Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims July 5, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, July 5, 2020, Proper 9, and Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Summer Pilgrims,

As Oregonians know, especially in western Oregon, summer truly begins in July. Sun comes out and warms the earth, and provides the vitamin D our bodies need daily. Many fruits and vegetables are now pass the blooming stage and are now ready to reap. Flowers abound. Beauty above us, underneath us, on our right and left, inside and out, before us and behind us.

The Gospel passage this Sunday, July 5, 2020, is Matthew 11:16-19, 25, 30. The focus for this Sunday is a wonderful reminder for all of us about the burdens we carry in our lives: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (vv. 28-30). I remember when first hearing an interpretation of this verse when I was in high school: imagine carrying a backpack, on a hiking trail in the Mt. Jefferson wilderness area. For pilgrims, I would adapt it for a pilgrimage on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela or any other holy site. Your back pack just seems to get heavier and heavier, and you aren’t sure why. You weren’t aware of adding anything to it. So, you sit down on a log, a large rock, or a park bench, and check and see what you are carrying in your back pack of daily life. You soon find out that you are carrying more of other people’s cares, concerns, and worries than your own, or that you knew. Imagine that! You discover you were carrying tasks and duties that could be shared among others, which could, in turn lighten your load. And not much of what you were carrying had anything to do with the Christian life or following Jesus. Much of what you and I carried were, in part, assigned to us at birth, and we may never had questioned or asked, “Why?” Join us this Sunday as we check in, and the main question for the sermon will be our sharing what is in our backpack of life that we would like to unpack as we take on the “yoke” or backpack of Christ.

_____

Requests and Opportunities

Hold on to your 40 items of clothing from Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to: Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to c/o Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We are joining up with the folks at Moreland Presbyterian Church, and with our combined stimulus checks, and other donations, we will support four groups: Street Roots, Emerge, Meals on Wheels, and Human Solutions! Let me, Brett, know if you would like to give to give more to this growing fund, and I will be sure that our funds are included. Currently, we have collected over $4500.

____

Events!

July 5, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

July 12, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

July 19, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

July 26, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

·      We pray for the world in which we live, which is struggling with the COVID 19 pandemic, amid constant threats of civil war in Yemen and Syria, threats of drought and starvation in other parts of the world, and economic ruin.

·      We pray for the leadership of all nations, and ask that those who lead us seek peace and reconciliation, and not hate, fear, and division, as we celebrate the founding of nations and democracies around the world;

·      We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and moments of unexpressed joy in our daily lives, and pray for those feeling ill and in need of care.

·      We pray that we may slow down and alter global climate change, so that we, and the generations that follow us, can enjoy the fruits of the earth.

·      We pray for the Church, that we will continue to follow Jesus, who is the Way, the truth, and the life. In the words of St. Francis, may we be instruments of peace. Where there is hatred let us sow love.  Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. 

_____

Poem

I Hear America Singing, by Walt Whitman

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,

Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,

The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,

The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,

The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,

The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,

The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,

Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,

Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrim, June 28, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, June 28, 2020, Proper 8, and Zoom with Moreland PCUSA; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of Christly Stories,

As I write this newsletter, I am feeling some of the drain of the daily news upon my heart, soul, mind, and body. Trying to change a culture’s perspective and practice, a society’s habits, is time consuming and energy zapping. On the one hand, it is important that we stay informed as to what is occurring in our society to people of our world in order to figure out “how should we react and act?” On the other hand, we need to respond to the news with the Gospel, with the stories of hope amid hate, love amid fear, to pray, to find organizations that we can support that address, in real ways, the needs and wants of those facing injustice. That’s why we gather every Sunday: to balance these two parts of our lives: the news of the day and the Good News.

The reason I call us “Pilgrims of Christly Stories” is because we are going to join Moreland Presbyterian Church (USA) this Sunday, at 9:30 am, for a time of worship together as two congregations. The Scripture is a "Christly" or Christ-centered story: the Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30. Take a read of the parable, which some biblical commentary folks call a “parable of invitation.”  The story is about a master, who has much wealth (a talent is a certain monetary wealth), who generously gives money to his three servants when he goes on a trip. Each one is invited to use this gift and, each according to one’s ability, invest and help that gift grow. While this parable is often used for Stewardship Sunday, another way of reading it, together, is that we are invited by “a master” (Jesus) who has provided us a meal where there is simple but good food, and most importantly enough for everyone, if everyone works and shares the good food presented before us. Sadly, we have seen in recent weeks that we live in a world in which not everyone shares from the bounty that they have been given with those who have little.  That more or less speaks to how we are in the situation we are in currently in this world. For example, even though we have more than enough food in this world, there are some, even in this country, who die of hunger, or live in a “food deserts,” because we have not distributed our “goods” with those who have little. Or consider the issue of justice: while we are all to be treated as “equals” before the law (which is supposed to be “blind” to our contexts and histories), we have seen on our city streets and courts that equal justice before the law is almost illusory, because of the color of one’s skin or wealth. As for health care, we, the wealthiest nation on earth, simply can’t figure out how to provide health-care to all our citizens. So, which “servant” are we? The ones who share, or the one who digs a hole in the backyard, scared of the master’s reaction? Join us this Sunday as we focus on the Parable of the Talents for a modern age. 

**

This Sunday, June 28, 2020, we will join Moreland PCUSA on-line at 9:30 AM. We will share the Lord’s Supper together, so if you want to take a piece of bread and pour a glass of grape juice or red wine at home, and feel free to join us. They air or broadcast their worship via both Zoom on Facebook, and by youtube.com, which people can watch later in the day. So, for those on Facebook, go and “like” Moreland Presbyterian Church (USA) page when you are on Facebook next time, and then you can join in and participate via Zoom in real-time. For others not on Facebook, I will simply send you the youtube.com link later that Sunday morning, so you can watch it. This means we will not meet on Sunday afternoon. Next Sunday, July 5, we will have our afternoon gathering again at 4 pm.

_____

Requests and Opportunities

Hold on to your 40 items of clothing from Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We are joining up with the folks at Moreland Presbyterian Church, and with our combined stimulus checks, and other donations, we will support four groups: Street Roots, Emerge, Meals on Wheels, and Human Solutions! Let me, Brett, know if you would like to give to give more to this growing fund, and I will be sure that our funds are included. 

____

Events!

June 28, Gather and Devotion, Zoom and on-line with Moreland PCUSA, 9:30 AM! Stay tuned for more information. Both Pastors Brett and Brian Marsh will lead worship via on-line services.

July 5, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

July 12, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

July 19, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

· Jenny Stilson's sister and her husband who died this past week.

· Thanksgiving that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church has people of color as its leaders.

· Linda's daughter Kristen and her husband Brian both furloughed and both worried about their jobs and for the many people who are losing their jobs.

· Good choices as Oregon wrestles with opening up.

· Thanksgiving that Chris and dogs arrived safe and sound in New York

· This country and the rest of the world in places like India where COVID continues to spread.

· National and local government officials, including those we don't agree with.

· Freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and all the freedoms guaranteed under our Constitution.

· Celebration of freedom observed on June 19th and July 4th. 

_____

Poem

This Is Not a Small Voice, by Sonia Sanchez

This is not a small voice
you hear               this is a large
voice coming out of these cities.
This is the voice of LaTanya.
Kadesha. Shaniqua. This
is the voice of Antoine.
Darryl. Shaquille.
Running over waters
navigating the hallways
of our schools spilling out
on the corners of our cities and
no epitaphs spill out of their river mouths.

This is not a small love
you hear               this is a large
love, a passion for kissing learning
on its face.
This is a love that crowns the feet with hands
that nourishes, conceives, feels the water sails
mends the children,
folds them inside our history where they
toast more than the flesh
where they suck the bones of the alphabet
and spit out closed vowels.
This is a love colored with iron and lace.
This is a love initialed Black Genius.

This is not a small voice
you hear.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Karen Cornwell Fortlander.

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, June 14, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, June 14, 2020, Proper 6, Gather and Devotion and Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com;www.communityofpilgrims.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of the Way,

Greetings on a rather ordinary yet beautiful Oregon morning. The clouds are in place. A gentle rain is replenishing the dry earth. There is no end to new life surrounding us, above us, or below our feet, and within us. God is here. 

In T.S. Eliot’s poem, “Four Quartets," I always conceived of God as the still point of the turning world. In this spring time, the world around us, which is springing with new growth, is a turning and agitated world right now, in which we are in the midst of seeing and participating in the birth and establishment of a new “normal” as we see, feel, and hear the voices crying for justice and peace in the middle of a pandemic, and the angry, sad voices of the dying old “normal," which is forever gone. Like the pilgrims of justice who set us on our path as a community of faith, who came before us as prophets and pilgrim guides towards justice, remember these words and actions from the Moral Monday movement of NC in 2013, which I have quoted many times: “Forward together, not one step back.” Rather appropriate for a community of pilgrims today.

The season of "high holy days" has come to pass in the Church calendar. It starts with All Hallow’s Eve (aka Halloween) and doesn’t stop until the end of Trinity Sunday. We are now in what is called the Ordinary Season, or "Proper," and the liturgical color is green for quite awhile. This Sunday's Scripture is also highly instructive for a community of pilgrims, as Jesus is sending out the disciples, two by two, onto their pilgrimage, Matthew 9:35-10:8. Jesus gives them a laundry list of things to do once they are out there, in the field, among the people. United Church of Christ minister Kathryn Matthews writes something very telling about what Jesus is instructing the disciples to do and be: “Jesus doesn't tell his followers to establish churches in fixed locations and gather there regularly in order to "be" the church or to follow his teachings, let alone to attract others to The Way. Rather, he ‘sends’ them, and, repeatedly, he tells them to ‘go’… The church is to be in motion: not dwelling in a static, stay-at-home, preserve-our-level-of-comfort-and-let-them-come-to-us spirituality, but embarking on a bold ‘going-out’ into the world that God loves so passionately, sharing what God has given us with those who have not yet heard God speaking (or communicating) to them, or felt the touch of God's love upon their lives--or have not known how to name either one.” This Sunday, as we gather via Zoom, let’s talk about and imagine ways that we are able to be the church-in-motion, embarking on a bold “going out” even in the age of COVID 19. 

 **

Celebration time! The Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship was awarded $50,000 from the Presbyterian Church USA and the Presbytery of the Cascades for 2020-2021! This is a big deal! This is our third and final grant from the denomination. We were grateful recipients of the Seed Grant in our first year of existence. Then, we received the Investment Grant for 2019-2020. We also have received three Health Insurance Grants from the PCUSA and Presbytery of the Cascades, which pays, in part, for my health care. Thank you, one and all, who helped pull this grant application together, and those who discerned the ways of our Community, and understood our vision. God is doing a new thing in Portland, OR, and we are grateful to be part of the movement of the Holy Spirit as we follow Jesus, and embrace all. God is good. All the time.

_____

Requests and Opportunities

Please still hold on to your 40 items of clothing from Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We are working with the folks at Moreland Presbyterian Church to figure out how to grow the amount of giving from this stimulus check to include Human Solutions and other non-profits doing good work in this day of COVID 19 pandemic.

____

Events!

June 14, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 21, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 28, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

July 5, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

· Healing for Joann Tower that she recovers from her cold quickly.

· Thanksgiving for what appears to be a sound offer on Chris's house and prayers her house sells.

· Traveling mercies for Chris and for her step daughter Rulyn who flies into Portland tomorrow and who will drive back with Chris.

· Safe travels for Chris's dogs in the car and in hotels.

· The world, protestors, and the reasons they are protesting.

· Elsa Wells who died recently.

· Those struggling from the pandemic in Oregon and other states as confirmed cases and deaths continue to mount. 

· Small businesses devastated by COVID-19 and all their employees out of work.

· Thanksgiving for Chuck's gracious hospitality to Chris and her two large dogs.

_____

Poem

The First Book, by Rita Dove

Open it.

Go ahead, it won’t bite.
Well … maybe a little.

More a nip, like. A tingle.
It’s pleasurable, really.

You see, it keeps on opening.
You may fall in.

Sure, it’s hard to get started;
remember learning to use

knife and fork? Dig in:
you’ll never reach bottom.

It’s not like it’s the end of the world–
just the world as you think

you know it.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Karen

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com 

Newsletter Community of Pilgrims, June 7, 2020

Dear Pilgrims of our Triune God,

What a glorious week we’ve had, with the sun out to greet us each day; a breeze cools us off; and flowers abound. The summer solstice (June 20, 2020), is just around the corner! O, happy days!

The Sunday after Pentecost is traditionally called Trinity Sunday, when we celebrate the very nature of God through our Christian prism: God the Creator; Jesus Christ, the Holy Child of God; and the Holy Spirit, God among us today. The Scripture/Gospel is Matt. 28:16-20, a.k.a., the Great Commission. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (v. 19). In a youtube clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0jgabIVoT4), explaining Christianity, the religious scholar Stephen Prothero calls Christianity a “soft monotheism,” compared to Judaism and Islam, which are radical monotheisms (e.g., one God). Christians believe that there is one God, but in three persons: Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost (traditional) or God, Christ, and Spirit (more modern). One novelist calls the Trinity “triplets perched on the fence between monotheism and polytheism.” I once heard a priest preach a sermon in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, explaining Trinity Sunday this way: we serve a God who conceives of God’s own self as a community. After all, we sing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” with vim and vigor, ending with these words of praise, “God in three persons, blessed Trinity.” God is a community of three persons. And our Doxology from Glory to God, Hymn #608 goes like this: "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below; praise Holy Spirit ever more; praise Triune God, whom we adore" (words by Neil Weatherhogg, 1988). We could call this “Community Sunday.” Join us this Sunday as we celebrate the ministry of the Rev. Chris Dungan, in our community of faith, supported and blessed by the Holy Trinity! Amen and amen!

_____

Requests and Opportunities

Hold on to your 40 items of clothing from Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We are working with the folks at Moreland Presbyterian Church to figure out how to grow the amount of giving from this stimulus check to include Human Solutions and other non-profits doing good work in this day of COVID 19 pandemic.

____

Events!

June 7, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 14, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 21, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 28, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Poem

Trinity Sunday, by Malcolm Guite

In the Beginning, not in time or space,

But in the quick before both space and time,

In Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace,

In three in one and one in three, in rhyme,

In music, in the whole creation story,

In His own image, His imagination,

The Triune Poet makes us for His glory,

And makes us each the other’s inspiration.

He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,

To improvise a music of our own,

To sing the chord that calls us to the dance,

Three notes resounding from a single tone,

To sing the End in whom we all begin;

Our God beyond, beside us and within.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, May 31, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Pentecost, May 31, 2020, Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of Pentecost,

What a glorious day it is to live in Oregon! The sun is out! A gentle breeze is blowing. Flowers are blooming, and spring is in the air.

This Sunday, May 31, 2020, is Pentecost. The focus Scripture is Acts 2:1-21. While we will discuss the roots of the word “Pentecost” in fuller depth and detail this Sunday, be sure to wear something red when we gather together in our Zoom time, because red is the liturgical color for the day, and it doesn’t happen that often. Some people understand that this is the birthday of the Church, because the Holy Spirit descended upon us, the people, in a fabulous way. Luke’s description of the event is absolutely wild and chaotic, in our purview, because this was all the work of God, made possible by God’s gift of grace through faith, and not our works. The results of this gift of the Holy Spirit was we, today, call the church. The writer Kathleen Norris has a simply lovely idea of the nature of the church: "Church is other people, a worshipping community. The worship, or praise of God, does not take place only when people gather on Sunday morning, but when they gather to paint the house of an elderly shut-in, when they visit someone in the hospital or console the bereaved, when the Sunday school kids sing Christmas carols at the nursing home. If a church has life, its 'programs' are not just activity, but worship. And this is helpful, because if the Sunday morning service falls flat, it is the other forms of worship that sustain this life” (from Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary of Faith). I would add that church is also gathering on Zoom and checking in with each other on a Sunday afternoon. Church is wearing a face mask during a pandemic for one and all. Church is continually reaching out to the people on the margins of society and needing help. And church is finding a quiet place and thanking God for life and love for and with one another. Friends, let us be church! Happy Pentecost! A worshipping and praying people, a serving people, a people of fellowship, an educated people, a people who love God and love neighbor. Join us this Sunday on Zoom as we celebrate Pentecost and the gift of being church with one another.

_____

Requests and Opportunities

Hold on to your 40 items of clothing from Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We are working with the folks at Moreland Presbyterian Church to figure out how to grow the amount of giving from this stimulus check to include Human Solutions and other non-profits doing good work in this day of COVID 19 pandemic.

____

Events!

May 31, Pentecost! Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 7, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 14, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 21, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

_____

Poem

One Searing Word, by Jan Richardson

On the day

When you are wearing

Your certainty

Like a cloak

And your sureness

Goes before you

Like a shield

Or like a sword,

At the sound

Of God’s name 

Spill from your lips

As you have never

Heard it before.

May your knowing

Be undone.

May mystery

Confound your 

Understanding.

May the Divine

Rain down

In strange syllables

Yet with

An ancient

Familiarity,

A knowing borne

In the blood,

The ear, 

The tongue,

Bringing the clarity

That comes

Not in stone

Or in steel

But in fire,

In flame.

May there come

One searing word:

Enough to bare you

To the bone,

Enough to set

Your heart ablaze,

Enough to make you

Whole again.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, May 24, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Seventh Sunday of Easter, May 24, 2020, Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of the Way,

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and the weather forecasters tell us that, in Oregon, it will slowly warm up throughout the weekend. Hope the same for all readers of this Newsletter. Unofficially, it is the beginning of summer for many of us, though this summer in a COVID 19 pandemic world, we will be doing things a little bit differently. Nevertheless, let the fun of summer begin.

This Sunday’s focus will be a blend of the day of Jesus ascension unto God (Luke 24:44-53), and that "lull" period between the ascension of Jesus and the descending of the Holy Spirit, aka Pentecost (Acts 1:6-14). Yesterday was the Feast of the Ascension, or as many wrote on Facebook, “Today is the Feast of the Ascension. It’s the day Jesus started to work from home.” I remember a homily by a Catholic priest, who pointed out that in order for the Holy Spirit to descend, the resurrected Christ would have to ascend first. As much as his friends, his disciples, would miss him, there is no doubt that they were well-equipped with ways of going forward on the Way (Acts 9:2) as their minds were opened by the Spirit in understanding the Scriptures, and that they were not alone as a small assembly of people, but would soon be filled with the Holy Spirit. And what we celebrate and remember on Pentecost is that Jesus didn’t have a regular body anymore. So, to paraphrase the Presbyterian writer Frederick Buechner, God made Jesus one out of anybody he could find who looked as if he or she might just possibly do. He used other people’s hands to be Christ’s hands, and other people’s feet to be Christ’s feet, and when there was someplace where Christ was needed in a hurry and needed bad, he put the finger on some maybe not all that innocent bystander and got that person to go and be Christ in that place for lack of anybody better. Join us this Sunday as we continue to explore the creative tension between the ascending and descending of God in Christ and the Holy Spirit. It’s a Trinity thing…

_____

Requests and Opportunities

Keep collecting clothes! 40 items of clothing for Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. 

____

Events!

May 24, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 31, Pentecost! Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 7, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 14, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

· Prayers for the timely sale of Chris' house.

· Ric and Joann's son David who is not feeling well, that he doesn't have the Coronavirus.

· Immigrants who are getting forgotten in these times

· Those in Covid-19 hot spots--nursing homes, prisons, and meat packing plants--where the public cannot see the intensity of the disasters.

· People dealing with serious non-COVID issues.

· Luke's family--his Dad whose mother is dying and on comfort care in the hospital and his Dad's sister struggling with mental issues.

· Luke, working as a first responder on the reservation, where some people are not taking care of themselves and not making good choices. 

· Karen's friend in Oklahoma who is very sick with COVID.

· Graduates and hearing good words.

· Moving forward.

· Those working for a vaccine and those who are willing to be tested.

· Developing nations where the virus is just starting.

· People who have lost their income.

· Churches closed due to coronavirus.

· People in recovery at risk of breaking down in this time of isolation.

· Gradual re-opening where people behave sensibly and we avoid a resurgence. 

_____

Poem

Quarantine by Sonja Livingstone

My father-in-law is coming to the end.
My husband drives over and stands beneath his bedroom window.

He tells his father about bluebirds in the park, how the cats
are doing, says he remembers when he was seven
and they went sledding on the hill in Acton.
My husband stands beneath the window
head tilted 45 degrees, taking in sky and pane and glass.

When he was a boy he thought his father was Superman.
Now his father has something to say but the words fall apart
before they leave his mouth.

It’s late March. Most of the snow has melted.
My husband stands under the window listening to the last
of his father’s voice, golden crocuses coming up at his feet.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, May 17, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Sixth Sunday of Easter, May 17, 2020, Zoom; If you would like to invite someone to join us via Zoom, contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of the Advocate!

As the old saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” Hopefully many areas received some of the much needed showers in April, and after a burst of weather in the 80s of summer, May—which is he month when gardens, trees, and shrubs really start to take off—is a little soggy this week. But with summer comes hot weather and the possibility of drought conditions, so let it rain a little bit more. 

On this sixth Sunday of Easter, the focus Scripture is John 14:15-21. John’s Jesus is preparing his disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (vv. 15-17). Jesus is promising us, the people of God, that when he, Jesus, is no longer with us in person, God will, and has, sent another advocate to help us and be with us forever. Forever and a day. Like now. The reason the Community of Pilgrims exists is because of the Advocate’s presence, advocating for us from within us as a community of faith. We know the Spirit, because the Spirit already abides with us, and is in us. No need to look for God in the clouds, because God is present in us, within us, around us. This image of God’s Spirit as an Advocate is dynamic and living in the present and the future. What does the Advocate do? The Advocate is one who pleads another person’s cause, or who speaks or writes or acts in support of something or someone. An Advocate perseveres, and yet is patient, waiting for the right time and the right place for us to do what we must do, and be, as God’s people. An Advocate is someone who is not afraid to stick out one’s neck or be the “lone wolf” in a certain situation. An Advocate is not afraid to ask the difficult or uncomfortable questions (Advocate is the Spirit of truth, after all), or to hold and comfort us, be the consoler, when things don’t go our way, and reminds us, “you are all loved.” On pilgrimage, the Advocate walks and moves with us, accompanies us, is in us, on the journey of life, as we, the Community of Pilgrims, go forward. Join us this Sunday, via Zoom, as we continue to consider the way that our Godly Advocate is with us as a community of faith in this day and age of COVID 19 pandemic and beyond. 

____

Requests and Opportunities

Keep collecting clothes! 40 items of clothing for Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

The Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We chose to give our check to Human Solutions, in which we want it directed to families in need of diapers.

____

Events!

May 17, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 24, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 31, Pentecost! Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 7, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

· Best wishes for a Happy Mother's Day to all mothers including mothers present, all those who have known pain, and to those who are mother-like to us.

· Thanksgiving for the opportunity to apply for a $50,000 Growth Grant for the Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship from the Presbyterian Church USA and the Presbytery of the Cascades. 

· Ray and Lorinda’s two granddaughters Anna and Lucy, both graduating this spring, and for all grandchildren and graduates.

· Our country and for the world, and for the black and brown communities hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

· Those struggling with mental health issues and stuck indoors.

· Mothers, trying to do everything and we have no control.

· Happiness for Olivia's great grandpa who has met a lady in the home where he lives

_____

Poem

Spring, the Sweet Spring, by Thomas Nashe

(If you want some fun, read it aloud.)

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king, 

Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring, 

Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing: 

      Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! 

The palm and may make country houses gay, 

Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day, 

And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay: 

      Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to-witta-woo! 

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet, 

Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit, 

In every street these tunes our ears do greet: 

      Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-we, to witta-woo!

            Spring, the sweet spring!

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, May 10, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Community of Pilgrims Presbyterian Fellowship, Fifth Sunday of Easter, May 10, 2020, Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of the Way,

Today is the 50th day of Spring. The high today is supposed to be 74 degrees. The sun is out. No rain or clouds in the forecast. And the sun is due to set by 8:26 pm. Hopefully, all of us will get a chance to enjoy some time out in the sun, staying safe, and well, and get some fresh air on this beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest.  And to our friends in NM: hope the weather is equally beautiful.

The focus Scripture this week is from the Acts of the Apostles 7:55-60. It is the story of Stephen, the church’s first martyr. Why read and consider this story in the middle of the season of happy Easter? Well, first: it is a reminder that Easter is not only about victory, wonder, and rejoicing, but a reminder of how high the stakes were, and are, in following Jesus, "the Way." Second, the story introduces us to the young Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, who silently stood among the coats laid at his feet by his kin folk while Stephen was martyred. And third, I was drawn to this story of “crowd,” “mob” or “group think.” After all, Stephen simply preached in the open about "fairest Lord Jesus," the "Good Shepherd," and look what the mob did to him?! I am reminded of how powerful “group think” is in the light of this COVID 19 pandemic, and those people who are showing up at state capitol buildings, like Salem and Olympia, and practicing nothing like social distancing, wearing masks, let alone gloves. Instead, these people are caught up in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making process that will harm people, if not lead to their death, or the death of loved ones. Join us this Sunday via Zoom as we talk about the power of following Jesus and being body of Christ with one another, especially during this COVID 19 pandemic, which puts us at odds some times with others in our world today.

____

Requests and Opportunities

Feel free to invite others to join the Community of Pilgrims on Zoom!  Just have them email me, and I'll be sure to include them on the email list with the Zoom contact information.

**

Keep collecting clothes! 40 items of clothing for Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

Thank you to all who have kept up their pledges during this pandemic, or sent in a contribution to the Community of Pilgrims! While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

Again, the Presbytery of the Cascades chose to give $1,000 to churches and new faith communities to make a change in the world. We chose to give our check to Human Solutions, in which we want it directed to families in need of diapers.

____

Events!

May 10, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 17, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 24, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

June 1, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

· Chris' friend Peggy who suffered a stroke last week but has been able to return home. 

· Linda's two nephews Eric and Jason both tattoo artists in Maui and out of work.

· Thanksgiving for light traffic and an easy drive between Seattle and Portland for Brett and Christian.

· Thanksgiving that Sue Malter is in good health and can visit with friends while keeping social distance.

· Thanksgiving that Earl's extended family is healthy and working.

· For public officials such as New Mexico's Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham who put the city of Gallup into lock down to stop the spread of COVID-19 after a surge in cases this week and Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez who criticized the federal government for not providing tribal nations any resources allocated in the three coronavirus relief bills signed into law in March.  People who are making decision are getting pressure to relax restrictions around the virus.

· Wisdom in all states to listen to medical experts as conservatives push back against virus-related restrictions meant to slow the spread of COVID-19.

· Chuck's son-in-law in Walla Walla, Washington, who helped organize a private/public movement which raised sufficient funds for a rapid testing platform for COVID-19. More cases are reported among employees at Tyson Fresh Meats in Walla Walla.

_____

Poem

Spring, by Mary Oliver

And here is the serpent again,

Dragging himself out from his nest of darkness,

His cave under the black rocks,

His winter-death.

He slides over the pine needles.

He loops around the bunches of rising grass,

Looking for the sun.

Well, who doesn’t want the sun after the long winter?

I step aside.

He feels the air with his soft tongue.

Around the bones of his body he moves like oil,

Downhill he goes

Toward the black mirrors of the pond.

Last night I was still so cold.

I woke and went out to stand in the yard,

And there was no moon.

So I just stood there, inside the jaw of nothing.

An owl cried in the distance,

I thought of Jesus, how he crouched in the dark for two nights,

Then floated back above the horizon. 

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, April 26, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Third Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2020, Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of the Risen One,

I just cut down some lilac blossoms from the blooming trees in the backyard, and the aroma is now filling the house. Amid COVID 19 warnings and the “shelter-in-place” orders in Oregon, while watching and reading about others acting irresponsibly in wanting to over-turn such orders for various, and I would add dubious, reasons, signs of spring growth inspires hope. Let us celebrate the signs and symbols of hope for a better world as we explore whatever the “new normal” is going to be in the coming days and weeks.

The Scriptural focus this week is a key pilgrimage story from Luke 24:13-35.  Whenever I lead an actual pilgrimage or workshop on pilgrimage, I use this story as a key story or “jumping off” point to talk about pilgrimage and it’s biblical roots.  In this story, two disciples—Cleopas and the unknown other, which could’ve been male or female—are running away from Jerusalem to Emmaus, which was roughly 7-8 miles away. No doubt, the talk in Jerusalem must have been about the many appearances of the risen Jesus to the disciples and friends of the crucified now resurrected rabbi from Nazareth. Why is this a pilgrimage story? Because of the following characteristics, which are basic to all pilgrimages: First, this story involves physical, emotional, and spiritual movement of people, from one place to another. The two friends walked with the stranger, and they all shared stories along the way. There was the story told by Cleopas, and then the Stranger interpreted another story, in which they were all talking about what had happened in the last few days. Second, they all stopped at the end of the pilgrimage—7-8 miles could take a good, long afternoon—and shared a meal together. They reached a destination. The friends then practiced hospitality with the Stranger, breaking bread. You could almost hear the words of the Stranger, “take, eat, this is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Third: an epiphany! While the friends’ minds were engaged at the beginning of the passage, the friends didn’t discern who the Stranger was with them. “Their eyes were kept from recognizing him,” which is another way of saying, that their inability to tap into the faith, unable to see or believe because of their fear of what just happened. It is when they opened up their hearts in sharing bread together with the Stranger, extending a gift of food, that their faith recognized the person who was with them: none other than the resurrected Christ. It happened at the end of the pilgrimage, when they looked back through the rear-view mirror of faith and grace that they knew they were with none other than the risen Christ. Time and again on pilgrimage, I have lived in that same fantastic “Aha!” moment, recognizing the grace-filled moment after I experienced a moment of encountering a Christ-like inspired activity. At first, I was unaware of the grace-filled presence of Christ until after the moment was over. Then, in hindsight, my eyes were open. This has happened so often I have come to expect the grace filled “Aha!” moments nowadays on pilgrimage, which is why I so enjoy going on pilgrimage every year, which makes it possible for me to appreciate the “Aha!” moments when they happen throughout the rest of the year. So, what is your “Aha!” moment of grace? Join us Sunday on Zoom as we all share our grace-filled “Aha!” moments with one another over the last few weeks!

____

Requests and Opportunities

Keep collecting clothes! 40 items of clothing for Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

If anyone is in need of food or any other provision of daily life at this time, even a 6 foot social distance “hello,” let us know!

____

Events!

April 26, Gather, Devotion, & Zoom!

May 3, Gather, Devotion, & Zoom!

May 10, Gather, Devotion, & Zoom!

May 17, Gather, Devotion, &  Zoom!

May 24, Gather, Devotion & Zoom! Or TBD!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

_____

Poem

Blessing that Does Not End, by Jan Richardson

From the moment

It first laid eyes

On you,

This blessing loved you.

This blessing

Knew you

From the start.

It cannot explain how.

It just knows

That the first time

It sat down beside you,

It entered into a conversation

That had already been going on

Forever.

Believe this conversation

Has not stopped.

Believe this love

Still lives—

The love that crossed

An impossible distance

To reach you,

To find you,

To take your face

Into its hands

And bless you.

Believe this 

Does not end—

That the gesture,

Once enacted,

Endures

Believe this love

Goes on—

That it still

Takes your face

Into its hands,

That it presses

Its forehead to yours

As it speaks to you

In undying words,

That it has never ceased

To gather your heart

 Into its heart.

Believe this blessing

Abides.

Believe it goes with you

Always.

Believe it knows you

Still.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com 

Newsletter, Community of Pilgrims, April 19, 2020

THIS SUNDAY: Second Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2020, Zoom; Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com

_____

Dear Pilgrims of Easter Hope,

After physically visiting with Sue and Chuck yesterday, with the appropriate 6-foot distance plus, and with some of the other members of the Community of Pilgrims lately, delivering material for masks and thread to Jo Ann and Ric, with some material going to Lorinda as well—again, all within the 6-foot boundary—I cannot tell you how much I look forward to being with all of “us,” physically. And yet, Zoom has given us an opportunity to be in touch with the Community of Pilgrims in New Mexico and Colorado, and that has been equally wonderful. My heart is full of gratitude for the ways that we are keeping in touch with one another during this pandemic. We are witnessing the body of Christ in action!

The Scripture focus for the second Sunday of Easter is John 20: 19-31. The scene opens on the same day, Sunday, that Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus. Later on that same day, the disciples were huddled in a locked room, fearful of the Jewish authorities who knew full well of their actions as Jesus’ disciples. Despite being in a locked room, Jesus suddenly appeared to the ten who were gathered together. Judas was no longer in the story, and Thomas, the twin, was out of the room. Thomas said that he would not believe the story of the other disciples unless he himself saw and touched the resurrected Jesus’ wounds. A week later, Jesus appeared among the eleven gathered together. Jesus invited Thomas to touch his hands and his sides. Having saw and touched them, and exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus replied: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (vs. 29). All of us have a little bit of Thomas in us, in which, Sunday after Sunday, I’ve watched us come together at 4 pm on a Sunday, maybe a little tired, perhaps disappointed, now and then discouraged, if not bowled over by what has happened in our life that day or in the recent days, to the point of unbelief. But we have come together as a community, seeking reassurance, an acknowledgement by the community of the pain or hurt or tiredness we feel as we think through what has happened in life the last few hours or days. Yet, by the end of our gathering, with the benediction given after the potluck meal, we feel better. Why? Because we are touched by the Spirit of the risen Christ who resides in each of our lives. Like Thomas before us, we, too just needed to be touched and see, hear, and be moved by the Christ among us. And Christ’s Spirit shines brightly from within us as we help others when we are at the women’s emergency shelter or re-bagging rice for hungry families. “Happy are you who have not seen yet believe.”

____

Requests and Opportunities

Keep collecting clothes! 40 items of clothing for Lent, in which, when the pandemic “shelter in place” order will be lifted, and we can take these items to SnowCap.

**

While we are not meeting in person, the Community of Pilgrims will still welcome your financial contribution. Please make a check out to Community of Pilgrims, and mail it to Brett Webb-Mitchell, 9460 SW Martha St., Tigard, OR 97224. Many thanks!

**

For those who want to volunteer some more in the Portland-metro area, here’s a list of volunteer opportunities: https://www.opb.org/news/article/coronavirus-help-oregon-washington-volunteer-donate-give-blood/.  And here’s a neat calligraphy project that Lorinda Moholt participated in, with proceeds to Oregon Food Bank: https://give.oregonfoodbank.org/CCC

**

Feel free to invite others to join us on Zoom on Sundays from wherever they live in this country or world.

____

Events!

April 19, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

April 26, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 3, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

May 10, Gather and Devotion, Zoom!

____

Prayers of Celebration and Concern

· Happy Birthday Dayna!

· Welcome Pam Jones, Dayna's mother who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

· Celebrations that all of us so far are not infected with the COVID virus.

· Linda's friend June who recently lost her husband. She is doing much better.

· Linda's friends at Eagle Creek who are finding it a challenging community, that they can find some meaningful relationships.

· Friend Matthew Lumas and for the world.

· Pat's friends, a family who lost their father at age 45.

· Dayna's Aunt Linda who grieves the loss of her mother, her best friend.

· All those who work in hospitals and first response workers. Keep them safe.

· David Pierce whose father is in hospice.

· Farm workers who make it possible for us to continue to go into grocery stores and find what we need.

· Help that we may avoid complacency and not let down our guard and wear masks.

_____

Poem

St. Thomas the Apostle, by Malcolm Guite

“We do not know… how can we know the way?”

Courageous master of the awkward question,

You spoke the words the others dared not say

And cut through their evasion and abstraction.

Oh doubting Thomas, father of my faith,

You put your finger on the nub of things

We cannot love some disembodied wraith,

But flesh and blood must be our king of kings.

Your teaching is to touch, embrace, anoint,

Feel after Him and find Him in the flesh.

Because He loved your awkward counter-point

The Word has heard and granted you your wish.

Oh place my hands with yours, help me divine

The wounded God whose wounds are healing mine.

_____

Buen Camino!

Pastors Brett & Chris 

Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com Rev. Chris Dungan chrisdungan1@msn.com