THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2020, Zoom; If you would like to invite someone to join us via Zoom, contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Pilgrims of the Advocate!
As the old saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” Hopefully many areas received some of the much needed showers in April, and after a burst of weather in the 80s of summer, May—which is he month when gardens, trees, and shrubs really start to take off—is a little soggy this week. But with summer comes hot weather and the possibility of drought conditions, so let it rain a little bit more.
On this sixth Sunday of Easter, the focus Scripture is John 14:15-21. John’s Jesus is preparing his disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (vv. 15-17). Jesus is promising us, the people of God, that when he, Jesus, is no longer with us in person, God will, and has, sent another advocate to help us and be with us forever. Forever and a day. Like now. The reason the Community of Pilgrims exists is because of the Advocate’s presence, advocating for us from within us as a community of faith. We know the Spirit, because the Spirit already abides with us, and is in us. No need to look for God in the clouds, because God is present in us, within us, around us. This image of God’s Spirit as an Advocate is dynamic and living in the present and the future. What does the Advocate do? The Advocate is one who pleads another person’s cause, or who speaks or writes or acts in support of something or someone. An Advocate perseveres, and yet is patient, waiting for the right time and the right place for us to do what we must do, and be, as God’s people. An Advocate is someone who is not afraid to stick out one’s neck or be the “lone wolf” in a certain situation. An Advocate is not afraid to ask the difficult or uncomfortable questions (Advocate is the Spirit of truth, after all), or to hold and comfort us, be the consoler, when things don’t go our way, and reminds us, “you are all loved.” On pilgrimage, the Advocate walks and moves with us, accompanies us, is in us, on the journey of life, as we, the Community of Pilgrims, go forward. Join us this Sunday, via Zoom, as we continue to consider the way that our Godly Advocate is with us as a community of faith in this day and age of COVID 19 pandemic and beyond.
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Requests and Opportunities
Keep collecting clothes! 40 items of clothing for Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.
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While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!
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For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/. And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC
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The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We chose to give our check to Human Solutions, in which we want it directed to families in need of diapers.
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Events!
May 17, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
May 24, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
May 31, Pentecost! Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
June 7, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Best wishes for a Happy Mother's Day to all mothers including mothers present, all those who have known pain, and to those who are mother-like to us.
· Thanksgiving for the opportunity to apply for a $50,000 Growth Grant for the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship from the Presbyterian Church USA and the Presbytery of the Cascades.
· Ray and Lorinda’s two granddaughters Anna and Lucy, both graduating this spring, and for all grandchildren and graduates.
· Our country and for the world, and for the black and brown communities hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
· Those struggling with mental health issues and stuck indoors.
· Mothers, trying to do everything and we have no control.
· Happiness for Olivia's great grandpa who has met a lady in the home where he lives
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Poem
Spring, the Sweet Spring, by Thomas Nashe
(If you want some fun, read it aloud.)
Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king,
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
The palm and may make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo!
The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet:
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!
Spring, the sweet spring!
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Chris
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com