Church News: November 6th, 2024

by | Nov 6, 2024 | News

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Koloa Union Pastor Kahu Alan Akana

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!

Church Office Closed 

The Church Office will be closed on the following dates: 

November 11th Veterans Day

November 28th Thanksgiving Day

Stewardship Committee

Support Maui Koloa Union Church

Thank you to everyone who has given generously to our general fund this year! We have paid our mission commitments, salaries, insurance, utility and maintenance bills, costs for our website, newsletter, some large unexpected expenses and so much more! Most importantly, we have provided a welcoming space and inspirational worship services for everyone who has visited us, and we have carried out our mission and service to the community! Thank you also to everyone who submitted a commitment card for 2025, as that is such a huge help for us as we begin the process of creating next year’s budget during the next couple of weeks.

As the year winds down, here are 3 requests for you to consider:

  1. Please fulfill your annual commitment/pledge by the end of December or earlier if possible.
  2. Please consider an extra “over and above” Christmas gift to the church to assure that we end the year in the black.
  3. Please send us your commitment card for 2025 by November 10 if you haven’t already done so.
  4. Please consider leaving a portion of your estate (a dollar amount or a percentage) to Kōloa Union Church when you update your will or trust. You can designate your gift to a favorite area of ministry or give an undesignated gift for the Church Council to decide as important needs and ministries arise.
Support Maui Koloa Union Church

Stop The Bleed CATs for Ukraine

Stop Covid Sign

Holiday Community Outreach

Stop Covid Sign

Holiday Community Outreach

Holiday Donations

Please bring your spare change, cash or checks to feed the Outreach Jar that supports our holiday community outreach.

Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes

We will again feed hungry families on the south shore. You can sign up to bring specific food items to pack in our Thanksgiving boxes or make a cash/check donation. All food items will need to be delivered to the church by Wednesday, November 20th. Sign up at church by November 17: that’s just one week from this Sunday!

Christmas Stockings. We will deliver Christmas stockings filled with gift cards and goodies to families who are struggling financially. Funds for the Christmas Stockings will be collected through December 15th.

Thanks to Becky Sakimae, Amber Strong and our church youth who will shop, pack and deliver the items!

Kitchen Update

Stop Covid Sign

Kitchen Update

A Modern, Stainless Steel, Fully-Equipped Kitchen

With Serving Windows Into Moore Hall and the Patio!

Progress Continues!

The new walls are up—adding extra floorspace! Plumbing and electrical wiring to the kitchen are complete! The concrete floor has been poured! In the coming weeks, the workers will complete the finishing work, install the new windows, cabinets, fans and lights, counters and appliances! We should be able to use the kitchen in about a month!

Due to construction material and kitchen appliances, we will be keeping Moore Hall closed until it is safe to enter. As an active construction zone, please be extra cautious when walking on the property, as there are a handful of tripping hazards and some broken glass on the south side of Moore Hall. Please keep an extra eye on the keiki!

Any additional funds that we raise for this project will be used to stock the kitchen once it is completed. You may also donate specific items that we identify as necessary to have a fully functional kitchen.

THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to the kitchen fund!

Mahalo nui loa!

Stop Covid Sign

Sanctuary Windo Repair

Stop Covid Sign

Alan Akana Gallery

Youth Gathering Event Koloa Union Church

We Are Open for Business!

2nd Sundays & By Appointment Drop by and visit!

See what’s new! See what’s coming! After closing temporarily in December, 2023, as Kahu prepared for and enjoyed his sabbatical in Europe, the gallery is now open most days by appointment and will be open on the 2nd Sunday of the month from 2 to 5 p.m. beginning in August.

Re-Opening Reception Sunday, August 11 2 – 5 p.m.

“Overwhelmed with Wonder” Sabbatical Reflections Alan Akana Gallery will host a reception when Kahu will share about his sabbatical at 3 p.m. He will also play a slide show and sign photo books, Overwhelmed with Wonder, from his sabbatical. The slide show and book contain some of his favorite photos from his trip, and the book contains personal reflections about “wonder.”

Alan Akana Gallery Is Located In The Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Road Koloa, HI 96756 Appointments may be made: By phone: 808-855-8806 By email: [email protected] Funds from sales at the gallery support the care and maintenance of the Smith Memorial Parsonage.

Visit Gallery

Youth News

Youth Group Events Koloa Kauai Church
Youth Group Events Koloa Kauai Church
Youth Group Events Koloa Kauai Church
Youth Group Events Koloa Kauai Church

Alan Akana Gallery

Youth Gathering Event Koloa Union Church

We Are Open for Business!

HOLIDAY HOURS

Black Friday & Saturday Sale
Friday, November 29
Saturday, November 30
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Refreshments and free gifts for all visitors!

Extensive price reductions on many items!

Sunday Open Houses
December 1, 8 & 15
Noon to 6 p.m.

As always, also open by appointment

Alan Akana Gallery Is Located In The Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Road Koloa, HI 96756 Appointments may be made: By phone: 808-855-8806 By email: [email protected] Funds from sales at the gallery support the care and maintenance of the Smith Memorial Parsonage.

Visit Gallery

Prayers & Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Lectio Divina

LECTIONARY READINGS

Lectionary Readings

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 10: Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17; Psalm 127; 1 Kings 17:8-16; Psalm 146; Hebrew 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-22

Readings for November 17: 1 Samuel 1:4-20; 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16; Hebrew 10:11-25; Mark 13:1-8

Readings for November 24: 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 132:1-18; Daniel 7:9-14; Psalm 93; Revelations 1:4-8; John 18:22-27

Readings for December 1: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Thank You For Serving

LECTIONARY READINGS
LECTIONARY READINGS
LECTIONARY READINGS
LECTIONARY READINGS

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last News Letter

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LECTIONARY READINGS
LECTIONARY READINGS
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LECTIONARY READINGS

A Message From Kahu: November 6th, 2024

by | Nov 6, 2024 | Message from Kahu

Pastor Alan on sebatical

A Message From Our Kahu

“Our Vision”

Thank you to everyone who participated in creating the draft of our Vision! Most of our leaders attended an all-day retreat in September. A couple dozen people (including some of our teenagers) wrote a phrase on our Vision Board (above). Four volunteers spoke in church in October about their dreams for the church. A handful of people have spoken directly to me. It all began with the question: “What do you believe God is leading us to be and do during the next 3 years?” Out of that question came the draft vision that is printed below.

As promised, we are including it in this Newsletter. Since this document will guide our ministry, our decisions, our budgets through 2027, please take a careful look and offer any feedback you may have during the next few weeks. You can do this by talking directly to me or anyone on the Church Council. In December, the Church Council will take another look at the draft and then present it to the Congregation at our Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 26. In January and February, we will create and expand teams / committees in order to fulfill each part of our vision; so start thinking about an area where you would like to devote some time.

Remember: this is our vision, your voice matters, and your involvement is important!

Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

 

Vision Statement

2025-2027

(DRAFT)

Kōloa Union Church is known throughout the island for our

mission and vision, especially our aloha for people of all backgrounds

and our commitment to stand alongside those on the margins of society,

cooperating with other churches and not-for-profit organizations on the island.

A social media task force has put together a plan to assure that these things

are clearly visible before the congregation and throughout the community.

A social media expert keeps our vision and activities in the spotlight.

Our sanctuary is filled on Sundays,

overflowing into Moore Hall and the patio.

We have a thriving music and performing arts ministry.

Vocalists, instrumentalists and ensembles of all ages perform

traditional, contemporary and Hawaiian music in worship services.

Dancers and other performing artists regularly participate as well.

We also have programs throughout the year where we

invite people on the island to enjoy the talent of

our congregation and our friends.

We have a clear plan in place to build an attractive,

useful, safe and accessible space to the west of the kitchen.

A large covering with lighting and fans allows people to comfortably

eat, play, socialize, and hear what’s happening in the sanctuary.

The area is beautifully landscaped with a nice “outdoor” feel.

There is storage for tables, chairs, and other items.

There is a nice area where children safely play.

We have a thriving educational ministry for all ages.

Our Christian Education Director and committee assure that we

are meeting the educational and spiritual needs of our congregation,

and inviting members of the community to enjoy this ministry.

There is a notable increase in the number of children and

teenagers participating in opportunities for spiritual

and educational growth in a positive and

healthy social environment.

Our stewardship of time, talent and treasures has increased

so that our members and friends volunteer in such meaningful ways that

we have greatly expanded our ministries and fully support them financially.

We do not need draw from our reserve funds to cover our budgeted expenses. 

We have a plan in place to build one or more additional dwelling units on

the property located to the east of the Smith Memorial Parsonage—

in order to provide income for the church and assist

with the housing shortage on the island.