These are happy times for the church. Last Sunday we had a wonderful reception for the choir after the Sung Mass, celebrating their hard work and devotion. Many thanks to those who coordinated the reception. The choir will return to sing on the last Sunday of July.
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This Sunday we celebrate the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, always six months before Christmas. Whereas Christmas falls near the shortest days of the year, the Nativity of John falls during midsummer festivals and the longest days of the year. It is hard to imagine, during the hot days of summer in Hawai‘i, as well as due to the recent trauma of Lahaina, that in many cultures throughout the world there are bonfires on St. John's Eve and Day, and these bonfires accompany feasting, games, and other fun activities.
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Today is the Sunday within the Octave of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The actual feast day of the Sacred Heart was on Friday, but the octave continues the celebration of the day for a whole week. Most Episcopalians do not celebrate this feast yet, but it is very popular among high church Anglicans and Episcopalians, and it has been a mainstay of catholic spirituality for over a thousand years.
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It has been fun to see the photos and videos on social media of the various churches celebrating Corpus Christi throughout the world. Some churches hire bands for their neighborhood processions; sometimes the processions are in the evening with the faithful carrying candles; some processions have voluminous numbers of clergy and lay canons in colorful vestments marching through the streets; many of the processions employ flowers strung by children along roads and the aisles of churches.
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The end of May has come, and with summer arriving soon, life slows down. Summer is often a needed gift, bringing relaxation and rest to our lives. It is a season of doing less, while being more present to God, each other, and ourselves. I have noticed that many of you are busier than ever before, and some have discerned that amidst this busyness, you are accomplishing less and less.
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If we are to learn one thing from the Trinity, it is that God is relational. We see that all three persons of the Trinity relate beautifully to each another in love, and we witness how such love forms a perfect unity. Furthermore, as the three persons of the Trinity exist in love, the Triune God seeks a loving relationship with each of us.
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