“A Generous Invitation”

We had a wonderful celebration on Sunday as we gave thanks for all that we have accomplished during the last two years of our capital campaign, “Maika`i Hana Hou!” (“Creating Goodness & Beauty Once Again!”). It was an honor to have the Rev. Dr. Charles Buck assisting in our worship service, as well as the Rev. Caroline and Tad Miura and Caroline’s mother in attendance for this special day! It was also a pleasure to have Lori Dill dance hula to “Aloha Aina” for us. Lori is a descendant of the Rev. Dr. James and Melicent Smith, who arrived in Koloa in 1842 to serve as the missionary doctor for Kaua`i and Ni`ihau.

Our text for the morning was the second chapter of Acts, in which the disciples of Jesus spoke in the tongues of all the people who gathered in Jerusalem to present their offering to God. Rather than speaking in Hebrew or Greek, which most of the visitors knew, the disciples spoke in all of the common languages of the vicinities from which the people came. This was an act of radical hospitality and inclusion, which has always been the nature of God and of the Christian Church.

As the people of Kōloa Union Church have spent two years offering gifts, prayers and service to the capital campaign, I know that we understand radical hospitality and inclusion. After all, the reason we decided to have a capital campaign in the first place was to be more welcoming and inviting to all people.

The Holy Spirit invites us into a community of radical welcome and inclusion; and then we invite others. It is a very generous invitation!

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana