Church News: February 4th, 2026

by | Feb 4, 2026 | News

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!

Movie Night for Adults

Adult Movie Night Koloa Union Church

Adults and teenagers are welcome! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Youth Bake Sale

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Donations of your baked goods AND purchasing baked goods help support our youth activities throughout the year–bowling, Koke`e retreats, `Aha Pae`aina youth events, to name a few. Enjoy delicious baked donations made by our youth and their ohana.

Mask Making Merriment

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

***NOTE: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is on FEBRUARY 17

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, February 11 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the 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 typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Let’s Go Camping!!

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne" by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Henry Opukaha`ia Offering

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, February 15th

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 15. 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.)

Please consider a generous donation.

Valentines Day Luncheon

Pancake Supper And Mask Contest

February 17, 2026 6:00 P.M. Moore Hall

Kahu and our Deacons are planning our next membership gathering for those wishing to learn more about our church. Attendees will learn about our history, our congregation, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more! There will be opportunities to ask questions about our church. There is no expectation for participants to join the church. However, those who participate will be able to join as church members in the near future.

Ash Wednesday Service

Ash wednesday service koloa union church

February 18, 2026 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.

 

February Youth Gatherings

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, February 24

Living Foods 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St. (near the west end of the Shops at Kukui`ula) 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

Lenten Series & Soup Supper

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne" by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

This year during Lent we will be “exploring our family stories” through scripture, history and faith. We will start with a soup dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion created by leaders of the Hawaii Conference through story circles, video reflections, engaging discussions and Lenten practices. Come and join us on Wednesday during Lent. Sign up on the bulletin board.

Aloha Hour

March Aloha Hour Sunday, March 1st

Following the Worship Service We usually enjoy Aloha Hour right after the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we can 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 for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, 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.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

DONATE TODAY

Membership Gathering

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Membership Gathering March 15, Noon

Kahu and our Deacons are planning our next membership gathering for those wishing to learn more about our church. Attendees will learn about our history, our congregation, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more! There will be opportunities to ask questions about our church. There is no expectation for participants to join the church. However, those who participate will be able to join as church members in the near future.

Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board.  

A Note from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone for your generosity throughout 2025!

A special thanks to those who completed commitment cards for 2026. The Church Council is currently working on our budget (based on the total from the commitment cards) which will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on February 1st!

The 2026 offering envelopes have arrived and are available at the greeting table. If you do not see a box with your name and would like one, please see Penny.

You can leave a legacy! Indicating an amount or percentage to the church in your estate can guarantee a legacy for many generations in the future!

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 8: Isaiah 58:9-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20

Readings for February 15: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

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 February 22: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Readings for March 1: Genesis 12:1-5; Psalm 121: Romans 4:1-17; John 3:1-17; Matthew 17:1-9

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!

A Message From Kahu: February 4th, 2026

by | Feb 4, 2026 | Message from Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

The 3 Pillars of Lent

The Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in just two weeks. It is the period of six weeks in which faithful followers of Jesus prepare for Easter. The story of Jesus’ resurrection is the high point of the Christian year, and yet it is easy to miss the impact of the story if we don’t prepare for it. We prepare in order to repent, and repentance simply means “to change.” It can mean a change in how we see things, a change in perspective, a change in attitude, a change in our actions or the patterns to which we are accustomed.

The three traditional ways of preparing for Easter are: prayer, fasting and generosity.

  • Prayer is simply communicating with God. It involves both speaking and listening. You might consider spending some extra time each day having a conversation with God about something that is important to you. You might pick a word, a topic or an idea that you want to focus on for six weeks. You may also want to write your conversations down in a prayer journal.
  • Fasting has to do with giving something up that you normally do on a regular basis. Some people give up eating certain kinds of food or drink, such as meat, sugar or alcohol. Some give up eating altogether, sometimes for an entire day each week. Others give up actions that are part of their daily patterns, such as watching television or scrolling through social media. Fasting can be especially helpful if you decide to spend the time you are giving something up on something else that might provide great joy or meaning to you or someone else. For example, you may want to spend the time you normally watch television by reading through one of the Gospels, of maybe even all four (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), and thereby concentrating on the life and teachings of Jesus.
  • Generosity is giving something to someone else without expecting anything in return. By offering a bit of our time, our talents, or our treasures to someone, we are reminded of the abundance of God’s generosity. Think about an individual, a family or a group who might really need something you have to offer, and then offer it without the thought of reciprocation. You may be surprised at how much more grateful you feel as you consider that this is how God gives to us every day of our lives!

May you find great joy and meaning as you build the three pillars of Lent into your lives—and may you feel fully prepared to celebrate Easter Sunday by doing so!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

 

Church News: January 16th, 2026

by | Jan 16, 2026 | News

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!

Congregational Renewal Cohort

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President of Pacific School of Religion (PSR), presented the Congregational Renewal Cohort program to members of our church on January 12.

The program is designed to support congregations in assessing and adapting their ministries to thrive in a changing world. PSR partners with religious congregations to strengthen their ministries, deepen relationships with their communities, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them. 

Congregations are asked to identify 3-5 congregants to participate in a 10-month-long, community-based learning journey on PSR Collective, a digital platform facilitated by leading theological experts from the PSR faculty. Participants should expect to commit at least 10-12 hours per month for the duration of the 10 month program. The next cohort will begin in September after an August orientation.

Please contact Kahu Akana if you are interested in the program.

For more information Click Here

Membership Gathering

March 15th 12:00pm

Kahu and our Deacons are planning our next membership gathering for those wishing to learn more about our church. Attendees will learn about our history, our congregation, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more! There will be opportunities to ask questions about our church. There is no expectation for participants to join the church. However, those who participate will be able to join as church members in the near future.

Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board. 

January Book Group

Kalaupapa Sunday

January 25th

Come and learn about the inspirational leaders who lived there… and helped others to thrive there!

Youth Gathering

Youth Gathering For Middle School & High School Youth

Sunday, January 25 4:45 – 7:00 p.m. Koloa Union church Youth: Please RSVP to Aunty Tiffany by the previous Wednesday if you plan to attend!

Adult Volunteers: Please consider volunteering your home or providing a dish or two for a meal.

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, January 27 8-9:30 a.m.

Breakfast in Koloa Village! Break + Feast 5460 Koloa Road 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 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

The Annual Meeting

The congregation will meet on Sunday, February 1, immediately after the worship service for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation. We ask all members to attend in order to have a quorum.

Some of the items on our agenda:

  • Vote for Officers of the church, Council Members, Deacons and Committee Chairs
  • Review and approve our budget for 2026
  • Receive reports from Kahu Akana and other church leaders
  • Receive our updated Church Directory
  • Hear about plans for 2026
  • A time for questions and answers

Aloha Hour We will enjoy our monthly Aloha Hour just before the annual meeting in Moore Hall. Join us for delicious food and heartfelt fellowship! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

*NOTES:

Committee chairpersons are reminded to submit your annual reports to the office today!

We are offering an electronic “annual report” and “church directory.” Please let office know if you would prefer digital copies.

February Youth Gatherings

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, 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.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

DONATE TODAY

Supporting Immigrants and Refugees

As the federal government continues to send ICE agents into cities and towns, we want our church members to be aware of our rights at church, in our homes and communities.

Although we hope that our church will not be visited by immigration agents, here are a few steps which we have taken:

  • We have signage in the church office and pastor’s office/Sunday school room indicating that they are private spaces (and therefore immigration agents are not allowed in without a judicial search warrant).
  • We ask all congregants to say, “I exercise my right to remain silent,” if immigration agents show up to church and ask ANY questions (such as, “What is your name?” “Are you a citizen?” “Are there any non-citizens/ immigrants/ undocumented people among you?” “How many people are here?”).
  • We invite everyone to begin video-recording immigration agents if they show up during a worship service or other church event. We also ask you to keep your distance from agents and give them plenty of room so that they cannot justifiably claim that you are keeping them from doing their job.

Please click any of the links below to learn more:

UCC Resource

Hawaii Conference Article

Hui Aloha PowerPoint

“I exercise my right to remain silent.”

A Note from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone for your generosity throughout 2025!

A special thanks to those who completed commitment cards for 2026. The Church Council is currently working on our budget (based on the total from the commitment cards) which will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on February 1st!

The 2026 offering envelopes have arrived and are available at the greeting table. If you do not see a box with your name and would like one, please see Penny.

You can leave a legacy! Indicating an amount or percentage to the church in your estate can guarantee a legacy for many generations in the future!

Movie Night for Adults

Adult Movie Night Koloa Union Church

Adults and teenagers are welcome! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Youth Bake Sale

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Donations of your baked goods AND purchasing baked goods help support our youth activities throughout the year–bowling, Koke`e retreats, `Aha Pae`aina youth events, to name a few. Enjoy delicious baked donations made by our youth and their ohana.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, February 11 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the 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 typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Let’s Go Camping!!

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne" by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Lenten Series & Soup Supper

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne" by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

This year during Lent we will be “exploring our family stories” through scripture, history and faith. We will start with a soup dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion created by leaders of the Hawaii Conference through story circles, video reflections, engaging discussions and Lenten practices. Come and join us on Wednesday during Lent. Sign up on the bulletin board.

Centennial Book

Now Available for $30

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup,

Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Contact the church office if you wish to purchase a copy.

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup, Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 January 18: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

Readings for January 25: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

Readings for February 1: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

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!

A Message From Kahu: January 16th, 2026

by | Jan 16, 2026 | Message from Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

Biblical Leadership

 

During my study leave earlier this month, I read through the readings in the Revised Common Lectionary* from January 11 through February 15, which is the Sunday before the Season of Lent. Since most of the Old Testament readings are from the Book of Isaiah, I spent some extra time reading through the entire book and also did some research on the culture and politics of Judah during the period of time that those words were written.

One of the things that caught my attention was how prominent the theme of leadership is in Isaiah. I paid close attention to that theme and found examples of “visions of leadership” that Isaiah had for his nation. I also was reminded how Jesus was the fulfillment of that vision as the leader of all who follow him. I decided to focus on “biblical leadership” as a theme until Lent begins.

Since Isaiah focused on national leadership, I have found some striking similarities between Judah in the 5th through 7th centuries and our nation today. I also see some of the same kinds of leadership between both of those periods. My hope is that our nation will embrace Isaiah’s vision of leadership which is peaceful, compassionate and just for all the people living in our land, including the poor, the hungry, the sick, and those living in fear. I also hope that we can honor that kind of leadership wherever we see it and at every level: local, our island state, and national.

May we challenge and improve poor leadership, and may we celebrate and honor the kinds of leaders who are committed to the kind of leadership which God desires.

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

*Scroll down to learn about the Revised Common Lectionary and see this week’s readings.

Church News: December 6th, 2025

by | Dec 6, 2025 | News

Church Office Closed

The church office will be closed on:

Thursday, December 25th

Thursday, January 1st

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!

The Sundays of Advent

Be sure to join us during the next three Sundays of Advent, as individuals and families light the next three candles and reflect on the themes of. . .

Peace, Joy, Love

Holiday Community Outreach

We will deliver Christmas stockings filled with gift cards and goodies to families who are struggling financially. Please bring your spare change, cash or checks to feed the Outreach Jar that supports our holiday community outreach.

Funds for the Christmas Stockings will be collected through December 14th.

Girl Scouts

Koloa Union Church is proudly hosting Girl Scout Troop #4368. The troop has about 17 members, from 1st to 5th grade. They meet in Moore Hall twice a month. Koloa Union has hosted Girl Scout troops off and on for more than 25 years and we are happy to welcome our new troop!

Immigration Education For Churches

We Gather in the Name of Jesus

On Sunday, November 23, Ellen Caringer and Cathy Evans gave a presentation to the congregation regarding plans by the current Administration in Washington, D.C., to send immigration agents to churches and places of worship during the holidays. We also know of pastors who were breaking no laws who have recently been attacked and harmed by federal agents (including one colleague of Kahu Akana whom he knows in the San Francisco Bay Area). We have also been hearing many stories of citizens and immigrants who are in our country legally being arrested, physically harmed and detained in inhumane facilities.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ has also informed church leaders throughout the state of the possibility of raids by immigration officers, the rights of churches, and the importance of being prepared. The United Church of Christ has also been publishing resources for churches during the year.

Although we hope that our church will not be visited by immigration agents, our church leadership felt it was important to make our congregation aware of the possibility and begin preparing for such incidents. Below are a few steps which we are taking:

  • We will have signage available in the church office and pastor’s office/Sunday school room indicating that they are private spaces (and therefore immigration agents are not allowed in without a judicial search warrant).
  • We ask all congregants to say, “I exercise my right to remain silent,” if immigration agents show up to church and ask ANY questions (such as, “What is your name?” “Are you a citizen?” “Are there any non-citizens/ immigrants/ undocumented people among you?” “How many people are here?”).
  • We invite everyone to begin video-recording immigration agents if they show up during a worship service or other church event. We also ask you to keep your distance from agents and give them plenty of room so that they cannot justifiably claim that you are keeping them from doing their job.

Please click any of the links below to learn more:

UCC Resource

Hawaii Conference Article

Hui Aloha PowerPoint

Stewardship Committee

A Note from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone for your generosity throughout 2025! We were able to do so much this year because of you! With your continued support throughout the month of December, we hope to end the year “in the black” with a little left over to begin the New Year with money in the bank!

A special thanks to those who completed commitment cards for 2026. The Church Council is currently working on our budget (based on the total from the commitment cards) which will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on February 1st!

You can leave a legacy! Indicating an amount or percentage to the church in your estate can guarantee a legacy for many generations in the future!

Scandinavian Stars

Our Prayers & Squares Ministry at Koloa Union Church uses strips of fabric to make these gorgeous stars. Cathy Evans helped our church develop this special ministry almost 10 years ago.

Cathy has made several humanitarian trips to Ukraine and other war torn countries with the nonprofit group, Hands On Global (HOG). In years past, our group has made and auctioned off quilts to raise funds to donate to HOG. This year we decided to make and sell these Scandinavian stars, with all proceeds being donated to HOG. Earlier this year we sold stars at Aha Paeaina in Kapaa making more than $1000 to donate to HOG. All the money raised from these stars buys tourniquets in HOG’s “Stop the Bleed” ongoing project. We will continue making and selling the stars each Sunday throughout the holiday season and beyond!

As the war continues, Koloa Union Church has not forgotten the people of Ukraine.

November Aloha Hour

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Sunday, December 7

Following the Worship Service

We usually enjoy Aloha Hour right after the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we can 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 for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering.

Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, December 10 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Location To Be Determined 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 typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu know if you plan to attend.

Art Gallary

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne" by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Alan Akana Gallery

Centennial Book

Now Available for $30

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup,

Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Contact the church office if you wish to purchase a copy.

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup, Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Christmas Party

Koloa Union Church Christmas party

Youth Gathering

Youth Christmas Party For Middle School & High School Youth

Youth are invited to the parsonage for their annual Christmas party! Friends are welcome! 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.

Be sure to save the dates for our other youth events!

Youth christmas church gathering holiday events
Youth christmas church gathering holiday events

Christmas Eve Service

Christmas Eve Service

Candles & Carols December 24 7:30 p.m. Christmas Carols Special Music The Christmas story Lighting of the Candles

Doors will open at 7 p.m. We anticipate a large crowd. Those wishing to sit together should come early.

Christmas Eve Service

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

December 21 and 24 Sunday Morning and Christmas Eve

This special offering, administered by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards, provides direct financial assistance to retired and active UCC authorized ministers and lay employees and their surviving spouses, including pension and health premium supplementation, emergency assistance, and Christmas “thank you” checks. Each year, UCC congregations throughout the country collect this offering to assist faithful servants of God who are facing financial difficulties. We not only share hope, peace, joy and love with them; but they, in turn, pass these things along to others in their communities and in the world.

We will collect the Christmas Fund offering on December 22 at Sunday morning service and December 24 Christmas Eve service. Offering envelopes will be provided. Please write checks to “Koloa Union Church” and write “Christmas Fund” on the note section of your check.

If you would like to make a donation online, please write “Christmas Fund” in the comment section. Thank You for Supporting The Christmas Fund!

Church Breakfast

Breakfast is on hiatus until January 27. In the meantime, enjoy all of the holiday festivities! We usually gather 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.

Salvation Army Lunch

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. Volunteer Dates:

Wednesday, December 31

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

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 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.

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January Book Group

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Movie Night for Adults

Adult Movie Night Koloa Union Church

Adults and teenagers are welcome! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 December 7: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Readings for December 14: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; Luke 1:46-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Readings for December 21: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Readings for Christmas Eve: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrew 1:1-12; John 1:1-14

Readings for Christmas Day: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20

Readings for December 28: Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrew 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23

Readings for New Year’s Eve and N.Y. Day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelations 21:1-7; Matthew 25:31-46

Readings for January 4: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:1-18

Readings for Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

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!