A Message from Pastor Kaji

I’d love to tell you a story. One Saturday in November, Tanya Young Williams invited me to join her for a special evening of music and reflection led by an incredible artist, Krystofer Maison (he/they). I was so inspired by their artistry that I actually changed my sermon on Reign of Christ Sunday (the next day!) to reflect some of the lessons they taught me. Fast forward to this past Easter, when Tanya brought Krystofer to The Park for the first time. He was likewise inspired to offer something meaningful to the community and to help us to raise money for the church’s LGBTQIA+ ministries, particularly in our ongoing work with trans immigrants.After much planning and creative thinking and organizing and many, many phone calls, Krystofer has pulled together a stunning program that they’re offering as a fundraiser for the church. He’s gathered sponsors, he’s crafted an incredible offering, he’s marketed it brilliantly, and I’m just thrilled to see it live. I encourage you to save the date and to join us Wednesday June 14 at 7 pm – it is not to be missed! You can find more information about it here.

More immediately, I’ll be back in the pulpit live this Sunday as we celebrate Pentecost. The text from Acts 2 works so beautifully with the 3rd part of my sermon series on the seasons of our spiritual lives. For Pentecost, we will enter spring. If you haven’t had a chance to watch the other parts of the series, I encourage you to visit The Park’s YouTube page to catch up! I’d also encourage you to take a look at the full piece of Parker Palmer’s writing that inspired the series.

The markers of the Spring spiritual season are a “muddy mess creating conditions for rebirth.” Spring ushers in that rebirth, and we feel it and see it clearly. Are you in a spiritual Spring? Even if you’re not, we’ll reflect on this season so that when you are, you can attune yourself to the work God is doing in your life.

I can’t wait to see you on Sunday!

Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji

Scripture: Acts 2:1-11 (Year A, p. 334):

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.”