Upper Room Publishing in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 13 June 2017 "Weavings/Alive Now June 2017 newsletter"
Pilgrimage
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The Pilgrim Church
by Percy C. Ainsworth
Human beings have always been strangers in the earth; and all our efforts to make ourselves at home, however successful they have been for the moment, have always been pitiably futile in the long run.
The church has sometimes tried to impress the world by her material resources or by her political influence. ...
Her real work to the world has always lain in this, that she has kept the music of a pilgrim song ringing in human hearts, making it impossible for people to settle down to the gain and comfort of the hour, easily forgetful of the venture of faith, the pursuit of righteousness, and the pilgrimage of love. She has roused its truest wanderlust in a world too ready to be content with the thing that is nearest, to take the obvious and immediate for its portion and its prize, and to try to build a comfortable house where there is scarcely time to pitch a tent. And the power to do this is the most precious thing the church has ever possessed. Far beyond her mission and power to make this world endurable she must rank her mission and power to make the other world real.
Excerpted from The Pilgrim Church and Other Sermons, by Percy C. Ainsworth (London: Robert Cullery, 1909), pp. 15-27, and edited for comtemporary language in Weavings, Vol. XX, No. 4 (July/August 2005).
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Pilgrimage
by Elizabeth J. Canham
Those who find their strength in God, whether or not they feel the divine Presence, are pilgrims on the faith journey. Trust in the unseen Creator keeps them either on the path or waiting with hope when weariness overcomes them. In the story of Israel's wilderness wanderings, a cloud led the people during the day and a fire [led them] by night, symbolizing God's hidden presence ahead of them. The hope of a few often sustained the frightened travelers, teaching them that they needed one another and that together they would overcome enemies.
Not all pilgrims are pioneers. Most who commit themselves to the Christian faith are, like the first followers of Jesus, ordinary people going about their unspectacular lives but with their hearts set on the Land of Promise. In God's economy when new leaders are called out, some followers risk hazardous journeys while others stay at home to take care of the necessary tasks and responsibilities of the community. Yet all are on pilgrimage because they are responding to the invitation to be where God has called them. All are members of the pilgrim community.
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There is a road
that runs straight
through your heart.
Walk on it.
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Macrina Wiederkehr
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Summer Learning
Upper Room eLearning offers online courses for a summertime of deepening connection with God.
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Audio Lectio
Pray with us. Audio Lectio is a guided meditation using each week's gospel reading from the lectionary.
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Order single copies of the FINAL ISSUE of Weavings by calling 1.800.972.0433.
Back issues of Weavings are available while supplies last.
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This monthly newsletter brings resources for your spiritual journey and updates from The Upper Room.
This summer, we welcome readers of Alive Now.
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