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PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCH
Lexington, SC
Thursday, August 1, 2024
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Happy Thursday, Pilgrims!
Almost a week ago, many of us watched the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympics in Paris. We experienced many aspects of French culture, some inspiring, some shocking. The next day, for those of us engaged in social media, we were privy to the backlash of some Christians regarding a part of the show that some felt was mocking the celebration of Holy Communion. More specifically, it seemed to some to be a drag queen parody of Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last Supper.
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Others were quick to point out that if the tableau was a parody of anything, it was most likely of the painting The Feast of Gods by Dutch artist Jan Harmensz van Biliert partially pictured here. We were also reminded that the origin of the Olympics was a celebration of Greek gods of which Dionysus was one. I assume he was the figure in blue in the tableau. This figure was the god of wine-making, fertility, insanity, and ritual madness. So, there you go!
We might remember, too, that French culture is proudly secular and that its citizens are constitutionally free from religion. Even if you are convinced that the Last Supper was being mocked, and perhaps it was, it raises some other issues of piety and theology.
Rejection and mockery of the gospel have been a part of the Jesus movement from its beginning. Jesus was rejected soundly by the religious leaders, ordinary folks, and even one of his disciples. The apostle Paul frequently wrote about the struggles of rejection. Some in the Greek and Roman culture to which Paul was preaching heard it as foolishness or insult. Others, of course, did not. The fact that the cross, a popular method of brutal execution in 1st century Palestine, is the symbol of our faith, should remind us that the way of the cross is first a path of rejection and pain. Jesus was rejected, mocked, and executed because he proclaimed the heart of God that many found offensive: love your neighbor as yourself, bring justice, feed the hungry, live in peace. The Last Supper is a witness to Jesus’ commitment to peace amid a violent empire. It still is.
We need not be outraged on God’s behalf by French art. Jesus would probably say to us as he did to the disciples on repeat: Shake it off, we’ve got better things to do. Turn outrage into doing the work of the gospel. Find ways you can help school kids get food so they can learn, and create an atmosphere that respects all people as children of God. Live the peace you pray for.
Carry on!
Pastor Mary
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COUNCIL PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Mary Beth Hill
Blue Jeans + Bach = Sheer Enjoyment!
Last Sunday, we all wore our blue jeans and enjoyed music by Johann Sebastian Bach, generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time. From a large family of North German musicians, his contemporaries considered him an outstanding harpsichordist and organist, as well as an expert on organ building. (reference Britannica)
Thanks to Ruthie Brannen, our accompanist, and our choir for honoring Bach with all their talent. We all enjoyed complimenting each other’s jeans, celebrating each other, and sharing laughter, and fresh fruit and snacks with Becky and Ricky Wingard at the Hospitality Table.
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Tyler and Ryan Mears and their two daughters, Delaney and Dylan, sporting their jeans before worship. | |
Hospitality anyone?
We will have our backup cookies at the Hospitality Table Sunday. Melissa and Todd Hendrix have August 11. Delores and Wally Wingard have August 18 and 25. We will celebrate Ann Addy’s birthday on September 8. Kathleen Shutt is covering September 22, but the rest of September is open.
If you can volunteer for a Sunday, please email Mary Beth Hill at mbhillmeehan@gmail.com or Courtney Coker at plc@wearepilgrim.com. You can help us build community one small treat at a time.
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Blessings of the Backpacks
On Sunday, August 4, we will invite all students (preschool to graduate school), along with teachers and school staff to come forward for a blessing as we begin the 2024-2025 school year. Bring your new or old backpacks, lunch boxes, or anything that represents going to school for you.
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Get Your Passport to Go Crusading at Camp Kinard!
A Saturday Retreat for All Ages
August 17, 2024, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Kinard Camp and Conference Center, Leesville, SC
Everyone will have their “passport” made at the registration pavilion on arrival.
Our kids will join the Jesus Walk around the camp, will learn some Bible facts, and will get their passports stamped.
Adults may engage in the Walk, participate in a service project at the camp, or spend time enjoying nature among the pine trees.
Lunch will be provided, followed by a camp worship and some kid-friendly activities.
The afternoon is time on the water, either swimming in the new pool, or canoeing or kayaking on the lake.
Invite your family and friends and register everybody here.
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Pilgrim Church is turning 125 in September, and the Preschool is turning 30!
Join these celebrations the weekend of September 14 and 15.
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A Festival of Music and History
September 14 at 4:00 p.m. A Festival of Music and History for the Lexington Community. Tickets are $25 and benefit Mission Lexington. Tickets are available on our website at wearepilgrim.com or you may purchase them at the door on the night of the event.
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Singing Our Songs
We will welcome the Lexington Community Choral Society under the direction of Hal McIntosh as they present several anthems accompanied by various Pilgrim and guest instrumentalists.
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Hearing Our Stories
We will hear three presentations on the people and the land of this community by Historian Michael Burgess, AP History Teacher at River Bluff High School. In 2023, Mr. Burgess was named the SC History Teacher of the Year. Burgess is also a teacher for the school’s Center for Law and Global Policy. He has worked as a public school teacher in the state for nearly 30 years.
Mr. Burgess will speak on these three eras of the Lexington/Pilgrim history:
1. Lexington’s Immigrant Ancestors and the Land
2. Reshaping the Land and the People: The Creation of Lake Murray
3. COVID-19: Reshaping Church, Culture, and Everything
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We will give thanks for the long ministry of Mission Lexington, a service agency to the working poor of our community, which Pilgrim was instrumental in founding. A new video will be shown highlighting their ministry.
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September 15, 2024, 10 a.m.
A Festival Worship Service
All are invited to join Pilgrim for our Sunday worship as we give thanks for our past, celebrate the present, and envision our future ministry. A celebratory meal will follow.
You can help! Help us spread the word about these events to former members and friends. Help us reach out to the descendants of former pastors, staff members, and members. Share forthcoming social media posts with your friends. Posters will soon be available for distribution. A feature article will be published in Lexington Life magazine.
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Pilgrim@125 Writing Team
In our “Pilgrim@125” anniversary planning, the last work group came together this week. This is a writing team to research and write our church history from 2000-2024. We are grateful for the work of the 100th-anniversary team in compiling a fine history of those years. Now, it’s our turn. Heading this team is Carl Richardson, along with Ryan Mears, Peter Reinhart, and Ted Wingard. We had an excellent first meeting and look forward to this work. We will probably need help from many of you. Stay tuned to this space!
| Pilgrim Community Preschool Turns 30! | |
To celebrate our Preschool, a new school year, a new director, and its anniversary, Pilgrim people are invited to collect 30 each of these needed resources:
- Packs of 30 glue sticks
- Clorox wipes
- Children’s Books (appropriate for toddlers to 4s)
We’ll collect them in the Narthex until August 25, when we will give thanks for these donations and gift them to the Preschool. Preschool staff will be present to receive them. The first day of Preschool is August 26. Let’s help them get ready!
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Saturday, Oct. 12, Pilgrim’s Garage and Boston Butts Sale
That gives you two months to find and pull out those gently used items stored in your closets, attics, garages, sheds, or anywhere else. But hold on to them because we won’t begin collecting them until Tuesday, Oct. 1, when you can bring them to the Fellowship Hall.
The money we earn from the garage sale and the sale of Boston butts will help Pilgrim offset the cost of the mortgage and that oh-so-expensive property insurance.
We will keep reminding you here in Pilgrim’s Progress, our Weekly Bulletin, text messages, and recorded telephone calls. After all, we don’t want you to miss a thing.
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Thanksgiving Service November 24 at 4:00 p.m.
In addition to our service at 10 a.m., we will have a service at 4:00 p.m., followed by a community Thanksgiving meal in the Fellowship Hall. More information will follow.
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On Monday night we had eight people come together and make 16 casseroles
Our visitation committee will be taking some of them on their visitations. 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.
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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.
| Note for the kitchen: Please do not leave leftovers in the kitchen refrigerator or freezer unless you have plans to use them. | |
Stepping Boldly Update
Thank you for your generous gifts this summer. More people are giving online, and that really makes a difference.
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New Members Joining on August 18
If the Spirit is calling you to join or rejoin our band of Pilgrims as a full member of the congregation, reach out to Pastor Mary for conversation and continued discernment about this call. Call 803 210-5757 or email mwanderson140@gmail.com.
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Food Pantry Update
Over the years, our Community Food Pantry has become quite weathered and needed to be retired. Thanks to David Park for providing our new Food Pantry box. Many thanks to Pilgrim members for your generous contributions of groceries and monetary gifts so that we can keep our pantry filled. The Pilgrim Community Food Pantry serves as a daily ministry to our neighbors in need.
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Worship Service Volunteers
August 4 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Peter Reinhart
Lector — Kathleen Shutt
Ushers — Carl Richardson and Ted Wingard
Communion Assistants — Kristen Dashiell
Children’s Time in the Word — Darlene Clark and Lou Galloway
Offering Counters — Jamie Kosanka and Delores Steinhauser
Hospitality Table —
August 11 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Jimmy Smith
Lector — Angie Smith
Ushers — Wally Steinhauser and Ricky Wingard
Communion Assistants — Becky and Ricky Wingard
Children’s Time in the Word — Jackie Kaminer and Delores Steinhauser
Offering Counters — Melissa Hendrix and Wally Steinhauser
Hospitality Table — Melissa and Todd Hendrix
August 18 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Kristin Dashiell
Lector — Jimmy Smith
Ushers — Kim Shealy and Jimmy Smith
Communion Assistants — Mary Beth Hill and Carl Richardson
Children’s Time in the Word — Allison Hallman and Lou Galloway
Offering Counters — Don Kosanka and Scott Grosse
Hospitality Table — Delores and Wally Steinhauser
August 25 at 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Carolyn Horner
Lector — Greg Sommer
Ushers — Mary Beth Hill and Brenda Sommer
Communion Assistants — Kathleen Shutt and Delores Steinhauser
Children’s Time in the Word —
Offering Counters — Todd Hendrix and Don Kosanka
Hospitality Table — Delores and Wally Steinhauser
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PRAYERS
Friend of Bill and Jan Sanders, Kirby Bishop
Joyce Roof Carter
Marty Dashiell
Carolyn Davenport
Norma Drafts
Claudine Hope
Friend of Karl and Carolyn Horner, Nadine Greene
Vivian Rikard
Bill Sanders
Marie Sons
Becky Wingard’s brother, David
Ricky Wingard’s nephew, Luke
Pastor Carl Yost
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Worship is at 10 a.m. each Sunday. | |
Worship Service replay from Sunday, July 28, 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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