Dear Pilgrim Family, 

In light of coronavirus and a serious flu season, it’s good to begin talking about how to live “devoted to one another in love” (Rom 12) throughout its duration. 

While no one wanted this situation, let’s trust Jesus and respond in wisdom and together. Know that your Pilgrim family is working to keep calm while taking the steps we can to maintain ministry momentum through Neighborhood Easter and Summer months. 

In years past, God’s people have been on the front lines of responding to crises. Let’s pray to this end and to the redeeming of this crisis through our ongoing love for each other and our neighbors. 

Keep watch. Be cautious about your information sources. Pilgrim will publish a minimal update each week in our Mid-Week Update. Major updates will be mailed to those without email. If we must cancel worship services or programs, we will do our best to communicate through our website, email and social media as well as phone calls to those who are not online. Our local Health Department www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-public-health/ is a good website for trustworthy updates.

Keep clean. Carefully maintain daily habits of cleanliness. This applies no matter the season. It’s not about merely presenting well. It’s also a way to show love to each other. If you use Pilgrim’s facility, please take extra time to thoroughly wipe down all tables and door handles. If you have a fever, please stay home until you recover. We’re asking your greeting of each other to be either a bow, a fist bump or an elbow bump or a smile. 

Keep kind. Please do not respond harshly to those who violate the cleanliness recommendations. Gently redirect and remind. Do not suspect those from an affected area around the world to be infected and distance yourself from them. Remember that many thousands have recovered already after contracting the virus. 

Keep praying. I’m asking each prayer meeting and PilgrimGroup to intentionally pray each meeting that God would reverse the virus, calm the markets and increase our faith for the calling’s He’s given us. We will pray each Sunday during worship about it. 

With you in this,

Rev. Erik L. Larsen, Pastor, Pilgrim