Last service, we plunged into the depths on guilt and shame, receiving God’s gift of cleansing and forgiveness. Whew! If you missed it, I encourage you to experience the service in full. The visualization prayer for cleansing is available here, and you can return to it as many times as you need. Feel free to put it on repeat in your life!
This week, we get to show up for the Jesus’ Fish Fry - right on the beach! As you prepare, I’d encourage you to note to what the fishers are focused on, and then I’d encourage you to note where Jesus’ focus is. There are some really fun aspects to this text, especially in choosing rightly, that I want to explore with you. God has some incredible ways of getting through to us, and this text is one of the very best examples of it.
So c’mon to the fish fry & we’ll see you in church - online and in person. Pax,
Pastor Kaji
Scripture:John 21:1-3 (ILB)/ John 21:4-14 (Year W)
1 Later Jesus again was manifested to the disciples at Lake Tiberias. This is how the appearance took place. 2 Assembled were Simon Peter, Thomas “the Twin,” Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s children, and two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going out to fish.”
“We’ll join you,” they replied, and went off to get into their boat.
All through the night they caught nothing. 4 Now when morning came, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish prepared?” They answered him, “No.” 6 Then he said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So, they cast it, and they were not able to drag it in because of the abundance of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Messiah!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Messiah, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only two hundred cubits [about a hundred yards] off. 9 As soon as they turned back to land, they saw a fire there, with fish laid over it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish—one hundred fifty-three—and with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Messiah. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 Now this was the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Join Pastor Kaji & The Park at Lincoln Center in celebrating the musical genius of Greg Tate at:
Gregory Stephen Ionman Tate (1957-2021) was a giant of Black radical thought and creativity, and a conductor of incandescent, community-driven music. Tate's body of writing as an influential critic would be enough to enshrine him as a cultural icon, but he is equally important to a generation of musicians as both the co-founder of the Black Rock Coalition, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to the complete creative freedom of Black artists; and the creator of Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber, a sprawling, omnivorous, and outrageously accomplished improv collective. Under his co-leadership, BSAC has issued more than 20 releases in its two-decade history, featuring a cavalcade of virtuoso musicians. Tate's sudden passing in December 2021 was a blow to his many loved ones, friends, collaborators, and admirers around the globe. For this homecoming concert, curated and presented with The Tate Family at one of his favorite venues, more than thirty BSAC members will perform in celebration and tribute to one of the most essential voices in the history of 21st Century Avant Groidd music and thought.
