ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. | |
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Dear Pilgrims:
I have a hunch that if we asked most practicing Christians which day of the church year is the most solemn, they would say Good Friday. And they would be wrong. It’s Ash Wednesday. It’s the most solemn for us because it’s much like attending your own funeral.
Just like at a graveside, we sprinkle dirt onto the waiting casket saying, “We commit his/her body to the ground: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” so we will come forward and have ashes imposed on our living foreheads with the words “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.” It is our annual near-death experience.
Our Jewish heritage has long recommended meditation on one’s death as a spiritual practice for the renewal of one’s life. The early church (4th C) created Lent as a forty-day period before Easter when converts to the faith would be taught the beliefs and behaviors of baptized people. These new members would be baptized at the Easter Vigil (the night before Easter Day). Historically, this was the teaching function of the Lenten season.
For us long ago baptized modern folk, we are called to renew and affirm our baptism. We are called to meditate on what it means to renew and deepen our knowledge of the faith and practice the love of neighbor more faithfully. That’s right; Lent is about a whole lot more than giving up chocolate so that our Easter Bunny candy tastes even more delicious!
This newsletter offers opportunities to renew your discipleship through additional Bible Study, worship, and service. Instead of giving up chocolate, why not take up at least one of these opportunities to renew your spiritual life? Pilgrim Lutheran is engaged in its Season of Renewal, meaning we’ll live in a congregational time of Lent for about two years. Lent isn’t always 40 days; sometimes, it lasts months, years, or whatever time we need for our renewal. The more we as individual members and friends renew ourselves in our baptism, the stronger will be the renewal of the whole church.
Be strong. Be renewed. Christ is with us.
Pastor Mary
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Important news and information from Council | |
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Is someone in your family
graduating from high school or college?
If so, we want to know who is graduating, where they are graduating from, and when. We know that Madisson Kaminer, Amy Shealy, and Victoria Smith are graduating before June 4. So, that date is looking good for our recognition Sunday.
If you have someone else graduating, please contact Kathleen Shutt by email at kshutt@sc.rr.com and let her know immediately. Graduations will be here before we know it.
Need a Sunday pick-me-up?
Thanks to Carolyn Horner and Ricky Wingard from Church Council’s Witness Team (community, growth, hospitality, outreach) and Council Members Karl Horner, Kathleen Shutt, Jimmy Smith, and Linda Spires for providing coffee and goodies after the worship service on Sunday.
We hope you took a few minutes to enjoy a little social time with your fellow Pilgrims right after the service. If not, you get another opportunity this Sunday.
DialMyCalls Update
Pastor Mary Anderson sent her first short weekly recorded telephone call using our new DialMyCalls system on Friday, Feb. 17. We attempted to make 150 calls. Of those, 131 were completed successfully, as 69 of you answered her call and 62 went to voice mail.
If you didn’t get the call, please let us know. It means we don’t have your telephone number, or we have an incorrect one for you on file. Also, if we only have one number for your family and someone else in your family would like to get the messages, email our Office Administrator, Reed Corley, at plc@wearepilgrim.com.
On Monday, Feb. 20, at 5:30 p.m., Pastor Mary sent a text. That text wasn’t as successful. Of the 148 recipients, less than 100 went through. That could be for several reasons. For instance, the text came from a telephone number the DMC company assigned us that you wouldn’t have recognized — (833) 474-7760. We are checking on this now.
However, since our telephone calls went through more successfully, we will stick to calls for now. While we do that, we will be cross-checking our telephone lists.
Thanks for your patience as we learn about our new telephone calling service.
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Would you like to represent Pilgrim at SC Synold Assembly?
Your Church Council would like to hear from members interested in representing Pilgrim Lutheran Church at the 2023 South Carolina Synod Assembly. If interested, please get in touch with Reed Corley, our Office Administrator, by email at plc@wearepilgrim.com.
The Assembly will be Thursday-Saturday, June 8–10, at the Marriott Columbia located at 1200 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC, 29201. The theme is I See Jesus. You can read more about it here.
https://scsynod.com/assembly/
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Involved in a ministry? Please take this survey | |
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During our Season of Renewal and beyond, the Church Council is committed to supporting the various ministries at Pilgrim. Covid disrupted church life in many ways, and most of our activities had to adapt or be put on hold during the pandemic.
The Council is now surveying the current state of Pilgrim ministries. If you know of a group or activity that meets at Pilgrim Lutheran Church and/or is associated with Pilgrim, please use the button below, and take a moment to fill out this brief survey. We want to be aware of every ministry.
We look forward to encouraging each other and growing together.
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Do you have an idea for a new ministry you would like to see at Pilgrim? Stay tuned - we will soon ask for your ideas and inspiration.
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Ash Wednesday service is tonight at 7 p.m. | |
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Tonight, join other disciples of Jesus for this most solemn day of the Christian year. We will come together for confession, imposition of ashes, and communion at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
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Communion Distribution change begins tonight | |
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Beginning with our Ash Wednesday service, we will begin gathering at the altar rail to receive the bread and wine. You are invited to kneel or stand.The pastor will give each person a wafer and the assistant will present worshipers with the tray of wine and grape juice (white in color in the center of the tray). An acolyte will take up the empty glasses from you. This will be our practice all of Lent.
On Easter Day, we will stand in joy at the resurrection news and come forward in front of the altar to receive the bread and wine.
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Make-up ashes in Pastor Mary's office, Thursday, 3-6 p.m. | Pastor Mary will be available in her office in the administrative building from 3–6 pm for those who could not attend the Ash Wednesday service. Come by yourself or as a family. We will read a little scripture, have some pastoral conversation and prayer, and then receive ashes on our foreheads to mark us for Lent. | |
Lenten Wednesdays begin March 1 with supper and study | |
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Lenten Wednesdays — March 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
Supper and Study, 5:30–6:15 p.m.
Come to the Fellowship Hall for a light supper provided by Pilgrim people. While we enjoy our food, Pastor Mary will lead us in a Bible Study that she wrote, “How (ELCA) Lutherans Interpret the Bible.”
Holden Evening Prayer is at 6:30 p.m.
After our supper and study, we’ll join together for a service of evening prayer in the chapel.
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Holy Week and Easter Schedule, April 2-9 | |
Holy Week and Easter — April 2–April 9
Maundy Thursday — April 6 at 7 p.m.
Worship in the Sanctuary.
Good Friday — April 7 at 7 p.m.
Worship in the Sanctuary.
Easter Day! — April 9
7 a.m. — Sunrise Service
7:30–9:30 a.m. — Easter Breakfast in the Fellowship Hall
10 a.m. — Festival Service of Easter in the Sanctuary
Plans are still underway for other Children’s Easter Activities. Stay tuned for more details.
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Pilgrim Youth will meet this Sunday for lunch | |
This Sunday, Feb. 26, after morning worship, Pilgrim Youth, Middle School, and High School students will have lunch together and then join in a time of conversation and learning to engage both our confirmation kids and everybody else. Confirmation participants will have an extra assignment – because you’re special!
For additional gathering dates, please mark your calendars:
Sundays, March 26, April 26, and May 21
We’ll also talk about a youth retreat – for a day, a weekend away, or a week at Lutheridge or Lutherock. You can have this kind of fun (below) at a Lutheran camp.
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Preschool opens registration for 2023-2024 year;
Pre-registration tours available Feb. 22, March 2
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Pilgrim Community Preschool's Registration has started for the 2023-2024 school year. We are allowing current Pilgrim Families (Church & Preschool) priority enrollment now before we open registration to the public on Monday, Feb. 13. If you are interested in enrolling, please email directorofpcp@gmail.com, to request a packet. We are asking you to join us in prayer for the children and the families that will be joining our community in the future.
| As part of its 2023-2024 registration process, Pilgrim Community Preschool is hosting tours on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 a.m. and on Thursday, March 2 at 10:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending a tour or would like more information on enrolling, please email directorofPCP@gmail.com. Please join us in praying for the families and the children that will be joining us in the fall. | |
Preschool prepares for Art Festival, April 28 | |
Pilgrim Community Preschool (PCP) is excitedly preparing for its 3rd Annual Art Festival on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 5 p.m.
This fun event not only showcases artwork from children enrolled at PCP but also encourages local artisans and vendors to join in on the fun. Last year, some of the vendors featured were a local children's author, a jewelry designer, a clothing retailer, handmade charcuterie boards, an antique dealer, and some local favorite food trucks.
Our goal is to bring the community together and celebrate our preschool. We would love to have you join us for the Art Festival as a vendor or attendee. If interested in vending, please email directorofpcp@gmail.com.
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Prayer and Share Group meets March 14
Pastor Mary will reflect on Holy Land pilgrimage
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You are invited to join the Prayer and Share Group for a special presentation by Pastor Mary on Tuesday, March 14, from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Pastor Mary will reflect on her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in November.
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As you grocery shop, consider our Food Pantry | |
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When you grocery shop, please pick up a few things and bring them to church at the Welcome Center. Chunky Soups with a pop-top lid are most welcome.
Be sure to teach your children and grandchildren why you are buying these items and let them help put them in the box provided. Teach compassion and mercy.
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Thrivent Financial estate planning workshop | |
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Alan K. Hyatt – Thrivent Financial is hosting an Estate Planning Workshop on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at The Country Club of Lexington, 1066 Barr Road, Lexington, SC 29072. Learn steps to start planning your estate, including wills and trusts, durable powers of attorney, and beneficiaries. Light refreshments will be served. We will have limited seating, so please RSVP early to Dawn Hyatt at (803) 957-3073 or dawn.hyatt@thrivent.com to register.
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Prayers and Thanksgivings
Myron Corley; Marie Visscher’s son, David; Bill Sanders; Dell Collins; Vivian Rikard; for all living with cancer that they find strength in God’s promise; Adam Frank; Ron Davis; Zach Mattox; Jaiden Isola.
Maggie Cafferty
Hayes Wingard
Lee Ruff’s sister, Terrie
Rachel Dieter
Diane Davis’ son, Brian
Jamy Claire Archer’s father, Tom
Dorothy Tunstall’s cousin, Nila
Gary Southerland
All those victims of gun violence, their families and communities
The people of Ukraine and all living in places of war
Myra Boyd
Raishad Glover
Emma Dashiell as she moves to a new job and a new city.
If you have prayer requests and thanksgiving to share, please contact the church office at plc@wearepilgrim.com or call (803) 359-9421 or write them on the welcome cards at worship.
| If you have prayer requests and thanksgiving to share, please contact the church office at plc@wearepilgrim.com or call (803) 359-9421 or write them on the welcome cards at worship. | |
Sunday's worship service - Feb. 19, 2023 | |
A Gift or Offering is an act of worship | |
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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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