A Message from Pastor Kaji
Sunday December 17
Dear Church:
I know some of you might’ve been waiting on your seats for this newsletter’s arrival, but it’s late today. I wanted to share why: this week, I am with a group of New York City clergy invited by the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints to come and tour their humanitarian aid facilities. This arose from a set of conversations this group of interfaith clergy have had over the past several months about how communities that are less resourced can draw from the bounty of communities that have more resources at their disposal. For The Park, in particular, we’ve been dreaming of how we can make use of our new kitchen facilities to help address hunger in our community. My great dream was to secure a supply chain for food and distribution at no cost to us. I think we may have just that in our partners here. God is doing something beautiful!
As a special treat, we will journey with another 20,999 people to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Annual Christmas Concert. As a church music nerd and choral musician myself, it is a bucket list item and a dream come true, thanks be to God! This musical experience is apt and fitting to share as we head into our last Sunday of Advent: Cantata Sunday, when we celebrate the gift of music in worship and afterwards. C. Anthony Bryant has crafted a beautiful worship experience for us at 11 am. We invite you to come and make coffee hour special – bring a mug and some cocoa to share. And don’t forget to bring in your gifts for the children recently arrived to our country! Bonnie English and team will be bringing those gifts to our ministry partners at La Hermosa after church on Sunday. Finally, after Coffee Hour, Thomas Osuga will offer a festive concert in the sanctuary. Church is busy, merry and bright. And we cannot wait to see you.
Pax, Christi,
Pastor Kaji
Psalm 118 :14-26 (Year B, p. 13):
and has become my salvation.
15 The sound of song and of salvation is in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the MOST HIGH is mighty;
16 the right hand of the MIGHTY GOD is exalted;
the right hand of the MOST HIGH is mighty.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the ANCIENT OF DAYS.
18 The MERCIFUL GOD has punished me severely,
but to death did not hand me over.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the FOUNT OF JUSTICE.
20 This is the gate of the LIVING GOD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you for you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the MIGHTY GOD’S doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the CREATOR OF ALL has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, SAVING ONE!
GENEROUS ONE, we pray, grant us prosperity!
26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of GOD WHO IS HOLY.
We bless you from the house of the EVER-LIVING GOD.