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
Since Sunday, June 14, 2020, we have been worshiping again back in our sanctuary. We continue to provide our weekly services online for those who are uncomfortable or unable to return at this time (available on Tuesday or Wednesday each week at the latest).
Seating in the Sanctuary
More Space Under the Big Tent on the Patio
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
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. (We have extras if you forget yours.)
- Remain at least 6 feet from others who are not from your household.
- 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.
- Do not plan to make any verbal announcements.
- Offer joys and concerns for our prayer time by writing them down on a prayer card and dropping off the card as you enter.
- 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.
- 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
***The Gallery will be closed until further notice.***
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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. Gallery hours are 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday and by appointment. See www.alanakanagallery.com to learn more about the gallery and Dr. Akana’s art.
A Message from Our Kahu
“Interruption or Opportunity?”
“Jesus saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.” (Matthew 14:14)
There has been a lot of grief going around during this pandemic which has touched all of our lives. In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, Jesus sets a great example for us by both addressing his grief and acting upon opportunities for compassion all around him. The Scripture reading from Matthew focuses on Jesus feeding over 5,000 people (after healing them) and barely touches upon his grief. However, just a little bit of digging shows how deep his grief must have been. What we learn is that Jesus addressed his grief and did what he needed for healing to take place; and at the same time, he addressed the needs of the people around him because he saw their requests as opportunities rather than interruptions.
As I was watching the video of my message earlier today, I kept noticing the beautiful cross directly behind me made from Hawaiian koa by the local woodworker Frank Pullano. Within a few days after I told my mother that I had accepted the call to be the kahu at Kōloa Union Church back in 2014, she was diagnosed with cancer of the bladder. Two days after I moved into the parsonage, Mom found out that she only had a couple of months left because her cancer was very aggressive and was spreading quickly. I left a few days later to spend a week with her. It was the last time I saw her, as her death came quickly, as the doctor had said. In this time of grief, I wanted to do something for the church to honor her life—and my father’s life as well. I talked to Frank Pullano and he designed the cross specifically for the space in the church. I wanted to offer something to express how a simple symbol of grief—the cross of Jesus—can remind us that God understands our grief and at the same time add beauty to our worship services and sanctuary.
There are countless ways we can shift our perspective from interruption to opportunity. Whether the interruption is a global pandemic or someone popping in at an inconvenient time, opportunities abound. What gifts has God given you to share with others in your time of grief?
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.
Weekly News of the Church
Sunday Worship
August 9, 2020
10:30 a.m.
SUNDAY’S MESSAGE
“When God Speaks Quietly”
JOIN US AT CHURCH
We Have LOTS of Room!
Seating in the Sanctuary
More Space Under the Big Tent on the Patio
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
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“Strengthen the Church”
Special Mission Offering
On Sunday we collected the “Strengthen the Church” special mission offering. This offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of local United Church of Christ congregations throughout the U.S. as it helps create a just world for all by investing in new ministries. Your gifts will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. If you missed the opportunity to donate on Sunday, checks should be made out to “Koloa Union Church” with “Strengthen the Church” or “STC” on the memo line.
Thank you for your generous gifts!
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Make a Difference on Kauai
You CAN help COVID-19 from spreading!
COVID-19 is a deadly virus! Fortunately, there are only a few active cases on the island. However, we have seen a recent spike in cases on Oahu and many places on the mainland—and people are traveling here on a regular basis, potentially carrying the virus and not even knowing they are sick!
Whether you are at church or somewhere else on the island, if you are going to be around other people who are not part of your household or your “social bubble,” please observe these following practices to keep the virus from spreading:
No touching other people! This includes hugging, shaking hands, fist and elbow bumps, and patting on the back.
Keep a distance of 6 feet if you or anyone else is not wearing a mask.
Wear a mask any time someone is less than 6 feet from another person—and be sure it covers your mouth and your nose.
Wash your hands before eating or touching your face, or after touching anything that may have been touched by another person.
Stay away from people who have traveled off-island or who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 for 14 days.
Stay home if you have any new COVID-19 symptoms and call your doctor.
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LECTIONARY READINGS
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 July 26 are Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-46; Psalm 128; 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-52.
Readings for August 2 are Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-15; Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21.
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“Weekly 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 weekly news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!