A Letter from Lindy Aug 17

Hi Pilgrims,

 Well the day has come, regardless of how much I have lived in denial. Sunday, Felix officially steps back from her role as Director of Christian Education. It is impossible to sum up in one letter the gratitude I feel in being able to serve with such a capable, energetic and creative individual for the past 5+ years. She has made our ministry expansively fuller and me a better pastor for the accountability with which she has held me in my role and my call. I am grateful for her presence in all of our lives. We are better with and for her.

Now, Felix is not going away from Pilgrim, except to take a well earned break for the next couple of weeks. I pray these weeks help us get accustomed to the lack of her leadership presence. Neither is she completely stepping away from being part of the Pilgrim team, as she will remain Pilgrim’s youth director. Both of these decisions I am grateful for. Losing a staff person, who is also a member, is a double whammy as they depart, along with their family. Thankfully Brian and Ed continue to feel called to be a part of Pilgrim alongside Felix. A third orientation of gratitude is for them both in all of the ways they have supported Felix in her ministry at Pilgrim, and will continue to do so.

We will all have the opportunity to thank Felix for the many ways in which she has spoken into our lives and ministries on Sunday, so please plan to join in the festive worship and fellowship we have planned. As sad as we might be for her withdrawal from this leadership position at Pilgrim, I pray we also feel joy that through her work here, Felix has found a more concrete way to live out the calling God has placed in her personhood. From a new perspective, we will celebrate the ways in which she will continue to usher in God’s kindom on earth with and for the people entrusted to her guidance and care. 

I pray we surround her as she begins her final year of the MSW program along with a new internship that will help her grow in new ways.

I hope you will help us commission Felix with blessing.

grace and peace,

Pastor Lindy

(she/her) why pronouns matter