Pastor’s Corner: Heart Running Over

June is a busy month! I’m writing this in the midst of Vacation Bible School, with the joyful noises of the keiki still echoing in my ears. I admit it; I intentionally led an activity that they could be loud in.

When VBS ends, I’ll fly over to Maui for the ‘Aha Pae’aina, the annual gathering of the UCC churches and ministers of Hawai’i. It will be my first visit to the Valley Isle, and I’m looking forward to seeing it for the first time. I’m also looking forward to seeing the colleagues who have become friends over this last year.

As the month closes, I’ll be stepping aboard an airplane again, this time on the way to Baltimore, Maryland, the setting for the 31^st General Synod of the United Church of Christ from June 30^th through July 4^th. Sue Smith will attend as a delegate, but I’ll be a storyteller and photographer. You’ll hear stories directly from me after I get back, but you’ll also be able to read them on ucc.org and hcucc.org.

That’s a lot!

My heart, however, is still running over with gratitude and affection for the ways all of you in this church celebrated my daughter Rebekah’s college graduation with us. The lei which nearly obscured her face (!) arrived safely on the East Coast, unmistakably scented with love. Bekah and I are both deeply grateful.

These two photos are of Bekah and myself, and Bekah (after she’d shared some of the lei with friends and classmates) and her brother Brendan.

From the bottom of our hearts: Mahalo nui loa!

Blessings,

Pastor Eric