By Karen Stanhope
What could cause a person to leave retirement and return to work? “I had no plans to come out of retirement,” marvels Pastor Matt Marzluft, the new Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Covenant Church (PCC) in Granby. “But I felt a genuine call from God.”
Pastor Matt grew up in the Catholic faith and had a personal relationship with God from a young age. He felt a desire to read and study scripture and followed a path to ministry. His accepted his first position 13 years ago at a Presbyterian church on the Pacific Coast Highway in California. While in California, Pastor Matt recalls a friend, Robert Demers, who had returned from a trip and told him about a quaint church named Pilgrim Covenant Church that had been a help to him. Demers had suggested that Pastor Matt visit PCC if he ever found himself in New England.
Pastor Matt was ordained as an Evangelical Covenant pastor in 2014, his credentials transferring from the Presbyterian Church (USA). In 2016, a new position as the Senior Pastor at a church in Springfield, Mass. brought Pastor Matt and his wife to New England. “I asked my wife, Laura, if she was up for an adventure, and she agreed.” They accepted the position, where they remained until he retired.
Post-retirement, Pastor Matt still accepted guest preacher invitations. When he was approached to be a guest preacher at PCC, he recalled the words of his friend Robert Demers.
Upon accepting the serendipitous invitation, he discovered PCC to be a 120-year-old quintessentially New England Evangelical Covenant church with Swedish roots on the border between Granby and Southwick, Mass. Pastor Matt became a frequent guest preacher at PCC, where he fell in love with the little white church and its congregation. “It is fun to preach at PCC…the church is so attentive. On my first visit I sensed a relational openness and positive attitude that I found infectious.
“I enjoy a relational church that’s a little smaller so I get to know everyone, and they can know their pastor. It’s like a magnet―like attracts like. I felt their caring and their love of prayer. It attracted me to them. It’s a small church with a big heart.” The congregation returns his affection wholeheartedly, as evidenced by the number of members that attended the congregational meeting to unanimously vote Matt in as their Senior Pastor.
“Pastor Matt meets us where we are,” said Deneika Janski, a member of PCC. “He accepts us as we are, and he doesn’t try to be anyone but himself.”
Pastor Matt has a strong vision for PCC. “The church should have such an impact in the community that, should it close, the community will feel its loss. It’s on us to better serve and care for our community. PCC has a wonderful facility and great people. I love our position as a church on the state line, and it’s great to represent a number of communities and look for opportunities to serve a wider area―whatever the various needs may be. I want to look for organic opportunities with real growth potential for our church to be part of the community. We should serve the entire community―not be an enclave, turned inward.
“I want to see our growing youth program thrive. Our youth director, Casey Janser, is a talented, musically oriented young man with a heart for God and youth. Being a biblically-oriented church with a strong center in Jesus Christ, we want to be present to all ages and experiences. I would also like to build up the music program. We just hosted a Gospel Singing Contest, and I’d like to see that continue every year.”
“Pastor Matt recognizes our traditions, pieces of how we’ve always done things, and puts his spin on it to reinvigorate the church. He reaches out to everyone―all age groups―so all feel included and welcome,” affirms Janski. “He makes the Bible come alive in his sermons, giving us something to think about and apply to our lives going forward.”
Pastor Matt hopes that others will be touched by PCC’s openness and positivity. “We are meeting new people all the time, whether it’s through our youth ministry, in worship, or at one of our other ministries or outreach events. If you were to visit, you’d feel a warm welcome and be encouraged by the Spirit of Christ.”
If you are curious and wish to meet Pastor Matt and PCC, consider attending a service (10:30 a.m. every Sunday) or enjoy a relaxing musical evening out at the PCC coffee house scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the little white church with the tall steeple at 605 Salmon Brook Street in Granby. If you have a community need and wish to see how PCC might help, reach out via email to onevoicelifted@gmail.com