How do we get ready and stay alert for the Master’s return?

ALOHA! I heard so many positive comments Sunday about our resealed and restriped parking lot with three new handicapped parking spaces. With this work, our parking lot should remain a good shape for many years to come. Mahalo to our Bishop’s Committee and church administrator Paul Mahuka for making this happen. And be watching for more improvements in our church coming soon!

LAST SUNDAY: We explored Hosea 11:1-11 and Luke 12:13-21. God’s heart was broken by the behavior of God’s people Israel—and God let loose a divine rant. But then God reflected on the situation, and acted to restore the relationship—but only after God’s people suffered the consequences of their own actions. Jesus reflected this same flow from Rant to Reflect to Restore in the gospels in order to Resolve broken relationships. When we find our hearts are broken, perhaps we too can find resolution by following this flow. Have you tried it this week?

THIS SUNDAY: We will dig into Isaiah 1:10-20 and Luke 12:32-40, which seem like two different worlds colliding—we’ll hear from a fire-breathing Isaiah and a comforting, yet challenging, Jesus. But the thread tying these two readings together is about what really matters to God—not outside appearances, not perfunctory rituals, but what’s real on the inside, and how we live in that reality. Jesus tells us to be ready, because we don’t know the hour the master is coming. What does being ready for Jesus look like? It starts with preparing ourselves to join in his celebration. Did you ever see a big pile of slippers outside a door? That means something is happening inside! Let’s find out how to be ready for it this Sunday.

This Sunday we’ll also continue our series of “Ministry Minutes” during the announcements time, to bring you up to date about the various ministries happening at St. Timothy’s. Last Sunday we heard from Lauralee Kawamata about our Outreach ministry, and this week Anne Kiyosaki shares about our Keiki Sunday School Class. Please keep all our ministries in your prayers.

Plus, this Sunday, I hope you’ll be able to meet my daughter Meredith Chapman, who will be visiting here from Atlanta for a few days. I’m so glad she could make her first visit to Hawai‘i! ​Please note that I will be taking next Monday off and will have limited afternoon hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I can spend time with Mere.

Please join us on Sunday morning at 9 in the Chapel, or worship with us on Facebook Live.

NEXT SUNDAY, AUGUST 17: I hope you’ll plan to stay after worship to participate in our annual Campus Clean-Up! Sign up this Sunday for the team you’d like to work with. We need your help, so please join us—and we will treat you with free ice cream from a real ice cream truck!

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 devoted lay leaders and ministers, and for your vicar. May God bless you and your loved ones always.  

Aloha Ke Akua!
Fr. Pete+