rohr's recent daily meditations let us strive for ".. willing participation in the larger mystery. At this time we do this by not rejecting or running from what is happening but by accepting our current situation and asking God to be with us in it."
 
Love,
Felix 
 
Pilgrim Virtual Family/Youth Opportunities!
Since the April 18th Duke Gardens family hang-out date will almost certainly need to be postponed here are some other family opportunities for you to consider.
 
Pilgrim Children's Time (Zoom). Come join us with your little ones, featuring Pilgrim's own children's librarian Kimbie Sprague and preschool teacher extraordinaire Erin Miller! Expect real time interactive and personalized read alouds for ages 4-10 plus either a craft/ bible story time as well as a movement activity or sing along. E-mail Felix if you'd like to be on the "on call" list if we need any substitute readers/sing-a-long leaders etc. in a future week!

Teen Meet-up! The next teen meeting will be Sunday April 26th from 12:45-1:45 pm! Let's check in about all this craziness...but online of course:), talk a bit about God, and keep working our projects for the community.

Get in the loop! If you are a parent or grandparent of a child or youth and would like to be kept abreast of family meet-ups, youth meet-ups, or any other opportunities involving young people at Pilgrim please e-mail fflanders.pucc@gmail.com to get on the corresponding listservs.

Pilgrim Virtual Adult Education Opportunities:
Pub Theology is back! People have been gathering in pubs and public spaces for ages talking about life, philosophy, faith, and deep questions of meaning. Join us now in cyberspace for beverages and conversation. Mondays at 7 pm.

Evening Prayers. Join us every weekday at 5 pm for guided prayer and fellowship. Let's share in fellowship across distance, nurture our own prayer practices, and support each other's faith journeys.

The Inquirers Class is currently on hiatus. As organizers of the class are able we will be in communication on when/how it will continue.