THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, June 28, 2020, Proper 8, and Zoom with Moreland PCUSA; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Pilgrims of Christly Stories,
As I write this newsletter, I am feeling some of the drain of the daily news upon my heart, soul, mind, and body. Trying to change a culture’s perspective and practice, a society’s habits, is time consuming and energy zapping. On the one hand, it is important that we stay informed as to what is occurring in our society to people of our world in order to figure out “how should we react and act?” On the other hand, we need to respond to the news with the Gospel, with the stories of hope amid hate, love amid fear, to pray, to find organizations that we can support that address, in real ways, the needs and wants of those facing injustice. That’s why we gather every Sunday: to balance these two parts of our lives: the news of the day and the Good News.
The reason I call us “Pilgrims of Christly Stories” is because we are going to join Moreland Presbyterian Church (USA) this Sunday, at 9:30 am, for a time of worship together as two congregations. The Scripture is a "Christly" or Christ-centered story: the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30. Take a read of the parable, which some biblical commentary folks call a “parable of invitation.” The story is about a master, who has much wealth (a talent is a certain monetary wealth), who generously gives money to his three servants when he goes on a trip. Each one is invited to use this gift and, each according to one’s ability, invest and help that gift grow. While this parable is often used for Stewardship Sunday, another way of reading it, together, is that we are invited by “a master” (Jesus) who has provided us a meal where there is simple but good food, and most importantly enough for everyone, if everyone works and shares the good food presented before us. Sadly, we have seen in recent weeks that we live in a world in which not everyone shares from the bounty that they have been given with those who have little. That more or less speaks to how we are in the situation we are in currently in this world. For example, even though we have more than enough food in this world, there are some, even in this country, who die of hunger, or live in a “food deserts,” because we have not distributed our “goods” with those who have little. Or consider the issue of justice: while we are all to be treated as “equals” before the law (which is supposed to be “blind” to our contexts and histories), we have seen on our city streets and courts that equal justice before the law is almost illusory, because of the color of one’s skin or wealth. As for health care, we, the wealthiest nation on earth, simply can’t figure out how to provide health-care to all our citizens. So, which “servant” are we? The ones who share, or the one who digs a hole in the backyard, scared of the master’s reaction? Join us this Sunday as we focus on the Parable of the Talents for a modern age.
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This Sunday, June 28, 2020, we will join Moreland PCUSA on-line at 9:30 AM. We will share the Lord’s Supper together, so if you want to take a piece of bread and pour a glass of grape juice or red wine at home, and feel free to join us. They air or broadcast their worship via both Zoom on Facebook, and by youtube.com, which people can watch later in the day. So, for those on Facebook, go and “like” Moreland Presbyterian Church (USA) page when you are on Facebook next time, and then you can join in and participate via Zoom in real-time. For others not on Facebook, I will simply send you the youtube.com link later that Sunday morning, so you can watch it. This means we will not meet on Sunday afternoon. Next Sunday, July 5, we will have our afternoon gathering again at 4 pm.
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Requests and Opportunities
Hold on to your 40 items of clothing from 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 are joining up with the folks at Moreland Presbyterian Church, and with our combined stimulus checks, and other donations, we will support four groups: Street Roots, Emerge, Meals on Wheels, and Human Solutions! Let me, Brett, know if you would like to give to give more to this growing fund, and I will be sure that our funds are included.
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Events!
June 28, Gather and Devotion, Zoom and on-line with Moreland PCUSA, 9:30 AM! Stay tuned for more information. Both Pastors Brett and Brian Marsh will lead worship via on-line services.
July 5, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
July 12, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
July 19, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Jenny Stilson's sister and her husband who died this past week.
· Thanksgiving that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church has people of color as its leaders.
· Linda's daughter Kristen and her husband Brian both furloughed and both worried about their jobs and for the many people who are losing their jobs.
· Good choices as Oregon wrestles with opening up.
· Thanksgiving that Chris and dogs arrived safe and sound in New York
· This country and the rest of the world in places like India where COVID continues to spread.
· National and local government officials, including those we don't agree with.
· Freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and all the freedoms guaranteed under our Constitution.
· Celebration of freedom observed on June 19th and July 4th.
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Poem
This Is Not a Small Voice, by Sonia Sanchez
This is not a small voice
you hear this is a large
voice coming out of these cities.
This is the voice of LaTanya.
Kadesha. Shaniqua. This
is the voice of Antoine.
Darryl. Shaquille.
Running over waters
navigating the hallways
of our schools spilling out
on the corners of our cities and
no epitaphs spill out of their river mouths.
This is not a small love
you hear this is a large
love, a passion for kissing learning
on its face.
This is a love that crowns the feet with hands
that nourishes, conceives, feels the water sails
mends the children,
folds them inside our history where they
toast more than the flesh
where they suck the bones of the alphabet
and spit out closed vowels.
This is a love colored with iron and lace.
This is a love initialed Black Genius.
This is not a small voice
you hear.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com