A Message from Pastor Kaji
Dear Church:
I hope to be amongst the first to wish you a Happy New Year!
What a magnificent Advent and Christmas season we’ve had! Christmas Eve sparkled with presence and presents. Our youth and families led worship so beautifully. Last Sunday, we “closed” the church to give the staff and leaders a much deserved break. But, knowing that not everyone would’ve gotten the memo, I did open up the doors for whomever might come. We had a small but mighty worship experience and communion! But don’t worry, we’re all back next week, and I do hope you will join us.
This Sunday, we turn to the story of Jesus’ presentation in the Temple, where we meet the Prophet Anna. I encourage you to read the study guide closely, as it will help to prepare you for the practice we’re introducing as the next step of our The Turning journey.
Introducing the Anna Fast
In the sermon this Sunday, I’ll introduce a shared practice we’ll be entering together over the next 7 weeks: The Anna Fast.
Many people are familiar with fasting traditions rooted in Scripture, including the Daniel Fast and practices inspired by Joshua. These approaches emphasize discipline, clarity, and readiness through intentional focus. These are worthy pursuits, but, for a number of reasons, I didn’t feel called to invite you to those practices.
Instead, I created something else for us all. It’s called The Anna Fast and it draws inspiration from Anna’s life itself: worship, prayer, fasting, presence, and recognition. Her practices shape a life that is ready to see what God is doing and respond with clarity and confidence.
The Anna Fast has three pillars:
- Guard the Gate: tending the gateway of attention where memory and meaning take shape
- Protect the Body: practicing care that supports strength, rest, and presence
- Tend the Gift: directing the gifts God is already using in you with intention
On Sunday, I’ll flesh all of these out with you. After service, you’ll be sent home with a first set of reflections and practices to begin shaping what this fast can look like in your own life.
Study Guide for the Week
Scripture Grounding
The Gospel tells us that Jesus’ family brought him to Jerusalem to present him in the Temple, following the practice for firstborn sons. While there, they encounter Simeon, a righteous and devout elder who recognizes Jesus and blesses God for the fulfillment of a promise.
After Simeon’s proclamation, Luke turns our attention to someone else. Anna.
Luke tells us that Anna is a prophet. He tells us who her father was and where she came from. She is Anna, daughter of Phanuel. That name echoes the place where Jacob once said, “I have seen God face to face.” Luke is situating Anna in a lineage of people who recognize God and live to tell the story.
Luke also tells us that Anna is from the tribe of Asher, a lineage Scripture associates with provision and sustaining strength. Though that tribe had long been scattered, Anna stands fully present, fully attentive, and fully authorized in the Temple.
And when Jesus appears, Anna recognizes him immediately. She praises God. She speaks. She tells everyone who is looking for redemption.
Which raises the question we’ll sit with together this Sunday:
What kind of life makes that kind of recognition possible?
As you prepare for next Sunday, I invite you to reflect on:
- Anna recognizes Jesus immediately. What practices in her life made that recognition possible?
- Where does attentiveness come easily for you right now?
- What moments in your day feel like gateways for attention and meaning? (For more on this, see this sermon)
- What supports your steadiness and strength?
- What gift do you sense God is already using in you?
- What kind of care would help that gift flow more freely in this season?
Save the Date: Anna Fast Workshop
Sunday, January 11 | After Worship
Next Sunday, following worship, I’ll lead a 30-minute guided workshop to help us discern the Anna Fast together.
This workshop is for everyone, whether you’ve had time to reflect on the questions from this Sunday or are encountering them for the first time. We’ll walk through the three pillars together, name what they can look like in our real lives, and talk about how we support one another through the weeks ahead as a church community practicing care and readiness together.
You’re warmly invited to stay.
Join Us Through The Turning
The Anna Fast flows from The Turning, our shared commitment to prayer, fasting, and thanksgiving.
If you haven’t yet, you’re invited to take The Turning Pledge and join us in this shared practice for the season ahead.
Take The Turning Pledge here:
We’re shaping lives ready for revelation.
We’re practicing care with intention.
And we’re doing it together.
Can’t wait to see you in church!
Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji
SCRIPTURE
Luke 2:36-38 (Year W, p. 107)
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came and began to praise God, and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.