A Message From Kahu: Aug 17th, 2022

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A Message From Our Kahu

Treasures That Last

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34)
On Sunday, we took a look at Jesus’ parable in Luke, chapter 12, where a wealthy farmer had a harvest of such abundance that he tore down all of his barns and built brand new ones in order to store all of his grain that year. Since Luke painted a backdrop of peace for the story he told of Jesus’ life and teaching, we looked at the parable through the eyes of peace. In this context, Jesus didn’t condemn the farmer for his wealth or his success. However, he did condemn him for not sharing it with the poor and hungry, for amassing great wealth at the expense of others, for considering himself as the only actor in the story, and for the audacity of thinking that he could now determine what was required for the contentment of a soul.
At the end of the parable the man dies and ends up bringing nothing with him to his death and leaving nothing of value behind. The clear message is that we should spend as much time as possible during our lives creating things of value, things that bring great contentment to our souls and to the souls of others. There is nothing wrong with money, wealth of possessions. However, if those things are all that we have, then we are missing the whole point of life. Let us consider creating, building and sustaining things that will last long after we are gone, such as our relationships with loved ones, outreach to people living on the margins of society, our church community, other organizations that make a positive difference in the world. When these things are the focus of our lives, our souls are rich and the purpose of our lives is seen even for many, many years after we are gone.
So let us commit our lives to treasures that last!

 

Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana

Church News: Aug 3rd, 2022

Church Breakfast is Back!

We enjoyed our in-person breakfast again after 2 1/2 years! Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each Month! Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office. Space is limited.

Next Breakfast:
Tuesday, August 23rd, 8 -9:30 a.m. Location TBD

For reservations, contact the church office by phone (808-742-6622) or email (see the link below), or else sign up on the church bulletin board.

Plantation Days Parade

You Event Koloa Union Church Poipu Youth Group

Thanks to all who were involved or cheered us on!

Thanks for all the flowers and greenery and energetic volunteers! Our two golf carts looked amazing!!!

Congratulations to Koloa Union church

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Kahu presented 3 certificates to the congregation.
We were recognized for our generous contributions to:

Our Church’s Wider Mission
Basic Mission Support to the United Church of Christ)

Being a “5 for 5” Congregation
(Giving to All 5 Denominational Offerings)

Being a Leader in our Giving
(We give at a high level in the Hawaii Conference!)

Youth

Rev Dr Walt Weiss Koloa Union Church

Back to School Party!

Friday, August 12 6 – 8 p.m.

For All Middle & High School Students Save the Date!
Friends are welcome! Please RSVP by August 7.

Centennial Celebration

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KAPA’A UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Centennial Celebration Saturday, August 27, 2022 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Lunch at Noon Entertainment, food, games and fellowship!

Please RSVP to Koloa Union Church office by August 5 if you would like to go. Kahu and others will carpool from our church parking lot.

Parking will be available at Kapa`a First Hawaiian Church, Kapa`a Assembly of God, Koa Street, and other street parking

Hookipa Wellness Class

Rev Dr Walt Weiss Koloa Union Church
A Free Exercise/Stretching Class for Seniors
Led by RoseTatiana Warken Ceballos Sundays 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (Usually not the 3rd Sunday of the month) Please register with RoseTatiana before attending: call or text (808)-652-8985 or email at [email protected]
Mahalo nui loa to RoseTatiana for your ongoing commitment to the health of our kupuna!!!

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

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Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the 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

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 July 31: Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107;1-43; Ecclesiastes 1:2-14; Psalm 49:1-12; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21.
Reading for August 7: Isaiah 1:1-20; Psalm 50:1-23; Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrew 11:1-16; Luke 12:32-40.
Reading for August 14: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:1-19; Jeremiah 23:23-29; Psalm 82; Hebrew 11:29-12:2; Luke 12:49-56.

Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

A Message From Kahu: Aug 3rd, 2022

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A Message From Our Kahu

Clothed with Love

“Above all, clothe yourself with love” (Colossians 3:14)

On Sunday, we took a look at an often misinterpreted passage of Scripture in Colossians, chapter 3, where the writer of the Letter to the Colossians told his readers to “seek the things that are above” and “set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth.” Without reading this passage in the context of the entire letter and what was going on in the church and culture at that time, it would be easy to think that we should all focus on heavenly things and ignore all that is material or earthly. However, the writer has spent two chapters explaining that the fullness of God dwelled in Christ’s body and Christ is in us—carrying the fullness of God into our own bodies. Now in chapter 3, he writes that “Christ is in all.” In other words, Christ is alive and present on the earth and infuses every part of it (including every human being) with the fullness of God. What we learn in Colossians is that the earth is good, as is all of her inhabitants.

Therefore, we ought to put on love—and Christ is love incarnate. What the author means is that we should first strip ourselves of anything that is harmful to the earth or any of her inhabitants and then put on all that Jesus stood for during his life so that when others look at us, they see Christ. The author was in no way giving his readers permission to ignore the earth or her inhabitants. He was not giving them an “out” in terms of their responsibilities as stewards for the planet, their bodies, their community, and the well-being of others. “The things that are above” are all the things we do and think and say that which honors all of creation. So let us put on love and take care of ourselves, our planet, and all that is on it.

 

Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana

A Message From Kahu: July 21th, 2022

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A Message from Our Kahu

“Christ in You”

“The riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you” (Colossians 1:27)

 

On Sunday, I invited the congregation to consider the great mysteries of the universe. It seemed especially pertinent since so many of us had just viewed some of the new and amazing images of the universe from the James Webb Telescope which were released to the public during the previous week. It was mind-boggling to see so many galaxies in a small photograph and also to know that the photographs represented just a pinprick of the sky. With trillions of galaxies out there in space, each with billions of stars, there is no question that mystery is here to stay. There will always be more that we don’t know than all that we do—and that goes for God as well as the universe!

According to the Letter to the Colossians, the most important mystery is that the fulness of God is in Christ—and Christ is in you! And because Christ is omnipresent, the fulness of God is in every other human; and not only in every other human, but in all creation. Imagine that: the fulness of God is everywhere in the trillions of galaxies of the universe! I invite you to ponder this for awhile. Consider how you might live differently knowing that the fulness of God is in you and everywhere in the universe. Remember that God is love. Remember that God deeply desires peace and reconciliation between people…and between families…and between communities…and between nations. Let’s live knowing that this is what God wants…and we have the fulness of God within us to do something about it.

Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana

Church News: July 21st, 2022

Church Breakfast is Back!

Kiawe Roots
2-3687 Kaumualii Highway Lawai, HI 96765
(Next to 7-Eleven in Lawai) Tuesday, July 26 8 – 9:30 a.m.

We have reserved 20 seats, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For reservations, contact the church office by phone (808-742-6622) or email (see the link below), or else sign up on the church bulletin board.

View Menu

Plantation Days Parade

You Event Koloa Union Church Poipu Youth Group

Saturday, July 30, 2022 Meet in the church parking lot between 7:30 & 8 a.m.

“Gather Together Again” Good News: We have secured two 4-person golf carts for those who want to join us but are unable to walk the parade route. We plan to decorate the two carts, followed by a walking unit, along with music.

The parade starts at 10 a.m., but we plan meet earlier to decorate and get organized.

We need to be in the lineup at Koloa School by 8:30 a.m. Don’t forget your walking shoes, sunscreen, water and hats. Please write your name on the signup sheet on the church bulletin board if you plan to participate! If you want to ride one of the vehicles in the parade, write “cart” next to your name on the sign-up sheet. First come, first serve for riders. We need tropical flowers, greenery and volunteers to decorate two golf carts and a trailer. Please let the church office know if you can help.

Prayers & Squares

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Tuesday, August 2 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

All are welcome to join us! There are things to do for experienced quilters, as well as those who have no experience quilting or sewing! The team meets on the first Tuesday of every month. Prayers & Squares is a ministry promoting prayer using hand-tied quilts. Our motto: It’s not about the quilt, it’s about the prayers.

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

Youth

Rev Dr Walt Weiss Koloa Union Church

Back to School Party!

Friday, August 12 6 – 8 p.m.

For All Middle & High School Students Save the Date! More details are on the way!

Hookipa Wellness Class

Rev Dr Walt Weiss Koloa Union Church
A Free Exercise/Stretching Class for Seniors
Led by RoseTatiana Warken Ceballos Sundays 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (Usually not the 3rd Sunday of the month) Please register with RoseTatiana before attending: call or text (808)-652-8985 or email at [email protected] Mahalo nui loa to RoseTatiana for your ongoing commitment to the health of our kupuna!!!

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Stop Covid Sign

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the 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

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 July 17: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Genesis 18:1-11; Psalm 138; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42.
Readings for July 24: Hosea1:2-10; Psalm 85; Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:6-19; Luke 11:1-13.
Readings for July 31: Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107;1-43; Ecclesiastes 1:2-14; Psalm 49:1-12; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21.
Reading for August 7: Isaiah 1:1-20; Psalm 50:1-23; Genesis 15:1-6; Psalm 33:12-22; Hebrew 11:1-16; Luke 12:32-40.

Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

Photos from Our Nature Hike Mahaulepu/Makauwahi

On Sunday, July 17, at sunset, Kahu led a group of 15 to see the maiapilo—the night-blooming endemic flower of Hawaii, which grows on the ocean cliffs of Kauai.

More Fun Pictures

This is a photo of Cathy Evans from Padum, in the northern Himalayas, at 15,700 feet altitude!!! She continues her volunteer work with HOG (Hands on Global). Mahalo nui to everyone who has supported her through your prayers, financial contributions and donations to our Ukrainian quilt!

Sydney and Caleb both “placed” in the 2022 Drive Chip & Putt sub-regionals!!!