THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, May 16, 2021, Seventh Sunday of Easter, 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 Pilgrims of the Ascended One,
Happy Ascension Day! I checked in with Google, Alexa, and Siri, and they all affirmed that in the Western Church, today is Ascension Day. This is the day that Jesus ascended into the heavens. Or as Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove wrote, “The Ascension is when God’s earthbound people look to heaven to remember that Christ’s body has no feet on the ground but ours. It’s why our Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’” Indeed, our feet are Christ’s feet on earth today.
The Scripture reading this week is Luke 24:44-53. It is central to the Ascension story. I am reminded in this period of the COVID 19 pandemic, that we have been “out of touch,” literally with each other. But figuratively, we’ve been connected with one another via Zoom and phone calls and texts. And we believe that the person we see and hear on the screen is the person we wanted to be in touch with. Same thing with Jesus in this story. While Jesus has ascended, because God had no more body on earth per se anymore, God chose to make us, collectively, the body of the risen, ascended Christ on earth. We are the feet of Christ, taking people where they need to be in order to get assistance in terms of homelessness. We are the hands of Christ, making meals and providing clothes to those who are hungry, thirsty, and needing clothes. And what I also remember about this day is what a Benedictine monk once reminded me: Jesus had to ascend into the heavens in order for the Holy Spirit to descend and be among us as the body of the risen Christ. Join us this Sunday as we consider the relevance of Ascension Day in our lives as the body of Christ today.
** Kathy Fukuyama is working with SnowCap on a special summer project that The Community of Pilgrims can participate in as a community of faith. We will deliver our clothes’ bags to Kathy before 12 noon on May 28, 2021! Thank you, all, in advance!
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Events!
May 16, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
May 23, Pentecost! Wear something red! Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
May 28, Gather clothes for SnowCap (see above)
May 30, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
June 6, Gather and Devotion and Holy Communion on Zoom.
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Linda requests prayers for her brother Gary. Also safe travels for granddaughter Eliza to do research with college prof at Occidental.
· For St. Andrew’s and other churches who are about to offer personal in addition to virtual church worship services.
· For Sister Valerie – that her family situation sorts itself out (Lorinda and Ray);
· Hopeful that Brett’s mom’s Trust will be settled soon.
· For the people of India and Yemen, who are suffering terribly from the COVID 19 pandemic.
· For the people and government of Ukraine.
· For democracy in the US.
· Remembering the hands across America campaign. We need a unifying gesture again.
· For all mothers in the world. Our mothers, and daughters. Granddaughters. Nieces. Mothers caught in drugs, sex trades, abuse, oppression, refugees. Single moms. Moms who struggle with addiction. Thankfulness for stories of families reuniting on our Southern border. For mothers able to spend time at home to care and educate children. For adoption of laws providing maternity and paternity leave. And for universal healthcare in the US.
· For Jim and Anne Wallace’s infant granddaughter’s health and well-being.
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Poem
A Poem for Ascension Day, by Denise Levertov
Stretching Himself as if again,
Through downpress of dust
Upward, soil giving way
To thread of white, that reaches
For daylight, to open as green
Leaf that it is…
Can Ascension
Not have been
Arduous, almost,
As the return
From Sheol, and
Back through the tomb
Into breath?
Matter reanimate
Now must relinquish
Itself, its
Human cells,
Molecules, five
Senses, linear
Visions endured
As Man—
The sole
All-encompassing gaze
Resumed now,
Eye of eternity.
Relinquished, Earth’s broken Eden.
Expulsion,
Liberation,
Last self-enjoined task
Of incarnation.
He again
Fathering Himself.
Seed-case
Splitting,
He against
Mothering His birth: torture and bliss.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.