by admin | Dec 28, 2016 | Message from Kahu
MELE KALIKIMAKA & HAU`OLI MAKAHIKI HOU!
We had two wonderful services this weekend celebrating the birth of Jesus, along with inspiring music and the stories of Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, my message focused on the key figures in the story and what a scandal they created simply by the fact that they were the ones invited to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The shepherds were the ones who smelled bad and did the work no one else wanted to do; the Magi were the foreigners with a different religion and way of life, and carried suspicion with them as they came from a faraway land; Joseph was just a plain old guy—a carpenter who barely got by; Mary was the most scandalous of all—an unwed teenage mother who was so poor that she lay her baby in an animal feeding trough owned by total strangers! This is not your typical story of the birth of a king! Rather, it is part of an ongoing story of God’s grace and inclusivity of all people–even the poor and the scandalous! The story continues today—and includes each and every one of us!
On Christmas Day, I talked about the life of Robert McAfee Brown, one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century. I shared his commitment to living out the life that Jesus calls us to live, even when sacrifice is involved. And then I shared a poem by his 8-year-old granddaughter:
If I Had a Magic Wand
If I had a magic wand,
I would make everybody nicer.
I would make the poor have some money,
Make the people who are sad, happy.
Make the people who are sick, healthy.
Make the wars stop,
So there is peace in the world.
Everyone would be friends
And no one would be afraid of people who are different…
If I had a magic wand.
—Mackenzie Brown, age eight
This simple child’s poem sounds a lot like the Christmas message to me. I believe that we must hold onto this message. Even though we may not be able to help every person in the world right now, we can help some. We must believe that the ripples from every act of grace and kindness effects people far beyond our horizon or field of vision. May we live out the Christmas message in our words and our actions.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
Click HERE to see a video of Sunday’s sermon.
Videos of Kahu’s sermons will be available every week through January. You can find them on our church website <www.koloaunionchurch.org> and on our weekly e-news. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
by admin | Dec 28, 2016 | News
EPIPHANY
Join us on Sunday, January 1, for our 10:30 worship service as we celebrate a new year and also Epiphany! This special holiday on the Christian calendar is officially on January 6, marking the end of the Christmas Season (the 12 Days of Christmas: December 25 – January 5). “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word meaning “manifestation,” and points to the manifestation of God in human form as Jesus. The feast day also commemorates the magi, who visited Jesus when he was a baby or small child.
PRAYERS & SQUARES: The Prayer Quilt Ministry
Koloa Union Church has created a new prayer ministry (http://www.prayerquilt.org). Karen Johnson is Prayer Coordinator; Angela Dressel is Chapter Coordinator. Angela is hosting a meeting for those interested in learning more on January 6, 2017, 3-5 p.m., 4421 Kai Ikena Drive, Kalaheo. Contact Angela at: abdressel@gmail.com or 808-332-7371.
ANNUAL REPORTS
Council officers, Deacons and Committee chairs, please turn in your annual reports to Penny by January 8, 2017.
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED on Monday, January 2, 2017.
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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Dec 27, 2016 | Newsletter
January 2017
by admin | Dec 20, 2016 | News
CHRISTMAS CAROLING
Once again we will be joining the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign as we sing Christmas carols in front of Sueoka Store on December 23, 6 – 7:30 pm. Please join us for singing just one song or stay for the entire time.
THE CHRISTMAS FUND
Each year at Christmastime, congregations of the United Church of Christ across the country take up a collection to provide pension and health premium supplementation to lower-income retired church workers, and emergency assistance to clergy and lay church employees in need, as well as “thank you” gift checks to hundreds of faithful retired church workers. The fund is administered by the UCC Pension Boards. We will collect the Christmas Fund offering on December 24 & 25. Please give generously to help faithful church workers who are experiencing difficult times.
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP
December 24: Christmas Eve (7:30 p.m.) We will read the Christmas story, sing carols and end the evening with the singing of Silent Night as we light candles.
December 25: Christmas Day (10:30 a.m.) We will light the Christ Candle, sing Christmas carols and celebrate Holy Communion. We will have lunch together after the service; everyone is welcome to join us!
OFFICE CLOSED on Mondays, December 26 and January 2.
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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Dec 19, 2016 | Message from Kahu
MELE KALIKIMAKA!
This is always such a special time of the year for Koloa Union Church! We celebrated together at our annual Christmas party; about a dozen of us sang Christmas carols in front of Sueoka Market to raise money in order to feed hungry people on the island; our children presented a charming Christmas program in church yesterday; we have collected a large amount of food and money to assist struggling families on the south shore of our island (and will be making deliveries this week!).
One of my favorite new things this year has been the focus on art during the lighting of the Advent candles. Each week, a different artist shared with the congregation about his/her art and what it has to do with the Season of Advent and the particular theme of the day: hope, peace, joy and love. As we begin Christmas week, may you deeply feel the meaning of each of those words. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may we give thanks for hope, peace, joy and love; and may we consider new ways of how we might share these things with others.
For those who are able, I invite you to join us this week for:
- Christmas caroling in front of Sueoka Market on Friday (6-7:30 p.m.)
- Christmas Eve service on Saturday (7:30 p.m.)
- Christmas Day Communion service on Sunday (10:30 a.m.)
I also invite you to give generously to the United Church of Christ Christmas Fund for retired clergy and church workers who are struggling to make ends meet financially and for current ones who are facing emergency needs. Last year, Koloa Union Church was in the Top 10 congregations in the U.S. in terms of giving per member, so I know this fund is important to us. I trust that we will be just as generous this year.
Whatever your plans are for Christmas and the holiday season, and whomever you plan to spend them with, may you deeply feel the presence of our loving God who demonstrated that love through the birth of Jesus.
Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha Nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
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