Aloha our beloved parish ‘ohana,
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The first day of holy week this past Monday found us waking up to the news that Notre Dame Cathedral was on fire. The outlook was bleak. It looked as if this age-old icon of faith and culture would be destroyed. The whole world held his collective breath as we watched the tower fall to the ground. We went to bed thinking that it was all over. Our hearts were heavy with deep sadness and disbelief. It was with great relief and joy that we woke up to scenes of the golden cross still hanging and shining brightly within the smoky darkness of the devastated cathedral.
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We can only imagine what it must have been like for those first disciples to go to the tomb on that first Easter morning to find that the gigantic stone from the sealed tomb rock rolled away, the grave clothes lying in a heap and Jesus was nowhere to be seen. Imagine the shock and all when the angels tell them that Jesus has been resurrected from the dead.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the heart of the Christian faith. If the Resurrection did not happen, or was just a made-up story, then so much of our civilization, including art, music, literature, morals and values, is based on a fallacy, a lie. There have always been those who would adamantly try to convince us of just that.
There is a story told about Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin, a powerful Russian Communist leader, in 1930 addressing a huge assembly in Kiev on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd, he aimed a heavy diatribe at Christianity hurling insult, argument, and proof against it. An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of the faith of those gathered.
"Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded.
Deafening silence filled the auditorium, until one man approached the platform, and mounting the lectern, he stood near the communist leader. The man surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally, he shouted the ancient greeting "CHRIST IS RISEN!" En masse the crowd arose as one person and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: "HE IS RISEN, INDEED!"
In today’s liturgy we will also have the opportunity to respond with the ancient proclamation, “HE IS RISEN, INDEED!” To join in this response is to chose to believe by faith in the goodness and grace of God revealed to us in Jesus; that God the Creator broke through the confines of time and space to live as one of us; Jesus was crucified and died on the cross and he rose from the dead paving the way for all of us to be back in relationship with our Creator for all eternity.
Please join us this Easter as we joyfully proclaim once again:
ALLELUIA! CHRIST IS RISEN!
THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!
With blessings on this Good Friday,
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Link to the readings for this Sunday:
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The Great Vigil of Easter on the Beach
(April 20)
5 PM in front of the Kawaihae Canoe Club. The service includes the lighting of the new fire. Bring a beach chair or towel and a bell if you have one (or more to share). It is tradition to ring bells as we proclaim the first alleluias of Easter. Service will include hula.
EASTER SUNDAY
(April 21)
St. James': 7:30 & 9 AM
St. Columba's: 9:30 AM
All three morning services include favorite Easter hymns and hula.
There will be a POTLUCK at St. James' and St. Columba's after the 9:00 and 9:30 services! Bring your favorite dish to share. We will provide plates and utensils.
Following the 9 AM service at St. Columba's there will be an
Easter Egg Hunt
and following the 9:30 AM service at St. James' a new keiki event this year:
"Easter on the Green"
(or "Easter in the Pavilion" if it is inclement weather).
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From the procession on Palm Sunday to the stripping of the altar last night at our Maundy Thursday services, Mahalo to all who have helped to make Holy Week so meaningful.
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A Short Course on the Holy Spirit
Have you ever wondered about who the Holy Spirit is? Have you ever wondered what the Holy Spirit does? Have you ever wondered how you can be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Come and join us for a short course on the Holy Spirit as we discuss these ancient questions. We will start at 5:30 PM in St. James' Church with a potluck supper, watching a talk from the Alpha Film Series, and then a time for table discussion.
Tuesdays: April 30, May 7 & 14
Mark your calendars.
More information to come.
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Parish College Scholarship Program
Applications Accepted Up To Friday, May 17th. The Vestry of St. James' (church board) has designated a fund for scholarships for youth (Children/Grandchildren of members of our parish) attending college. The fund was established as part of our commitment to the education of youth in our community. To apply for Parish Scholarship, you will find copies of the application on the back table at St. James' Church, or by
CLICKING HERE
. Please have your child/grandchild return the completed application to the parish office by no later than Friday, May 17th via: scan (PDF only please) and email to
office@stjameshawaii.org
, fax to 808-887-2713, mail to St. James' Episcopal Church, PO Box 278, Kamuela, HI 96743 or drop off a hard copy at the parish office. The Vestry will award scholarships in late May.
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Our Change Changes Lives - UTO Little Blue Boxes
The Episcopal Church’s United Thank Offering (“UTO”) motto is "Our change changes lives." Each year, churches are invited to participate in an offering of support for the United Thank Offering grant program which addresses human need through grants to projects that alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally, within the Anglican (Episcopal) provinces and dioceses. Some years ago, St. James’ benefited from a UTO grant that helped build our bathrooms.
There are blue boxes available on the back tables in church. You are invited to make a daily prayer and offering in thanks for the blessings in your life by putting your loose coins and bills into a UTO blue box placed on your bedside table, the kitchen sill, the office desk — any place where prayers of thanksgiving are said.
Our Parish will have its giving time during the season of Lent, ending on first Saturday and Sunday after Easter Sunday, April 27 & 28.
You will be invited to bring your blue box with you to church that weekend. We will bless them during our services and then the offerings will be sent to UTO.
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We had a joyous procession of palms for Palm Sunday, but the mood changed quickly as the Passion was read. As the liturgy for the service switches from joy and palms to betrayal and sadness, we begin our Holy Week journey. Thank you to all who participated in this moving service.
Linda
+
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Burke's Leaving St. Columba's For a Bit!
Brian and Gael Burke will be off island for an extended period of time. They are heading to Texas as Gael will be having back surgery. Please continue to keep Gael in your prayers for successful surgery and recovery. They will both be missed terribly and we send them a warm Aloha. Hui hou Brian and Gael!!
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The old cathedrals are good, but the great blue dome that hangs over everything is better.
~Thomas Carlyle
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KAWAIHAE HARBOR, SATURDAY, 5 PM
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Peggy Rein, Patricia Eckstrom, Sarah, Gloria Seiden, Narcisa Yagin, Nicole Anderson, Marlene Thees, Trevor, Carl Stanforth, Alan Ackerman, Brad Young, Monica Parker, Gladys Takeya, Gerry Goodenough, Monique Abbasi, Jack A, Isaac DeRego, James Knox Everett, Riley Furlong, Debbie Gaines, Israel Kahoopii, Pedro Ka'awaloa, Nathan Lee, Jane Cook & Family, Eleanor Mendias, Mark & Kay Segal, Maurice Cecil & Pukaua Summer Sommers, Betty Santorio, Cheyanna Lahnum, Jesse Osmun, Art-Andre (Petit) Dieme, Patrick OʻBrien, Shin Runkel, Mary Avery, Alex Ka'aua, the Reyes family, Vicky Tagaca, Victor Wusstig, Maelle Wolf, Steven, Kaipo Young, Coe Atherton, Pat Holiday, Nancy Davidson, Dr. Jill Fishback Chambers, The Rev. Katherine Cunningham, Tony Abbott, Guy Piltz, Katy Grainger, Eli Ching, Shawn & Stephanie, Heidi Barnett, Diane Feeney, Linda & Fletcher Cockerell, Diane Forsyth, Michael Bogert, Janice Gail, Julie Mattson, Robert Madrigal, Gilmore family, Loreen Hackwalter, Quentin & Mary Murrell Faulkner, Paterno Balmilero, Rev. Randy Welsand, Gael Burke, family & friends Jim Thill, Sr., family & friends of Eric, step-son of Lida Kim, Jerry Reyla, Greg Sliva, Eliane Van Stichel ++
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If you would like to be added to the Prayer List or would like to add someone else (please get their permission first), call the parish office at 808-885-4923 or email at
prayer@stjameshawaii.org
by the Tuesday before you would like the name to appear in the bulletin. Please mention 'Prayer List' in the Subject line of the email to Jacque so that she knows it's not a spam email from someone she doesn't know personally.
Names will remain on the list for 4 weeks. You must then request to have the name added again.
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In the back of the church are note cards. Please take 5 to 10 cards and envelopes home with you. Use them to reach out to one another and those in the wider community.
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Please keep in your thoughts and prayers parishioners who are unable to be with us in worship. Please reach out to them and let them know they are missed.
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Gerry Goodenough
PO Box 988
Kamuela, HI 96743
Tepa Farias
PO Box 1152
Kamuela, HI 96743
Alexandra "Alex" Ka'au'a
67-5165 Kamamalu St Apt 19B
Kamuela, HI 96743
Coe Atherton
c/o Tripper Atherton
144 Stone Pointe Trail
Castle Rock, CO 80109
Rev. Guy Piltz
PO Box 1973
Kamuela, 96743
Leta Shattuck
65-1272 Ki Road
Kamuela, HI 96743
Saint Vincent
Attn. Diane Feeney
North Tower Room 515
4831 35th Avenue, SW
Seattle, WA 98126
Beth McKeen
PO Box 1521
Kamuela, HI 96743
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Do you know of someone else to whom we could reach out?
Please get their permission first, then contact the parish office to have them added to the list.
email here
or telephone at 808-885-4923
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Birthdays:
Matthew Mills, Denise Ray, Nina Disbro, Eric Savage, Frosty Yardley, Robert Lindsey, Carmen Okate, Jerry Reyla
Anniversaries:
Charles & Barbara Campbell, Julie & Mel Probe
Remembrances:
Kelly A.K. Ching, Angeline Poole, Donn Wade
Diocese of Hawaii:
T
he Cathedral of St. Andrew, Honolulu
: The Rev. Cn. Moki Hino (Canon Administrator and Priest-in-Charge); The Rev. Keleawe Hee (Associate for Pastoral Care) & Mrs. Faye Hee.
St. Timothy's, Aiea
: The Rev. Daniel Leatherman (Priest-in-Charge) & Mrs. Charmaine Leatherman.
Anglican Cycle of Prayers:
Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the People of the Land of the Holy One
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Michael Thompson read "Crosses Around the World" in Godly Play this week, it was very well received by the keiki!
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We are so grateful to those who volunteer their time for After School Tutoring!
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Upcoming Youth Events
Teen Tech Tutors SUNDAY May 5:
Kupuna
(Seniors):
Bring your iPhone, iPad, Android Phone or Tablet, e-Reader (Kindle or Nook), or laptop, Our Teen Tech Tutors will be available to assist you with your technology and Internet questions. Future dates to be announced. Mahalo to all of the teens for this wonderful ministry.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL AT ST. COLUMBA'S
Beginning April 28, I will be at St. Columba’s for their 9:30 service. We will be starting a Sunday School for their keiki and we are looking for St. Columba’s parishioners to commit to one Sunday a month to help with Sunday School. Their keiki really enjoy Sunday School and we will be doing a Journey through the Parables with them. The Parable program is very easy to follow along and has everything you need to do a meaningful Sunday School for the keiki. If you are interested, please let Rev. Linda or me know. There is nothing better than planting seeds of faith in our keiki.
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Free 'Ohana Ukulele lessons begin April 24
th
in St. James' Church from 3PM to 4PM. We encourage families to participate in this really fun music ministry. We will also meet on May 1
st
, 8
th
and 15
th
, with a performance on Sunday May 19 at our 9 AM service. Please encourage your 'ohana to join us. No ukulele, no problem. We have ukuleles to loan during the 4 sessions.
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I always welcome any suggestions, comments, ideas or prayers. Please feel free to contact me at any time with any questions, or to volunteer.
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Susan Acacio,
Youth Ministry Coordinator
(808) 895-2086
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Seeking Volunteers!
Please consider joining our Thrift Store Team for Fun, Fellowship and Service! Please
CLICK HERE to sign up, your assistance is greatly appreciated!
Contact Nina for further information: ThriftStore@stjameshawaii.org
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BYOB - Bring your own BAGS, please! The Thrift Store will no long be accepting donations of reusable grocery bags or providing bags at the check out. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Nina Disbro,
Thrift Store Ministry Coordinator
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In Need of Duffle Bags!
Parishioners
Dr. Doi and Aimee Love will be traveling to Madagascar shortly and are in need of a few duffle bags to deliver donated towels and other needed supplies to the Akany Avoko Faravohitra orphanage. If you have a few you can spare, please see Nina in the Thrift Store. Mahalo!
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from Steve Kittell
HAS SUMMER FINALLY ARRIVED IN WAIMEA?
It was a lovely, balmy summer feeling night in the Pavilion for one the favorite meals we serve: Meatloaf! This week's Lead Cook
Sue Dela Cruz
reprised Mel Holt's fantastic meatloaf recipe and the crowd loved it. Not only does Sue Coordinate our Meal EVERY week but often, as this week, acts as Lead Cook which is always a big hit. One of our most loved meals was complimented with rice, Chef Stephen's delicious Tomato-Vegetable vegan soup, bread, green salad, a unique arugula, & eggplant salad, dill cabbage salad as well as fruit salad. And of course our delicious desserts......there were some very festive looking Easter colored cupcakes and some excellent cheesecake which were very tempting. It was all definitely at hit.
After a slow start, probably due to the beautiful weather and the fact that tomorrow is a school holiday, our numbers in the Pavilion picked up. A total of 179 meals were served in the Pavilion (including 46 keiki) plus ( a larger than usual recently) 130 deliveries for a grand total of 309 meals served.
We were serenaded by the rocking country sounds of Kamuela who had the crowd on their feet celebrating their cool music and the beautiful warm full moon night.
Our sponsor for the meal was returning sponsor
LORI KIM OD
who covered the costs of the meal and provided several hard working servers. Mahalo nui loa to Lori Kim and staff. Rounding out our serving line were a large number of HPA students and a good group of our loyal weekly volunteers. As always, it takes a whole team of volunteers to shop, chop, cook, deliver, set up, serve, break down and clean up...….again a huge MAHALO to all who helped in any way to make the meal a great success.
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Lemons and Limes Needed!
Every week we make fresh lemonade or limeade for the Community Meal, so we go through a lot of lemons and limes! If you have any to spare, the best time to drop them off at St. James' is on Thursday. Mahalo!
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Mahalo also to our Prep Crew, Clean up Crew, Packers and Deliverers of meals and all those who work behind the scenes! Join us every Thursday, for we feed the body and soul! Contact Sue if you feel called to volunteer or otherwise support the Community Meal Ministry!
Building Community, One Meal at a Time!
Smiles, Sue
Sue dela Cruz
Community Meal Ministry Coordinator
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Turns out that having volunteers in the church office has been absolutely invaluable during the last couple of months and we'd like to continue to have volunteers between 9 and 1 on weekdays. If you feel you can help out, please sign up
HERE. The sign up is structured for two hour block 9-11 and 11-1. Duties are varied, including answering phones, greeting visitors, helping out with copying and folding materials for services and youth programs and with other projects (David has a growing list!) Please help if you are able.
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Volunteer at our Thrift Store Ministry.
We have a terrific group of regular volunteers. But are in great need of more volunteers to be able to open the store. If you do not already presently volunteer, please give a try.
CLICK HERE
to sign up for a few hours. This sign up is for folks who do not presently volunteer. You will be welcomed with open arms!
Volunteer at the Community Meal Ministry
(Thursdays 4:30 - 6 PM). Join in helping to provide a hot sit-down meal and warm welcome. Thursdays, 4 - 6 PM. Contact Tim Bostock or Sue Dela Cruz (
Eat@StJamesHawaii.org
). Sponsor one of our weekly meals for $500. 10 AM - Chop and prep. 3:30 PM - Pack up meals to be delivered. 3:30 PM - Set up the Pavilion. 4:15 PM - Serve in the line. 4:30 PM - Come talk-story, giving guests the gift of friendship. 6 PM - clean up.
Volunteer with our Youth Ministry
. Our ministry to the youngest in our midst is growing by leaps and bounds. Become trained as a
Godly Play (Sunday School) teacher
, volunteer at our Wednesday After School Tutoring, assist at one of our youth events. Contact our Youth Ministry Coordinator, Susan Acacio at 895-2086 or
Youth@StJamesHawaii.org
.
Serve in Worship
. Acolytes, readers, servers at the altar, ushers/greeters are needed. Speak to any of our clergy.
Share your musical talents.
Join the St. James' Choir. Share your gift as a soloist, your ability to play an instrument or dance hula. At St. Columba's speak to Rev. Linda; at the Beach Mass speak to Garrett Webb; and at St. James' speak to Everett Knowles or Rona Lee. Don't know who they are? Contact the Parish Office and we'll connect you to them.
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Easter Day
Notes on this reading:
Luke’s version of the resurrection is different from John’s. We don’t read the story of Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus in the garden and mistaking him for groundskeeper, but we do repeat the theme that the women are the first ones to see that Jesus is alive, which is in keeping with Luke’s interest in highlighting the important role of women in the Jesus movement. Note that the disciples consider the news to be an idle tale, perhaps because they don’t grant women much credibility.
Questions
:
- What do the resurrection stories have in common?
- What is different about them? The women make their way to the tomb with one expectation. That expectation is changed. Has that ever happened to you in the journey of faith?
- One of the themes in these Easter stories is that people do not believe. The disciples at first consider it to be an idle tale. Why do you think that theme is included?
- Do you think it was harder for those first disciples to believe in the resurrection, or is it harder for us to believe in it?
**
Graphic and reflection/questions from the book, “Drawn to the Gospels” by friend of our parish ‘ohana, the Rev. Jay Sidebotham. Used with permission.
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Monthly Women's Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study meets next on
Friday, May 3, 2019
in the Church from 10-12. We are making an in depth study of Mary, the mother of Jesus. All women are welcome. Bring your friends!
Noon Bible Study on Wednesdays
at the Piltz's Home in Kanehoa subdivision.
This study is a scholarly reflection on the upcoming assigned Scriptures for our weekend worship.
This Bible Study is on hiatus for Lent
and will resume on April 27.
Directions to Guy+ and Jo's:
From St. James' Church it is 4.9 miles. Drive south on Kawaihae Road. Turn left on Ouli Street into Kanehoa subdivision. Follow the road around all the way until it comes to an end. Turn right into the driveway at the end of the cul de sac, and follow the driveway to the yellow two story house. You have arrived! Any questions, contact our rector, David+, at 238-4956
Scripture Readings for this Weekend
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Meets weekly on Tuesdays at St. James' from 8:30 to 10:30 AM. Registration required. Please contact David+,
John Sucke, or
Beth McKeen for additional information.
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"The Resurrection gives my life meaning, direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances."
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Imagine for a moment turning toward someone nearby, perhaps someone you don’t know. Maybe, just for a moment, you gently look upon them as the gloriously wounded humans they are. Maybe you glimpse the holes in their hands, their feet, their side. Maybe you lean a little closer, touching their wounds, and in doing so let your own wounds be touched. And then you whisper to your fellow traveler in Christ, “I’m sorry. I’m so very sorry. I just didn’t know. But I am here for you now.”
-Br. Nicholas Bartoli,
SSJE
An Episcopal Monastery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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A Prayer for the End of Day
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CLICK HERE
to read the current approved minutes from the vestry meeting.
The next vestry meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 20 at 10 AM in the Parish Office. All are welcome to attend.
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Midweek Worship
Every Wednesday
Morning Prayer, 9 AM
Every Wednesday, at 9 AM in St. James' church, we offer the service of Morning Prayer. This is a beautiful way to begin one's day. The service of Morning Prayer, also known as Matins, is one of the two main Daily Offices in the Episcopal church. One of the beautiful aspects of Morning and Evening Prayer is that as you pray the office you are praying it with thousands of people around the world who are also engaged in these same or similar prayers. In addition, during the service, we will be incorporating the reading of the names on our parish prayer list. Please come and join us in prayer.
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The next scheduled baptisms are set for Saturday, May 18 at the 5 PM Saturday Beach Mass. Speak to anyone of the clergy about being baptized or having a child baptized.
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"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." -- Romans 15:7
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The next weekend we will officially welcome new members will be May 4 & 5. We will welcome new members at all four weekend services. If you are already baptized and have come to see this parish 'ohana as your spiritual home, simple come to anyone of the services that weekend, sit anywhere you wish and come forward at the appointed time in the service.
CLICK HERE
for more information about becoming a member or speak to anyone of the clergy. They are would LOVE to talk with you about our having the chance to celebrate your decision.
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Up-coming Parish Events at a Glance
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2019 Holy Days, Events, and Special Offerings
Holy Week
April 14 – 19 – see Parish Calendar for full schedule of events
EASTER
Great Vigil of Easter at the Beach
at 5 PM, Kawaihae, Saturday, April 20
Easter Sunday at St. James'
at 7:30 & 9 AM, April 21
Easter Sunday at St. Columba's
at 9:30 AM, April 21
The Holy Spirit Short Course
–
will meet at St. James from 5:30-7:30 on:
Tuesday, April 30
Tuesday, May 7
Tuesday, May 14
Response to Active Violence in Places of Worship
Saturday, May 4
th
from 9 – 10:30 AM, at St. James’ Church, Waimea
Vacation Bible School Week
July 22-26, 2 - 5:30 PM (Dinner included for keiki and family)
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The following is the text of the Presiding Bishop’s Easter 2019 Message:
Easter 2019 Message
The Rt. Reverend Barbara Harris was the first woman ordained and consecrated a bishop in The Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion. In her memoir, entitled Hallelujah, Anyhow![she] quotes an old Gospel hymn that says it this way:
Hallelujah anyhow
Never let your troubles get you down
When your troubles come your way
Hold your hands up high and say
Hallelujah anyhow!
When I get to Heaven, I want to meet one person, and her name is Mary Magdalene. Because if ever there was another Hallelujah, Anyhow sister, it was Mary Magdalene. And her life, and her example, tells us what it means to follow in the way of Jesus, in the Way of Love.
Mary Magdalene showed up when others would not. Mary Magdalene spoke up when others remained silent. Mary Magdalene stood up when others sat down.
John’s Gospel tells us that when many of the disciples fled and abandoned Jesus, Mary Magdalene stood by him at the cross. Hallelujah, Anyhow.
Against the odds, swimming against the current, Mary Magdalene was there.
John’s Gospel says in the 20
th
chapter, early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene and some of the other women went to the tomb. Hallelujah, Anyhow.
They went to the tomb when it didn’t make any sense. They went to the tomb when the evidence was against them. Jesus was dead. They knew that. The power of the Empire had crushed the hope of love. They knew that. And they got up in the morning and went to the tomb anyhow. Hallelujah, Anyhow.
But more than that, John’s Gospel says it was dark. It was dark. That’s not just the time of day in John’s Gospel. The darkness in John is the domain of evil. In John’s Gospel when Judas leaves the Last Supper to betray Jesus, John inserts a parenthetical remark. When Judas leaves to betray him, John says, “And it was night.” The darkness is the domain of wrong, of hatred, of bigotry, of violence, the domain of sin and death and horror.
And early in the morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb, Hallelujah, Anyhow.
The truth is, she didn’t know that Jesus was alive. She was just doing what love does. Caring for her beloved, her Savior, her friend, in his time of death, to give him the last rites of burial. And when she got to the tomb, and the other women with them, they eventually discovered that Jesus was alive, and in the silence of the night, in the moments of despair, in the moments of the worst darkness, God had done something incredible. God had raised Jesus from the dead
The truth is, nobody saw Jesus rise from the dead, because God had done it secretly and quietly, when nobody was looking.
When I was in high school, I learned a poem composed by James Russell Lowell. He wrote it in the 19
th
century, in one of the darkest periods in American history, when this country was torn asunder by the existence of chattel slavery in our midst. In this great land of freedom, there were slaves being held in bondage. And this nation literally went to war, tearing itself apart, trying to find the way to do what was right. And James Russell Lowell wrote, in the midst of this darkness, in this dark hour:
Though the cause of evil prosper, yet ‘tis truth alone and strong . . .
Though her portion be a scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own
Hallelujah, Anyhow.
Christ is risen
The Lord is risen, indeed.
God love you, God bless you, and may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.
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BISHOP'S EASTER MESSAGE 2019
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The text of Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick's video Easter Message:
As I pray and ruminate about Easter 2019, I am reminded of the great hymn in Paul’s letter to the Philippians (2:5-11, below in the Common English Bible translation):
Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:
Though he was in the form of God,
he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
But he emptied himself
by taking the form of a slave
and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Therefore, God highly honored him
and gave him a name above all names,
so that at the name of Jesus everyone
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Those first Christians would have understood this hymn as connecting Jesus with the images of “Wisdom” in the Old Testament and earlier Jewish literature. In the Apocrypha’s “The Wisdom of Solomon” (7:25-26), the author writes:
Wisdom is the warm breath of God’s power. She pours forth from the all-powerful one’s pure glory. Therefore, nothing impure can enter her. She’s the brightness that shines forth from eternal light. She’s a mirror that flawlessly reflects God’s activity. She’s the perfect image of God’s goodness.
They also would have immediately connected it with the “suffering servant” in the Prophet Isaiah (chapters 52:13-53:12). Certainly, Isaiah 52:13-25:
Look, my servant will succeed.
He will be exalted and lifted very high.
Just as many were appalled by you,
he too appeared disfigured, inhuman,
his appearance unlike that of mortals.
But he will astonish many nations.
Kings will be silenced because of him,
because they will see what they haven’t seen before;
what they haven’t heard before, they will ponder
would give meaning to the concluding verses of the hymn:
Therefore, God highly honored him
and gave him a name above all names,
so that at the name of Jesus everyone
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
They would have also immediately understood the political significance of the passage. The description of one who “did not count equality with God a thing to be exploited” and as one who took “the form of a slave” would stand in contrast to Roman emperors, who were recognized as “equal to God” and exploited this status. The self-emptying of Jesus Christ is the very antithesis of a Hellenistic ruler, and the model of avarice, greed and self-assertion of the “Great Man” in the Roman Empire.
Easter is the reminder that in Jesus Christ all the world is transformed. We – individually as believers and collectively as the Church – are changed. In those wonderful words from the Prayer Book (in Eucharistic Prayer D, page 374):
Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new. And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all
When Paul calls us to “[a]dopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus,” he is calling us to an Easter life. We are called to a life that does not fear death, that celebrates sacrifice, that embodies humility, that speaks truth to power, and that denies triumph to greed. He calls us to life transformed.
My prayer for all of us is that we can dare to have the “attitude that was in Christ Jesus” and live into our Easter life:
O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Yours faithfully,
+Bob
The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick
Bishop Diocesan,
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
Bishop-in-Charge,
The Episcopal Church in Micronesia
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Quick Links to Diocese Information
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What's going on in the Neighborhood?
The Waimea Community Association maintains a comprehensive calendar of civic and social events in Waimea.
CLICK HERE
to check out what is happening, where and when in our area.
Tutu's House offers many free or low cost activities. Their calendar is
HERE
What's on at the Kahilu? Check
HERE
The Waikoloa Village Association publishes a monthly newsletter covering events in Waikoloa.
CLICK HERE
for the current issue of The Breeze.
Waikoloa Beach Resort has a monthly calendar of free and for fee events.
CLICK HERE
for the current issue.
The Shops at Mauna Lani Resort’s Calendar of Events is
HERE
And Konaweb publishes an Islandwide calendar
HERE
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Response to Active Violence in Places of Worship
Saturday, May 4
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from 9 – 10:30 AM, at St. James’ Church, Waimea
The most frequent command Jesus gave us was ‘Do not be afraid.’ Not that we shouldn’t feel fear, but that we should not live in fear and let it control our lives. Ultimately, we are to let faith have control of our lives. Knowledge of what to do in an emergency situation can reduce the hold
that fear can have on us.
On Saturday, May 4
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from 9 – 10 AM, at St. James’, we will welcome Sergeant Paul Kim of the Hawai’i Police Department's Special Response Team. Sergeant Kim will offer a presentation on “Response to Active Violence in Places of Worship.” Our objective is to maintain a safe, holy, open, welcoming sanctuary, and to do so by proactively developing guidelines and principles for preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an incident or emergency.
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Meditation at Anna Ranch
All are welcome. Interested in exploring and engaging in Mediation in these challenging times? Anna Ranch invites you to come give it a try with the serenity of the ranch as a setting for this special group meditation. Every Monday night from...
Read more
www.annaranch.org
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Beach Mass- Raina Dale St. Columba's - Linda Lundgren; St. James' Service - Father David+ Community Meal - Lynn Beittel, Jaisy Jardine, Jeannie Savage; Youth Programs - Susan Acacio
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Rev. Marnie Keator, Associate Rector
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Rev. Linda Lundgren, Associate Rector for St. Columba's
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Susan Acacio, Youth Ministry
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Sue Dela Cruz, Community Meal Ministry
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Nina Disbro, Thrift Store Ministry
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Rona Lee, Choir Director, Music Ministry
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Everett Knowles, Director of Music, Music Ministry
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To contact our Parish Staff
The Rev. Marnie Keator, Associate Rector
Susan Acacio, Youth Ministry Coordinator
Sue Dela Cruz,
Community Meal Ministry Coordinator
Nina Disbro, Thrift Store Ministry Coordinator
Malu Lindsey, Sexton, contact via the parish office.
Sheri Mariscal, Parish Administrator,
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St. James' Episcopal Church, 65-1237 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela (Waimea), HI 96743|
P.O. Box 278
Kamuela, HI 96743-0278
Office: 808-885-4923
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