Honoring all who serve

Aloha! What a wonderful service we had on Sunday as we observed All Saints’ Sunday. We honored the memory of St. Timothy’s members and friends who passed away in the last year, and we dedicated the plaque in memory of Akiko Takafuji, which will be installed soon in the beautiful new Takafuji Room. Together we remembered the “unlikely saints” who helped form our own faith, who continue to guide and bless our lives as we remember their faithful examples, and who beckon us to become “unlikely saints” ourselves.

We also had the Ingathering of pledge cards for 2025, and prayed over them asking for God’s guidance and provision. And we had a fantastic celebratory brunch after the service in Sumida Hall. Many thanks to all who brought the delicious dishes—it was quite a feast! Our Stewardship Team led by David Caldwell will be meeting again on Sunday to assess the results. Be watching for a report on our pledges coming soon.

To those of you who submitted their pledges, MAHALO! If you haven’t sent yours in, you can still mail it or place it in the alms basin on Sunday—better late than never! Your faithful and generous participation in this way enables our Bishop’s Committee to plan prudently for our ministry together at St. Timothy’s in 2025. We are grateful for you.

This Sunday, the day before Veterans Day, we will be honoring our veterans and active duty service members. We think we have an accurate list, but please join us if you can as we offer prayers and an Episcopal Service Cross to each one. We thank you for your service!

​And this Sunday we welcome the Rev. Canon Alexander “Sandy” Graham as our preacher. I’m looking forward to his inspiring message, and I hope you can join us for worship. I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday at 9 a.m. in church or on Facebook Live!

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By the way, if you can, please plan on joining us here on Thursday, November 28, for Thanksgiving worship and a turkey dinner! Our Thanksgiving Eucharist will be at 10 a.m. on November 28, with a potluck dinner following. The turkey will be provided, but please let us know what side dish or dessert you can bring. If you would like to enjoy good food and warm fellowship with your church ‘ohana, please sign up on the clipboard this Sunday, or let Paul Mahuka or me know. We are thankful for you!

And finally, let me share something that Bishop Deon K. Johnson offered on social media after our national election:

“So that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping.” Ezra 3:13b

Weeping and rejoicing!
Yet God is still God,
and the work of doing justice,
loving kindness, and walking humbly
with our God is still our work to do.
Let us weep for a time.
Let us rejoice for a time.
Let us spend our time in sackcloth and ashes.
Let us make noise with timbrel and tambourine.
But then let us be about the business to which God has called.
God has work for us to do!

Amen! Please hold our national, state, and local elected leaders in your prayers, and may we all, together, continue to follow Jesus faithfully in the days to come. 

Dear sisters and brothers, you are in my prayers, and I ask for your prayers for St. Timothy’s Church, for our dedicated staff and our devoted lay leaders, and for your vicar. May God bless you all. 

Aloha Ke Akua!
Fr. Pete+