May 2, 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 Gerry Hendershot.
Rummy, Demons, and Me: Adventures of a Pilgrims’ Greeter
About four years ago, I got hooked on greeting worshipers at the door on Sunday mornings. That was a miracle in itself, because before then I had had a clinical case of greeter-aversion. I was cured by Washington Interfaith Network (WIN) training in one-on-one meetings, a critical element in Saul Alinsky-style community organizing.
Greeting people is always rewarding, but two events that occurred in roughly the same time frame illustrated to me in a memorable way what we mean when we say, as we often do, that Pilgrims “follows Christ at the corner of 22nd & P in our nation’s capital.” They involved Donald Rumsfeld (“Rummy”), then Secretary of Defense, and a homeless man with demons.
I was at the front door one Sunday when I saw that a construction sign on the sidewalk had blown over. I went down to right the sign and after I did so I saw that a middle-aged couple had just walked by me toward the church and were looking toward the open door. Guessing they were visitors, I fast-walked back to the door so I could greet them when they arrived.
Only then did I notice that a black SUV was moving slowly down the street behind the couple, and that walking behind them was a man with an earphone who was eying me with suspicion. I looked again at the couple, and saw the man point to our rainbow welcome sign and say something to his wife. They were, of course, the Rumsfelds--and they kept on walking.
On another Sunday in the same season, a middle-aged, African-American, homeless man stopped on the sidewalk and looked up to me as I stood at the open door. I went down and greeted him. He asked if I were the Pastor. I said no, but I was an Elder. He then told me that he was invested with demons and asked me to cast them out.
He knelt on the sidewalk facing the church, reaching out to me with his hands and eyes. What should I do? What would Jesus do? I sat on the steps, took his hands in mine, and spoke a prayer for healing. Where did the words come from? After the “Amen,” the man thanked me, stood, and walked away. I have never seen him again. Was it Christ?
Rummy, demons, and me. At 22nd & P in our nation’s capital.
On that note….Hey, Isn’t That….?
Karen Hughes <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/53692.htm> , Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, in worship on Sunday! Note: This “Hey, Isn’t That…..” was sent to the Washington Post Style section’s “Reliable Source <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/30/AR2007043001973.html> .” Let’s see if our special guest star’s appearance makes it into print. The person who leaked this information will remain anonymous. <http://www.thepilgrimage.org/staff.html> If you ask this anonymous person about this leak, she will respond, “I have no memory of that.”
Sabbatical Updates:
- Sabbatical Dinners: We finished our sabbatical dinners on Sunday with Pilgrims connecting at Pat Goeldner’s home and Bart and Diana’s humble abode. Thank you to all our hosts and to everyone who came to connect and re-connect with one another.
- Where is Jeff? Jeff is currently in Antigua, Guatemala, where he is studying Spanish at the Probigua <http://www.probigua.org/> language school. Jeff will return to the states on May 15th.
- Jeff’s a Blogger! Check out Jeff’s Sabbatical Blog <http://www.jeffkrehbiel.blogspot.com/>
- Sabbatical Preaching Schedule for May:
May 13th: Rev. Hector Mendez, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Havana, Cuba <http://www.prccuba.org/EN/index_en.htm> .
May 20: Rev. Margee Iddings
May 27th, Pentecost: Ashley
- Sabbatical Retreat: May 19th, 9am-4pm at Pilgrims
Christian Education:
· May 6th: Connections and Clarity: Explore the Lectionary Texts for May 6th worship. Led by Ashley
· May 13th: Connections and Clarity: Explore the Lectionary Texts for May 13th worship with Rev. Hector Mendez, our guest preacher.
Connecting with justice issues in DC and in God’s Global Village:
Mark Your Calendars for several events connected with the 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 7:00 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.
The Pilgrimage has a new web site! Check it out. <http://www.thepilgrimage.org/> Thanks to the gifts and talents of Pilgrim Kathy Keler for creating our new design.
More Light Presbyterians: Join other MLP’s in the DC area for a Cinco de Mayo party on Saturday, May 5th, from 6:30pm until 9:30pm at Westminster-DC <http://www.westminsterdc.org/index.htm> . Parking available and Westminster is off the Metro Green line.
WIN and DC Special Elections: Thanks to Jean Stewart, Jeanne Mayer, and Gerry Hendershot for getting out the vote for DC Special elections. As with other elections, WIN is educating voters on candidate positions on the WIN - Neighborhoods First Agenda.
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.
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