THIS SUNDAY: The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Sunday, April 17, 2022, Easter Sunday @ Portsmouth Trinity Lutheran Church, 10 am, 7119 N. Portsmouth Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97203. 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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Greetings, Community of Pilgrims!
A blessed Holy Week to all, on this Maundy Thursday.
Though we are not meeting on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, here is a run-down of the Scripture verses for those days, including a prayer:
For today, Maundy Thursday, the reading is John 13:1-17, 31b-35: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2013%3A1-17%2CJohn%2013%3A31-35&version=NRSV.
In this passage, Jesus is practicing the act of washing of the disciples’ feet. It is from this Scriptural reference that many churches participate in the washing of feet, as a symbol of sacred service in the world in which we live. We are asked to be like Christ, serving others in need, no questions asked. Call it a sacred duty.
For Friday, Good Friday, the reading is John 18:1-42: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A+1-42&version=NRSV.
In this passage, Jesus is tried in the court of Pilate, before the people of Jerusalem, ending with his death on the cross, the most common way that the Roman occupiers executed those who were considered enemies of the state. Reading this passage in the time of war between Russia and Ukraine, there is a kind of poignancy to this passage, as we see the thirst of and for power of tyrants remains the same throughout the ages.
For Holy Saturday, the reading is John 19:38-42: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A38-42&version=NRSV.
This passage focuses on the burial of Jesus. We also refer to it as the day that Jesus descended to the dead, who rose with him on the third day, our celebration of the Resurrection.
For Easter Sunday, the reading is John 20:1-18: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020:1-18&version=NRSV.
This is the Resurrection story, which will be the focus of the sermon for Sunday, April 17, 2022 at Portsmouth Trinity Lutheran Church (address above). Please consider bringing an Easter lily to the worship service as a gesture of flowering the cross. On that day we will sing “Alleluia!”
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Service Project
Ending this Friday, April 15, 2022! Our Lenten/Easter Service Project. From Kathy Fukuyama:
For the past several years, the Community of Pilgrims has donated to Human Solutions and SnowCap in East Multnomah County. We will continue to support these organizations and also support HomePlate Youth Services for this year's Lenten/Easter Donation. Please check out their website https://www.homeplateyouth.org. They operate two centers, one in Beaverton and one in Hillsboro, and they are Washington County's only non-profit provider of drop-in centers and street outreach for young people experiencing homelessness. Their immediate needs include:
· Athletic shoes, boots, and long-sleeve t shirts - new or gently-used
· Men's boxer shorts - new
· 2-person tents and tarps - new or gently-used
· High-protein snacks, individually wrapped
· Applesauce and fruit snacks, individually wrapped
We ask everyone to collect items from this list starting Ash Wednesday March 2nd and to drop them off at Kathy Fukuyama's house before Thursday April 14th. We hope to deliver everything to the Beaverton drop-in center on Good Friday, April 15th or the following week. Please contact Kathy if you have any questions and thank you for your support.
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Events!
April 14, Maundy Thursday.
April 15, Good Friday.
April 17, Easter Sunday, 10 am, Portsmouth Trinity Lutheran Church, address above.
April 24, 2-4 pm, Bobby Jo Valentine, Portsmouth Trinity Lutheran Church!
May 1, Second Sunday in Easter, 4 pm, Gather and Devotion on Zoom.
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Prayers of Celebration and Concern
We pray to the Creator of all creation:
Prayers of Thanksgiving:
· Booster shots #2 and for medicines.
· Friend Marlene and her husband Scott who is doing better and now in Virginia for the birth of their first grandchild.
· All grandchildren.
· Our taste of spring and we are ready for more.
· Karen's cousin Ginny who is moving into her first home and will have the space to enjoy life.
· Confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson as first Black woman Supreme Court justice in US History.
· The human and societal resources to make things better.
· Our communities of faith.
· Brett's friend Wally Hannah who died yesterday.
· Our friend Sue Malter who is enjoying time with family visiting Portland.
We shared prayers of concern for:
· Linda Fuqua-Anderson, prayers that she feels healthier, and quickly.
· Chuck Stilson who is not feeling well and not able to join us today.
· Roxanne's friend Hannah who has breast cancer.
· Christian's sister Yarrow who has breast cancer and brother-in-law Jules who has prostate cancer.
· Prayer for Sally Kabat’s grand-niece, Allison, who is ill.
· Prayer for Guy McCully, friend of Brett and Christian’s, for possible skin cancer.
· Roberta's friend Kathryn who is serving with a mission team in Poland.
· A safe trip to Portugal later this month for Roberta and Randy, with friends. One of the travel friends has tested positive for COVID and they have six days to be able to get PCR COVID negative tests in order to be able to travel.
· Countries at war including Ethiopia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Russia
· Transgender youth who are under attack through state legislation limiting health care access, ability to compete in sports, and other restrictions.
· Protection of our voting rights under attack in 19 states which passed laws restricting access to voting through an array of barriers and requirements.
God in your love, attend our prayers. Amen.
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Poem
Blessing of Breathing (During Eastertide) by Jan Richardson
Imagine us breathing in God.
That the first breath
Will come without fear.
That the second breath
Will come without pain.
The third breath:
That it will come without despair.
And the fourth,
Without anxiety.
That the fifth breath
Will come with no bitterness.
That the sixth breath
Will come for joy.
Breath seven:
That it will come for love.
May the eighth breath
Come for freedom.
And the ninth,
For delight.
When the tenth breath comes,
May it be for us
To breathe together
And the next,
And the next,
Until our breathing
Is as one,
Until our breath
Is no more.
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Buen Camino! Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.