Church News: October 8th, 2025
Church Office Closed
The church office will be closed on… Monday, October 13 in observance of Indigenous People Day
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!
Commitment Sunday
On October 26 we will dedicate our commitments for the 2026 budget during the worship service. Please bring your commitment card with you to church so that it will be included for our blessing. If you won’t be able to make it to the worship service, please drop it off at church ahead of time or mail your card to the church post office box number. The Finance Committee will draw up next year’s budget based upon our anticipated income, which will be determined primarily by the commitments we receive by early November.
Commitment cards will be sent in the mail to all those on our stewardship mailing list, and there will be extras on the 26th. Please contact the church office if you need a commitment card.
“A Theology of Generosity”
By Kahu Alan Akana
Kahu Akana wrote the lead article for the current issue of “The Friend,” known as the oldest newspaper west of the Rocky Mountains, founded in 1843 in Hawaii.
In the article, Kahu writes about his roots on Hawaii Island and what he has learned about generosity from Kilauea Volcano.
Click HERE to read the article. There’s also a photo of Kahu, Carmela and Ezra on page 4!
To learn more about what Kahu has learned from Kilauea Volcano, his book, The Volcano Is Our Home: Nine Generations of a Hawaiian Family on Kilauea Volcano is available at Alan Akana Gallery, Balboa Press, and Amazon.com.
The Friend is published five times a year by the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. You can request a copy or subscribe by contacting the Hawaii Conference Office at hcucc@hcucc.org. Available in digital and hard copy.
Coconut Wireless
For those of you who want to know more about what’s going on in the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ, as well as UCC news at the national level, you can also sign up on that same link to receive the weekly HCUCC digital newsletter called Coconut Wireless. For this week’s issue click HERE to read about a church fire on Hawaii Island, the passing of a beloved Kahu, Pastor Appreciation Month, and much, much more.
Member Spotlight
Steve and Yvonne
Yvonne Stoner was born and raised in Valparaiso, located in the northwest corner of the state of Indiana, where she attended Sunday school and worship services at a local Lutheran church. Yvonne still has family in the area: a sister and brother-in-law and their 2 children, as well as a brother and his two children.
After graduating from Valparaiso High School, Yvonne continued her education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, where she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After college, Yvonne worked as a medical technologist in the hospital laboratory and the hospital blood bank at Ball Memorial Hospital. After marrying Steve, the two of them were involved with the local PeeWee Football league. Steve served as president of the league for a time, and they both helped to provide support for local youth.
After obtaining a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) and relocating to St. Paul, Minnesota, Yvonne worked for 3M Company. There she had a variety of positions in both product development and quality assurance. While living in Minnesota, she attended the United Church of Christ in New Brighton. Shortly after they joined the church, the pastor was Rev. Beth Donaldson, who had been the former Kahu at the Kapaa United Church of Christ.
When Yvonne and Steve moved to Kauai in July 2015, they attended several UCC churches before driving down to the south side. Yvonne says, “The warm welcome and friendliness has continued to bring us back every Sunday to Koloa Union Church. The music, dancing, messages and activities are continued reminders of why we are members of KUC.” Yvonne’s faith is especially important to her because it helps to keep her grounded in values and principals that are inspiring. Yvonne currently serves as the Recording Secretary for the Church Council. She and Steve also enjoy participating in Aloha Hour meals and church breakfasts every month.
Recently, Yvonne and Steve have been singing with the Kauai Chorale and enjoy the music and friendships that they have made. Living on beautiful Kauai, enjoying time with Steve, friends, family and church family helps keep Yvonne grounded in life. During their free time, Yvonne and Steve enjoy attending local hula, musical and theater events. They also enjoy reading, exercising, spending time with neighbors and watching movies. Yvonne also enjoys playing New York Times puzzles every day: Wordle, Connections, and Mini-Crossword.
Lectionary Readings
Wednesday, November 12th 7-8:30 pm
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). Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.
Art Gallary
Youth Gathering
For Middle School & High School Youth
Sundays at the Church 4:45-7:00 p.m. October 12 & 26
RSVP: Youth are asked to RSVP to Aunty Tiffany for all youth events!
Volunteers: See sign-up sheet if you can provide a meal for the youth or if you are interested in helping out in another way.
Kupuna Connections
October 15 and 29 10 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Brought to you by the Agency on Elderly Affairs Please join us for another enlightening session on staying healthy and safe on your digital devices. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Bring your devices and questions.
Church Breakfast
Tuesday, October 28th 8-9:30 a.m.
Breakfast in The Shops at Kukui`ula! Living Foods 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St. Suite 124
Join us on the 4th Tuesday of the 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
Salvation Army Lunch
Wednesday, October 29
Looking for volunteers 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.
November Aloha Hour
Sunday, November 2nd
A Special Meal in Memory Of Miyeko Yamane
Sunday, November 2 Following the Worship Service We will enjoy a special catered lunch as we honor the life and gifts of Miyeko Yamane, Naomi Giovanni’s mother, who was married to Rev. Susumu Yamane, our former pastor, and was very active in the life of the church, including Aloha Hour back in the 1960’s!
The Church Council decided to honor Miyeko Yamane by naming the new church kitchen in her memory. A memorial plaque with her name will be affixed at the main door of the kitchen. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!
Prayers and Squares
Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, November 4th, 2025 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. once a month on a Tuesday, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.
Craft Night
November 5th & December 3rd 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Join us for fun craft nights as we prepare for the holidays
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 October 12: Jeremiah 29:1-7; Psalm 66:1-12; 2 Kings 5:1-16; Psalm 111; 2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19
Readings for October 19: Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104; Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8
Readings for October 26: Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; Jeremiah 14:7-10; Psalm 84:1-7; 2 Timothy 4:6-18; Luke 18:9-14
Readings for November 2: Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; Psalm 119:137-144; Isaiah 1:10-18; Psalm 32:1-7; Luke 19:1-10
Help us with the newsletter!
The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.
Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!
Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!
Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!
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