THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, January 10, 2021, First Sunday after Epiphany, Gather and Devotion on Zoom. If you have any questions, or are interested in a conversation, contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com and visit www.communityofpilgrims.com.
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Dear Community of the Baptized One,
One of the things that I have learned from the Rule of St. Benedict and being part of a Benedictine community as a Benedictine oblate is the necessity of balance of life. For Benedictines, there is always the striving of balance in one’s daily life: Ora et labora, or prayer and work. In other words, balance life between prayer and work. I have also read about this balance in the Christian life: Ora et labora et lectio, or prayer and work and study of Scripture. This balancing act is meant to help us keep perspective of life in us and around us.
Why am I writing about Benedictines and balance? Well, for the last few days, I've been out of balance. I suspect I'm not the only one. I’ve been consuming too much of the news cycle, from the election in Georgia to yesterday’s riot and storming of this nation’s Capitol building. Many of us could not believe what we were hearing and seeing from Washington, DC. None of us could’ve imagined that we had gotten to this point in our national politics in which we would see and hear any crowd of US citizens openly attacking and hurting people and pillaging the Capitol building. Someone was trying to stop the historic practice of recording the vote of the people. Again, people were hurt. People died. It was evil.
Balance.
Then my unknown, unspoken need for balance or re-balance came about in preparation for this Sunday. I read the Gospel reading for the day, from Mark 1:4-11. It is Mark’s story of Jesus’ baptism. I was reminded instantly that we are not alone. We are part of a community greater than ourselves, and share a common good, namely, love. We are part of the body of Christ, which is a body, a gathering, that practices and strives to embody peace and love. It is because Jesus was called by God, “my Beloved,” and we are members of Christ’s body, that we are part of the Beloved community. We are part of Christ. This baptism didn’t take place in Jerusalem, the center of theological and political power, but north of Jerusalem, in the wilderness, at the north-most end of the Jordan river. It was here that there was another “epiphany” of sorts, in which God broke through the clouds and stirred up the waters: “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan river. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased’” (Mark 1:9-11).
For just a moment in the last 24 hours I needed to be reminded of who I am and whose I am, and who we are and whose we are. We are a community of pilgrims and followers of the Pilgrim God. While we are in this world, and care deeply about the politics of our community and nation, we need to be reminded from time to time of our primary community, and who and whose we are. As we are reminded in our baptism, "Within this covenant (between us and God), God gives us new life, strengthens us to resist evil, and nurtures us in love. Through this covenant, we choose whom we will serve, by turning from evil and turning to Jesus Christ" (My emphasis, Book of Common Worship, Westminster/John Knox Press, p. 409).
Join us this Sunday as we remember our baptism, reacquainting ourselves with the meaning of being baptized in this fractured time, in which the powers that are around us show their weakness and brittleness, and we re-learn the importance of being Christian community with one another, baptized, one and all.
Balance.
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It still isn’t too late to send in a pledge form for 2021. As all of you know, we have been supported in large part by the generous gifts of the PCUSA 1001 New Worshiping Communities and the Presbytery of the Cascades New Ministries Team funds since we began in 2017. We are one of the rare new communities of faith ventures that have been granted funds from the Seed Grants, Investment Grants, and Growth Grants! At the end of 2021, we will be dependent upon the financial gifts, time, service, and talents of the membership of the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, with possible help from other non-profits. Thank you for considering your gift in support of the Community of Pilgrims in 2021!
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Events!
Jan. 10, Baptism of Jesus Sunday, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
Jan. 17, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
Jan. 24, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
Jan. 31, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Thanksgiving for the vaccine and prayers for a way to get it to people.
· Thanksgiving for the closing on the sale of Linda's brother Gary's condo, giving him one less thing to be concerned about because his health is concerning.
· A negative COVID test for Parker and thanksgiving that he has the antibodies.
· A negative COVID test for Scott.
· Thanksgiving that schools resume this week.
· Our beloved city that we can move forward.
· Democracy and this country
· The republic, the messy process it is but may we find a way through this together.
· Thanksgiving that we got through 2020 and for all the ways we grew as well.
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Poem
Epiphany on the Jordan, by Malcolm Guite
Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;
The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,
The Father speaks, the Spirit and the Son
Reveal to us the single loving heart
That beats behind the being of all things
And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.
The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings
‘You are belovèd, you are my delight!’
In that quick light and life, as water spills
And streams around the Man like quickening rain,
The voice that made the universe reveals
The God in Man who makes it new again.
He calls us too, to step into that river
To die and rise and live and love forever.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.