Our Preschool 3’s teacher Mrs. Tengbergen helped with chapel today by sharing a message about the season of Lent (preparation for Easter) and Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is observed next Wednesday.
The First Grade also shared a song Amazing Love, with three shorts solos. Thanks to Mrs. Tengbergen and the First grade for the great message.
A Change For the Better
An article caught my attention on MSN, 10 things never to say to a woman. I’m sure plenty of men got out the notepads, PDAs and maybe even their own hands to write down those ten bits of wisdom. I can see them now referencing those scratch marks whenever making any kind of statement to the woman in their life. The first one noted was the never-to-be-said statement “you look different” when a woman has had a haircut. I’m sure that’s not the worst thing you could say but perhaps a much more positive approach would have better results.
If you were on the mountain with Jesus during this particular episode from Matthew 17, perhaps he would respond differently to this statement than a woman would only because at this point Jesus has turned completely to a glowing white light and is flanked by two great people of the Old Testament considered long dead. It would be a tremendous understatement to say – you look different. In fact Peter, James and John have just had a glimpse behind the human flesh of Jesus to see God.
White is really just a best humanly possible description of seeing the whole spectrum of light not only focused together but without the filters of a broken creation. It would be like a human being who has lived underground all their lives suddenly being thrust into the noonday sun on the bright sands of our shores. Wow! Jesus you look different! You… (speechless) …Peter really had no idea how to respond.
Later when he reflected on this moment Peter said (2 Peter 1)
“…we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (ESV)
Majesty, honor and glory, God present immediately before Peter. We’d do well to take off the sunglasses of our sin, the underground living of our blindness to know that God is present to us as well. Peter points not directly to that moment as the confirmation of truth but to the Word that God gives. God is present to us in His Word. He comes to us in the places where he promises to be, in the waters of baptism, in the simple food of bread and wine. God is present when there seems to be no light, even when God seems absent, God is there. God comes to us in words, water, bread and wine, He is present as we share those gifts with other in a kind invitation, a care-filled prayer. God is present and He is simply majestic.
The PTT (Parents and Teachers of Trinity) honored all those who participated in the design a T-Shirt contest for the Spring Fling. All participants designs will be displayed at the Spring Fling Festival.
Two Finalist’s were chosen to have their designs on the front of the Spring Fling folders:
The Grand Prize winner will have her design on the Spring Fling T-shirts.
Thanks to all who participated and congratulations to our winners.
Last Sunday and also for Wednesday’s chapel the Kindergarten will be shared the message. I still smile as I remember the message of the caterpillar who could not imagine why God made her so “common.” Their costumes were so imaginative and you could tell that the students enjoyed the play acting. They also sang Jesus Loves Me and two other well-themed songs which included many different kinds of animals. Afterwards Mrs. Wittig invited all the children forward for a special message on butterflies and how they teach us about how God gives us a new start.
Thanks to Mrs. Wittig and her students, aides and helpers for the great time of sharing.
Added new pictures to the new carpeting and new Bible study blogs below-
http://trinityhawaii.wordpress.com/2008/01/15/a-feat-for-the-feet/
http://trinityhawaii.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/living-way-bible-study-begins/
Scripture does not paint a very good picture of the human condition. In our study of world religions on Sunday morning we have discovered the many different ways that we humans try to answer the question of sin and suffering.
The answers from the world are various and creative but fall into one category, what I must do and the method I must follow to overcome sin. I find these kinds of answers to the ultimate questions unsatisfactory. It is like a virus vowing to cure itself. If we are the problem how can we be the solution as well? Some religions try to point the finger elsewhere when it comes to sin but God’s Word doesn’t shy away from the unpopular answer that to the very core of our being we are sinful that nothing can heal our most fundamental relationship, the relationship that teaches us how to love, how to forgive, how to act towards others–our relationship with God.
When a charismatic leader arises and states their discovery of a way of life and peace sometimes they gain a following. History and God’s Word both show us to be people who are vulnerable to that kind of influence. That those who are self-assured, forceful and eloquent often gain control of people by their message. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1 –
11-12I bring this up because some from Chloe’s family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you’re fighting among yourselves! I’ll tell you exactly what I was told: You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.” (MSG)
Even Christians can fall into this sin. A sin that raises up the person above the message. Especially when the answer to sin points outside of us, that the cure is not within us we want to contain it once more in a person returning to a cult of personality. Paul wisely steers away from such hero worship and directs people back to the only source of answers to our ultimate problems.
17God didn’t send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn’t send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words. (MSG)
It is only the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s actions in the world that sin is overcome. We are offered by Jesus a way to know God, to learn love, to be willing and able to forgive, to cure what we cannot. Hidden in the cross, outside of ourselves, is that gift.
Because of a generous donation the front of the church, hallway and office have been recarpeted. Thanks to Joshua Sato’s family for making this wonderful renewal a reality.
This gift creates a renewed space for the front of the church, a major facelift in a space used for chapels, school programs and for worship. The carpet in the sanctuary had been there for at least two decades, which is amazing in itself. The new color brings a majestic feel to the front of the church, along with a blue and green that highlights three major color themes in the church year – green for Epiphany and for Sundays after Pentecost which symbolizes growth (and is our school color) and blue for Advent which refers to the brightening morning sky when the sun is about to dawn (Advent is a season of preparation for Christmas).
I would like to make a special thanks to those who helped by supplying the carpeting and for those who installed it:
Thanks to the Carpet Outlet for supplying the carpet. (The Carpet Outlet, Bryon Sonouchi, 423-0907 4374 Malaai Street Honolulu, HI 96818)
And a “job well done” to Kealii for tackling a difficult installation job with such care and obvious skill! (Stokes Carpeting Inc., Kealii Stokes 383-3264)
Whenever you see a leader or a celebrity in the spotlight many people have prepared for that moment—what the person is wearing, the color of their hair, the setting of their appearance, who is accompanying them and what they will say. That is our world of image and marketing! Everything is packaged for maximum impact.
It bothers me that very few things are just as they seem—as we listen to the debates over the tears of Hilary Clinton, we hear the questions of authenticity and honesty. Was this a carefully planned presentation or a heartfelt plea. How does God do image?
Wouldn’t God want to bring a powerful image, an image that reflects the God who created everything, who saved the nation of Israel from slavery by striking down the Egyptians, the God who conquered armies and created a nation. This is the God who comes as a lamb. “Behold the Lamb of God,” is the announcement of John the Baptist that God is again acting for the sake of the people.
The setting for this “celebrity’s” appearance-a river where John the Baptist has been preparing the way for Him. John has been warning people that he was coming. So I guess you could say that God had has public relations campaign going already. John was told who to watch for with His coming, one that would accompany him – the one on whom the Spirit of God remains.
God is the lamb who does not rule by power but by service, he does not conquer by taking blood but by giving his own, he does not come to scatter the nation but to gather them. The lamb is the image of sacrifice, a creature placed on the altar of the Old Testament people with the prayer that God’s promise of grace and forgiveness, by the shedding of the Lamb’s blood, would be heard by God. This is the lamb, Jesus Christ, who has come into the world for our sake – to die as the perfect sacrifice as God and man, a sacrifice to end all sacrifices.
Have you ever wanted to study the Word of God in depth? Living Way Bible Study is an intensive four part Bible Study that will deepen your understanding of God’s Word. Personal study, small group discussion, an application presentation and notes by the author combine for a deep exploration of the Bible. The Small groups are a men’s group, a women’s group and mixed group.
The topic for January is great people of the Old Testament. The study is open to all, come join us this Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary. Childcare is available.
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