Weekly News of the Church
OFFICE CLOSED
In observance of Thanksgiving Day,
the church office will be closed on
Thursday, November 23rd.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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THANKSGIVING DINNER BOXES
Thanks to many generous donations, 10 Thanksgiving dinner boxes were put together and delivered to less fortunate families in the Koloa area. The boxes held a turkey along with all the trimmings for a complete Thanksgiving meal. All money not used will be rolled over into our Christmas Outreach. Thanks to Judyth, Suzanne and other volunteers for all their hard work.
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ALAN AKANA GALLERY
BLACK FRIDAY SALE
Christmas Gifts for Family and Friends!
Alan Akana Gallery will be open on Friday, November 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a Black Friday Sale. All customers on that day will receive a 20% discount on all purchases and a 50% discount on selected artwork. There will be a drawing at the end of the day for a special door prize (no need to be present to win) and a free gift with every purchase too!
As always, the profit from the sales will be used for improvements, maintenance, and repairs of the parsonage. The Smith Memorial Parsonage is located at 3281 Waikomo Road.
________________________________________________________
SALVATION ARMY LUNCHEON
Our faithful volunteers will be serving lunch at the Hanapepe Salvation Army on Wednesday, November 29. Those who have signed up to volunteer will meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. to carpool.
________________________________________________________
THE BRIDGE: KAUAI TO COLLEGE
“Gala Bossa Nova Brazil”
Join Us for Our Annual Fundraiser!
The Bridge: Kauai to College is just over a year old, has become a stand-alone non-profit, has 11 mentoring pairs, and is hosting their annual fabulous fundraiser: a Brazilian gala on December 3 at Koloa Landing. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., 4:30 for those who purchase tables in advance. Music by Rumba de Fuego, dancing, authentic Brazilian buffet, no-host bar, silent and live auctions! For tickets: brazilgalatickets@gmail.com. You may also click HERE to see the gala website. We are shooting for 3 full tables as a goal for our church!
________________________________________________________
CHILDREN/YOUTH CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
The children and teenagers practice during Sunday school (~10:45 a.m.) for the Christmas Program, which they will perform in church on Sunday, December 17. Please RSVP to Tiffany Marrotte if your children are planning to participate and which practices they will attend. If your child(ren) would like to play the ukulele for the songs, practice is at 9 a.m. on Sundays, except December 3.
________________________________________________________
COCONUT WIRELESS
The Council of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ shares news on the Coconut Wireless, the regular newsletter of the HCUCC. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click HERE for this past week’s news. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically.
___________________________________________________
PRAYERS & SQUARES
Contact Angela Dressel if you would like to get involved in praying for people in crisis or helping to make quilt squares for those in crisis.
________________________________________________________
Wishing Kahu Akana a Happy Birthday
By Making a Gift in His Honor!
In honor of Kahu Akana’s birthday on November 3, you are invited to give a gift in his name to the general fund of Pacific School of Religion where he serves on the Board of Trustees. Kahu is also the Chair of PSR’s Advancement Committee, which oversees the fundraising success of the school. Kahu says, “I am passionate about supporting Pacific School of Religion because it provides a theological grounding with a strong emphasis on social justice for people like me who want to serve the Church and make the world a better place.”
Please consider a gift of any size during the month of November by writing a check to Koloa Union Church with “PSR-Akana” in the note section. You may also give online at the PSR website; be sure to click under “Tribute Gift” the box “This gift is in honor, memory or support of someone,” and write “Rev. Dr. Alan Akana” in the box.
A Message from Kahu Alan Akana
“Thanksgiving: The Will of God”
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
On Sunday we looked at the story of the Jesus and the ten people whom he cured of leprosy (Luke 17). I began my sermon with stories of Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka`i where people with leprosy were once banished. I read last week that over 8,000 men, women and children were sent there in order to keep leprosy from spreading to others throughout the Hawaiian Islands; and some 95% were Native Hawaiians. As was the case for over a thousand years throughout the world, Hawaiians with leprosy lost just about everything that was important to them: health, comfort, family, community, employment. They were even told that their condition was because of sin in their life. As if it wasn’t bad enough to lose everything else, they were made to feel that God had abandoned them too!
When Jesus healed the ten people of leprosy in the Gospel story, one of them returned and threw himself at Jesus’ feet. Luke pointed out that the man was a Samaritan. I find two important lessons in this. First of all, Jesus healed this man who was different in terms of ethnicity, culture and religion. Jesus didn’t try to convert him first. He simply healed him because he had compassion for him. Secondly, Jesus accepted the man’s gratitude. These two lessons compel us to show compassion to people who are different, especially to people on the margins of society. They also remind us that God accepts our gratitude—no matter who we are.
The final words of Jesus in the story are: “Your faith has made you well.” Even though all ten people were cured, Jesus pointed out the faith and wellness of the man who expressed gratitude. I believe that there is something truly healing when we express our gratitude, and I also believe that our faith is strengthened. Gratitude must be God’s will for us because God wants us to have lives that are whole and experienced with deep faith. May we find healing and faith as we express gratitude on Thanksgiving Day…and on every day!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
P.S. Please see “Weekly News of the Church” to learn more about making a gift to Pacific School of Religion where I serve on the Board of Trustees.
_______________
Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of this week’s message. You may also see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and 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.
“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.
A Message from Kahu Alan Akana
“Are You Ready?”
“Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
On Sunday we talked about getting ready and being prepared for the many ways God shows up in our lives. I am a preparer by nature. I know not everyone is, but whether preparation comes naturally to you or you have to work harder than others at it, I think it is especially important that we are always ready for the many ways God shows up in our lives—especially the unexpected and surprising ways.
We focused our attention on Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Virgins. They were ready for the bridegroom to show up at his normally scheduled time; but not all of them were not ready at all at midnight when he actually did show up. By the time he arrived, they were out of oil for their lamps, so they left. So Jesus said, “Keep awake, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” This is another way of saying, “Pay attention and be ready,” which begs the question, “Pay attention and be ready for what?”
The answer is found all over Matthew’s Gospel. As the biblical scholar Warren Carter tells us, Matthew is a comparison of the Roman Empire to an altogether new way of being in the world, which Jesus refers to as the “Empire of Heaven.” In the Roman Empire, few people enjoy wealth, enough food, adequate healthcare; and the people on the margins of society are ignored and forgotten. In the Empire of Heaven, there is enough to go around for everyone, and all people are valuable and included. So the answer really is, “Pay attention to the many surprising ways that Jesus shows up in the needs of others, and to the many opportunities to include people who are often excluded.”
In my sermon, I mentioned that there are two important ways that this message is particularly relevant today. First of all, many governments in the world act like the Roman Empire by operating as if their job is to assure that the wealthy have more than enough and the people on the margins have very little of what may be left over; they also ignore people on the margins altogether. As followers of Jesus, we can not only do our best to change such structures, but we can also connect with the marginalized people in our world and offer them our compassionate presence.
Secondly, as the holidays approach, we can remind ourselves (in the midst of preparing for all of the traditions which we hold dear) to prepare ourselves to notice the people around us who may otherwise be forgotten. Our Thanksgiving dinner boxes are one way we can do that as we help feed hungry families in our community. Yet, I am sure we will find many other opportunities to share God’s love in tangible ways if we are committed to being ready for the unexpected and surprising ways God will show up!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
P.S. Please see “Weekly News of the Church” to learn more about making a gift to Pacific School of Religion where I serve on the Board of Trustees.
_______________
Videos of Kahu’s Sunday’s sermon are uploaded onto YouTube whenever available. Please share these videos with friends. 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 may also subscribe to the page on YouTube; that way you can receive a notification when a new sermon is posted.
“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.
Weekly News of the Church
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Annual Thanksgiving Worship Service
And Luncheon
Join Us at 10:30 for Worship
Followed by a Delicious Meal!
We will also be collecting items for the
Annual Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes For Hungry Families
Check with the church office before Friday to see what is
still needed for our Thanksgiving dinner boxes!
Please Invite Family and Friends
To Join Us on Sunday!
________________________________________________________
Wishing Kahu Akana a Happy Birthday
By Making a Gift in His Honor!
In honor of Kahu Akana’s birthday on November 3, you are invited to give a gift in his name to the general fund of Pacific School of Religion where he serves on the Board of Trustees. Kahu is also the Chair of PSR’s Advancement Committee, which oversees the fundraising success of the school. Kahu says, “I am passionate about supporting Pacific School of Religion because it provides a theological grounding with a strong emphasis on social justice for people like me who want to serve the Church and make the world a better place.”
Please consider a gift of any size during the month of November by writing a check to Koloa Union Church with “PSR-Akana” in the note section. You may also give online at the PSR website; be sure to click under “Tribute Gift” the box “This gift is in honor, memory or support of someone,” and write “Rev. Dr. Alan Akana” in the box.
________________________________________________________
THANKSGIVING DINNER BOXES
We will be putting together ten Thanksgiving dinner boxes for ten less fortunate families in the Koloa area. There is a detailed sign-up sheet if you can donate any of the listed items. If you would like to donate financially, please write “Hunger Outreach” on your check. Any money not used will be rolled over into our Christmas Outreach. The boxes will have a turkey along with all the trimmings for a complete Thanksgiving meal. If you know any families we can help, have questions, wish to volunteer, please contact the church office.
________________________________________________________
ALAN AKANA GALLERY
BLACK FRIDAY SALE
Christmas Gifts for Family and Friends!
Alan Akana Gallery will be open on Friday, November 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a Black Friday Sale. All customers on that day will receive a 20% discount on all purchases and a 50% discount on selected artwork. There will be a drawing at the end of the day for a special door prize (no need to be present to win) and a free gift with every purchase too!
As always, the profit from the sales will be used for improvements, maintenance, and repairs of the parsonage. The Smith Memorial Parsonage is located at 3281 Waikomo Road.
________________________________________________________
SALVATION ARMY LUNCHEON
Our faithful volunteers will be serving lunch at the Hanapepe Salvation Army on Wednesday, November 29. Meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. to carpool. Please contact the church office if you can help.
________________________________________________________
THE BRIDGE: KAUAI TO COLLEGE
“Gala Bossa Nova Brazil”
Join Us for Our Annual Fundraiser!
The Bridge: Kauai to College is just over a year old, has become a stand-alone non-profit, has 11 mentoring pairs, and is hosting their annual fabulous fundraiser: a Brazilian gala on December 3 at Koloa Landing. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., 4:30 for those who purchase tables in advance. Music by Rumba de Fuego, dancing, authentic Brazilian buffet, no-host bar, silent and live auctions! For tickets: brazilgalatickets@gmail.com. You may also click HERE to see the gala website. We are shooting for 3 full tables as a goal for our church!
________________________________________________________
CHILDREN/YOUTH CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
The children and teenagers practice during Sunday school (~10:45 a.m.) for the Christmas Program, which they will perform in church on Sunday, December 17. Please RSVP to Tiffany Marrotte if your children are planning to participate and which practices they will attend. If your child(ren) would like to play the ukulele for the songs, practice is at 9 a.m. on Sundays, except December 3.
________________________________________________________
COCONUT WIRELESS
The Council of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ shares news on the Coconut Wireless, the regular newsletter of the HCUCC. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click HERE for this past week’s news. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically.
___________________________________________________
PRAYERS & SQUARES
Contact Angela Dressel if you would like to get involved in praying for people in crisis or helping to make quilt squares for those in crisis.
____________________________
“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!
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