Newsletter and eNews for February 3
My Bailiwick
This morning the pandemic was on my last nerve. My pandemic fatigue is completely connected to my basic congregationalism—a cornerstone of my religious faith and experience. In my former church, we pre-recorded Sunday worship services on Thursday mornings. One of those early Thursday recording sessions was going to be shown on a Communion Sunday, and so I recorded myself offering communion—breaking bread, pouring grape juice into a chalice, and then eating and drinking, as if I were doing it with my parishioners. I hated it—absolutely rebelled fiercely deep in my soul, and so we didn’t pre-record communion again. A couple of times we had communion together via Zoom, which made me uncomfortable, but I didn’t feel as strong a visceral rejection as when it was pre-recorded. I tried to explain it to the Board of Worship, who didn’t really understand my emotional response. They recommended that church members “tune in” to other UCC churches whose pastors were more willing to serve communion over the airwaves.
I recently read an op-ed piece in the New York Times by Tish Harrison Warren (NY Times, 1.30.22, "Why Churches Should Drop Their On-line Services"). Warren is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and while I disagree with her conclusion that churches should stop offering on-line worship, she nonetheless touched my pandemic-fatigue nerve. “We seek to worship wholly—with heart, soul, mind, and strength—and embodiment is an irreducible part of that wholeness.”
I am so grateful that we do simultaneous worship here at Pilgrim—in-person and livestreamed. This Sunday we are serving communion, and I encourage those who are watching from home to prepare their own elements to participate with us when we get to that moment in worship. And I understand completely that many of you need to stay home because it is still dangerous to be exposed to a large group of people in an enclosed, indoor room. It is a nod to the reality that we are not yet out of the woods. People are still catching this thing and it is still dangerous. The CDC tells us that over 2,300 people are dying every day in the U.S. The number was higher just this past Tuesday. So, I encourage you, all of you, to stay safe. Update your vaccines. Wear good masks. Stay home, even from church, if you need to.
But I just want you to know that I miss you. I miss worshipping in the same room with you. And I want this pandemic to end.
Love,
Carla
P.S. Thank you for all the crockpots—I have enough now!
P.P.S Please send me some of your Lent reflections—just a prayer or a thought or a memory you’d be
willing to share in a booklet. What purpose does the church serve in your life?
Pilgrim News
Here is the latest edition of Pilgrim's Newsletter.
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
Pilgrims are making soup to raise funds for Loaves and Fishes, a local emergency short-term homeless shelter. Each 20 oz container of soup will cost $10. Go to www.pilgrimduluth.org to place your order, or fill out a paper order form in Salter Hall. Orders are due by Sunday, February 6.
If you'd like to help out, sign up here.
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.
Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291
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, February 6 | 10:00 am | Sunday Worship |
| 11:00 am | Visiting Hour | |
| Tuesday, February 8 | 10:00 am | Membership & Growth |
| 4:00 pm | Building & Finance | |
| Wednesday, February 9 | 10:00 am | Coffee with Carla |
| 4:00 pm | Bellissimo | |
| 7:30 pm | Souper Bowl Planning | |
| Thursday, February 10 | 5:30 pm | Worship & Arts |
| Friday, February 11 | 8:30 am | Soup Prep |
| Saturday, February 12 | 4:00 pm | Soup Prep |
| Sunday, February 13 | 7:00 am | Soup Prep |
| 10:00 am | Sunday Worship | |
| 11:00 am | Visiting Hour | |
| 11:00 am | Souper Bowl Pickup & Delivery |
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:
- Isaiah 6:1-8
- Luke 5:1-11
In case you missed it, you can view last Sunday's worship service on YouTube.
Attendance: 44
YouTube views: 37
Prayers and Condolences
Keep in your prayers:
- Liz Oettinger, whose cancer has metastasized
- Friends and family of Bob Lowe, who passed away in January
Show Us Your Walks
Hartley Field, from Jean Jacobson
We're lucky to live in a community with so much beauty and access to nature. Send Patrick your photos to share your walks with us in future emails! It's another way to stay connected in these troubled times.
What Patrick's Listening To
Cécile McLorin Salvant shares a Judy Garland classic, "If You Feel Like Singing, Sing," on Live from here with pianist Sullivan Fortner.