A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

“Hospitality Above and Beyond”

On Sunday, I told the congregation that I was just finishing a book called The Anza Trail and the Settling of California, by Vladimir Guerrero. I had the opportunity to meet Vladimir and his wife Deidre in May at their home in the beautiful town of Lectoure in southern France while I was on my sabbatical. His son is Chris Guerrero, Kei and Penny Osuga’s son-in-law. Juan Bautista de Anza was a Spanish explorer in the mid-1770’s, who traveled on horseback from Mexico through Arizona and California. On his first expedition, de Anza traveled with soldiers, scouts and interpreters through unchartered and sometimes dangerous territories in order to find a route between the Mexico-Arizona border and the coast of California. On his second route, de Anza took 32 soldiers and their families to resettle in a place called San Francisco. Some of the missions, founded by Father Junipero Serra were already established along the coast, and de Anza spent time in many of them.

One of the things that stands out most for me in the book is the hospitality that was shown to de Anza and his fellow travelers in the various mission outposts along El Camino Real in California. When they would arrive at one of the Spanish missions, the bells would toll to celebrate their arrival; there would also be a special religious service; and then the hosts would throw a feast and offer the best of what they had. By the way, many of the native people of California were also extremely hospitable to de Anza and his party, and eagerly shared food, gifts, knowledge, and some of the indigenous people even journeyed with them to show them routes that they and their ancestors had traveled for generations.

Imagine traveling nearly 2,000 miles in new places days on end back in the time before there were roads, bridges, ferries, or rest stops. The travelers crossed deserts during hot days and lay awake shivering at night when they traversed snowy mountains. They sometimes had very little water; sometimes they had barely enough food to survive. Imagine finally arriving at a mission outpost after weeks of traveling like that and being welcomed with open arms. Imagine the mission bells tolling to greet your arrival. Imagine people celebrating that you are there. And imagine a great big feast!

This “above and beyond” kind of hospitality is the same theme I see over and over again when I read the stories in the Bible. And that is certainly the theme and the context for Sunday’s Old Testament reading in Genesis 18. When you read chapters 18-20, there is no doubt that hospitality is the overriding theme, and Sodom was most likely destroyed because the people of that city intended to harm the strangers that came to their town rather than offering hospitality, as Lot and his family did. At some point in time, for some reason, many people in the Christian Church decided to ignore the clear theme of hospitality and decided that today’s passage is about homosexuality. They decided that the sin of Sodom was not the lack of hospitality but rather homosexual behavior. In fact, the word “sodomy” comes from this passage. It is all based on one word: the word “know.” The men of Sodom told Lot to bring his guests outdoors “so that we may know them.” It is clear from the passage that the men of Sodom meant to do harm to the strangers. It is clear that violence was their intent. Perhaps sexual violence was in their plans, but there is no question that the men of Sodom meant to hurt the visitors who were in Lot’s house.

This passage lines up with so many others in the Old and New Testaments that God is so very happy when we show “above and beyond” hospitality to people who show up at our doors, in our communities and on our nation’s borders. May God guide us as we figure out how to best do so.

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana

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Click HERE to see a video of the message from Sunday morning. You may 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, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.

Weekly News of the Church

A SPECIAL COMMUNION SUNDAY

On Sunday, August 4, Steve Sparks will share a brief inspirational message and song (“It Took a Miracle”) relating to his miraculous recovery from cancer and the role his faith played in his journey. Be sure to join us on Sunday to hear Steve, another wonderful message by Kahu Akana, and Holy Communion.

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SUMMER BOOK GROUP  Our fun and lively summer book group meets on Wednesday evenings at the Smith Memorial Parsonage (3281 Waikomo Road) at 6 o’clock for dinner and then for a discussion which will begin between 6:45 & 7:00. If you are able, please read Chapters 3 & 4 for this week’s gathering. Please sign up at church for which evenings you plan to attend.
ALAN AKANA GALLERY NEWS  Beginning August 4, the gallery will be open on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m. (notice the change in time) and by appointment, with the last regular weekday on Thursday, August 1. Alan has decided to cut back on the hours since most visits and sales happen on Sundays. Those wishing to visit on other days are invited to call or email the gallery to make an appointment. There will be an “End of Summer Sale” where items will be sold at greatly reduced prices on Sunday, August 18, 2 to 5 p.m. Kahu also plans to show the slideshow from his sabbatical again during the sale.
COCONUT WIRELESS  Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ).
LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)  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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-43 and 49:1-12; Ecclesiastes 1:2-14, 2:18-23; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21.

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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!

Weekly News of the Church

PLANTATION DAYS PARADE “Year of the Paniolo” Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m.  Koloa Union Church celebrates the Year of the Paniolo by becoming an official “Open & Affirming” congregation of the United Church of Christ: where every cowboy and every cowgirl is welcome—and every city dweller too! Please contact the church office if you would like to participate or have questions about the parade.

SALVATION ARMY LUNCH  The next time our church is scheduled to serve lunch at the Salvation Army in Hanapepe is Wednesday, July 31. Volunteers who carpool usually meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. Please check in with Suzanne Pearson if you can assist.

COCONUT WIRELESS  Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ).

LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)  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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85 & 138; Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:6-19; Luke 11:1-13.

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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!

A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

Blessed by Strangers

On Sunday, I talked about James and Melicent Smith, who arrived in Koloa in 1842. They had sailed from Boston to Honolulu. The journey took 142 days. For over 4 1/2 months, they lived on a small boat and slept in a tiny cabin. They had married in April of that year. After a couple of weeks in Honolulu, they boarded another boat and sailed for Koloa, where they would spend the rest of their lives. James was to be the only Western-trained medical doctor on Kauai and Niihau. He also had church duties and 12 years after his arrival was the first minister to be ordained on Kauai; his church assignment consisted of 3 regions: Koloa (the largest), Lihue and Wailua. Besides visiting these 3 places on horseback for years—almost weekly—he also frequently visited Waimea and Hanalei. Melicent taught school and took care of their 9 children—7 of whom lived to be adults. Fortunately, they were welcomed with open arms. This doesn’t mean that the relationship between their family and the Hawaiian people was always easy and without friction. Far from it! However, when the Hawaiians first showed their usual hospitality to the Smiths, little did the locals know how much they would be blessed by these strangers from a faraway place. When the infamous smallpox epidemic of 1853 spread like wildfire throughout the entire island chain, thousands of people died on the other islands. Thanks to Dr. Smith’s commitment to vaccinate everyone on Kauai and Niihau and quarantine the early victims of smallpox, there was only one death here. He made it his personal mission to keep as many Hawaiians alive here as possible—and to keep them healthy as well. There were also thousands of Hawaiians who became Christians and church members during his life of service here.

In our Old Testament reading (Genesis 18), we came across another couple who journeyed many, many miles in order to arrive at their new home. Abraham and Sarah went on at least four long journeys during their marriage. They knew what it was like to travel for days on end. They knew what it was like to be immigrants in need of a new home. They knew what it was like to be tired, hungry, thirsty and sore. Because they had personally experienced these things, they welcomed other travelers with open arms. When three strangers arrived at Abraham and Sarah’s tent at the oaks of Mamre one day, Abraham and Sarah went overboard in showing them hospitality and kindness. They knew that God had blessed them in order that they might be a blessing to others. And in return for the blessing of hospitality, the three visitors blessed Abraham and Sarah with a son in their old age. Whether people literally show up at our doors, on our island or on our nation’s borders, I trust that we will have the same attitude as Abraham and Sarah. I trust that we too will welcome strangers with open arms, especially those who travel great distances to be with us.

Aloha nui!

Kahu

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Click HERE to see a video of a message from a recent Sunday morning. You may 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, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.

Weekly News of the Church

Summer Book Group

Our summer book group begins on July 17. The group will meet on Wednesday evenings at the Smith Memorial Parsonage (3281 Waikomo Road) at 6 o’clock for dinner (provided by Kahu on the first night) and then for a discussion which will begin between 6:45 & 7:00. If you are able, please read the Foreword, Preface, Introduction for the first gathering. While supplies last, books are available for $14 at church on Sundays and at the church office during office hours. Please sign up at church for which evenings you plan to attend.

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GET READY FOR PLANTATION DAYS!

“Year of the Paniolo”

 

KOLOA PLANTATION DAYS RECEPTION

Monday, July 22, 4-6 p.m. at the Smith Memorial Parsonage

Koloa Union Church will once again host the community as part of Kōloa Plantation Days at a reception called “Plantation-Style Living: An Afternoon of Art, Stories & Refreshment.” Dr. Douglas Duvauchelle will provide live music! Kahu will give a talk at 4:30 on the history of the Smith-Waterhouse Family, the parsonage and neighborhood. Every year he finds something new to share!

Click HERE to see promotion of this event on the official Kōloa Plantation Days website.

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KOLOA PLANTATION DAYS PARADE

Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. (Meet at church at 8:30!)*

Koloa Union Church celebrates the Year of the Paniolo by becoming an official “Open & Affirming” congregation of the United Church of Christ: where every cowboy and every cowgirl is welcome—and every city dweller too!

We will have dancers this year! Kahu will ride in a red convertible, decorated with our “Open & Affirming” logos, waving at the crowds as we pass by. We will also have walkers who will participate right behind the car and wave rainbow flags and hand out wristbands with “Koloa Union Church” and “Open & Affirming” on them.

*Koloa and Poipu Roads along the parade route will be closed by 9 a.m. on the day of the parade, and we want to make sure everyone and everything is in place before the parade starts. Unless you are walking, you won’t be able to get to the church by 9 a.m.

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Capital Campaign News

We repaired and stained the cement walkway last week! We also have a new sanctuary floor and contemporary light fixtures on Moore Hall! During the upcoming weeks, you can expect to see new work done on Moore Hall (removal of accordion doors, new door knobs and door stops, etc.), new signage, and a new capital campaign plaque to honor all that we have accomplished over the last 4 years. Thank you to everyone who participated in the campaign Maika`i Hana Hou (Creating Goodness & Beauty Once Again!).

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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!