Each year we collect a special offering in memory of Henry Opukahaia, the first Native Hawaiian known to become a Christian. Henry O. is credited with motivating the early New England missionaries to sail to Hawaii. The money collected supports the training of current and future clergy for Christian ministry by providing financial aid for students from Hawaii. The Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ manages the scholarship fund. Please consider a generous donation on Sunday. Offering envelopes will be available on that day. Please write checks to “Koloa Union Church” and write “Henry O” in the note section. When giving online, please write “Henry O” in the comments section.
Hookipa Wellness Class
A Free Exercise/Stretching Class for Seniors
—NEXT CLASS WILL BE FEBRUARY 27—
Led by RoseTatiana Warken Ceballos Classes are normally on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Sundays of each month 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Please register with RoseTatiana before attending Call or text (808)-652-8985 or email at kupunawellness@gmail.com
Ash Wednesday Service
March 2nd @ 7 pm
We mark Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent. It follows Shrove Tuesday. It is traditionally a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for receiving or reaffirming baptism at Easter. We will have a service of the ashes.
Holy Communion
Sunday, March 6th, 10:30 am
In the sacrament of Holy Communion, also called the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, meaning “thanksgiving,” Christians hear, taste, touch, and receive the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ in a unique way.*
After two years of foregoing Holy Communion in person, we will begin serving communion again on March 6 as part of our worship service on the first Sunday of the month. In order to keep us as safe as possible during the pandemic, the Deacons have instituted the following temporary changes:
You will be offered a ziplock bag when you arrive on Communion Sunday. It will include a container with a small wafer on the top and a small amount of grape juice on the bottom (just like in the photo below). There will be a sanitized wipe in your packet as well.
Please do not open the bag or container until instructed. Kahu will provide instructions before Holy Communion.
You will be asked to wipe the container and your hands with the sanitized wipe, and then place the wipe in the ziplock bag.
After you partake of communion, please place the used container back in the ziplock bag and securely close it. As you exit the sanctuary, you can drop the bag and its contents in the trash container. This will help keep us from spilling a small amount of juice onto chairs and clothing, and therefore avoid stains, as well as ants and other critters.
What About the Keiki? As soon as Kahu offers the benediction, he will head over to the Sunday school class and offer Holy Communion to the children, youth, teachers, and volunteers. If a child or youth attends the worship service, he/she/they may participate with the rest of the congregation in the worship service.
*The statement above is taken from the page “About Communion” from the United Church of Christ website. To learn more about the sacrament of Holy Communion and what the UCC teaches, click the link below:
Here are some of the important decisions that were made:
Kahu’s Report: Kahu Akana gave a very affirming report based upon the Vision Statement adopted by the Congregation in 2018. He pointed to all of the things we accomplished, even in the midst of the pandemic, and thanked the congregation for prayers, service, and generosity. He also drew our attention to the future and talked about what it will take to complete everything in our vision statement that remains to be accomplished. Youth Director: The congregation voted to hire a youth director to begin on July 1, 2022. Kitchen Remodel: The church kitchen is in desperate need of an overhaul, which will include a service window to the patio area, new appliances, cupboards, drawers, countertops, and floor. Once we have the drawings and cost, we will be asking for our members and friends to help pay for our new kitchen. Covered Patio Area: By the end of the year, we will have a plan in place for a nice covered patio, to include lighting, fans, audio-visual system upgrades, and storage. This large-scale project will require a multi-year capital campaign, which we plan to begin in 2023.
Lectionary Readings
Weekly Readings from the Bible
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways. —Kahu Alan Akana
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 February 13 are Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26. Readings for February 20 are Genesis 45:2-15; Psalm 37:1-40; 1 Corinthians 15:35-50; Luke 6:27-38. Readings for February 27 are Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-44.
Immediately after Christmas, I enjoyed a “staycation.” On a Sunday morning in the new year during my personal time of prayer and reading, I imagined what God might say to me if God would actually speak words out loud. I imagined what God would want me to know. I imagined what God would most want to say to me in the moment. I then wrote down the words that I imagined God speaking to me. This is a spiritual practice I began several years ago.
Here is a selection of what I wrote:
I will see to it that you experience incredible joy.
You are missing absolutely nothing in order to know
deep contentment, joy and wonder.
If you will only trust me in this, anything is possible.”
As I begin a new year and consider our church’s vision, as well as what God might have in store for me personally. I felt God calling me to be completely open to the possibilities that lay before us. About an hour later, I picked up a friend and we drove to the very end of the road in Kokee. We parked the car and began walking on the Pihea Trail. As is my custom on that trail, I walked immediately to the edge of the cliff to see how far I could see. Sometimes I see the ocean and the majestic cliffs of Kalalua.
This trip, however, began with a magnificent Brocken Spectre! The phenomenon, which consists of concentric circles of rainbows, is named after a mountain in Germany where the occurrence has been seen by many. In order for it to occur, the observer must be positioned so that the sun is directly behind while standing on the edge of a cliff, and clouds, fog or mist must be in abundance and within a certain range of distance. All of these criteria just happened to be in place on Sunday morning when I arrived on the trail!
Until Sunday, I didn’t even know that this phenomenon was possible. It was a reminder that indeed anything is possible! May this be a year of amazing possibilities for us all!
Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana
“A Message from Our Kahu”is provided by Rev. Dr. Alan Akana of Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Rev. Dr. Akana is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has been the kahu (pastor) of Koloa Union Church since 2014. Click HERE to learn more about him.
To see a video of this week’s worship service, including the message, click HERE. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see previous worship services and many of Kahu’s past messages. You can subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings! To learn about our Sunday morning worship service, click HERE.
Kahu Akana is also an accomplished artist! He specializes in creating vibrant watercolors of the flowers of Hawaii and hosts a Sunday afternoon reception in a gallery at his home, the Smith Memorial Parsonage. He also meets visitors by appointment. Most of the profit from the sales go for the maintenance and upkeep of the parsonage. To see a video about his art and gallery, click HERE. To see the gallery website, click HERE.
Wisdom-Based Leadership: Preparing a New Generation of Spiritually-Rooted Leaders to Create a World Where All Can Thrive
Wednesday, January 19, 7 p.m.
Koloa Union Church
This event is open to the public.
All pandemic guidelines apply.
Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy serves as President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California–a progressive, multi-denominational seminary and center for social justice that prepares theologically and spiritually rooted leaders to work for the well-being of all. A committed pastor, a nationally recognized higher education and immigration leader, and a sought after speaker, Vasquez-Levy leads at the intersection of faith, higher education, and social change.Vasquez-Levy is committed to innovation and access in theological education and leadership formation. Vasquez-Levy has lived in four countries, including working on refugee resettlement in Canada, and taught courses and led international study and service trips across the globe. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Texas Lutheran University and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, including studies at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.
LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways.
—Kahu Alan Akana
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 January 16 are Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 36:5-10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; John 2:1-11.
Readings for January 23 are Nehemiah 8:1-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-32; Luke 4:14-21.
KAUCC SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Kauai Association (United Church of Christ) Offers Special Presentation by Christopher Molina “Raising Awareness About The Need for a Living Wage”
Tuesday, January 25 5:30-7:00 P.M.
Christopher Molina, of Koloa Union Church, will be a special guest presenter at the January meeting of the Kauai Association (UCC)!
Chris holds a Bachelors degree in psychology from Pepperdine University. He is finishing up a Masters degree at Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, and completing a practicum with an advocacy nonprofit called PHOCUSED, which is part of the nonprofit organization Hawaii Appleseed, whose goal is to raise awareness about the need for a living wage.
This meeting will take place on Zoom. Please contact the church office for the invitation.
Church Office Closed
Monday, January 17 In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
“News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, an Open and Affirming (ONA) Congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Please contact the church office if you would like to have our news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
On Sunday, we lit the candle of joy in the Advent wreath, reminding ourselves of the joy that we feel as we anticipate the birth of Jesus. During my message, I reminded the congregation that joy does not wait until all is right with the world. It is easy to forget that Jesus was born during a time of horrible oppression and injustice. Life was really hard for Mary and her relative Elizabeth. Life was filled with fear and anxiety for the Jewish people living under both Caesar Augustus and King Herod. Nevertheless, we read in Luke, chapter 1, that Elizabeth and all who knew her experienced joy. Mary was so filled with joy that she burst out in song and claimed, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”
In the same way, we too can experience joy without having to wait until all oppression and injustice disappear from the face of the earth. In Mary’s song, she identified the reason for this: it is because God loves the oppressed and those who are considered to have very little value in the eyes of society. God looks upon them with favor, has mercy upon them, blesses them. It is important to recognize God’s immense love for all of us—even those who feel like their lives are the least valuable of all. It is in this acknowledgement that the greatest joy can be found.
May you feel deep and lasting joy this week!
Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana
“I am a beloved child of God,
who loves me unconditionally,
cherishes and adores me.”
“A Message from Our Kahu”is provided by Rev. Dr. Alan Akana of Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Rev. Dr. Akana is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has been the kahu (pastor) of Koloa Union Church since 2014. Click HERE to learn more about him.
To see a video of this week’s worship service, including the message, click HERE. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see previous worship services and many of Kahu’s past messages. You can subscribe in order be notified when a new message is posted. Please share these videos with friends and invite them to church. Please feel free to “Like” any of the videos you see and share them on social media, such as Facebook, so that others will notice them.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday mornings! To learn about our Sunday morning worship service, click HERE.
Kahu Akana is also an accomplished artist! He specializes in creating vibrant watercolors of the flowers of Hawaii and hosts a Sunday afternoon reception in a gallery at his home, the Smith Memorial Parsonage. He also meets visitors by appointment. Most of the profit from the sales go for the maintenance and upkeep of the parsonage. To see a video about his art and gallery, click HERE. To see the gallery website, click HERE.
On December 19, we will light the Candle of Love as we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. Come and join us as we worship God and focus on the love that Christ brought into the world!
Please consider coming to church a bit earlier during the season, as attendance is often higher this time of the year, especially if you want to sit in a particular area. Keep in mind that during the pandemic, we have limited capacity in the sanctuary and once the space fills up you will be directed to either Moore Hall, where you can watch the service on a large T.V. screen, or the patio.
We ask everyone to be seated when the worship service begins and remain in their seats until the service is over.
Thank you for your patience and commitment to safety during the pandemic.
The Office Will Be Closed…
The church office will be closed on the following days:
December 23
December 30
January 3
We are also taking a brief break from updating our website until 2022.
Normal office hours are Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to noon.
Mahalo nui loa to our staff and office volunteers for your service this past year and making sure that everything is functioning smoothly and communication is effective throughout our church community!
Christmas Eve Service
A Special Online Service this Year
Available at NOON on December 24
On December 24, we will be uploading a special Christmas Eve service for our members and friends to watch! There will be lots of music, provided by members and friends of the church, and you can sing along to all the Christmas carols and hear a little bit of the Christmas story in between each song! We are blessed to have so many talented musicians and lay readers in our midst, and we all love to sing Christmas carols! So click the link below on Christmas Eve for the Christmas Eve service and all of our worship services:
As I write these words, I have just finished listening to the latest pandemic report on National Public Radio. We have just passed the grim marker of 800,000 Covid-related deaths in the United States. For some perspective, that’s more than all American soldiers who died in World War I and II combined, and nearly double the number of American soldiers who died during World War II alone. There are currently 1,100 Covid-related deaths per day in the U.S., which is up 5%. Infections and hospitalizations are also on the rise nationally.
After nearly two years of living with Covid-19, it is easy to get tired of the inconveniences, changes in travel plans, not gathering for large holiday parties, and so forth. We are sometimes tempted to let our guard down and even ignore guidance from physicians and guidelines from the CDC, Health Department, FDA, and other organizations. However, it is important that we stay as healthy as possible as individuals and do what we can to keep the people around us safe as well.
On a personal level, I encourage you to follow the recommendations of physicians and professionals who have devoted their lives to medical science and the health of people for whom they are responsible. This includes avoiding large gatherings and activities where guidelines, such as mask wearing and social distancing, are not being followed.
In terms of church, I thank you for your patience as the Committee for the Assurance of Pandemic Safety, our Board of Deacons, and the Church Council, continue to do their best to provide for and encourage an active and meaningful church community while keeping everyone safe. Following is some of the key information that has guided us:
The main way the virus spreads is through droplets and aerosols which can linger in the air.
Droplets and aerosols are increased through speaking, singing, and playing wind instruments.
The virus also spreads by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching one’s mouth, nose, or eyes.
The virus has been found up to 2 days on fabric, 5 days on paper, and up to 7 days on plastic and metal.
People who are infected with Covid-19 are most contagious 1-2 days before symptoms appear.
As we all make final preparations for celebrating the birth of our Savior, may we all be healthy, knowing the peace of Christ, and being full of Christmas joy!
Mele Kalikimaka!
Kahu Alan Akana
______________________________
Thanks for your patience and for following our guidelines during the pandemic!
Please let us know if you have any concerns or questions about our health and safety during the pandemic.
Please do not hesitate to contact the church office if you have questions, concerns or need clarification on any matters regarding pandemic safety.
LECTIO DIVINA
Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 7 p.m.
Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation, prayer, and contemplation, intended to promote communion with God and to increase knowledge of God’s word. It does not treat scripture as texts to be studied, but as living word. As we gather in a small group, we allow a biblical passage to speak to us individually; after hearing the text read several times, there is an opportunity for participants to share their experience.
We will gather again for Lectio Divina, led by Karen Johnson, at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Location will be determined by the number of participants.
Please RSVP to the church office by Sunday, January 9, and you will be notified of the location for that week.
An Evening WithDavid Vasquez-Levy
Wisdom-Based Leadership: Preparing a New Generation of Spiritually-Rooted Leaders to Create a World Where All Can Thrive
Wednesday, January 19, 7 p.m.
Koloa Union Church
This event is open to the public.
All pandemic guidelines apply.
Rev. Dr. David Vasquez-Levy serves as President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California–a progressive, multi-denominational seminary and center for social justice that prepares theologically and spiritually rooted leaders to work for the well-being of all. A committed pastor, a nationally recognized higher education and immigration leader, and a sought after speaker, Vasquez-Levy leads at the intersection of faith, higher education, and social change.Vasquez-Levy is committed to innovation and access in theological education and leadership formation. Vasquez-Levy has lived in four countries, including working on refugee resettlement in Canada, and taught courses and led international study and service trips across the globe. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Texas Lutheran University and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, including studies at Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.
LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible
During challenging times, reading the Bible on a daily basis is a great source of inspiration and hope. I encourage you to read and meditate upon the Scriptures of the Revised Common Lectionary and ask yourself how God might be showing up in the Scriptures for you, what God might be saying to you, and what guidance you might find as you share God’s love in creative and meaningful ways. —Kahu Alan Akana
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 December 12 are Zephaniah 3:14-20; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18.
Readings for December 19 are Micah 5:2-6; Luke 1:46-55; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrew 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55.
Reading for December 26 are 1 Samuel 2:18-26; Psalm 148; Colossians3:12-17; Luke 2:41-52.
Readings for January 2 are Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:1-18.
Epiphany (January 6) readings are Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12.
Readings for January 9 are Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-22.
“News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, an Open and Affirming (ONA) Congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Please contact the church office if you would like to have our news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
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