eNews for Thursday, August 12, 2021

A Direction Where God Is Not

In a time long ago, a wise old Sufi was making his annual pilgrimage to Mecca. But it was a long walk for him, and the sun was high. Having averaged more than 20 miles a day, once Mecca was in sight, the old Sufi decided to lie down on the side of the road and rest up for his final leg of the journey.

Minutes later, one of the other pilgrims violently kicked his feet.

“Get up," he commanded. “You blasphemer, you lie with your feet pointed toward God at the Holy Mosque! What kind of Sufi are you?"

The wise old Sufi cracked one eye open, and said, “I thank you, holy sir. Now, if you would kindly point to a direction where God is not, I will gladly move my feet there.”

Once we realize the Oneness of all of life, we are on the path of spiritual awakening. The false lie of life is that we are separate, independent, not connected to one another. The truth is all is One. We are interdependent not just with one another but with all of creation and with God.

Mystic Mister Eckert said it this way: “The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me; my eye and God’s eye are one eye, one seeing, one knowing, one love.”

Life becomes radically simple when we finally realize this essential truth.

St. Teresa of Avila says, “The closer one approaches to God, the simpler one becomes.” Of course, this makes sense. When we give up the illusion of separation and stop playing by the rules we design to control each other, we are free to simply…be.

For today, hold the awareness that God is in you, and you are in God. All is One. Let’s see what that reveals to you.

We are in this together,
Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church

Blessing for the Week

When the way is unclear,
and the path littered with obstacles,
when fear takes hold,
and the future seems inconceivable,
may you trust in the Spirit of those who
have walked this dark night
and can reach out, reach back
to show you a way through.

Amen.

Turquoise Table and Blessing Box

We are looking for suggestions for a sign which will go near the Turquoise Table. Think of words that would fit on a sign the size of the handicap parking sign in front of the church. The sign will be attached to a stake for all to see. Like the Blessing Box, the table is for the community. It can be for rest, reading or conversation. On an additional note, the Blessing Box needs supplies. It is nearly empty. Remember that whatever you place in there must survive the heat. Such items could include masks, diapers, toilet paper and the like.

—PJ

CHUM News

The Great Twin Ports Get Together

Join us on Sunday, August 15, 12 :00-6:00 pm, for great music, good food, and family fun at Wade Stadium. Admission is free, but we ask that you donate a non-perishable food item for the CHUM Foodshelf.

Annual Backpack Distribution | Tuesday, August 24

It is back-to-school time, so CHUM is working hard to help prepare families who struggle with the costs of getting ready for school. CHUM is once again very excited to be able to provide up to 1,400 area children, grades K-12, with the tools they need to be successful at school. Thanks to everyone who makes this amazing event possible year after year, and to our generous partners; the City of Duluth, the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, and Duluth ISD709.

View a flyer here.

Contact Scott at CHUM if you'd like to volunteer!

CHUM Is Hiring

CHUM is currently hiring for the following positions:

• Early Childhood Program Coordinator
• Steve O'Neil Apartments Family Coach
• CHUM Chaplain

More information at chumduluth.org.

Summer Auction

Join us for CHUM's Summer Auction this August 22-28. Here you can find gift cards and certificates from local restaurants and businesses, products from local artisans, and fun items for friends and family. All proceeds go to CHUM’s program of providing basic supplies to the isolated, homeless, and hungry.

From the Search Committee

Pilgrim congregants, as the Search Committee finalizes plans for our Farewell Service for Judith, we would like to invite you to share your memories, well wishes and words of gratitude for Judith's gifts and contributions.

Please send these via email to Patrick or handwritten messages can be dropped off at church any time. There will be a box labeled "Memories" in Salter Hall.

—Anne MacLean

Staff Absences

• Patrick will be on vacation the week of August 16.
• Torin will be out for medical leave beginning August 19.
• The office will be closed Thursday, August 19.

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!

Bill Slack Memorial

There will be an informal Celebration of Life for Bill Slack in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, August 21, 11:00 am-1:00 pm.

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! Bring a lawn chair and join us on the lawn. 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. All Pilgrims are welcome to attend. There will not be a worship service at Pilgrim that day.
• 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:

• 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
• Acts 22:6-15

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: 43
YouTube views: 22

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:

• Kay Slack and her family on the passing of her husband, Bill
• 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

Show Us Your Walks

A woodpecker near Amity Creek

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

Here's a very cool, unusual piece: Heinrich Biber's Battalia à 10. The music is intended to evoke the various stages of a battalion of soldiers preparing for and going to battle. Lots of knocking and stomping. Polytonality in 1673!