Pastor’s Corner: Opening with Good Words

May 18, 2022

As we begin worship this coming Sunday, we will also begin a new feature of our worship service. For the moment (feel free to suggest other titles), we’re calling it: “An Opening Good Word.”

It’s a time in worship when one of our members or worshipers will take a minute or two to share a celebration, offer an insight, or tell a story about their faith life. Some may share a success for which they thank God. Others may describe a troubled time and how their faith got them through. Others yet may talk about how God has been present recently in their lives.

Our first Opening Good Word comes from Gloria Kobayashi (who by coincidence is the lay leader for Sunday’s service). I have no idea what she’ll say. I do know that she intends her words to be heart-lifting and soul-strengthening, so I’m really looking forward to hearing her this Sunday.

We’d like to do this fairly regularly, without committing to any one definition of “regularly.” Do you have a story you’d like to share as we begin worship? Has your heart overflowed sometime with gratitude? Did you find a way to improve your life or the life of a loved one? Would you like to share something and invite people to pray along with you?

Let me know. We’ll be putting together a schedule as we learn how many have a good word to share as we open worship. I am eager to hear your good words.

With aloha,

Pastor Eric