This month we begin the Intentional Interim Process. Our first meeting will be following worship and fellowship time on February 8th. The first step is to identify events in the history of the church that are meaningful to each of us. We will take the time to elicit our memories, both shared and individual, and write them up on newsprint. This will give us the building blocks for the further discussions in the next two months.

Each of us has memories of our time at Pilgrim. An event may be filled with joyful memories for some, whereas the same event may bring memories of sadness or anger from others. Some people will have experienced one pastor's presence with joy and thanksgiving; others may have seen the same as unhelpful even destructive. Every memory, every experience is equally valid. Some of us have been active members for the full fifty-one years, some have been members, but relatively inactive through the years, and some will have just joined. Each person's impressions are equally valid. The time will be structured for each voice to be honored and noted.

Your memory will be jogged as others share theirs. Some emotions, long buried may surface for you. The time of bringing forth memories and sharing them will be both exciting and upsetting. It is good to come prepared for honesty, laughter and tears. This meeting is just and hour and a half long. We will continue to work with the grief, dissension, joys, celebrations and questions that the history we articulate evokes in our March meeting.

Let us come together in the spirit of covenantal love as we begin the task of remembering our past, accepting our present and visioning our future. A careful and prayerful walk through our past will bring us to a healthy future.

In Christ's love,

Ann