A Posting from Pastor Lindy
Happy August Pilgrims!
As we enter this final month of summer, I pray we still find opportunities for rest and renewal even as we begin stepping back into obligations that were on hiatus this past month. The boards of Faith Formation and Christian Service will resume meeting this Sunday to begin planning for our last quarter of 2026. Last quarter of 2026, whew?! Notice also how I referred to the Board of Christian Education to reflect more closely the change we made in our hiring of Rev. Greyson as Associate Minister of Faith Formation? Makes sense, doesn’t it?
We will also live into our shifting patterns for the church calendar in August by holding our bi-annual congregational meeting on Sunday, August 30 to affirm the hard work of our nominating committee and approve their recommended slate of officers for 2026/2027. To meet this earlier congregational date, our August Council meeting will meet the second Thursday in August rather than the third, so they might affirm the Committee's diligent effort of helping us be church. Please take a moment to thank Charlie Clotfelter, Brian Hummel, Ami Nagle and Carol Rawls for their tireless effort.
With regard to the slate of officers for your consideration, let me draw your attention back to an appeal the Committee’s Chair made to the congregation a number of weeks back. He asked for renewed consideration about serving on the board of Deacons. Unfortunately, although there was interest by some who were asked, the timing this year did not feel doable for all but one. With that challenge, the slate being presented will have only six deacons– 5 current deacons, with one addition. Knowing all that is asked of this board, your pastor worries about the board’s capacity given the demands placed on this group of dedicated volunteers. (As I do with all of you who give of your time, talent and resources ;)
The deacons and pastoral staff retreated in July to discuss this challenge and agreed that we will need to reduce the number of balls they juggle and prioritize those that feel necessary for us to thrive as a beloved community. We decided that the deacons would have as their primary foci–worship leadership and care-groups, while inviting the board to step back from taking a leadership role in community building. They will, of course, assist the other Pilgrim boards as we live into our programmatic year, but their role will be supportive at most. Given also the limited number, this reduction increases the number of families and individuals in each deacon group. With that I ask you to receive your deacon’s efforts of care-giving with a spirit of grace and gratitude as they attempt to minister to almost double the number in each of their respective groups. Because of this increase, the moderator and I are also looking at the other roles and committees on which the deacons are called to serve to see if we can relieve them of some of these obligations. More to come as we develop a concrete plan.
As we move forward, what I ask of this amazingly engaged community is that with our first instinct to turn our faith into action, we also pause to discern if we are able to live intentionally into whatever the tug “to do” may be. This process of discernment is not to question the worth or need of a request, but to honestly answer, as the great African American Spiritual wonders, “Are ye able? said the Master.” Our spirits are always the Holy’s, and our desire a beacon of love and loyalty to God; and so our prayer must be to respond both faithfully and well.
gratefully, Pastor Lindy
(she/her)Pronouns matter