Church News: September 15th, 2023
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A Time To Blossom
Our Theme for 2024 is “A Time To Blossom”
As we continue this wonderful year of celebrating our church’s centennial, I am already looking ahead to 2024. I have not only been giving thanks for all of the blessings, commitments and sacrifices during the last 100 years to make our church such an important community of faith for so many. I have also been asking questions about our future, such as:
What’s next?
What might God have in store for us in the near future?
What kind of legacy will we leave for the next 100 years?
How might we provide a meaningful and relevant community of faith for our young people and those who are not even born yet?
I sometimes wish I had all of the answers to these questions. However, we will discover the answers as they unfold before us. There is an image that keeps popping into mind, and I am confident that my practice of watercoloring Hawaii’s flowers has something to do with it. The image is that of a tree that blossoms like normal every year, and then suddenly it produces more flowers than ever before! I have a vision that our church is that tree. In the same way that an arborist waters, fertilizes and nurtures a beloved tree in hopes of many blossoms, God has been nurturing our church, and we have been trusting in the possibility of an abundance of blossoms.
We will be focusing on this theme during the first four Sundays in October. Then on Sunday, October 22, you will have the opportunity to make a financial commitment to the church’s 2024 General Fund. Each year in the fall, we ask our members and friends to let us know your plans for supporting the church in the coming year. (You may change your commitment at any time during the year by letting us know how you would like to adjust your giving.) Our Finance Committee then creates a budget based upon anticipated income.
As you prayerfully consider how you might do your part to nurture our church in order that it will blossom abundantly, please pray the following prayer:
Prayer for 2024
O God, just as flowers blossom in the
desert and bring life and beauty
to the surrounding landscape,
may Koloa Union Church
blossom in the years
ahead of us.
Just as rain and sun make flowers
possible, may my generosity
make possible all kinds
of growth in 2024.
May my gifts to Koloa Union Church
truly express the gratitude I have
for this congregation and all
you have done for me
and so many others.
Amen.
Mahalo nui loa for your generosity to
Koloa Union Church and our ministry on Kauai’s south shore!
Thank you also for considering a financial commitment for 2024!
Supporting Maui
We Support Maui
Koloa Union church has received thank you letters from the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ for the more than $6000 our congregation has already passed along from church members and friends for Maui Relief after the devastating fires in Lahaina.
On Sunday, September 10, we prayed for Waiola Church in Lahaina as we tied knots in a prayer quilt, while offering our prayers for that congregation and the community it serves. We will be sending that quilt this week, along with an additional one for the church to use as it sees fit. Waiola means “living waters,” and is the oldest United Church of Christ on Maui. The church building and fellowship hall were burnt to the ground during the devastating wildfires which ravaged the town last month.
The Hawaii Conference is supporting both Waiola Church and the entire community on Maui. Our denomination has already released approximately $20,000 for Maui relief efforts and has provided trauma chaplains for clergy who are serving the community during this challenging time and church members who have suffered loss.
You may donate by sending a check to the church office or giving on our church website. Please be sure to write “Maui Wildfire Relief” on the note section of your check or in the comment box when giving online.
Neighbors in Need: Special Mission Offering
The Neighbors in Need offering will be collected on Sunday, October 1, 2023. Neighbors in Need is the United Church of Christ’s annual offering to support ministries of justice and compassion throughout the United States, including the Council for American Indian Ministries, justice and advocacy efforts and direct service projects.
Together with UCC congregations throughout the country, we make a huge difference in making the world a healthier and more just place for all. Please consider a generous donation.
Special offering envelopes will be provided in your bulletins on that day. Also, checks may be sent to the church office, made out to “Koloa Union Church” with “Neighbors in Need” or “NIN” written in the note section. If you make an online donation, be sure to write “Neighbors in Need” in the “Comment” box.
Youth Group Updates
We have a vibrant and active youth group for middle and high school students, which meets twice a month and usually includes a time of learning, prayer, checking in with one another, fellowship, lots of fun and a delicious meal!
We look ahead to gathering on these dates:
September 24
October 8
October 22
November 12
December 10 (Christmas party!)
All gatherings will be at the Smith Memorial Parsonage from 4:45-7:00 p.m.
Pictures from the August youth gathering at the Strong’s home
The youth enjoyed games, a yummy meal (mahalo to Aunty Sheryl and Aunty Penny) and an exercise led by Aunty Shyrl: Facts and Opinions–What Do We Know?
Church Breakfast
Church Breakfast Tuesday, September 26 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! Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.
Salvation Army Lunch
Prayers & Squares
Prayers and Squares Tuesday, October 3 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.”
To request a quilt for church members or friends in crisis, call Debbie Gunning at 808-652-7899.
Prayers & Squares is expanding its ministry and could use your help! We are creating Prayer Quilts to be distributed at Wilcox Hospital. We have packets available to take home and sew squares together. If you can help or have questions, call Sheila Harman at 717-514-9020.
No experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. There are jobs for everyone to help in the making of the quilts…and everyone is invited to pray!
The Prayers & Squares Ministry is preparing material for their Christmas Fund raiser for “Hand on Global.” Contact Sheila if you have any questions.
Mahalo nui loa!
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina
Wednesday, October 11th
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, October 8th
Emergency Numbers
Are we ready for an emergency? We certainly don’t want to think about emergency situations, but as we all know, life is unpredictable. Koloa Union Church wants to be safe and prepared, just in case. Every now and then, someone has a medical emergency while they are at church. Please let us know if there is someone you would like for us to call in case you are unresponsive. We will also keep the name of your primary care physician if that is something you would like us to pass along to an emergency or medical professional.
If this sounds like a good idea to you, please send your name, name of your physician, the name and contact number of the person you would like contacted to the church office. An “emergency contact list” will be created and kept in the Deacons cabinet.
Our Centennial Year Continues
OUR CENTENNIAL YEAR CONTINUES
- CENTENNIAL PHOTO BOOK. A beautiful book of our church’s history will be available by then end of October. It will include the story of our church, along with photos from the past century, and even some from this past weekend’s celebration! We will announce the cost and date of publication this fall.
- PURCHASE A CENTENNIAL T-SHIRT. We only have a handful of shirts left and don’t plan to purchase more, so be sure to buy one now if you plan to get one. $20 for the first t-shirt; $15 for additional shirts.
- CENTENNIAL ORNAMENTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. We still have ornaments available, which make great Christmas gifts! They are available for $20 while they last.
- DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Additional gifts to help cover the costs of the centennial may be directed to the “Centennial Fund”—on the note section of your check or the “Comment” section when giving online.
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 September 17: Exodus 14:19-31; Psalm 114; Exodus 15:1-21; Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103:1-13; Romans 14:1-12; Matthew 18:21-35
Readings for September 24: Exodus 16:2-15; Psalm 105:1-45; Jonah 3:10-4:11; Psalm 145:1-8; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16
Readings for October 1 : Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-16; Ezekial 18:1-32; Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32
Readings for October 8: Exodus 20:1-20; Psalm 19; Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:7-15; Philippians 3:4-14; Matthew 21:33-46
Readings for October 15: Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-23; Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14
Mahalo Nui Loa Worship Participants
More Fun Pictures Since Our Last NewsletterMore Photos
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