A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

by admin | Jun 5, 2015 | Message from Kahu

WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST ALIVE?

On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about one of my favorite quotes, which comes from the character Emily in Thornton Wilder’s well know play Our Town. Emily dies as a young woman while giving birth to her child. In the afterlife, she has plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of life and the importance of her family and friends; she misses them all immensely. And so she asks permission to go back home, to return from the dead and spend just one more day with her family. Her permission is granted, and she is able to be with her family for just one day, although they will not be able to see her or know she is there. She shows up back home with high hopes…but she is deeply disappointed. As she observes her family, she realizes that they are all just going through the motions, hardly taking the time to even look at one another, much less connect with each other in meaningful ways.

And she asks this question: “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?”

“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?” Or do we spend most of our lives just going through the motions? Hardly ever taking the time to even look at each other? Hardly ever connecting on a deeper level?

I thought about that question as I read Sunday’s Gospel lesson, that people might have eternal life if they believe in Jesus. John’s Gospel tells us that this is why Jesus came to the world: that people might have eternal life.

“Eternal life” I thought! As I read that this week, I thought, “What about quality of life?” “What about life here on earth while we live it?” (The only life we really know!) “What about life with more love…more joy…more meaning?” “What about ‘realizing life while we live it,’” in the words of Emily in the play Our Town?

As I was thinking about these questions, there was another question that kept popping into my head: When do I feel most alive?

Here are some of the things I came up with:

• I feel most alive when I have a sense of my connectedness.
• I feel most alive when I feel loved and appreciated.
• I feel most alive when I am surrounded by beauty…and paying attention to beauty.
• I feel most alive when I am watercoloring.
• I feel most alive when I am sharing love and appreciation.
• I feel most alive when I am eating really good, fresh food.
• I feel most alive when I am aware of God.
• I feel most alive when I do something that helps others feel more alive.

Since the Gospel of John portrays Jesus as the one who brought not just eternal but also abundant life to the world, perhaps we ought to all ask ourselves what makes us feel most alive…and then go out and do it!

I hope you experience life to the fullest this week…and share your abundance with others!

Kahu Alan Akana

A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

by admin | May 20, 2015 | Message from Kahu

Our Kahu, Alan Akana

MAIKA’I HANA HOU!

On Sunday, we collected and blessed many commitments for our capital campaign, “Maika’i Hana Hou!” During the sermon, I compared our church to a garden. I told the story of how I once turned a very drab cement and dirt patio in my former home into a vibrant flower garden. I soon was having friends over for meals and throwing parties there on a regular basis. I loved having people over to enjoy the space, and they loved being there! Imagine a future where the appearance of our church has that same feeling: where people love being and can’t wait to come back with friends!

I was so pleased when Dan Giovanni, our Capital Campaign chairperson, announced in church that we had already received early gifts in excess of $150,000! On Sunday, June 7, we plan to announce that we have raised our Capital Campaign goal of $200,000. Thank you so much to everyone who made a commitment already. For those of you who are still thinking about it, we need to hear from you by June 1 in order to count your commitment in the grand total announcement on the 7th. (You can pick up a commitment card in church or ask Penny to mail one to you.)

Once we have received gifts of $200,000, we will be able to complete all of the projects in Phase 1 of our master plan: a more beautiful, peaceful and comfortable sanctuary; new restrooms; a brand new parking area with nice landscaping all around; a new church sign; a nice entryway (with non-slip walking surfaces!); better office space for Penny; a place for deacons to store worship & greeting supplies; a contribution to pay back borrowed money from our permanent funds; a new fund for youth; and a few other smaller projects! If we receive significantly more than our goal, we will begin projects that are on our list for Phase 2, such as an upgraded kitchen; an enclosed narthex (entryway/lobby to the sanctuary); upgrades to Moore Hall and the parsonage.

Please keep praying for Kōloa Union Church and for a successful capital campaign, and plan to join us (in person or in spirit!) at 10:30 on Sunday, June 7, at the parsonage when we announce our grand total during an informal worship service on the lawn and celebrate our success with a barbecue luncheon!

Maika‘i Hana Hou!

Kahu Alan Akana