This Sunday, October 6: the Feast of St. Francis and the Blessing of the Animals

Aloha! This Sunday we’ll experience one of my favorite services: The Feast of St.
Francis and the Blessing of the Animals! Yes, please feel free to bring your pets--
whether they be furry, fuzzy, feathered, scaly, or whatever—to our 9:00 a.m. worship
service on Sunday. Be sure they are appropriately leashed, crated, or in a box or carrier,
and feel free to move about to take them out of the chapel if they need a break. Or if
you prefer, bring photos of your beloved family members. During the service we will
have a blessing liturgy and I will offer God’s blessing on each pet and photo. It’s always
a fun, noisy, and meaningful time! And if you have friends and neighbors who would like
to have their pets blessed, why not invite them? All are welcome at St. Timothy’s.

Last Sunday we continued our Stewardship Season speaker series, and we heard
from Alanna Burke-Smith (we missed Payton, who drew the short straw for duty on
Sunday). You should have received your Stewardship packet by mail by now, but if not there are some packets in the chapel. Sunday before last, our treasurer Jana Dove and bookkeeper Andrea Casey offered a helpful Narrative Budget, which is available on our Giving page. There are also copies available in the chapel. Please take a careful and prayerful look at this information and let us know if you have any questions or comments. This Sunday we’ll hear from another member of St. Timothy’s about why they offer their time, talent, and treasure for the glory of God. Keep in mind we hope to receive your pledge card showing your 2025 estimated giving by November 3. You can mail it in the return envelope provided or drop it into the alms basin. You can also indicate ministry areas in which you’d like to take part, and special projects you are interested in helping to fund. Thank you for your help in enabling our Bishop’s Committee to plan properly for our ministry together in 2025. We are so grateful for you!

Last Sunday we had our third “Faith and Science” Adult Sunday School session.
13 people joined us for a stimulating conversation on the topic of creation and evolution.
We are taking a break the next two Sundays for other events, but we’ll be back in my
office after worship on October 20 as Rhode Island Bishop Nicholas Knisely guides us
into a discussion on Quantum Physics and Eternity. More on that soon.

Last Sunday in the sermon, I confessed that the lectionary texts were challenging! We focused on the gospel reading, Mark 9:38-50, in which Jesus said some perplexing and surprising things. Once again he turned his disciples’ attention to the child on his lap, and explained how we might learn from them about humbly and wholly trusting and believing in Jesus. And he warned against any harm against children, which raised some questions for us about how we at St. Timothy’s might serve children more meaningfully. I hope this gospel text has spurred your thinking—if so, please share your thoughts with me!

This Sunday, for the Feast of St. Francis, we’ll be digging into Psalm 104 as we
consider the love we have for our pets, and how they might show us how to appreciate
and experience the diversity of the family of all living things created by God. I look
forward to seeing you on Sunday at 9 a.m. in church or on Facebook Live! 

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 all. 

Aloha Ke Akua!
Fr. Pete+