Letter from Lindy

Hello Pilgrims,

It’s been a little weird to be back in the office this week. My time away has been a physical absence, while maintaining a virtual hand in the Pilgrim pot by participating in the pre-recorded services, meeting regularly with our dedicated and fearless moderator, Ami Nagle and with our faith-filled duo, Felix and Franklin, who have kept Pilgrim’s lights trimmed these past three months. I know they have not been alone, as countless numbers of you have shown up to pour yourself into the work before us. I am only just beginning to learn the who, what and where of your dedication. I offer you a collective thanks before I find time to offer my gratitude individually when we finally come face to face. And there is much I have missed not living into the regular rhythm of the people and place I have come to love. So again, a little weird.

I’m not sure what I was thinking about timing-wise for my reentry, as September 12, our first in-person, in-sanctuary worship looms large. Truthfully, I am a bit nervous and anxious to be with and before you for a multitude of reasons. Bear with my awkwardness and stumbling and reticence as we learn how to be church in yet another new way. Our staff conversation today was on how to make worship feel as inclusive as possible for those who are not comfortable gathering in person. Based on feedback from those who have participated from home this summer, there have been moments where they felt really left out of community. Our antennas will continually need to be attuned accordingly, so that we guard against further creating a bifurcated, rather than beloved community. You will see/hear Felix and me pause and turn to the camera to address our at home beloveds so they know they are “seen and heard,” before casting our gaze upon those in sanctuary.

We have, as I named last week, streamlined a few processes, both for health safety precautions, but also for sound receptivity on zoom, adjusted how and who speaks during worship. As I noted in this letter, prayers of the people will be written on cards just prior to worship and placed in our prayer basket in the narthex. (they can also be sent by email to me before Sunday and/or via the chat function in zoom, for those at home). Announcements will also need to be previously arranged through the Church Administrator, Franklin, so he can compile an announcement shout-out for the Deacon of the Month to share in worship, as well as posted in the bulletin and newsletter. We appreciate these formats are not part of Pilgrim’s memory muscle, but neither is how we will be worshiping moving forward. So, new steps, new steps.

Offertory and communion bring even more new steps to our worship dance. If your ritual is to bring your offering weekly, please continue to do so, but place it in the offering tray in the narthex before entering the sanctuary. Also please collect the traveling communion elements from the narthex as well, because I can think of no greater joy than to share in the Lord’s Supper with you this Sunday. But again, safety and precaution reframe our rituals. At the close of service, we will share in our virtual signs of peace passing, before exiting the building to fellowship outside where a more tactile peace may be offered if so desired.

Lots of “new” to learn and hold, after 18 months of pandemic brain atrophy. My sense is that maybe we all will feel a little nervous and anxious and frustrated because we are craving just going back to normal. My hope, though, as we move through, is that we will remember we are attempting these strange manoeuvres to keep our embrace as wide as possible.

And for me, there is no other Pilgrim way.

grace and peace,
Pastor Lindy (she/her) why pronouns matter

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