E Komo Mai!
Welcome to Koloa Union Church!
We are followers of Jesus—the man who opened his arms to all kinds of people (including the scorned and oppressed, the poor, those living on the margins of society, and people from other places), who gave voice to the voiceless, who fed the hungry and healed the sick. Following in his footsteps, we welcome people from all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, nationalities, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities; and we share God’s love in its many forms. We are a diverse community where everyone has something to offer. Come and join us—let us follow Jesus together!
No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you’re welcome here!
Church Location: 3289 Poipu Road, Koloa, HI
We are located in the heart of Koloa on Poipu Road between Old Koloa Town and Koloa School and Library. As you are driving along Poipu Road, you’ll see our church set back from the road between the large monkey pod trees. It is a lava rock church in old Hawaiian style with a large white cross in the window. Parking is available in the front and south side of the property.
Scroll to the Bottom for Directions!
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 536, Koloa, HI 96756
Phone: 808-742-6622
Click HERE To Watch
Our Recent Worship Services
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Worship During COVID-19
10:30 a.m. on Sundays
Our Board of Deacons and Church Council are committed to do all in our power to keep our congregation healthy and safe in the midst of this pandemic. While members, friends and visitors have varying theologies and opinions about worship services, role of government and health guidelines, we hold life as sacred and believe the imperative to protect and preserve life outweighs all other considerations.
Since Sunday, June 14, 2020, we have been worshiping back in our sanctuary after offering only online worship services. As long as we believe it is safe, we will continue to to offer on-site worship services. We continue to provide our weekly services online for those who are uncomfortable or unable to return at this time (usually available by Wednesday each week).
We Welcome Visitors to Our Worship Services!
Please Abide by Our Visitor Guidelines below.
Seating in the Sanctuary
More Space Under the Big Tent on the Patio
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
Please arrive BEFORE 10:30 if you wish to be seated in the sanctuary!
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES IF…*
You are not required by the State of Hawaii or County of Kauai to quarantine
and
You have been on the island for at least 10 days with no Covid-19 symptoms
and
You, your family, or social bubble, have not had close contact with anyone
(sharing meals, visiting less than 6 feet without face masks, etc.)
who has been off the island or visited you from off-island in the past 10 days.
and
You or any member of your household or social bubble have not been exposed
to anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 for at least 14 days.
and
You do not have a fever of 100°F or higher or have any symptoms of Covid-19.
*You MAY attend worship services if you have received a negative result from a Covid-19 test at a site approved by the State of Hawaii at least 3 days after travel, exposure to anyone who has traveled off or to the island, or exposed to anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19, and if you are not otherwise required by the State of Hawaii or County of Kauai to quarantine.
Visitors are also asked to abide by “Guidelines for Attending Worship Services” below.
In order for everyone to remain safe while worshiping with us, we ask that you attend church with the following expectations:
- Approach the sanctuary with a cloth face mask that completely covers your mouth and nose. Wait for instructions before removing your face mask once you are in the sanctuary.
- Use a name tag to help us identify who you are. (It’s a little trickier with face masks!)
- You will be asked to affirm that you are healthy & have no symptoms of COVID-19.
- Your temperature will be taken before entering the sanctuary (with a “no touch” thermometer).
- You may drop off your offering in an offering bowl as you enter or leave the sanctuary.
- An usher will assist you in finding a seat. Once you are seated, please remain in your seat until the end of the worship service. If you have to use the restroom or leave your seat for any other emergencies, please place your face mask back on and allow others around you to do the same.
- Do not plan to make any verbal announcements. Please submit any verbal announcements in writing to the church office ahead of time.
- Offer joys and concerns for our prayer time by writing them down on a prayer card and dropping off the card as you enter. You may also contact the church office or the pastor directly.
- Put your face mask back on before the benediction and keep it on until you are at your car or off church property.
- Take your bulletin home with you or drop it off in the blue recycling container next to the Deacons’ cabinet.
- Please return permanent name tags (if you have one at the church) to the table in front of the name tag cabinet. Do not replace your name tag directly into the cabinet!
- Children are asked to sit with their families. There will be no Sunday school at the church until further notice.
- Children are not allowed to use playground equipment or play games with others where physical contact is involved.
- Remember: please stay home if you are sick, if you have a fever or any other symptoms of COVID-19; or have had any known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days.
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A Scent-Free Environment: We have members, friends, and a kahu who are highly allergic to various scents, often resulting in coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing and speaking, as well as other symptoms. Heavy perfumes and colognes are particularly troublesome. We are requesting that our church be, as much as possible, a “scent-free” environment during worship services, social activities and meetings. We realize that there is no way to keep all scents away, and we plan to continue having fresh flower arrangements each week and leis for special occasions, but we do ask everyone to be sensitive to the needs of those around them when it comes to perfumes, colognes and lotions.
Alan Akana Gallery
Due to the pandemic, the gallery will be closed until further notice.
Online purchases are available.
Items may be shipped for a fee or you may arrange for pickup at gallery.
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Koloa Union Church hosts a gallery featuring the works of Kahu (Pastor) Alan Akana. The gallery is just around the corner from the church at 3281 Waikomo Road in the historic Smith Memorial Parsonage, a beautiful building on the grounds formerly owned by Congregationalist missionaries. Proceeds from sales at the gallery support the maintenance, upgrades and repairs of the parsonage. Dr. Akana has been watercoloring the flowers of Hawaii since 1993 and features his work of over a quarter of a century. See www.alanakanagallery.com to learn more about the gallery and Dr. Akana’s art.
A Message from Our Kahu
On Sunday, we took a look at Jesus’ promise to the crowd in Matthew 11: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I said that these words must have sounded outrageous at the time, based upon what Jesus had just instructed his disciples to do: proclaim news that could get them crucified, cure those who are sick physically, mentally and spiritually (without medical, psychological or divinity degrees), and raise the dead—and do all of this without any money, supplies or belongings! Jesus told the disciples that many would despise them, beat them, throw them in prison and even try to kill them, saying to them, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.”
In order to understand what Jesus meant when he said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light,” we looked at the context of life in the Roman Empire where the imperial yokes and burdens weighed so heavily on the backs of most people that they squeezed the very life from them. Jesus was offering an alternative way of being, and he called it (according to Matthew) “the Empire of the Heavens.” Imagining such a vision was one thing, but to talk about it publicly (proclaim the good news) and act to bring it about was dangerous and risky!
Some 700 years earlier, the prophet Isaiah also lived during a time of heavy yokes and burdens, and he too imagined a way of being in the world where yokes and burdens were lifted. Like Jesus, Isaiah was also aware of the danger and risks involved, as well as the energy it would take for those who were committed to such a vision. For Isaiah, like Jesus, it was God’s gracious presence and clear calling that kept him going. Therefore, he knew that…
Those who wait for the Lord
shall renew their strength!
They shall mount up with
wings like eagles!
They shall run
and not be weary!
They shall walk
and not faint!
May you find such strength, energy and hope as you go about serving God today!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
To see a video of this week’s worship service, including the message, click HERE. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see previous worship services and many of Kahu’s past messages. You can subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings! To see our Sunday morning schedule, click HERE.
Kahu Akana is also an accomplished artist! He specializes in creating vibrant watercolors of the flowers of Hawaii and hosts a Sunday afternoon reception in a gallery at his home, the Smith Memorial Parsonage. He also meets visitors by appointment. Most of the profit from the sales go for the maintenance and upkeep of the parsonage. To see a video about his art and gallery, click HERE. To see the gallery website, click HERE.
News of the Church
| “TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY” |
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
| Sunday, February 14 10:30 a.m. |
| On Sunday, Kahu will be sharing about the story of the Transfiguration from the Gospel of Mark, especially focusing on Jesus’ identity and his mission to share God’s love with the world, and how that pertains to followers of Jesus today. We have plenty of room for attendees to sit in a safe distance from others in the sanctuary, on the patio, and in Moore Hall where folks can watch the worship service on a large screen. Please put your face mask on as soon as you arrive on church property and be sure to familiarize yourself with all of our pandemic guidelines, which are included on our homepage. |
ADOPT A FAMILY
January and February Project
| Koloa Union Church has adopted a family who is temporarily homeless on the island: a single mom and her 1-year-old son. They have lost their housing since the pandemic and found themselves living in a tent. They are on “the list” for housing assistance and need help to just get by while they wait. In the meantime, they are in urgent need of some shelter reinforcement to help with the rain and wind, as well as some covered area that can function as extended living space for the boy to play. Please consider monetary donations to go toward purchasing basic needs or else contact the church office if there is something in particular you would like to donate. (We have a list of specific needs.) Donations are requested by Feb 21st. Mahalo to everyone for your continued support! |
The church office will be closed on
Monday, February 15,
in observance of
Presidents’ Day.
HENRY OPUKAHAIA OFFERING
Sunday, February 21
Each year we collect a special offering in memory of Henry Opukahaia, the first NativeHawaiian known to become a Christian. Henry O. is credited with motivating the early New England missionaries to sail to Hawaii. The money collected supports the training of current and future clergy for Christian ministry by providing financial aid for students.
Please consider a generous donation on February 21st.Offering envelopes will be available on that day.
Write checks to “Koloa Union Church”and write “Henry O.” in the note section.
THE SEASON OF LENT
“Look for the Signs”
February 21 is the First Sunday in Lent
Lent is a time for personal reflection, beginning on Ash Wednesday (February 17) and ending at midnight on Easter Eve (April 3). The purpose is to prepare ourselves for Easter Sunday through prayer, worship, personal reflection, and sometimes fasting.
Kahu has chosen as the theme for Lent this year “Look for the Signs.” On the six Sundays of Lent, the Revised Common Lectionary will lead us through various signs that point to God and important messages that God has for us, beginning with the sign of the rainbow (from Genesis chapter 9) on February 21.
LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways.
—Kahu Alan Akana
Each week, Christians throughout the world read biblical passages from the Revised Common Lectionary, including the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospels. After three years, a good portion of the Bible is included and the cycle begins again. RCL passages are often read in church worship services, and Kahu Akana usually includes at least one reading each Sunday.
Readings for February 7 are Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-21; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39.
Readings for February 14 are 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9.
Readings for February 21 are Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15.
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“News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, an Open and Affirming (ONA) Congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Please contact the church office if you would like to have our news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!