The Rev. Dr. James Fung has been the Pastor of Center Congregational Church since December of 2001. In the time that he and his wife, Faith, have been here, we have come to know them as a couple who exude a spirit of friendship, warmth, and a love for the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Dr. Fung invites the congregation to call him, "Kahu" which is the Hawaiian word for spiritual guide, pastor, leader. Dr. Fung has also shared that "Kahu" is an endearing term that conveys affection and a spirit of aloha.
Kahu is a graduate of Cornell College, Drew University Theological Seminary and Hartford Seminary. He has served in congregations here in Connecticut and also in Michigan and Hawaii.
When asked what it is that he enjoys most of all the ways that he's involved as the pastor of Center Church, he was quick to say that it was doing the Children's Message on Sunday morning. He replied, "I love their energy. I love their openness, their delight in being a part of the worship service and the way they approach church with eagerness, fun, and a willingness to be surprised. There's a lot that we can learn from the children."
He was asked, "If there were a single passage is scripture that was a focus for you, what would that be?" His answer:
    "Jesus taught,
    'Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it aides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5,' I've come to feel very personally and very deep and intimate connection with Christ. He is the source of my strength, my hope, my dreams, my everything."
Kahu has a number of holidays. He enjoys cooking, baking, kayaking, biking, gardening, and taking early morning runs.


   

The first annual Blessing of the Pets was held on the back yard of the church on the last Saturday of September. A good number of children and adults came with their pets.   What a high energy, sometimes noisy, and celebrative event that was! 

Later it got me to thinking that a lot of the feelings we have for our pets must be similar to the feelings that God has for us. Think about it.  

We spend a lot of time, energy, money on our pets - - getting them the healthiest kind of pet food, taking them to the vet when they are ill, grooming them, making sure that they're happy. And we delight in them. We simply enjoy our pets, don't we? We love our pets!  

And God enjoys us! God created us for his enjoyment, for companionship (re-read the story of Adam and Eve). And when we hide from God - - God must wonder, "What's wrong? Are they not feeling well? Did they eat the wrong thing?" 

God did not create us to test us, to ignore us, to neglect us, to punish us for not measuring up. God created us to love and to bring Him joy.

 

The Dial-a-Prayer has become one of my daily disciplines. I wake up every morning, spend some time reading scripture (not a new thing) and record a brief thought for the day and a prayer on the phone.

I get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that during the course of the day, people call in and receive inspiration and a reminder that God is always there - closer than a phone call away - just a prayer away.

-Pastor, Rev. Dr. James Fung