Dear People of the Way, Devotee, Worshiper, Seeker, Novice, Family member, and Friends,
Greetings and salutations on a beautiful Portland spring day, in which the sunshine and blue skies are just above a cloud layer covering the Portland metro area.
Our focus Scripture this week is Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, in which we are re-introduced to the very first days of the life of the disciples after Jesus' ascension. Again, there is no "church on every corner" in Jerusalem. The early disciples were considered "outsiders" to the Jewish and Roman authorities in those days. They were a young, scrappy, and slightly anxious community of followers of Jesus--the way, the truth, and the life--with no place to meet, save a home here and there. In Jesus' absence, they were making decisions and new processes as they moved forward in life as a clandestine, rag-tag group of disciples and apostles. The first order of the day was to approve a new disciple, as the original 12 were now 11. The 11 were in transition, or what we call "interim" status, using an age old approach of choosing the next person: by casting lots. What is most powerful in this passage for us, as a Community of Pilgrims, is that our forbearers were like us: charged to be people of the Way (Acts 9:2), bringing hope and power of God's beloved community to people for whom the trials of religious and political oppression may have appeared as overwhelming... much like today. In that Spirit, let us invite people to join us as people of the Way as we move forward in life as a new community of faith!
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A word of Thanks after filling 45 boxes of food for families and individuals connected with Human Solutions:
Hello All! Thank you so much for the food boxes for our families! The treats in each of them were well-received and very appreciated! We certainly hope to have you all again, and truly appreciate the support!
Best,
Christina Newcomb
Volunteer and Donations Coordinator
Pronouns: She / Her / Hers
Human Solutions
12350 SE Powell Blvd.
Portland, OR 97236
Phone: 503.278.1637
Human Solutions: Building Pathways Out of Poverty
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Schedule and Events:
Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12, CoHo Theater, "Luna Gale". Go to the link for more information (Arlena Barnes mentioned this to many of us last Sunday). http://www.cohoproductions.org
Saturday, May 12, 4 pm, Sacred Flight Concert, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, Chris Dungan narrating;
Sunday, May 13, 4-6 Community Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church. In honor of Mothers' Day, the men are invited to bring desserts.
Wed., May 16, 7-9 pm, documentary film, "Priced Out," St. Charles Parish, 5310 NE 42nd St., Portland, OR, 97218.
Sat., May 19, 6 pm, ASL Interpreters gathering at Tom Galey and Lee Ellis' home; RSVP with Tom and Lee, ASL folks;
Sun., May 20, 10 am worship, Rose City Park Presby. Church, Pentecost; Brett preaching.
Sunday, May 20, 4-6 pm, community gathering and worship, Kathy Fukuyama baptism and Tom Letts visit, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Thursday, May 24, 7 pm, Steering Team, Kathy Fukuyama home;
Sunday, June 17, 11 am, Portland Pride Parade, time and place to meet TBD (give Kathy F your shirt size);
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Finally, a poem, in honor of spring, and peace...
In Perpetual Spring, by Amy Gerstler
Gardens are also good places
to sulk. You pass beds of
spiky voodoo lilies
and trip over the roots
of a sweet gum tree,
in search of medieval
plants whose leaves,
when they drop off
turn into birds
if they fall on land,
and colored carp if they
plop into water.
Suddenly the archetypal
human desire for peace
with every other species
wells up in you. The lion
and the lamb cuddling up.
The snake and the snail, kissing.
Even the prick of the thistle,
queen of the weeds, revives
your secret belief
in perpetual spring,
your faith that for every hurt
there is a leaf to cure it.
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Buen Camino! And bring a friend and a family member to our Fellowship!
Pastors Brett & Chris