THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Aug. 16, 2020, Proper 15, and Zoom and in-person; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Pilgrims of Everyday Life!
Fernweh.
This word popped up among my Facebook postings, and I was instantly drawn to it: Fernweh. It is a noun, from Germany. It means farsickness. “An urge to travel even stronger than wanderlust: That feeling you get when you’ve been home too long and you ache to be out into the world again. Sometimes you don’t know where you want to be, but you know that it’s away. Sometimes you know where, and you want to get there as quickly as possible. This is that feeling” (from migratingmiss.com). Many of us have been feeling fernweh lately. And our hope is that a vaccine is found soon for COVID 19, and that travel will become much easier in the months and year to come. But for the time being, we are all feeling a little bit of fernweh.
I want to call to your attention the changes that have been made on our website: www.communityofpiglrims.com! First, Christian Halstead, my in-home technical "wunderkind" and partner (thank you, Christian), installed the “Donate” button, or “Give Now” button on the “Take Action” page of our website. That means you can now donate funds to the Community of Pilgrims on the website itself. We are working in conjunction with the Presbyterian Foundation, which takes 2% for administering this donation function. Of course, you can still send money via a check to the Community of Pilgrims, c/o Pastor Brett. Even in this COVID 19 pandemic, we need your financial support! So, feel free to try the Give Now button https://www.communityofpilgrims.com/take-action.
The second change has to do with an update of the information and pictures on the website, and this is where you come in. On the “What We Do” page, I’d like to post paragraphs that you, dear Pilgrims, write about being part of the Community of Pilgrims. You could write about the meaningfulness of one of our projects, our Zoom gatherings, something funny that happened with the Community of Pilgrims, how you found the Community, a sermon that was meaningful, what it means to “be Chuck” in the world today, or the symbolic power of having the Lord’s Supper and the potlucks every Sunday, for just a few ideas. The reason for this? So that the website isn’t all about what I think we do, or Karen thinks, or Kathy or Bill think we do within the Community of Pilgrims. This is a chance for community members to tell their stories, and our stories. Please write a short (short) paragraph, and send it to me in the coming week (the week of Aug. 17, 2020), and I’ll update the website with stories from the Community! Thanks!
And last: The Scripture focus this week is Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28. This is a rich exchange between the Canaanite woman and Jesus, in which Jesus is caught kind of flat footed in his conversation with this very smart and witty person. This passage reminds us that Jesus was a boundary crosser, crossing the boundaries of talking not only to a Canaanite, but to a woman! It also reveals that the God of creation does love a good conversation, and that the God of creation is open to suggestions from all of us who are created in God’s image. Join us this Sunday as we explore the dynamic, changing nature of our relationship with the Holy One.
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Let us also celebrate the gift of giving, with so many boxes and bags of clothes and linens that were collected from the Portland Pilgrims and given to SnowCap, a non-profit we work with in Portland, who provides clothes and linens for individuals and families in need. Thank you, Community of Pilgrims, for this gift!
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Time to make some good food for the Women’s Emergency Shelter in Gresham, sponsored by Human Solutions. We are looking at cooking and gathering the food together on Aug. 28th. Lorinda Moholt is making the entrée dish, and we will fill in the rest.
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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, or use the “Give Now” button on the "Take Action" page on the Community of Pilgrims website, www.communityofpilgrims.com. Many thanks!
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Again: 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. Currently, we have collected over $7,000!
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Events!
Aug. 16, Gather and Devotion and Zoom!
Aug. 23, Gather and Devotion and Zoom!
Aug. 28, feeding the women at the Gresham Women's Emergency Shelter!
Aug. 30, Gather and Devotion and Zoom!
Sept. 6, Gather and Devotion and Zoom!
Sept. 13, Gather and Devotion and Zoom and Join Us at Our Home! Celebrating 4-year anniversary of the Community of Pilgrims!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
Prayers for Roberta’s friend who is struggling with addiction and is in a dark place right now.
Karen’s back hurts. Pray that it feels better.
Karen's friend who attempted suicide, is hospitalized. Pray that she is open to treatment.
Happy birthday, Linda and Sue.
Prayers for Lorinda’s friend, Mickie, who is near death, and for her husband.
Bill’s step-mom, Delphine, moving from assisted living to a higher level of care.
Sally—she has taken a major step in her life, and faith has held her up. She could use a bit more faith.
Winston-For the Federal election; may we have confidence in our federal election process and outcome.
Brett-for college teachers and students alike who are going back to school and in-person classes.
North Carolina-has experienced an earthquake after the hurricane.
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Poem
Beloved is Where we Begin, by Jan Richardson
If you would enter
Into the wilderness,
Do not begin
Without a blessing.
Do not leave
Without hearing
Who you are:
Beloved,
Named by the One
Who has traveled this path
Before You.
Do not go
Without letting it echo
In your ears.
And if you find
It is hard
To let it into your heart,
Do not despair.
That is what
This journey is for.
I cannot promise
This blessing will free you.
From danger,
From fear,
From hunger
Or thirst,
From the scorching
Of sun,
Or the fall
Of night.
But I can tell you
That on this path
There will be help.
I can tell you
That on this way
There will be rest.
I can tell you
That you will know
The strange graces
That come to our aid
Only on a road
Such as this
That fly to meet us,
Bearing comfort
And strength,
That come alongside us
For no other cause
Than to lean themselves
Toward our ear
And with their
Curious insistence,
Whisper our name:
Beloved,
Beloved,
Beloved.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.