THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost. On Zoom or at Rise Church,10445 SW Canterbury Ln, Tigard, OR 97224. Contact me if you need a Zoom link. 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,
After two weeks abroad, it is good to be back in the States, especially this morning, welcoming the rain and smoke-less skies. Thank you for the time to go on a honeymoon, and the prayers that we would have a wonderful honeymoon. We had a blast, and look forward to sharing stories and pictures with all of you. More importantly, I look forward to seeing and being with all of you this Sunday @ 4 pm, whether on Zoom or at Rise Church!
The Scriptural focus for Sunday is Luke 18:9-14. It is a short parable, or a small story with a big point. It has to do with our ability to be humble and practice humility. What is humility? Frederick Buechner defines it in the following manner: “True humility doesn’t consist of thinking ill of yourself, but of not thinking of yourself much differently from the way you’d be apt to think of anybody else.” Case in point: Jesus starts the parable with this line: “Jesus told a parable to those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. In a nutshell, the self-righteous and pompous Pharisee goes into the temple and prays to God, telling God what a good person he is, and better than all others. In comparison, a tax-collector, who is looked down on in Jewish society, can’t even look up to the heavens (where I guess God is supposed to be), and confesses that he is a sinner, something that the Pharisee couldn’t do. Now, which one are we supposed to be like? Of course, the tax collector. Jesus praises the tax collector for his honesty and humility. Join us this Sunday as we consider this parable in light of our own actions in the world today.
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Events!
Oct. 23, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom or at Rise Church.
Oct. 30, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom. No Rise Church.
Nov. 4 & 5, Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of the Cascades on Zoom or in person.
Nov. 6, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom or at Rise Church.
Nov. 13, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom or at Rise Church.
Nov. 20, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom or at Rise Church.
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
We pray to the Creator of all creation:
Thanks for:
· Rain! Smoke-less skies!
· Karen’s trip to Whitworth University and re-connecting with a group of friends (40-year reunion).
· Ray and Lorinda’s daughter, Melissa, will soon visit too. She and Ken live in CA and they are recovering from fire destruction to their vineyard a few years ago. And Kendrick, their son, is also stopping by.
· For good doctors.
Concerns
· Lorinda and Ray: Kendrick’s (their son’s) best friend, Kim Phelps, died during a solo trip to Spain, and died. The cause of his death is unknown. Prayers for Kim, wife Kit, and family.
· For family and friends of Connie, who unexpectedly died last week.
· Roxanne’s friend Marlene Campbell for recovery from broken wrist and leg.
· Brother of Roxanne’s friend Patty, who is recovering from illness.
· Roxanne’s dance studio friend Bernice, whose younger sister died from a blot clot occurring in connection with a stent procedure.
· All troubled spots in the world, political, economic, climate, and otherwise.
· Our U.S. political system.
· Global climate change, gun control, transgender young people, voting rights, women’s reproductive rights, homelessness, drug abuse, and threats by Christo-fascists and white nationalists.
God in your love, attend our prayers. Amen
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Poem
My God Is, by Meister Eckhart
My God is
Love absolutely,
Purely and simply,
In all, through all, and from all.
My God is
The one who is desired
By everyone who desires
And loves.
Buen Camino! Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell and Karen Cornwell Fortlander