eNews for Thursday, April 8, 2021
CHUM Announces New Executive Director
Lee Stuart
John Cole
After eight years as Executive Director of CHUM, Lee Stuart has announced she will be retiring from CHUM but not from community participation as of June 30, 2021. Stuart became Executive Director of CHUM in 2013, succeeding Jim Soderberg, and has overseen the growth of the organization through increasing shelter capacity from 46 to 80, creating the service program for the Steve O’Neil Apartments and diversifying the staff to better reflect CHUM’s guests.
“CHUM fulfills an indispensable role in Duluth to our most vulnerable neighbors and to our faith communities. Lee’s brilliant leadership, deep faith and commitment to a just and compassionate community has transformed how we affirm the dignity of every person. We will miss her, but are infinitely grateful for her work,” says CHUM Board President, Patrice Critchley-Menor.
“Lee Stuart has been an extraordinary leader for our community. She is candid, direct, dedicated and compassionate,” says Duluth Mayor, Emily Larson. “Lee showed up to work, and showed this community how to do so with empathy and purpose.”
County Commissioner Frank Jewell says “As someone who has long lived in and served the center of the city I can’t overstate how important CHUM is. In these last few years Lee Stuart has led the agency to expand its services even more.”
County Commissioner Patrick Boyle offers “Lee’s peace and justice faith is what drives her. She is a true leader in our state for those that do not have a voice. I wish her well on her next chapter.“
CHUM’s importance was affirmed by State Representative Liz Olson: “We’re all facing significant challenges, and the last year has proven how much we count on an organization like CHUM to be there for our community when times are tough.”
CHUM’s next Executive Director will be John Cole. Cole is currently the interim Director at Align Minneapolis, formerly known as Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness. Align has a similar structure to CHUM in that it is comprised of congregations from a variety of faiths, and also serves homeless individuals and families. Prior to his leadership role at Align, Cole was a Director at The Dignity Center, an interfaith ministry of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis, which supports people living in poverty and provides them a path to stability.
Cole is Caribbean born, and came to Minnesota in 2011 after founding Friends Hotline of Antigua and Barbuda, an NGO supporting and serving youth in crisis. Simultaneously, Cole was a Youth Director for the Diocese of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba of the Anglican Church. “I have a great appreciation for the human spirit,” said Cole, “I’m passionate about serving, and have a calling to serve. I’m impressed by the breadth of services that CHUM offers, and I look forward to working with the CHUM staff and other partners in mission in Duluth.”
The CHUM board was very impressed with Cole throughout the interview process. Reverend Robyn Weaver, Pastor at Glen Avon Presbyterian Church and CHUM search committee member viewed Cole as a “transformative leader.” Critchley-Menor added, “I become more impressed with John each time I hear him speak.” Ann Carlson, who first brought Cole on board at The Dignity Center commented, “John’s not shy to speak out on behalf of the homeless. He’s adept at working with people on the edges of society. It’s kind of the job of his dreams.”
Stuart says of Cole “I am excited to welcome John as the next Executive Director of CHUM. I will do everything in my power to have as strong a transition as Jim Soderberg did for me. It has been an honor to serve CHUM for the last eight years, among the most rewarding of my life. Thank you, especially to CHUM’s staff, congregations and supporters throughout Duluth.”
Cole will begin at CHUM on June 1. Stuart will help the organization transition to new leadership between now and June.
Stay tuned for events to celebrate Lee's service and to welcome John to CHUM.
Staff Vacations
Pastor Judith is on vacation this week. Jackie Falk will be handling pastoral emergencies while she is away. Please get in touch with the office if you have any needs or concerns at (218) 724‑8503.
Mary Sopoci, our Business Manager, is also on vacation this week. The office will be closed on Thursday, April 8, until Monday, April 12. Happy Spring, everyone!
Keep Duluth Clean
Pilgrim Youth Group and All Pilgrims
The Pilgrim Youth group would like to invite all Pilgrims to participate in the Keep Duluth Clean event this Saturday, April 10. We plan to clean from 9:00-10:00 am at the first pull out after Brighton Beach. And we will clean from 3:00-4:00 pm at the second pull out after Brighton beach. Bring your own gloves please and we will wear masks. Contact Cindy Grindy (218) 349‑9611 with questions.
Second Hour Event on Social Justice at Pilgrim
Pilgrim's Social Justice Ministry (SJM) will do a second hour program on charitable contributions that are made by Pilgrim Church. Pilgrim has contributed over $35,000 to worthy causes over the past year, and members of the SJM would like to share information about these organizations with you. Please join us for this second hour program at 11:00 am on Sunday, April 11.
Join us on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 843 9163 0668
Passcode: 912010
Pilgrim Women's Book Club
Monday, April 12 | 4:00 pm
Our book selection for April is The Good Lord Bird by James McBride. It's a "comedy novel which depicts the life of the abolitionist John Brown." The book won the 2013 National Book Award. It's been described as a "riveting story which will make you laugh and think."
Since this is a Book Club in a Bag selection, we have additional copies available. If you would like a copy to read, email Carol Bacig and she'll get a copy to you.
Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291
Sunday Worship at Pilgrim
Join us Sunday at 10:00 am for Sunday Worship at Pilgrim. This Sunday's service is provided by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ, plus some favorite musical selections from Pilgrim's archives. You can view the service on Pilgrim's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
You can download a Bulletin here.
Salter Hall Zoom:Join us after worship for conversation and fellowship every Sunday at 11:00 am.
Meeting ID: 843 9163 0668
Passcode: 912010
If you have an announcement that you would like read during a Sunday service, please get it to the office or directly to Pastor Judith by Monday each week.
Please send in your prayer requests to include in Sunday services. Send your prayer requests, joys, and concerns to Pastor Judith via email by Friday each week to be included. We will use only first names during the service in order to maintain confidentiality, and your prayer requests will be passed along to Marge Fraser and Pilgrim's Prayer Chain.
In case you missed it, you can view last Sunday's worship service on YouTube. Easter Sunday was our first service live streaming from the Sanctuary!
YouTube views: 77
Morning Coffee
Wednesdays | 10:00 am
Join Pastor Judith for your morning coffee! We'll have a time for checking in with each other, prayers, and perhaps a brief meditation. Grab the beverage of your choice and join us on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 497 627 641
Passcode: 926781
Show Us Your Walks
More Brewer Park
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
From her Twitter feed, here's a bit of Danielle Brooks as Mahalia Jackson for a Lifetime movie that I need to figure out how to watch.