Brett Webb-Mitchell <brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com>
8:49 AM (29 minutes ago)
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THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Sept. 5, 2021, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, No Gathering and Devotion on Zoom this Sunday. 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 Community of Pilgrims,
In the US, our Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer. Thanks to the people who are the backbone of this nation, and whose labor makes it possible for us to live life more fully. The weather pattern has us “set” for still warm days in the coming weeks in most parts of the country. So, let us enjoy this weekend, and the days and weeks to come, flowers and all. And, again, thanks to those who make it possible for us to enjoy these days.
As I write this newsletter, I’m about to get on a plan to Denver, then drive to Ft. Collins, Colorado, to be the officiant (minister) at the wedding of Dayna Jones and Luke Harris this weekend. Dayna and Luke have continued to be members of The Community of Pilgrims in NM! They chose 1 Cor. 13:1-13 as their Scriptural focus for their wedding. It is known widely as the “wedding text!” The last verse is practically an anthem of Christian weddings in the western world: “Faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love” (v. 13). It is offered when all is truly well, and fellowship is working its greatest work: two lives, two families, are uniting in marriage. What is equally true about this passage is that it wasn’t intended to be a “wedding” Scripture by Paul. In the previous chapter, he described what it means to be the body of Christ, followed by this passage on love. Why did he write these things? Because the church in Corinth—the intended audience for this letter—was not acting like the body of Christ, let alone practicing love. Paul was writing them to remind the church that they are to, first, celebrate the diversity in the body of Christ. This was a non-negotiable matter. This is a call to action! Second, they were to practice love. This call to love was an intervention to instruct them on what had not yet fully come. It was meant to make people feel uncomfortable, yet affirmed in love. The point was to create cognitive dissonance. While aesthetically beautiful, this passage was meant to motivate people to practice a new action plan among the members that would secure the community’s survival and concord into the future. Finally, forget about spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, prophecy, knowledge, miracles. Love is key. God’s love. Agape love. Service love. Self-giving love. Holy love. So, Community of Pilgrims, as you enjoy this Sunday’s “Holy Holiday,” please re-read 1 Cor. 13:1-13, and celebrate love, for love is key.
** Reminder: On Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, 4 pm, we will gather together on Zoom to celebrate our anniversary. We will be gathering via Zoom, thanks, in no part, to the presence of the Delta variant, which re-configures so much of the world in which we live. So here’s a task for you to consider: Think of one powerful memory or meaningful way, or comedic way, that being part of this growing, evolving, ever changing community of faith has touched your life, the life of others around you, or the world in which we live. For example, I still remember the night we re-poured pounds of rice into smaller bags for families who needed food in Portland. Now, your turn. We will share these memories on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021. We will share Communion on that day as well, and a toast afterwards with your favorite libation.
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Events!
Sept. 5, Holy Holiday! (Labor Day Weekend). No gathering. Read 1 Cor. 13:1-13.
Sept. 12, Celebrating the Fourth Anniversary of the Community of Pilgrims! 4 pm, Gather and Devotion and Holy Communion on Zoom! Huzzah!
Sept. 19, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
Sept. 26, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom!
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
· Prayers for the voting right bills before the US Congress;
· Prayers for the girls, women, and families in Texas with the new anti-abortion law;
· Prayers for the youth at Home Plate, especially following the death of one of its own, like to suicide. Prayers for Roxanne and her work there.
· Prayers for Dayna and Luke as they marry this weekend, and for safe travels for all;
· Prayers of thanksgiving for the 4 years of The Community of Pilgrims, and may there be many more.
· Prayers of rest during Labor Day weekend, remembering those who labor on;
· Prayers of thanksgiving for the new people who have joined Community of Pilgrim, like Roxanne and Deborah, and for those unable to attend last Sunday’s Zoom gathering.
· Prayers for sister and sister-in-law of Roxanne, who are visiting;
· Prayers for people to use masks and get the vaccine, especially in the parts of the nation where there is a strong anti-mask and anti-vaccine sentiment.
· Prayers for Yarrow Halstead, Christian’s sister, who has cancer;
· Prayers for the friends and family of the late-Brian Foster, who died of cancer;
· Prayers for Afghan refugees, both who got out of the country and those trying to get out;
· Prayers for Haiti;
· Prayers for those parts of the country who have felt the weight of Hurricane Ida;
· Prayers for the 13 military personnel who died in Afghan;
· Prayers for those living with and dying from mental illness;
· Prayers for those attending schools in this country with masks on;
· Prayers for those fighting the forest fires;
“God, in your love, attend our prayers…”
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Poem
Blessing the Meets You in Love, by Jan Richardson
It is true that
Every blessing begins
With love
That whatever else
It might say
Love is always
Precisely its point.
But it should be noted
That this blessing has come today
Especially to tell you
It is crazy about you.
That is has been in love with you
Forever.
That is has never
Not wanted
To see your face,
To go through this world
In your company.
This blessing thought
It was high time
It told you so,
Just to make sure
You know.
If it has been shy
In saying this,
It has not been
For any lack of
Wanting to.
It’s just that
This blessing
Knows the risk
Of offering itself
In a way that
Will so alter you—
Not because it thinks
You could stand
Some improving,
But because this is
Simply where
Loving leads.
This blessing knows
How love undoes us,
Unhinges us,
Unhides us.
It knows
How loving
Can sometimes feel
Like dying.
But today
This blessing
Has come to tell you
The secret
That sends it
To your door;
That it gives itself
Only to those
Willing to come alive;
That it vows itself
Only to those
Ready to be
Born anew.
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Buen Camino! Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.