A Message from Kahu Akana

by admin | Apr 26, 2016 | Message from Kahu

‘AHA MELE AND ‘AHA MOKUPUNI

“Ko Kakou Ho’oilina” (Our Legacy)

I invite everyone to join us this weekend for our annual Spring ‘Aha Mokupuni—our island-wide gathering of the congregations of the Kaua’i Association of the United Church of Christ! We will honor our legacy and look to the future for our congregations and mutual ministry.

This year’s ‘Aha will take place at Kapa’a First Hawaiian Church (4-1325 Kuhio Highway in Kapa’a). Parking is available to Kapa’a United Church of Christ, located right across the street.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 (5:30-9:00 PM)

5:30 PM: We will begin the weekend with a delicious dinner provided by Kapa’a First Hawaiian.

6:30 PM: ‘Aha Mele! This is our annual songfest. Our own chancel choir from Koloa Union Church will participate! There will also be announcements from churches and other groups, and a brief introduction for the following day’s workshop.

If you want to carpool with others, meet at the church at 4:30 on Friday.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30 (8:00 AM – 3:00 PM)

8:00 AM: Breakfast provided by Kapa’a First Hawaiian

9:30 AM: Kaua’i Association Annual Meeting

11:45 AM: Worship Service

12:45 Lunch provided by Kapa’a First Hawaiian

1:30 PM A workshop (“Sharpen Our Vision”) led by Rev. Dr. Alan Akana!

I hope to see you this weekend!

Aloha nui loa!

Kahu Alan Akana

A Message from Kahu Akana

by admin | Apr 11, 2016 | Message from Kahu

What are you focusing on? What are you missing?

SEEING THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME

On Sunday, I told the story of a training meeting I went to in my professional fundraising days. There were probably close to 75 of us in the room, and we saw a 30-second video of six people passing 2 basketballs to each other in a rather small space. Three of the players were wearing white shirts and three were wearing black shirts, and they were all standing really close to each other. We were simply asked to keep track of how many times the people wearing white shirts passed the basketball. For 30 seconds we watched attentively, focusing our entire attention upon the people wearing white. After the video was over, we were asked how many times the people in white passed the basketball—and most of us got it wrong! It was more difficult than it looked!

However, the next question and answer shocked nearly every one of us. The presenter simply asked, “Did you see anything else on the basketball court besides the six players and the two balls?” The room was silent. “Really? You didn’t see anything else? Nothing at all?”

Then the newest person in our group slowly raised his hand and asked, “You mean, the gorilla?”

When the presenter asked if anyone else had seen a gorilla in the video, not a single person admitted to seeing one; so he told us that he would show the exact same video again and he wanted us to look really hard to see if anyone else saw a gorilla anywhere on the basketball court. About 15 seconds into the video, a person in a gorilla suit walked right in front of the camera, and a few seconds later stood right in the middle of the group of people passing the 2 basketballs and stood there beating his chest…and then walked off the court.

The question we all asked was: “How did we all miss it?”

The presenter went on to say something like this. “The point is that sometimes when you are so focused on certain things, you miss other things that are really big. Sometimes those things are very important and you never even see them. It is important not only to open your eyes, but also to consider what you are looking at and what you are looking for.”

I began thinking of all of the things in my life that I may have missed seeing all together… the important things… the really important things… all because I was looking at the less important things… and looking for the less important things.

I am convinced that when we learn to see the world through the eyes of God, we will see things we have never seen before. We will notice God’s love in places we have never noticed before. We will look for opportunities to share God’s love and we will see new things for the very first time.

May we open our eyes! May we look at God! May we look for God! May we see God everywhere! And may our lives be transformed by our vision and the things we focus upon!

Aloha nui loa!

Kahu Alan Akana

A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

by admin | Apr 5, 2016 | Message from Kahu

THE PRISON DOORS ARE OPENED!

As we journey through the Book of Acts during this Easter season, we are considering stories of Jesus’ early followers and what life was like for them in the days following the resurrection.

On Sunday, we read the story of the twelve Apostles (Chapter 5) and how they were sent to prison for telling people about the life and teachings of Jesus…and how they were then released from prison and continued telling people about Jesus.

We also considered the prisons we encounter in our own lives. I mentioned how we often create our own prisons by the habits and patterns of our lives…and how it is possible to find freedom (through different habits and patterns!) from anything that holds us back from living and loving fully.

In closing, here are some of the words to the song “It’s About Time” by Kenny Loggins:

It’s about time

I shed my skin

And set aside this self-made darkness

and walk on into the light

I’m sick of this Prison

I been calling my life

I finally found out the gates of hell are locked from the inside

[Chorus:]

If it’s about joy

If it’s about life

If it’s about love

It’s about time we get started

If it’s about trust

If it’s about hope

If it’s about us

It’s about time we get started

Oh baby

It’s all right

You only gotta face yourself

To make it to the other side

Oh baby you don’t know what you’ll find

‘Til you tear down those walls

And make up your mind

May you find freedom to live and love today…and in the days to come.

Aloha nui loa!

Kahu Alan Akana