THIS SUNDAY: July 21, 2019, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church’s Chapel, 1907 NE 45thAve., Portland, OR 97213; Questions? Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Wanderers, Dreamers, Doers, and Contemplative Ones,
I write this newsletter looking out over the beautiful waters of the Puget Sound as I ride the train back to Portland from Seattle on a somewhat cloudy, summer’s day, with the promise of sunshine in Portland. We live in an incredibly beautiful part of the world.
This Sunday’s Scripture focus is Jesus’ time with his close friends, Mary and Martha, found in Luke 10:38-42. In the last few weeks, the Gospel passages have focused on the “doing” of our faith as disciples of Christ, and this week we are reminded of the practice of the "being" of our faith. For example, two weeks ago, we focused on Jesus sending out 70 disciples, two by two, to do the work with others of healing and sharing the good news that the realm of God is near at hand. Last week, the focus was on the Good Samaritan and who is our neighbor, in which we were reminded to love God with our entire being, and to love our neighbor, just like the Good Samaritan did in taking care of the one stricken on the roadside of life. This week, we are reminded of the balance of our faith, that there is a time to "do" the faith and times to simply "be" in the faith and present with Christ. I am reminded of the Benedictine practice of “ora et labora,” prayer and work, and the art and practice of balancing these two ways of following and being with Jesus in our life together as the Community of Pilgrims. Join us Sunday as we explore the place of prayer and work as a community of faith.
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A big THANK YOU to Moreland Presbyterian Church, for the opportunity last Sunday, July 14, 2019, to gather together, talk together, worship together, share the Lord’s Supper together, and to share a meal together. What a wondrous time! Holy and special! Hope we get to do it again some time!
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Events!
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, Pastor Chris preaches at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church;
July 28, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church!
Aug. 4, Pastor Brett preaching at Portsmouth Union Church, Portland, OR;
Aug. 4, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Aug. 11, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
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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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Prayers of Celebrations and Concerns
· Prayers for those of us who are teaching the rest of us how to age gracefully;
· Prayers for those in the hospitals, those recovering from surgery, and those in rehab centers, seeking health and wholeness;
· Prayers for the earth, and renewing our efforts in slowing down climate change;
· Prayers for justice and hope in the face of hateful, racist rhetoric, and the rising tide of fascism around the world;
· Prayers for stepping back from warring madness to peace in the world;
· Prayers for the children from other countries caught in cages on our southern borders, and their families;
· Prayers of celebration for those with birthdays and anniversaries during July;
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Poem
For the Children, by Gary Snyder
The rising hills, the slopes, of statistics
lie before us.
The steep climb
of everything, going up, up, as we all
go down.
in the next century
or the one beyond that, they say,
are valley, pastures,
we can meet there in peace if we make it.
To climb these coming crests one word to you, to
you and your children:
stay together
learn the flowers
go light.
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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