My scrapbook from this morning’s celebration of new ministry for the Rev. Dr. Greg Kimura, the ninth rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church- South Pasadena, CA, succeeding priest in charge the Rev. Dr. Michelle Baker-Wright and, before that, the two-decade tenure of the seventh rector, the Rev. Canon Anne Tumilty.
Our celebration was dappled by the shadows of the wildfire emergency. Six St. James members lost their homes, including Jan Arenz, who founded the parish’s legendary food locker outreach ministry over 40 years ago and was still at work this week as a volunteer.
The St. James choir was magnificent as always, organized by director of music and organist Jason Klein-Mendoza. Greg’s spouse, Joy, a writer like the rector, came up with their 16-year-old daughter, Lily, for a blessing. Her brother, Julian, is away at college. I was along to preach, preside, and partake of a delicious lunch and great conversation at an exceptionally cool table with delightful choristers, interns, and academics.
A fourth-generation Alaskan, Greg is former rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Ojai and former president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, where he organized a Hello Kitty exhibit that attracted global publicity. Author of an upcoming book on sanctuary ministry, he is serving as co-convener of our diocese’s Sacred Resistance immigration justice collective.
