THIS SUNDAY: Nov. 24, 2019, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 1907 NE 45thAve., Portland, OR 97213; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Pilgrims of Hope,
Greetings from the chilly and beautiful Oregon coast on the day after Thanksgiving! I hope that everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving, and the chance to be with family and friends, joined together in a spirit of gratitude!
This Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, and usually “hope” is the theme for this Sunday as we light what is commonly called the Prophet’s Candle. The Scriptural focus is the prophet Isaiah 2:1-5, in which the prophet calls for a future that feels and sounds like a dream of a world yet-to-come of a savior who is also yet-to-come to the people of Israel: “He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” The image of swords of war being beaten into ploughshares and spears turning into pruning hook is captured in so many paintings and sculptures as symbols of peace, because it is so tangible that all people, of all lands, throughout time, can grasp the meaning of this image as the ultimate sign of peace. In this day, too, in which there is much rattling of swords in some lands, and smaller wars and civil strife around the world—from Hong Kong to Syria—may Isaiah’s word-image strike a light of hope even in the darkest of hearts, minds, and bodies. Join us this Sunday for a discussion of being people of hope and peace in a world that continues to defer to violence.
Finally: Pledge Sunday! On Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, we will be celebrating both the First Sunday of Advent (hard to believe), and Pledge Sunday! We will have Pledge forms at the Gathering this coming Sunday!
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Events!
Dec. 1, Gather and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 4-6 pm.
Dec. 8, Gather and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 4-6 pm.
Dec. 15, Gather and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 4-6 pm.
Dec. 22, Gather and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 4-6 pm.
Dec. 24, Christmas Eve! Plans TBA!
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Requests
* 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 Dailyby 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.
* Another book for our consideration: The Intentional Christian Community Handbookby David Janzen (Paraclete Press, 2013). We may use this book as we delve deeper into understanding what it means to be an intentional Christian community of faith.
* Finally, Community and Growthby Jean Vanier will be picked up as a book for us to read together.
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Poem
Advent, by Rae Armantrout
In front of the craft shop,
a small nativity,
mother, baby, sheep
made of white
and blue balloons.
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Sky
god
girl.
Pick out the one
that doesn’t belong.
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Some thing
close to nothing
flat
from which,
fatherless,
everything has come.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Chris
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.comRev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com