Page 6 - Final Annual Report 2020

Moderator's 2020 Annual Report
Andy Meyer

The Pilgrim Church congregation began the year in the usual way with a call to all church members to attend the
Annual Congregational meeting in February. The Congregation settled its usual business electing committee
members and leaders, approving a budget, and accepting with gratitude the work and the report created by Pilgrim
2020. It was voted to accept the cultural shifts proposed by the committee, to establish a 2020 Implementation
Team, and to initiate an essential audit of all committees and ministries. Other recommendations were referred to a
special congregational set for March 22nd.

And then, of course, everything changed. We watched as a pandemic virus spread its way across the world,
impacting, literally, every part of our lives.

In-person church was cancelled, and an immediate plan was formulated to provide our congregation with an online
church experience to be watched from home. Very soon after, it became possible to attend church while watching
Facebook live. A big thank you to Doug Ambos and others who made this large technological leap for Pilgrim
Church possible. Every effort was made to help church members feel connected. Pastor John began broadcasting
weekly spiritual updates. In the summer, a tent was installed in the parking lot to allow for outdoor / socially
distanced meetings for the church youth, AA, and others who use our church. A special fall congregational meeting
was held on September 20, 2020 which passed a motion to allow, for the first time in church history, the future use of
digital media for annual congregational meetings.
The sanctuary and church were opened in the fall to allow for in-person church services, all supervised by the
deacons with reduced numbers of attendees, masks for all, and generous amounts of space between those sitting in
the pews. It felt very special to return. In-person and online services continued through Christmas. And it appears
that these will continue through the new year into the foreseeable future.

Many of the services and ministries we typically offer were negatively affected, of course. But there were some
highlights that continued despite the pandemic. Middle school and senior high youth groups met, as did a
confirmation class, which provided opportunities for the young folks to enjoy fellowship in safe, directed, fun and
welcoming activities.

For the community around us, AA held meetings. We offered our building to Family Promise early in the year and
let it serve as a very accommodating shelter for homeless families. More church members than ever participated in
December's version of The Miracle on Main Street which created thousands of meals for those food-insecure
individuals in our area. The Angel Tree program collected a record number of useful gifts for kids in our area who
would otherwise have been without. For our own church congregation, the new, very well received crèche once again
adorned the front lawn during the Christmas season.

Internally, our congregation continues to be blessed with wonderful volunteers that populate the various committees
that make everything around here work. From the Deacons to the Property Trustees, from Sacred Arts to
Hospitality, as well as the Personnel board, Finance, Stewardship, Christian Education, Memorial & Endowments,
our church is blessed with smart, dedicated volunteers who work very hard to ensure the successful program year of
the church. We are also blessed by our wonderful employees who provide the behind the scenes administrative and
logistical support that make everything else possible.
2021 and beyond will continue to test our ability to survive, thrive, and adapt to the changes that surely lay ahead of
us. We will need to find new ways to stay connected with one another, respond the challenges of providing the
services we have come to depend on, and to let our faith remain strong in the work we have to do.
May God Bless you all.

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