Rob Passow , Music Director
rob.passow@musician.org
Born and raised in State College , PA , Rob Passow has lived in and around the metro DC area for over 20 years. Rob holds a Master of Music degree in Church Music from Shenandoah University Conservatory and a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition from Penn State University .
Before being called to Pilgrims, Rob served as Director of Music/Organist at St. George's Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg, VA; St. Mark Presbyterian, Rockville, MD; St. Anne's Episcopal, Damascus, MD; and Mt. Rainier Christian Church, Mt. Rainier, MD
Mr. Passow has sung with several notable choral groups in the DC area including: The Cathedral Choral Society , Circle Singers, The Paul Hill Chorale, Washington Singers, Washington Vocal Artists, Washington Chamber Opera, and The Capitol Hill Chorale.
An active composer, Rob's works have been performed in the DC area, Chicago , State College , and in Prague , Budapest and Vienna . His most recent concert works performed include Videamus , (five Latin Christmas Motets) which was premiered in December 2003 by Circle Singers; La Corona , a series of sonnets by John Donne, set for a cappella chorus; and The Other Wise Man, a church opera based on the short story by Henry Van Dyke. Rob also writes regularly for his church choirs and ensembles. Recent anthems sung at Pilgrims include He is Risen! and Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley .
Rob has just completed a brand new CD entitled "Sun Through the Clouds" containing 45 minutes of pop and new age tunes. Click here for more information.
Click here for more information on Rob's recent compositions
Matt Boote, Program Manager
Matt is a 2007 graduate of Hope College, having received a degree in International Studies, Religion and Philosophy.
Matt was raised in Deerfield, Illinois where he was heavily exposed to volunteering and service-based learning by an extremely supportive family and church. These experiences instilled a sense of social responsibility that Matt didn’t begin to understand until college. Contact with new religious ideas and theologies in the classroom crystallized years of service providing him with a better framework for understanding the inequalities he faced while serving.
Matt discovered his personal connection between service-based learning and the positive impact these incidents had on daunting problems such as poverty or interreligious hostility. He understands the importance of the experiences that influenced his life and realized he wants to help create opportunities for others. Matt is excited to work with Pilgrimage groups as they tackle difficult issues, challenge themselves and others, and engage in new experiences.
Matt can be reached at pilgrimage.manager@verizon.net or at 202-387-6615.
Rev. Margee Iddings, Parish Associate

Rev. Dr. Margee Iddings is the Executive Director of Faith Resourcing Connections, Inc. for many years, Margee directed Rising Phoenix, a non-sectarian, non-denominational retreat and study center in the mountains of western Maryland. Now retired from that position, Margee does consulting, facilitates retreats, and serves as a spiritual director, and does freelance writing. Margee received her degrees from San Francisco Theological Seminary D.Min in 1981 and Union Theological Seminary, NYC, Masters in Religious Education in 1963.
As a Parish Associate at Pilgrims, Margee leads occasional retreats, adult education class, assists in worship planning and is Ashley’s spiritual director.
Charles Van Gorder, Parish Associate
Since 2006, Van has been a parish associate–a pastor whose primary work is not with the Church of the Pilgrims, but who serves as a volunteer with the installed pastors at the invitation of the Session and approval of the presbytery on an "as available/as needed" basis.
Van grew up in western Pennsylvania where he studied at Westminster College, Reformed Presbyterian and Pittsburgh Theological Seminaries, including work toward a Doctor of Ministry degree. After eight years as pastor of the Neville Island Presbyterian Church, Van served as Stated Clerk of the National Capital Presbytery for a short time. He also serves as Moderator of the Brentsville Church in Virginia and on the Committee on Preparation for Ministry at the presbytery.
Van loves the church’s polity, theology, community and worship, as well as teaching and discussing scripture. He enjoys the privilege of encouraging the ministry of the Church of the Pilgrims. He also serves as a parliamentarian and enjoys the game of bridge.
Marcia Mapp , Office Manager
mh.mapp@verizon.net
Marcia has been at Church of the Pilgrims over 15 years and faithfully serves the church in office administration, accounting, and daily operations of the church offices.
Rolando Quintanilla, Building Engineer
Rolando has been at Church of the Pilgrims over 20 years! Rolando faithfully serves the church as facility engineer to this historic, massive church building at 22 nd and P. |