eNews for Thursday, April 22, 2021

A Welcome Sign of Resurrection

By Conference Minister Rev. Shari Prestemon

Yesterday, deep into our Easter season, a welcome sign of Resurrection hope showed up. Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, was found guilty on all three counts in the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

Across the Twin Cities, and indeed across the nation, there was a palpable sigh of relief and cries of thanksgiving. Finally, an officer who needlessly killed a person of color was held accountable. The jury’s decision simply shined a light on what we already knew: George Floyd’s black life mattered. George Floyd was a precious Child of God whose dignity and worth should never have been in question.

While we rejoice in this one verdict in this one case about this one precious life, we must also remember that far too many other lives have been similarly taken with no accountability that followed. Daunte Wright’s death in Brooklyn Center at the hands of a police officer on April 11 leaves no room for doubt that this centuries-long pattern of violence against persons of color will continue until and unless substantive, transformational change comes. Racism will continue to rear its ugly head until we who have white privilege face hard truths and do the work needed in our own lives and communities to dismantle racism in all its forms.

We know from our own faith’s story that after the Resurrection, the work of the emerging Church began in earnest. It was then that all who claimed Christ as their cornerstone had to enflesh his message and ministry in their own daily lives. It was in that post-Easter season that the Church was commissioned to build beloved community and step into its calling as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We are in that season now, beloved Church. We have still more work to do to create a just and loving world for all. And that work must be done by all of us: in rural places and cities, in small churches and big ones, from north to south and east to west. All of us.

What will you do where you are to share in this ministry to which all of us are called? Let us not grow weary in witnessing to the extravagant love and bold justice of the God who created us and calls us to faithful ministry rooted in Easter Hope.

Statement from UCC Leadership

The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President
The Rev. Traci D. Blackmon, Associate General Minister
The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, Associate General Minister

"We share a collective breath of relief in the moments following the announced guilty verdict on all three counts against the now convicted murderer who recklessly ended the life of George Floyd.

"There is no joy in this, instead a deep and profound sense of relief in knowing that a white police officer who killed a Black citizen with neither regard for the law nor his responsibility to uphold it will be held accountable."

Continue reading their full statement

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.
• 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][1] or [Facebook page][2]. 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][3].

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.

Contact [Carol Bacig][4] with questions.

[Join us on Zoom][5].

Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291

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][1] and [Facebook page][2].

[You can download a Bulletin here.][6]

[You can download this week's hymns here.][7]

Salter Hall Zoom:[Join us after worship][8] for conversation and fellowship every Sunday at 11:00 am.
Meeting ID: 843 9163 0668
Passcode: 912010

This Sunday's [scripture readings][9]:

• Acts 4:5-12
• Psalm 23
• 1 John 3:16-24
• John 10:11-18

If you have an announcement that you would like read during a Sunday service, please get it [to the office][3] 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][10] 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][11] on YouTube.
YouTube views: 34
Facebook reach: 46

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][12].

Meeting ID: 497 627 641
Passcode: 926781

What Patrick's Listening To

Patti LuPone turned 72 yesterday! Here she is blowing the roof off the Beaumont with ["Blow, Gabriel, Blow"][13].

ucc-leadership-expresses-relief-resolve-after-jury-returns-guilty-verdict-in-george-floyds-murder/ [1]: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0c0NO2oHaBJA4sKo60QY5w [2]: https://www.facebook.com/PilgrimDuluth/ [3]: mailto:office@pilgrimduluth.org [4]: mailto:cbacig@gmail.com [5]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85688201294?pwd=MUlpQSs4TSt6VzRuR3F4c1pqNHg3Zz09 [6]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C2uHUDdXyyDT_ZA1ySAlmwQuYyM-vtLx/view?usp=sharing [7]: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NA8hxb6VEJIg4oyxwv8jez5lkFEpYiV6/view?usp=sharing [8]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84391630668?pwd=VlQ1dXJJc3ZrVVc0M3dZczdiTk16UT09 [9]: https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts.php?id=89 [10]: mailto:judithy@pilgrimduluth.org [11]: https://youtu.be/z6-3wqYvwTg [12]: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/497627641?pwd=RVVHZGdpOUZucG5GSlNTeHNYWEtwdz09 [13]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdHzLBnzKBM [14]: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-Joining-a-Meeting