A Letter from Lindy Dec 7

Dear Pilgrims,

As I hold our Advent question of what we fear before me, my fervent plea is that the many ways in which we are filling Pilgrim’s Advent calendar feel life-giving, rather than fearfully overwhelming. If Adventfest and Hanging of the Greens was God’s response, I would say we are hitting the mark! The joy that filled both our sanctuary and fellowship hall was palpable in our stories, songs, prayers and conversations. I could not be more grateful at how the 1st Sunday of Advent (along with scrumptious soup) nurtured and nourished our souls. Thank you to all who contributed to make this day a success, most especially our hosts, Pilgrim’s board of Deacons, and our craft guru, Susie Robertson Blomberg. My prayer is that each Sunday of Advent brings similar energy and emotion. Up next, Pilgrim’s Alternative Gift Market.

As promised, I want to share a bit about our Longest Night experiential Sound Bath. I asked our guide, Jaclyn, to write a little something and here is what she shared:

What is a Soundbath? 

A soundbath is a restorative practice, where sound is used intentionally to create a relaxing environment for rest and healing. A soundbath provider may use a variety of instruments such as crystal singing bowls, chimes, drums, flutes, voice, etc. to create the soundscape. Soundbaths may target a variety of intentions, and on the Longest Night, our soundbath intends to provide time and space for rest, prayer, remembrance, comfort, and support. 

What should I bring? 

The Longest Night service will take place in the sanctuary space. You are welcome to sit in the pews, or lie down on the altar. Feel free to bring a yoga mat or beach towel to lay on, any comfort items you'd like (blanket, eye mask, pillow, cushion), and/or photos or remembrance items. Lastly, bring an open mind and open heart to get the most out of this experience. 

A little more about me... 

I'm Jaclyn :) I'm originally from Ohio but moved to Durham about 10 years ago when I started my work as an occupational therapist. I have always benefited from the power of sound through loving music, concerts, and singing in church/school choirs. I attended a sound bath on a whim while I was looking for tools to manage chronic stress, and I was hooked! I left the experience feeling rested, refreshed and grounded. I was excited to learn more and eventually became a Certified Sound Healer. I'm honored, now, to offer sound baths regularly in the community and support others on their healing journeys. 

So there we go! I am delighted to welcome Jaclyn into our community and look forward to participating in this experience with you on Sunday, December 21 at 4pm.

Finally, a bookmark for the Sunday after Christmas. Wanting to create a gentler worship space for this particular Sunday, we will gather in Fellowship Hall around tables, in essence combining worship with fellowship hour. My ask of those who join together that Sunday is to set aside a plate of whatever Christmas treats you have (cookies, breads, etc) to bring with you to share as we settle in for a more conversational experience. My prayer here is that we capture anew the spirit that filled our first Sunday!

grace and peace,

Pastor Lindy

(she/her) why pronouns matter