From the Rector: Our Parish Story

3 OCTOBER 2023

Our 2024 stewardship campaign has begun, and many have already turned in their pledges. Everyone should have received their email invitation, including the links to the stewardship videos, invitation letter, and online pledging. For those who desire print copies, the letter and pledge sheets have been placed in the back of the church and in the parish hall.

I continue to realize how unique St. Mark’s is among churches, as well as what a gift the Episcopal Church is among Christians. I have been watching with interest the synod Pope Francis is convening. It is interesting to note the conflict arising from Francis’ inclusion of women and laity in the decision-making process. It seems so strange and outdated to hear people complain about women and the laity exercising voice in church governance. Some of the opposition to the synod has been crying, “We are not Protestants.” It is overly simplistic, because many Protestants also have systems that silence women and lay participation in governance.

Last Sunday we had our first session of the “What is the Parish?” study. We are meeting at 12:15 noon in the Parish Hall, beginning once people have a chance to visit and enjoy their refreshments after the Solemn Mass. Last Sunday we focused on the history of St. Mark’s. We viewed several historic photos, and we learned how and why St. Mark’s was founded, as well as how the building of the parish was the work of the laity in concert with the clergy.

We began our discussion with Genesis 28:10-22 - the story of Jacob’s ladder and his joy of discovering the presence of God in a holy place. Even though much has been said about the history of St. Mark’s in past sermons and writings, much of the material was new to those in attendance. I am reminded that it is common to have an ahistorical outlook in today’s world.

Knowing the story of our parish is important. St. Mark’s was founded in memory of Queen Emma who died on St. Mark’s Day (April 25, 1885). Often when our larger society speaks of the Holy Sovereigns, no mention is made of their Christianity, but one cannot speak accurately about Kamehameha IV and Emma without speaking about their faith. Both were deeply committed Christians who brought the Church of England to these islands, and their faith inspired them to establish religious, health, and educational institutions that continue to transform lives. Furthermore, their Christianity was firmly planted within the catholic stream of Anglicanism. As Christianity is often linked with colonialism in Hawai‘i, the catholic Anglicanism of the monarchs is frequently sidelined from the narrative. The nuance of the Church of England being invited here is regularly forgotten.

This history is part of the story of St. Mark’s, as well as you and me. Each of us has a family story, a national story, a Christian story, and within the Christian story, we have a parish story - a story of how we live out our faith in community. For Christians, faith is embedded in community - real people in the flesh who worship the living God together. When we gather together as the family of Christ on Sundays for worship, we are part of an ageless story that is defining us and transforming us.

This Sunday our focus turns to church governance. Governance in the Episcopal Church is different than the governance of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the multitude of Protestant denominations. This makes our parish life unique, and it brings about special charisms in our formation as Christians. For me it has affirmed why I am dedicated to the Episcopal Church, as well as why it is so important that we support our church with our resources of time and treasure.

Father Paul Lillie +