Letter from Lindy Oct 24

Hello Pilgrims from sunny, warm Orlando!

I pray all is well with each of you as we journey deeper into autumn. Fall is such a different season here. Locals long for these months as temperatures drop into the 60s at night and climb only to the mid to low 80s during the day. One has to look carefully for the nuances of seasonal shifts as they don’t reveal themselves with the colorful showy audacity of northern climes.

One of my favorite elements of this landscape is the majestic presence of live oaks, spanish moss draped from their arched branches, creating a dappled shawl through which sunlight winks and grins. Standing under a collective truly restoreth the soul. Sitting beneath them in the parking lot of a doctor’s office this week brought forth visceral memories of the memorial garden of my former congregation, set adjacent to the sweep of windows at the base of the chancel, yet enshrouded from the street--no one the wiser. Stepping into its embrace, the world quickly melted away. This sacred sanctuary’s footprint now obliterated by an elementary school.

My specific memory evoked my weekly centering ritual before I shared the words from my mouth and the meditations from my heart. I would cast my gaze out across this secret garden and breath in the oaks green glimmering canopy before turning my gaze upon my beloved community and hoping what I said was acceptable in God’s (and thy) sight--my rock and redeemer.

No need to analyze nor justify memories that find their way in, but I’m sure the planning of our All Saints Sunday helped create fertile ground. I raise this a week out so as to open our hearts to celebrating our cloud of witnesses on Sunday, October 31. As much as space will be created for us each to memorialize those whom we carry in our hearts, I want to also use our worship to honor six Pilgrim treasures we gave back to God in 2020. Because of pandemic, our rituals were abrogated and/or postponed, leaving us bereft in our grieving and not able to thank God and collectively celebrate their lives. This campus to which we have ben entrusted has their fingerprints all over it. It feels important for us to come to know (and/or remember) from whom we have received this wonderful gift.

To add our loved ones' memories to theirs, we will have a white cloth draped in the narthex over a table for you to come to Pilgrim throughout next week to write the names on your heart for all to hold with you. We will keep it there for Sunday morning (10/31) for those who cannot come before. If you plan to come during the week, please do so during Franklin’s office hours, so he can let you into the building. Find your way then into the sanctuary for a time of prayer, reflection and memory.

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

Living and working on occupied Shakori land.
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