Dear Friends,

On our front lawn of our church, there is an old Maple tree. If you look at the tree from the street side, you see a healthy, vibrant tree with great fall foliage colors this time of year. However, if you look at the tree from the church side, you see a tree that is dying; huge bare and rotted branches that are falling endangering people and cars around its base.

Undoubtedly, the roots of that tree are spread out a great distance and will require attention, and the visual loss of the tree will be felt by many, but the decision has been made to remove the tree for the health and safety of others. And there are some that have had great anxiety about that decision, but, as with all things, change is sometimes necessary for the health and safety of all. Health and safety for all must come first, which means change and adaptation.

In many ways, the loss of that tree sums up what the past 20 months have felt like during our Covid period. What we have cherished and loved has had to change and adapt into something different for the growth, health, and safety of others. What have you learned about yourself over the past 20 months? What have you learned about the roots of your faith? Your church? These are questions that are always good to ask ourselves at any time, but I suggest over the past 20 months, we have had an opportunity to dive deeper into the understanding of our “roots” of faith and our beliefs.

We have witnessed your continued support for the work and ministry of Pilgrim Church with your financial support, enabling us to successfully live-stream our worship, increase our mission support to offer much needed assistance to those riddled by medical debt and in need of food assistance and disaster relief. We have seen people weather the Covid protocols and keep commitments in Zoom committee meetings, bible studies, youth programming, pre-school support and fellowship activities. We have learned that our faith in God is rooted in Love!

Reflecting on the words of the Psalmist: “They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season.”, it reminds us of all the ways our congregation roots our lives: worship, friendship, service, justice, prayer. Our congregation is that stream of water which nourishes our soul.

Our own financial pledge to our congregation grows from this experience of Love. Generosity in all its forms comes as our expression of gratitude for this community. The work of our church happens because of the generous financial and volunteer support of our community. Because of you, our congregation shares God’s love.

While there are many ways to support the congregation, our annual Stewardship Campaign provides a chance to think in a particular and prayerful way about the choices we make with our money in support of the church.

With your gifts to the annual pledge campaign, we will be able to engage in the programs, projects, ministry, and worship experiences that define our community life. We hope that as you consider your giving for the coming year, you will take a step towards generosity in your pledge. Please use the enclosed card to make your pledge and return it before or on Sunday, November 21st in worship. All pledges and gifts to our congregation help strengthen who we are and what we can do together. Because of you, our church shares God’s Love.

And think of the possibilities our roots in faith will lead us to accomplish. Like the tree, it will be replaced with a healthy, vibrant new tree, with the environment to spread its own roots and grow! Just like your faith!


Yours in our Pilgrim community,


The Stewardship Committee

Drew Thawley (Chair)
Adam Clark, Lynne Devnew, Heidi Hadley, Nancy Von Stackelberg, and Janet Zabilski