Hillwood Presbyterian Church

The session met Sunday, 28 June in the virtual world.  As we still are unable to meet in person; we spent time catching up with each other, sharing concerns of the congregation and our lives, listening for God’s word through Scripture readings and reflections, and praying together.  To me, this part of our time together is extra important in these days because major portions of our discussions together include the current ministry and spiritual needs of the congregation and our community partners along with discernment about the next right steps to take regarding in person ministries for the congregation.  We were meeting the very day the mayor’s office was putting into effect the new face mask order because numbers of those testing positive for CoVid has been increasing.  Though other congregations that may be gatherings of those at lower risk for CoVid may be returning to some sort of in person meetings, we know it is not yet time for HPC to be re-opened for in person ministries.  What else can be said other than these are difficult times?  Some are growing impatient.  Others are struggling mightily to stay positive as they are isolated at home.  With so many unknowns ahead, we no longer can live with any sort of illusion that we can be in control of the future.  I hope you are finding ways to trust in the deep wellspring of a God who always is present and who loves us entirely — even when life is difficult.  As people of faith, I pray we each can keep centered in that!

This weekend marks our nation’s celebration of our Independence.  I hope you will take time to give thanks for being a part of a country founded upon the separation of church and state — one of the first such experiments of its kind, thanks be to God, where true religious freedom for all is a unique gift to be treasured.  We are a young nation-state compared to so many first world nations of the world.  We continue to see the struggles to perfect our union — to make right the lack of true freedom for all throughout various times of our history and to find a way to live as a nation open to the strength of diversity.  I’ve been reminded of that mightily as our Book Group spent Tuesday night discussing A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, the horrifying yet hopeful story of three generations of women in one Palestinian family that immigrated to the USA in the latter part of the 20th Century.  We are blessed to live in this great land and we have work to do as citizens of immense privilege in this land.  I encourage you to give thanks this weekend.  Ask God for guidance.  And re-commit to living each day — in all you do and all you say — the highest principles of independence that call us to recognize our essential inter-dependence.  Most of all, continue to put first your commitment to Christ — the One who calls us to follow him on the path of self-giving love!

Peace and love throughout this entire week!

Pastor Jule

Blessings to all for this week!!!

Here are a few things to celebrate this week leading into the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost!

Fathers’ Day!!!

Playcare students returned to school (prayers appreciated!)!

Beautiful weather!

Lectionary Bible Study Wednesday, 17 June at 2 p.m. (contact Pastor Jule for the link to the Zoom meeting).

Mid Week Connection for all on Thursday, 18 June from 6:00-6:30 p.m. (contact Pastor Jule for the link to the Zoom meeting).

Book Group coming next Tuesday (23 June 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.) — discussion of A Woman is No Man.

A call to pray for forgiveness, unity, and acceptance of all throughout the land.
 Peace to you and please let me know right away if you need anything in the weeks!

Pastor Jule 

This past week has been heart-wrenching.  As if keeping an eye on Metro re-opening phases (after so many people relaxed or flat-out ignored social distancing efforts over Memorial Day weekend) has not been concerning enough, the stories of protests over Mr. Floyd’s death turned to riots around the country can leave us feeling hopeless.  Unheard of violence along racial lines continues to happen in our nation.  How do we find a way forward in a world where too many lives are undervalued?  Where violence seems a first reaction?  Where hate is tolerated — ever?  

I recently was reminded that a culture’s origin myths and stories make a significant difference.  The stories we tell paint pictures of the possible, impact our views of one another, influence our actions.  It just might be the perfect time to turn to the stories of our God — the Christian traditions that paint the view of a Triune God:  One God, we have experienced in three persons or personas.  The God who creates.  The God who saves.  The God who sustains us every step.  Trinity Sunday celebrates the very nature of God — the One that outflows to the next, to the next, and again to the next.  One of the best images of this Triune God is a water wheel.  Have you ever seen one?  The water of one bucket pours out to the next, which in turn pours to the next, and on and on it goes.  Power is created by the force and continues to give more and more power to the next.  This is the essence of God:  One who continuously outflows.  Gives.  Is power flowing out for the other.  Love, we often hear this power named; the very essence of God — on exhibit in every move of Jesus, the Anointed Christ. 

This week would be a good week to read up on the life and work of Christ.  The lectionary readings will take us into the gospel of Matthew for the weeks after Pentecost that stretch ahead.  Consider reading two chapters a week — cover it all in the next 14 weeks!  

A dear friend of mine (who was a young man coming of age through Apartheid in South Africa) and I are joining together in praying for unity.  We are praying for the day when that which makes each unique is celebrated.  We are seeking forgiveness and asking for understanding to flow.  I hope we can listen to one another.  I hope our voices can be raised to create the kind of world for which we pray when we pray as Christ taught saying:  “thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth” O LORD.  If you are feeling hopeless, confused, angry, sad, apathetic, convicted; consider joining us in prayer.  If unity, celebration of uniqueness, forgiveness, and the outflow of understanding seem too much; consider calling upon the Triune God praying:  “Thy kingdom come, Triune God.  Thy will be done on earth, soon!  Amen.”

While plans are underway for Playcare to return to operations in the building, all Hillwood PC in person ministries remain on hold.  I hope to see you soon through virtual means!  

Peace to you and please let me know right away if you need anything in the weeks!

Pastor Jule 

The sanctuary porch of Hillwood PC has been the latest pop up UniCycle spot!  

To learn more about the mission of UniCycle, click on these links below:

Talk of the Town/News Channel 5
Ms. Cheap 
Ms. Cheap
Style Blueprint
UniCycle

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday!  The temps of Tennessee are warming up.  Memorial Day has come and gone.  While we won’t be gathering in person for worship yet; the virtual worship service this Sunday WILL include the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.  Please be prepared with your own elements of bread and the fruit of the vine when you click the worship link.  All also are encouraged to WEAR RED Sunday — not only for worship, but wherever you are that day! 

Two thoughts come as we enter into this season of Pentecost.  The first came up at our recent lectionary Bible Study.  Pentecost is when we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit and let’s face it:  Presbyterians tend to be a bit less familiar with this aspect of the Triune God!  If you are reading through Acts of the Apostles you will see the work of the Holy Spirit – the same work the Holy Spirit did in the life of Christ.  The Holy Spirit is the power within that allows us to fulfill Christ’s call:  to love others.  To share good news.  To forgive and live with inner peace.  We know about these things! So we CAN give great thanks to God!  Indeed the Spirit is living within!

As we approach Pentecost this year — as we’re living amid the pandemic of CoVid 19 — I wonder if you might take the time to learn more about the Spirit of God living in you?  Corrine Ware’s work around discovering how you best connect with God is called:  Discover your Spiritual Type.  You can read more about it by clicking here.  If you follow this link, it might be most helpful to click START to go through the Spirituality Type Indicator.  After learning more about your self from the STI, you then may want to return to the original page (the link above) to read more about the quadrants and preferences.  As with any type indicator, the Spirituality Type Indicator is a wheel showing general categories into which many people fall.  We grow spiritually first by knowing our preferred ways to connect with God, then by branching out to experience God beyond our preferred ways.  When we do this, beneficially, we also learn more about how others best connect with God.  Pentecost seems the perfect time to go a bit deeper.  Increase our own natural ways of connecting with God and reach beyond to see how God might come to us afresh.  

Blessings to you this week!  Get yourself all set to celebrate Pentecost:  the gift of God’s Spirit!!!
 Hope to see you soon through virtual means!  
Peace,
Pastor Jule 
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• THIS WEEK’s Mid-Week Connection meeting, will be Wednesday, 27 May from 6:00 – 6:30 p.m.   Contact the church office or Pastor Jule to be sent the link to Zoom. 

We STILL need your help in creating our worship experiences for the weeks ahead — (email them to Pastor Jule by end of the day Wednesdays)!

1. Pics or videos for PENTECOST SUNDAY — that which depicts the fire of the Spirit for you; the winds of God’s Spirit moving among us all.  Click here to submit them.

Note cards to our community partners would be GREATLY appreciated! 

Peace to you and please let me know right away if you need anything in the weeks! 

Peace, Pastor Jule
Click here to connect to the CDC.