Letter from Lindy

Beloved Pilgrims,

I pray you are moving through this season with care and caution as we ready ourselves for the omicron variant to become more prevalent in the United States. As we continue to adapt to ever-changing circumstances, I invite you to mark your calendars for 3 events to help us shape the sacredness of this time.

Last year, Lanny and I participated in DCIA’s CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL VIGIL FOR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS, an incredibly moving worship on the Solstice, or Longest Night. Tuesday, DEC. 21, 7:30 PM, I invite you to join with local ministers and others in an outdoor memorial prayer vigil at the downtown Durham Farmers Market Pavilion (501 Foster St.) for homeless neighbors who died this year. We remember by name those who passed away, light candles, pray and sing. Duke Chapel Dean, Luke Powery, will lead in song. Vaccinated and masked participants welcome in person -- unvaccinated or health-vulnerable persons welcome to attend on Facebook Live.

For those who may not yet feel comfortable gathering in community, the General Church of the UCC has pre-recorded a Longest Night worship service here. I pray that however you honor this night, you find comfort in the solstice.

I also invite you to worship with us on Christmas Eve at 7pm to usher in this most holy of nights. However you feel most comfortable–in person or virtual–you are welcome here! We are keeping with Pilgrim tradition with adaptation cognizant of our times. With that, we will not gather for a meal prior to the service, because, well…we all understand our hesitation.

Our Christmas Eve offering will be directed to the Religious Coalition for Nonviolent Durham to advance their efforts in combating the violence and suffering in Durham’s neighborhoods. Please join with me to support one of Pilgrim’s faithful partners.

To close, I would like to name an invitation that I will put in the parking lot for now. I am just assessing interest in participation. This past summer, after Lanny’s death, Felix gifted me with a journey through grief yoga. Many of the sessions met me where I was at, some were steps in front of me. Even still, seeds were planted and when invited to join the training to become a Grief Yoga guide, I did. Now having completed this initial training, I need to practice leading and guiding a group through the movements and experience so as to gain confidence in so doing. All of the movements are gentle, able to do them while sitting in a chair. Would anyone be interested in joining me in the new year to journey through what I have learned and practice together? Initial caveat, I will be learning alongside you, so if you need a more polished and professional experience, this will not be for you. Let me know if you are interested and I will keep a list and look to when might be the most conducive time to share in this training together.
I pray for God’s light for each of you through the movements of this season:

hope, peace, joy and love,
Pastor Lindy (she/her)whypronouns matter

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