New Covid Guidelines

On Sunday, March 19, the Church Council voted on the following new guidelines:

1. We will no longer require social distancing and will allow people to sit where they wish during worship services: in the sanctuary, on the patio, in Moore Hall. We suggest that people place a purse, bag, book or item of clothing on the chairs next to them if they wish to have some space between them and those not in their social bubble.
2. Masks will no longer be required indoors. We suggest that people wear masks if they are concerned about their health. We also suggest that people wear masks if they have been traveling off-island or had close contact with those who have been traveling or who have been sick.
3. We will continue to not allow wind instruments (including the Pū), or have congregational singing, or unison/responsive readings indoors during worship services. Wind instruments can be played if they have the appropriate coverings to keep germs from being spread. Wind instruments, group singing and unison/responsive readings project everyone’s germs into the air, and we wish to continue keeping the spreading of germs to a minimum.
4. We will continue the use of the small communion packets. So far, this seems to be the safest way to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
5. We will continue the policy of not passing an offering plate during worship services. The fewer things everyone touches, the better.
6. We will allow up to any three singers to perform together and allow musicians to perform anywhere in the front of the sanctuary or in the area by the piano.
7. We will comply with guidelines of other organizations for activities off-campus (Grove Farm, NTBG, bowling, miniature golf, etc.).
8. We will allow for all-church meals as long as we continue to provide and encourage use of hand sanitizers and masks at tables where food and drinks are served. Since we are about to demolish and renovate the kitchen, Aloha Hour is still on hold until the kitchen project is completed.

The Church Council Sends Out “Mahalo” to CAPS (The Committee for the Assurance of Pandemic Safety): Michael Horning, Penny Jessup, Penny Osuga and Kahu Akana. They have been meeting regularly for 3 years and have made regular recommendations to the Church Council throughout the pandemic.

The Church Council Sends Out “Mahalo” to all of the Deacons who have served since the pandemic began. They have been meeting weekly for 3 years in order to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible, and to do their best to communicate with members and friends.

Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe and healthy in 2023!

Welcome Our Newest Member

Prince Kuhio Day Church Closed

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, March 28 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Kiawe Roots 2-3687 Kaumualii Highway in Lawai (Next door to 7-Eleven)

Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! Location each month to be determined.

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

Waineke Cabins

Kauai Association United Church of Christ “Waineke Cabins”

Tuesday, March 28 5:30 p.m.

The March meeting of the Kauai Association will focus on our beloved Waineke cabins in Kokee, along with updates on the new septic system, future availability, and assistance that is needed to keep the cabins in great overall shape.

This meeting will take place on Zoom. Contact the Koloa Union Church office if you would like to join the meeting.

Salvation Army Lunch

Wednesday, March 29th

Looking for servers to serve a meal to hungry people on the west side! You can carpool from the church or meet at the Hanapepe Salvation Army at 10:00 a.m.

Please let Belinda Bartels or Becky Sakimae know if you would like to volunteer to serve lunch.

Squares & Prayers

Tuesday, April 4 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers and Squares is a ministry promoting prayer by creating beautiful hand-tied quilts and offering them to people in crisis or those whom we wish to offer a special aloha. A prayer is said with each knot that is tied in the quilt. When recipients put the quilts it over themselves, they are covering themselves with our prayers. Our motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.”

To request a quilt for church members or friends in crisis, call Debbie Gunning at 808-652-7899.

Prayers & Squares is expanding its ministry and could use your help! We are creating Prayer Quilts to be distributed at Wilcox Hospital. We have packets available to take home and sew squares together. If you can help or have questions, call Sheila Harman at 717-514-9020.

No experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. There are jobs for everyone to help in the making of the quilts…and everyone is invited to pray! Mahalo nui loa!

Palm Sunday

April 2, 10:30 a.m.

Celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus entering Jerusalem! Our Sunday school and youth will start the service off with the procession of the palms during the prelude.

Children and youth please arrive by 10 a.m.

Those who arrive late will be asked to wait outside the main doors of the sanctuary until the Procession of the Palms finishes.

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m.

Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday and three days before Easter when Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. “Maundy” comes from the Old French word “mande” and the Latin “mandatum,” which means “mandate,” “command” or “commandment.” At the meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a demonstration of loving service and then said to them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Join us in the sanctuary as we commemorate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and reflect on his command to be loving servants to one another. This will be a time of Scripture reading, reflection, prayer, music, and the Lord’s Supper.

Good Friday Activity

Good Friday Activity April 7, 11. a.m. in Moore Hall

Most of the eggs will be used in the Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday! You can probably take some eggs home with you… Or leave some to share with worshipers on Easter Sunday! Decorated rocks will be used for the Centennial Celebration on July 30!

RSVP by signing up on the signup sheet at church or by TEXTING Tiffany Marrotte by April 2: 808-651-1397

Easter Service April 9th

WORSHIP SERVICE Celebrating the Resurrection of Christ!

Please remember that this is one of our Sunday morning services with high attendance. Those who are able and willing are invited to park on Poipu and Waikomo Roads, at the parsonage, or on the lawn just east of the parsonage. Please arrive a bit early for a good seat.

CHILDREN’S EASTER EGG HUNT

After Church at the Smith Memorial Parsonage Bring your Easter basket or container! Middle schoolers and high schoolers will hide the eggs during Sunday school. Meet in the Sunday school room for instructions. Keiki will walk with parents from the church to the parsonage after Sunday school where they will hunt for eggs! Please wait on the parsonage walkway or lanai for instructions!

CHURCH POTLUCK PICNIC

After Church at the Smith Memorial Parsonage All ages are invited to the parsonage as we gather for our traditional Easter picnic! We will begin the meal after the egg hunt. Please let us know what you plan to bring on the signup sheet on the church bulletin board.

Our Great Hour of Sharing

Supporting Disaster Relief, Refugees & Development

“It’s Time to Share”

One Great Hour of Sharing is one of four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ.

This year’s theme “It’s Time to Share” is very relevant:

OGHS supports earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, Ukrainian refugees who have fled for safety, and victims of weather-related disasters in the U.S. and throughout the world. The OGHS offering will be collected on Easter Sunday. Offering envelopes will be provided.

Please indicate “OGHS” in the note section of your check or in the “Comments” box on our website donation page.

Thank you for considering a generous donation to One Great Hour of Sharing!

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina

April 12th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Join Kahu and Karen Johnson at the Smith Memorial Parsonage for a time to hear and respond to the Scriptures in a quiet, reflective and meaningful way. Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word.

Please RSVP by April 9th if you plan to attend

April Youth Gathering

Don’t forget to RSVP to Tiffany by Wednesday, April 26!

100 Years of Aloha

REQUESTS FROM THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE:

• SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE KOLOA PLANTATION DAYS PARADE on Saturday, July 29. We know that many of our keiki and adults alike have other opportunities to participate in the parade with various organizations. Since this is our Centennial year and KUC will be the Grand Marshal, please consider joining us this year. We are shooting for our largest participation in the parade this July!
• INVITE FAMILY & FRIENDS TO WALK & RIDE WITH US IN THE PARADE. We really want to make an impression this year!
• PURCHASE A CENTENNIAL T-SHIRT. Wear it in the parade if you can. If you want to wear a t-shirt in the parade and can’t afford one, please contact the church office.
• HELP US FIND AN OLD CAR. We are looking for a car that people drove in 1923. Do you know anyone who owns an antique car like that which we could use in the parade?
• PLAN ON JOINING US FOR LUNCH on Sunday, July 30. We will celebrate our Centennial with a delicious meal, live entertainment, a slideshow, photo books, and gift bags for all attendees. More information is on its way!

And don’t forget to support the Centennial:

• Purchase Centennial Christmas Tree Ornaments for $20!
• Purchase Centennial T-shirt. The cost for ONE t-shirt is $20. Additional shirts are $15.
• Contribute Directly to the Centennial Fund. Additional gifts to help cover the costs of the centennial may be directed to the “Centennial Fund”—on the note section of your check or the “Comment” section when giving online.

Alan Akana Gallery

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

Mahalo Nui Loa Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

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 19: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41.
Readings for March 26: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45.
Readings for April 2 (Palm Sunday): Psalm 118:1-29; Matthew 21:1-11.
Readings for April 6 (Maundy Thursday): Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-35.
Readings for April 7 (Good Friday): Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; Hebrews 4:14-5:9; John 18:1-19:42
Readings for April 8 (Holy Saturday): Job 14:1-14; Lamentations 3:1-24; Psalm 31:1-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66; John 19:38-42
Readings for April 9 (Easter Sunday): Acts 10:43-43; Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10
Readings for April 16: Acts 2:14-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

“What’s in a Relationship”

February Youth Group gathering at the parsonage.
Featured special guest: Dr. Ellen Carringer
Special meal by Chel Hauser

More Fun Pictures