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Thursday, May 21, 2026
What’s New for You?
- Pentecost and Confirmation on Sunday, May 24
- Ultra Short Survey for Families
- Welcome to the Pilgrim Family, Elias Blake.
- Safety and security reminders
- This week’s Parent Pro tip is from Pastor Mary Anderson.
- Pastor Mary has published her newest Super Quick Bible Study.
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Happy Thursday, Pilgrims!
The seven weeks of Easter are ending on Saturday. So, last chance to find those lost Easter eggs, everyone!
This Sunday, we celebrate the Festival of Pentecost, the third major festival of the Christian year, alongside Christmas and Easter. As was true with the celebration of Ascension Day last week, this yearly festival of the Holy Spirit has been downplayed by American Protestants. Perhaps that’s because American culture hasn’t attached a secular holiday to our Spirit holiday. Our European family members still get their Pentecost on!
In Poland, for example, on this festival decorating with birch branches and other greenery on Pentecost Sunday is popular. The decorations go beyond just houses—cattle with wreaths of birch branches wrapped around their horns can also be seen during the holiday. In some churches, a carved dove is lowered into the congregation as part of a tradition known as “the swinging of the Holy Ghost.” Have some fun and do your own research on Pentecost traditions!
Beyond various parades, decorations, wearing of red, etc., we will be called this Sunday to urgently consider what God is calling us to do and be on this “birthday of the church.” The Pentecost story from Acts 2 is a miracle story of the possibility of wonderful unity in the midst of rich diversity. This is the message we continue to live.
The world constantly and consistently pushes against this message. The human heart is often suspicious of difference, craves sameness, and decides what that looks like.
Once again, this past Monday, a shooting in a Muslim community in San Diego lived out this dark side of us. But the Spirit of God doesn’t give up on us despite our hardness of heart. God keeps on giving comfort, guidance, forgiveness, and grace.
The cross and resurrection preach that the violent ways of the human heart are overcome by God’s great gifts. This is our hope. This is our way. Thank you for walking this journey of love together.
Pastor Mary
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Council President’s Page
Mary Beth Hill
Honoring those who died
Monday, May 25, is Memorial Day, a federal holiday in the United States that honors U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It takes place on the last Monday of May.
Every Memorial Day, we recognize a National Moment of Remembrance. At 3 p.m., local time, wherever we are, we pause for one minute to remember those who died in military service to the United States.
In case you didn’t know, we have 63 veterans buried in our cemetery. The following are the names and ranks of the men buried there, who died during wartime.
Lippard Corley (Cenotaph) was born in 1900 and died Oct. 6, 1918, off the coast of Scotland in World War 1 (1914–1918).
Private Henry Erby Lever was born April 14, 1895, and died Sept. 23, 1918, in France during World War I.
Sergeant Homer Franklin Derrick was born Sept. 26, 1923, and died Aug. 27, 1944, in France during World War II (1939–1945).
According to his daughter, Dorothy Tunstall, Captain Louie Ludwig Fiebrich apparently had heart issues while stationed overseas and died after returning to the United States. He was born on March 30, 1895, in Vienna (Wien), Austria, and died Sept. 25, 1945, in Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA, during World War II.
Master Sergeant Richard Lee Smith was born on June 27, 1930, and died on July 5, 1970, during the Vietnam War (1955–1975).
Just a reminder!
By the end of the month, you should receive our second “Pastor Transition Update” letter by mail and by email. We write these letters solely to keep you informed as we prepare not only for Pastor Mary’s retirement on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2026, but also as we begin working with the Synod Office to find our next pastor.
The second letter talks about the impact on our operating budget of hiring a new pastor and gives you lots of other financial information.
Remember, if you have a question we haven’t answered, feel free to reach out to a council member and let them know.
In our first “Pastor Transition Update” letter, we answered some of your questions about what comes next, including our plan to have a Call Committee in place by September 1. If you would like to be considered by the Council to serve on that committee, please reach out to any member of Church Council (Melissa Hendrix, Mary Beth Hill, Joe Kaminer, Wade Miles, Peter Reinhart, Jennifer Schwabe, Kathleen Shutt, or Wally Steinhauser) and let us know you are interested. The committee will be diverse and about six people. This is an important assignment and will require a real commitment to the process.
In our first letter, we also told you that we must complete and submit paperwork to the Synod Office. Some of you asked what that paperwork looks like. The South Carolina Synod has information on its website dedicated to the Call Process. I think you would find it informative. Here’s a link to it.
We need YOU!
We are always looking for individuals willing to serve as worship assistants, ushers, communion assistants, hospitality table providers, children’s time teachers or assistants, and AV and sound providers. We teach you all you need to know, and we aren’t looking for perfection. We are looking for those willing to serve.
If you are interested in serving as one of these, please reach out to Courtney Coker or me, and we will get you on the calendar.
| | Pentecost and Confirmation | | |
On Pentecost Sunday, May 24, we will celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Easter. Everyone is encouraged to wear something red to mark this day.
We will also celebrate two of our teenagers who will be confirming their faith, Caleb Sease Hendrix and Sylvia Kay Francis. Caleb is a rising 10th grader, and Sylvia is a rising 8th grader. Both have been attending confirmation weekend camps at Lutheridge and have been meeting every Wednesday for conversation about and instruction on our faith.
| | Ultra Short Survey for Families | | |
The Navigating team wants our content to be truly impactful for families.
Parents and Grandparents, please take this one-question survey to share any questions or curiosities you have about anxiety in children.
| | Welcome to the Pilgrim Family, Elias Blake | | |
We are delighted to officially welcome Elias to the music ministry team at Pilgrim Lutheran Church. Since January, Elias has faithfully served as Interim Musician, and we are thrilled that he has recently agreed to continue serving in an official capacity as pianist.
Elias is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) candidate in Piano Pedagogy at the University of South Carolina and will begin his third year of study this fall. During the coming year, he plans to present his final degree recital and complete his doctoral project: the creation of an annotated catalog of piano works by Florence Price. Following graduation, Elias hopes to continue teaching privately in the local community while also pursuing opportunities in higher education.
Elias shares that he has greatly enjoyed getting to know the people of Pilgrim and is excited to continue serving the congregation through music. He especially appreciates the wide variety of musical experiences at Pilgrim — from playing with the band, to accompanying the choir, to offering prelude and postlude music during worship.
We are grateful for the gifts, dedication, and artistry Elias brings to our worship life, and we look forward to this next chapter together at Pilgrim Lutheran Church.
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Safety and security reminders
The safety and security of our church building and everyone who uses it is a shared responsibility. We ask everyone to help keep our church building safe and secure:
- Do not prop exterior doors open.
- Make sure doors fully latch behind you.
- Do not allow unfamiliar individuals into locked areas.
- If you are the last person leaving an area, double-check doors and lights.
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Report suspicious activity or security concerns to the church office.
- Do not share building access codes or keys.
We also want to remind everyone to stay alert for phishing scams and suspicious emails. Always double-check the sender before responding to messages claiming to be from church staff.
Pilgrim staff emails are:
Scam emails may ask for gift cards, money, personal information, or urgent responses. If something seems unusual, please verify before replying or clicking any links.
Thank you for helping keep Pilgrim safe, both online and in person.
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Stability Erases Stress
by Pastor Mary Anderson
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Here are some more “parenting smarts” from a paper released in March by Harvard’s Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment titled From Resources to Routines: The Importance of Stability in the Developmental Environment.
It synthesizes a wide body of research on what children need to develop healthy brains and bodies, and its central finding is that stability is important, but it’s not just one thing. It’s more of a web.
And by “a web” they mean every part of our lives: housing, finances, caregiver relationships, sleep routines, daily schedules—they aren’t separate variables so much as interconnected threads. When one frays, others tend to follow.
One of the things that children and teenagers tell me is fraying is any routine of faith practices in the home. Kids report that they don’t have prayers at meals, and often the family doesn’t eat together at all, nor eat together around a table. The routine of prayers at meals, for example, is a practice that slowly shapes us to be a grateful people who understand that the food we eat is a gift from God rather than a gift from Chick-fil-A. And when we are grateful people, we learn to be generous people. It’s the tiny routine things that shape us over time. Even if you’re having take-out for dinner because you are in a rush, your dinner routine can be maintained. Sit at the table. Light a little candle. Sing or pray a simple blessing. Have a conversation. Then dash off to your homework, nightly church meeting, or job task that must be done before midnight.
Focus on what your routines are and evaluate how stable they are. Developing brains are literally built or disrupted by the patterns of predictability they encounter in their earliest years. This is a huge difficulty in the lives of children who live in poverty or chaotic families. Give your kids stability and predictability as much as possible. Sure, things change, but learning to adapt to those changes creates the resilience they will need as well. Routines in all things help kids thrive in a stressed-out world.
Stay strong, parents, you’ve got this. I believe in you!
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Pastor Mary Anderson has published her newest Super Quick Bible Study. These short, faith-filled reflections are perfect for carpool lines, lunch breaks, or quiet moments when you need a reminder of God’s love. Read it here.
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Kids, cool off with a Creek Walk with park rangers at Saluda Shoals. We’ll gather at 9 a.m. on July 18. The program is designed for children ages 3-8. At least one parent must also attend. Children must be at least 30 lbs. More details and registration coming later.
This awesome program is fully sponsored by Pilgrim through a grant from our denomination, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, to support our “Helping Kids Thrive in a Stressed-Out World” initiative.
| | Saturday Morning Yoga at Pilgrim | | |
Pilgrim is excited to introduce a new wellness opportunity for our community, yoga sessions led by Sister D’Etta Broam. This program is designed to be accessible to all, offering a chair and mat combination to support a variety of comfort and ability levels.
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Classes will be held on Saturdays at 10 a.m. in the chapel (as space allows), beginning May 30. Additional session dates include June 6, June 20, June 27, and July 18. Each gathering will last 45 minutes.
The cost is $50 for the full five-session series or $12 per drop-in session. Payments will be made directly to Sister D’Etta, who is leading and organizing the program.
17 individuals are already committed to getting things started, and we look forward to welcoming others as the program grows.
If you are interested in participating, please contact the church office to sign up or learn more. We hope you’ll join us for this time of movement, reflection, and community.
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Throughout May, Pilgrim’s Leah Circle has been collecting individual fruit cups and juice drinks for our food pantry. Thanks to your generosity, the box is already nearly full!
These easy-to-pack items are a great help to families and children in our community. As we continue through the month, there’s still time to add a few more donations. Thank you for your continued support of our food pantry!
| | Emergency Contact Form Reminder | | |
Thank you to everyone who has already submitted your Emergency Contact Form. We appreciate it!
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please take a moment to complete it. Having updated information helps us care for one another in case of a medical emergency or natural disaster.
You can fill it out online using the link here, pick up a copy in the Narthex, or contact the church office for assistance.
| | Pastor’s Discretionary Fund | | A reminder that our church maintains a Pastor’s Discretionary Fund, which is used to provide confidential assistance when needs arise within our community. If you would like to contribute, please note “Pastor’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo line of your check or on your envelope. Thank you for your generosity and care for one another. | | |
St. Michael’s Lutheran Church is hosting a 6-week Savvy Seniors Summer Camp this summer for seniors who enjoy learning, staying active, and fellowship! Classes will include a variety of historical and community-centered topics, and lunch is included each week.
The camp will be held on Wednesdays at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 400 River Rd., Irmo, on the Irmo side of the dam. The cost is $45, and seating is limited.
For more information, click here or visit St. Michael’s website.
| | Stay updated with Lutheran publications | | | | If you’re looking for inspiring stories and updates about the ELCA and happenings around the world, be sure to check out the Living Lutheran magazine. Just click here. | | |
If you’d like to stay connected with what’s going on in South Carolina, don’t miss the weekly newsletter from the South Carolina Synod, the Lutheran Living in South Carolina eNews. Just click here to read it. Enjoy!
| | How Can I Give to Pilgrim? | | |
We offer multiple ways to give that make supporting us easy and convenient. You can give in person, visit us online at www.wearepilgrim.com, send your donation by mail to Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 1430 N. Lake Drive, Lexington, SC 29072, or set up recurring giving with Simply Giving, our electronic automatic giving.
As you think about your contributions, please consider electronic giving. It’s simple, reliable, and helps us plan better for the future. With Simply Giving, your donation is ready to go toward our ministry needs right away, and it also involves fewer fees than online credit card donations.
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Worship Service Volunteers, please read!
You can view the 2026 list of Worship Volunteers in the schedule here. It is always a work in progress. If you notice an error or suspect a conflict, please notify us. We need your help keeping up with them.
Remember, if you can’t cover your assigned job, please find someone to take your place. If you ask, other volunteers will swap weeks with you. Then, once you’ve found someone to take your place, call or text Courtney Coker in the office, and she can make those needed changes online, in Pilgrim’s Progress, and in the Sunday Bulletin.
May 24, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Kathy Boivin
Ushers — Tyler Mears and Brenda Sommer
Communion Assistants — Margie Bundrick and Kathleen Shutt
Counters — Jamie Kosanka and Todd Hendrix
Hospitality Table — Mary Beth Hill
Children’s Time — Ryan Mears and Amber Chavis
May 31, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Kristin Dashiell
Ushers — Joe Kaminer and Brenda Sommer
Communion Assistants — David and Jane Park
Counters — Don and Jamie Kosanka
Hospitality Table — Laura Hibbs and Laney Strickland
Children’s Time — Jackie Kaminer
June 7, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Lou Galloway
Ushers — Mary Beth Hill and Ted Wingard
Communion Assistants — Carl and Debra Richardson
Counters — Melissa Hendrix and Scott Grosse
Hospitality Table — Need Volunteer
Children’s Time — Becky Wingard
June 14, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Need Volunteer
Ushers — Jimmy Smith and Need Volunteer
Communion Assistants — Kathleen Shutt and Margie Bundrick
Counters — Don Kosanka and Todd Hendrix
Hospitality Table — Need Volunteer
Children’s Time — Allison Hallman and Lou Galloway
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Pilgrim’s Prayer List
Alan Addy
Myra Boyd
Mary Ann Crawshaw
Norma Drafts
Claudine Hope
Jimmy Metts
Bill Sanders
Jennifer Sanders’ family at the death of her mother
Greg Sommer
Friends of Pilgrim
Bishop Ginny Aebischer
Joyce Czarnecki
Pamela Francis’ mother
Ben Green, Greg Sommer’s brother-in-law
Nadine Greene, friend of Karl and Carolyn Horner
Tina Krause, friend of Pastor Mary
Lars, Brenda Sommer’s Nephew
Eileen and Ronnie Leaphart, dear friends of Myron and Linda Corley
LeMaster Family, family of Melissa Hendrix
Donna McCullough, Steve McCullough’s mother
Louise Newton, friend of Ricky and Becky Wingard
Jill Sanders, Wally and Delores Steinhauser’s cousin-in-law
Trey Soud, friend of Wally and Delores Steinhauser
Louise Velky, the newest member of Mary Beth Hill’s family, as she has been in and out of the hospital.
Pastor Carl and Debra Yost, as his health struggles continue.
Please contact the church office if you would like someone added or removed from the prayer list.
| | Worship is at 10 a.m. each Sunday. | | |
Scriptures for this Sunday
The First Reading: Acts 2:1-21
The Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Gospel: John 20:19-23
| | Worship Service replay from Sunday, May 17, 2026 | | | | |
