A Message from Pastor Kaji

 

I’m thrilled to return to the sanctuary for in-person worship this Sunday, and I hope that you will join us! With gratitude to the Elders, Deacons, staff and members who hosted summer worship for the past several weeks, I’m ready to dig back into our worship life anew.
 
For Sunday, I invite you to open up your Bibles to this rich text from 1 Peter. Words and phrases that we’ll linger with:Humble
Anxiety
Cast on God
keep alert
Roaring lion
adversary
Devour
Resist
Firm in faith
Glory
Support, strengthen, establish
 
As you look at this text and this list, which words resonate with your specific needs right now? In anticipation of this, we will take a close look at ways in which I believe God is inviting us to examine and pray. For your further study, I suggest that you list the words from the text that are most resonant and see how they align with some of these texts of affirmation, below (all of which are from the NIV).
 
1. Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

2. Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

3. Psalm 139:14 – “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

4. Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

5. Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

6. Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

7. 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

8. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”

9. Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

10. Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s masterpiece. God has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things planned for us long ago.”
 
I can’t wait to get into all of this with you on Sunday! God bless you all and I can’t wait to see you.
 

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 5:6–11 (Year B, p. 268):

6 Humble yourselves so under the mighty hand of God, that God may exalt you all in due time. 7 All your anxiety, cast on God, because God cares for you all. 8 Be sober, keep alert: Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil, goes around seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist it, firm in your faith, for you all know the same sufferings that are throughout the world your sisters and brothers are experiencing. 10 And the God of all grace, who has called you to God’s eternal glory in Christ, will Godself, after you all have suffered for a little while, restore, support, strengthen, and establish you all. 11 To God be the power forever and ever. Amen.