A Message from Pastor Kaji

After a Spirit-filled Pentecost Sunday in which I reflected on the softness of our spiritual springs, I invited us all to set the intention of a “Soft Summer”. If you’d like to learn more about what it means to live softly, I encourage you to take a look at last Sunday’s sermon. I’ll share that as I, personally, have been challenging myself to live more softly, I’ve honestly been…more well. This intention has helped me, and I believe that it can help you, too.This week, in the penultimate component of this 5-part series on our spiritual seasons (as inspired by Parker Palmer), we enter summer itself. And as we do, I want to revisit a concept we spent quite some time with a couple of years ago: bloom. Rev. Stephanie did some beautiful work guiding reflections on this, and I encourage you to take a look.

Meanwhile, we are not where we were in 2021.

What does it mean to bloom right now, where we are planted? What does it mean to find ourselves living this, as Palmer puts it:

“Summer is the season when all the [promises of the other seasons] come due… In summer, it is hard to remember that we had ever doubted the natural process, had ever ceded death the last word, had ever lost faith in the powers of new life.”

What might all of this mean for us, today? Join us as we continue our preparations for a Soft Summer, full of bloom.

And, as a reminder, please be sure to plan to join us for our incredibly special Pride celebration. Register here. I can’t wait to see you there, and on Sunday, too. God bless you all.

Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji

Scripture: Psalm 9 (Year A, p. 369):

1  I will give thanks to the GOD WHO SAVES with my whole heart;
I will recount all your marvels.
2  I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, Most High.
3  When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.
4  For you judge my cause;
you sit on the throne judging rightly.
5  You rebuke the nations, you destroy the wicked;
their name you blot out forever.
6  The enemy is finished, the ruins everlasting;
their cities you have rooted out; their memory has perished.
7  But the RIGHTEOUS ONE sits enthroned forever,
she has established her throne for judgment.
8  She judges the world with righteousness;
she judges the peoples with equity.
9  The MOST HIGH is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10  They trust in you, who know your name,
for you, FAITHFUL ONE, do not forsake those who seek you.
11  Sing praises to the HOLY ONE OF SINAI,
who dwells in Zion. Declare her deeds among the peoples.
12  For the one who avenges blood remembers them;
she does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13  Be gracious to me, MERCIFUL GOD;
see my affliction on account of those who hate me.
You are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,
14  so that I may recount all your praises,
in the gates of Daughter Zion;
I will rejoice in your salvation.
15  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.
16  The RIGHTEOUS ONE has made herself known, she has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
17  The wicked shall depart to Sheol,
all the nations that forget God.
18  For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor perish forever.
19  Rise up, JUST ONE! Do not let those who are only mortal prevail;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20  Put them in fear, DREAD GOD;
let the nations know that they are only mortal.