Shining brightly with the light of God’s love

Aloha! Happy Valentine’s Day to you! I hope you know how beloved you are… by God, and by all of us at St. Timothy’s!
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At the beginning of worship last week, we dedicated our re-plated Altar Cross. It now shines brightly with the light of God’s love over our altar. Mahalo nui loa to Rebecca Kang for donating funds for the re-plating work in memory of Ruth Kim Kang.

This Sunday, February 16, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick will make his official visitation to St. Timothy’s. He will be our celebrant and preacher, so please plan to be with us and join us in Sumida Hall for fellowship following the service. If you can bring something special to eat during our fellowship time, please do! Our wonderful musician, Zach, will be away the next two Sundays, but we’re grateful that Benny will be with us to lead our worship in song, along with our wonderful choristers Bette, Alanna, and Nancy.

Last Sunday in worship we considered the call of God, to the prophet Isaiah, to the disciples of Jesus, and to each of us (Isaiah 6:1-8, Luke 5:1-11). We learned there is a movement in these call stories: from God’s Revelation of Holiness, to My Realization of Sin, to God’s Restoration in Salvation, to My Responsibility to Answer God’s Call. What is your call story? What might happen if you sense God calling you to a new way to serve others? One way we are all called is to “catch people” as the disciples were. That means we can be present with others, be positive and welcoming, be prepared to help them as we can, and be active by standing up for justice and mercy for all. I pray we will all keep this calling in mind as we go about our week—and prepare to respond to God’s invitations to serve others.

Tuesday through Thursday of this week I attended the annual Diocesan Clergy Retreat, which was held at the Cathedral of St. Andrew’s and St. Anthony’s Retreat Center. We visited Plantation Village, Honolulu Hale, and other Hawaiian cultural centers on our pilgrimage. I brought a jar of blessed water from St. Timothy’s to join with water from other churches in a special “Bowl of Light” blessing at Honolulu Hale, offering prayers for the ongoing healing not only of the Hawaiian community, but for the broader community and the world. It was a meaningful time of worship, fellowship, learning, and spiritual refreshment.

Be watching the Epistle for information about our first ever “Shrove Sunday” celebration! In lieu of Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras, we’ll have a fun fellowship time after worship on March 2. Several of you have signed up to help plan, prepare, serve, and clean up—thank you! If you too can participate and share your scrumptious goodies with us, we will appreciate it.

We then enter the penitential season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 5, with
services here at 12 noon and 6 p.m. on March 5. And during Lent we will be having a
Wednesday evening “Soup & Study” gathering in Sumida Hall starting around 6 p.m. Look for more information about that soon. Please plan to join us!

St. Timothy’s is offering several opportunities to learn and grow. Currently the Daughters of the King are having their class on the 2nd and 4th Sundays after worship in
the Takafuji Room. And on March 16 and 30 (save the dates!) I’m planning to lead the
last two sessions in our “Faith and Science” series after church in the Vicar’s Office.
We’ll have audio and video resources to launch us into fruitful conversations on “Science and the Image of God” and “Life and Death.” I hope you’ll join us for this too!

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

Aloha Ke Akua!
Fr. Pete+