THIS SUNDAY: June 10, 4 p.m. Worship at Rose City Park Presbyterian Church 1907 NE 45th Avenue – Portland, OR, 97213; Corner of NE Sandy Blvd. and NE 45th Ave.; two blocks east of Hollywood Theater.
Questions? Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Mystic Wanderers, Spiritual Dancers, Nomadic Souls, Searching Ones, Pilgrims of a Faith, Family Members, and Friends,
It is June! And the Rose City does not disappoint in finding something and everything to do, all in one day. So much to choose from! Options abound! And we are glad that you join us each and every Sunday, or many Sundays. Thank you!
The focus this Sunday is a story from the Gospel of Mark 3:20-35. In the ‘80s, the LGBTQ+ community, at the height of the AIDS/HIV epidemic, coined the term “families of choice”, when friends stepped up to being caretakers of those of us who were ill, because of the perceived failure of families (heterosexual) of origin and the state to respond adequately to the crisis. “Families of choice” is intended to capture the commitment of chosen, rather than fixed, relationships and ties of intimacy, care, and support. Mark’s Jesus already set before us this concept of families of choice. Here’s the scene: Jesus’ disciples brought Jesus’ mother, brothers, and sisters to Jesus’ side, because the disciples feared how Jesus was being perceived wrongly by the crowd. When he was told his family was there, Jesus replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers? … Here are my mother and my brothers (and sisters)! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother (and father).” Through baptism, hasn’t Brother Jesus reconfigured our relationship as mother, father, brother, and sister to one another as God’s “family of choice”? And what does that mean for our relationship with one another and God in the Community of Pilgrims?
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Events!
Sunday, June 10, 2018, 4-6 pm: Gathering and Worshiping together, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church;
Sunday, June 17, 2018, 11 am (at the latest), we are part of Creating Welcoming Congregations (CWC). We are contingent 74. Line up on Everett between NW 8th & Park. No gathering and worship at 4 pm. Wear your new t-shirt, please!
Sunday, June 24, 2018, Brett will be preaching and sharing stories from Community of Pilgrims at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, OR;
Thursday, June 28, 2018, 7 pm, Steering/Guide Team Meeting; Chris Dungan’s Home;
Friday, June 29, 2018, 1:00 pm, Brett participating in Friday Lunch Speaking Series at Portland City Club, Portland, OR;
Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30, 2018, Presbytery of the Cascades, First Presbyterian Church, Salem, OR. Ask Brett or Chris for more information.
TBA: Group Outing to see: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” documentary on Mr. Roger’s life and ministry. It is opening on June 15, 2018, Cinema 21 on NW 21st Ave., Portland, OR
Aug. 5, 2018, 10 am, Brett is preaching at Calvin Presbyterian Church, Tigard, OR.
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Poem
(month of) June, by Hilaire Beloc
Rise up, and do begin the day's adorning;
The Summer dark is but the dawn of day.
The last of sunset fades into the morning,
The morning calls you from the dark away.
The holy mist, the white mist of the morning,
Was wreathing upward on my lonely way.
The way was waiting for your own adorning
That should complete the broad adorned day.
Rise up, and do begin the day's adorning;
The little eastern clouds are dapple grey:
There will be wind among the leaves to-day;
It is the very promise of the morning.
Lux Tua Via Mea: your light's my way -
Then do rise up and make it perfect day.
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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