It's raining - the grass in my front yard is so green it almost hurts the eyes. Beyond it the soil in the newly plowed field falls in rich black furrows. The birch trees are such a tender green that they almost don't seem real and not-yet blooming perennials are showing buds of the soon to come blooms. I love rainy days in April because the non-stop farm work slows to a halt; the tiny seedlings in the greenhouses don't need to be watered and constantly monitored, and I get to stay in the house and write pastoral reflections on my computer. It feels like a day OFF!
Good things are happening at Pilgrims United Church of Christ! April was a full and faith-filled month. The 40 days of Prayer throughout Lent came to an end with the last prayer reflection on the Saturday before Easter. The Pilgrims Choir led us in a moving and meaningful interpretation of the Palm/Passion Story of Jesus through the singing of Beatles songs. It helped many of us to understand parts of the story in deeper, more connected to us ways. And Easter was truly a celebration of the Resurrection Joy of new life. And then the Sunday after Easter, we celebrated the baptism of Hailey Addison Bleasdale, daughter of Kim and Andy Bleasdale. We welcome Hailey with all our hearts.
April is also the month for Night on the Street. Our confirmands spent the night in a parking lot in downtown Mpls. learning about the causes and solutions for homelessness after which they slept in a cardboard box. Our youth raised over $450 to support efforts to stop homelessness.
April is also the month in which we recogninze and Celebrate Earth Day with Integrity of Creation Sunday and Rural Life Sunday. Since I, your pastor am also a full time Organic Farmer, and you the congregation are highly supportive of this ministry, we lift these UCC recognition Sundays high here at Pilgrims.
May will also be a full month as we progressively move closer to our Spirited Pentecost Celebration on May 23. Our Sunday School children and adult leaders are planning a month of Spirit filled activites from making and flying kites to tie-dying flame colored t-shirts. On May 23, children, youth and adults will all worship together celebrating the Holy Spirit dancing among us. It will be the last day our Pilgrims Choir will be singing together until fall.
See you in church...... Robin
