eNews for Thursday, April 29, 2021
Time for An Answer
by Marilyn Pagán-Banks, Senior Pastor at San Lucas UCC
This is what the Lord God showed me—a basket of summer fruit. He said, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A basket of summer fruit.”—Amos 8:1-2a (NRSV)
How am I supposed to respond to your question, God? Simply point out the obvious? Like I did? Because, let’s face it, there is nothing you do not know.
What am I supposed to say about what I see? About beyond what is right in front of me? Do I paint a pretty picture so folx don’t lose hope or get angry? Or do I tell the truth about a system that is guilty as hell, rotten at the core?
Before I could push back and turn the question around on you, God, before I could ask you what it is you see, you pour out your lament, your rage, your grief.
You swore justice.
So now I must ask the questions being asked by countless mothers that have buried their Black children gunned down by the police, by families separated at the border, by communities devasted by environmental racism:
“How long must we wait, O Lord, how long? How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’ but you do not save?”
It is time for an answer, don’t you think?
Prayer
God, give us courage to ask hard questions and the audacity to expect a response. When we pray, we “pinky-swear” to listen and make space for your response so that we might live as a resurrection people called to speak life as love and justice embodied in the world. Amen.
Conference Expands Racial Justice Efforts
As we approach the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, and witness yet another officer-involved shooting with the death of Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, we are ever mindful that the hard work of seeking racial justice and embodying that commitment in our own life as a Conference is far from complete.
The work of racial justice requires intentional, daily focus. It insists on partnerships and collaborations. And it means each of us and each of our congregations play a role.
Over the last year, the Conference has sought to deepen our commitment to racial justice ministry. While the forms of that ministry continue to unfold, and lessons are constantly being learned, here are some of the ways the Conference is engaging in anti-racism work.
Reparations
At our 2019 Annual Meeting, delegates approved a resolution calling for the Conference to do reparative work to address the historic harms done to persons of color inside. This included the establishment of a reparations fund and a commitment to making financial reparations year to year. Thus far the Conference has distributed $10,000 in reparations gifts to four different organizations in the state of Minnesota serving and/or led by persons and communities of color.
Amos Task Force
Two weeks after George Floyd was murdered at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, the Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Amos Task Force to help develop a short-term and long-term strategy for the Conference to address and repair historic and present-day racial injustice in Minnesota. The Task Force has initiated several of the programs and resources that follow.
Resources for Congregations
The task force compiled anti-racism resources for our congregations. View the resources here
Read more about the conference's Racial Justice work at uccmn.org.
Celebrations
Joan & Steve Semenchuk celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 22. They were able to celebrate with their family. Congratulations, Joan and Steve!
Pilgrim Men's Group
The Men's Group is currently meeting via Zoom the first and third Tuesday each month. All men are invited. Please contact Denny Falk if you're interested in participating: dfalk@d.umn.edu or (218) 341‑5483.
Pilgrim Women's Book Club
Monday, May 10 | 4:00 pm
Our book in May will be another library book bag selection which means we will have extra copies to share. So stop in the church office, sign out a copy and then join our discussion.
The book is The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. It’s “the story of a group of young women brought from Japan to San Francisco as ‘picture brides’ nearly a century ago.” “In eight unforgettable sections” this short book, only 129 pages, eloquently tells their extraordinary life stories.
Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291
Church Services Resume
Dear Pilgrim Members and Friends,
At the March meeting of the Church Council, it was decided that in-person services would resume in the Pilgrim building on Sunday, May 2, at 10:00 am. Live streaming will also take place for those members and guests who prefer to watch the service from home.
Guidelines for those who attend in-person are:
- Please stay home if you feel unwell.
- Church entrances and exits will be marked.
- Attendance will be taken.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a mask.
- Ushers will direct members and friends to seating that meets social distancing requirements. Individuals and family groups will be seated throughout the sanctuary.
- Pre-packaged communion elements will be available in the entryway to Salter Hall.
- Bibles and hymnals remain in the pews but should not be handled. Please refer to the bulletin or the television screen for text.
- Congregational singing is discouraged. If you feel the desire to sing along with the music, please do so behind your mask with a soft voice.
- Nursery care and church school will not be available at this time.
- Currently coffee and refreshments will not be available.
- The offering will be collected in one location at the back of the church.
- The order of service will be altered to reduce the number of times people sit and stand.
- Children will not come forward during the Message for All Ages.
- Weather permitting, members will be encouraged to visit outside.
Your safety and well-being are important to us! If you are uncomfortable being in the sanctuary at this time, please stay at home and watch the service over Pilgrim’s YouTube channel or Facebook page. We will continue to monitor the CDC for the latest updates on COVID.
Fondly,
Pastor Judith Youngman
Julie Johnson, Moderator
Calling for Artwork
Did you create any artwork in the year since the church building has been closed? Taken any special photographs? We'd love to feature your artwork in Salter Hall to greet us as we begin to return to the building. If you have something to share, please get in touch with the office.
Polka Service Event
Saturday, May 8 | 10:00 am | 1401 Belknap St, Superior
From Helmi Harrington:
As owners of the beautiful former Hammond Ave Presbyterian Church and now Harrington ARTS Center, 1401 Belknap St., Superior, WI, we often have been asked to present a "Polka Service" (also known as "Polka Mass") in our acoustically ideal former-sanctuary . On Saturday, May 8, we will present the Norsk Hostfest ensemble in this 10:00 AM celebration of music and song, free of charge and open to the public. We are notifying area churches in the hopes that congregations will be interested in attending.
Doors open at 9:00 AM. Open seating. Please enter through the Hammond Ave. doors.
Sunday Worship at Pilgrim
Join us Sunday at 10:00 am for Sunday Worship at Pilgrim. You can view the service on Pilgrim's YouTube channel and Facebook page.
You can download a Bulletin here.
You can download this week's hymns here.
Salter Hall Zoom:Join us after worship for conversation and fellowship every Sunday at 11:00 am.
Meeting ID: 843 9163 0668
Passcode: 912010
This Sunday's scripture readings:
- Acts 8:26-40
- 1 John 4:7-21
- John 15:1-8
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.
YouTube views: 34
Facebook reach: 52
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
Show Us Your Walks
From Jean Jacobson, who says the frogs are out in force this spring
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
A clip of Vivian Vance singing "Shortnin' Bread" came up on my Twitter feed a couple of days ago and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.