Lining Up with God's Will

​Aloha! This has been a busy week at St. Timothy’s (but what else is new!): On Tuesday we had our regular Outreach food distribution and served a hot meal (as we do every 2nd and 4th Tuesday)—our thanks to Lauralee Kawamata and all our faithful volunteers. On Thursday, several volunteers gathered here with Fr. Kaleo Patterson and me to stuff 25 backpacks for the Diocesan prisoner reentry program (see more information about this ministry here: https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/prison-ministry.html.) On Sunday we will ask for God’s blessing on these backpacks and on those who will receive them. Please keep this ministry in your prayers!

Last Sunday as we celebrated Independence Day, we considered how we respond to difficulties, tragedies, and bad news by exploring the story of Naaman, a mighty warrior of Aram, an enemy nation of Israel’s. Naaman suffered from leprosy and sought help from the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 5:1-19). We witnessed how he and the other characters responded to this bad news, in restorative or reactive ways. As Bishop Steven Charleston wrote, “I have been thinking about how I respond to things these days. Am I helping to restore the world around me, or am I caught up in a cycle of reactions? I want to be restorative, not just reactive.” That’s a good goal to pursue!

This Sunday we’ll meet the prophet Amos, a sheep farmer by profession who publicly condemns the evils of his day (and they sound pretty familiar today). We’ll think about the object lesson that God gives him: a plumb line. God is setting a plumb line to see if Israel is crooked and out of plumb (Amos 7:7-17). So what is God’s plumb line, and how might we line up our own lives with its help? We’ll also explore Jesus’ words in Luke 10:25-37, which tell us more about what that kind of life looks like. “Do this, and you will live.”

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 Bette Kalohi about our growing Music Ministry, and this week we’ll hear from our Altar Guild.

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

Looking ahead, note the announcement regarding our special First Annual St. Timothy’s Jazzikapila Concert after worship on Sunday, July 20—it’s sure to be a fun and inspiring musical celebration courtesy of our musician, Zach Hamada, our choir members, and friends!

And on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m., join us here at St. Timothy’s (or via Zoom) for a special Talk Story session with the Bishop Search Committee. Please keep our Search Committee and Standing Committee in your prayers as we seek our next bishop of the Diocese of Hawai‘i.

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+