Dear Sojourners, Emigres, Searcher, Outcasts, Commuter, Vagabonds, Friends, and Family Members,
Happy Trinity Sunday on Sunday, May 27, 2018! This Holy Day follows Pentecost, which makes sense since we just celebrated the gift of the Holy Spirit among us. While there is much debate about the theology of the Trinity, I like to simply call this “Community Sunday”.
The focus Scripture is Romans 8:12-17, is all about the Community of God. Religious scholar Stephen Prothero calls us Christians “mushy monotheists” rather than the radical monotheism of Judaism and Islam, in which we believe in one God-in-three-persons. Others argue about the basic tenets behind the theology of the Holy Trinity. How I’ve come to understand this connection between God-Christ-Spirit is that we model our communal life together as Christian community based upon this incredible relationship that God personifies and exemplifies, making God’s self known to us daily. As a Community of Pilgrims, the Community that is God demonstrates to us that we know God best through and in relationships, as God is in relationship with God’s self, Creator, Christ, and Spirit. So let us come together Sunday, in the presence of God who created us and the world in which we live, practicing the art of doing the work of Christ who accompanies us on the pilgrimage of life, and at taking time to pause and be in the Spirit of God.
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Events!
Sunday, May 27, 2018, 10:30 am, Brett preaching at Bridgeport UCC, 621 NE 76th Ave., Portland, OR 97213
Sunday, May 27, 2018, 4-6 pm, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church’s Chapel; invite a friend or family member to join us this Sunday!
Sunday, June 17, 2018, 11 am, March in Pride Parade, Downtown Portland, Meeting place TBD; Also: let Kathy Fukuyama know what size of t-shirt you wear, so that we can all wear our Community of Pilgrims t-shirts.
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Poem
Finally, knowing that this nation will focus on Memorial Day this weekend, a day to honor those who have died in service to the country that they love, a Memorial Day poem.
Do Not Stand At My Grave And Weep by Mary Elizabeth Frye
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow;
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain;
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush;
I am in the graceful rush.
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the star shine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Chris
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com;
Rev. Chris Dungan (503) 724-7060; chrisdungan1@msn.com