eNews for Thursday, August 5, 2021

What Is It?

By Vince Amlin, co-pastor of Bethany UCC, Chicago

When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?”—Exodus 16:14-15a (NRSV)

I opened the first of my Christmas gifts that year and turned to my wife in confusion. “It’s…a compass?”

We lived in Chicago. I had not recently taken up orienteering.

“There’s a theme,” she assured me. But as I opened more presents, the theme seemed to be “things I have no use for.” A pocketknife. Quick-dry shorts.

I smiled and said thanks.

The Israelites are starving. So hungry they’re ready to turn back to the enslavers in Egypt. And Moses assures them: God is going to give you a gift.

The next morning, there’s dew on the ground at their camp. And when the sun dries it, a fine flaky substance is left behind.

Moses says, “There it is! A gift from God!”

The people look at him confused and ask, “What is it?”

Within a couple months of unwrapping that compass, I was planning my first backpacking trip. And over the past 15 years, I’ve carried it down hundreds of miles of trail to some of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been.

It turns out that the best gifts are the ones that confuse us, that show up just before we know what to do with them and teach us who we’re going to be.

Like that “bread” that the Israelites developed a taste for. The food that made them into God’s people. The gift that guided and sustained them through the wilderness toward what was next.

Prayer

Confusing One, give me the gift I’m almost ready for.

Profiles in Courage

By Rev. Shari Prestemon, Conference Minister

Last week our nation was privileged to witness five inspiring profiles in courage.

On Tuesday, four police officers testified in front of the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection at our nation’s Capital. Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Sgt. Aquilino Gonell and Washington, D.C. police officers Michael Fanone and Daniel Hodges offered harrowing details about their experiences that tragic day in January. Their pain, their trauma, and their dedication to service and country was on full display throughout their testimony. So was their courage: their courage during those long, horrific hours on January 6, and their courage in coming forward to testify despite the wrenching difficulty of doing so. As Sgt. Gonell said, “For most people, January 6 happened for a few hours. But for those of us who were in the thick of it, it has not ended.”

Thousands of miles from the halls of Congress, Simone Biles, who has won a combined total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals for her gymnastic awesomeness, announced last week that she would not compete in several Olympic events in Tokyo. Pointing to a case of “the twisties”—when gymnasts lose a sense of where they are in the air while performing routines—she stepped back from competition despite tremendous pressure and was met with a fair amount of ridicule because of it. “It wasn’t easy pulling out of all those competitions,” Biles said. “But my mental and physical health is above all medals that I could ever win.” Biles later returned to competition and won the Bronze medal for her balance beam routine.

Watching those five individuals last week reminded me that courage takes many forms. It’s not always the big, daring, physical acts that are the stuff of courage. Sometimes courage is the willingness to be vulnerable, to speak our truths for the sake of something larger or more profound. It’s doing the hard thing because we know it’s the right thing. Courage can also be our willingness to be silent and hear another’s story in all its rawness, absorbing the lessons it has to teach us.

Churches are called to courage, too. The Conference’s calling statement puts courage front and center: “God calls the Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ to equip a courageous church alive with Christ’s transforming love.”

What does being a ‘courageous church’ look like where you are? First Congregational UCC in Anoka offered one example recently. Despite vandalism to their church and some hostility from community members, the congregation persisted in their public support and welcome of LGBTQi neighbors. Sometimes being a courageous church means standing with those who others would disparage and dismiss, rooted in a Gospel mandate to love our neighbors and draw the circle of welcome wide.

But being a courageous church is not just about how and where we stand for justice. Showing courage in our churches is also about the difficult questions we dare to ask ourselves, the congregational conflict we address with honesty and care, or steps we choose to take to create a bold future for our ministry. And especially important these days? Being a courageous church means refusing to allow the toxicity and divisions that surround us in today’s polarized society to seep into our church community. It is choosing day in and day out to be counter-cultural, providing an alternative witness to the world of communities characterized by extravagant love, mutual respect, and enduring grace.

CHUM Legislative Recap

What Happened at the Capitol?

The 2021 Legislative Session is over and faith-based advocates have made a difference for low- and moderate-income Minnesotans! Join CHUM and the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition to hear about policy changes to help Minnesotans and our neighbors in need—and learn more about how the legislative process works. Anne Krisnik, JRLC Executive Director, will share new laws impacting housing, emergency shelter, safety net programs and more. You will also hear from advocacy staff from Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless and the Minnesota Asset Building Coalition.

Date: Monday, August 9, 6:30-8:00 pm, at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1710 Superior Street, Duluth

RSVP to Rev Patricia Benson at (218) 740-2498 so we can set up to provide social distancing. Masks and sign in for Covid contact tracing required.

JRLC will be offering an online Zoom version of What Happened at the Capitol, on Wednesday, August 11, at 6:30 pm. You can register and get the zoom link here.

Learn more about CHUM’s legislative priorities, and how we can work together for a more just and compassionate community at chumduluth.org.

CHUM Volunteer Update

The community of CHUM continues to inspire! Your quick response to last week's call out resulted in a driver making school lunch deliveries Weds-Fri, and we are only in need of someone to help out on Mondays and/or Tuesdays. Please contact Rev. Patricia Benson if you can help out.

For the food shelf, we still could use help with pre-packing boxes with food for food shelf clients on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, 10:00 am-12:00 pm. We also need assistance sorting food donations on Tuesdays, 10:00 am-12:00 pm.

SPECIAL August Opportunity!
Help with CHUM's annual backpack distribution on Tuesday, August 24, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, at the DECC. Contact Scott at CHUM for details.

Volunteers Needed for Loaves and Fishes

Loaves and Fishes is a group that offers family-style hospitality to people experiencing homelessness; operates a no-cost neighborhood bicycle shop to promote shared economics; organizes with our neighbors to protect everyone's right to housing; and studies and practices nonviolence in our interpersonal relationships.

The two most urgent volunteer needs are:

• House Duty Volunteers for the Dorothy Day House: This is our hospitality house for men. Each shift is different, but most involve answering the phone, chatting with live-in guests, welcoming day-guests into the space and helping them access showers and laundry, preparing food, cleaning, and playing cards.
• Volunteer Mechanics for the Bike Cave: Twice a week, our community hosts a bike shop where people build and repair bikes. Volunteer mechanics who can help people wrench on bikes are always appreciated. However, even if you are less mechanically minded, there is a place for you to greet people, direct guests to tools, organize parts, and learn how to work on bikes if you so choose!

If you would like to volunteer, please get in touch with Sarah at Loaves and Fishes.

Duluth Superior Pride

There will be a table for People of Faith at the Bayfront Park Pride Festival on Saturday, September 4, 9:00 am-6:00 pm. We would like to have representatives from many inclusive and affirming congregations to be present at the table to greet and talk with people at the festival. There will also be opportunities to hand out literature about Pilgrim.

Additionally we would like to have “pastor of the hour” to talk with, pray, and bear witness to the lives of LGBTQ+ people.

We will be passing out rainbow colored peace necklaces and passing out water at the table in compostable cups.

If you'd like to volunteer, please get in touch with the office to sign up for a time slot!

Children's Music

Human Resources and Christian Education Ministry are pleased to announce that Jessica Schroeder, our new Organist and Pianist, has agreed to take on the additional role of Children’s Music Director. She will assume these duties on August 22 and will be present at the outdoor church service on that day to answer questions and assist Christian Ed. in recruiting. Both Christian Ed. and Jessica have some fantastic ideas to work with while moving forward to grow a children’s and young adult program. We love new ideas! This an exciting time for youth programming!

You can read a little more about Jessica on our website.

Note from the Business Manager

Greetings! I wanted to inform everyone that uses them, that there is a new Purchase Reimbursement/Request form. It will be combined with a credit card purchase request form and take place of the old yellow card form for reimbursements. It will be located in the same place in the office work area on the counter where the old yellow cards were found. If you have any questions or need help filling one out, please let me know.

Second, I wanted to inform everyone that I will be out of the office starting August 19th for (up to) two weeks for an unplanned surgery. During this time Mary S. will be filling in for a couple of days as needed. In an emergency, she can be contacted at the office. Otherwise, I will be available as soon as I can be within that two weeks time. Also, if you plan ahead, we can try to get things taken care of before I am out.

Thank you everyone for being so welcoming and understanding! I look forward to my time here in such a warm and friendly place!

—Torin Schwartz, Business Manager

Turquoise Table

The Turquoise Table is finished and set up in the front yard. Thanks go to Jon Wells for creating it. The table has a storied history, literally. There is a book by that name. If you would like to know about it, just ask anyone on the Membership and Growth Committee: Lauri Cushing, Cindy Fochs, Jean Walters, Carolyn Sundquist, and Gary Solomonson.

The purpose of the table is to provide a gathering space for neighbors, or just a resting space for tired walkers and bikers. Stay tuned for more information to come. In the meantime, we’re contemplating a sign placed nearby inviting people to rest awhile.

—PJ

August Book Club Meet Up

Since most of us are anxious to get back together, and because during the summer we can meet outdoors, we thought it would be a great time to have our August 9 meeting be a potluck in Lois Heller’s yard at 9129 Congdon Blvd. We’ll meet at 4:30 pm, nosh on the goodies we bring, and then discuss and choose our books for the next 6 months. So come join us with your food contribution and your book suggestions. It would be helpful to know if the book you suggest is available in paperback.

All are welcome, even if it's your first time joining us! Please get in touch with the office to RSVP.

Upcoming Worship

Here are some dates to watch out for:

• Sunday, August 22, will be an outdoor worship service led (in part) by Pilgrim's youth! Please note that this service will not be livestreamed.
• Sunday, August 29, will be Pastor Judith's last Sunday with us. Come join us to wish her well.
• On Sunday, September 5, there will be an interfaith worship service at Coppertop Church at 10:00 am. More details to come!
• Sunday, October 3, will be Pastor Carla's first Sunday at Pilgrim.

Sunday Worship at Pilgrim

Join us Sunday at 10:00 am for Sunday Worship at Pilgrim, in person or online. You can view the service on Pilgrim's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

You can download a Bulletin here.

This Sunday's scripture readings:

• Matthew 10:5-15

If you have an announcement that you would like read during a Sunday service, please get it to the office or directly to Pastor Judith by Monday each week.

Please send in your prayer requests to include in Sunday services. Send your prayer requests, joys, and concerns to Pastor Judith via email by Friday each week to be included. We will use only first names during the service in order to maintain confidentiality, and your prayer requests will be passed along to Marge Fraser and Pilgrim's Prayer Chain.

In case you missed it, you can view last Sunday's worship service on YouTube.
Attendance: 29
YouTube views: 16

Morning Coffee

Wednesdays | 10:00 am
Join Pastor Judith for your morning coffee! We'll have a time for checking in with each other, prayers, and perhaps a brief meditation. Grab the beverage of your choice and join us on Zoom.

Meeting ID: 497 627 641
Passcode: 926781

Prayers and Condolences

Keep in your prayers:

• Joyce Young's son Michael Rookey, as he receives care for cancer
• Bob Reichert as he undergoes treatment
• Anita and her family as she undergoes medical treatment
• Wanda and her family as she continues to receive treatment
• Betty and her family as her son undergoes medical treatment
• Andrew, as he continues with medical monitoring

Show Us Your Walks

An utterly fearless young deer in Enger Park

We're lucky to live in a community with so much beauty and access to nature. Send Patrick your photos to share your walks with us in future emails! It's another way to stay connected in these troubled times.

What Patrick's Listening To

Have you ever heard that the medieval church thought a particular musical interval was so awful that they designated it "Diabolos in musica" and even banned it? I certainly did, in music classes from elementary school to college. Adam Neely expertly demolishes this myth in a delightful video.