THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, June 20, 2021, Fourth 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.
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Dear People of the Way,
Happy Almost Summer! On Saturday, June 19, 2021, we have a new national holiday to celebrate: Juneteenth! It is the day we celebrate the emancipation of Black Americans after the Civil War. Then, on Sunday, June 20, 2021, around 8:30 pm, it is officially the first day of summer. And it is the longest day of the year. It also happens to be Father’s Day in the US. June 19th and June 20th is quite a full weekend. We have much to celebrate and be thankful for!
The focus Scripture this Sunday is Mark 4:35-41. It is one of those stories in which there is a windstorm on the Sea of Galilee, and Jesus is either walking on the water or is asleep in the middle of a storm. The disciples are freaking out in both stories, scared that this is surely the end of life as they know it. They are almost incredulous that Jesus isn’t freaking out like they are. Instead, Jesus, in this story, is asleep in the stern or front area of the boat, sleeping on cushions. Out of desperation, they wake Jesus up from his deep sleep, and asking him, “Don’t you care that we are all about to perish?” What follows is always a surprise: Jesus, aka God, aka Creator, calls the windstorm to cease, which it does. While the disciples are relieved, Jesus sums up the story with this one-liner: “Why are you afraid? Have you still (my emphasis) no faith?” Well, while they may have faith, they weren’t sure how to live life in the flow of this gift. Instead, they went back to their older instincts, like fear, doubt, and worry. The question for us today is similar. When the storms around rock our little boats of life, do we panic as well out of old habits? Or do we turn to God in Christ to steady the storms and our boats of life? Join us this Sunday as we engage this question!
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On Facebook, there is an opportunity around one’s birthday to ask friends and family to contribute to a non-profit of the birthday person’s choosing. In years past I’ve raised money for Outside In and Southern Poverty Law Center. This year, I’ve chosen The Community of Pilgrims. The goal? $3,000. This will help us continue our work well into 2022, and hopefully 2023. We have a future! Since we are under the umbrella of the Presbytery of the Cascades, you will see that the Presbytery of the Cascades is the non-profit one is asked to give to. But read the narrative and you will see it is to the Community of Pilgrims. The Presbytery knows that I have asked for this gift to come to the Community of Pilgrims. So far we have raised $580. We can do this! Go to this link (below), if you are on Facebook or not, and please consider giving today! And thanks for annual pledges as well. All of you are wonderful in your support of our Community. https://www.facebook.com/donate/570468713935481/10224396768125095/
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Events!
June 19th, Juneteenth!
June 20, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
June 27, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
July 4, Holy Holiday!
July 11, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· A full and speedy recovery from pneumonia for Dayna.
· Continued improvement for Roxanne's husband following surgeries.
· Lynette, a nurse practitioner friend whose husband has been diagnosed with ALS.
· Karen's work community which lost one of their longest clients to suicide and another individual in jail recently completed suicide.
· Karen's daughter Emily graduated from 8th grade on Friday and prayers for her transition from friends.
· Wisdom and confidence for all high school graduates.
· Mariner Group friend Carolyn Beck who suffered a heart attack.
· Son-in-law Ken who broke his toe badly while working in the family vineyard.
· Friend Marleen Vermeer and her husband Scott who is undergoing treatment for the return of lymphoma and the prognosis is not good.
· The Seaman/Lyons family--Colin (seven) has a recurrence of leukemia, Allison (mom) is battling brain cancer, Chris (dad), and Owen (little brother).
· Pride. Winston's church rejoices with their associate pastor Dorothy who married Catalina on Friday.
· Earl's granddaughter Makenna who received her Master’s in Education from Lewis & Clark.
· Thanksgiving for the wide distribution of COVID vaccines and prayers more people get vaccinated.
· Thanksgiving for Linda's hug from Helena, the first in 15 months.
· Karen and all mental health professionals who have the ability to carry on with compassion even during hard weeks.
· Deborah Marie's friend's son who is going through a psychotic episode.
· Israel and its new leadership.
· Peace in the world.
· Peace in East Portland where gun violence has significantly spiked in 2021.
· The efforts of Human Solutions to give families a sense of being on solid ground.
· Our Community of Pilgrims as we figure out how to continue meeting.
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Poem
Poem for Summer’s Solstice, by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean —
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down —
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.