THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, July 11, 2021, Seventh 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 Pilgrims of the Prophets,
I woke up this morning with this song in my head, “In the good old summer time, in the good old summer time, strolling through the shady lane, with your baby mind. You hold her hand and she holds yours, and that’s a very good sign, that she’s your tootsey-wootsey in the good, old summertime.” This was one of my dad’s favorite songs to sing on long car trips—in cars that had only an AM radio and lost coverage quickly on long trips. As I read the verses to the song, I am aware that we never sang those. Only the chorus. So sing along with me this summer’s day, “In the good old summertime…”
The focus Scripture this week is Amos 7:7-15, in which we will focus on the prophet Amos. As far as prophets are concerned, I think that Frederick Buechner got it right: “A prophet's quarrel with the world is deep down a lover's quarrel. If they didn't love the world, they probably wouldn't bother to tell it that it's going to hell. They'd just let it go. Their quarrel is God's quarrel.” Amos was one of God’s prophet. He had a tool in hand by which he told and showed Israel that it wasn’t quite in line, literally and figuratively, with God’s understanding of justice. The tool that Amos got this point across with was a plum line. To make a plum line, you attach a heavy weight to the end of a cord, attaching the other end at an appropriate height. Due to the force of gravity, this line will be pulled tight, establishing a vertical or plumb point of reference for construction. Just as a plumb line could help judge the verticality of a wall, so too does God judge the relative uprightness of a community. Unfortunately, God calls Amos to see how God’s plumb line is being used, and what it has found: “See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword” (Amos 7:7-9). My question, and one for us to wrestle with is what God’s plumb line would find in today’s world among the nations? Are we following the ways of God? Or would we be found tilting, and needing to be de-constructed and re-constructed so that we were in line with God’s plum line? Join us this Sunday as we discuss God’s plum line and the world in which we live.
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Thank you, everyone, for your birthday wishes, and for participating in the Facebook challenge/request. $1320.00 was raised on the Facebook page, and $400 was sent in, which bring us to the total of $1,720! Thank you, one and all, for your support of The Community of Pilgrims!
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Again, a few weeks ago, I had 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!
July 11, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
July 18, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
July 25, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
Aug. 1, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Prayers of thanksgiving for the beauty of the earth, and care for the earth. We are witnessing climate change in our life time, and know that it will take decades to reverse any of the changes, along with massive efforts among all citizens of the earth.
· Prayers for peace within the nation of Haiti in light of the assassination of the President. We also pray for peace in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.
· Prayers for people to get the COVID 19 vaccine around the world.
· Prayers for everyone’s right to vote in this nation with no obstacles or hurdles put in place, or prayers that everyone gets to vote with mail-in ballots, like in OR and WA.
· Prayers for friends and family members who need health care, especially those in need of mental health care.
· Thanksgiving that Christian and I were able to (finally) buy a house on Martha St. in Tigard, OR!
· Prayers for those who are houseless, homeless, and in need of a helping hand.
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Poem
In Summertime, by Paul Laurence Dunbar
When summer time has come, and all
The world is in the magic thrall
Of perfumed airs that lull each sense
To fits of drowsy indolence;
When skies are deepest blue above,
And flow'rs aflush,—then most I love
To start, while early dews are damp,
And wend my way in woodland tramp
Where forests rustle, tree on tree,
And sing their silent songs to me;
Where pathways meet and pathways part,—
To walk with Nature heart by heart,
Till wearied out at last I lie
Where some sweet stream steals singing by
A mossy bank; where violets vie
In color with the summer sky,—
Or take my rod and line and hook,
And wander to some darkling brook,
Where all day long the willows dream,
And idly droop to kiss the stream,
And there to loll from morn till night—
Unheeding nibble, run, or bite—
Just for the joy of being there
And drinking in the summer air,
The summer sounds, and summer sights,
That set a restless mind to rights
When grief and pain and raging doubt
Of men and creeds have worn it out;
The birds' song and the water's drone,
The humming bee's low monotone,
The murmur of the passing breeze,
And all the sounds akin to these,
That make a man in summer time
Feel only fit for rest and rhyme.
Joy springs all radiant in my breast;
Though pauper poor, than king more blest,
The tide beats in my soul so strong
That happiness breaks forth in song,
And rings aloud the welkin blue
With all the songs I ever knew.
O time of rapture! time of song!
How swiftly glide thy days along
Adown the current of the years,
Above the rocks of grief and tears!
'Tis wealth enough of joy for me
In summer time to simply be.
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Buen Camino! Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.