I am guessing that we have all been doing a lot of praying lately! There was Hurricane Douglas over the weekend, the ongoing pandemic, so many people without jobs, uncertainty about the reopening of schools, and constant reminders in the news about racism and other forms of injustice. The world certainly needs our prayers!
On Sunday, our keiki reminded us that prayer is not just “doing our religious duty,” but rather a conversation with God and an openness to God’s presence in our lives. Perhaps the most important thing I got out of Sunday’s worship service is that prayer can be a dangerous thing—it might even change you! It was a reminder that prayer can change other people but usually has the most impact on the one who is praying. What I mean by that is that I have the ability to change my attitudes, language, behavior, patterns, and so much more; and, especially with prayer, those things can change rather quickly and dramatically. If I want to change the world, I can best do so by changing the things in my own life that can help make the world a better place.
I invite you to pray in such a way that you might be changed—that God’s love and wisdom might transform your life, your relationships and how you relate to all of God’s creation. As you do so, know that I am praying for you as well, and trust that you continue praying for me and the church.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana”is provided most weeks by Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
To see a video of this week’s worship service, including the message, click HERE. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see previous worship services and many of Kahu’s past messages. You can 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.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings! To see our Sunday morning schedule, click HERE.
Kahu Akana is also an accomplished artist! He specializes in creating vibrant watercolors of the flowers of Hawaii and hosts a Sunday afternoon reception in a gallery at his home, the Smith Memorial Parsonage. He also meets visitors by appointment. Most of the profit from the sales go for the maintenance and upkeep of the parsonage. To see a video about his art and gallery, click HERE. To see the gallery website, click HERE.
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
“Strengthen the Church”
Special Mission Offering
This Sunday we collect the “Strengthen the Church” special mission offering. This offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of local United Church of Christ congregations throughout the U.S. as it helps create a just world for all by investing in new ministries. Your gifts will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.
Please use the special envelope in your bulletin on Sunday. Checks should be made out to “Koloa Union Church” with “Strengthen the Church” or “STC” on the memo line.
Thank you for your generous gifts!
LECTIONARY READINGS
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways.
—Kahu Alan Akana
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 reading each Sunday.
Readings for July 26 are Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-46; Psalm 128; 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-52.
Readings for August 2 are Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-15; Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21.
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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!
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
July Food Distribution Partnering with St. Raphael Church
KUC volunteers spent part of Thursday morning last week at St. Raphael Catholic Church filling over a hundred bags of groceries for hungry families. On Friday morning we were mentioned in The Garden Island Newspaper!
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways.
—Kahu Alan Akana
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 reading each Sunday.
Readings for July 19 are Genesis 28:10-20; Psalm 139:1-24; Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-43.
Readings for July 26 are Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-46; Psalm 128; 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-52.
“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
(Matthew 19:16)
On Sunday, Alan Potter delivered an inspirational message titled, “The Power of Privilege,” based upon the story in the Gospel of Matthew where a rich young man approaches Jesus and asks, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Alan showed us how this story is about privilege and the importance of recognizing it and “pouring it out” in order to usher in God’s reign on earth. I don’t want to say too much about Alan’s message, in case you are about to watch it online, but I will tell you that I have heard sermons on this passage probably dozens of times and Alan’s message offered the best explanation of the text that I can ever remember. So please watch it if you missed church on Sunday!
We have been hearing and reading a lot in the news lately about privilege and, in particular, “White privilege.” A friend of mine who has done a lot of reading and educating about privilege uses the phrase “dominant culture privilege,” for there are people in every culture who benefit from certain privileges who never stop to acknowledge any of them. In fact, they are so used to their privileges and take them for granted to the point that they don’t even see that they exist. However, the people without those privileges see them every day of their lives. That’s why I believe that if people with privileges want to actually see their privileges and understand how they benefit from them, they ought to ask people without those privileges to point them out. The problem is (as I have just mentioned), we have a hard time seeing our privileges at all and so we don’t even know who to ask!
What I have observed as the most effective catalysts for recognizing privileges is that people without privilege speak up, shout out, chant, write, and create art about the privileges they see. (By art, I mean all art: poetry, music, painting, acting, writing, producing film, and so much more.) That’s the only way people with privilege will ever see it. I don’t have to tell you that this is happening today. In fact, I see and hear and feel it every single day in the news, on social media, and in local and national conversations, as artists and activists alike are pointing to the privileges they don’t have and others do. Perhaps the most important things for those with privilege to do is to pay attention and ask God for an open heart and mind with humility in order that we might see what others see. Along these lines, Alan said these words at the close of his message: “I challenge you, as you go through your week, to ask God to show you what ways you hold privilege and in what ways can you give it away.” I hope we all will do just that.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana”is provided most weeks by Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
To see a video of this week’s message, click HERE. 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.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings! To see our Sunday morning schedule, click HERE.
Kahu Akana is also an accomplished artist! He specializes in creating vibrant watercolors of the flowers of Hawaii and hosts a Sunday afternoon reception in a gallery at his home, the Smith Memorial Parsonage. He also meets visitors by appointment. Most of the profit from the sales go for the maintenance and upkeep of the parsonage. To see a video about his art and gallery, click HERE. To see the gallery website, click HERE.
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
Help us fill grocery bags with food for hungry families.
St. Raphael Church FOOD PANTRY Thursday, July 16
Koloa Union Church continues to partner with St. Raphael Catholic Church in distributing food to hungry families on the south shore. If you are available on July 16, to help pack food between 9-11 a.m., please contact the church office. You must wear a face mask in order to volunteer. Let us know if you need a mask. And remember, all non-perishable food is greatly appreciated!
SHARE ALOHA in July and August Child and Family Service
Every month of two, Koloa Union Church picks a local not-for-profit organization to to support as part of our mission and outreach to the wider community.
The mission of CFS is to strengthen families and foster healthy development of children. They have several programs designed to help everyone from keiki to kupuna, including 2 family centers on Kauai: Nana’s House in Waimea and Hale Ho`omalu in Kapa`a. These family centers help communities serve at risk individuals and families, who may be experiencing trauma, abuse, and neglect. Family Centers are a walk-in location where families can access a food pantry and clothing closet, information and referral services, financial literacy education, and employment preparation, as well as parenting education and relationship counseling. See their website to learn more: childandfamilyservice.org.
Help us Share Aloha in July and August by picking up 1 or 2 of the following items while you are out doing your own grocery shopping, or search your house for some unused items you are willing to donate:
Hand sanitizer
Clorox wipes
Face masks
Hand soap
Bleach
Detergent
Paper towels
Lysol
Non-latex gloves
You can drop items off at the church in the tote bin labeled “Community Outreach,” which is located near the front door of the sanctuary. You can also arrange a home pick-up by contacting the church office. We will be collecting donations until August 31st.
Reading Through the Bible With the Revised Common Lectionary
LECTIONARY READINGS During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways. —Kahu Alan Akana
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 reading each Sunday.
Readings for July 12 are Genesis 25:19-34; Psalm 119:105-112; Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:1-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-23.
Readings for July 19 are Genesis 28:10-20; Psalm 139:1-24; Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-43.
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