Pilgrim staff
REv. Colin Knapp
senior pastor
Rev. Colin Knapp became Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Congregational Church on Good Friday 2020. He also serves as the President of Community of Congregations. Colin is Molly’s husband and Jude’s dad; he is ordained in the United Church of Christ. He grew up in a bed and breakfast that his family owned in central Illinois. He is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL. He is a lover of books, coffee, and traveling to faraway places. Colin previously served in ministry as Associate Minister of Glencoe Union Church, the Director of Youth Ministry at LaSalle Street Church, and the Associate Pastor of Warren’s Grove United Methodist Church in North Carolina. Colin longs for all people to know God’s reconciling love and grace and wants to help people put their faith into action.
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Joan Hutchinson
Minister of Music
Joan came to Pilgrim as a substitute organist in 1983 and never looked back. She plays organ and piano for rehearsals and for services, and directs the handbell and instrumental ensembles. She also loves teaching music for Sunday and Vacation Bible Schools. Over the years she has accompanied community choirs, led children’s choirs, prepared high school students for music contests, and taught private students. She is a board member of the Chicago chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association. Joan has a Bachelor of Music from Boston University and a Master of Music degree from the American Conservatory of Music. She was also privileged to study for a year at the Sibelius Academy of Music in Helsinki, Finland.
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Wilbert Watkins
Chancel Choir Director
Wilbert O. Watkins serves Pilgrim as the Chancel Choir director. His work with the choir focuses on prayer support, multiculturalism, intelligibility, musical expressiveness, and education. Wilbert is also a deacon at Pilgrim and has been involved in several volunteer community efforts. Dr. Watkins is the artistic director for Lux Cantorum, Chicago’s premiere sacred ensemble. His past Midwestern conducting experience has included the following: Sing to Live Community Chorus, Benedictine University, Northern Illinois University, and DePaul University. Watkins studied with André Thomas at Florida State University, where he earned a Ph.D. in music education and conducting. His formal education included theological seminary, and he has ministered to the congregations of several Christian denominations, for over thirty years. He is a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, and has guest lectured in music literacy, vocal diction, and music education.
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Bill KenT Financial Coordinator
Bill Kent is the Financial Coordinator at Pilgrim Congregational Church. He is very honored and happy to be part of the Pilgrim staff. Bill handles the administrative aspects of finances at Pilgrim and Pilgrim Community Preschool. He has always enjoyed working with numbers and has an attention to detail. Bill has taught youth Sunday school and participated in many other Pilgrim ministries. Before becoming the Financial Coordinator, he was the accountant for a national art company. Bill also owns and operates his own home inspection company.
Rev. Henrietta Brown Pastor of Faith Formation
Rev. Henrietta Brown is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and is currently a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. Rev. Brown earned a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Rev. Brown is licensed and ordained in the Baptist tradition and previously served in the church association for American Baptist Churches-Great Rivers Region (ABC-GRR).
In addition to serving in ministry, Rev. Brown is a finance/accounting executive with over 20 years of experience. She received an accounting degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, then continued her studies in business administration, earning an MBA degree at Webster University in St. Louis.
Rev. Brown is the proud parent of three young adults: Jessica, Jasmine, and Jahlil. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and spending recreational time with her immediate and extended family.
Maureen Deahl
Director of Christian education
Maureen Deahl is extremely honored and excited to be a part of the spiritual team at Pilgrim. The role of Director of Christian Education allows her to be a part of the spiritual and life journeys that the youth and their families are on. Maureen has been active in many aspects of youth activities over the years from Community work with the Girl Scouts and village recreation department to many programming events at her local elementary school such as talent shows, literacy programming, sporting events, musical productions, and in her Church with Christian education, youth group events, camp counselor and Vacation Bible School. She is married and the proud mother of five very unique and talented young adults and children.
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Joycelin Fowler
office manager
A member for over twenty years, Joycelin is involved in almost every aspect of Pilgrim. She enjoys singing in the choir, serving as a Deacon, cooking for special events, participating in the women's ministry, and much more. She assumed the Office Manager duties in 2007 and everyone appreciates her organization and attention to detail.
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