THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, June 27, 2021, Fifth 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 Summertime Pilgrims,
To our friends who are not living in the Pacific Northwest, we want to wish you a cooler weekend than we are about to experience. To say or sing, “we’re having a heat wave,” is soon going to be an understatement, if the weather forecasters are correct. Of course, our prayers are with those who have no shelter, as well as with those who have no adequate way of cooling off in these hot temperatures. I will reach out to Human Solutions and see if there is any need of fans with their clients, and keep you posted. Multnomah and Clackamas counties are working on a list.
After a fascinating discussion on community last week—thanks to Rev. Frank Dew of North Carolina and former pastor of our sibling congregations New Creation Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, NC—we are going to continue this focus on community this Sunday, reading 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13), 14-17. One of the lines that stood out to me is this: "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (5:7). What does this mean as pilgrims of faith? Last Sunday, Frank reminded us of two things: 1) Community growth is not microwaveable. You can’t simply make it happen quickly as we would a microwaved meal; 2) Community growth isn’t always seen by the naked eye. You can’t simply sit and watch it happen before our eyes. Or as “Poor Richard” (Benjamin Franklin) said, “a watched pot never boils.” And so I would add a third comment about community: we walk not by literal or metaphorical sight per se on the pilgrimage of life as a community of faith. Oftentimes, if not most times, we walk by faith. After all, we know that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Our gatherings, our times of fellowship, our service projects, our prayers, our worship together, our potlucks, our breaking bread and sharing the common cup, are all undergirded and infused by the Spirit because of the gift of grace through faith given to each and every one of us. How do we know that? By 20-20 hindsight, looking in the rearview mirror of life, and seeing what wonders God in Christ has and is doing in our lives, our communities of faith, and in the world. Amid all the criticism of Paul, what Paul did know was the nature of faith, of grace, of love, and the contours of being the body of Christ, which is why Paul’s words from 2,000 years ago still preaches today. Join us this Sunday as we continue to explore what it means, as pilgrims today, to walk by faith and not necessarily by sight.
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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 non-profit one is asked to give to. But read the narrative and you will see it is to the Community of Pilgrims. So far, we have raised $580. Go to this link, if you are on Facebook or not, and please consider giving today! And thanks for annual pledges as well. To those of you who have given, thanks! And if you want to simply give to the Community of Pilgrims in honor of my birthday, feel free to send a check to Community of Pilgrims, c/o Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St, Tigard, OR 97224. And thank you all for your wonderful support of our Community of Pilgrims.
https://www.facebook.com/donate/570468713935481/10224396768125095/
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A few weeks ago, I had the honor of preaching a sermon that was taped on Day 1, which used to be known as the Protestant Hour. I preached the sermon earlier for the Community of Pilgrims in April, and it was taped in April when Christian and I were visiting his family. This Sunday’s Gospel lectionary passage is the focus of this sermon. If you want to read it or hear it, here it is:
https://day1.org/audio/user-audio/60d34aed6615fb5e7700001c.mp3.
Have fun!
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Events!
June 27, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
July 4, Holy Holiday! We will not be meeting today!
July 11, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
July 18, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Thankfulness for the holidays: Juneteenth, Fathers’ Day, Gay Pride, Summer Solstice, 13th amendment proscribing slavery ratified Dec. 1865.
· Celebration for Frank Dew joining us. Thank you!
· Roberta: Marge Stockwell moved to rehab facility in Gresham. Prayers for Marge and helper Patti.
· For Roberta, who is helping in vacation bible school this week amidst heat and also assisting at another organization.
· Karen: Emily, daughter adopted from China, graduated from middle school and will go to Sunset High School next year!
· Brett: Prayers for protests to challenge criminal executions.
· Halting of voter suppression laws.
· Strengthen diversity in this country.
· Heat wave, fire danger. Prayers to counter and reduce forest fires.
· Decrease Covid infections and increase vaccinations in world.
· Deborah Maria: For a friend’s adult son with mental health issues. Risk of psychotic break. Difficult for parents and for him. Prayers for improvement.
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Poem
Don’t Tell Me No, by Jan Richardson
Don’t tell me no.
I have seen you
Feed the thousands,
Seen miracles spill
From your hands
Like water, like wine,
Seen you with circles
And circles of crowds
Pressed around you
And not one soul
Turned away.
Don’t start with me.
I am saying
You can close the door
But I will keep knocking.
You can go silent.
But I will keep shouting
You can tighten the circle
But I will trace a bigger one
Around you,
Around the life of my child
Who will tell you
No one surpasses a mother
For stubbornness.
I am saying
I know what you
Can do with crumbs
And I am claiming mine,
Every morsel and scrap
You have up your sleeve.
Unclench your hand
Your heart.
Let the scraps fall
Like manna,
Like mercy
For my life
Of my child,
The life of
The world.
Don’t you tell me no.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.