A Message from Pastor Kaji
Click here for Pastor Kaji’s sermon playlist
Dear Church:
After worship on Sunday, I am honored to share the vision I am presenting for the Park Avenue Christian Church’s incredible 2026. If you have been around, you’re seeing the legacy gifts of dedicated members and the brand new energy to commit to our community. I think we’d all agree that it’s time to pull it all together. I hope that you can join us for a brief presentation after worship to share The Park —> Ahead. Next week, we will celebrate our homecoming! Please put it all in your calendar because none of it is to be missed!
Last week we began the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. This week, we pick it up again because John won’t let us rush past her.
Here’s the question that has captured me this week: Did Jesus spend more time talking with her than with anyone else in all of scripture? I think the answer might be yes. A biblical scholar could help us check that claim, but either way, the length and depth of this conversation tells us that John wants us to pay attention.
This Sunday’s message continues her story. We’ll sit with the scandal, the astonishment, and the testimony that turned a whole town toward Jesus. But I’ll save the heart of that word for Sunday.
For now, I want you to consider what it means that she left her jar behind. She came for a chore. She left with an assignment. And her voice carried the Living Water into her community.
Study Guide
Scripture: John 4:27–30, 39–42
1. The Samaritan woman brought her past — pain, history, judgment — to the well. What do you bring with you when you meet Jesus?
2. Why do you think John highlights that she left her jar behind? What “ordinary chores” has God transformed into assignments in your life?
3. She testifies without having all the answers: “Come and see.” How might you share your story of faith without needing to explain everything?
Want a refresher from last week’s message? Click here to revisit the first part of the story before joining us this Sunday for the continuation.
Finally, we have had to postpone our visit with the Assembly Member. Stay tuned in worship for more details!
Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji
SCRIPTURE
John 4:27-30, 39-42 (Year C, p. 311)
27 Now, the disciples of Jesus came while [he was speaking to the woman at the well] and they were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do you want?” or “Why are you speaking with her?” 28 The woman left her water jar and went back to the city and she said to the people, 29 “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! Might he be the Messiah?” 30 They left the city and were on their way to him. 39 Many Samaritan women and men from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they asked him to stay with them and Jesus stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of your report we believe, for we ourselves have heard and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”