eNews for Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Not an Ending
By Molly Baskette
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she told them that he had said these things to her.—John 20:16-18 (NRSV)
One of the enduring mysteries is what actually happened 2,000 years ago on that morning we now call Easter.
We have four unreliable narrators: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They all agree that Jesus really died. But then they diverge. Mark says the women found an empty tomb and ran away terrified, and never told a soul, which is naturally how everybody knows about it now. Matthew and Luke have slightly more optimistic accounts of Jesus coming alive again, walking, talking. John has the most to say about the resurrection, with Jesus showing off his grody wounds to Thomas, cooking kippers on the beach, and going on a whistle-stop tour.
One story, four different endings.
Here’s a shocker: Maybe the Gospel writers came up with four different endings because they were doing their best to comfort a people who needed hope, even not-quite-precise hope, even hope with a spin, even false hope.
We know about needing hope. Life is beautiful. Life is also very, very hard. Some years are years of Good Fridays that leave us broke and broken-hearted.
The unreliable Gospel narrators knew there were other versions of the story. They even borrowed from each other, like a cup of sugar between neighbors, a story just as sweet.
The authors didn’t care that their Easters were different. They experienced Easter each in their own way. They weren’t trying to write endings. They were writing beginnings.
Easter is not a history lesson with a tidy ending, but an invitation to look past death in all its disguises. After every death, new things get born. Your story is not over. You are a resurrection in progress, still becoming. You may sometimes have a year of Good Fridays, but Easter will always arrive.
Prayer
God, I thought I was at the end. But you’re just beginning a new story in me. Write the first word.
About the Author
Molly Baskette pastors at First Church Berkeley (CA) UCC. She is the author of several books about church
renewal, parenting & faith, and spirituality. You can connect with her by subscribing to her newsletter,
Doomsday Dance Party.
Easter Stones
The chancel as it was decorated for Easter
Easter stones!
Staff Vacations
Pastor Judith is on vacation this week. Jackie Falk will be handling pastoral emergencies while she is away. Please get in touch with the office if you have any needs or concerns at (218) 724‑8503.
Mary Sopoci, our Business Manager, is also on vacation this week. The office will be closed on Thursday, April 8, until Monday, April 12. Happy Spring, everyone!
Keep Duluth Clean
Pilgrim Youth Group and All Pilgrims
The Pilgrim Youth group would like to invite all Pilgrims to participate in the Keep Duluth Clean event this Saturday, April 10. We plan to clean from 9:00-10:00 am at the first pull out after Brighton Beach. And we will clean from 3:00-4:00 pm at the second pull out after Brighton beach. Bring your own gloves please and we will wear masks. Contact Cindy Grindy (218) 349‑9611 with questions.
Second Hour Event on Social Justice at Pilgrim
Pilgrim's Social Justice Ministry (SJM) will do a second hour program on charitable contributions that are made by Pilgrim Church. Pilgrim has contributed over $35,000 to worthy causes over the past year, and members of the SJM would like to share information about these organizations with you. Please join us for this second hour program at 11:00 am on Sunday, April 11.
Join us on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 843 9163 0668
Passcode: 912010
Pilgrim Women's Book Club
Monday, April 12 | 4:00 pm
Our book selection for April is The Good Lord Bird by James McBride. It's a "comedy novel which depicts the life of the abolitionist John Brown." The book won the 2013 National Book Award. It's been described as a "riveting story which will make you laugh and think."
Since this is a Book Club in a Bag selection, we have additional copies available. If you would like a copy to read, email Carol Bacig and she'll get a copy to you.
Meeting ID: 856 8820 1294
Passcode: 260291
Sunday Worship at Pilgrim
Join us Sunday at 10:00 am for Sunday Worship at Pilgrim. This Sunday's service is provided by the National Setting of the United Church of Christ, plus some favorite musical selections from Pilgrim's archives. 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. Easter Sunday was our first service live streaming from the Sanctuary!
YouTube views: 77
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
A beautiful day in Brewer Park
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
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of perhaps the greatest American Musical, Follies, here is Dorothy Collins (the original Sally) singing "Losing My Mind".