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March 25, 2009
Pilgrims on the Journey:
1. As we head toward our final week in the season of Lent, we continue our practice of inviting a different member or friend of the congregation to offer a prayer for “a planet in peril.”
Today, our prayer is by one of our teenage members, (and someone close to my heart), Kelsey Krehbiel:
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God, Creator, you witnessed the first breath taken, and you will be there to see the last. You have watched the flowers bloom, and now you observe them whither. You smile when we tread lightly, and now you cry as you see us tread heavily, squishing the earth beneath our feet. You remember when we looked to the stars for guidance, and now we can barely see them. Help us, O God, to reverse the effects of our foolishness. Help us to clear the skies and restore the earth. Remind us of the days when rain was safe to drink. We have built our own tower of Babel. Help us to tear it down. Amen.
You can read other Lenten prayers at http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/lentenprayers.html
2. Our Sunday Morning Adult Forum concludes this week 9:30 a.m. in the Bird Room:
“The Resurrection and Human Redemption,” led by Jeff Krehbiel
This week our dialogue partner will be Charles “Van” Gorder.
3. Our Monday Night Lenten Series also continues next Monday:
“Going Deeper... Experiments in Prayer and Community”
We begin with a Soup & Bread supper at 6:30 p.m.
4. For our Maundy Thursday Service (April 9), during Holy Week, when we gather in the Fellowship Hall for a special service that includes celebrating the Lord's Supper, sharing an "Agape" meal of bread, cheese and fruit, and a "telling" of the Passion story from the Gospel of Mark, we need:
- Maundy Thursday Storytellers: On Each year the story is told "by heart" by 10-12 Pilgrims. Would you like to be a story-teller this year? After coffee hour this week (March 29), I will lead a brief Storytelling Training, and make assignments. If you have never done this before, it is a wonderful experience-- anyone can learn to do this! Send me a note if you would like to be a "teller" this year. No previous experience necessary!
- Volunteers to provide the food for this simple supper. If you can contribute bread, fruit, or cheese for 6 to 8 people on April 9 by 6 p.m., please notify Jean Stewart after Sunday worship, or at jean.stewart@rcn.com, or phone: 202-387-2315.
5. OGHS: We will be collecting the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) Offering on Palm Sunday, April 5. The offering will be distributed between the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self Development of People, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. During Service each week we will hear a little more about some of the people and groups that have been aided through the OGHS offering. To learn more, you can follow this link: http://www.pcusa.org/oghs/
6. Phillips Collection Volunteers: The Phillips Collection, an arts center and museum north of Pilgrims on 21st Street, is looking for dynamic individuals to serve as Volunteer Children’s Docents to guide school programs, exploring works of art with children kindergarten through 8th grade. If you have a passion to connect students to art, contact rgoldberg@phillipscollection.org.
7. Save the Dates:
- Fifteen Years Later: The State of Rwandan Reconciliation, is a panel discussion to be held April 1, 7-9 p.m., sponsored by Indego Africa (where newcomer Janet Rabin is a board member) to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. The in-depth panel discussion on the progress of political and ethnic reconciliation in Rwanda will be followed by an informal reception where panelists and members of the Rwandan diaspora will share their experiences in a conversational setting. For more information go to www.indegoafrica.org
- On April 4, Ashley and I will lead an “Imago Relationship Workshop” from 9:00 to noon. Planned especially for those who are getting married or thinking about getting married, the workshop is open to all couples in the congregation, gay or straight, married or not, in a long-term relationship who wish to go deeper. Send me a note for more information.
- Habitat Build on April 18th: In February, The Pilgrimage hosted a college group who was working with D.C. Habitat for Humanity for a discounted rate. In exchange for that discounted rate, we (Church of the Pilgrims + our friends who want to come with us) were given a build-day on Saturday, April 18th. Mark your calendars for a day of construction and creation.
- On April 23rd from 6:30-8:30 at Metropolitan Methodist Church (Nebraska and New Mexico Aves NW) the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place is sponsoring a form on Homeless Veterans. See the CCHFO Website: www.cchfp.org for details.
Peace,
Jeff Krehbiel, Pastor
Church of the Pilgrims
Washington, DC
www.churchofthepilgrims.org |
March 18, 2009
Pilgrims on the Journey:
1. Today I begin with a pastoral concern: Karen Kinney’s mother, Gerry Robinson, passed away Monday night. (Karen was very moved to learn that, at that very hour, we were lifting up her mother “into the light” during our Monday Lenten series.) A memorial will be at 10:30 a.m. this Saturday at Messiah United Methodist Church, 25 Middle Street, Taneytown, MD 21787. Contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the church, marked for the “Caring and Sharing Ministry,” or the “Mission Committee.” You can send Karen a note at karkinr@aol.com or
1168 Harry Shirley Road
Kearneysville, WV 25430.
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Karen writes, “She died peacefully surrounded by family singing, laughing and praying - telling favorite Mom and Grandma stories. I am very grateful to have been her daughter and her friend. Our family is also very grateful for your prayers during this time.”
2. As a part of our focus throughout the season of Lent on our relationship to planet earth and the integrity of creation, each week in worship, and here in my Updates, we are inviting a different member or friend of the congregation to offer a prayer for “a planet in peril.”
Today, our prayer is by Martin Benton:
Dear God,
During this Lenten season, at those times we experience the grayness of cloudy, rainy days, and the softness of the earth below our feet as the moisture of the cold dark earth is heated by the rays of the sun brought about by the changing season, let us take time from the chaos of our hectic and overscheduled lives, to contemplate your masterwork of creation. As the seasons change from winter to spring, may we feel your redeeming force in our lives to heal our broken bodies, our broken relationships, and our broken world. Help us to experience a renewal of our souls, so that we may be prepared to touch the lives of others that we encounter on our daily rounds – the woman in the Office that has just received a diagnosis of cancer, the young couple expecting their first child whose obstetrician has informed them that the baby girl will be born with down syndrome, or a long time friend whose father is on life support systems and whose family faces difficult end of life decisions relating to his father’s care. May we, especially during these forty days of Lent, contemplate the suffering that Jesus suffered for us, so that we may better be prepared to walk with others during times of difficulty, knowing deep in our being the promise held forth by Easter morning.
You can read other Lenten prayers at http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/lentenprayers.html
3. Our Sunday Morning Adult Forum continues this week 9:30 a.m. in the Bird Room:
“The Resurrection and Human Redemption,” led by Jeff Krehbiel
This week our dialogue partner will be Erin Sharp.
4. Our Monday Night Lenten Series continues next Monday:
“Going Deeper... Experiments in Prayer and Community”
If you missed the first two weeks, you are still invited to join us for the remaining weeks. Please sign up in advance with me or Ashley so that we can make small group assignments. We begin with a Soup & Bread supper at 6:30 p.m.
5. Choir Retreat this Saturday, March 21: Would you like to sing with the choir for Easter? This Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon, Music Director Rob Passow will lead a choir retreat to go over upcoming music—a great opportunity if you would like to join the choir. Also, Thursday night rehearsals will resume tomorrow night, March 19. Send Rob a note for more information: rob.passow@verizon.net
6. Maundy Thursday Storytellers: On Maundy Thursday (April 9), during Holy Week, we gather in the Fellowship Hall for a special service that includes celebrating the Lord's Supper, sharing an "Agape" meal of bread, cheese and fruit, and a "telling" of the Passion story from the Gospel of Mark. Each year the story is told "by heart" by 10-12 Pilgrims. Would you like to be a story-teller this year? After coffee hour on March 29, I will lead a brief Storytelling Training, and make assignments. If you have never done this before, it is a wonderful experience-- anyone can learn to do this! Send me a note if you would like to be a "teller" this year. No previous experience necessary!
7. OGHS: We will be collecting the One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) Offering on Palm Sunday, April 5. The offering will be distributed between the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Self Development of People, and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. During Service each week we will hear a little more about some of the people and groups that have been aided through the OGHS offering. To learn more about the Presbyterian Hunger Program, you can follow this link: http://www.pcusa.org/hunger/what.htm
8. Ashley’s Ten Year “Connections” Blog: 2009 marks the 10th year of Ashley’s ministry with Church of the Pilgrims. To mark the occasion, over the course of the year she will visit 10 key clergy women in her life who have been important to her spiritual formation and growth, learning from them about their own growth, evolution, and risk taking. She will record the interviews, and write reflections on each one on a new blog she has created just for this purpose. Her first blog entry is about a visit this week with Pilgrim friend Louise Green. Her first interview is this week with Barbara Gerlach, recently retired co-pastor of First Congregational UCC here in DC. Scroll down to read more about the purpose and intent of her “Ten Year Years of Connections” project. www.tenyearsofconnections.blogspot.com <http://www.tenyearsofconnections.blogspot.com> .
9. Pilgrim’s 2008 Annual Report now online: If you missed the Annual Meeting of the Congregation on March 1, the Annual Report of the Congregation is now posted on our website. Here you can read reports from me and Ashley, along with all the ministries of the congregation, plus budget and financial information from 2008 and 2009. A wealth of information! Go to http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org/AnnualReport2008.pdf
10. Save the Dates:
- Life Line Screening will return to Church of the Pilgrims this Saturday, March 21, to provide preventative health screening. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to: blocked arteries, which is a leading cause of stroke; abdominal aortic aneurysms, which can lead to a ruptured aorta; hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease; atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat, which is closely tied to stroke risk; and a bone density screening used to assess the risk of osteoporosis. Register for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm for $ 149 . All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. Call 1-800-324-1851 to pre-register, which is required.
· Fifteen Years Later: The State of Rwandan Reconciliation, is a panel discussion to be held April 1, 7-9 p.m., sponsored by Indego Africa (where newcomer Janet Rabin is a board member) to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. The in-depth panel discussion on the progress of political and ethnic reconciliation in Rwanda will be followed by an informal reception where panelists and members of the Rwandan diaspora will share their experiences in a conversational setting. For more information go to www.indegoafrica.org <http://www.indegoafrica.org/>
- On April 4, Ashley and I will lead an “Imago Relationship Workshop” from 9:00 to noon. Planned especially for those who are getting married or thinking about getting married, the workshop is open to all couples in the congregation, gay or straight, married or not, in a long-term relationship who wish to go deeper. Send me a note for more information.
- Habitat Build on April 18th: In February, The Pilgrimage hosted a college group who was working with D.C. Habitat for Humanity for a discounted rate. In exchange for that discounted rate, we (Church of the Pilgrims + our friends who want to come with us) were given a build-day on Saturday, April 18th. Mark your calendars for a day of construction and creation.
- On April 23rd from 6:30-8:30 at Metropolitan Methodist Church (Nebraska and New Mexico Aves NW) the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place is sponsoring a form on Homeless Veterans. See the CCHFO Website: www.cchfp.org <http://www.cchfp.org/> for details.
11. Other Prayer Concerns: Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:
- Jean Gilpin is in Sibley Hospital. She is expected to return to Ingleside today.
Peace,
Jeff Krehbiel, Pastor
Church of the Pilgrims
Washington, DC
www.churchofthepilgrims.org <http://www.churchofthepilgrims.org>
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March 12, 2009
Pilgrims on the Journey:
- As a part of our focus throughout the season of Lent on our relationship to planet earth and the integrity of creation, each week in worship, and here in my Updates, we are inviting a different member or friend of the congregation to offer a prayer for “a planet in peril.” Today, our prayer is by relative newcomer to our community of faith, The Rev. Erin Sharp. Erin, a member of National Capital Presbytery, served as pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon, and is now in graduate studies in pastoral counseling. She attends worship with her husband, David, and their newborn daughter, Iona. This is Erin’s prayer:
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God of true Love, in Christ you make all things new. You made us to live in authentic relationships. In this time of going deeper, we confess that we tend to live on the surface. Even those of us who think deeply, feel deeply, and see deeply. . .we are often unaware of the tides and currents that move through our darkest, quietest places. We know our anger, our pride, our perfectionism, our obsessions, our indifference. . . What we miss is the hurt, the fear, and the loneliness that we mask, even in our most sacred relationships. We protect ourselves from these feelings, but trap ourselves in the end. Make us fearless, O Christ of the cross, fearless to acknowledge these most vulnerable feelings to ourselves, to you, and to those we love. Help us, that we might seek healing in your truth and love and in our relationships. Prepare a safe place for us in our relationships with our partners, our families and our friends, a place to grow in truth and light. Fill us with your compassion and forgiveness for one another, that our relationships might be strengthened. For through those relationships, you transform us, support us and empower us to heal your creation, your body. . .to make all things new. Amen.
2. Our Sunday Morning Adult Forum continues this week:
“The Resurrection and Human Redemption,” led by Jeff Krehbiel
9:30 a.m. in the Bird Room.
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ resurrection? How do we understand it?
How does saying “Jesus is raised” relate to our understanding of life and death, the
meaning of human existence, and “end” of history? Led in dialogue with conversation
partners Margee Iddings, Erin Sharp, and Charles “Van” Van Gorder,
we will examine our core beliefs about what we affirm on Easter Sunday.
3. Our Monday Night Lenten Series, which began this week, continues next Monday:
“Going Deeper... Experiments in Prayer and Community”
The entire congregation, members and friends alike, and encouraged to join together each Monday in Lent for a soup and bread supper, beginning at 6:30p.m., followed by time in small groups to share about our lives, reflect upon God’s call, and join together in prayer, concluding by 8:45. If you missed the first week, you are still invited to join us for the remeaning weeks. Please sign up in advance with me or Ashley so that we can make small group assignments.
4. A Special Friday Club: You are invited to a special Friday Club tomorrow to celebrate the 70th birthday of Nancy Lee Head. Please let Pat Goeldner know TODAY (ASAP) if you plan to join us for the special day: pgoeldner@iona.org
5. Save the Date: On April 23rd from 6:30-8:30 at Metropolitan Methodist Church (Nebraska and New Mexico Aves NW) the Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place is sponsoring a form on Homeless Veterans. See the CCHFO Website: www.cchfp.org <http://www.cchfp.org/> for details.
6. Prayer Concerns: Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:
- Karen Kinney’s mother, Gerry Robinson, has been transferred to the Hershey Medical Center, near Karen’s brother.
- Rob Passow’s father, Bob, is recuperating from surgery last Saturday (on his stomach, not his knee, as I incorrectly reported last week.)
- Penny Sandora is home from the hospital, but is very weak, with continued difficulty walking.
7. Finally, a personal note: I am sending my Updates out a day late this week because yesterday I was in an all-day retreat with the Presbytery Council. Some of you know that I was elected to serve on the Council last Fall, and in February, elected to serve as Chair. The Council serves as the leadership team and Board of Directors for the Presbytery, the regional governing body of 110 Presbyterian churches in the DC metro area. In ordinary times, this would have been a challenging position. Now, however, we are facing the worst financial crisis of the Presbytery’s history. Challenging does not come close to describing what we are up against. I ask for your prayers and your patience as we seek to help the Presbytery navigate these difficult waters.
Peace,
Jeff Krehbiel, Pastor
Church of the Pilgrims
Washington, DC
www.churchofthepilgrims.org |
March 4, 2009
Pilgrims on the Journey:
- Our celebration of Lent began with great energy this week, despite having to cancel the first night of our Lenten series. In worship throughout the season we will focus on our relationship to planet earth and the integrity of creation. Each week in worship, and here in my Updates, we will invite a different member or friend of the congregation to offer a prayer for “a planet in peril.” Shera Jenne kicked off our prayers last Sunday in worship. Today, Rob Heppenstall offers the following:
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Lord, our world is in peril and far from Your Kingdom. In this Lenten season, as we prepare ourselves for the death and resurrection of Christ, our hearts and thoughts dwell upon the brokenness of our world that so desperately needs Your resurrecting power and love.
Today we pray for the people of Haiti. We pray for the millions of stomachs that will go hungry, for all of the bodies that will remain malnourished, for all who will be effected by criminal violence and denied justice, and for the many families who will grieve the loss of a brother, sister, mother, or father without ever knowing why. We pray for those Haitians still recovering from the detestation of Hurricane Hannah, that caused the loss of countless crops, homes, lives, and livelihoods. Give them nourishment, peace, justice, comfort and strength.
We offer our prayers in a world with the technology, capacity, and wealth to avoid and respond to poverty and injustice like that found in Haiti, but sadly we allow them to continue all the same. As Christians we call you Lord, yet most of us continue to live according to our own priorities and desires. Challenge us to cease acting simply as we wish and to live with You as the sovereign over our lives. How different the world would look if we followed no gods but You! Enter our hearts and resurrect our own lives that we might become Your disciples, working to transform our periling world into Thy Heavenly Kingdom.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
2. Our Sunday Morning Adult Form continues this week:
“The Resurrection and Human Redemption,” led by Jeff Krehbiel
9:30 a.m. in the Bird Room.
What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ resurrection? How do we understand it?
How does saying “Jesus is raised” relate to our understanding of life and death, the
meaning of human existence, and “end” of history? Led in dialogue with conversation
partners Margee Iddings, Erin Sharp, and Charles “Van” Van Gorder,
we will examine our core beliefs about what we affirm on Easter Sunday.
3. Our Monday Night Lenten Series will begin next Monday, March 9
“Going Deeper... Experiments in Prayer and Community”
The entire congregation, members and friends alike, and encouraged to join together each Monday in Lent for a soup and bread supper, beginning at 6:30p.m., followed by time in small groups to share about our lives, reflect upon God’s call, and join together in prayer, concluding by 8:45. While you are not required to attend each week, we hope participants will attend at least three of the five weeks. Please sign up in advance with Jeff or Ashley so that we can make small group assignments.
4. Dinning Out for Life: On Thursday, March 5th, more than 150 restaurants in the Washington region will donate 25-100% of their proceeds to Food & Friends. Simply by dining out, you will ensure that thousands of individuals facing HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses, will receive the daily, nutritious meals so vital to their care. Dining Out for Life is a true expression of how a community can join forces to save the lives of their neighbors. Choose a restaurant and invite your friends today! http://www.foodandfriends.org/site/pp.asp?c=ggLMIYOGKrF&b=3747191. If you would like to join other Pilgrims for this event at a restaurant in Dupont Circle or Capitol Hill let Gerry Hendershot know (ghendershot@earthlink.net) and he will facilitate a meet up--indicate your preference of neighborhood, if any.
5. A Special Friday Club: You are invited to a special Friday Club on March 13 to celebrate the 70th birthday of Nancy Lee Head. Please let Pat Goeldner know if you plan to join us for the special day: pgoeldner@iona.org
6. Prayer Concerns: Please keep the following in your thoughts and prayers:
- DeLania Hardy is home from the hospital and doing much better.
- Penny Sandora continues in the Virginia Hospital Center, being treated for blood clots in her leg. She is in good spirits, and appreciates visitors.
- Jeff Francisco has secured temporary living quarters, and his insurance company is being very helpful.
- Karen Kinney’s mother, Gerry Robinson, fell and broke her hip last week. She is being transferred to a rehab center near Karen’s brother.
- Rob Passow’s father, Bob, is having surgery on his knee this weekend (Rob will be going home to offer support.)
Peace,
Jeff Krehbiel, Pastor
Church of the Pilgrims
Washington, DC
www.churchofthepilgrims.org |
February 2009 Pastor's Updates
January 2009 Pastor's Updates
December 2008 Pastor's Updates
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December 2007 Pastor's Updates
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Sabbatical 2007 Pastor's Updates
April 2007 Pastor's Updates
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December 2006 Pastor's Updates
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April 2006 Pastor's Updates |
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