Dear “Virtual” Southminster Members,

I invite you to worship with us today as we will host a guest preacher, Rene Myers. Rene is an Elder in the PCUSA, currently resides in California and serves the denomination as Mission Engagement advisor. Rene will preach and lead a discussion on Matthew 25 in a sermon entitled “When Did We See You?” as we continue to explore what it means to be a “Matthew 25 church”. I hope you will join us.

If you are unable to access ZOOM for whatever reason, you can call Michel on his cell phone (503.523.7878) and he will help you get into the worship service. The sermon and the recording of today’s service will always be posted on the Southminster Website on Sundays. And as always, give me a call if you need anything from me or the community. I can be reached at 503.819.2442 or ludwigpdx@gmail.com. 

Virtual Pastor Don

View this week’s Worship Guide >>

We can choose to follow those who would have us hide in fear or we can choose hope.
― Gradye Parsons, PCUSA, 2015

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls”.
―Matthew 11:29

“I now see how owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we will ever do.”
Brené Brown

“Do not be hard-hearted toward your needy neighbor; rather open your hand.”
Deuteronomy 15:8

“To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
— Proverbs 21:3

CALL TO WORSHIP “We Choose Welcome” PCUSA Awareness Campaign

In the midst of fear of terrorism and radicalism, we choose to welcome those who flee from terror and tyranny.
In the midst of hate speeches and hate crimes, we choose to welcome those who are rejected because of their skin color or their foreign dress.
In the midst of anxiety about our own economic prosperity, we choose to welcome those who come from distant lands to labor in our fields and our warehouses.
In the midst of political debates which seek to divide us between those who are born here and those who are not, we choose welcome, a welcome for all children of God, proclaiming one household.

Don Mclean, Vincent (Starry Starry Night)

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
Look out on a summer’s day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colours on the snowy linen land

Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They did not listen, They did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now

“It’s not what you believe that counts;
it’s what you believe enough to do.”
― Richard Stearns

As a people of faith, as a people of hope, we need the blessing of God Almighty.
It does not matter what language you speak or the color of your skin.
It does not matter whether you worship one God, many gods, or no gods.
We are one people, one family.