by admin | Aug 4, 2016 | Message from Kahu
HELPING OTHERS WALK WITH JESUS
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about a woman named Kathy who had spent years saving up for a trip to the Holy Land. Most of the plans for the trip were already in her head. As soon as she retired, she would take the trip to walk where Jesus walked. And then one day something happened that changed all of those plans.
Her church was just starting a capital campaign, and Kathy decided to give all of the money that she had saved for her Holy Land trip to the campaign. She told her pastor about her plans. When he asked if she was sure about her decision, she said, “It’s what I want to do. All this time I had been saving up so that I could walk where Jesus walked; but what I was actually saving for was the opportunity to help people walk with Jesus.” Then she handed her pastor the largest check she had ever written in her life.
Her example set the tone for her church’s capital campaign, and they were very successful in their fundraising efforts! Her story reminds me of the people of Koloa Union Church, for many people here gave so generously to our capital campaign, even though I know some had that money saved for other things. As I look around at all of the progress made in the past few months, I know that we are helping people to walk with Jesus. We are inviting them to church, welcoming them when they come, and offering them God’s love.
If you would like to see a video of my sermon, click HERE.
I hope to see you in church soon, as part of your walk with Jesus!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
You are invited to join us for worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Aug 4, 2016 | News
Sermon Videos We are now videotaping Rev. Dr. Alan Akana’s Sunday sermons with the help of Jordan Deason. To see a video of Kahu’s sermon on Sunday, click HERE.
100th Birthday Celebration Toyo Nishida will be 100 on August 20! Join us on Sunday, August 21, during Aloha Hour as we celebrate with him. You are invited to bring Toyo a card or lei to celebrate his becoming a centenarian!!!
Hong Kong-style Mahjong Matthew Shim led a fun mahjong class in July and plans to do more in the future. If you are interested in more information, contact Matthew directly at request@mahjongtiles.com. We will post future dates and times once they are scheduled.
Weight Watchers A new group meets at Koloa Union Church every Saturday morning: weigh-in at 7:30 a.m. and meeting at 8:00 am. New group members are always welcome. Join Romae and her team. Questions? 1-800-651-6000.
Music Director We are still looking for a new Music Director. The position description and application for employment are found on the “News” page of our church website. Please pass along this information to anyone you know who has experience leading musical groups.
Open House at the Parsonage
Our open house on July 25 at the Smith Memorial Parsonage, part of the Koloa Plantation Days Celebration, was a great success! We welcomed 60+ visitors who came to hear a lecture and tour the historic property.
Koloa Plantations Days Parade
Koloa Union Church was part of the 31st annual Koloa Plantation Days Parade! Mahalo nui to all who participated in the parade! A special thanks to Peter Baldwin, who donated the golf cart for the day, and Missy Foley, who oversaw the decoration of the cart!
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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Jul 26, 2016 | Message from Kahu
A GENEROUS CHURCH
I was notified this morning by Charles Buck, our Conference Minister, that Koloa Union Church was in the Top 10 per capita in the United Church of Christ for the Christmas Offering this past December. (We ranked #10.) What this means is that the people of our congregation gave more per person than all but 9 other congregations in the United States to this special offering, which we collect at Christmastime. There are more than 5,000 congregations in our denomination…and we gave more per person than all but nine of them! In terms of numbers, we gave $2,752, which figures at $30.58 per member (90 last year).
Nationwide, we were part of $1.5 million given to last year’s Christmas Fund, which supports four assistance programs for clergy and church workers: supplementation of small pensions, health premium supplementation, emergency grants, and Christmas “Thank you” gift checks to retirees. This fund makes a big difference to people who have served the Church for many years and are struggling to make ends meet. It is our way of saying “Thank you,” and “We care about you.”
On top of an incredibly successful capital campaign and significantly increasing our income to the general fund, the people of Koloa Union Church are also giving money to others more generously than ever! I am honored to serve as the pastor of this church and to witness to such heartfelt generosity!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
Join us at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa to hear a full sermon by Kahu Akana.
by admin | Jul 26, 2016 | News
DINNER & BOOK GROUP The final meeting of our summer dinner & book group (6-8 p.m.) will be this Wednesday, July 27, at the Smith Memorial Parsonage. This summer’s book is: Something Rich and Strange: Discovering Your Path to Wholeness and is led by the book’s author Susan Davis, Ph.D.
KOLOA PLANTATION DAYS PARADE We will again participate in the parade (Saturday, July 30) this year! We will have a large decorated golf cart for our kupuna and those unable to walk the distance. Meet at the church at 8:30 a.m. for instructions. Roads will close at 9:00 a.m. Kahu will drive the riders and have them in a shaded area while waiting for start of the parade. (The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Koloa School and ends at the Anne Knudsen Ballpark). Colorful attire is suggested this year as the theme is “Planting the Seeds that Nourish the Soul.” Bring your bottled water for the parade walk.
HONG KONG-STYLE MAHJONG We had a well attended Hong Kong-style mahjong lesson last Saturday at the church: twelve people attended and enjoyed the games! Thanks to Matt Shim, who provided everything needed and lessons. There will be more gatherings in the future. Dates and times to be announced.
MUSIC DIRECTOR We are still looking for a new Music Director. Click HERE to see the position description and application for employment. Please pass along this information to anyone you know who has experience leading musical groups.
__________________________
“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Jul 22, 2016 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized
Hawaiian “Hospitality”
On Sunday, we heard the story in Genesis 18 of Abraham entertaining three strangers with “over the top” hospitality. When they arrived, he washed their feet, insisted they rest in the shade, and brought them water and a lavish feast. Even though Abraham most likely had no idea who any of the three guests were, we read in the text that Abraham and Sarah were entertaining God! It reminded me of the stories I read about my ancestors on Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island when a stranger—usually an elderly woman—would show up at a home on the slopes of the volcano. As it turned out, the stranger was Madame Pele herself—the great goddess of the volcanoes! If the family showed hospitality, the next eruption would spare their home—sometimes by just a few feet. However, if they did not show hospitality, the home would be covered by lava within days. The elders told these stories to their grandchildren to make sure they knew the importance of showing hospitality to others. These stories remind me of what Mother Teresa used to say when she was alive: that every stranger we meet is Jesus in disguise.
I think our church does really well when it comes to hospitality! The people here have definitely showed “over the top” hospitality to me, and I have watched them share it with others. Our capital campaign even came from our desire to show hospitality toward others; coming right from our new vision statement:
When people pass by our church, they notice its beauty and feel a sense of invitation and welcome. When they visit, they feel God’s unconditional love and a sense of beauty and peace everywhere on our campus. When they return, they find it effortless to connect spiritually and emotionally with others and to become involved in the life of the church in meaningful ways.
I am so honored to be the kahu of a church that cares so much about hospitality and making people feel so welcome among us! I invite you to come and experience the Hawaiian hospitality for yourself!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
Join us at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa to hear a full sermon by Kahu Akana.
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