"...my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..."

Aloha! I’m so grateful to be spending my first Advent season with you here at St.
Timothy’s. Together in worship during these four Advent Sundays, we are considering
some powerful scripture texts to help us prepare our hearts, minds, and spirits to welcome the newborn King Jesus at Christmas.

• We’ve sought to cleanse our souls in the refiner’s fire and the fuller’s soap so we can enter the presence of the holy child, seeking light and joy.
• We’ve sought to stand in solidarity with those who are experiencing an apocalypse in their world, seeking to serve and sharing hope.
• We’ve sought to set our expectations realistically, discovering that God calls us to live in generous and gracious ways, seeking peace and love.
• And this coming Sunday, the final one in Advent, we’ll join in singing Mary’s courageous Magnificat, seeking a stronger and more meaningful faith.

And so, after this prayerful and penitential Advent, even while we’ve been surrounded by festive Christmas music, hectic shopping, fun holiday parties, and family comings and goings, we are about to enter the joy and glory of Christmas. And I hope you will be able to join us in person, or on Facebook Live, for our special Christmas services at St. Tim’s.

On Christmas Eve, December 24, we will have a Service of Lessons & Carols at 7 p.m., followed by a Eucharist at 8 p.m. And then December 25 at 9 a.m., we’ll have a special Christmas Day Eucharist. At all these services our Christmas Choir will help lead us in singing the carols we all cherish.

And then, on Epiphany Sunday, January 5, during our regular 9 a.m. service, our keiki will share in word and song the story of the birth of the Christ child as the Magi finally make their way to the manger to worship.

Even in this busy season, there are meaningful ways you can share our many blessings with others here at St. Timothy’s. Your Giving Tree donations are due this Sunday so that we may distribute them to our neighbors in need at area shelters. Or consider participating in our Outreach Ministry by volunteering on Sunday mornings, Tuesday afternoons, or during the week when we shop at the Foodbank and unload the groceries in our pantry.

I hope you can join us in these wonderful opportunities to worship, sing, serve, and celebrate the birth of our Savior. My prayers are with you and your loved ones for a very merry Christmas and a blessed new year.

Aloha Ke Akua!
Fr. Pete+

Watch Rev. Peter’s video message about Christmas at St. Timothy’s on our Facebook page. Click here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GzEm1rqnq/