Join us in the Bird Room (with your mask) on Wednesday 3/23 at 6pm to make soup! We’ve heard from some of our hungry neighbors at Open Table on Sundays that they would love to share in a hot meal. So, we’re going to get together and make some soup. We’ll provide the ingredients and the recipes, you provide the effort and love. No need to RSVP, just show up!
WIN PUBLIC ACTION - March 20th
On Sunday, March 20th at 3pm, WIN is hosting an online public meeting, inviting candidates running for office in the city this year, and bringing together hundreds of city residents to discuss issues and policy- especially on affordable housing and Black equity/wealth-building through homeownership, good jobs, public safety, public housing, racial equity in climate policy, and more. As a member congregation of WIN, we're hoping some Pilgrims will sign up to attend. You can stay home, be in your comfy clothes, and still be part of this process. It's a great way to let local elected officials and candidates know that the DC faith community has concerns, has ideas, and has power.
If you would like to be a part of this event, simply visit the WIN website for more information. You can read all about WIN's 2022 issue agenda. You can also click here to register for the event's zoom link.
The Great Pilgrims Knitting Night
Do you knit? Or crochet? (Come on, we've seen you on zoom worship with your yarn projects!) Or do you want to learn how to knit or crochet? Join us for a Great Pilgrims Knitting Night in the sanctuary (please wear your mask) on Friday, March 18th at 6pm. If you know your way around a few hooks and needles and have your own project to work on, bring that! If you've never picked up the sticks, or need a refresher, just bring yourself. We'll bring a few extra skeins and tools and teach you a few stitches. Hope to see you there!
Lent at Church of the Pilgrims
Save all the dates for Holy Week at Church of the Pilgrims:
Palm Sunday worship outside on 4/10 at 11am. If the weather is nice, we’ll meet out in front of the church!
Maundy Thursday meal and storytelling on 4/14 at 7pm in the sanctuary.
Good Friday stations of the cross will be available outside the church all week, but join us on 4/15 at noon to walk through them together as a group.
Easter Sunday worship in person and online on 4/17 at 11am in the sanctuary.
Join us on this journey through Lent.
Last month, a group of Pilgrims gathered on Zoom to discuss the season of Lent. We read a bit from Isaiah 58, and heard the words of gloom being made like the noon day (Isa. 58:10). And we discussed those moments during a gloomy day, when sunlight sneaks through the clouds, or on those days when it’s bright sunshine and still raining, or those days when the slightest little rainbow appears through the grey surrounding it. We wondered what it might be like to spend lent not just trying to notice those moments, but making those moments- bringing little glimpses of brightness, sprinkling grace and mercy around, showing up with color and joy wherever we can.
We begin. on Wednesday, March 2nd with our Ash Wednesday service in-person and online at 6:30 pm. We will create a little dust together, remember our humanity, celebrate God’s creation, and pray for God’s presence. Then we’ll continue each week in worship on Sundays, where we will tell the stories of creation and joy, of rainbow and brilliance, of God’s steadfast presence with us. You can join us for all worship services in-person and online.
We have also made available an at-home Lenten devotional, available electronically. If you are interested in receiving a copy of the devotional, please email Pastor Erin.
We hope you’ll join us for this season of Lent. We look forward to being on the journey with you.
Then in April, join us for Holy Week. We’re hoping to worship outside (weather dependent) for Palm Sunday (4/10). We’ll share a meal and some storytelling on Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday, you’re invited to come walk the stations of the cross, on your own or with a group at the noon hour. And on Easter Sunday (4/17) we’ll worship in the sanctuary at 11 a.m. with flowers, song, and joy!
CURRENT COVID POLICY
COVID Policy Update - April 20, 2023
Greetings Pilgrims!
Last night (4/19/2023) our Session voted on some changes to our current COVID Policy.
After a few months of discussion and prayer, with consideration of the current CDC and City guidance and the feedback of our worshiping community, the Session voted unanimously to approve the following:
Masks will be recommended (not required) during worship services.
Masks will continue to be required for Open Table volunteers.
Mask wearing for small groups in the building (bible study, soup making volunteers, meetings, etc) will be up to the discretion and agreement of those small groups.
You'll see some new signs up on Sunday to help communicate this news. We'll still have masks available for anyone who would like one. And we will absolutely continue offering online worship as an option for anyone who prefers to worship remotely.
Thank you to the Session for your prayerful consideration and thoughtful leadership.
The Church of the Pilgrims Session voted this week to resume in-person worship on Sunday, Feb. 27th.
We will continue to offer a virtual option, through both Zoom and YouTube, for anyone who prefers worshiping online right now. For those who do choose to worship in the sanctuary, please wear a mask, practice good social distancing, and dress knowing that we will have the doors open during the service to increase air flow. We won’t be singing under those masks just yet, and we won’t stick around for coffee and fellowship inside, but we feel that we can be together and worship in-person safely with these precautions in place. Pastor Erin continues to watch the city’s COVID data reporting, and we are paying close attention to the updates from the Mayor’s Office as well as the CDC. If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to Erin or the church office. We love you and want you to be safe. And we are SO EXCITED to see you in person again soon!
