Holiday Survey

Holiday Worship Survey

Thank you for those who completed our survey!

Here are some important things we learned from the survey:

• Most people are quite happy with our worship services.
• Kahu’s messages and musical offerings were marked “especially liked” more than other parts of the worship service.
• Most respondents look forward to getting things back to pre-pandemic “normal,” including: sitting together, no more face masks, congregational singing, unison readings, etc.
• Most would plan to attend an in-person Christmas Eve service in the 7-7:30 timeframe.
• Although there are some who would not attend a Christmas Eve service if we lifted all pandemic requirements for the evening, others prefer lifting all requirements and an equal number prefer sitting anywhere as long as people are masked.
• Only one person indicated that they are not concerned at all about Covid-19 in a crowded space. Others still have some concerns regarding their health. Nearly forty percent marked that they are not concerned “as long as there are reasonable pandemic requirements.”

The Deacons greatly appreciate those who took the time to take the survey. The results gave them some helpful data on which they considered in their decisions in moving forward during the holiday season.

Prayers and Squares

Tuesday, December 6, 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.                        

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!

Mahalo nui loa!

Youth Christmas Party

YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY Calling all middle and high schoolers! Join us for a Christmas Party! Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Road December 11 4:45-7:00 p.m. Christmas Feast Fun & Games Good Conversation $5 Gift Exchange RSVP to Tiffany (808) 651-1397

Outreach

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet.

If you signed up to bring food items, please bring them to the church by this coming Sunday, November 20.

Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact Amber Strong or the church office.

The deadline for donations for this year’s stockings is December 4.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online. Contact Amber Strong or the church office.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina December 14th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Join Kahu and Karen Johnson at the Smith Memorial Parsonage for a time to hear and respond to the Scriptures in a quiet, reflective and meaningful way. Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word. Please RSVP by December 11 if you plan to attend.

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

To Be Collected on December 18, 24 & 25

Thank You for Supporting The Christmas Fund!

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 18, 24 and 25. 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 note section.

Alan Akana Gallery

2nd & 3rd Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent And Communion Sunday

December 4

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Peace” And Celebrate Holy Communion

December 11

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Joy” And Enjoy this Year’s Children and Youth Sharing the Theme of “JOY” With Us!

Christmas Eve Service

December 24 7:30 p.m.

Join Us for a very special Christmas Eve service with lots of special music and the reading of the Christmas story.

Pandemic Guidelines for Christmas Eve:

• Please wear face masks indoors during the entire service.
• Face masks will be optional anywhere outdoors, including on the patio.
• We will not observe social distancing requirements: attendees may sit in any of the seats.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. Because this is our first in person Christmas Eve service since 2019, we anticipate a decent crowd. Those wishing to sit together should come early.

Christmas Day Service

Christmas Day Services

Sunday, December 25 10:30 a.m.

Join Us for a very special Christmas Day service with lots of special music and reflections on the Christmas story. Our regular Sunday morning guidelines will be in effect on Christmas Morning.

• Please wear face masks until the service begins.
• Please sit 6 feet from others.

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!

Give Thanks

Youth Group Activity “Giving Thanks”

Our middle and high school youth met at the church on November 20 for a delicious thanksgiving dinner, games and a time to give thanks for the many blessings in their lives!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Baptism and New Members

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Sunday, November 20th 

Join us in our worship service as we give thanks for the many blessings in our lives and in our church!

You are invited to consider a special blessing and write it on a “Joys & Concerns” card before the worship service this coming Sunday morning.

The church office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

May our hearts be filled with gratitude!

Holiday Worship Survey

Can we have just a few minutes of your time today?

Will you be around over the holidays? If so, would you consider taking a few minutes right now to fill our a brief survey in order to help Kahu and our Deacons plan a special holiday season according to your needs?

Your input is especially needed if you plan to attend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services.

Prayers and Squares

Comfort Prayer Quilts for Wilcox Hospital

Prayers and Squares is expanding its ministry: We are creating “Comfort Prayer Quilts” to be distributed at Wilcox Hospital by its chaplain, Rev. Deborah Ball. These quilts will be for patients who don’t have visitors and need to know that someone cares.

We could use your help! If you can sew a straight line and have a sewing machine quietly sitting in a closet, we will have packets available to take home and sew together. Each packet has precut 6 ½ inch squares. Instructions will be inside the bag. Basically you’ll sew 6 squares together to make a row. When you’ve make 8 rows, you sew these together to make a rectangle. Done! (The Prayers & Squares team will add borders and backing.)

Packets are available on the table in front of the office on Sundays. This is an ongoing project and your continued help is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, call Sheila at (717) 514-9020.

Mahalo nui loa!

Annual Holiday Outreach

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet.

If you signed up to bring food items, please bring them to the church by this coming Sunday, November 20.

Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact Amber Strong or the church office.

The deadline for donations for this year’s stockings is December 4.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online. Contact Amber S

Youth Group Activity

Miniature Golf

Alan Akana Gallery

Holiday Open House

Friday, 25th: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Please contact the gallery if you wish to visit after November 27.

All Plumeria Originals & Prints 50% Off or More

Everything Else 20% Off or More:

2023 Wall Calendars
Museum-Quality Prints
(Framed & Unframed)
New Greeting Cards
Coffee Mugs . . .
Proceeds fund the maintenance and repairs of the parsonage

Pandemic Guidelines

Please be vaccinated for Covid-19 or wear a face mask. We request that you sanitize your hands before entering. (Hand sanitizer provided) 6 Guest Maximum in the Gallery at a Time.

RSVP Suggested: Email [email protected]

Alan Akana Gallery is Located In The Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Rd. in Koloa (Parking available on the street and on the property.) 808-855-8806

Online discount of 20% during the holidays: Type discount code “20Percent” at checkout. www.alanakanagallery.com

First Sunday of Advent

November 27th

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Hope” As We Anticipate the Coming of Christ.

Salvation Army Lunch

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!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Baptism and New Members

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

100 Years of Aloha

Koloa Union Church’s 99th
Anniversary Was on October 22!

Commitment Sunday
Was October 23.

On Sunday, we blessed the 2023 commitment cards of all those who brought them (or turned them in earlier). During the month of November, the budget committee will begin creating a budget for next year based on the overall financial commitments we have for the year. Your commitment card is so very helpful in this process! 

Thank you so much to all those who made financial commitments for 2023! If you missed getting your commitment in by Sunday and would still like to let us know your giving plans for next year, we ask that you turn in a commitment card by November 3.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the ministry of Koloa Union Church, especially as we begin our next 100 years!

Stewardship Talks

Thanks to those who gave stewardship talks over the past 2 weeks: telling us about the importance of Koloa Union Church in their families and in their lives and also reminding us about the importance of supporting our church as we begin our next century!

All Saints Day (Observed) Sunday, October 30

Join us in church on Sunday, October 30, as we give thanks for all the saints in our lives—those who are no longer with us and those who are still alive. You are invited to submit a prayer card giving thanks for a particular saint or group of saints for whom you are especially grateful.

Simply write the following: Name of person or group A quality of their life/lives for which you are grateful Kahu will read your card during the sharing of joys and concerns and give thanks for the saint in your life.

Membership Gathering

Date: Sunday, October 30

Time: 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Join Kahu Akana and our Deacons for a couple of hours right after church as they share about the United Church of Christ, our church’s history, the benefits and responsibilities of church membership, and what is involved in joining as a member of Koloa Union Church! Those who attend this gathering may then choose to join the membership of the church.

Bring a drink in your own drink container.

The Deacons will provide snacks.

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

Prayers and Squares

Tuesday, November 1

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.”

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!

To request a quilt for church members or friends in crisis, call Debbie Gunning at 808-652-7899.

Annual Holiday Outreach

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet. The signup sheet is on the Outreach Information Board just outside the main doors to the church.

Please sign up for food items and bring them to the church by November 20. Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact Amber Strong or the church office.

The deadline for donations is November 27.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online.

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!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

Welcome Our New Member

Reverend Deborah Ball has been a resident of Hawaii since 1995. Prior to coming to Hawaii, Deborah served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa. She obtained her Master of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Under the UCC Board of Global Ministries, Deborah was a missionary for one year in Dumeguette in The Philippines, working with girls and women. Deborah has been a member of Church of the Crossroads on Oahu since 1995. She has served as an associate minister for children and youth at Church of the Crossroads and as Central Union Church’s Associate Minister for Community Outreach. Rev. Ball has served for decades as a chaplain in hospice, hospitals, long-term care, and palliative care settings. She moved to Kauai in March when she began a new ministry as Chaplain at Wilcox Medical Center. Deborah enjoys hiking, gardening, horseback riding and surfing.

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News