Busy 10 Days

Dear Friends

The past 10 days have been a wonderful introduction to my current retirement job at All Saints, Kapa’a. I have just come home for a previously scheduled wedding this weekend and then I look forward to returning with Kathleen as we continue the adventure together. Among the highlights of this week were the two Sundays, of course, to meet and worship with some wonderful folk. (The first Sunday included a Father’s Day bar-b-que).

But wait. There’s more...

Rectory Responsibilities

Alone, I have managed rectory responsibilities which include trying to feed three cats (and not the jungle fowl that show up---see picture). Unfortunately, one of the three cats, Toro, died. He was buried on the church grounds and I had a little prayer service for him including the first lines of “All things bright and beautiful…”.  “CC” (church cat) and “Garfield” (orange, like the cartoon pet) continue to show up for dinner each night and sometimes in the morning.  I also figured out the washer and dryer with too many choices. But I almost blew it when I looked for dryer sheets, couldn’t find any, and, for a brief moment, wondered if a dry Swifffer sheet close by would have worked.

Parish Events

These included two wonderful lectures. The first was a potluck which included a program by a member on her recent trip to Antarctica. Her wonderful pictures included five types of penguins!  Then there was a reception and lecture on Queen Kapi’olani, given by an academic dean visiting from a community college on Oahu named after the Queen. Finally, I volunteered at Laundry Love, a parish outreach program. This will be the subject of a future blog reflection.

Community Events

I attended a Rotary Luncheon Meeting and look forward to visiting from time to time. (They meet at a bright orange Mexican restaurant which will help curb my cravings since I will be missing Miguels). 

There was the 11^th Annual Mayor-a-thon, a community event to help "Keep Kauai Fit". It included a fun run/walk/bike (you pick one and choose the distance from two to eight miles) a breakfast including fresh fruit and quiche, group exercise games (including, of course, the hula hoop challenge) and a chance to meet the mayor.

I have also enjoyed watching Dodger games and M*A*S*H* re-runs on the rectory big screen TV. Weather? One major downpour so far, and a few brief, light showers---otherwise, typical tropical, hot and humid, with trade winds bringing relief from time to time. Thank God for air conditioning.

John

On to All Saints! June 14, 2019

Aloha Friends


I can’t believe the good fortune I have had to continue serving in places near and far. Tomorrow I leave for my sixth job since retiring just two years ago.  I will be Supply Priest at All Saints’ Kapaa, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, while their search for a new rector continues. See photo of my license from the bishop of Hawaii. (bottom picture) 

The top photo is the visual aid I am bringing for my first sermon. This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. While St. Patrick had his shamrock, I will explain this only feast day on our church calendar celebrating a doctrine, with a freeze dried Neapolitan ice cream sandwich. Three flavors, one ice cream sandwich. Three in one!

It’s hard to read on the package, but in the upper left hand corner it says “Ice Cream on a Mission”. My mission this summer is to help provide tasty and enriching Sunday morning meals, starting with this Trinity Sunday’s good news that God’s love is not only unconditional but is unlimited---unlimited in the number and unlimited in the different ways it can be experienced and shared with others.


John


P.S. You can get your ice cream sandwich at the Richard Nixon Library’s gift shop. They are currently hosting a special exhibit marking the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 first moon landing. By the way, I have a childhood memory of one of my dad's assistant priests calling the Trinity "Daddy-o, Laddy-o and Spook! 

Pentecost Blog June 6, 2019

Dear Friends


The term “also ran” is usually meant to describe someone who participated, but didn’t contribute or shine like other participants. In this horse race result I recently saw in the paper (see above) you will notice that in addition to the top three finishers, a horse named “Holy Ghost” also ran.


As we get ready to celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Ghost or Spirit (or Energizer as I like to say) describing the third person of the Trinity as an “also ran” ...well, nothing could be further from the truth.


In a meditation titled “Not a holy vapor”, Richard Schmidt writes, “The Holy Spirit is God in our lives right here and right now. It is God around us, among us, within us. It is God acting as glue, repairing our divisions. It is God subduing and breaking our rebellious wills. It is God flooding our dulled senses with gentle radiance. It is God dancing with our feet, laughing with our lips, embracing with our arms..." 


And that’s about half of the paragraph in which he describes the promised gift---ours for the receiving and ours for the sharing---which can steer and guide and delight us, as we navigate life’s changes and challenges and surprises.


The Holy Ghost an “also ran” ?  I think not.


Happy Pentecost!



John