Some Words on Forgiveness

From Deacon Bob Steele

“Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you, seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18: 21-22)

What is it about the nature of forgiveness that motivated Jesus to give such a large number in his response to Peter?...

The point of forgiving is that both parties benefit from the exchange. Both receive gifts. Jesus knew that our ability to accept forgiveness and to give forgiveness to others are the basis for our enacting the way of the kingdom of God… Martin Luther King…said, “We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love…”

When we forgive those who have offended us and tried to make us feel unworthy and less of a human being, we let go of the anger and negative feelings that damage us emotionally and drain us spiritually. Fruits of forgiveness; seventy-seven times…

When I saw the topic of today’s Gospel was forgiveness, I wondered how this would relate to me...

I remember being in college during the height of the Civil Rights movement in the South. During my freshman year at Morehouse College, we were participating in sit-ins to desegregate stores in downtown Atlanta. I thought about a statement that James Baldwin made in an interview in 1961 that resonated with me then and was raised [again] as I was working on this sermon: “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in rage almost all the time.”

It was important for me to understand the array of social, economic, racial, and political structures that caused [that] rage. I had to develop a strategy to confront these forces and I had to realize the ways in which I was complicit with these forces. I had to learn how to forgive myself and others for my participation in them. I had to find ways to deal constructively with my rage. I wanted to use my time, talents, and treasure. to find ways to improve the social context where I found myself. In theological terms, I wanted to assist in building the Beloved Community that MLK preached about and that [our Presiding] Bishop Curry has made the centerpiece of his ministry. Fruits of Forgiveness. Seventy- seven times…

With God’s help, I try to maintain the capacity to forgive because the capacity to

forgive is the power to love…With God’s help, we [can use the fruits of forgiveness to build] the Beloved Community here on our Holy Nativity Campus. Seventy-seven times. Amen.

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December 10th is Family Sunday!

It is also Honolulu Marathon Sunday, which means we will have our Sunday service at 5:00pm, followed by our traditional soup supper, Yumm!

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Volunteering Opportunities

1) Our Stewardship Project this year is to help our Sunday School children fill backpacks for those being released from Halawa Correctional Facility.

Toiletries, snacks and other helpful items are put into the backpacks for the men to use as they reintegrate into the community. If you would like to contribute to this project, you may donate funds or sign for a specific item to bring. The items to purchase are listed in the online signup (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A4A922A0F8C25-46236074-backpack)

or you may sign up in person on Sunday after church with Chandi, or in the office M-Th 9a-12p.



2) Our Sunday School is also collecting Christmas gifts for FIVE families in need this season through a

"Giving Tree." On Sunday mornings, you can take a gift request from the tree, fill it, and bring it back to church so our Sunday School students can wrap, tag, and deliver it to Catholic Charities. (If it's easier for you to offer a cash gift, they welcome that option, as well.).

Please bring your gift and/or financial contribution by Sunday, Dec 17 at the latest. 

If you have any questions, please contact Tusi Mayer at tusit578@gmailcom. Mahalo for helping!

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What is it?!

This is found somewhere on campus; can you guess where, and what it is?

Look for the surprising answer in next week's Banyan Tree!

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Thrift Shop News!

EVERYTHING MUST GO!

Starting now and running until Dec. 20th, everything in the store will be 50% OFF!

All articles of clothing will be $1.00!

Thrift shop will be closing after December 20th and reopening January 17th.

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REMINDERS

Please remember to submit Stewardship pledge cards for 2024.

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Advent Materials are here!

Calendars and Advent Devotional booklets are available in the office -- come get yours!

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The Poinsettia Drive starts in December. Watch for forms (on Sunday) to purchase a poinsettia plant to grace the Nave.

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New Prayer List

Begins Sunday, December 3rd -- Advent 1

If you have names you wish to submit for the NEW prayer list, please contact:

hncparish@gmail.com or call 808 373-2131