We’re Doing a New Thing Together!

A Season of Shared Ministry Discernment with Western Presbyterian Church

In January 2025, the leadership of Church of the Pilgrims and Western Presbyterian Church agreed to explore what it might be like to share in ministry together. We are two historic, progressive DC Presbyterian congregations with a passion for community and justice. And we’re only about a mile away from one another! We wondered what it might be like to share resources, to combine our energies, to learn from one another, and to grow in faith together. Throughout the year, we prayed for each other, we worshiped together, we shared so many meals, we went on walks all over downtown DC, went to the zoo, served together at Miriam’s Kitchen and at Open Table, we did bible study together, spent a summer pairing up for one-on-one conversations together, sang in a combined choir, and we really just had a whole lot of fun together. And all along, we strongly felt God’s presence with us in this new adventure!

Starting in the Fall of 2025, we decided to worship together every Sunday - the first two Sundays of the month at Western Pres (2401 Virginia Ave NW) and the third and fourth Sundays at Pilgrims. Our leadership (our Sessions) now meet together every month. And, starting January 1, 2026, the Rev. Erin Counihan will officially be serving both congregations as Pastor.

As we continue to discern how we are called to share in ministry together for a time such as this (and as figure out the logistics of buildings and budgets and staff, oh my!), we are ridiculously grateful for the people who make up these faith communities and their courage and flexibility in taking on this adventure. And, we are always thankful to a God who consistently shows up, and surprises the faithful with new understandings, new opportunities, and new experiences of the holy together.

It’s pretty fun to be called to try and do a new thing together with our God who is always making things new!

Come check it out. Come worship with us. Sign up for our newsletter. Have coffee with an elder. Take a neighborhood walk with Pastor Erin. We’d be glad to tell you how things are going and how you can get involved…..