A Message from Pastor Kaji

Dear Church:

I don’t know about you, but I think snow days should only fall on weekdays so that the kids get a day off. But the weather appears not to be listening to me, as per usual. More seriously, as we shared in yesterday’s email, winter weather is shaping this weekend’s plans because we want to keep you all safe and off the roads and subways. To that end, we may close the church on Sunday. (More information is included below.) Please look for an email from us on Saturday night with a final word about Sunday morning. 

Still, let’s look ahead to our worship for Sunday. 

We are at the halfway point of our Anna Fast. So far, we have been practicing noticing. Paying attention. Shifting things just enough to see how God speaks through what is already in front of us. Now we begin a transition toward naming. Naming what we are holding. Naming what is being asked of us. Naming what may be ready to be released. 

In our text this week, we continue with a familiar line from Jesus that still carries surprising weight: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 

Study Guide for Sunday
In Matthew 4:18–22, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew before Simon is ever renamed Peter, and James and John. Matthew places this moment early in Jesus’ ministry, emphasizing movement and response without much explanation. Throughout the Gospel, calling comes first, and understanding follows as people walk with Jesus.

As you prepare for Sunday, spend time with these questions:

1. Where have you noticed God speaking during this season of paying attention?
2. What is a “net” you are holding that once served a purpose and now feels heavy?
3. What might it look like for you to respond to Jesus’ invitation before everything feels clear?

However it is that we gather, I look forward to reflecting on God’s holy Word with you! Please be safe and God bless you. 

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 4:18-22 (Year A, p. 113)

18 As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fisherfolk. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people—women, children, and men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 As Jesus went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and followed him.