Welcome to our Blog!

Welcome to Pilgrim Lutheran’s web blog, our newest way to let all of our church family and friends know about Pilgrim’s latest news and events, and occasional musings from the pastor!  We hope you’ll check back often to keep up-to-date.

Adult Sunday School

Are you stuck spiritually?
Are you in a spiritual rut?
When you read the bible, is it like listening to Charlie Brown’s teacher “Wah wah wah”?
Are you frustrated about where you are in your relationship with God?
Do you feel like you are on the verge of a spiritual breakthrough but can’t take the next step?
Do you seek a deeper relationship with Him?

Come to Coffee Talk: Adult Sunday School seeking a deeper relationship with our Lord and His Word. Explore with your fellow seekers a deeper understanding of the Word and how it applies to your life.  In the Fellowship Hall.

Come to FaithWeaver:  Sunday School Curriculum gets parents and children on the same page as they study the same Bible lessons each Sunday.  Meets in rooms 1-3 (Saints and Sinners room), behind the Kitchen.

Come to the Wired Word:  Topical study of current events with a Biblical Perspective.  Meets in room 301 (the Parlor) across from the Church Nursery. 

Delve Deeper
Seek more fervently
Gain further understanding of the Word
Meet Him on HIS terms
Prepare your heart
Exercise your spiritual muscles

YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT EVERY SUNDAY AT 10:00 AM!!!!!

Miracle Hill Ministries

The following is written by Pilgrim Lutheran Member and faithful disciple Norma Jean Largent:
I first went to visit Miracle Hill Ministries just to get to know them and to measure their donated building for furniture, beds, dayrooms and such. I had inherited them as a client from a retiring rep in our company. Jimmy, my old cohort and current employee of Miracle Hill Ministries decided that we should really get to see what they do on a daily basis, so he invited us to lunch at one of their homeless centers for women and children only. We took a tour. We saw many things. It seemed a very clinical place even though you could see they were trying hard to put in homey touches. Although there were small rooms that were devotion rooms, even they seemed a bit lonely; that is the only way I can describe it. Even seeing the room with the cribs was surreal since they were empty at the moment, the residents were all down in the basement eating lunch. However, when we came up on a room with several steel bunk beds, lying on one of the bunk beds was a piggly wiggly type bag with a few clothes hanging out of it and lying on the pillow, placed very carefully it appeared, was a child’s stuffed animal. In this cold place that was so clinical and gray and sad, it was the first sign of a child we had seen and it just broke my heart and for just a minute, my spirit. This is not a place I would ever, ever wish to see my or any child; it just rips my heart out to imagine a child here. I lost it, I admit it. The thing that kills me is that this is the best place where children at least still get to be with their Moms.
Miracle Hill also has a children’s home, as well as an at risk boy’s home where the kids are just alone (possibly never to be adopted, just there) from birth to age 18. And still yet some are sequestered with their Moms in a battered women’s shelter where no friend or relative is allowed to know where they are. Many, they tell me, are taken from their homes and parents in the middle of the night without the ability to take even a single item of comfort, or any of their own clothes, never to see their families or homes again. They assure that any child coming in to one of these shelters that is lucky enough to be able to be given anything that is just for them, a toy or stuffed animal to call their own, just something to hold on to. That’s where we come in. They would be honored and happy to accept any gently used stuffed animals that anyone would care to donate. It would mean the world to these children who did not ask for or choose to be there.
So, what do you say, Pilgrim Lutheran Church? Do you have a gently used stuffed animal to donate to a child in need at Miracle Hill Ministries? There will be a box in the Narthex to accept these donations. Have a conversation with your child/children about picking a stuffed animal that could be given to a child that has nothing else; I’d be willing to bet that they’d jump at the chance to help that child.
If you have questions, please call Stan McCloy at 803-439-3309, or email swmccloy@gmail.com.
Let’s show Miracle Hill Ministries that we care about those children!

Christmas Eve Worship

Worship with us on Christmas Eve as we gather together to celebrate Christ’s birth!

Children’s Service – 3:00pm   Puppet ministry and blessing of families

Contemporary Worship with Holy Communion   5:00pm

Traditional Candlelight with Holy Communion  7:00 and 11:00 pm

Our children’s gift to you…….

Please join us on Sunday, December 20th at 5 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall for our children’s Christmas Pageant, On Our Way to Bethlehem, an inspirational pageant of special music and the Christmas story.

Delightfully Delicious Homemade Treats Are Coming Your Way!

Join us in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, December 20^th, between 8:30 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. for the annual Holiday Cookie Walk.  Choose from dozens of delicious, homemade cookies to enjoy during the holidays.  Cookies will be sold by the “baker’s dozen” and will even come complete with bakery box and bows for gift giving.   All proceeds will support our youth on their annual mission trips this summer.  If you can bake cookies for this special event, please contact Jane Park at 359-9974 or parkbanks@windstream.net.  Mark your calendars for December 20^th!  Don’t miss the chance to support our youth AND enjoy those scrumptious cookies from Pilgrim’s best bakers.

Witness Team Needs You!!

Witness Leadership Team
Exciting things are happening in Ministry at Pilgrim! You’ve seen posts on those items. I’ve got another one! Our Witness team is going to restructure itself to include a Reach Coordinator and a Do coordinator. Jesus tells us in his Great Commission:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. “–Matthew 28:19 (NRSV)
And he tells us in the Greatest Commandment:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 (NRSV)
So, we want to approach Witness in this purpose driven way. Part of our team will be responsible for “Do-ing” stuff in and for the community, while another part of the team will be responsible for “Reach-ing” into the community and getting’ people into Pilgrim.
Sound interesting? Is God leading you to minister or evangelize in our community? Get on Board! Contact either me or Julie Fowler:
Stan McCloy swmccloy@gmail.com
Julie Fowler jfowler@pilgrimchurch.net
We’ll start up after the holidays. Get connected!!
-Stan McCloy

Dawn Smith Jordan to Give Christmas Concert at Pilgrim!

On December 15, local resident, Dawn Smith Jordan, will give Christmas Concert at Pilgrim.

Please join Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Welcoming Dawn Smith Jordan and friends as she “Remembers Christmas” on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 pm. Dawn’s special guests are the vocal trio “One Purpose” and the Jazz Guitar Summit. Admission is free and please bring your friends and family. It will be an evening to remember! For additional information, please contact Nancy Gibbons at ngibbons@pilgrimchurch.net or 803-359-9421. We hope to see you there!

The Bates Family

Ken Largent and I visited a family in Lexington. This family was brought to us by Ken and Sheila Drafts.  They are hard working, faithful people. Like many of us, they have faced the trials of life, winning some and losing some I suppose; however, they face them with a peaceful, generous spirit that we all strive to achieve. Operation Inasmuch was in May of last year, but it’s legacy (and remaining monies) lives on. They need some help with their home. A good amount of work has been done on the home in the last several years, work that has been done lovingly by the family. However, the man of the home has been struggling with his health as of late.

He was badly burned in a house fire when he was a child. He had deep burns over 90% of his body. As a physician I can tell you that his life today is a gift from God, as many people do not survive such an extensive injury. He spent many months in the hospital enduring the intense pain of healing from such a travesty. He slowly healed, though, and maintained his faith and giving spirit through it all. He worked hard and provided for his family until he ran into some medical problems that forced him into a wheelchair and disability.

However, when you speak with him, you hear a joy and spirit that does not reveal his sufferings.

James 5.13:
“Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.”

They have a band and play with Wade, the bass player in Six:33. Their play benefits for others in need. They eagerly participate in outreach ministries in the church they attend.

They need a new linoleum floor in their kitchen, paint for their walls, and some work in their bathrooms (new toilet, fixtures for the shower), and a wheelchair ramp to descend 2 steps into their laundry room.

At this moment, they are having trouble accepting our church’s generosity. They are used to giving, not receiving. I reminded them of the Way:

Acts 2:43-47 (NRSV):
“Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.”

Christians take care of those in need regardless of creed, nationality or color (remember the Good Samaritan?), but we must also take care of each other, as we did as told in Acts.

But, I could see on their faces and in their voices a tinge of guilt; there are many much less fortunate than them. But, as Jesus said in response to the disciples’ objection to the anointing of Jesus with ‘very costly ointment’ while in Bethany:

Matthew 26.11 (NRSV):
“For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”

We have an opportunity to help a family in need. That’s really all we need. But, knowing the details of that need solidify our calling to aid these folks. What can you do? First, pray for them, and for those who will participate in this project. Second, consider giving of your time, talent and treasures to fund and perform this project. We have some money left over in the OIAM budget, but not enough to complete all tasks. Contact me at: swmccloy@gmail.com
or on my cell at 803-439-3309 if you wish to help. We need folks experienced in flooring, painting, plumbing and carpentry. And, we need money. If you would like to donate to the cause, place a check in the offering plate marked with “Operation Inasmuch” in the memo line.

This family was  intrigued by our outreach ministry and asked how long it had been around. They so admired what we are doing. Now we need to live up to that admiration!

Matthew 25:40 (King James Version):

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

’nuff said.

-Stan McCloy

Coming soon….Growing Kids God’s Way

It’s Back! Growing Kids’ Gods Way will return for it’s 3rd Session, taught by Dawn and Stan McCloy in their home. The Foundational Class, which is 17 weeks in length will begin Sunday, January 10. This class focuses on filling your child’s heart with God’s Biblical morales (Deut. 6:6-10), keeping the focus on the Husband/Wife relationship as the Foundation of the family, and will give you the tools to allow your family to enjoy obeying God’s word. You will be amazed at how much you will love what this class will provide for your family! Please contact the McCloys for questions or interest at dawnmccloy@gmail.com or 803-439-2005! We look forward to having you!

Get Connected!

Are you looking for a way to build and deepen Christian friendships and relationships?  How about studying the Bible or having a deeper prayer life?  How about a small group of folks learning more about Christianity?  To “Get Connected” join a small group today!  Now is the time to sign up for YOUR small group!  Don’t wait; Don’t delay; See Dawn McCloy in the Narthex every Sunday Morning following service.  OR contact her for questions or concerns please email her at dawnmccloy@gmail.com or call her at 803-439-2005.  God is calling you to GET CONNECTED!!!