A Message from Pastor Kaji

Dear Church:

It’s hard to believe that we’re coming to the end of the Epiphany season! I have grown so much in my understanding of the ways God is revealed. Yes, by delving into scriptures, but also by listening to your experiences. Please continue to share the ways you hear from God, and the ways that you don’t hear from God, too. It all matters and the conversations are holy. 
 
This Sunday marks the last official Epiphany that we will study together – Jesus’ Transfiguration before some disciples. It’s a huge and magnificent text. My reflections on their experience go into the issue of scale. As you prepare for worship, I encourage you to scale back and do your humble best to take a God’s-eye view of you. What do you see? 
 
The answer(s) to that question can help you to frame your Lenten journey for this year. To that end, I encourage you to join us in church on Wednesday (Valentine’s Day) which is – importantly – Ash Wednesday. We will have a brief service of prayer and reflection with the imposition of ashes – the information is below. I do hope that you can set aside the time to be present for this important start to our Lenten season. 
 
I can’t wait to see you on Sunday (and Wednesday). 

With Love,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Mark 9:1-23 (Year B, p. 70):

1 And he said to them, [the crowd,] “Truly I tell you all, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the majesty of God come in power.”
2 Six days later later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and brought them up a high mountain by themselves, alone. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes began shining, becoming exceedingly white, such as no cloth refiner on earth could bleach them. 4 And then Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; we will pitch three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say because they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they no longer saw no one with them, but only Jesus himself.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them so that they would tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Woman had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the biblical scholars say that Elijah must come first?” 12 Thus Jesus said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. Now, how then is it written about the Son of Woman, that through many sufferings he is to go and be treated with contempt? 13 Yet I tell you all that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, just as it is written about him.”