That’s Not Fair!

ALOHA! It feels to me like September has a way of gaining momentum. The routines of our O‘ahu fall are settling in, our stewardship season has gotten underway, and life at St. Timothy’s is moving into a fuller rhythm as we move into the rest of “Ordinary Time” on our way to Advent and a new liturgical year. Over these upcoming weeks we’re praying with our stewardship theme, “Lord Widen Our Hearts,” asking God to stretch us beyond habit, beyond fear, and beyond the limits we sometimes place on generosity.

THIS SUNDAY, our gospel lesson (Matthew 20:1-16) gives us an intriguing story about just how difficult that stretch can be. Jesus tells of a landowner who hires workers throughout the day, then pays the ones who worked only an hour the same amount as those who labored from morning until evening. You can almost hear the grumbling: “That’s not fair!” And that may be exactly the point. We’re very good at measuring, comparing, and keeping track of what we think we deserve. But Jesus keeps inviting us into a different way of seeing, one shaped less by comparison and more by grace. So this Sunday we’ll ask what happens when God widens our hearts enough to trust abundance instead of scarcity. The sermon is called “That’s Not Fair!”

Please join us this Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Chapel, or on Facebook Live!

LAST SUNDAY we began our annual stewardship season. Stewardship, of course, is about much more than money. It’s about the shape of our lives and the openness of our hearts. What happens when God asks us to loosen our grip, let go of keeping score, and make more room for grace? That question was at the heart of last Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew 18:21-35. Peter asked Jesus to calculate for him how many times he must forgive someone who sins against him. Jesus gives him an answer that blows up his whole accounting system. In the sermon, “Lord, Widen Our Hearts,” we explored what it means to receive the grace God so generously offers, and how to let that grace reshape the way we live with one another. How have you experienced God’s grace this week?

STARTING THIS SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: ADULT CLASS ON THE SACRAMENTS. If you’re interested in learning more about the sacraments of the Church, including Baptism and the Eucharist, please join us in my office after worship starting this Sunday. This 3-session series, “Signs and Grace,” was developed by The Episcopal Church and Forward Movement and features videos and discussion. It’s sure to be a meaningful time!

DEAR SIBLINGS IN CHRIST, I’m grateful for the many ways you share in the life and ministry of St. Timothy’s. Please continue to pray for our leaders and ministers, for me as your vicar, and for every member of our St. Timothy’s ʻohana. May God renew us for the work ahead, deepen our love for one another, and widen our hearts to receive and share the grace Christ so freely gives. And may we move forward with faith, generosity, and joy.

Aloha Ke Akua!
Rev. Pete+