eNews for Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Wanting and Willing
By Kenneth Samuel, Pastor of Victory for the World Church, Stone Mountain, Georgia
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.—Psalm 23:1 (NRSV)
After being advised by my doctor recently to drink more water, I placed myself on a water-drinking regimen. During the week, no more sodas, juice drinks or iced tea. Initially I struggled because my palate had never taken a liking to what I considered to be the blandness of water. Nonetheless I had a regimen to follow.
Every weekday I drank water, but I really wanted to drink something else. I had water with breakfast, but I really wanted orange juice. I had water with dinner, but I really wanted iced tea. I had water with snacks, but I really wanted Vanilla Coke.
After about a month into my regimen, something happened that I never expected. I developed a taste and a liking for water, so much so that I no longer have to force myself to drink it.
I now choose water over soft drinks and juices throughout the week and even on weekends when I’d planned to escape the drudgery of drinking water. I never thought I’d say it, but water is now what I want, not just what I need.
I’ve often wondered how the writer of Psalm 23 could claim to have no more wants, after declaring the Lord as their personal shepherd. I viewed being in the Lord’s flock as a moral duty that prohibited the fulfillment of any other wants and desires.
But now I’m looking at my empty water glass and wanting more of something good for me that I thought I’d never really want.
Maybe when we say, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” we give the Holy Spirit permission to not only change our direction, but our desires.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to taste and see that you are good. Amen
Celebrations
Joan & Steve Semenchuk celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on April 22. They were able to celebrate with their family. Congratulations, Joan and Steve!
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.
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
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.
Salter Hall Zoom:Join us after worship for conversation and fellowship every Sunday at 11:00 am.
Meeting ID: 843 9163 0668
Passcode: 912010
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: 32
Facebook reach: 36
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 Jane Killough, a walk by Lester River with Sarah Killough and Jane's brother George Fuller
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
The great Christa Ludwig passed away over the weekend at age 93. Here she is singing Beethoven's Fidelio.