The Church Office will be closed on February 16 in recognition of Presidents’ Day. | | |
Thursday, February 12, 2026
What’s New for You?
- Pilgrim’s Congregation (Church) Council
- Chili Cookoff Golden Ladle award
- Who won our Souper Bowl?
- Peek into Preschool
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Council President’s Page
Mary Beth Hill
Thanks for hanging in there!
On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, thanks to sunshine, good weather, and our congregation’s persistence, we held the vote on our Congregation (Church) Council after Worship.
Pilgrim’s Congregation (Church) Council now consists of Melissa Hendrix, Mary Beth Hill, Peter Reinhart, Jennifer Schwabe, and Kathleen Shutt (2026–2027 terms). They join Pastor Mary Anderson, Treasurer Wade Miles, Joe Kaminer (2026–2027 term remaining), and Wally Steinhauser (2026 term remaining).
We had 75 people in church Sunday, and 52 stayed after to vote (all in favor of the ballot), eat Chili, and enjoy themselves. We all had a great time.
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Chili Cookoff
Sunday after the vote, you could find nine bubbling crockpots of sweet, smoky, hot, and a bit fiery chili in the Narthex waiting for our annual Chili Cookoff. We tasted our way down the line and then voted for our favorite.
Susan Cafferty, our music director, took this year’s Golden Ladle award for her popular chili. Carol Murray came in second, and Keith Galloway took third.
Many thanks to Susan Cafferty, Martha Drafts, Keith Galloway, Wade Miles, Carol Murray, Kathleen Shutt, Angie Smith, Greg Sommer, and Becky Wingard for competing.
Our thanks to Keith Galloway, Jerry Shutt, Jimmy Smith, and Greg Sommer for organizing, setting up, and tearing down the tables, etc., for the Chili Cookoff.
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Who won our Souper Bowl?
Our congregation filled both wagons in our Souper Bowl, which supports our PLC Food Pantry. Although it was close, the Seahawks’ wagon edged out the Patriots’ wagon.
In our Souper Bowl, there were no losers — only winners. Since we missed two Sundays due to the weather, we were getting low on supplies. You fixed that with 97 cans of food, 5 large boxes of soup, and breakfast bars.
The wagons will remain in the narthex for the next few weeks. Please continue to make the Food Pantry a part of your weekly grocery shopping priority.
Thanks to everyone who contributed. We appreciate you.
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A Lent of Fasting and Embracing
A Different Kind of Fasting
On Sundays in Lent, we will gather at 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall and will begin with a delicious dinner hosted by our Pilgrim Chef, Jane Park.
At 5:30 p.m., Pastor Mary will lead us in a different kind of fast each week. Using scripture, wisdom from ancient desert mothers and fathers, and spiritual practices, we’ll examine some of the behaviors that distract us from the things that can lead us to the true fullness of life God desires for us.
February 22
Fasting from Fear of Not Having Enough
March 1
Fasting from Holding It All Together
March 8
Fasting from Multitasking
March 15
Fasting from Certainty
March 22
Fasting from Consuming
| Please RSVP here for Lent Fasting and Embracing so we can plan dinner and prepare accordingly. | | |
Embracing Spiritual Practices
These four events at the end of each week embrace a practice that supports our fasting from the many behaviors that weigh us down. We hope you’ll take advantage of one or all of them!
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February 28 Birdwatching 101 with John Tjaarda
Meet at the Environmental Center at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC 29212, at 8 a.m. The walk ends at 10 a.m. The maximum group size is 12 persons. All will be responsible for paying the park entry fee and bringing their own binoculars.
John has been birding since 2012, when he taught the Bird Study Merit Badge for the local Scout Camp. He’s been leading bird walks for Historic Columbia for two years now and has assisted Zack Steinhauser in leading some walks for Carolina Safari. When not watching our fine feathered friends, John is the Director of Development at The Big Red Barn Retreat. Previously, he was the Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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March 7 Practice “Shinrin Yoku” (Forest Bathing) with Pastor Mary Anderson at Saluda Shoals Park. 20 people maximum
Pastor Mary is serving at Pilgrim Lutheran and has been intrigued by this spiritual practice from 1980s Japan to relieve stress and anxiety. Forest Bathing is not a hike or an exercise routine but involves slow walking and sitting combined with an awareness of what we are seeing, hearing, and smelling. There will be some suggestions of scripture, prayer, and making of an earth mandala (circle) with found objects in nature to guide your trip through the park. We will start at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a.m., closing with a Tea Ceremony.
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March 20 (March 21 rain date) Viewing God’s Majesty and Mystery: A Stargazing Adventure with Astronomer Dr. Brian Peterson. 15 people maximum
Gather at Camp Kinard in Leesville, S.C., at 8 p.m. at the Big Pavilion. Those who desire are invited to meet at Shealy’s restaurant for dinner at 6:30 p.m. and are welcome to do so at their own expense.
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March 28, 10 a.m. Beginner Yoga with Sister D’Etta Broam in the Pilgrim Chapel. 12 people maximum
The ancient prayer practice of yoga has been used by many around the world to strengthen their physical, mental, and spiritual selves. This time together will let participants experience some easy ways to enter this beloved practice.
Sister D’Etta Broam was ordained as a minister of Word and Service in September 2024 and consecrated as a deaconess in the ELCA Deaconess Community in November 2024. She is a certified yoga therapist with the International Yoga Therapists Association and currently serves as a Deacon for Health and Wholeness for the SC Synod of the ELCA.
| | RSVP for all these activities this Lent. Doing so helps us plan and prepare for you! Go to this link. |
| 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. | | Pilgrim Community Preschool | | The Story of St. Valentine | | |
A Retreat for Women!
The theme for the 2026 Wild Women retreat will be “So She Laughed,” from Genesis 18:12. The retreat will be at Lutheridge in Arden, N.C. During the weekend, we will explore the spirituality of joy and laughter through Bible study, workshops, and joy-filled fellowship. With an optional afternoon outing to LaZoom Comedy Bus Tours, this weekend is sure to put the “wild” in Wild Women and make you LAUGH!
The program will begin on Friday at 7 p.m. and conclude by 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Pastor Mary will be one of the leaders the second weekend, March 13-15. She’ll be doing a workshop titled “Complete Joy for Incomplete People.” She’d love to have some Pilgrim people join in this year. Her daughter, Pastor Elise Anderson, will also be leading that weekend.
Dates
- March 6-8, 2026
- March 13-15, 2026, Pastor Mary will be one of the leaders this weekend.
Cost
- Double Room: $265
- Single Room: $325
- Commuter: $205
- Extra Night Stay: $40 (Thursday Night)
| | Cookie Season has arrived! | | |
When placing an order on the troop website, please use Pilgrim Lutheran Church’s address instead of your own. This helps the Troop Cookie Manager identify and approve church orders.
Once the cookies arrive, they may be delivered to your home or to the church. The Troop Cookie Manager will contact you by text to arrange delivery.
If you need help placing an order, please contact Troop Leader Amber Chavis at 803-238-3237.
| | Stay updated with Lutheran publications | | |
Video from the South Carolina Synod, ELCA
Unity vs. Uniformity: How Do We Keep It All Together?
Featuring Rev. Dr. Chad Rimmer and Dr. Susan McArver
| | | Click here to read the latest edition of the ELCA Seeds Monthly emailed newsletter. | | |
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.
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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 for 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 the column is colored, it is finished. 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 Courtney Coker in the office, and she can make those needed changes online, in Pilgrim’s Progress, and in the Sunday Bulletin.
February 15, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Ryan Mears
Ushers — Rick Harris and Wally Steinhauser
Communion Assistants — Kristin Dashiel and Delores Steinhauser
Counters — Todd Hendrix and Don Kosanka
Hospitality Table — Lou Galloway
Children’s Time — Jackie Kaminer and Amber Chavis
February 18, 2026, Ash Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Worship Assistant — Peter Reinhart
Ushers — Mary Beth Hill and Brenda Sommer
Communion Assistants — Myron Corley and Kathy Boivin
Hospitality Table — No Table
Children’s Time — No Children’s Time
February 22, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Kathleen Shutt
Ushers — Scott Grosse and Stephen Mears
Communion Assistants — Jamy Claire Archer and Jackie Kaminer
Counters — Jamie Kosanka and Delores Steinhauser
Hospitality Table — Amber Marshall
Children’s Time — Terri Lemke
March 1, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Greg Sommer
Ushers — Scott Grosse and David Marshall
Communion Assistants — Peter Reinhart and Margie Bundrick
Counters — Jamie Kosanka and Scott Grosse
Hospitality Table — Need Volunteer
Children’s Time — Ryan Mears and Lou Galloway
March 8, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Ricky Wingard
Ushers — Joe Kaminer and Rick Harris
Communion Assistants — Darlene Clark and Kathleen Shutt
Counters — Melissa Hendrix and Wally Steinhauser
Hospitality Table — Girl Scout Sunday — Scouts will provide.
Children’s Time — Allison Hallman
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Pilgrim’s Prayer List
Anne Addy
Myra Boyd
Linda Corley
Mary Ann Crawshaw
Tonya Creamer’s mother, Linda Townsend
Marty Dashiell
Norma Drafts
Claudine Hope
Jimmy Metts
Bill Sanders
Joan Trawick
Mark Weaver
The family and friends of Marilyn Wingard, especially her children, her sisters: Delores Steinhauser, Gail Buff, and Phyllis Bowen, her brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews. Peace to her memory!
Friends of Pilgrim
Bishop Ginny Aebischer
Friend of Mary Beth Hill, Geena Beerman
Greg Sommer’s brother-in-law, Ben Green
Friend of Karl and Carolyn Horner, Nadine Greene
Brenda Sommer’s Nephew, Lars
David Marshall and Susan Cafferty’s Aunt Nancy
Wally and Delores Steinhauser’s cousin-in-law, Jill Sanders
Friend of Wally and Delores Steinhauser, Trey Soud
Louise Velky
| | Worship is at 10 a.m. each Sunday. | | |
Scriptures for this Sunday
The First Reading: Exodus 24:12-18
Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-21
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
| | Worship Service replay from Sunday, February 8, 2026 | | | | |
