Pastor's Reflection 2025-04-24
“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
In mid-April we moved to a new temporary apartment. We will be in the apartment for 10 months while the Mineta house is being renovated. I wanted to stick to my usual routine so I went for a long early morning walk in the new neighborhood with Hachi, our 1.5-year-old pup. I was struck by all of the orange trees that were in full bloom. The flowers and the fragrance were unmistakably alive. The smell reminded me of the words of Isaiah, a new thing was springing up. As we step into the month of May, I see the trees are budding, flowers are blooming, and the days grow significantly longer and warmer. Spring is fully alive, and with it comes that annual reminder that God is always in the business of renewal.
The writer of Isaiah was speaking to people who had experienced hardship, loss, and exile. And yet, in the midst of it all, God said: Don’t dwell on the past. I’m doing something new! That’s not easy advice. Sometimes, it’s far more comfortable to cling to what we know, even if it’s broken or harmful to us. We say to ourselves, “at the least this is familiar versus something that is unknown”. But God is always calling us forward.
In our own lives and in the life the church, we’re often tempted to stay rooted in “the way things used to be.” Whether it’s a past version of ourselves or a memory of a church that once bustled with more people or programs, nostalgia can quietly steal our capacity to notice what God is birthing right now.
This scripture is an invitation to open our eyes and hearts. God is not simply patching up the old. God is doing a new thing. New life. New paths. New opportunities. Yes, even a new apartment! When we are in the wilderness of uncertainty or in a dry place in our lives, do not fret because God is carving out a way forward, and God will soon offer you refreshment, healing, and hope.
So, what new thing might God be doing in your life this May? Is there a relationship that needs renewal? A new ministry you feel drawn to? A calling to rest and recharge? Or perhaps just the simple act of trusting that even in change and challenge, God is still at work. I only wish God would help me unpack all these boxes!
Let’s be a church that doesn’t just remember the past with fondness, but one that also walks boldly into the future God is preparing. May we have the courage to let go and have the faith to follow wherever God leads us.
Speaking of new – we hope you will be able to pick up a new 2025 Church Directory on May 11- Thank you, Hikaru Bakoshi, our Media and Technology Coordinator, for creating our new directory!
Grace and peace,
Pastor John
The writer of Isaiah was speaking to people who had experienced hardship, loss, and exile. And yet, in the midst of it all, God said: Don’t dwell on the past. I’m doing something new! That’s not easy advice. Sometimes, it’s far more comfortable to cling to what we know, even if it’s broken or harmful to us. We say to ourselves, “at the least this is familiar versus something that is unknown”. But God is always calling us forward.
In our own lives and in the life the church, we’re often tempted to stay rooted in “the way things used to be.” Whether it’s a past version of ourselves or a memory of a church that once bustled with more people or programs, nostalgia can quietly steal our capacity to notice what God is birthing right now.
This scripture is an invitation to open our eyes and hearts. God is not simply patching up the old. God is doing a new thing. New life. New paths. New opportunities. Yes, even a new apartment! When we are in the wilderness of uncertainty or in a dry place in our lives, do not fret because God is carving out a way forward, and God will soon offer you refreshment, healing, and hope.
So, what new thing might God be doing in your life this May? Is there a relationship that needs renewal? A new ministry you feel drawn to? A calling to rest and recharge? Or perhaps just the simple act of trusting that even in change and challenge, God is still at work. I only wish God would help me unpack all these boxes!
Let’s be a church that doesn’t just remember the past with fondness, but one that also walks boldly into the future God is preparing. May we have the courage to let go and have the faith to follow wherever God leads us.
Speaking of new – we hope you will be able to pick up a new 2025 Church Directory on May 11- Thank you, Hikaru Bakoshi, our Media and Technology Coordinator, for creating our new directory!
Grace and peace,
Pastor John
Posted in Newsletter 2025-04-24