How to Tend a Neglected Garden

ALOHA! Thank you very much for the warm welcome of my daughter Meredith last Sunday. We had an unforgettably wonderful time exploring the island with her. Please keep her in your prayers as she returns to college soon. We’re also glad to welcome back our Bishop’s Warden Nancy Chun, who has been visiting her daughter in Colorado. Nancy, we missed you!

LAST SUNDAY: We explored Isaiah 1:10-20 and Luke 12:32-40, with 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. And we asked ourselves, what does being ready for Jesus look like? How have you been preparing for the kingdom of God?

THIS SUNDAY: We’ll hear the word from Isaiah 5:1-7 and Luke 12:49-56. Isaiah declares a heartbroken God has prepared a beautiful and lush garden for the people, who nevertheless ignore God and fill the garden with weeds and sour grapes. And a fiery Jesus says he is bringing, not peace, but division! These are hard words of judgment, but they nevertheless encourage us to take heart, because God is still working in the Vineyard, and the shoot of Jesse is springing up bringing hope and redemption in Jesus Christ. So how do we abide with Jesus so we may in turn bear good fruit? We’ll think about that on 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 Anne Kiyosaki about our Keiki Sunday School Class. This Sunday I’ll be sharing about our plans for Adult Sunday School classes this fall. Please keep all our ministries in your prayers.

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

And don’t forget this Sunday is our St. Timothy’s Campus Clean-Up! I hope you’ll plan to stay after worship to pitch in in one of the six work areas. We need your help, and we will treat you with free ice cream from a real ice cream truck as a reward!

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+