A Message from Pastor Kaji

Sunday Preview for June 18

Watch Pastor Kaji’s sermon “Seasons Part V” here

Dear Church,

Today I’m excited to share many updates on the bustling life of the church and our ministries!

Last night, we were honored to host the community for our Pride at The Park celebration (see rehearsal photo, above). The church was full of people and spirit as we raised funds and resources for our ministry to trans immigrants. Krystopher Maison and their team were magnificent. It was so apparent that the church was offering a space of healing, reflection and joy and I was so proud of us! Many thanks to the staff for all of their hard work in pulling it together. I’ve never seen the church lit so beautifully – Travis did an incredible job! Stephanie Wilson and David Sookai (and his whole family!) put in so much love and work to organize and make everything come off smoothly.

I’m excited to announce that the church leadership and I will be hosting some informal table talks on two upcoming Sundays – this Sunday and a Sunday in July – when we can openly discuss our ideas for The Park’s future ministries and have the chance to share our concerns, as well. We want to hear from each other! Please do join us for worship and stay afterwards for this conversation, which will take place in the fellowship hall after worship. The dates are listed below.

As for worship, we’ve finally finished our seasons series, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed with you. This Sunday, we’re back in Matthew with Jesus talking about toxicity in worship and praise. It’s a fascinating word and we’re going to get into it!

The following two Sundays, the Elders will lead worship and I will offer the word on screen, as I will be traveling for church business. The first trip is to the Holy Land – I am traveling with a group of Manhattan clergy to build relationships, learn and grow together in this crucial time in Israel and Palestine. Please pray for us – this is an important trip, but it will not be easy. I will then fly directly from Tel Aviv to Indianapolis for the United Church of Christ’s General Synod, where I will be leading a workshop and having a reading with the UCC’s StillSpeaking Writer’s Group. We are premiering a number of new resources that we have produced over the past year, so it will be exciting to get some feedback on all of our hard work!

As you can see, there is much happening in the life of the church. I can’t wait to see you in worship.

Pax,
Pastor Kaji

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-9 (Year A, p. 381):

1 [Now some] Pharisees and religious scholars came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat bread.” 3 Then Jesus answered them, “And why do you all break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your mother and your father,’ and ‘Whoever speaks evil of mother or father must die.’ 5 But you say that whoever tells mother or father, ‘Whatever benefit you might have had from me is a gift [to God],’ then that person need not honor the mother or father. 6 So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. 7 Hypocrites! Well did the prophet Isaiah prophesy of you, and say:

8  ‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me;

9  in vain do they worship me,

teaching human commandments as [authoritative] teaching.’ ”