A Message from Pastor Kaji
Dear Beloved:
What a week it has been! In just a few days, we have held space for heaven’s ascension and earth’s uprising. We’ve lifted our eyes, raised our voices, and listened closely for the Spirit’s call.
On Saturday, at Rev. Richard’s gracious advocacy and invitation, I preached for the Metro Association’s annual gathering in a sermon we called Rise and Deliver. We looked at Acts 1 and Micah 6:8 and asked: What are we doing still staring at the clouds? If Christ has ascended, then it’s time for us to rise into our purpose? We are the ones who carry this Gospel forward. (Read the sermon here.)
Then on Sunday, we turned to Revelation 3 and the image of Jesus knocking. Not on a palace door, but on ours. Not because we are perfect or prepared, but because Spirit is persistent. I asked our community to consider what it means to be tenderheaded, especially in a world that demands toughness just to survive. The Spirit is not here to knock you out. She is here to protect your openness. There is a difference. (That message is here.)
This week, we celebrate Pentecost. It is not just a remembrance of something that happened long ago. It is the continuation of that disruptive, breath-filled, wind-shaking moment when Spirit came rushing in. Not politely. Not quietly. But with holy fire and unmistakable clarity. Not to destroy us, but to dismantle what no longer serves us.
That is what we are doing as a church. We are dreaming. We are discerning. We are dismantling. And we are building, too.
So I want to make a very special, practical invitation.
This Sunday, June 8, after worship (around 12:30 pm), we will hold a Ministry Council meeting. It is open to the congregation and grounded in our Pentecost calling: to listen, to prophesy, to plan, and to dream. We will hear updates on the budget, nominations, and strategic vision, in covenant that this will be the last of these conversations before we reconvene in the fall.
But more than that, we will practice what it means to steward power faithfully in a Spirit-led church. The full agenda is available to you with an email to the church office.
We often say the church was born on Pentecost. But that is not quite right. The church was transformed on Pentecost. It already existed, but Spirit gave it new breath.
That is our call, too. Not to start over. But to let Spirit rush in and change what needs to change.
Come for the fire. Stay for the vision.
Leave with breath enough to dream again.
Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji
SCRIPTURE
Acts 2:1-18 (Year A, p. 341):
1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in the same place. 2 And there came suddenly from heaven a sound like the sweeping of a mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared among them divided tongues, as of fire, and one rested on each of them. 4 And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in other tongues just as the Spirit gave them to speak.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem devout Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 Now at this sound the crowd gathered and was confused because each heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astounded, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how do we hear, each in our own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjacent to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking in our own tongues about God’s deeds of power.” 12 All were amazed and questioning to one another saying, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Judeans and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you all, and attend to my speech: 15 For, these persons are not drunk as you suppose; it is only the third hour [nine o’clock] in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your daughters and your sons shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your elders shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both women and men,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
