Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

At the last supper in the Upper Room, Jesus speaks to the disciples. In Aramaic the word for peace is shlama. For Jewish Christians they probably used the Hebrew, Shalom. In Greek it is Erene or the place where the soul is at rest.

Jesus promises the disciples and all of us, the peace that passes all understanding. This peace is hard to grasp because it is not of this world. The world at peace is a world or family that are not fighting with one another. God’s peace is our contentment, fulfillment, completeness, soundness, satisfaction, prosperity, it is a divine dose of good or wellbeing. It brings us to wholeness of self and in harmony with God.

It has been my goal as your pastor these eleven years that God will wash you in all that is good and bring you into relationship with Jesus Christ. While some churches offer a superficial peace by setting off endorphins in your brain, Jesus offers you a lasting peace that comes through faith, worship, and prayer.

Those of us who do morning prayer together feel a bond through scripture and prayer. We feel God’s peace in our hearts and in community. This happens at noon day prayer on Wednesdays, at 8:00 in Rite I worship, at 10:00 in Rite II worship, and in community at the coffee hour. None of this could happen if Aninna, Sue, the lay ministers and the breakfast team did not give of themselves.

Our ministries like Prayer Shawl, Garden of Grace, Thrift Shop, EFM, Bible Study, St. Hilda’s Guild, Social Justice, HIHI, and Spirituality all bring us to peace in community. We are not a social service business, We bring people to God by bringing them the love and peace of Jesus Christ. We receive the goodness of God when we join together in God’s name in faith.

The world may criticize mistakes that we have done, but God keeps on sending the Holy Spirit to bring us from brokenness to wholeness and from death to life. Nothing is more important to this old grandpa then to bring the love and peace of God to the next generation. Our Nursery school children and our Sunday school children, and our own children and grandchildren are precious to us. Think of the love you have for the children and multiply it by infinity, and you might get a tiny sense of God’s love for you and God’s desire for you to have the peace that passes all understanding. Jesus will atone for the sins of the disciples in the upper room and for the sins of all mankind by his death on a cross and his resurrection on Easter. May we give all glory and praise to God for all that God has done, all that God is doing, and all that God will do. Jesus gives the promise of peace to all who believe.

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In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan

Imagine with me a perfected New York City. A Washington, DC without lying or slander. A Los Angeles full of humble residents and sacrificial lives. A Jerusalem crowded with peace and good-will.

One of my favorite Bible passages is the reading from Revelation to John that we will be reading also this Sunday. Goes without saying that I am especially excited to preach this passage for the first time. It is John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, the holy city coming down like a bride on her wedding day. A vision of the glorious city of God that is the glory of our God. Here, the love of God and the love of the Church (remember, the Bride of Christ) for our God finally meet and are finally brought together, fully reconciled.

The Gospel reading this weekend contains one of the most famous of Jesus’ sayings, “Love one another, just as I have loved you.” Many of us know well the Greek word for love being used here, which is agape, the transcendent love between God and humanity. The love that does not seek for itself return or self-interest but sacrifice and care for the other. This love reigns supreme above all others and we should know well that our Christian life should be modeled on this love, with God’s help.

In the world today, there is much talk of love. In fact, I’m not sure the message of the church is all that compelling sometimes when we talk about love and how we are supposed to love our neighbors. That is important but I’ve been convinced that the church and the world need to hear about hope. Paul in Ephesians 2 reminds that some of us “were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (v. 12).

We have a great witness to that hope knowing what is to come. The New Jerusalem, the coming of God to His people, to make His home among His people where there will be no more death, or tears, or pain. And yet, we have this now, as broken as the world all seems, to live into the glory, love, and hope we have in God.

I pray the hope of the promise of that heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, will instill in you a renewal of God’s love in your life so when you look around running those errands, doing those chores, and being among your neighbors, you will seek to serve the city and all who dwell therein. Amen.

In Christ,

Fr. Zach 

On this Mother’s Day weekend, we read a curious little story about a woman named Tabitha, in Greek, Dorcas. Whether she was a mother and/or widow, we’ll never know this side of heaven, but we do know the widows, presumably more likely to be mothers, admired and worked alongside her in the mission and work of the early church. Dorcas’ story is the first in Acts in which the apostles raise someone from the dead. (There is only one other, when Paul raises Eutychus after he falls thru a window in Acts 20.)

By this time, it’s almost that we’ve forgotten that the power of God can do this. This far into Acts we’ve seen mass conversions, other miraculous healing of people, martyrdoms, and the startling story of Ananias and Sapphira. But finally, we are reminded of God’s conquest over death, physical death. I think for many of us, living in this modern age, we can read these types of stories and be unsure of what to do with them. “Certainly, God doesn’t raise people from the dead anymore!”, we might be thinking. Or, “we don’t need these miracles anymore because that’s what God had to do for them, but not for us!”

Indeed, considering the fact that there are only two people in Acts who are raised from the dead, it does give the appearance that this was a unique way in which God showed his power. However, physical death isn’t the only thing God raised from the dead. The spiritual power of God includes the spiritual re-birth we need, not only when we go through a conversion experience, like Paul, but also through repentance and forgiveness. Here, do we come face to face with God’s grace, which is always available to us but should never be taken for granted. When we live into God’s grace, his unmerited favor towards us, do we begin to and rest in the goodness and holiness we are given by Him. I pray you to know intimately that the power of the Resurrection saves us from death and ushers in for us new and everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Amen.

In Christ,

Fr. Zach

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Happy Easter season. Thank you all for making this a beautiful season celebrating the

resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Last Sunday we had a wonderful First

Communion Service that was well attended and had great music from our choir, cantor,

and guitar players. The Swing into Spring Concert was really well done and gave

Denise, John, and Eileen a chance to show some of their best dance moves. My thanks

to the Jazz Committee, Alex, and all those who helped out.

The Easter services were well attended, the music was fantastic, the altar was beautiful,

and the egg hunt was festive. I really appreciate all the time and effort that so many

contribute to make Easter at St. John’s so wonderful.

This Sunday we will give thanks to our hard working Thrift Shop volunteers with a

brunch after the service. The garden committee is almost ready to start planting organic

vegetables for food insecure individuals in our community. Please join us on May 10th

and May 17th to plant the plants that our children have grown.

It has brought me great pleasure to serve as your rector for the past 10+ years. After

significant discernment and prayer, I have decided to retire as rector of St John’s on

August 1st, 2025. This will give me more time to spend with my wife and grandchildren.

It has been a privilege to serve this parish, and I am thankful for the kindness, love and

support from all of you. I will continue to pray for the people and work of this church.

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan