HIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, June 13, 2021, Third Sunday after Pentecost, 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.
Dear Discerning Pilgrims,
Amid the splendor of spring blossoms and now and then some rain in the Pacific NW, along with warmer weather, and some rise in humidity for some of us across this country, we are all entering summer months quickly, wherever we may live. With the rise in the number of people getting vaccines, the other change in this season is the opportunity to hug one another. I am rejoicing in this opportunity to hug one another again outside of our usual, wonderful, quarantined bubble of COVID 19 pandemic groupies.
The theme for this Sunday, and the focus Scripture this week is 1 Samuel 15:34—16:13, is discernment. The situation: Saul had died, and Samuel was sent by God to find the next ruler of Israel. I have always loved this story, for what will be known as obvious reasons. Samuel was sent by God to meet up with Jesse, the father of the one we know as King David. But the beauty of the story is the selection process. Jesse shows off and brings out all his sons, to see if they had “it” which God wanted in the next ruler of the struggling state of Israel. All the sons were big and bright men. After going through all the sons Jesse thought were presentable, Samuel and God had not found the right one yet. Jesse was asked: “Don’t you have one more son?” Well, yes, he did! Young David, who was taking care of the sheep! Ruddy in complexion, smaller than the rest, youngest of all, this was the one that God was looking for. This was the chosen one of God. While we may have chosen other people for a variety of reasons to lead the people of Israel, God chose David! And what a choice that was. Join us this Sunday as we discuss the process of discernment in our lives today.
**
In the latest mid-year “appeal” by Human Solutions—a nonprofit we support that feeds those who are hungry and provides shelter for those who are homeless—I was struck by a story they shared about a couple who moved from one of the tents we see around Portland, to a shelter, and on to their own apartment in time for a new baby to arrive. As the Mom said, ‘They really believed in us. It makes all the difference in the world.” I am glad that we are supporting a nonprofit that provides such assistance in the Portland area, from tent to shelter to an apartment. Thank you, all, for your support of Human Solutions and SnowCap!
_____
Events!
June 11 & 12, Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Cascades
June 13, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
June 20, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
June 27, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
July 4, Gather and Devotion and Holy Communion on Zoom.
____
Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· LGBTQIA+ Pride month of June.
· More people are vaccinated and we pray other countries will get more vaccines.
· Roxanne and her husband as he recovers from two surgeries this past week.
· Marge Stockwell to find a safe living situation.
· Linda's brother Gary who needs to move into assisted living.
· Linda's friend Lynne who is going through cancer treatment.
· Celebrations for Ray and Lorinda's Mariners' Group which started 30 years ago. They met last night and 19 people attended.
· Winston Barham's pastor Ken Henry's mother died last week. The family has been experiencing difficult times.
· Prayers for President Biden’s trip abroad.
· Prayers for help for those on our Southern border.
· Prayers for Marty Cauley, one of Brett’s former students.
_____
Poem
A Rondeau for Leonard Cohen, by Malcolm Guite
Like David’s psalm you named our pain,
And left us. But the songs remain
To search our wounds and bring us balm,
Till every song becomes a psalm,
And your restraint is our refrain;
Between the stained-glass and the stain,
The dark heart and the open vein,
Between the heart-storm and the harm,
Like David’s psalm.
I see you by the windowpane,
Alive within your own domain,
The light is strong, the seas are calm,
You chant again the telling charm,
That names, and naming, heals our pain,
Like David’s psalm.
____
Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell F