A Letter from Lindy Feb 8
Hello Pilgrim,
It feels longer than 2 weeks since we’ve been in each other’s company. It seems that the combination of storms and travel elongates time. It will be wonderful to gather together in worship on Sunday. A deep well of gratitude to Richard Whitaker and Carol Rawls for pivoting and offering you yet another snow day worship experience. Thank you to Hannah, Mark Schafer (and I’m guessing Joey Zimmerman) who again made it possible.
Staying on the theme of gratitude, thank you for creating the space for me to step away. I wasn’t sure it was going to happen as my Sunday flight got cancelled the Friday prior, but the air travel powers that be then booked me on a Saturday flight, so I got out a day before Durham was iced over. As we had bookend weather events, I again shifted travel plans, coming back into town a day early so as to not chance fate. As much as I hated leaving my Florida family early, coming back when I did allowed some time with my Hawaii sister that I was not scheduled to have, so all's well that ends well. Imagine my delight upon my return to walk into the building getting spruced up with not only a new coat of paint, but a new color. I’m not sure when this transformation began, but again a huge thank you to Kim Theobald who models faithful stewardship by quietly taking on these special projects that help us project to all who grace us with their presence that we love this church entrusted to our care.
Long in coming, for which I apologize, I thank you for your generosity and care in surrounding your pastor always, and especially so at Christmas. Your Christmas gift always leaves me speechless beyond my feeble words of gratitude.
Finally, there have been many announcements about our Congregational meeting this Sunday, so I pray your calendars are marked accordingly. Again words cannot express my gratitude to Pilgrim’s budget committee for faithfully shepherding this process to vote. The care with which they approached this important ministry (and ministry it is, as our budget concretely reflects the way in which Pilgrim bears witness in our world) is beyond measure. To David Heist (chair), Chuck Clifton, Kimbie Sprague, Vicki Landes, Mark Schafer and Nathan Olawsky–well done good and faithful servants.
Our second agenda item, as I have mentioned previously, will be for Pilgrim’s search committee to begin introducing to you and recommending for approval our candidate for Associate Minister for Faith Formation. One of the chairs, Sam Williams, will start the introductions on Sunday with the plan to then meet the candidate in person on Sunday, February 15. Our search process has been arduous, and the committee deserves a huge Pilgrim debt of gratitude for their year’s journey. Once we cross the finish line, as I don’t want to jinx the process at this penultimate moment, I will create space for us to thank them properly. For now, get ready to imagine our next chapter.
grace and peace,
Pastor Lindy
(she/her) Pronouns matter