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