A Message from Our Kahu

You may have heard that I have been rather sick the past couple of weeks. On Wednesday evening before Easter, my throat was sore and I was rather tired. I figured I was pushing myself a bit too hard and my allergies were kicking in but, just to be safe, I took a Covid test…and it came out positive. I thought it might be a “false positive” as I wasn’t feeling that bad. Since I was planning on serving communion at our Maundy Thursday service the next day, I decided to test again in the morning—but there was no need. When I woke up I felt like I had come down with the worst flu of my life. For a week and a half, I felt sick and had very little energy.

When I went to bed that Wednesday night, I was all ready for Maundy Thursday, looking forward to hanging out with the kids as they colored Easter eggs on Good Friday, and my message for Easter morning was nearly complete. I was looking forward to it all! Once I started to feel a bit better, one of my first thoughts was, “I have missed Easter!” However, as I looked at the church calendar and continued preparing worship services for the upcoming weeks, I was reminded that Easter is a season! Yes, I missed the first day: Easter Sunday. As I spent most of the next week lying in bed and on my couch, I missed some more days. However, I am now “up and about” and looking forward to celebrating the rest of the Easter Season with more energy!

As I have been reading over the Scriptures for the upcoming weeks, I am reminded that, throughout the Gospels, Jesus kept showing up to his disciples. Sometimes they recognized him; sometimes they did not. Sometimes they seem to understand who he was; sometimes they did not. Sometimes the path seemed clear; sometimes it did not. That continued to be the case even after the resurrection; and it continues to be the case today. However, now as then, Jesus keeps showing up. Sometimes he does so in ways we expect; sometimes in unpredictable and surprising ways. Regardless of how the Risen Christ appears, and whether or not we recognize him, I am grateful that he keeps showing up, in fact, that he never leaves us—not even in our sickness, or when we face the death of loved ones, or when we confront our own mortality.

May we keep our eyes and our hearts open so that however Jesus shows up, we will say the words of the disciple whom Jesus loved, “It is the Lord!”

Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana

Prayers & Squares

One Great Hour of Sharing

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING “Love Remains”

Thanks to everyone who supported disaster, refugee, immigration and development ministries throughout the world by donating to One Great Hour of Sharing!

Thank you for your generosity!

Share Aloha

Thanks to everyone who supported the foster kids of Kauai by donating to Hale Opio during Lent! Your generous donations are appreciated!

Thank you for your generosity!

Hookipa Wellness Class

A Free Exercise/Stretching Class for Seniors

Led by RoseTatiana Warken Ceballos

The next class will be on May 1. Sundays 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

Membership Gathering

Sunday, June 5 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Kahu and our Deacons will spend a couple hours with those who wish to learn more about our church and what is involved in membership. You will learn about our history, how we function as a congregation, our connection to the wider Church, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more. It will also be a time for participants to ask questions.

Although there is no expectation for participants to join the church, those who wish to do so will be able to join the church on Pentecost, Sunday, June 5, during the worship service. There will be opportunities on other Sundays as well.

You are invited to bring a sack lunch (or a snack) and a drink, as we will eat together on the patio before we meet.

Please RSVP to Penny Osuga in the church office by May 29.

A Note From CAPS

A Note From CAPS

The Committee for the Assurance of Pandemic Safety (CAPS) wishes you a safe and healthy Easter Season!

Please remember that the new variant is still spreading here on Kauai as it is in many parts of the country. Even people who are vaccinated, boosted, and extra-careful, can still contract the virus and get very sick.

Even though several of our members, including our Kahu, have contracted the virus, we are committed to keeping everyone safe when they are at church, and so our Covid guidelines will stay in place for now.

Let us continue to keep ourselves and our loved ones as safe and healthy as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact any member of CAPS if you have questions, concerns, or need clarification on any matters regarding pandemic safety. CAPS is Kahu Akana, Michael Horning, Penny Osuga, and Penny Jessup.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our church and our island safe!

Youth Director Update

The Search Committee has begun receiving resumes and applications for the new position of Youth Director. Our goal is to choose someone in June and have the position filled by July 1.

Visit our Staff Position page and please click the link “Position Description” for more information and the link “Employment Application” to apply; and if you know anyone whom you would like to see in this position, be sure to pass along this information!

Kauai Pride Parade & Festival

Saturday, June 4 Parade: 9-10 a.m.
Festival: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Koloa Union Church will once again participate in the Kauai Pride Parade and then have a table set up afterward during the festival. Members and friends of the church are invited to walk in the parade as we let the community know that our church welcomes everyone!

A signup sheet will be available on Sunday mornings. Please let us know if you plan to walk with us, can help with the table setup and decoration, or volunteer for a time at the table during the festival.

More information will be coming in May.
In the meantime, save the date on your calendar!

Maundy Service

Rev. Dr. Walt Weiss conducted our Maundy Thursday service at the very last minute when we contacted him on that day. We gathered, heard the Scriptures read from the Gospel of John, and celebrated Holy Communion on the night we honor Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.

You may watch the service by clicking the link below:

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Services

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

Mahalo nui loa to. . . Steve Sparks, Doug Duvauchelle, Rosemary Smythe, Debbie Gunning, Becky Sakimae, Chris and Michelle Molina, and our amazing Bell Choir for providing our beautiful and inspiring music for our worship service!

RoseTatiana Warken Ceballos for the beautiful hula.

Evan Strong and Michael for welcoming everyone to Sunday service by blowing the pu shell!

Thank you, Chuck and Joey Rebb for the beautiful tropical flowers!

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:
April 24 are Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 118:14-29; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31.
May 1 are Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19.

Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

May Day

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch This Worship Service

View All Past Services

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

And thank you, Joni Ito, RoseTatiana Warken Ceballos, Chuck and Joey Rebb for the beautiful tropical flowers!

Congratulations to

Palani Akana and Isobel Mifsud

who are engaged to be married in New York City on May 14, 2022
among a small group of family and friends.

Youth Director Update

• Brainstorm places to advertise
• Create a schedule for interviews
• Create interview questions
• Create a sample contract
• Interview applicants and recommend one to the Church Council along with a recommended contract.

Season of Lent

Holy Communion

Aloha Sunday

Prayers & Squares

Youth Game Night

Psalm Sunday

April 10, 10:30 a.m.

Celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus entering Jerusalem!

Our Sunday school and youth will start the service off with the procession of the palms during the prelude.

Children and youth please arrive by 10 a.m.

Since they will be processing throughout the sanctuary, the patio and Moore Hall, we ask everyone to be in their seats with face masks fully covering noses and mouths by 10:30 a.m.

Those who arrive late will be asked to wait outside the door until the procession finishes and it’s safe to find a seat on the patio or Moore Hall.

Maundy Sunday

Thursday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.

Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday and three days before Easter when Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. “Maundy” comes from the Old French word “mande” and the Latin “mandatum,” which means “mandate,” “command” or “commandment.” At the meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a demonstration of loving service and then said to them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Join us in the sanctuary as we commemorate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and reflect on his command to be loving servants to one another. This will be a time of Scripture reading, reflection, prayer, music, and the Lord’s Supper.

All of the procedures for Holy Communion on Sunday mornings will apply to Maundy Thursday.

Easter Egg Decorating/Hunt

EASTER EGG DECORATING

Good Friday, April 15, 11. a.m. in Moore Hall Lunch will be served The keiki will take some of the eggs home with them. They will leave some of the eggs to share with worshipers on Easter Sunday!

Please wash the eggs before handling and consuming!

RSVP by TEXTING Tiffany Marrotte by April 10! 808-651-1397

EASTER EGG HUNT

Easter Sunday, April 17, after Church At the Smith Memorial Parsonage

Bring your Easter basket or container!

Middle schoolers and high schoolers will hide the eggs during Sunday school. Meet in the Sunday school room for instructions.

Keiki will walk with parents from the church to the parsonage after Sunday school where they will hunt for plastic eggs with surprises inside! Please wait on the walkway or lanai for instructions!

Easter Sunday

Join us on Easter to celebrate the resurrection!

Please remember that this is one of our Sunday morning services with high attendance.

Those who are able and willing are invited to park on, Poipu and Waikomo Roads, at the parsonage, or on the lawn just east of the parsonage.

Be sure to pick up a decorated Easter egg made by our keiki on Good Friday! Please wash the eggs before handling and consuming!

In order to accommodate as many as possible on Easter, you may reserve seats for a family or group: please write your name and the number of people in your party on the sign-up sheet at the name tag table on April 3 & 10; we’ll do our best to save seats in the order they are written. You must arrive by 10:15 on Easter or your seats will be forfeited!

Please arrive a bit early so that we can safely seat everyone in the sanctuary, patio and Moore Hall, and start our worship service on time!

All of our pandemic guidelines will still apply!

Membership Gathering

Sunday, May 1 Noon – 2:00 p.m.

Kahu and our Deacons will spend a couple hours with those who wish to learn more about our church and what is involved in membership. You will learn about our history, how we function as a congregation, our connection to the wider Church, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more. It will also be a time for participants to ask questions.

Although there is no expectation for participants to join the church, those who wish to do so will be able to join the church on Pentecost, Sunday, June 5, during the worship service. There will be opportunities on other Sundays as well.

You are invited to bring a sack lunch (or a snack) and a drink, as we will eat together on the patio before we meet.

Please RSVP to Penny Osuga in the church office by April 24.

Chris Molina

Chris Molina

Advocate for A Living Wage in Hawaii

On Wednesday, March 2, Chris Molina offered a presentation on the importance of providing a living wage in the State of Hawaii to the leadership of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. Chris attends Koloa Union Church with his wife Michelle and is working on a Master’s degree in Social Work. You can watch his entire presentation by clicking the button below:

A Note From CAPS

The Committee for the Assurance of Pandemic Safety (CAPS) met on Wednesday, March 30, to discuss recommendations as we move forward in the pandemic. Please note the following two items:

SURVEY IS FORTHCOMING Due to the number of older members and attendees and those who may have health concerns, the group recommends that we continue with our current guidelines for Sunday mornings for at least another month. During April, we will create benchmarks as to what ought to happen before certain guidelines and restrictions are removed. We are also working on a survey to all who attend in order to learn about your comfort level, safety concerns, opinions and suggestions.

REMINDER RE. MEALS/SNACKS Small groups who wish to share snacks or light meals in Moore Hall or on the patio should first contact Penny Osuga directly to discuss their plans so that CAPS knows who is sharing food and drinks. The following recommendations will be brought to the March Council meeting:

• A group may invite participants to bring their own food and drink, such as bento, brown bag, etc.
• A group should always have a designated food and drink area if food and/or drinks are to be served.
• Participants should wear masks when approaching the food and drink area.
• Participants should sanitize their hands before eating.
• The group should provide hand sanitizer at the food area and participants should sanitize their hands before touching anything at the food area or eating.
• Adults should serve children and minors whenever serving from a common dish or container, such as pizza box, cake plate, donut box, etc. They are asked to wear gloves when serving.
• All indoor tables and designated food and drink areas should be 6 feet apart. Exceptions are made for family groups and those who are part of the same social bubble.

Please do not hesitate to contact any member of CAPS if you have questions, concerns or need clarification on any matters regarding pandemic safety. CAPS is Kahu Akana, Michael Horning, Penny Osuga and Penny Jessup.

Thank you for doing your part to keep our church and our island safe!

Share Aloha

March and April
Donations due on April 17, Easter Sunday.

We will be collecting donations for the 3 foster homes of Hale `Opio on Kauai. One of these homes is run by our own Tiffany Marrotte. Most of the foster kids in these homes are middle schoolers and teenagers. They are often brought to the foster homes urgently and are not able to bring their clothes and other necessary personal items. We are collecting donations of toiletries and clothes to help these kids transition during a difficult time. List of requested donations:

• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Deodorant
• Tampons/pads
• Brushes/combs
• Razors
• Pillows
• Blankets
• Socks*
• T-shirt’s*
• Shorts*

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 March 27 are Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Luke 15:1-32. Readings for April 3 are Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4-14; John 12:1-8.

Readings for April 10 are Isaiah 50:4-10; Psalm 31:9-16; Psalm 118:1-29; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 19:28-40; Luke 22:14-23:56; Luke 23:1-49.

Readings for Maundy Thursday are Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-35.

Readings for Good Friday are Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42.

Readings for Holy Saturday are Job 14:1-14; Psalm 31:1-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66; John 19;38-42.