eNews for Tuesday, May 25, 2021
The Wonder of It All
By Talitha Arnold, Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe (UCC)
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.—Acts 2:43 (NRSV)
I wonder how long their wonder lasted. After the first Pentecost, I wonder how long those early Christians could sustain their amazement and awe at God’s mighty deeds. The rush of the wind, the tongues of fire, the ability to understand one another in all different languages. It was a wonder-filled day.
But then the next day came, the next week, the next month… ordinary time filled with ordinary life. As a Buddhist saying goes, “Before enlightenment, the laundry. After enlightenment, the laundry.” For the early Christians, perhaps it was, “Before Pentecost, bake the bread. After Pentecost, bake the bread.” Or, “Before Pentecost, the Roman Empire. After Pentecost, the Roman Empire.”
So how long did their wonder last? How long will ours—not only after Pentecost, but also after the end of the pandemic? How long will we thank God for vaccinations? Once our congregations regather in person, how long will we be amazed at the everyday joy of being together?
I can guess some of my own mantras: “Before the pandemic, keep the church going. After the pandemic, keep the church going.” “Before the pandemic, the stewardship campaign. After the pandemic, the stewardship campaign.” Perhaps you have your own.
It’s hard to sustain wonder. The early Christians knew that as well as we do. So after the first Pentecost, they continued to do all the ordinary things we still do as local churches. Break bread, pray, engage the Word, praise God, care for those in need, and figure out how to share their common life.
And their common, ordinary life became the greatest wonder of all. It still is.
Prayer
Thank you, God, for your great wonder. Amen.
Picnic Table Requested
Does anyone have a picnic table that you would be willing to loan to the church? We'd like to put it out on the front lawn to use as a community space at coffee hour following Sunday worship. If you have something that we could use, please call Pastor Judith!
Wheelchair Search
At one point in time, Pilgrim had at least three wheelchairs and one rolling walker. If one of them happens to be at your house, please return it! Thank you.
Confirmation 2021–22 Informational Meeting
All students 9th grade and higher are eligible for confirmation. All potential confirmands and their parents are invited to an informational session Sunday, June 6, from 11:30 to 12:15. The purpose of the gathering is to:
- Find out more about the process of confirmation
- Get your questions answered
- Have a chance to share your ideas and goals
- Listen to the experiences of recent confirmands
- Listen to the experience of recent sponsors
We plan to hold the meeting outside, weather permitting, after the church service. In case of inclement weather we will meet by zoom. Hope to see you there!
Moderator's Report
On Tuesday, May 11, the Church Council met to plan for the Annual Meeting of Pilgrim Church. The date has been set for Sunday, June 13, 2021 following the regular church service. The meeting will be lived-streamed and can also be viewed over ZOOM. The agenda will include discussion of the annual budget, voting on officers and committee members and a brainstorming session on conflict resolution in our church. Following the meeting, we will honor Bob Reichert, Church Treasurer and Mary Sopoci, church business manager who will both be retiring from their positions at the end of June.
Each Pilgrim member will be sent a ballot to vote on the 2021-2022 church budget as well as officers and committee members. Following the presentations on June 13, the council asks that members either mail their ballots or drop them off at church by Friday, June 18.
Please mark June 13 on your calendars for this important meeting. Thank you!
Julie Johnson, Church Moderator
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.
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: 35
YouTube views: 36
Facebook reach: 27
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:
- Anita and her family as she undergoes medical treatment
- Wanda and Carol and their families as they recover from surgery
- Betty and her family as her son undergoes medical treatment
Condolences to Steve and Cindy Grindy and their family after the recent passing of Steve's father, and longtime member, Cliff Grindy. A service for Cliff will be held at Pilgrim on Friday, July 9, at 1:30 pm. You can read Cliff's obituary in the Duluth News Tribune.
Show Us Your Walks
A glorious day along Miller 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
A cantata for Pentecost, with a terrific (male) alto aria.