A Message from Pastor Kaji
Dear Church:
(Do I always say this?) But it’s been quite a week here in our beloved city, in this country, too. Paying attention may make things feel…chaotic.
But we still need to look. Some things I am looking at this week have to do with our dear brother in the struggle, Shakoure Charpentier. Shakoure, born in Germany while his father served in the Air Force, has always understood himself to be a U.S. Citizen. “Born on a U.S. military base in Bitburg, Germany, in 1972. Charpentier’s father, Edouard, had enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, a service that offered enlistees the opportunity to naturalize as U.S. citizens. Edouard, who was born in Haiti, said he completed the naturalization process in Texas before Charpentier was born.” But now ICE argues that Shakoure really isn’t a citizen and, on the basis of an old conviction, wants to deport him. Our congregation has heard from Shakoure before, but I’d love to encourage you to read his story and if it speaks to you, please sign this petition to send Gov. Hochul your request that she issue the pardon that might take Shakoure off of ICE’s hit list.
I’ll cover something about this in the sermon on Sunday, but I’ll share that I spent some time with members of the team responding to the mayhem surrounding the arrest on Columbia University’s campus this week. Please send them all your prayers. And pray that hearts will change. This arrest signals much to come.
I know. There is so much to think about. Which is why I appreciate our text from Luke this week. Notice how the scripture is chaotic—there’s too much happening at once. Jesus, already surrounded by a crowd, is interrupted not once, but twice, by urgent needs. A father pleads for his dying daughter. A woman, suffering for years, reaches out in desperation. The crowd is pressing in, the demands won’t let up, and even Jesus feels power leave him. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed—by responsibilities, by injustice, by the relentless pace of life—you are not alone. The Gospel meets us there, in the press of exhaustion, in the moments where we have nothing left to give.
As we prepare for worship, I invite you to reflect: Where do you feel most depleted? How do you discern what is worth your time and energy? And when have you found just enough faith to reach—one more time—for what you need? Let’s come together on Sunday, ready to explore the power you have in connecting with God.
Finally, it’s likely that we won’t have our broadcast back up on Sunday. It requires a significant investment to fix and a lot of staff time to configure. We pray that it will happen, but for now, please just let that be an incentive to come join us in person, if you can!
I can’t wait to see you Sunday.
Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji
SCRIPTURE
Luke 8:40-55 (Year C, p. 87):
40 Now when Jesus returned [from casting demons into a herd of pigs], the crowd of women, children, and men welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41 And hear this! There came a man whose name was Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. And he fell at the feet of Jesus and urged him to come to his house. 42 For he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.
Now as he went, the crowd of women, children, and men nearly crushed Jesus. 43 And there was a woman who had a [vaginal] hemorrhage for twelve years, and though on physicians she had spent her entire life [savings], not one was able to cure her. 44 She came up behind Jesus touching the fringe of his garment and immediately her [vaginal] hemorrhage stopped. 45 Then Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Sir, the crowds surround you and are pressing in.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; for I discerned that power had gone out from me.” 47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, trembling she came forward and falling down before Jesus she declared in the presence of all the women and men why she had touched Jesus and how she was immediately healed. 48 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you, go in peace.”
49 While Jesus was speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader’s house saying, “Since your daughter is dead, do not trouble the teacher any longer.” 50 When Jesus heard this he replied, “Fear not. Only believe and she will be saved.” 51 Now when Jesus came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s mother and father. 52 Everyone else was weeping and wailing for her, but Jesus said, “Weep not for she is not dead but sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But Jesus took her by the hand and calling out he said, “Child, get up!” 55 And her breath-and-spirit returned and she got up that moment; then Jesus directed them to give her something to eat.