April 25, 2007
Updates and Invitations: The Sabbatical Version
Throughout the sabbatical period, we will be hearing stories in worship and in our Updates and Invitations from Pilgrims based on our sabbatical themes of “connections and clarity.” Each Pilgrim “storyteller” was given a reflection exercise to help name and articulate a story of connection and clarity from their experiences at church. This story of connection and clarity comes from Bart Oosterveld.
The protesters last year on Easter Sunday and the aftermath of their protest defined a true point of connection to our congregation for me. On Easter 2006, several protestors were outside Pilgrims holding large protest signs that suggested being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender violated a Christian moral ethic. It was a powerful and violating reminder of the fact that we hold minority viewpoints on what it means to be a Christian – a fact usually masked by our location. Being a More Light congregation is comfortable and comforting for Pilgrims – we usually are somewhat shielded from the violence of discrimination, even given the ongoing debate in the Presbyterian church…
Since we were surprised by the protest, we had no “coordinated response,” and many Pilgrims were involved in responding in a variety of ways – Gerry Hendershot reached out to the protesters to engage them in conversation, Pat Goeldner tried to get them to stop shouting for at least the duration of the children’s egg hunt, and others just tried to come to grips with each other about the protestors’ hurtful and unchristian messages. Discussing the protesters and their message clarified our views and their importance for me (and I think for others) – they were a powerful reminder of the connection Pilgrims have through a common view on how to live a Christian life, welcome and unwelcome at once.
Ashley’s note: Our Pilgrim newsletter covered this story in the May, 2006 edition. You can also read about the “badge of honor” we earned from the More Light Presbyterians.
Sabbatical Updates:
- Sabbatical Dinners: This past Sunday, four of our sabbatical dinners took place at the homes of Stan Lou, Carol Huls and Bill Gatter, Jack and Ann Womeldorf and Jeff Pittman and Melissa Rosenblatt. Each dinner community created vegetarian Biryani and enjoyed a casual evening of connecting with one another---newbie Pilgrims and old timers alike! Bart Oosterveld and Diana Bruce will host a dinner this Sunday along with Pat Goeldner. Carol Huls’ sabbatical dinner reflection:With everyone making the same dinner, I think it presented the idea that sometimes we think we are out here, alone, doing our own thing -- when at the very same moment, a few blocks away, someone could be doing the exact same thing.... Fascinating.
- Where is Jeff? Jeff is currently in Antigua, Guatemala, where he is studying Spanish at the Probigua language school. Jeff will return to the states on May 15th.
- Jeff’s a Blogger! Check out Jeff’s Sabbatical Blog
- Sabbatical Preaching Schedule, April-May:
April 29th: Ashley
May 6th: Ashley
May 13th: Rev. Hector Mendez, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Havana, Cuba.
May 20: Rev. Margee Iddings
May 27th, Pentecost: Ashley
- Sabbatical Retreat: May 19th, 9am-4pm at Pilgrims
On May 19th, Pilgrims are invited to join in our sabbatical retreat. Our retreat will be a day of spiritual formation as we explore how we are connected to Pilgrims and thus to the city and the global village in which we live. Our retreat will be led by Rev. Margee Iddings, Presbyterian minister and former ED of a spiritual retreat center in West Virginia.
Christian Education:
- April 29th: Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light (GWIPL). Come to hear and learn how Pilgrim’s can become part of the religious movement to reduce global warming and how we can make our homes and church building part of the solution. This Sunday we will do an “audit” of our church building with a walking tour and explore ways we can make 22nd and P go “green!”
- May 6th:Connections and Clarity: Explore the lectionary texts for May 6th worship. Led by Ashley
Connecting with the justice issues in DC and in God’s Global Village
- Join Pilgrims Rallying for Peace in Darfur -- On Sunday, April 29th, following worship, Pilgrims are invited to join the Save Darfur coalition in Lafayette Park in front of the White House, to call for world leaders to adopt and enforce tough sanctions on Sudan until it allows deployment of an international peacekeeping force to Darfur. We will depart from the church after coffee hour, walking to Lafayette Park. For further information, please contact Betty Rudolph vstbeehive@verizon.net or 202-625-2940.
Mark Your Calendars for several events connected with visit from Rev. Hector Mendez, First Presbyterian Reformed Church of Havana, our guest preacher on Sunday, May 13.
- Potluck Dinner in the Bird Room - On Thursday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m. Church of the Pilgrims will sponsor a Presbytery-wide potluck dinner in honor of Rev. Mendez. Come hear about the challenges and explosive growth in the Cuban Presbyterian Reformed Church. RSVP to Stan Lou, stangoblue@juno.com or 703-528-2784.
- National Capital Presbytery Peacemaking and Global Mission roundtable discussion - On Tuesday, May 8 at 7:30 pm, New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
- Washington Nationals Baseball Game - on Friday, May 11, 7:05 p.m. vs. the Florida Marlins at RFK Stadium. Join folks from Church of the Pilgrims and New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in the ultimate Cuban sport! To reserve tickets, please contact Miriam Dewhurst, 703-560-0871, MDew1117@aol.com. She will order your tickets --price yet unknown--and you can pay her directly.
Upcoming Special Offering:
- On May 6th, we will receive a special offering that benefits the Ingleside Supporting Fund. Ingleside, located in NW Washington, DC, and formerly known as the Presbyterian Retirement Community, begins its second century this year. The fund provides supplemental funding for residents whose retirement accounts have proved inadequate.
Prayer Concerns:
- Michael Seppala and Mary Judy: Recent graduates of Virginia Tech. Michael was also on the rescue squad at Virginia Tech, the very squad that responded to the shootings.
- Jackie Smith: Jackie’s brother, Virgil, is dealing with a lung infection. Jackie’s beloved dog, Roo, also recently died.
- Justin George:Justin’s mom who is living with cancer.
Peace,
Ashley
Sabbatical 2007 Pastor's Updates
February 2007 Pastor's Updates
December 2006 Pastor's Updates
November 2006 Pastor's Updates
September 2006 Pastor's Updates