When God Calls Your Name…

​ALOHA! As August comes to a close, we arrive at the final Sunday of our Summer
Sermon Road Trip Series: Following God in Real Life. What a journey this has been! We began back in June with Abraham hearing God’s call to “Go,” even though he didn’t yet know where the road would lead. Since then, we’ve traveled through some of the great stories of Genesis and Exodus—stories filled with promise, laughter, heartbreak, family conflict, unexpected grace, courage, and calling.

Along the way, we saw Abraham respond to God’s call, and Sarah laugh when God’s promise seemed impossible. We stood with Hagar in the wilderness and remembered that God sees and hears those who feel forgotten. We heard Rebekah say yes to a future she could not fully understand. We followed Jacob through family mess, disappointment, surprise, and a night of wrestling that left him both wounded and blessed. We looked into the pit with Joseph, then watched grace finally break through as he faced the brothers who had betrayed him. Last week, as we moved into Exodus, we remembered that even when God’s people forget God’s faithfulness, God never forgets God’s people.

THIS SUNDAY, we come to Exodus 3:1–15, one of the greatest call stories in Scripture: Moses and the burning bush. Moses is not looking for a mission; he is tending sheep in the wilderness, living what may have seemed like a settled and ordinary life. But then God interrupts. A bush burns but is not consumed, Moses turns aside to look, and God calls his name: “Moses, Moses!” The sermon, “When God Calls Your Name,” invites us to consider how God still meets ordinary people like you and me in ordinary places, and calls us into extraordinary, holy work.

We began in June with a call to the unknown. We arrive here at the end of August not with all the answers, but with something better: the quiet, steady trust that God has been with us this whole journey. And perhaps the final question is not only where Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, or Moses were called to go, but where God is calling us next… here at St. Timothy’s, in our homes, in our ministries, and in this anxious and hurting world God loves so deeply. Please join us this Sunday at 9 a.m. in the Chapel, or on Facebook Live as we conclude this summer journey together!

LAST SUNDAY, our reading, Exodus 1:8–2:10, focused on the time long after Joseph, when a new Pharaoh had arisen “who did not know Joseph.” Generations had passed, memories had faded, and fear began to shape the future. Yet even when people forgot God’s faithfulness, God did not forget God’s people. We were encouraged to remember that God’s story continues even through fear, hardship, courage, and unexpected grace. Have you been able to trust that this past week?

A VERY SINCERE THANK YOU to all who helped with our Annual Church Clean-Up last Sunday! Our volunteers enjoyed the return of the Ice Cream Truck and belated birthday cake from me to you. Mahalo to all who worked hard to help make our beautiful campus sparkle.

CLERGY CONFERENCE: This past Monday through Wednesday, I joined with other clergy of the Diocese for our annual summer conference, this time on Kaua‘i. We had a wonderful time with our speaker, the Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton, who presented on the theme “Tradition, Transition, and Transfiguration: Leading into a Time of Leadership Transition as a Communal and Spiritual Rite of Passage.” We enjoyed worship, fellowship, group discussions, meals and activities, free time, and opportunities to share our blessings with Bishop Bob as he prepares to retire.

DEAR SIBLINGS IN CHRIST, I am 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 grant us faith for the journey, hope for the road ahead, and the assurance that God’s presence is always with us.

Aloha Ke Akua!
Rev. Pete+