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Guest Preacher: Rev. Lynette Fuka
I am the Pastor of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Redondo Beach, CA. I was born and raised in Tonga, the smallest kingdom in the world located near the International Date Line. My family brought me up with Christian faith and values that continue to strengthen my faith to this day.
In 1991, I graduated with a Bachelor in Linguistics from Victoria University located in Wellington, New Zealand. After being randomly selected through an international green card lottery, I attended and graduated with a Masters in Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1995. As part of my internship, I worked with the AIDS & HIV+ Ministry in San Francisco. When I eventually married, one of the clients pleasantly surprised me by attending my wedding in Tonga!
After returning to Tonga, I helped recreate syllabi for three departments of the Methodist Church: Christian Education, Education, and Sia’atoutai Theological College. In addition, I served on the Pacific Council of Churches’ Executive committee and the World Council of Churches’ Education committee for several years where I had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the Pacific and Europe.
Although challenging, with God’s help, I applied for and won a grant from the World Council of Churches to begin the Women’s Theology program at Sia’atoutai College. The program began in 1998 and in 2000, I collaborated with many great Tongan women contributors to write the first book on Women Theology in Tonga called “Tonga – Women and the Theological Impact”.
In 2003, I was formally ordained and in 2006, I graduated with a Masters in Theology from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia. From there, I went on to serve as an Associate Pastor at Culver Palms UMC for almost 9 years. During my time there, I enjoyed working with the children and youth as they traveled on their spiritual journeys. Since social justice is also one of my passions, I was involved in many events including walking the picket line to fight against systemic injustices!
I am happily married to Kitione Tu’itupou and we have 4 children: Fine Ashley, ‘Iunisi Celeste, Lelea Jeremiah, and Theodora Georgina. Life is not always easy, but God continues to remind me to be “Still and Know that I am God”.
John 13:31-35 (New Revised Standard Version)
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Summary:
We are in the season of Eastertide with the worship theme “Living the Resurrection.” Throughout this season, we will explore what it means to live as people of hope and promise through the resurrection of Jesus.
After his resurrection and before he returns to heaven, Jesus instructs his followers to love one another. Jesus is clear that by loving one another, we live in his resurrection and others will experience his abiding love through us.
Reflection Questions:
- How have others shown God’s love to you in the past week week?
- How did you share the love of God in the past week?
- How will you share God’s love in the week to come?