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This is the final installment of our Season of Creation theme “Let Justice and Peace Flow Like a Mighty River,” it is the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Francis, and it is World Communion Sunday – the occasion for our special denominational offering to support racial and ethnic students in achieving their educational goals and transforming communities. Your generosity continues to provide scholarships, grants, mentoring, and training for leadership development. Fifty percent of the offering provides scholarships for graduate students from the U.S. and other countries. Thirty-five percent supports racial and ethnic scholarships scholarships pursuing ordained ministry and includes a mentoring program. Fifteen percent funds Ethnic-In-Service Training Grant for leadership development, recruitment, training, and retention of ethnic United Methodist persons in leadership positions in every level of the church and its ministry.

Weekly scripture – Romans 15:14-21 & Ezekiel 36:8-12

This week our church faced a tremendous loss. Rev. Juli Reinholz has been a pastor, district superintendent, coach mentor, and friend among us. Together we have felt the tremendous impact of grief and loss.

Today, we light this candle in remembrance of Juli as we continue to hold her family, our church family, and her friends in our prayers.

While we face this loss together, we know others among us have faced other losses – family members, colleagues, and friends. Loved ones we know even more intimately and grieve this day too.

So, we light a second candle in remembrance of those beloveds.

Our time of grief will take many forms in the coming weeks, months, and even years. Grief isn’t something that just dissipates with time. It is something we are invited to engage, to feel, to grasp, to name, to make manifest through the arts, and to share with one another. Healing through grief will require our participation. That will come in storytelling, making favorite recipes, or eating favorite foods, going to favorite places, shedding tears, sharing in laughter and in holding space for one another.

As we take but one step in the journey today, I offer you these words from Jan Richardson:

Stay

I know how your mind
rushes ahead
trying to fathom
what could follow this.
What will you do,
where will you go,
how will you live?

You will want
to outrun the grief.
You will want
to keep turning toward
the horizon,
watching for what was lost
to come back,
to return to you
and never leave again.

For now
hear me when I say
all you need to do
is to still yourself
is to turn toward one another
is to stay.

Wait
and see what comes
to fill
the gaping hole
in your chest.
Wait with your hands open
to receive what could never come
except to what is empty
and hollow.

You cannot know it now,
cannot even imagine
what lies ahead,
but I tell you
the day is coming
when breath will
fill your lungs
as it never has before
and with your own ears
you will hear words
coming to you new
and startling.
You will dream dreams
and you will see the world
ablaze with blessing.

Wait for it.
Still yourself.
Stay.

—Jan Richardson

Weekly scripture: Ezekiel 36:8-12 & Romans 15:14-21

The Prophet Amos cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

This is the third of five Sundays with the theme “Let Justice and Peace Flow” which listens to the voices of the prophet and the apostle from and Environmental Justice perspective. Together, these Scripture passages illustrate the need for humans to repent of the harm we have caused in the past, and to act with love in the present and future, prioritizing the needs of those most in danger due to the climate crisis that faces us and our shared home.

Weekly scripture: Ezekiel 34:1-21 & Romans 14:1-12

The Prophet Amons cries out: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-filling stream!” (Amos 5:24) and so we are called to join the river of justice and peace, to take up climate and ecological justice, and to speak out with and for communities most impacted by climate injustice and the loss of biodiversity. As the people of God, we must work together on behalf of all Creation, as part of that mighty river of peace and justice.

This is the second of five Sundays on the theme “Let Justice and Peace Flow” hearing the voices of the prophet and the apostle through and Environmental Justice filter. Together, these Scripture passages illustrate the need for humans to repent of the harm we have caused in the past, and to act with love in the present and future, prioritizing the needs of those most in danger due to the climate crisis that faces us and our shared home.

Weekly scripture Ezekiel 31:1-14 & Romans 12:9-18

Registration for Pioneer’s annual Wallowa Lake All-Church retreat on August 24-27 is open
and folks are already signing up. We know that this quality time together really adds to our
sense of Christian community.

Folks have the option of arriving either Thursday or Friday before dinner and staying through Sunday morning. We have a bit of organized activity after breakfast and each evening, but late morning through the afternoon are unscheduled. In the past, groups have done everything from taking the gondola to enjoying the lake to riding go-carts and horses to just hanging out at the camp.

Most campers stay in the en-suite yurt cabins (bedding and linens furnished), but there are other options. Cost vary depending on accommodations, but they are quite a bit less than the going rate at motels and restaurants. Kids eat free.

For questions or to register, contact Chuck and Karen Hindman. Email is [email protected] or 509-540-0337 (Karen’s cell/text). We hope you will join us!

You can also fill out this online form to register!