OUR STRUCTURE AND MINISTRIES

Click here for February 2012 Committees

All of our ministries are gathered together by the Church Council—the core leadership of the congregation. These men and women act as liaisons to the different program groups, committees, and ministries, making sure there is good communication. They are the decision-makers and visionaries.

Worship is traditional but not stuffy. The Worship and Music Committee is indispensable in coordinating lay leaders for the services and making sure everything is in place each time we meet to worship God. They also support special services throughout the year like the Christmas Pageant, Longest Night, and Maundy Thursday. Summer services are come-as-you-are, informal and interactive with many lay preachers. The Committee also works with our Director of Music to provide opportunities for people to get involved through music. The Choir anchors our Sunday service. The music program also includes concerts and Special Music Sundays. The congregation enjoys many types of music, including classical, jazz, and gospel.

Mission, both local and global, is a strong emphasis at Pilgrim Church. The task of the Mission Committee is to engage the congregation in our many initiatives, from local food pantries and shelters to a medical mission in Honduras and our work with Communities Without Borders in Zambia. They organize mission trips, oversee donations, and create opportunities for service.

We have an adjunct ministry called "Room at the Table" which gathers people from different faith traditions and ethnicities to prepare and serve a simple meal two times a year in order to highlight a world trouble spot and raise consciousness about its needs and money to support it.

A strong Care Committee fulfills the visiting and pastoral role that would ordinarily fall to Deacons. They are the pastor's front line in keeping up with people who are ill, housebound, or in need of support.

The Care Committee is a group of Pilgrims who meet once a month to be sure that we are remembering those among us who could use a bit of extra help or some fellowship outside the walls of our church. The mission of the Care Committee is to take care of our own members.

Some of what we do happens regularly. Other things we do are in response to a timely need. Some of what we do is well known to our church community. Other things we do are known only by the Care Committee members and the person we help.

Annual Luncheon Douglas House – We prepare and serve a meal in Pilgrim Hall for our neighbors at a home for brain-injured individuals right behind Lexington Center

Women/Men's Night Out – We share coffee and treats while we take congregational donations of sample-sized items and turn them into personal care packages. These packages are then delivered to local shelters for Mother's and Father's Day gifts.

Holiday Remembrances – The Care Committee works with the Church School students to create Easter Baskets, Christmas Trees, and Thanksgiving cards. Volunteers deliver these holiday items to our members who are unable to be with us regularly.

Funeral and Memorial Receptions – The Care Committee prepares and serves food and refreshments in Pilgrim Hall to provide a time and space to spend time with loved ones after a service at Pilgrim.

Knitting Circle – Prayer Shawls, knit by members and blessed during services, are delivered to those with new babies and anyone who might appreciate being "wrapped in prayer". Knitters also create dolls that are hand-carried to children in Zambia by Pilgrims Ruth Litchfield and Tom Murphy.

Cards, Meals, Phone Calls, Visits, Car Rides, Respite Care – We find out what our members need and we try to fill that need...regardless how big or how small.

The Finance and Administration Committee tends to our properties and sees to the responsible use of our funds. People on this committee are often behind the scenes, but the hours they spend on their ministries are phenomenal.

The Stewardship Committee engages in long-range planning and encourages participation in the ministries of the church at every level.

The Education Committee is responsible for life-long learning. The church school is growing and youth groups and Confirmation offer our young people opportunities to have fun with each other and also participate in service projects. Throughout the year, there are adult education events which view multiple topics from a faith perspective—parenting, ethics, theology, racism. A Bible study meets each Tuesday morning at 11:00AM.

Pilgrim is blessed to have the Equipping the Saints Fund which makes grant money available for hands-on mission projects or initiatives that expand our caring and Open and Affirming ministries. Grants are available to any member of the congregation who has a suitable project in mind and the will and community support to carry it out.

More new members are telling us that they are joining the church for opportunities to meet people with whom they can develop friendships. Facilitating relationships is the work of the Fellowship Committee which provides multiple opportunities for gathering in different configurations for social events — intergenerational game nights, an all-church Christmas party, a barbeque, talent shows, and progressive dinners.