A Message From Kahu: November 8th, 2023

Koloa Union Church Vision Update

A Message From Our Kahu

“A Time To Give Thanks”

November is a time to give thanks, so let me begin by saying “Thank you” to the congregation! I am deeply grateful for the generosity and faithfulness of our church members and friends. We have had such an amazing year: celebrating our 100th anniversary; a huge turnout for the Koloa Plantation Days Parade (I believe our largest number of participants ever); generous giving to the general fund, as well as many other areas, including the Maui wildfire relief fund; support of our youth director and youth ministry. I am also so thankful to our Deacons, who have done an outstanding job moving into our “new normal” when it comes to our post-pandemic worship services. I am grateful for our Church Council, and especially Dan Giovanni (our Buildings & Grounds Chair) and Becky Sakimae (our Treasurer) for their management of our finances during a challenging year when the parsonage needed roof repairs (twice!), structural reinforcements, and replacement of damaged wood due to insects and moisture, and the church building had unexpected maintenance needs as well! Most importantly, I am grateful that we continue to to encourage those who are feeling sad, feeding those who are hungry, praying for all who need our prayers, and providing inspiration to all.

 

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, I hope that you too will feel a deep sense of appreciation for our church, for we truly make a difference in our community and in the world. I invite you to take some time this month to express your gratitude. Spend some extra time in prayer to thank God for your blessings. Write a thank you note to someone you really appreciate. Try to say “thank you” more often. And, as much as you can, live a life of gratitude!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

Church News: November 8th, 2023

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!

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet. 

If you signed up to bring food items, please bring them to the church by November 19.

Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact the church office.

The deadline for donations for this year’s stockings is December 3.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online.

Youth Group

We have a vibrant and active youth group for middle and high school students, which meets at least monthly on a Sunday and usually includes a time of learning, prayer, checking in with one another, fellowship, lots of fun and a delicious meal!

Upcoming Dates:

November 12 – Thanksgiving Potluck

December 10 – Christmas Party

These gatherings will be at the Smith Memorial Parsonage from 4:45-7:00 p.m.

Please let Tiffany know regarding attendance or if you can help with a meal.

Church Breakfast

kiawe roots church breakfast

Tuesday, November 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! We suggest you phone the restaurant and place your order ahead of time, tell them you are with the Koloa Union Church group.

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office. (No church breakfast in December)

The Sundays of Advent

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December 3 – 24

Join Us for Worship When We Light The Advent Candles And Anticipate the Coming of Christ.

Prayers & Squares

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Prayers and Squares Tuesday, December 5th 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.”

The Prayers and Squares Ministry has been busy stitching and praying. 

Last month, 2 prayer quilts were completed for our sister church, Waiola UCC, in Lahaina. On Sunday 9/10/23, Kahu Alan blessed and tied the first prayer into the quilts. Kahu Anela, of the Waiola UCC was delighted to receive the quilts and the many prayers and love tied into the quilts.

At the October P&S meeting, we wondered how the children of the Waiola Church are coping with the tragedy of the Lahaina fires. P&S decided to make 20 prayer squares and attach a small stuffed animal to each square. This is like our Pule Ho Aloha ministry offered at KUC.

On Sunday, 11/12/23, the Prayer Squares will be blessed and prayers tied into each square. All who are present can tie a prayer into a square for the children. A box will be prepared and sent to Kahu Anela so she can share them with the children of the Waiola Ohana.

Prayers and Squares continues the creation of a “Christmas Quilt”. This quilt will be blessed and tied by the first week of December. Once again, our Christmas quilt will be ‘pick-a-number’ fund raiser for Hands On Global. 

Prayers & Squares thanks you for your continued support of this ministry. 

If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of Prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

Mahalo nui loa!

Lectio Divina

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Lectio Divina

Wednesday, December 6

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Smith Memorial Parsonage

Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired).

RSVP by Sunday, December 3!

Church Christmas Party

Friday, December 15th, 6 p.m.

The Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Road in Koloa

Bring a favorite holiday dish for the potluck dinner. See sign up sheet on bulletin board.

Fun with friends, Christmas caroling!

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 November 12: Joshua 24:1-25; Psalm 78:1-7; Amos 5:18-24; Psalm 70; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

Readings for November 19: Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123: Zephaniah 1:7-18; Psalm 90:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

Readings for Thanksgiving Day: Deuteronomy 8:7-18; Psalm 65; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Luke 17:11-19

Readings for November 26: Ezekial 34:11-24; Psalm 100; Psalm 95:1-8; Ephesian 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46

Readings for December 3: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark

13:24-37

Centenial Celebration

Koloa Union Church celebrated our Centennial again… on the actual centennial date! Everyone enjoyed a delicious bento lunch with dessert and cold drinks. We also showed our Centennial slide show!

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Alan Akana Gallery

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