I was so touched by the powerful Spirit of our worship last Sunday. We also had the great privilege of memorializing beloved Santos Morales, Rev. Maria Lopez’s dearly departed saint of a brother. God did a lot of work in the church last week.
This week, we turn back to the Gospels with a fiery text from Matthew about the afterlife. I’ll be using a metaphor from technology to help us to dig into what I think Jesus is getting at in this condemnatory text. Worship promises to be powerful, indeed!
I can’t wait to see you in church.
Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji
Scripture: Matthew 22:23-33 (Year A, p. 310):
23 The same day [that Jesus taught about taxes] some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they questioned him, saying, 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother shall marry the [widow] woman, and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and without having offspring, leaving the woman to his brother. 26 The same for the second, and the third, to the seventh. 27 After everything the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, then, for which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her.”
29 Jesus answered them, “You all are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, rather they are like angels in heaven. 31 And about the resurrection of the dead, have you all not read what was said to you by God, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is God not of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.
Pastor Kaji’s office hours are Tuesdays between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm.
Please reach out to the church office to schedule an appointment regarding Pastoral Care and Other Church Business.
The Common Good Podcast:
"How My Faith Got Me Profiled by Border Patrol - Rev. Kaji Douša"
Podcast host Doug Pagitt sits down with pastor and activist Rev. Kaji Douša to talk about being profiled and retaliated against by U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security for providing aid to migrants along the US/Mexico border. A federal judge ruled in her favor after she sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over a sweeping surveillance program, ruling that federal agents violated her civil rights and retaliated against her for protected First Amendment activity.
ZOOM LINK Meeting ID: 879 9895 8786
Passcode: 217705
PACK 2023 [Park Avenue Church Kitchen 2023]
Funding PACC’s Kitchen!!
Dear Congregation,
It is with great enthusiasm that Park Avenue Christian Church announces the completion of the First Phase of construction. The Banquet Hall, Social Hall, Pantry, Conference Rooms, Bathrooms and Offices are complete. It has been a long process to get to this point!
However, we are not yet done! What is not complete is a kitchen. This is necessary to the functioning of the Banquet Hall and other associated planned revenue streams. A fully functioning kitchen will make that possible. Its completion is crucial to the future viability of the church.
We are reaching out to all congregation members to consider making what contribution[s] they can. Our needs are great. Current cost estimate is $291,000! It is not within the 2023 budget to cover this. Please help!
In the coming weeks, a campaign begins which will consist of an email to each congregation member followed by a phone call from volunteers for this campaign. Please use this as an opportunity to communicate your personal experience at The Park, what you would like to see improve, how The Park fits in with your future plans, and to express what your donation means to you (and to The Park). Your donation is tax deductible. Park Avenue Christian Church is a 501(c)(3) organization.
