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PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lexington, SC
Thursday, April 25, 2024
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Happy Thursday, Pilgrims!
After a lot of prayer, discernment, and hard work, your Generosity Team (Wally Steinhauser, Chair, Don Kosanka, Melissa Hendrix, Wade Miles, Ricky Wingard, Carolyn Davenport, and Pastor Mary) launched on Sunday Pilgrim’s Easter Stewardship Appeal called, Stepping Boldly.
We have been working with our stewardship consultant, Rev. Mike Ward, a partner in the GSB company. The synod paid for most of the cost of this consultation. We are so grateful for these partners in ministry.
After taking some positive steps at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, especially around our mortgage management and overall increased giving, we felt confident to do a four-week stewardship appeal inviting our growth in giving through the rest of 2024.
This past Sunday, Wally reminded us that we “can’t out give God”! This campaign is centered on God’s abundant giving to us and our generous response to those gifts. Below is a letter sent on Monday to all who gave to our general operating fund in 2023, as well as those who have joined our community in 2024.
Over the next weeks, you’ll be hearing and reading more about this appeal in worship, in Pilgrim’s Progress, on Facebook, and on our website (under the Stewardship tab). The printed materials are both beautiful and informative.
Wally also told us, “I haven’t always been generous with my gifts. But as we have all worked so hard to rebuild the church community that COVID threatened to destroy, I came to realize just how important this church is to this community … If we can all look to live and give more generously, we will certainly be blessed here at Pilgrim … we will be blessed well beyond any amount we are able to give. Because, you know, you just can’t out give God!”
With gratitude,
Pastor Mary
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STEPPING BOLDLY LETTER #1
Eastertide
April 22, 2024
Dear Pilgrim Partners:
Stepping Boldly is the theme of our Easter Stewardship Appeal. This theme points to our discipleship as people who step boldly in Jesus’s footsteps. Thank you for walking with us over the past two years. If you contributed to our operating expenses in 2023, you are receiving this letter. If you are new to our community in 2024, you also are receiving this letter.
See more.
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COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Mary Beth Hill
In case you wonder …
On Sunday, April 21, 2024, your church council, Pastor Mary Anderson, Keith Galloway, Melissa Hendrix, Mary Beth Hill, Joe Kaminer, Don Kosanka, Wade Miles, Jennifer Schwabe, Kathleen Shutt, Jimmy Smith, Greg Sommer, and Wally Steinhauser, met and put in a solid three hours of good work. You will hear more about some of the things we did and are doing over the next few weeks.
For instance, I gave a Communications report you might find interesting. I did.
We use several methods to communicate with you and with others interested in Pilgrim Lutheran Church. For instance, we send you Pilgrim’s Progress using Constant Contact, a digital and email marketing platform. Interestingly, in the last 30 days, we sent 1,264 emails using Constant Contact (Pilgrim’s Progress). More than half (55%) of you opened those (679) on a desktop device (96%).
We use DialMyCalls to send you Pastor Mary Anderson’s Friday evening update and other email, text, and call reminders. We send those to 149 unique telephone numbers and 115 unique email addresses.
Pilgrim’s Facebook account boasts 1,013 followers, with four new followers this month. Like all social media, women make up the majority of our followers (68%). If you use social media and are not following us, please do. We love our Pilgrim family.
You may be asking, “What’s next for our three Bold Steps?”
You’ll remember that you voted and chose the following three Bold Steps on Sunday, April 14, in answer to the question, “What does God want Pilgrim Lutheran Church to be and do now?”
1. Form a visitation committee to visit home-bound and elderly members. (presented by Warren and Margaret Christmus)
2. Host community events (movies, music ensembles, lectures, etc.) in the sanctuary.
(presented by Melissa Hendrix)
3. Create an outstanding children’s ministry. (presented by Jane Park)
Pilgrim has about 98 voting members. That Sunday, we had 72 in worship and more than 48 votes cast during the meeting after Worship.
Next comes creating teams of at most five individuals for each of the three new ministries. Those teams will each use a sheet we will provide to refine their goal and create a strategy complete with a timeline. They will answer those important Who, What, When, Where, and How questions. Then, present those to your Church Council.
Don’t worry, teams. We will send your forms to you soon.
Our Hospitality Table
Right now, we don’t have someone to cover our April 28 Hospitality Table. So, we will go to Plan B and use our donated backup cookies!
Jane Park volunteered to take Sunday, May 5, but the rest of May is open. If you can volunteer, please email Mary Beth Hill at mbhillmeehan@gmail.com or Courtney Coker at plc@wearepilgrim.com.
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Prayer and Share Bible Study
After 12 weeks, this group completed a study of the Sermon on the Mount. We all learned a lot! We will continue with a study on the scriptures for the coming Sunday beginning April 30 at the 10:30–11:30 a.m. time. Pastor Mary will lead this study to prepare us for Sunday worship through May 21. Since each session is a stand-alone study, feel free to come and go as your schedule allows.
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We recognize Newberry College, one of our Lutheran schools in worship on April 28
This Sunday, we will give thanks for the ministry of Newberry College, a college of the ELCA, located in Newberry, SC, since 1856. Pilgrim has several Newberry alums and one of our members, Rev. David Coffman, is the Campus Pastor at the college.
Worshipers will have an opportunity to make a gift to the college this Sunday. An envelope will be in the bulletin for your gift of cash or checks. Make checks out to Pilgrim with “Newberry College” in the memo line. If you use the QR code, there will be a place to indicate your gifts to go to “The Berry.”
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Join our USC Campus Ministry Dinner on April 28
Pilgrim is signed up to provide dinner for the Lutheran Campus Ministry students at the University of South Carolina on April 28. Jimmy and Angie Smith will plan the menu and coordinate the event. Let them know if you would like to cook and drop off your food at church, or if you would like to go to the campus ministry center to serve the students and get to know them. You can also cook and serve! Contact the Smiths at amsmith52700@gmail.com.
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Preschool Sunday is May 5
As we celebrate our students, especially our graduating 4-year-olds, our teachers, and our staff, the children will sing a few of their songs from chapel. This includes their fan favorite, “This Little Light of Mine.”
The class with the most Sunday attendance will have a popsicle party!
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Celebrating Graduate Sunday on May 26
In worship, we will celebrate Will Kollmansberger graduating from Irmo High School, Savannah Turbeville graduating from River Bluff High School, and Will Godfrey graduating from Lander University.
We will offer them a blessing during worship. The Faith Formation Team will host a banquet afterward for their families.
Congratulations!
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April Food Pantry Update
Thank you for your continued generosity in supplying our Community Food Pantry.
During the month of April, our focus will be on toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, and deodorant. Meats and chunky soups continue to be in high demand.
Many thanks for supporting this outreach ministry.
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We are in need of more casseroles! We are planning a casserole making party soon, so stay tuned for the details! In the meantime, if you would like to provide some comfort food for this ministry, we could use a casserole or two. The pans, lids and labels are in the fellowship hall kitchen on the counter to the right of the white freezer. Please use our standard recipes. If you need a copy, email delores@wingardsmarket.com.
If you know someone who could use a homemade comfort casserole, please feel free to take it out of the freezer.
Here’s how Holy Casseroley works:
- The casseroles are in the white freezer in the Kitchen in the Fellowship Hall. They are labeled with names, ingredients, and cooking instructions. All the ingredients are pre-cooked, so reheating in an oven or microwave is easy.
- If you take a casserole, there is a legal pad on the counter to the right of the freezer. Please write the name of the casserole you are taking, date, and recipient’s name.
- If you would like someone else to deliver the casserole for you, please email delores@wingardsmarket.com with the recipient’s name, address, and telephone number.
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Skeet Shoot coming Saturday, May 11 | |
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Wizarding Week July 28 — August 2
It is Lutheridge tradition to have a fun theme for the final week of summer camp. This year, that theme will be Wizarding Week!
During this final week of camp, campers will have all the fun of a week of camp with some fun Harry Potter-themed activities, including being sorted into houses, playing Quidditch, and a Triwizard Tournament to end the week.
Your camper won‘t want to miss this! So if you haven‘t already registered, choose from one of our exciting camps happening during the final week of camp: Pioneers, Climb High, or Cave & Wave!
Dates
July 28-August 2, 2024
A NEW SPECIAL 50/50 FRIENDS OFFER!
Invite a friend to attend camp, and you could both receive $50 off your registration fee.
Register here
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Worship Service Volunteers
April 28 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Carolyn Horner
Lector — Delores Steinhauser
Ushers — Carl Richardson and Ted Wingard
Communion Assistants — Mary Beth Hill and Kathy Boivin
Children’s Time in the Word — Ryan Mears
Hospitality Table —
May 5 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Lou Galloway
Lector — Ryan Mears
Ushers — Wally Steinhauser and Ricky Wingard
Communion Assistants — Carolyn Horner and Dot Tunstall
Children’s Time in the Word — Jackie Kaminer
Hospitality Table — Jane Park
May 12 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Nich Godfrey
Lector — Kathy Boivin
Ushers — Kim Shealy and Jimmy Smith
Communion Assistants — Kathy Boivin and Delores Steinhauser
Children’s Time in the Word — Jennifer Schwabe
Hospitality Table —
May 19 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Kristin Dashiell
Lector — Mary Beth Hill
Ushers — Carl Richardson and Brenda Sommer
Communion Assistants — David and Jane Park
Children’s Time in the Word — Allison Hallman
Hospitality Table —
May 26 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Carolyn Horner
Lector — Peter Reinhart
Ushers — Charlie Godfrey and Wolfram Schwabe
Communion Assistants — Kristen Dashiell and Joe Kaminer
Children’s Time in the Word — Jackie Kaminer
Hospitality Table —
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PRAYERS
Alan and Karen Addy
Neil Avery
Friend of Bill and Jan Sanders, Kirby Bishop
Ron Davis
Norma Drafts
Walt Hallman
Yvonne Isola
Pastor Mary’s sister-in-law, Marla
Vivian Rikard
Bill Sanders
Pastor Carl Yost
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Worship is at 10 a.m. each Sunday. | |
Worship Service replay from Sunday, April 21, 2024. | |
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You may also mail your gift or offering or deliver it in person to:
Pilgrim Lutheran Church
1430 N Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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