"The power of God is the powerlessness of God's unconditional love shown to us in the cross. God is the beggar who will not force his way into our homes unless we open the door. God is with us at every moment with open arms of love, laughing when we are laughing, weeping when we are weeping, rejoicing when we are rejoicing. God shares in the brokenness of this world out of abundance of divine love. It is because God is the fountain fullness of love, in Bonaventure's view, that God can share in the suffering of our lives and through these sufferings draw us into new life. For God's love cannot be overcome by human power nor can it be conquered by human force. God's love, shown to us in the weakness and powerlessness of the cross, is the power of love to heal and transform death into life. God is most God-like in the suffering of the cross."

Ilia Delio, The Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective

(St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2005), p. 96.

I am reminded during Holy Week that for Christians, the very basis of our faith is absurd. God is so close to us that we see the face of God in the mess of creation and the pain of human life. God is not deaf to our cries, rather God himself weeps with us. God with us can only be true because of the cross. God is with us in the houseless poor having their possessions removed from the sidewalk. God is with us in the displaced, wounded and those killed by war. God is with us in our own failures, pain and grief. The crucified God is with us in the reality of life.

We do not need to involve in spiritual gymnastics to reach God. We do not need some special knowledge to know God. God has come to us and remains in the wonder and mess of creation. God's face can be seen in the ordinary person - in every face we see every day. God's face can be seen in the face we look at in the mirror. On Good Friday, we are again invited to leave everything that is broken and hurt at the cross, that on Easter, it might be raised with Jesus Christ.

As you look to Holy Week this year, I invite you to look for the face of God in those around you, but especially by those who are hurt and rejected. When we care for others, we are given the gift being Christ for them and they reveal Christ to us. It is in our own weakness and hurt that we can know the love of God.

I hope the Prayer attributed to St. Francis (found on p. 833 of the Book of Common Prayer) will be our path to God this Holy Week, in the Easter season and throughout life:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

A former clergyperson's relationship (as well as the clergy spouse) to a previous congregation has a profound impact on the congregation's acceptance of new clergy and the healthy development of lay leadership. Setting, explaining, and adhering to appropriate and healthy boundaries with clear "good-byes" are very important for the congregation, the outgoing clergy, and the new clergy.

In Leave-Taking, all professional responsibilities and pastoral relationships will end on the effective date of the dissolution of pastoral relationship. There must be distance, and also spiritual/emotional separation. This does not mean that friendships must come to an end, but the outgoing clergyperson must be clear that the relationship has changed. There is a special responsibility on the part of the outgoing clergy to prevent friendships from becoming confused with the pastoral relationships.

It is expected, therefore, that the outgoing clergy not attend worship, supply, officiate, participate in, or provide pastoral care to the church or parishioners from the former cure, for at least a full year after leaving.* 

Parishioners must consult with their congregation's current clergy, and not just a clergyperson of choice, when needing ministrations of church (weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc.). The primary relationship is between the parishioner and the current clergy of the congregation. It is inappropriate for a former clergyperson to officiate for parishioners at all in the first year after leaving a congregation, and then thereafter only at the express invitation of the current clergyperson in charge. The former clergyperson is expected to refer the parishioner to the current clergy and decline participation in any service. This is to be without negativity. It really is up to the current clergyperson in charge to invite other clergy to participate and it is expected any former clergy to respectfully decline any such invitations until contacted by the current priest (and then s/he may still decline). If asked by a church member to have such ministrations rendered, it is incumbent upon the former clergy to politely decline and explain our Diocesan policy, and refer the church member to the current clergy in charge (or lay leader if there is no incumbent clergy). READ MORE

* On rare occasions, the Bishop may waive this provision in a pastoral emergency and when there is no other clergyperson immediately available because of the context of the cure. 

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Easter Camp:  April 2 - 5

The Pacific Islander Ministry will be holding it's annual Renewal Easter Camp from Maundy Thursday, April 2, through Easter Sunday, April 5, at Our Lady of Ke'au in Waianae. Last year, the camp was held for the Micronesian & Chuukese groups, and this year, it is open to Polynesian groups including Tongan, Tuvalau and Samoan families. The highlight of this special Pacific Islander combination event will be the confirmation of 50 candidates. For more information, contact Fane Lino at (808) 548-1719 or e-mail her. To register for the camp, download the packet HERE.

Pacific Islander Ministry Confirmation Classes

In preparation for the Pacific Islander Confirmation Service on Easter Sunday, three confirmation classes were scheduled for 50 candidates interested in being confirmed. 

The first class was held on February 22, at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Waianae, conducted by Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick.  The second class was held at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church on Saturday, March 7, where candidates were treated to lessons from several teachers: Fr. David Gierlach on the Book of Common Prayer, Fr. Greg Johnson on how to use and understand the lectionary, and Preston Lentz, on Eucharistic Ministers and how children can help during service as a crucifer, acolyte, or reader. 

The final class will be held at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Aiea, beginning at 10:00AM, led by Fr. Paul Klitze, Kala Holden and Kahu Kaleo Patterson, who will continue to teach about the Book of Common Prayer and connecting to cultural views. 

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Tickets are $37 (General Admission) or $12 for students, and are available at the door from 6:30 PM or online through UH Outreach. Seating will begin at 7:00 PM. Learn more about New York Polyphony HERE. For more information, call (808) 524-2822, ext. 217.

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