Easter is a Savored Moment

by Pastor Tim White

Easter is a savored moment for me this year especially!

“Up from the Grave He Arose.” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” “I Can See!” Great songs from Easter and so many fond memories over the years. This Easter 2021 is going to be very, very, very special!

It will be the first time we have met together in-person as a church in over a year. Last year’s on-line Easter reached over 15,000 people - I don’t know if it was because society was shut down from the pandemic or some other reason. At Christmas we had over 20,000 viewers online. Wow! Still a mystery.

This year our drive-in service on top of the hill will be safe from any spread of the virus and what a great moment to wave and honk at each other. The former lead-singer of Santana and a gospel singing legend in his own right, Leon Patillo, will be there at the release of his new album. He will sing one of my favorites “I Can See!” following a dramatic monologue by Raymond Burke called: “On the Road to Emmaus”. Our spines are going to tingle. But that’s only part of the 60 minutes of incredible inspiration. Elliot has a really cool band to lead us in uplifting songs of worship. And I can’t wait to hear Rhonda play on the keyboard some of our favorite hymns of Easter. You will get to see the gang: Pastor Michael Fernandez, Pastor Jackie White, Pastor David and Carol Gerzsenye, Youth leaders Jared and Rianna Gallardo, and, it would not be Easter, without Rich and Linda Skinner saying “Happy Easter” together.

I really hope you can be there at 11:00 am on the top of the hill for our first drive-in worship, because it makes it so much better to have you there with us. But if you can’t make you can’t make it, please join us on YouTube Live, Facebook Live, the church website www.wacathedral.org, on our WaCathedral App, or any of the other places we are on the World Wide Web. It would be great if you could repost our Easter advertisement and invite your friends. God is going to surprise us with hope this Easter 2021. Please join us.

Streaming on-line services at 10:30am, 2:00pm and 5:00pm on Easter Sunday and of course you can replay it or send it to anyone throughout the week.

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

PS – Click Here and you will find links to all of the Online Options.

“Let your Easter Joy Burst Forth Like Flowers in the Spring.”

by Pastor Tim White

This Sunday we are celebrating Palm Sunday which is the beginning of Easter Week. I am excited because Easter is the number one time of the year that people commit their lives to Jesus Christ. Also, so many of us step forward in our faith during the Easter Season. We realize how important this season is to in being able to reach our family and friends helping them to develop a faith they can build their lives upon. A faith that changes our world by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

This year you have the option of celebrating Easter with us at our live drive-in service or online with our streamed service. If you are coming to the live drive-in service, why not invite some friends. Or share the online service with family and friends.

A great way to invite people is to share our ads on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Many of us have thousands of connections through social media. What a great season to leverage your position to get people thinking about the Good News of Easter. I am constantly startled by my 30,000 contacts and you might be startled at the influence of your voice this Easter.

Whether in person from your car or online, this Easter we have as our special guest the former lead singer for Santana, Leon Patillo. Eliot and Rhonda have great music prepared for us. There is a fantastic dramatic monologue of the Road to Emmaus to inspire you. As always you will be joining an amazing group of people worshipping and celebrating Easter -- 15,000 last Easter and 20,000 last Christmas. The sermon will put wings on your heart. And the view from the top of hill will be sensational for our drive-in service.

Join us this Sunday, March 28th, for a great online Palm Sunday service and next Sunday, April 4th, will be incredible.

Let’s make Easter count by joyously sharing this life-changing good news with as many people as possible. Will you join me in that effort?

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Pastor Tim White

PS: Online services are available as always on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, our website, or our App. Click here for links to each of those choices.

A Family for Everyone

by Pastor Linda Skinner

“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on the character of Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:26-28

The early church was a place of diversity and a gathering of people who previously been divided.  Jews worshipped with Gentiles.  The slaves worshipped with the slave owners.  Men and women were invited to worship together.  Christ unified and did not divide.  In his prayer recorded in John 17 for future believers, Jesus says these words, “The same glory you gave me, I have given them, so they’ll be unified and together as we are – I in them and you in me.  Then they’ll be mature in this oneness, and give this godless world evidence that you’ve sent me and loved them in the same way you’ve love me.”  Can’t you just feel our Savior’s longing in those words?  He longs for us to open our hearts to be in community with one another.  Not that we are all the same, but that we, in all our differences, can be one in Him.

Philip Yancy in his book “Church, Why Bother?” puts it this way:

The Christian basis for community, the reconciling love of God, transcends all differences of nationality, race, class, age, and gender.  Our commonality comes first; the issues that divide us come later…. A family of God emerges, one in which unity does not mean uniformity and diversity does not mean division.

What I loved from the very first moment I entered into the Cafeteria at Lake Washington High School back in 1984, was Pastor Tim’s vision for this church.  A place for people of all back grounds, of all generations, of all political persuasions, of all ethnicities, and especially the unchurched.  The Lord God loves them all and our doors and arms are open to them all. 

Archbishop William Temple said that the church is “the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefits of its non-members.” 

As we approach Easter, the most Holy of Holiday’s in Christianity, let’s all ask God to show us how we can be a fulfillment of His vision for us – a community unified in love and beautiful in all our diversity.

May God Richly Bless You,

Pastor Linda

PS This Sunday Pastor Tim will be sharing a message “Band of Brother and Sisters”.  This is the last message of the series “Authentic Faith”.  You can worship with us online 10:30 am at Facebook Live, YouTube Live, WaCathedral App or our website.  Click Here to access any of those options.

A FISHBONE OR FAITH?

by Rhonda Jones

Here’s one of my childhood memories that has influenced my life to this day: My dad was an avid fisherman and taught me to love it as well. He provided for us by catching a lot of salmon out of Depot Bay, Oregon. Thus, my mom became an expert at cleaning and preparing salmon. One night at dinner a fairly large salmon bone got stuck in my throat which wouldn’t go down for anything-I was choking severely. Not knowing quite what to do, my dad swooped me up in his arms and stuck his little finger down my throat to try and reach the bone. I gagged and coughed; and after many tries, he got it out! From that point on I could not swallow pills. Years later at the age of seventeen I had to take some meds due to sickness. Up to that point if I had to take meds of any kind, I would crush the bitter pills, mix them in jam and swallow them. I was so tired of having to do this. I saw a plaque on the wall that quoted Matthew 19:26. So I took the plaque in my hands, stood in front of the mirror and said to myself, “…with God all things are possible; with God all things are possible; with God all things are possible.” I put the pill in my mouth, sipped my water, tilted my head back and with faith and a little fear, swallowed the pill!

That was really the first time I learned how to apply God’s word to a very specific situation in my life. I needed faith and inspiration and it came directly from God’s word. Since then, I have come to treasure the Word of God in my life. It brings hope, inspiration, faith, wisdom, direction for my future and strength to overcome trials (and so much more-I could go on for a LONG TIME)! Here are some specific verses that have built my faith and hope as a Christ follower:

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. It gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “Plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me. And I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”

And here’s a verse about how the Holy Spirit works in our lives when we trust God with everything: Philippians 4:6,7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Another mysterious truth for our human minds to try and grasp is found in Isaiah 55: 9-11 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Recently I’ve been pondering the encounter Jesus had with Satan in the wilderness from Matthew Chapter 4. Although Jesus was the Son of God, he defeated Satan by using a weapon that everyone has at their disposal: “The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” (See Ephesians 6:17). He met each temptation with scriptural truth. And as Christ Followers, we should learn to do the same. I am not perfect — far from it! But I am learning that the most efficient weapon I have at my disposal as a Christian is the Word of God. It is alive, active, ready to work in every situation in my life if I only apply it. And the best way to do that is to memorize it. Psalm 119: 11 says, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.” I have so much more to learn about applying scripture to my life; but I hope these truths that I’ve shared have brought some encouragement and faith to your heart today. They are our sure foundation.

This Sunday, Pastor Tim will be continuing his series. Be sure to grab your journal or iPad and join us on Facebook Live at 10:25am, YouTube Live, or our Washington Cathedral website or App. This message will enlighten your understanding in a healthy, new way.

See you Sunday.

Time is Love

By Pastor Jared

What does "Follow Jesus” mean? Jesus spoke on this topic a lot, so let’s look at His explanations. John 8:31 says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” So, if we live by Jesus’ teachings, then we are Jesus followers. Great! But we still need more info. What are his teachings all about? When asked about following God, Jesus explains two things. 1. Love God and 2. Love people. (Mark 12:30-31). What a relief! We don’t need to understand a complex and confusing list of requirements. It’s all about personal health and loving others. How do we love others?

Jesus is very clear on this one. He wants us to feed hungry people, give water to thirsty people, invite strangers into our lives, donate clothes, and visit people in prison. (Matthew 25:35-36). What do all these acts of love have in common? All of them include sharing resources to empower others. Our resources include a million different things: time, energy, food, water, cars, clothes... Anything I have can be shared. A sharing centered lifestyle takes self-awareness and good boundaries. If I give away too much, then I sacrifice my own health and can’t share resources anymore.

There are many ways to serve others, but today let’s focus on time. For people in our immediate circles, family and friends, we can simply be present. That may sound simple, but it’s tough to do if I’m busy and preoccupied with work and stress. The most incredible conversations happen when I give my wife, family, and friends my full attention.

Lastly, Jesus asks us to give time to strangers. Looking back, I can see that my life has been radically changed by once-strangers giving me time at Starbucks, listening to me vent and talk about my dreams. I don’t remember my mentors’ specific words, but I remember that they were present.

Jesus said to love God and love people. That can only happen if we give time to God, and give time to people because time is love.

P.S. This week Pastor Tim’s message is entitled “Jesus Followers”.  Join us for a wonderful time of online worship on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, www.wacathedral.org Website or our WaCathedral App at 10:30 on Sunday, March 7, 2021.

Christ Followers We Have a Mission

By Pastor Tim White

The United States has never been more divided since 1860 when we split into two opposing armies. The casualties were 620,000 according to an 1889 study by William Fox and Thomas Livermore. Today we know that those numbers are way low.  Modern studies of civilian collateral damage finds that it is disproportionately higher than military deaths or projected civilian deaths. The war was fought over many things. Slavery was one, although deconstructionist historians minimize it. We are all smart enough to know about the Missouri Compromise and the Anti-Slavery movement prior to the war. But yes, there were economic issues and State’s Rights issues that were at play. There was transformation of our economy from a homestead economy to plantations and a market economy. Yes - many factors but a divided nation. 

February 6th is a day that will live in infamy.   Whatever the cause many people (thousands) stormed our nation’s Capital calling out the Vice President to be hung. The result was the symbol of our democracy defiled and police beaten with the American flag and 5 dead.

This division in our nation did not begin yesterday. It began with overstatements by both sides for years. A Press on both sides which forgot what unbiased reporting looked like. And after Fox News disagreed with Feb. 6th, among other things, many people got their news from unrestrained resources.

That’s where we come in with Our Mission in 1 John 4:7-8.  We are here to heal the world with loving relationships. Throughout history Christians have held nations together with love. Whether Herod was the leader, or Caesar, or even through Soviet ruling.

We do this by: 
1) Praying for our President. The less we like them the more we pray.

2) Making sure our churches are loving enough to draw diversity of ideas.

3) Asking questions and building friendships with people who think differently from us.

4) Ministering to the greatest hurts in the world as strongly as we can.

Nobody wants a Civil War. People forget why they are fighting. and morality drops to an immoral level. So, let’s get to work Washington Cathedral our mission is clear.

Your friend for the rest of my life,
Pastor Tim White

PS: Join us on Sunday morning at 10:30am for this new sermon series. We are on Facebook Live, You Tube or the church Web page.

Friends Find Freedom

By Pastor Jared

Philippians 4:13 is often quoted by celebrities; “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” By itself it is an encouraging quote. In context it is even more potent. The rest of Chapter 4 paints a picture of why the author said that. He wasn’t necessarily encouraging people to chase their dreams or to work hard, although people often quote it that way. You might be surprised by what the author was actually talking about. Philippians 4 talks about fighting friends and how we can all find peace in God. Let’s re-write the scripture to help us relate. 

Imagine a private Facebook message. Your close friend moved one year ago and today they messaged you for the first time. They heard through the grapevine that two of your mutual friends are fighting: 

“Friend,
I love you so much (verse 1). Please help our friends get along back home. We've come so far and have been through so much together (verses 2-3). Stay positive. The peace of God transcends any disaster (verses 4-7). It might help if you keep your minds on what is good, rather than focusing on what’s wrong (verse 8). I’ve been both rich and poor, and it taught me to be content with whatever I'm going through (verse 12). I was able to find contentment because I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (verse 13). Tell everyone I say hi. My family over here say hi and they miss you so much (verse 21).” 

Philippians 4 (paraphrased above) tells a passionate story about friendship, anxiety, fighting and trusting God. The encouragement we are left with is this: We can always find freedom and capture contentment because God’s peace transcends painful situations.

Please Join us this Sunday, February 21st, on Facebook Live, You Tube or the church webpage as Pastor Tim wraps up his series from Philippians as we explore Chapter 4. His message for this week is entitled “Think Excellence.”

From the Inside Out: A Pure Heart

by Rhonda Jones

It’s Valentines’ week, 2021. Every entryway, as I walk into the grocery store, is lined with heart-shaped cookies in vibrant pink and red colors with white lace trim. And as if that’s not enough, on the way out of the store I'm assaulted with bright red boxes of candy for purchase at the checkout stand. Sometimes I think it’s all a bit of overkill, don’t you?

So, what does Valentine’s Day mean to you? Is it a day once a year to tell those around you that you love them? Or earn kudos with those co-workers that really don’t mean that much to you, but might help you climb the corporate ladder if you make a good impression? I’m not sure a box of cookies or candy will do that. So, I’m taking personal inventory this week and thought you might want to read the thoughts I’m gleaning from God’s Word regarding what pleases Him the most when it comes to the condition of our hearts.

I’m remembering the scene in Matthew 23:25 where Jesus is speaking boldly with the Pharisees: “Woe to you teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” His heart was on fire blowing out Holy Spirit smoke as He spoke those words of truth to them!

In Psalms 51:6 we read, “Surely You desire truth in the inner parts (the heart of man); You teach me wisdom in the inmost place (deep in my heart).”

So how can I achieve a clean and pure heart?

Psalm 51:17 states: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite (humble) heart You will not despise.” Again, I see a picture of Jesus in my head as He is bowing to wash the disciples’ feet the night of His betrayal. He knew what was ahead of Him and still He humbled His heart to serve them. He gave the perfect example to His disciples of how to serve one another with a humble heart. I can see now that any smidgeon of self-righteous thinking on my part is an abomination to God… He hates haughtiness!

So how can I get rid of any darkness in my heart? That’s where the inventory part comes in…letting God’s Spirit sweep my heart for any hidden corners of darkness I may be either knowingly or not knowingly holding on to. I love the truthful cries of desperation from David in the Psalms! Here’s Chapter 51:7: “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean, wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” After all, the purification of our sins is exactly why Jesus died. I’m also reminded of a hymn I used to sing as a child: “What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh precious is the flow that makes me white as snow! No other fount I know! Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

So why are we called to love others? I John 4:9 states: “We love each other because He first loved us.” Simple and pure. And if you can’t love someone, just ask Him for an extra amount of His love…He freely gives!

Why should Jesus be my first love? Revelation 2:4 states, “One complaint: You don’t love Me or others like You did at first!”

And the greatest commandment of all: Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus said, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” (The Message).

A Valentine’s Day prayer:

“Purify my heart, Oh, Lord. May my heart be humbled to serve as You served, to love as you loved. I offer my heart to You this Valentine’s Day so that You can remain my first love forever and always.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rhonda Jones Music Director

Please Join us this Sunday, February 14th, as Pastor Tim continues His series from Philippians as we explore Chapter 3. His message for this week is entitled “Love Changes Things.”

Lighten Up!

By Pastor Michael Fernandez

God has given me the gift of intensity and some of you might be like me. I’m actually an Engineer by trade. It seems to me it would be hard to be an engineer without being intense because there are so many problems to solve.  

Years ago, Teresa and I were the Singles Pastors here. When I moved on to a different position, I had to turn the Singles Group over to another person. It was part of my job to mentor this person. We struggled at first in communicating because we didn’t see eye to eye on things. I would go to Pastor Tim and say “do I have to work with this person?” and Pastor Tim would say “yes” and tell me to go work it out.  This other person would go to Tim and say that he couldn’t work with me and Pastor Tim would say you have to and go work it out. At first, I was pretty intense about it as his ideas seemed to go against my ideas. Finally, it dawned on the both of us that we loved the Single’s Group and we wanted the same things for them.

We were just going about it differently. He was using his gifts and I was using mine. I realized right then, just because we have differences, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, and it doesn’t mean we can’t work together with one mind and purpose. 

Philippians 2:1-2 NLT “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?  Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

As Christians we usually do want the same things -- like leading people to Christ -- but we might go about it from a different perspective. Today Pastor David and I are best friends and laugh about those early times together.  So, God helped each of us learn a great lesson.  That is “lighten up and you will find a way to love one another.”

Pastor Tim will be sharing from the Philippians Chapter 2, a message on “Let It Shine” this Sunday at 10:25 am online.  You can catch with me on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, our WaCathedral App or website.  Hope to see you there.

UNEXPECTED JOY

by Pastor Linda Skinner

A couple of days ago my phone rang and it was one of my dear friends calling me. I knew she was in the hospital and I’d been trying to call her for a couple of days to see how she is doing. So, when her name appeared on my phone screen, I was overjoyed to be able to talk to her and hear how she was doing. This lady is one of those people who always blesses you when you talk to her. She had been admitted to the hospital a few days earlier because of a nasty infection on her leg. She’s been a friend, prayer and ministry partner, and is one of the dearest people in my life. I had been praying for her and was so concerned that she had landed in the hospital, especially, with today’s challenges. I was looking forward to bringing words of encouragement to her.

We talked and she let me know that she was doing great. The medical staff was treating her, and she went on about how special they all were. Then she added how much she was really enjoying her time in the hospital. She said she was meeting so many new people and making friends. She said, “I know I’m right where God wants me to be right now.” After talking to her, I hung up the phone and thanked God for giving me the gift of a special friend. Someone who could help me look beyond my circumstances and find joy in whatever situation I find myself.

This week Pastor Tim is beginning a new series on Philippians entitled “This is the Day – Reasons to be Glad”. Philippians is one of the “Prison Letters” written by the Apostle Paul. “Prison Letter” because Paul writes it to the church at Philippi while he is in prison. In prison for the dastardly offense of preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. One might think Paul’s letter would be filled with anger and whining over why he’s locked up when he’s doing God’s work. But, Paul, like my friend, sees way beyond his circumstances and sees how God can use them to His glory. Paul’s letter is filled with encouragement for us to live a life filled with faith and joy despite our circumstances or our challenges.

I can’t wait to hear what God has laid on Pastor Tim’s heart to share with us this week. I hope you can join me. I want to learn to be a joy-finder and a joy-giver. How about you?

Blessings,

Pastor Linda

PS: All of our services are online right now due to COVID restrictions. You can join us at 10:30 am every Sunday on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, our WaCathedral App or on our website at www.wacathedral.org. If you can’t make it on Sunday morning, you can always catch it at a later time at the same places.