Edgcumbe Presbyterian Church
Midweek Update May 7, 2021

In this issue: Resurrection Love, Zoom Schedule, April Backwoods Mission, RJAM

Extending LOVE
in our text for easter sunday (john 20:1-18), 3 themes emerged for us to consider. the first thing to notice is that there was a wide range of human experiences (heartbroken, bewildered, panicked, confused, shocked, grieving, to name a few), and all of it is a part of the resurrection story. every aspect of our lives falls into the resurrection story. this is profound--meaning that whatever we are experiencing, whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, there is resurrection as a part of it, even if we cannot recognize or experience it. god’s healing and new life is possible in every moment, in every situation.
the next thing to notice is that mary’s searching for jesus comes from a place where she has a vital and dynamic connection with jesus. simply put, jesus is real for her, and she earnestly wants to (and expects to) find him. god is always present, bidden or not. the question and invitation to us is: do we truly expect to find jesus alive in our moments, in our days? and as our sister mary shows us, god’s presence is real and is to be sought and found.
lastly, after jesus calls to mary, and she recognizes him (what?? this is not the gardener?? or the clerk at cub?? or my next door neighbor??), jesus tells mary: don’t hold onto me. we cannot hold onto the resurrection story solely as a personal experience. it is a story meant to be shared, meant to be extended to the entire world. and it is in the sharing of it that we practice resurrection. resurrection is not merely something to believe in, but to be lived out in our lives. (and honestly, if it is only an idea that we believe in and not practice, it falls into a category of religious dogma!!)
for the past year we have anchored ourselves in the themes of unlearning--noticing and unlearning our habits and thoughts which block us from love’s presence. this new chapter of our communal life will be focusing on practicing resurrection by cultivating the intention to extend love in all moments, in all cumstances, in all ways. watch these emails reflections to deepen these practices and ground lives into living easter’s resurrection in our lives!!

April Mission Focus: EPC Backwoods
Over the past four years, the backwoods at EPC has transformed from a wild and overgrown brush-scape to a beautiful wild woods with a meditative pathway, prayer stations, developing gardens, and a ton more potential for both improvement and outreach. To aid both of those directions, we are asking for donations this month to the EPC Backwoods fund. Uses for the funds would include: ash and buckthorn tree removal, new plantings and trees to replace the old, signage and community outreach.
We are also planning a backwoods workday on Saturday, April 24, from 9am-12noon, so please mark your calendars.

Racial Justice And Me
Please join us on Wednesday at 7pm for discussion of the next chapter in "So You Want To Talk About Race" by Ijeoma Oluo.This week we will be talking about the chapter: 'Why can't I touch your hair?' We will break into small groups and share our thoughts and questions on this topic. No need to have come to our previous sessions, just Zoom on in (you can even attend if you haven't read the chapter). Oluo has a great writing style that is very accessible and helpful in understanding so many of the issues around racism and white privilege.
-The RJAM team (Eleta, Leslie, Connie, Luna, Liz & Rich)