THIS SUNDAY: Dec. 9, 2018, 4 p.m. Gathering and Worship at Rose City Park Presbyterian Church’s Chapel. 1907 NE 45th Avenue – Portland, OR.Questions? Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Advent Wanderers, Sojourners, Pilgrims One and All,
In this season of Advent of waiting, we, the Community of Pilgrims, received an early Christmas gift. A $50,000 Investment Grant! The Presbytery of the Cascades and the 1001 New Worship Community folks in the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the Presbyterian Church, USA, provided financial support for the ongoing practice of worship and prayer, education and discipleship, service and fellowship of the Community of Pilgrims, as we follow Jesus and embrace all. We received $25,000 from the Presbytery of the Cascades New Ministry Team and $25,000 from the Presbyterian Church (USA), equaling $50,000 for the next 18 months, beginning in Jan. 1, 2019. Along with this, we have applied for a Health Insurance Grant from both bodies, equaling $3,000 to cover a small portion of Pastor Brett’s health care. Like I wrote above, it is an early Christmas gift. So, let us sing a song of thanks to God, grateful for the support, encouragement of the Spirit in the lives of others, and let us move forward as we continue to follow Jesus, the Pilgrim God, as we welcome and embrace all who are seeking a loving community of faith not only in this Advent season, but throughout the year, and years to come!
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Events!
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, 4-6 pm Gathering and Worship at Rose City Park;
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, 4-6 pm Gathering and Worship at Rose City Park;
Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, 4-6 pm Our Christmas Eve Service, Gathering and Worship at Rose City Park. We will bring our boxes of food from our Advent gathering at this time for a blessing as we bring food to the people of Human Solutions, Portland, OR (See Reverse Advent Calendar attachment for what to bring re: boxes of food).
Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, 10:00 am, Breakfast and Worship, Moholt’s home. Please be sure to have turned in your 2019 Pledge Card by Dec. 30, 2018 (see attached for card to print out);
Sunday, Jan. 6, 2018, Epiphany! 4-6 pm Gathering and Worship at the home of Arlena Barnes and Bill Kinsey,
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Requests
*Regarding the t-shirts: Please pick up your t-shirt this Sunday, and bring cash or a check made out to Community of Pilgrims, in the amount of $8 for adult M, L, and XL, and youth; and $12 for adult 2XL. Thank you!
* We also have plenty of beautiful leather bracelets for each member of the community! Pick one up this Sunday!
* In the coming months, Pastor Chris and I will be quoting from and referencing sections from the book, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittister, a Benedictine monk, who, in this book, focuses on the nature of living life in an intentional Christian community, which is our aim as Community of Pilgrims. We can either order books for those interested and sending in a request for so-many copies, or feel free to order it or buy it from your favorite book distributor. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Joan Chittister, San Francisco: Harper One.
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Poem
Lines for Winter, by Mark Strand
Tell yourself
as it gets cold and gray falls from the air
that you will go on
walking, hearing
the same tune no matter where
you find yourself—
inside the dome of dark
or under the cracking white
of the moon's gaze in a valley of snow.
Tonight as it gets cold
tell yourself
what you know which is nothing
but the tune your bones play
as you keep going. And you will be able
for once to lie down under the small fire
of winter stars.
And if it happens that you cannot
go on or turn back
and you find yourself
where you will be at the end,
tell yourself
in that final flowing of cold through your limbs
that you love what you are.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Chris
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan (503) 724-7060; chrisdungan1@msn.com