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the pilgrimMONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF PILGRIM LUTHERAN CHURCHdecember 2022First graders play pretend sleepover with their new prayer pillows at their Families in Faith class in November.PHOTO BY JEN ROME
1935 Saint Clair Ave Saint Paul, MN 55105 651-699-6886 | pilgrimstpaul.orgOce Hours: 10-3 T-Th (email and voicemail are checked regularly) pilgrim lutheran churchAn ELCA Congregation A Home for Hungry Minds and Souls A Reconciling in Christ Congregation A Caring for Creation Congregation 2Sta Pastor Jen Rome Lead Pastor pastorjenrome@pilgrimstpaul.orgRuss Myers Visitation Pastor (10% time) russellnmyers@yahoo.comPaul Stever Music Director, Organist and Chancel Choir Director (75% time) steverpaul55@aol.com Anna Stolte Director of Children’s Choirs (15% time) anna.stolte411@gmail.com Dick Hensold Composer in Residence dickhensold@gmail.com Micki Nyland Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries (50% time) mickinyland@pilgrimstpaul.org Cathy Salin Business Manager (60% time) cathysalin@pilgrimstpaul.org Lisa Como Oce Coordinator (45% time) pilgrim@pilgrimstpaul.org Chuck Regal Mechanicals and Equipment Custodian (25% time) coregal@comcast.net Mike Schulze Custodian (25% time) mikeschulze@pilgrimstpaul.org Denika Anderson Communications Specialist (35% time) communications@pilgrimstpaul.org Hana Ninow Audio-Visual Tech (10% time) Members of the Congregational Council (also known as the Vestry) Matthew Anderson President/Executive Team matthewsanderson99@gmail.com Kate Tosteson VP/Executive Team kate.tosteson@gmail.comJason Hendrikson Treasurer/Executive Team jasonhendrikson@gmail.comTim Dykstal Recording Secretary/Executive Team tdykstal@gmail.com Tim Moore Past President/Executive Team tim.moore927@gmail.com Sandy Johnson At-Large Member sandjo_us@yahoo.com Karla Leitzman At-Large Member karla.leitzman@gmail.com Elizabeth Schoenknecht At-Large Member eschoenk@comcast.netOther Chairpersons/Roles Pete Newburg Financial Secretary Barbara McCauley Chair of Congregational Life and Care Tom Johnson Chair of Properties Committee Karie Johnson Wedding Coordinator
what’s in your pilgrim?3Worship ................................................................................................................ 4 December Worship Overview ..................................................................4 December Worship & Forum Schedule ................................................4 Looking Ahead to January Worship ........................................................ 5 Important Information About Holy Communion ................................5 From the Pastor .................................................................................................6 December Updates .................................................................................... 6Holiday Oce Hours ......................................................................................... 6Music Notes — December 2022 ...................................................................7 Musical Leaders for Worship ...................................................................7 Vivaldi Gloria Musicians .............................................................................7 Evening Worship Winter/Spring 2023 ...................................................7From the Vestry ..................................................................................................9 December Vestry News ............................................................................. 9Update from Tanzania ................................................................................... 10Welcome, New Members!............................................................................. 11Education, Service & Fellowship ................................................................. 12 Advent Tea is Back! .................................................................................. 12 Help Decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas! .................................... 12 More Than Happy Hour ......................................................................... 12 Book Club News ....................................................................................... 12 Classics for Pilgrims ................................................................................. 13 Men’s Breakfast December 5 ................................................................ 13 Young Adults in Global Mission ............................................................ 13Deadline for the Next Pilgrim Newsletter ................................................. 13Children, Youth, and Family Faith Formation ........................................... 14 December Fath Formation .................................................................... 14Prayer Corner .................................................................................................. 15Parochial Report ............................................................................................. 16 December Birthdays ............................................................................... 16 December Anniversaries ....................................................................... 16
worship4December Worship Overview The basic pattern for Sunday mornings: • 9:30 am Worship with live streaming on Facebook Live• 10:45 am Faith Formation for preK-12th grade; Sunday morning forumsMorning worship and forums are held in-person and on Facebook Live at facebook.com/PilgrimStPaul/live. Worship each Sunday morning includes “Point for Pilgrims” — an opportunity for children and their families to experience the Bible story in an engaging way. December Worship & Forum Schedule Sunday, December 4 — Second Sunday of Advent9:30 am Advent Wreath candle lighting. Guest Preacher Denika Anderson. Reading: Luke 1:39-55. Chancel Choir singing. Communion with bread and individual cups of wine or juice.10:45 am Advent Tea — Special holiday treats and time together in the Fellowship Hall. No Faith Formation.Sunday, December 11 — Third Sunday of Advent9:30 am Advent Wreath candle lighting. Chancel Choir singing Vivaldi’s “Gloria” with oboe, string quartet, and trumpet. Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10 and Matthew 3:1-12.10:45 am Forum: Check in with the Vestry and cake from Gratitude and Generosity Team. Faith Formation for preK-12th grade.6:51 pm Celtic Contemplative CommunionSunday, December 18 — Fourth Sunday of Advent9:30 am Worship with Christmas Program. Advent Wreath candle lighting. Cherub, Jubilee, Junior Choirs singing. PreK-5th Graders act out the biblical Christmas story. Pastor Jen Rome preaching. Reading: Matthew 1:18-25.10:45 am Cross+Generational Service Learning project for LSS Safe House. No Faith Formation.
WORSHIP (CONT.)5Saturday, December 24 — Christmas Eve2:00 pm Cross+Generational Candlelight Communion. Interactive DIY Christmas Pageant — everyone gets candy and a hat! Jubilee and Junior Choirs singing. Pastor Jen Rome, preaching. Communion by intinction. Christmas candle lighting.4:00 pm Traditional Candlelight Communion. Christmas candle lighting. Chancel Choir singing. Pastor Jen Rome preaching. Communion by intinction. Point for Pilgrims. Christmas cookies and coee following worship.6:51 pm Celtic Candlelight Communion. Christmas candle lighting. Celtic musicians and carols. Communion by intinction. Word Weavings.Sunday, December 25 — Christmas Day9:30 am Christmas hymn singing. Pastor Jen Rome, preaching. Reading: Isaiah 62:6-12. Communion by intinction.Looking ahead to January WorshipJan. 1 9:30 am Guest Preacher, Rev. Mary Kaye AshleyJan. 8 9:30 am Epiphany worship with Salsa Del SolJan. 22 9:30 am Leif McLellan, preachingImportant Information About Holy Communion • For the distribution of Holy Communion, ushers release the worshiping assembly row by row. Communicants come forward to receive the elements. Those serving Communion will cleanse their hands immediately before serving. On rst Sundays, communicants will rst receive a piece of bread from the pastor and eat it; then communicants will take an empty ceramic individual communion cup, which will be lled by a communion assistant with either wine or grape juice and drink it. Used cups will be collected in baskets on the way back to the pews. On third Sundays, Communicants will rst receive the bread, then dip it into the red wine or the white grape juice, and then eat it.• Worshipers who do not wish to come forward or who wish to not share in the communal bread and wine/juice during the distribution of Holy Communion may request a self-contained, sealed, individual communion kit before worship begins or may bring their own elements.• ALL people are ALWAYS welcome to receive Holy Communion.
6from the pastorBY PASTOR JEN ROMEDecember UpdatesIt’s that tender time of year. When the connection to Christmases past, our longing for meaning in the present, and our hopes for the future converge. Something about that convergence makes us tender — to joy and grief all at once. It opens up our hearts a bit and connects us with God and each other. It’s in this tender time that Jesus is born. When the hopes and fears of all the years converge in God born among us.We’ve had so much to deal with the last few holiday seasons. We are out of practice. Traditions were paused or changed. Patterns unset. Maybe it’s been forever since you came to church. Maybe this tender time tugs at you, wanting to connect and worship.I want to make sure each of you know that it’s okay to come back after you’ve been away for a while. There’s no shame, no guilt, no judgment. We’ve all just been trying to make our way through life. We understand. And we care about you, no matter what. We are each other’s people, people trying to follow in Jesus’ ways of justice and love together. We’ve got you — we’ve got each other, and God has got us.So if you’re wanting to come around for advent or evening worship or Christmas eve, please come. I can’t wait to see you. Your faith community will be glad to be with you. We need each other; Jesus gave us to each other especially for these beautiful, hard, tender times.Pastor JenHoliday Oce HoursThe Pilgrim oce will be closed December 26-28 and December 30. It will be open 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on December 29. Please contact the oce at pilgrim@pilgrimstpaul.org with any questions.
music notes7BY PAUL STEVER, MUSICAL DIRECTORMusical Leaders for Worship12/4 9:30 am Chancel Choir12/11 9:30 am Vivaldi Gloria 6:51 pm Dick Hensold and Celtic musicians12/18 9:30 am Children’s Pageant, including Cherub, Jubilee, and Junior Choirs12/24 2:00 pm Children’s Choir 4:00 pm Chancel Choir 6:51 pm Dick Hensold and Celtic musicians12/25 9:30 am Christmas Day Communion & CarolsVivaldi Gloria MusiciansOn December 11, Pilgrim musicians and guests will present “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi. Many thanks to the following musicians: Chancel Choir; Carey Shunskis and Meredith Samuelson, soprano; Katerina Middeldorp, alto; Paul Heggeseth, trumpet; Megan Dvorak, oboe; Rachel Ulvin and Derick Rehureck, violins, Emily Hagen, viola; Emily Kahnert, cello.Evening Worship Winter/Spring 2023Evening Contemplative Communion and Contemplative Prayer services provide meditative music, readings, candle lighting, silence, and more. Join us in person or online at facebook.com/PilgrimStPaul. Note that many evening worship recordings are deleted in the week following a service, as a part of our eorts to comply with copyright. You can listen to the available past services at facebook.com/PilgrimStPaul/live.Contemplative Prayer (from Taize and Similar Traditions)January 15, February 19, March 19, & April 16 at 6:51 pmIncludes a variety of short songs that are each sung many times in a mantra-like, meditative manner, with Word Weavings of scripture and poetry. Led by the Tenor-Bass Contemplative Choir.Contemplative Communion (Celtic)December 11 & 24, February 5, March 5, & April 2 at 6:51 pmEmphasizes contemplation and includes original music and texts by Dick Hensold and members of the community.
8MUSIC NOTES (CONT.)Contemplative Prayer (from Nordic and Other Lands)January 22, February 26, March 26, & April 23 at 6:51 pmEmphasizes music from Scandinavian countries, now also featuring music and inuences from around the world. Preludes by guest musicians begin at 6:40 pm.Guest musicians for January 22: The American Swedish Institute Lilla lagThe American Swedish Institute Lilla lag is made up of youth ages 8-17 who gather to learn and perform Swedish folk music. The group learns all music by ear. The word “lilla lag” is a Swedish term that means youth folk music group. Many dierent areas of Sweden have a lilla lag. Our lilla lag is aliated with the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis, and has been active for ve years. Interested in learning more? Please email Music Director Ingela Eilert Haaland at ingela_eilert@yahoo.com.
9from the vestryBY MATTHEW ANDERSON, VESTRY PRESIDENTDecember Vestry NewsThis is one of my favorite times of year. The air is crisp. The colors are stunning. I at least have an urge to can things, like applesauce, and begin baking bread again now that it’s not so hot. I love the residual abundance gifted to us from spring and fall.And this is a busy time of year as well. There is energy as kids go back to school. Our church life is buzzing again too with faith formation back in full swing and evening services joining our morning worship to bookend our Sundays with music, community, and grace.Over the month of November, you heard from from our Gratitude and Generosity Committee and from other Pilgrims about our annual stewardship campaign. This is our annual push to urge all of us to consider our nancial giving to Pilgrim Lutheran Church.It seems appropriate that the time to think about our giving comes at such an abundant time of the year. Pilgrim is sustained by our giving to the tune of about 80% of our annual budget. Your giving matters and shows up from the music we hear to the experiences of our youth and from the heat in our sanctuary to the giving we make to the wider world as a congregation.Over the coming months you will also hear from the Vestry in more detail about Pilgrim’s budget. That budget guides the way your gifts are spent. We strive to allocate the generosity of all Pilgrims to fulll both our needs and our values as a community. By sharing more, we want that you both understand more and so that you feel inspired and appreciate the way we are living our Christian commitments and values.I hope and pray we all nd joy and abundance in this season of change together.Matthew Anderson
10Letter from Pastor Huruma BimbigaHello, I greet you in the name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. It is my hope that you are all ne. Here at Luganga we are doing well. We are ne waiting for the rainy season so we may cultivate and plant maize, beans and other clops for food as well as business.Today I want to share with you some couple of things;• Our Congregation quire participated in the district concert and we were number two out of twelve quires.• Also on November 5 we participated in the levor of Diocese and out of 21 queries we were number ten.• We have started building the walls in our pastor’s house as we shared with you and we are so happy with this project because we are using water from the wall and its pump is walking well.Last year we had two students who completed form four. We thank our Lord God because they all did well and were chosen to join form ve. This year we have three students will complete form four.Last thing is about our Sunday school students they have already wrote their letter and brought their picture. Before the end of this week we will send it to Bega kwa Bega oce.How about you and your church building project and other activities you shared to us.We well come any one who is interested to visit us.Thank you.Yours,Pastor Huruma Bimbigaupdate from tanzania
11welcome, new members!New Members Joined on November 13We were excited to welcome thirteen new members (and three children) into the Pilgrim community on November 13! We are grateful for their presence in and commitment to the community, and we look forward to growing as a church with them.Pilgrim’s new members are:• Sue Bauer • Kerry Davis and Chris McGuinness • Shelby Duessel• Bill and Susan Jolitz• Louanne and Phillip Kaupa• Dan and Renee Kidney (and their child, Kate)• Stephanie Luedtke (and her children, Kai and Elena)• Leif McLellan• Jenna RossiterLet’s make sure to show them a warm Pilgrim welcome in this chilly season!
12education, service, & fellowshipThe Advent Tea is Back!Congregational Life and Care is hosting Pilgrim’s Festive Advent Tea after church on Sunday, December 4 in the downstairs Fellowship Hall. This event is “potluck” and we’ve had a great selection of treats in past years, including both sweet and savory — think hors d’oeuvres. Anything goes: sweets of any kind, cheese/salami, crackers, fruit, veggies/dip, meatballs, dips, deviled eggs, cocktail shrimp, pickles/olives, nger sandwiches, chips/salsa, other chips, etc. We’d appreciate it if you bring your item before the church service, plated or in a crockpot, ready for serving.To ensure we have a good selection, please text or email Barbara Taylor at (651) 302-6455 or bstaylor50@gmail.com with what you plan to bring. Thank you!Help Decorate the Sanctuary for Christmas!Calling all busy hands! On Saturday, December 10, the properties committee would like help decorating the sanctuary for Christmas. Please contact Tom Johnson at yearnstead@aol.com or Mike Schulze at mikeschulze@pilgrimstpaul.org to join. Thank you!More Than Happy Hour Thursday, December 8, 6:30-7:30 pm. We will gather at Sencha Tea Bar on Grand Ave. in St. Paul and talk about family dynamics and the holidays. On Sunday, January 22, we will join with other young adults at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church. More Than Happy Hour is a once-a-month space for young adults to gather and talk about life, church, and the world. We focus on a discussion theme. Anyone and everyone is welcome or bring a conversation topic. Contact Claire Kaiser at kaise364@umn.edu with any questions.Book Club NewsThere is no scheduled book to read for December since we typically nd time for socializing with a holiday party. Looking ahead, our book for January is Fresh Water for Flowers by Valerie Perrin. Contact Lynda Hirschboeck at (651) 698-7399 or hirschbo@gmail.com for more information.
13EDUCATION, SERVICE, & FELLOWSHIP (CONT.)Classics for PilgrimsClassics for Pilgrims will not meet in December. Classics will resume on January 26 with a discussion of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. Contact Pam Itzin at (651) 276-9198 or Barbara Taylor at (651) 699-1095 for more information. Men’s Breakfast December 5Men’s breakfast will convene on Monday, December 5. Please join us at the Highland Cafe & Bakery (2012 Ford Parkway) at 8:00 am. Contact Mark Hirschboeck at mhhirschboeck@gmail.com with any questions.Young Adults in Global MissionApplications are now being accepted for the ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) for 2023-2024! This is an amazing opportunity for a year of international service for those ages 21 to 29 as they walk alongside our global church companions in the spirit of accompaniment.Participants form deep relationships, live in intentional community and confront issues of globalization, economic disparity, colonization, race, gender, sexuality, and more through the lens of faith. Current YAGM country programs include Argentina/Uruguay, Jerusalem/West Bank, Senegal, and United Kingdom. For more info visit elca.org/yagm.Deadline for the Next Pilgrim Newsletter The deadline for sending in materials for the next Pilgrim newsletter is December 10. Please send items to newsletter@pilgrimstpaul.org.
14children, youth, & familiesBY MICKI NYLANDDecember Faith Formation Hello, Pilgrim Families! My prayers for all of you is that we move into Advent with intention-keeping the traditions that hold meaning for us, and letting go of the extras that don’t bring us joy. I am especially holding space for all of you for whom the Christmas season brings complicated feelings of joy and sorrow, excitement and dread. Always remember that you are enough, just the way that you are, and that you are doing a great job as a parent or caregiver.Here are some important dates to keep in mind for November: December 4: Advent Tea. There will be no Faith Formation on this day as we gather in Fellowship Hall for a beloved Pilgrim tradition.December 11: Christmas Program rehearsal during Faith Formation. PreK-5th grade students will start in the choir room with Anna to learn their songs for the program. Sunday School teachers will bring them to their regular classrooms as they nish rehearsal, and parents can pick up their kids as usual at 11:30 am.December 17: Christmas Program rehearsal from 9-11 am for all preK-5th grade students. Middle and high school Pathways students who wish to help out with the Christmas Program are welcome to attend. PreK-2nd grade students will be able to leave early; 3rd-5th grade students should plan to be there the whole time.December 18: Christmas Program during worship! Please plan to arrive by 9 am for a nal run through our songs and to get in our costumes. There will be no Faith Formation following worship.Christmas Eve, December 24: Children are invited to and welcome at all three worship services! The children’s choirs will be singing at the 2pm worship service, and the 4pm worship service is particularly child-friendly. There will be no Faith Formation on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.Have a Family Update?We’d love to hear about it! Please send changes to names, pronouns, and household members to newsletter@pilgrimstpaul.org.
15prayer cornerWe pray for God’s loving presence for these Pilgrims who need healing, hope, comfort, and care: Concerns: We pray for the loved ones and communities of victims of gun violence across our country, especially those killed and traumatized by the Club Q shooting in Colorado Springs and the shooting in Chesapeake, Virginia.We pray for our companion congregation, Luganga Lutheran Church, of the Iriniga Diocese of Tanzania. They specically asked that we pray for them as they wait for the rainy season so they can plant and grow their crops; for our partnership to continue to grow; for their country, for continued peace that they are experiencing now; for their plans and projects as a church, that they succeed in them.We pray for the people of Ukraine, Ethiopia, and all other areas torn by war and violence, for peace and safety.We pray for those who lost loved ones and those whose lives and communities are aected by severe weather events. We pray for the earth and all creatures, for their care and renewal, supporting the expression of Pilgrim’s status as a Caring for Creation community of faith.We pray for those whose lives will be altered, complicated, and endangered by the decision of the Supreme Court regarding Roe v. Wade.We continue to pray for all impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pilgrim community and beyond, to include the whole world.We continue to keep in prayer Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, who continue to face the legacy of racism. We pray for change in systems of oppression and injustice, and that we all may learn to follow the path of anti-racism, and each become a voice for inclusion, equity, and justice. We pray especially for the loved ones of BIPOC individuals killed by police, as well as the BIPOC community as they suer the trauma in response to their deaths.We also continue to pray for all in the LGBTQIA+ community who face bias, rejection, and violence. We pray that we may all grow in acceptance and each become a voice for acceptance, advocacy, and support as an expression of Pilgrim’s status as a Reconciling in Christ community of faith.Ongoing Health Concerns: Lee Fargo, recovery from cancer treatments; Judy Boehm, health concerns; Meredithe, mother of Karen Hedenstrom, in memory care; Roger, father of Ann Machmeier, declining health; Dan, father of Kaydee Kirk, in hospice with cancer; Dennis, uncle of Sam Fouts, health concerns; Carolyn Olsen, health concerns; Jolee, sister of Jess Grams; Anne, grandmother of Stephen Bell-Kemp, in hospice; Lisa Berg, continued healing and recovery from serious illness; Mike, son of Chuck Regal, ongoing care as a result of a serious motorcycle accident. For those who are homebound, Don Hogquist, Jan Jacoby, Art Stolp, and Merle Strom.Christian Sympathy: Kim Spear, on the death of her brother, Scott; Janice Hodnick, on the death of her daughter, Elina; Dick Hensold, on the death of his mother, Amy, on May 6; Pam Itzin, on the death of her brother, Greg; Leslie Tunstall, on the death of her mother, Peg; Tim, cousin of Daniel Ninow, on the death of his wife, Kim; Phil Haan, on death of his father, Ray; Art Stolp and the entire family, on the death of Bev Stolp, who died on March 1, 2022; Carl Hokanson and family, on the death of his father, Harlen, on February 11, 2022; family and friends of Mark Tande, who died on January 25, 2022; family and friends of Marlys Kinney, who died on December 13.Ministry Partnership: The ministry and people of our sister congregation, Luganga Lutheran Church in Tanzania and Pastor Bimbiga; Pilgrim sta members and Pilgrim lay leaders. In and beyond the congregation: For peace in our world, for healing in our country, for the invisibly ill, for the mentally ill.You are encouraged to send greetings to those you are moved to communicate with. Let us know if you are expecting or adopting a child. If you wish to add or remove a prayer request, please call the church oce, ll out the form on our website, ll out a white prayer request form located in the pews, or contact the pastor.
16parochial reportWeek 1 David ToeniskoetterJe HoliskyMartin JohnsonChris MontgomeryMichael JacobsenWeek 2 Mary JahnkePatricia SweenCorby LewisBen RiekenbergHannah RiekenbergEverett SmithKari LewisAllen ZumachMarsha FossWeek 3 Brett KahnertDaniel NinowWeek 4Ellie GresethM. Brian HartzKatharine Drexler BoothOwen PezallaJackson PezallaReva RasmussenMaren HeggesethWeek 5Elizabeth HaanAbram WhetstoneCormac McElrathKarla LeitzmanBarbara HoliskyLaura JamesonJen ShermanLizz Sable StauningAnnabel BataldenSophia KleppKurt SchultzTom JohnsonTorsten HansenSophia OakmanEmily SteverLucas MuellerLaetetia SchulzeBruno BussianDecember BirthdaysChris Nagel & Petra VogtBryan Stauning & Lizz Sable StauningDidrik Peterson & Elizabeth SchoenknechtElizabeth & Jay AnkenyBeth & Eric NelsonKris Grangard & Thomas PratherJodi Gustafson & Rochelle MilbrathMarlys Aukee & Matt O’TooleCatherine & Matt KoukolMarianne Milligan & Christopher WellsDecember Anniversaries