Joyful Discoveries

ALOHA! Last Sunday we launched our Stewardship Season with the theme “Shining Our Light.” David Caldwell, our Stewardship Team leader, introduced the campaign and over the next several weeks we’ll hear from other members of our church, leading up to our ingathering on November 2. We also sang our musician Zach Hamada’s beautiful new hymn, “You Are the Light.”

Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others.” At St. Timothy’s, this light of love shines through our worship, our care for one another, our outreach to the community, and our commitment to nurture faith in every generation. Stewardship is not simply about creating a budget; it’s about participating in God’s ongoing work of healing and hope inside and outside our church walls. So as we move forward together in this season, let us all embrace stewardship as a joyful response to God’s abundance. May our light shine brightly—individually and as a church—so that others may glimpse God’s love through us!

LAST SUNDAY’S SERMON took us through a whole book of the Bible! Well, a very short book of 335 words in Greek—it’s Paul’s letter to his friend Philemon. Philemon’s slave, Onesimus, had escaped and been thrown into prison with Paul, where he became an ardent student of the way of Christ and was a big helper to Paul. Paul encouraged Philemon to accept Onesimus as his brother in the faith, and to set him free. And we asked ourselves, who is our Onesimus—who do we need to forgive in our lives? And who is our Philemon—from whom do we need forgiveness? Those are big questions, and I pray we all will continue to respond to them.

THIS SUNDAY we’ll dig into Luke 15:1-10, in which Jesus tells two brief parables about losing and finding things. Have you ever lost something of value to you, and rejoiced when you finally found it? I have! It’s a joyful discovery. So, what do these stories tell us about living in the kingdom of God here and now? And how might we experience the joy of the Lord more fully? Let’s find out!

THIS SUNDAY we also begin a special 6-session Adult Sunday School series called “Heart and Soul: The Emotions of Jesus.” I’ll be leading this series using the books The Passionate Jesus and Heart and Soul, which are available for those participating at no charge. By looking at key moments surrounding Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection through the lens of human emotions, our understanding of Jesus can come alive. How do the gospels reveal what kind of person he really was? How did he express his emotions? And how does a better understanding of his humanity help us build our own faith and identity? We’ll explore the “Heart and Soul” of Jesus and find that he is truly passionate—not romantically, but as fully engaged and vibrant. Over these six weeks we’ll consider love, anger, fear, grief, and joy, and discover how Jesus experienced these emotions, how he responded to them, and what he taught about them. As a fully human person as well as fully divine, his authenticity provides a model for us to live fully as followers of Jesus. Join us for a fun and
stimulating session!

We’ll see you for worship on Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Chapel, or on Facebook Live.

Dear sisters and brothers, you are in my prayers, and I ask for your continuing prayers for St. Timothy’s Church, for our dedicated staff and devoted lay leaders and ministers, for your fellow members, and for your vicar. May God bless you and your loved ones always.  

Aloha Ke Akua!
Fr. Pete+