HIS SUNDAY: Feb. 17, 2019, 4-6 pm, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 1905 NE 45thAve., Portland, OR 97213; Questions? Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
_____
Dear Blessed Ones of God,
Warm greetings on a rainy, cold, wintry, Oregon day! Time to snuggle up and pour some tea.
The focus Scripture this coming Sunday, Feb. 17, is Luke 6:17-26. We know this passage well in the Church as the Beatitudes or the “Blesseds.” Jesus has gathered his disciples and brought them to a place accessible to most people, many people, including even Gentiles, and the crowds of people who were marginalized because of their disability. Jesus heals all of those who came, hungering in many ways, for respect and acceptance. While Matthew has Jesus preaching with his “sermon on the mount,” Luke’s Jesus is among the people, eye-level, and speaks to them, giving them hope. Jesus also uses the second person, and is direct with the people, rather than speaking in third person, “Blessed are you,” and not “those who,” because Jesus identifies with the crowd, standing with them, among them, and not above them. And Jesus’ words are powerful as he preaches to us in our modern industrial world in which we live: “Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled, Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” There is an immediacy to the message, in which Jesus promises them—and us—a blessing now, in the present, not in the past or the future: now! Join us this week as we continue to explore the Beatitudes in our modern age.
_____
Events!
Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, Pastor Brett preaches at First UMC, Eugene;
Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, Pastor Brett preaches at First UMC, Seattle;
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, March 3, 2019, Pastor Brett preaches at Christ UMC in Cedar Hills;
Sunday, March 3, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, March 10, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, March 17, 2019, Gresham’s Women’s Emergency Shelter (Times TBA);
____
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 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.
_____
Poem
Listen, by Scott Jamison, inspired by the Beatitudes
This is how it’s going to be
Broken hearts will be held together
Grief will be out of a job for good
Pride will know the cold side of the door
What is right will be devoured
Bread will be broken with mercy
Purity will be the porchlight
And peace will be its moth and those
Who have known the back of hands
Will know every lifeline of my palm
This was how I had always planned.
____
Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Chris
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.comRev. Chris Dungan (503) 724-7060; chrisdungan1@msn.com