“Come, follow me.” Jesus, Luke 18:22

December 31, 2024

 Dear Pilgrims,

We’ve faithfully followed Jesus together through worship, study, and service since I was installed as your pastor on March 13, 2015.  With faith, hope, and love, we’ve experienced many expected and unexpected seasons of life.   

With deep gratitude to God and all of you for this near decade of ministry, I’m writing to announce that a new season is unfolding for us all.  

I’ve answered the call to follow Jesus to the congregation of South Presbyterian Church in Bergenfield, NJ.   Session and I have agreed on January 26, 2025, as my final Sunday in the pulpit, immediately followed by a congregational meeting to dissolve my pastoral relationship with Pilgrim fully.  

The Committee on Ministry of Highlands Presbytery will guide and support Pilgrim well to help ensure a smooth transition.   I pray January will be a month of meaningful worship and celebrating our ministry together over nearly a decade.

As surely as I believe Jesus Christ has instructed my heart with the words “Come, follow me” elsewhere, I also prayerfully trust these exact words are being spoken in the Spirit to the person privileged to serve as your next pastor.

In Christ’s Care,

 Rev. Rich Gelson