eNews for January 27, 2022

My Bailiwick

Dear Pilgrims,

Last night Warren asked me if we should order some soup during our “Souper Bowl Soup Sale”. Why yes, we should! And so should you, Pilgrims. We are planning to make 80 2-portion containers of soup. There are four varieties (though the chicken wild rice may be sold out), $10 for each container, proceeds going to local Loaves and Fishes to feed hungry people. What’s not to love about this project? We could use a few more volunteers. Please look at this sign-up site to see where help is needed, and join the effort. By the way, I could still use a couple of large crock pots for the vegan chili. Do you have one in your home cupboard? Can you let me know if I may use it?

I’ve been thinking about my good fortune, finding you, serving you, living here with you. Even my occasional blue days are lighter than they used to be, and it’s because you are so kind and hopeful. Seeing you on Sundays or via Zoom on Wednesday mornings or in meetings, receiving messages from you, making plans with and for you—in a hundred ways Pilgrims are offering a hopeful community of faith to a wider community that could use some hopeful faith. This morning we hosted CHUM’s legislative send-off, urging our state representatives to keep the faces of homeless persons in their minds as they go to St. Paul, deal with opposition, budgets, and wildly divergent priorities. As I sat in our beautiful sanctuary listening to a courageous man tell his story of homelessness, I thought, there but for an accident of circumstances go any of us. It reminded me of another story about the Catholic Worker activist Dorothy Day. A reporter tells how he had an appointment to interview her but when he arrived, he was told she was busy in the kitchen. He went to the kitchen and saw Dorothy Day sitting at a table, head-to-head with a clearly homeless, impoverished, malnourished man. They were deep in conversation. The reporter waited impatiently, growing increasingly agitated that his time was being wasted, until, eventually aware of his presence, Dorothy Day turned to him and asked “you wish to speak with one of us?”

We are getting through this time of Covid, and these very cold months, and worries over Ukraine, the Supreme Court, and looming tax deadlines by staying hopeful and making soup and remembering those who need our love and undistracted attention. These are the very things that give me hope.

Love,
Carla

P.S. Another writing prompt for a Lenten reflection: My hope gets renewed when I…

Treasurer's Report

I am pleased to provide an updated dashboard report of our financial situation. As you can see, the numbers are as of December 31, 2021. These figures represent 50% of our 2021/22 fiscal year.

A couple of observations regarding the figures: the operating income for the past 6 months represents 71% of our annual budget. The biggest reason for the high percentage is that in December Pilgrim received our cash portion of the settlement of Mary Van Evera’s Estate. That boosted our income substantially. We were also fortunate to receive some unexpected donations from generous folks in the congregation. On the expense side, we are pretty much on budget which is a good thing. Consequentially, for the first six months of our fiscal year we have a positive excess revenue over expense figure. Our annual budget calls for a deficit of $105,016.00 at the end of fiscal year 2021/22, so for now we are tracking well against budget. But I also know that in the remaining six months of our fiscal year, income drops off and expenses continue—especially in the winter months. We continue to look for ways to generate additional cash inflow and ways to keep expenses manageable. We must find ways to balance our annual budget without going through the pain of slashing expenses as has happened in the past. The answer is clear—we must generate more income.

As you can see we do not have significant reserves in the Capital Fund. We have been fortunate that we have not had any serious building or equipment issues that have hit the Fund severely. I pray this positive trend continues. As of today our building is in good operating condition.

Our investments have performed well in 2021 but we all know that the market stands on shaky ground. I expect that we will experience some market turbulence in the months ahead as government tries to rein in inflation. Time will tell how we fair. The good news is that with the recent influx of cash, we have not yet had to take funds from investments to cover expenses.

If you have any questions about the numbers or would like more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at jonwelles@charter.net.

Jon L. Welles
Treasurer

If the table below looks strange, try clicking "View this email in your browser" at the top of the email.

Operating Results Through 12/31/2022 (50% of fiscal year)

Operating Budget		YTD		Prior YTD		Annual Budget		%
Operating income		258,085.20		224,760.07		361,438.00		71.41
Operating expense		209,155.55		168,922.76		466,454.00		44.84
Excess revenue over expense		48,929.65		55,837.31		(105,016.00)
Investment Activity		Current		YTD Change
Second Century Fund		1,114,156.32		90,605.39
Scholarship Fund		45,318.68		1,961.91
Total Investments		1,160,081.99		92,567.30
Capital Fund Summary
Capital Income		10,589.92
Other Expense		(1.36)
Net		10,588.56

Need Transportation to Church?

Better than Lyft and Uber combined! Call John Fochs at (218) 341-1982 for a roundtrip ride. He has drivers standing by, ready to help out.

Souper Bowl Sunday

Super Bowl = Fun! Great football plays, amazing commercials and the ever-popular half time show!

Souper Bowl: Wonderful! You donate to Loaves and Fishes and get Soup–all on Souper Bowl Sunday, February 13.

Pilgrim Church is inviting everyone in our community to participate in the Souper Bowl. We are teaming up with the National Tackling Hunger Souper Bowl of Caring event. Each participating group in the Unites States raises funds for a local charity that reduces hunger in their community. Last year, collectively, $5.3 million was donated to local charities that work to reduce hunger.

Pilgrim is making and selling gourmet soups in exchange for a donation to Loaves and Fishes, our local emergency short-term homeless shelter. Each 20 oz container (2.5 cups) of soup will cost $10 and ALL money collected will be given to Loaves and Fishes. The soup options are:

• Pastor Carla's Vegan Chili
• Steve’s Famous Indonesian Carrot Soup
• Ann and Bob's Gourmet Beef and Vegetable Soup

All soups will be prepared in the Pilgrim Church commercial kitchen. Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available!

You can fill out an order form online, or you can fill out a paper form at church. All orders are due by February 6.

Pick up and pay for your order on February 13 between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 2310 E 4th St, Duluth, MN 55812. We can also deliver within a seven-mile radius!

Pilgrim Book Club

The Pilgrim Book group will be reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio for February 2022. As the back cover blurb recommends, it’s a “crackling page-turner filled with characters you can’t help but root for.” It’s a best-seller and on such lists as Best Young Adult Books of All Time, Teacher’s Choice, and of course New York Times Notable and Best-Seller lists. Wonder has been reviewed as a “modern classic—a funny, uplifting, and incredibly moving novel to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page." This is the story of August Pullman’s fifth grade year. Auggie was born with a facial difference that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now, an ordinary kid with an extraordinary face.

Join us on Zoom on Monday, February 14, at 4:00 pm. The book group would also like to open this Zoom book group meeting to any Pilgrim youth who have read or would like to read and discuss this “wonder”ful book.

Join us on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291

Newsletter

The next edition of the paper newsletter goes out Thursday, February 3. Please send any items to the office by Tuesday, February 1. Thank you!

From CHUM Executive Director John Cole

Duluth’s shortage of housing causes long-term and chronic homelessness. Waitlists stretch from months (in rare cases) to more than 2 years for subsidized housing. In addition, people experiencing long-term homelessness and especially chronic homelessness are rarely able to transition smoothly from the streets or shelter into permanent, independent housing. What is needed are low-cost units that are private, dignified, harm reducing, small scale and culturally specific to encourage community; and providing services including basic life skills like home management and cooking. You can learn more about the 5-year plan here.

Volunteer Opportunity

Rising food costs over the past year impacts us all, and you continue to respond with generosity. CHUM can accept donations of food prepared in a commercial kitchen, and the Sisters of St Scholastica Monastery have worked out a plan to transfer frozen meals from their kitchen to CHUM every Monday and Thursday. We need your help with delivery. The food is frozen in 9x13 foil pans (with lids), and we are looking for teams of two to pick up the meals at 8:45 am on Mondays and Thursdays at the Monastery kitchen and deliver it to the CHUM Drop-in Center. Contact Patricia to sign up or to get more information.

Duluth Workforce Development

Are you or is someone you know age 55 or older and in need of help finding a job? Duluth Workforce Development offers part-time paid work experience and individual job search assistance for low-income, unemployed, older workers age 55 and older. Please contact Leslie at (218) 730‑5221 or lperrett@duluthmn.gov for more information.

Children's Space in the Sun Room

On Sunday, February 13, children are invited to bring their favorite stuffed animal to church. There will be activities based on Noah's Ark in the Sun Room that morning. See you then!

Coffee with Carla

Grab a coffee (or the morning beverage of your choice) and join us for conversation. We will meet via Zoom each Wednesday at 10:00 am. See you there!

Calendar

This Week at Pilgrim
Sunday, January 30	10:00 am	Sunday Worship
	11:00 am	Visiting Hour
Tuesday, February 1		Newsletter items due
	8:00 am	Men’s Breakfast
Wednesday, February 2	10:00 am	Coffee with Carla
	7:30 pm	Souper Bowl Planning
Thursday, February 3	2:00 pm	Newsletter Prep
Sunday, February 6	10:00 am	Sunday Worship
	11:00 am	Visiting Hour

Sunday Worship at Pilgrim

Join us Sunday at 10:00 am for Sunday Worship at Pilgrim, in person or online. You can view the service on Pilgrim's YouTube channel.

You can download a Bulletin here.

This Sunday's scripture readings:

• Jeremiah 1:4-10;
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
• John 1:1-5, 14

In case you missed it, you can view last Sunday's worship service on YouTube.
Attendance: 54
YouTube views: 44

Prayers and Condolences

Keep in your prayers:

• Mary Olin, who is recovering from surgery
• Liz Ettinger, whose cancer has metastasized
• Friends and family of Bob Lowe, who passed away this week

What Patrick's Listening To

Ever listen to baroque music and have a little trouble understanding what's going on? Here's a fugue that explains itself. Enjoy!