THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Oct. 17, 2021, 21st Sunday after Pentecost, Gathering and Devotion on Zoom this Sunday. 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 Pilgrims!
A friend recently texted me, “Surviving the week and the onslaught of the glorious Grey?” Yes, the grey clouds of October have descended upon our part of the country, as if on cue, with much-needed rain from time to time, day to day. And it is a good thing, too. Our state and part of the world is in a “total” drought condition. Along with the beauty of the tree leaves changing color, we are thankful for the rain.
Our Scriptural focus this week is going to be on the end of the book of Job. Job has been the focus of the Revised Common Lectionary’s Hebrew Scripture. In the first 37 chapters of Job, we understand that there was a wager between God and the Adversary as to the true faithfulness of this solitary human being, Job. Everything, including the proverbial kitchen sink, was thrown at Job, which would make any of us question the existence of God. In Chapter 38, God speaks up, and addresses not only Job, but us as well. Mind you: God does not address Job’s situation (which was dire, having lost family and property, left with three clueless friends), nor Job’s questions about justice, nor Job’s distressful suffering. Instead, God re-sets, and re-orients Job as to who God is: God is God, ergo, Job is not God, or the center of the story of creation. God takes Job on a whirlwind tour of the universe, beginning with earth’s creation, the birth of the Sea, along with a tour of “where the wild things really are,” including chaotic monsters, Behemoth and Leviathan. While it would’ve been nice for God to apologize for all of Job’s stress-filled life, with God comforting Job, instead, in the words of the late William Safire, “It’s as if God appears in a tie-dyed t-shirt emblazoned with the words, ‘Because I’m God, That’s Why!” Join us this Sunday for a discussion of Job and God.
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Events!
Oct. 17, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
Oct. 24, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
Oct. 31, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom! Happy Halloween!
Nov. 7, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom! All Saints’ Day to be celebrated
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Kate's son Travis who is struggling with COVID pneumonia.
· Christian's mother Iva and sister Yarrow both struggling with breast cancer.
· Thanksgiving that Patty's mother is doing well.
· Thanksgiving for fewer hospitalizations.
· Other parts of the world which do not have the vaccine yet.
· An end to the increasing gun violence in Portland.
· Continued prayers for Hannah (18, in Glasgow). Her psychotic condition remains unstable and her family is very concerned. Grace and mercy for Hannah and for her family.
· Friend Marlene whose husband is battling cancer.
· Mike House who is suffering from cardiac problems.
· The family of Janet Holbrooke who died of cancer after only three weeks from diagnosis. She leaves a husband and twins in high school.
· Thanksgiving that we have Brett as our pastor.
· The increasing number of victims of accidental drug overdose.
· Calm in international politics, particularly in the increasing tension between China and Taiwan.
· The instability along our southern border.
· Those caught in sex trafficking.
· The large number of migrants and refugees who want to flee Libya, a main transit point for people seeking to reach Europe.
· The thousands of Haitian migrants coming into the US.
· Our Administration and Congress.
· Brett's daughter and son-in-law celebrating their anniversary and thanksgiving for granddaughter Edie who is turning three.
· Celebrations for Kate's son who married the love of his life yesterday.
· Violence and death by an apparent terrorist in Norway.
· Strife in Lebanon with continued civil war and their electricity grid down.
· For a world free from any threat of nuclear-weapons.
· Thankful for Merck’s COVID 19 pill, and the miracle of science with vaccinations, while praying for a miracle that those who have not received a vaccination in this country wake up soon, and those in the rest of the world get the vaccine without any further delay.
“God, in your love, attend our prayers…”
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Poem
Mrs. God, by Connie Wanek
Mrs. God
Someone had to do the dirty work,
spading the garden, moving mountains,
keeping the darkness out of the light,
and she took every imperfection personally.
Mr. Big Ideas, sure,
but someone had to run the numbers.
Then talk about babies: he never imagined
so many.
That was part of his charm, of course,
his frank amazement at consequences.
The pretty songs he gave the finches:
those spoke to his
innocence, his ability to regard
every moment as fresh.
“Let’s give them
free will and see what happens.”
he said, ever the optimist.
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Buen Camino! Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.