News of the Church

by | Apr 1, 2021 | News

MAUNDY THURSDAY
Thursday, April 1, 2021

—Special Music—

—Scripture Readings—

—Holy Communion—

Bring your own bread…
Bring your own cup with wine or juice…
And participate in the service in front of your computer.


The service has been pre-recorded
and will be available on YouTube
on Thursday morning.

Click the link below ON THURSDAY
to participate in this special online communion service:
Click HERE on Maundy Thursday

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP ON EASTER

Sunday, April 4

10:30 a.m.

On Sunday, Kahu Akana will share with us about the remarkable experience of Mary Magdalene on Easter morning and the deep love for Jesus that she experienced.

We normally have plenty of room for attendees to sit in a safe distance from others in the sanctuary, on the patio, and in Moore Hall where folks can watch the worship service on a large screen. However, please come early on Easter if you want a decent seat!

Please put your face mask on as soon as you arrive on church property and be sure to familiarize yourself with all of our pandemic guidelines (listed on our homepage).

NOTE: In commemoration of Easter, the church office will be closed on Monday, April 5.

Easter Sunday Is

Aloha Wear Day

Just for fun and in keeping with the spirit of the islands, the Church Council has designated the first Sunday of each month Aloha Wear Day. Of course, it is totally optional, but everyone who wants to especially participate in the spirit of aloha is invited to wear your colorful aloha shirt, muumuu or other clothing to church.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

“Let Love Flow”

Easter Sunday, April 4

One Great Hour of Sharing special mission offering will be collected on April 4 (or on line anytime!) to support this timeless mission of the United Church of Christ. We have all been asked to support so many worthy causes this past year, and thanks to you so much has been addressed! As we know, there are still needs—whether it be the impact from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the recent floods across the islands and so much more. “Let Love Flow” as the theme for OGHS clearly describes how we impact so many needs with our support for this mission that does indeed come from our hearts.

The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be collected in church on Easter Sunday, April 4. As always, OGHS envelopes will be provided in bulletins. You may also give online by clicking the link below or send a check to the church P.O. Box at any time. (Be sure to write “One Great Hour of Sharing ” or “OGHS” in the Comment box online or in note section of the check.)

The 2021 OGHS theme is “Let Love Flow” or as I imagine Kahu saying, “Let love flow through generous giving.”

Thank you for your generosity!

Bill Dressel
Stewardship Chair
Donate now to One Great Hour of Sharing

LECTIONARY READINGS

Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 March 28 are Psalm 118:1-29; Mark 11:1-11; John 12:12-16.

Readings for April 4 are Acts 10:34-43; Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 118:1-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18; Mark 16:1-8.

“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 news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!

A Message from Our Kahu

by | Apr 1, 2021 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized

“The Sign of the Palms”

“So they took branches of palm trees
and went out to meet him, shouting,
“Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!”

John 12:13
On Sunday, we celebrated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey as the crowd laid palm fronds on the street before him. The palms were a sign of honor. After we heard the Palm Sunday story from the Gospel of John, I shared with the congregation some thoughts about the importance of honor, especially in times of stress, grief, and even death. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he was well aware that he would be arrested and crucified on that trip. And what does he do to prepare himself and those he loves? He throws two dinner parties and participates in a parade in which he is the Grand Marshall!

Jesus knew the importance of mutual honor: of letting himself and his purpose be honored and also to honor those around him. At the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, Jesus attended a dinner in his honor. Mary poured expensive perfume on his feet and lovingly wiped it with her hair. Then Jesus entered Jerusalem as people brought palm fronds and shouted “Hosanna” in his honor. Next Jesus shared a meal with his disciples in which he honored them by acknowledging their experiences and emotions, assuring them of his love and presence (even after his death), and praying with them and for them (that they would be one in community just as Jesus was one with God).

Jesus’ commitment to mutual honor reminds me that we need more of this in our world: honoring those who are different by acknowledging their experiences and emotions, assuring them of our love and being fully present, and praying with and for them. I invite you to consider those in your circle, community and world who are hungry for that kind of honor; then allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to participate in mutual honor as Jesus did in the last days of his life.

Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana

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“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.