THIS SUNDAY: Feb. 24, 2019, 4-6 pm, Rose City Park Presbyterian Church, 1907 NE 45thAve., Portland, OR 97213; Questions? Contact Pastor Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.com
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Dear Jesus’ Folk Who Walk the Walk, and Talk the Talk,
Yes, you read and heard me correctly: I am addressing those who walk the walk and talk the talk of Jesus, the Pilgrim God. We have all heard it said that “if you’re going to talk the talk, you have to walk the walk. It is a modern version of saying the ancient phrase: “actions speak louder than words,” or “practice what you preach,” or “walk it like you talk it.” Others condense it to “walk the talk.” Just the right size for a tattoo or bumper sticker for life. In this passage in Luke 6:27-38, Jesus gives his followers not only the “talk” or Hebrew Scripture lesson, but also the actual “walk” or moves that embody the “talk” or the moral axiom found in Hebrew Scripture. For example, consider this jewel of advice from Jesus: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (v. 27). Just imagine how much fewer wars internationally, civil strife nationally, abuse within the home, and fights between neighbors there would be if we not only considered the words or talk, but Jesus’ suggested actions or walk? Indeed, the rest of this passage is piled high with great suggestions for how we can follow the way of Jesus in both our talk and in our actions. Join us this Sunday as we break this down even more, and consider such gems as “turning the other cheek…”
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As another piece of good news, news of the Community of Pilgrims has made the “big times” in the national publication, Presbyterian Outlook! Click on this link to learn more about what amazing things God is doing with our small Fellowship: https://pres-outlook.org/2019/02/of-valentines-day-holy-communion-gun-control-and-potlucks-prayer-scripture-service-and-the-community-of-pilgrims-presbyterian-fellowship/
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Events!
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, Pastor Brett preaches at First UMC, Seattle;
Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, March 3, 2019, Pastor Brett preaches at Christ UMC in Cedar Hills;
Sunday, March 3, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, March 10, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday, March 17, 2019, Gresham’s Women’s Emergency Shelter (Times TBA);
Sunday, March 24, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA;
Sunday March 31, 2019, Pastor Brett at 1st Presby. Church Woodburn;
Sunday, March 31, 2019, Gathering and Worship, Rose City Park PCUSA
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Requests
* Regarding the t-shirts: Please pick up your t-shirt this Sunday, and bring cash or a check made out to Community of Pilgrims, in the amount of $8 for adult M, L, and XL, and youth; and $12 for adult 2XL. Thank you!
* We also have plenty of beautiful leather bracelets for each member of the community! Pick one up this Sunday!
* In the coming months, Pastor Chris and I will be quoting from and referencing sections from the book, Wisdom Distilled from the Dailyby Joan Chittister, a Benedictine monk, who, in this book, focuses on the nature of living life in an intentional Christian community, which is our aim as Community of Pilgrims. We can either order books for those interested and sending in a request for so-many copies, or feel free to order it or buy it from your favorite book distributor. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Joan Chittister, San Francisco: Harper One.
* Another book for our consideration: The Intentional Christian Community Handbookby David Janzen (Paraclete Press, 2013). We may use this book as we delve deeper into understanding what it means to be an intentional Christian community of faith.
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Prayers of Celebrations and Concerns
·The Eagle Creek congregation for the loss of Nancy Spencer.
·Chris's youngest granddaughter Lilly who has some stuff to get through. Chris hopes that she will be coming out to stay with her for a few months.
·Quinn, the little girl in Los Angeles we have been praying for, who successfully completed her second round of stem cell therapy and did not contract sepsis. She is making progress and her mother is able to return to work. Her next step will be radiation therapy.
·Methodist Pastor Rich Shull's six year old daughter Clementine who suffered a stroke, feeling in her right side is returning and she was recently well enough to be released for one day from St. Vincent's Hospital.
·Thanksgiving that Brett's three month old granddaughter Eddie is doing well and hopes that she will be out to see grandmother Liz this summer.
·Thanksgiving from Dianna who is enjoying her current renovation project at Chris's home.
·Other parts of the world at war including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Libya.
·The 25th Amendment that it be used quickly and succinctly to remove our president.
·For people living in Russia where no one wants to live.
·Mary's father Gary who turned 86, he is there for her and she loves him.
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Poem
February, by James Schuyler
A chimney, breathing a little smoke.
The sun, I can't see
making a bit of pink
I can't quite see in the blue.
The pink of five tulips
at five p.m. on the day before March first.
The green of the tulip stems and leaves
like something I can't remember,
finding a jack-in-the-pulpit
a long time ago and far away.
Why it was December then
and the sun was on the sea
by the temples we'd gone to see.
One green wave moved in the violet sea
like the UN Building on big evenings,
green and wet
while the sky turns violet.
A few almond trees
had a few flowers, like a few snowflakes
out of the blue looking pink in the light.
A gray hush
in which the boxy trucks roll up Second Avenue
into the sky. They're just
going over the hill.
The green leaves of the tulips on my desk
like grass light on flesh,
and a green-copper steeple
and streaks of cloud beginning to glow.
I can't get over
how it all works in together
like a woman who just came to her window
and stands there filling it
jogging her baby in her arms.
She's so far off. Is it the light
that makes the baby pink?
I can see the little fists
and the rocking-horse motion of her breasts.
It's getting grayer and gold and chilly.
Two dog-size lions face each other
at the corners of a roof.
It's the yellow dust inside the tulips.
It's the shape of a tulip.
It's the water in the drinking glass the tulips are in.
It's a day like any other.
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Buen Camino!
Pastors Brett & Chris
Rev. Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell (919) 444-9111; brettwebbmitchell@gmail.comRev. Chris Dungan (503) 724-7060; chrisdungan1@msn.com