Letter from Lindy March 20

Hello Pilgrims,

This week has been a bit fluid with HVAC installation (Yay Trustees!), illnes, and Durham CAN 3-day training that some of your core team (myself included) are attending. None of them exceptional… well, ok, maybe finally heat is ;) but put together, your staff has been in and out of the office more than usual. If you have stopped by or called without no one home, we are sorry for the absence. I pray we start smoothing our path soon, but each week seems to bring new challenges and opportunities. And maybe that’s the point of us seeking new normal—we are still finding our way and adaptability and fluidity are essential ingredients. As are kindness, forgiveness, grace and grace abound.

Our Lenten series continues with wonderful enthusiasm. As is the Pilgrim way, each group is finding its own course (often not following the curriculum, but taking natural Pilgrim detours as the Spirit leads). We trust the Spirit and know that in our gathering, we are being knit back together as community stitch by stitch. I pray we feel our connectedness growing as the Pilgrim yarn unwinds into a flowing (whatever) the Master Knitter is making in and through us. I can’t wait to see our colors woven together. Sorry, mixed metaphor.

Our commitment to the CAN training feels important during this organization's time of transition with the departure of lead organizer, Tinu Diver at the end of 2021. With due diligence, the strategy team called upon one of its own chairs to guide us through this interim journey. I hope you will surround Ketty Thelemaque with your prayers as she leads us forth.

Another transition that impacts Pilgrim is the departure of Spencer Bradford from DCIA, after serving 13 years as director. His departure in February leaves a significant challenge to help this critical Durham organization discern how God is calling us to bear witness through it at this juncture. Again the board has called one of its own, Rebecca Harvard Barnes, to hold space during the interim. If you have not put the DCIA banquet on your calendar, April 26th at Westminster Presbyterian Church, I pray you will do so.

I lift these two organizations to your prayerful embrace because Pilgrim has been invested and participatory in both for many years. How we write their next chapters and whom we call into leadership are critical to these organizations continuing to gather our community’s churches into collective witness for good. It is times like these, we are called to step in and get involved.

until Sunday,
Pastor Lindy (she/her)whypronouns matter

Living and working on occupied Shakori land.
If you'd like to learn more about the Indigenous people whose land you occupy,
the information is just a text message away. Clickhereto learn more.