THIS SUNDAY: June 30, 2019, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Chapel, Rose City Park PCUSA, 1907 NE 45thAve., Portland, OR 97213 Questions? Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Seekers, Dancers, Wheel Chair Pilgrims, and People of the Way,
It seems like an early spring or an autumn day in Oregon today, with the rain saturating the ground and the gray clouds overhead. There is a chill in the air, which makes me re-think why I wore shorts today.
The focus Scripture this week is Galatians 5:1, 13-25. I kept thinking about the image Paul creates of the world around him, which looks similar to the world around us today, and the radical call for us to be filled with and doing the work of the fruit of the Spirit. The “works of the flesh” are “fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these…those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” To say the least, the list of vices articulated by Paul seem to be everywhere today, and, for some, are now considered the norms of life. Behold, the “new normal,” though most ages of humankind have lived by such standards before us. By contrast, Paul continues, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…if we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.” I read this passage while looking at the haunting picture coming from the Rio Grande River; while reading stories of children in prison-like setting in Florida; while reading of saber rattling against Iran. We, who are members of the body of Christ, are provided, by God’s grace, with an opportunity to live life differently, and are a beacon of hope, called to change the world, with a radical (in this context) spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Join us this week as we figure out our action steps in embodying the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and world today.
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Events!
June 30, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
July 7, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
July 14, Moreland Presbyterian Church worship! 9:30 am at Moreland Presbyterian Church! We will be leading and assisting in worship on this morning.
July 20, a Thank You Volunteer Appreciation BBQ/Picnic by Human Solutions! All of us invited to come; 4-6 pm, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 17405 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR.
July 21, Pastor Brett preaching at Woodburn Presbyterian Church
July 21, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church;
July 28, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church;
Aug. 4, Pastor Brett at Portsmouth Union Church, Portland, or
Aug. 4, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church;
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Requests
* Regarding the CoP 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.
* 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
The Swing, by Robert Louis Stevenson
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
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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