Stewards of Gratitude

ALOHA! Say, how are you doing? So many members of our St. Timothy’s family are dealing with a lot right now. And in the swirl of our daily life—with headlines of violence and political discord, the weight of medical concerns, financial worries, personal losses, and the constant thrum of stress—it’s easy to feel pulled apart. Our spirits grow weary, our sanity feels fragile. Yet the invitation of Christ is simple and steady: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Sanity and spirituality are not found in escaping this world, but in finding sacred pauses within it. A few deep breaths, a whispered prayer, a walk in the sunny breeze, a moment to notice the beauty all around us—these become small anchors for our souls. In these pauses, God’s peace can take root. Oh, dear friends, we cannot control the storms, but we can open our hearts to the One who speaks stillness into them. That’s how we can find strength, peace, and hope to keep walking in faith, day by day. And being involved with our St. Timothy’s ‘ohana each week can be a nourishing part of
that walk of life.

And speaking of uplifting and nourishing, didn’t we have a fantastic celebration of the Feast of St. Francis and the Blessing of the Animals last Sunday? We offered many blessings for our beloved pets—about a dozen pets were with us in person, dogs, a cat, and a turtle! And two dozen pets were blessed via photos. What a joy it was! In the sermon we explored Luke 12:13-21, and the example of St. Francis. We considered what our pets can teach us, and how St. Francis’ ministry can guide us today, especially in how we care for all of God’s creation. If you have a pet, what have they shown you this past week about living in God’s creation?

THIS SUNDAY we will delve into Luke 17:11-19, the story of Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers. Only one, a Samaritan, returns to Jesus to offer his heartfelt gratitude. What does his example teach us about how to live a life of gratitude, and how might we be better stewards of our gratitude? Let’s find out! Please join us for worship on Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Chapel, or on Facebook Live.

THIS SUNDAY the Daughters of the King will have their monthly class in the Takafuji Room starting at 10:30 a.m. Anyone is invited to participate. We will not have our Adult Sunday School class on “Heart and Soul: The Emotions of Jesus” this Sunday, but will gather again on October 19 to focus on the topic of GRIEF.

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+