eNews for Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Who Will Go for Them?
By Vicki Kemper, Pastor of First Congregational, UCC, of Amherst, Mass.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”—Isaiah 6:8 (NRSV)
In my “call story,” there is no temple filled with the hem of God’s robe. There are no six-winged seraphs, no over-the-top drama.
In my story, there’s just an ever-unspooling thread of grace that connects the disparate dots of my life and draws me deeper into Love. There’s a gentle but persistent voice calling in the night.
Less than a month after leaving a long journalism career, I found myself echoing the prophet Isaiah, singing “Here I Am, Lord” with tears running down my face. In that moment, the song felt like the convergence of every hard and holy thing that had brought me to my first day of seminary.
Yes, I understand that a 40-year-old Jesuit hymn can feel sappy in a nation beset by white supremacy, gun violence, economic injustice, and the politicization of everything, even public health. I realize that this day, which many churches observe as Trinity Sunday, is not primarily about us.
It is about a Love that listens, a Justice that calls, and a Breath that empowers. It's about the Holy One who manifests in myriad forms and is known by many names, a Glorious Presence who dwells in our brokenness and a Gritty Savior who seeks mere mortals to go for Them into the heart of humanity.
On this day and every day, the Great Mystery, whose preferred pronouns are sometimes plural, invites our full participation in an epic story, asking, “Whom shall I send?”
Prayer
“I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.”
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.
Dwelling in the Word with the Damascus Project
We are living in an uncertain and transitional time. In some ways, life is returning to some version of normal, and in other ways we are very much impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Now is the perfect time to come together in community to listen for Jesus’ wisdom through the parables. In June and July, join with like-minded folks as together we dwell in the word.
Dwelling in the Word is a spiritual practice in which we open our hearts and minds to the Spirit’s call as it comes to us through the scriptures. It is also an opportunity to take a pause in your week and practice listening for and noticing God’s presence in our world and in our lives. Come once or come every time. No preparation needed. And when we say 30 minutes, we mean it!
Thursdays, 12–12:30 pm CT, June 10, 17, 24 and July 8, 15, 22 (no meeting July 1)
To receive a weekly email reminder and the meeting link, RSVP with one of these links:
- Already a Damascus Project Network member? Click here.
- Not yet a Damascus Project Network member? Click here.
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!
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: 32
YouTube views: 25
Facebook reach: 40
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
Show Us Your Walks
Enger Tower and golf course, as seen from Observation Hill
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
We were so fortunate to have Georgia Jacobson with us on Sunday. She sang an aria from a Bach cantata written for Trinity Sunday. Here's the whole thing, played by Trinity Baroque Orchestra