Author Archives: Christopher Golding

Today I’m grateful for things that can’t adequately be expressed in words. For the joy of Advent 3 – Gaudete Sunday – for the mystery of joy in tears and laughter, in bread and wine, in Scripture and music, in procession and dance, in people’s stories, deep rivers of emotion and trees of wisdom andContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 19”

Today I’m grateful for the Episcopal Church in Hawaii’s Enculturation Day, for Lei-making, hula, song, history, culture, Mana, Aina, Aloha, Kokua, new learning, great salads, kind words, down-to-earth realism, grappling with difficult topics, revealing of unspoken truths, discoveries of self and other, the names, language, and spirit of the Hawaiian people and others in theContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 18”

Today I’m grateful for a full Friday! More goodbyes with the children of St. Clement’s School (last chapel), for joyous singing, smiles, innocent delight and wonder, praying, staff aloha, parent support and enthusiasm. For lunch with Australian friends visiting and a (recently unusual) trip to Waikiki for me, for tourists from everywhere, for people onContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 17”

Today I’m grateful for the start of significant goodbyes from the Parish of St. Clement (more to come!) For an individual pastoral visit (and handover) in the parish, for lunch with the Adult Formation Group at Kahala Nui, for their love and support, their kindness and generosity. And I’m grateful for the gift it isContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 16”

Today I’m grateful for the weekly Hearing Eucharist at St. Clement’s, for the faithfulness of that small but intentional group, for the opportunity to preach the word and administer the sacraments, and for an early birthday lunch with St. Clement’s staff at my favorite restaurant, for the beautiful and hospitable service of the staff there,Continue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 15”

Today I’m grateful for the Family Ministries Team of St. Clement’s: for their faithfulness and generosity, for their wisdom and creativity. And for James’s 4 year old physical and immunizations, for the gift of modern medicine, for the attentiveness of doctors and nurses, for the wonders of preventative healthcare, for all who give their livesContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 14”

Today I’m grateful for a Sabbath day off, for running kids and Julia to school, for Holy Communion at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, for the blessings of the community there (both parish and parish school), for their support of Julia, for their faithfulness with Phoebe and James, for an effective and diverse curriculum, andContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 13”

Today, the Second Sunday of Advent, I’m grateful for the Holy Eucharist at St. Clement’s, for the beautiful music of Advent Carols, for a new family who joined us today, for old friends from Australia visiting, for smiles, hugs, and much aloha at the cookie slam to follow the service, for our Advent Discussion Group,Continue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 12”

Today I’m grateful for Saturday, for kids off school and hanging out with friends, for afternoon naps and more cough drops, for toy cars, and stuffed animal friends, for drawing and play dough, for German chocolate vegan cookies (OMGoodness!) and decaf coffee, for phones loaned to strangers, for shakas and thank you waves, for safeContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 11”

Today I’m grateful for more sleep in attempting to shake this cold, for Tylenol and cough drops, and comfort food. And I’m grateful for washing machines and dryers, and microwaves and ovens, and all the things like that I so often take for granted. For clean, fresh smelling clothes, warm blankets, iced water, green teaContinue reading “Holiday Gratitude Day 10”