A Message from Pastor Kaji

January 30th,2025 Categories: Weekly Letter

Click here for Pastor Kaji’s sermon playlist

Dear Church:

This week – like many before and many to come – has been…something. Before we go back to experiencing news as if we were in the midst of a game of whackamole (in which we are the moles) I encourage you to build space. This takes will and discipline and energy. But I promise that it pays off. 

It also requires that you assess trustworthiness. For our scripture this week, I switched the text to the Psalm, below, for this very reason. How does the Psalmist encourage us to make this assessment? Hold this Psalm in conversation with Proverbs 3:5: trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 

In whom do you place your trust? How much space do those you mistrust take up in your life? 

Let’s reflect and pray together on this in our preparations for worship. I can’t wait to see you on Sunday. 

Pax Christi,

Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Psalm 146 (Year C, p. 54):

1 Halleluyah! Praise the AGELESS ONE, O my soul!
I will praise the EVER-LIVING GOD all my life;
2 I will sing praises to my God throughout my living.
3 Put not your trust in the great, nor in any child of earth,
for there is no help in them.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to earth,
and in that day their thoughts perish.
5 Happy are these for whom the God of Rebekah’s line is their help,
whose hope is in the CREATOR OF ALL, their God.
6 Maker of heavens and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;
keeping faith forever.
7 Bringer of justice to the oppressed,
bringer of bread to the hungry.
8 The COMPASSIONATE GOD sets the prisoners free,
the ALL-SEEING GOD opens the eyes of the blind,
the JUST GOD lifts up those who are bowed down.
9 The RIGHTEOUS GOD loves the righteous,
the MOTHER OF ALL cares for the stranger,
orphan and widow she bears up,
but confounds the way of the wicked.
10 The MAJESTIC ONE shall reign forever,
your God, O Zion, from generation to generation.