Church News: February 14th, 2025

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Church Office Closed

The church office will be closed on the following day: February 17 in observance of Presidents’ Day

Lectio Divina

Wednesday, February 12 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). Lectio Divina will be taking a break during Lent. We hope you will attend our Soup Suppers and Lenten Reflections on Wednesdays in March and April, and then return to Lectio Divina on May 14.

Henry Opukaha`ia Offering

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Each year on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Henry Opukahaia’s death (February 17), churches in the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ are encouraged to honor the legacy of the young Hawaiian credited with inspiring the Sandwich Islands Mission which brought Christianity to Hawaii. The Henry Opukahaia Scholarship Fund supports the training of clergy for Christian mission by providing financial aid for seminary students who have in-care standing with their association and continuing education funds for active ministers.

Gifts will be received during the worship service on February 16. You may also donate by sending checks to P.O. Box 536, Koloa, HI, 96756 or visiting the donation page on our website. (Please write “Henry O” on the note section of your check or in the comment section on the donation page.

Youth Event

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Sunday School & Youth Retreat February 14 – 17 Waineke Cabins in Kokee

Youth Gathering For Middle School & High School Youth Sunday, February 23 4:45 – 7:00 p.m. Moore Hall Youth

Please RSVP to Aunty Tiffany by the previous Wednesday if you plan to attend! Adult Volunteers: Please consider providing a dish or two for a meal.

Mardi Gras Mask-Making Party

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Mardi Gras Mask-Making Party Sunday, February 23 After Church in Moore Hall

Join us in making Mardi Gras masks! You can purchase a white mask for $5. Paints, feathers and shiny embellishments will be provided. You may also bring decorations from home to share. Bring your own food and drinks if you plan to eat. Plan to wear your mask at our Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Pancake Supper where we will have a contest for the best mask!” RSVP on the sign-up sheet or by contacting the church office

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, February 25 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Join us for breakfast in Koloa Village at Break + Fast!

5460 Koloa Rd A201, Koloa, HI 96756 Upstairs on Koloa Road

You may place your order ahead of time. Identify yourself as part of the Koloa Union Church group 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. RSVP on the sign-up sheet or by contacting the church office

Aloha Hour News

We began our Aloha Hour luncheons on February 2 with the blessing of our new kitchen, and will continue providing a meal for everyone on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we will have Aloha Hour more often. Please check in with Penny Osuga, our Aloha Hour chairperson, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board. 

Sunday, March 2, 2025 A Conversation “Perceptions of Our Church”

Dan Giovanni will lead us in a discussion, “Perceptions of Our Church,” during Aloha Hour once everyone has had a chance to get some food. Dan will help us focus on the very first sentence of our new vision statement: Kōloa Union Church is known throughout the island for our mission, vision, sense of welcome, ministry for children, youth and adults, along with a commitment to stand alongside those on the margins of society. Come on March 2 with some of these questions in mind: How do people in the community perceive us? How do those perceptions line up with our mission and vision? What parts of our mission and vision are clear and unclear to others? How might we better articulate who we are and what we stand for in the community?

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares will meet on Tuesday, March 4, in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a ministry promoting prayer using hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join them for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” The group continues creating prayer quilts to be distributed at Wilcox Hospital. If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

Shrove Tuesday

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Pancake Supper And Mask Contest!

March 4, 2025 6:00 P.M. Moore Hall Join us on the eve before Ash Wednesday for a fun pancake supper! This Shrove Tuesday tradition can be traced back to at least 1000 AD and is a time to feast due to the need to get rid of restricted foods/ingredients during the Lenten fast, such as eggs, milk, butter, flour. Don’t forget your mask! We will hold a contest and celebrate the winners who create and wear the best masks! You can pick up a mask and decoration kit after church on Sunday mornings! You can also bring a mask that you already have.

Ash Wednesday Service

LECTIONARY READINGS

Ash Wednesday Service March 5, 2025 7:00 P.M.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Each year we gather at the church for a time of hearing the Scriptures, prayer and meditation, followed by the placing of ashes on our foreheads. The ashes serve as a reminder of our mortality and our need for Christ and God’s loving presence in the midst of life and death.

Soup Suppers & Lenten Reflections

LECTIONARY READINGS

Soup Suppers & Lenten Reflections “Deeper into the Lectionary” Wednesdays at 6:00 P.m.

Beginning March 12, we will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday nights in Moore Hall for soup and then spend time reflecting and discussing the lectionary readings for the week. It will be helpful, but not necessary, to read the lectionary readings before attending. You can scroll down to see the weekly lectionary readings or find them every week in the church bulletin. Kahu Akana usually focuses on at least one of the lectionary readings in his message each Sunday, so this will be an opportunity for further discussion. Please see the sign up sheet on the bulletin board if you can attend or would like to volunteer to bring soup and bread to share.

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 February 16: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 6:17-26

Readings for February 23: Genesis 45:3-15; Psalm 37:1-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-50; Luke 6:27-38

Readings for March 2: Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-44

Readings for Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:1-17; Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10; Matthew 6:1-21

Readings for March 9: Deuteronomy 26:1-11; Psalm 91:1-16; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13

A Message From Kahu: February 14th, 2025

Pastor Alan on sebatical

A Message From Our Kahu

Growing Together in Love

At our Annual Congregational meeting on February 2, we voted on a new vision statement for our church, which will help us focus on our most important goals during the next three years. An important part of our vision is growth. There are many ways which churches grow: numbers of members, numbers of participants, opportunities for faith formation and education, ministries to the community, and more. I invite you to think about the ways YOU can help our church grow.

In over 40 years of congregational ministry and consulting communities of faith, I’ve noticed that churches are either growing or shrinking. One thing is for certain: they are constantly changing! My hope is that our changes will always be in line with God’s plans for us and for the world—where compassion, peace and justice will be part of all of our decisions.

Most importantly, may we grow together in love. May love guide our decisions. May love guide our actions. May love guide our ministry.

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

 

Pastor Alan on sebatical