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Thursday, May 28, 2026
What’s New for You?
- Summer Giving
- Yoga starts this Saturday at Pilgrim.
- Pilgrim will host a Blood Drive on Friday, June 26.
- Last call for May’s food pantry collection!
- The South Carolina Lutheran Synod Assembly, June 11-13.
- June 1, Pilgrim will welcome a children’s summer camp.
- Something’s growing at Pilgrim Park!
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Happy Thursday, Pilgrims!
Summer has arrived along with much needed rain. Schools are out, and summer camps are beginning. I hope you have some fun plans in places around the country, around the world, or just in your own backyard!
During the joy and heat of summer, your church will continue to worship, serve our neighbors, provide hospitality, welcome new members, grow disciples, provide pastoral care and visitation, and will continue our work to articulate our mission in this time and place. We might wear our shorts and T-shirts to do it all, but do it, we will!
As always, we need all our members and friends to be a part of this mission. Christian community is a team sport, and we don’t want anybody sitting on the sidelines. Your presence in worship as often as possible, your volunteering where you feel called, your financial contributions as generously as possible for you, your sharing of your good ideas, and your sightings of the Spirit at work among us, all help build a healthy church. We are church together for the sake of the world! Don’t check out this summer, step up!
We know you have travel and vacation plans. We’d love it if you could take a picture of where you are and send it to me or the office for publication in Pilgrim’s Progress. It’ll be fun to track our Pilgrims’ travels around the world.
Stay cool in the summer heat. Stay warm in the Spirit!
Pastor Mary
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Council President’s Page
Mary Beth Hill
Memorial Day
I am writing this on 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.
I wanted to take a quick moment to thank Keith Galloway and Carl Richardson for putting out the flags along the road and on the graves of our military who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Every Memorial Day, we recognize a National Moment of Remembrance. At 3 p.m. local time today, we pause for one minute to remember those who died in military service to the United States. I will take that minute to think about my grandfather, who was killed at Pearl Harbor. Please take your minute to remember your family members who also died in service. Please include the 63 veterans buried in our cemetery who died in wartime.
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 discusses the impact on our operating budget of hiring a new pastor and provides you with additional financial information.
Remember, if you have a question you’d like answered, feel free to reach out to a council member (Melissa Hendrix, Mary Beth Hill, Joe Kaminer, Wade Miles, Peter Reinhart, Jennifer Schwabe, Kathleen Shutt, or Wally Steinhauser).
Blessings, Caleb and Sylvia
On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrated two of our teenagers, Caleb Hendrix and Sylvia Francis, as they confirmed their faith.
If you missed the Rite of Confirmation, know that Caleb and Sylvia were surrounded by family as Pastor Mary led a wonderful, warm, and loving ceremony.
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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.
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Summer Giving
Just a reminder that many in our congregation have found the Simply Giving program to be the perfect way to make their regular contributions to the church. You can simply fill out and email this form or drop it off at the church office.
Another way is to contribute online from wherever you are. Regular giving is a faithful discipline that strengthens our relationship to God and our neighbors. Thank you for your generosity!
| | Yoga starts this Saturday at Pilgrim | | |
Stretch, breathe, and recharge with yoga led by Sister D’Etta Broam. These welcoming sessions will include a chair/mat combination to accommodate different abilities and comfort levels.
Our first five meetings will be on May 30, June 6, June 20, June 27, and July 18 (working around Synod events and the Fourth of July). Sessions will meet for 45 minutes on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
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The first class will be held in the Fellowship Hall. Future classes may move to the chapel depending on class size and space needs.
Cost is $50 for all five sessions or $12 per drop-in class. Participants may pay using Sister D’Etta’s Venmo or by cash or check at the class.
If you would like to participate or learn more, please contact the church office. Participants can also reach out to Sister D’Etta directly with any questions.
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Pilgrim will host an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Friday, June 26, from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. This is a simple way to make a lifesaving difference in our community this summer.
As a special thank you, everyone present to donate will be entered to win four Six Flags tickets, valid at any Six Flags park in the United States through September 7, 2026. Donors may also qualify for additional Red Cross gift card promotions and prize drawings.
Book your appointment by clicking here. Plenty of spots are still available. Help us fill the schedule and support this important mission!
| | Last call for May’s food pantry collection! | | |
This Sunday is the final Sunday to bring individual fruit cups and juice drinks for Pilgrim’s Leah Circle collection. The donation box is nearly full, and your generosity has already made a wonderful impact for families and children in our community.
If you would still like to contribute, there’s time to shop and add your items on Sunday. Thank you for supporting our food pantry ministry!
| | 2026 South Carolina Synod Assembly | | |
The South Carolina Lutheran Synod will hold its annual meeting in Columbia on June 11-13. This will be a significant assembly because we’ll be electing a new bishop who will serve for the next six years.
Voting members to the assembly from Pilgrim are Pastor Mary, Tyler Mears, and Delores Steinhauser. They will report back to the congregation on the election results and other actions taken by the assembly. Continue to pray for the Spirit’s guidance as we meet in two weeks.
| | Summer fun is coming to Pilgrim | | | | |
Beginning June 1, Pilgrim will be welcoming a children’s summer camp hosted by Heather and Mimi, two of our preschool teachers. Throughout the summer, they will be renting the Fellowship Hall and Pilgrim Park to provide a fun, safe, and active environment for children in our community.
The camp will run through July 30. We are excited to see our church spaces filled with the joyful sounds of children enjoying summer together.
| | Something’s growing at Pilgrim Park! | | |
Our pumpkin patch is starting to take shape in the raised garden beds, and we can’t wait to watch these little pumpkins grow throughout the summer. Be sure to take a peek next time you’re walking through the park!
| | 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.
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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.
| | 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. | | Savvy Seniors Summer Camp | | |
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 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 — Terri Lemke and Becky Wingard
June 14, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Erica Conklin
Ushers — Scott Grosse and Jimmy Smith
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
June 21, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Jackie Kaminer
Ushers — Carl Richardson and Ricky Wingard
Communion Assistants — Lou Galloway and Kathy Boivin
Counters — Melissa Hendrix and Wally Steinhauser
Hospitality Table — LMM Father’s Day
Children’s Time — Need Volunteers
June 28, 2026, 10 a.m.
Worship Assistant — Ryan Mears
Ushers — Don and Jamie Kosanka
Communion Assistants — Myron Corley and Mary Beth Hill
Counters — Delores Steinhauser and Scott Grosse
Hospitality Table — Lou Galloway
Children’s Time — Allison Hallman
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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
Ricky Wingard
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: Genesis 1:1—2:4a
Psalm: Psalm 8
The Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
| | Worship Service replay from Sunday, May 24, 2026 | | | | |
