A Message from Pastor Kaji

Dear Church:

Let me just start by saying that there is *a lot* going on at the church! 

Firstly, I have incredible news: yesterday, we successfully launched our newest ministry: Love on a Plate! Rebecca Stanton built a collaboration with our initiative and gathered children and parents from her school to serve 100 absolutely delicious meals. 

Abundant thanks to the many church members who offered their hard work and encouragement. Our members created restaurant-quality (and I mean: excellent restaurant quality) food with nuance, flavor, and, clearly, love. 

Of course everything took longer than expected, but these folks are pros. I’m a pretty dedicated home cook, but I’ve never stood up, chopped, boiled, roasted, etc for that long! We didn’t wrap the first night until 4 am, only to get started 3 hours later. This experience has given me a new appreciation for everyone who works in the food service industry. Whew!

Above all, the families we connected with were incredibly grateful for this taste of home. We look forward to serving again near Christmas. We will need help, so look for announcements on ways you can help. 

Secondly, at this very moment, I am writing to you from our dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker this weekend at the church (see photos here). (Yes, I have dusted off my ballet training for your entertainment!) Even my child is in the performances – these children have been rehearsing almost every day since the school year began and I am *so proud* of them all. 

Just so that you have fair warning: the church will look very different when you arrive on Sunday! There is an enormous dance stage with a stunning Nutcracker backdrop that obscures the chancel. The sanctuary is just magical. Please thank Stephanie, David and Travis for the hard work they did to pull this space together, coordinate the music, lighting, build the stage, support the dancers, and so much more. Our staff has been all-in on this important community arts project. 

On that note, our church’s collaboration with Manhattan Ballet and Movement School has proven to be such a blessing to our community. If you haven’t already, please rsvp for your free ticket to the performance on Sunday after church! Tickets are limited, so be sure to act fast. 

Finally, worship will look differently, but it will be beautiful! This is the last Sunday before Advent, otherwise known as Reign of Christ/Christ the King Sunday. Our text from Hebrews emphasizes something that we don’t always hear so much about Jesus in the Gospels. The Gospels generally tell the story of Jesus’ ministry, of his humanity. This text emphasizes his majesty and glory *after* he ascends into heaven.

As you prepare for Sunday, I invite you to consider: what does it mean to you to worship Jesus enthroned? We will reflect on this and so much more as we close out the liturgical year. I can’t wait to see you on Sunday for worship and the Nutcracker! 

Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Hebrews 1:1–9 (Year B, p. 311):
 
1 Many times and in many ways God spoke to our mothers and fathers through the prophets, female and male. 2 In these last days God has spoken to us by a Son, whom God appointed heir of all there is, and through whom God created the worlds. 3 The Son is the brilliance of God’s glory and reproduction of God’s very being, and the Son undergirds all there is by his word of power. When the Son had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much greater than the angels as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Child; today I have begotten you”?
Or this,
“I will be their Parent, and they will be my Child”?
6 Then again, when God brings the firstborn into the world, God says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
7 On the one hand of the angels God says, “God makes winds into celestial messengers, and flames of fire into God’s ministers.”
8 But of the Son God says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your realm.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”