“The Things That Belong to God” Join Us in Church or Online
Kumu’s Cupboard
Share Aloha in October
The Outreach Committee is collecting donations for Kumu’s Cupboard in October. Kumu’s Cupboard is a nonprofit store where Kauai’s teachers can shop for free. The store is filled with school supplies, office supplies, art and science materials, as well as student incentives. Did you know that our teachers have to use their own money on supplies for their classrooms? With all that is going on right now and school just starting, the shelves at Kumu’s Cupboard are going empty and they are in need of basic supplies to continue their mission. Help our island’s keiki by helping their teachers!
The following items are what the teachers have identified as things in need. If you are able, please consider picking up an item or two while at the store to donate. Sorry but Kumu’s Cupboard is not able to accept used items at this time. There is a printed list available at the Deacon’s station in back of the church.
SCHOOL/OFFICE SUPPLIES: paper of all types, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils, scissors, staplers, staples, binders, paper clips, binder clips, brads, small white boards and cleaner, folders, composition books, notebooks, binders, new books (Kindergarten/Preschool age)
ART & SCIENCE MATERIALS: fabric (one yard minimums), puzzles, feathers, yarn, tiles, beads, paints, construction paper, glitter, science equipment, math manipulatives (like flash cards)
HEALTH SUPPLIES: disposable gloves, hand sanitizer, liquid soap, disinfecting wipes
NOTE: Deadline is October 30. All donated items will be delivered on October 31. You can drop items off at the church during office hours (Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to noon. Please call Penny beforehand). Outside of these hours you can drop items off in the tote bin labeled “Share Aloha,” which is located to the right of the front foyer. You can also arrange a home pick-up by Amber. Please text or call (907)227-9045 to do so.
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 October 11 are Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-23; Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14.
Readings for October 18 are Exodus 33:12-23; Psalm 99; Isaiah 45:1-7; Psalm 96:1-13; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22.
On Sunday, we read the Parable of the Great Banquet, in which Jesus surprised his listeners by telling of an emperor who invited people from the crossroads to a banquet celebrating the wedding of his son. The “crossroads” in those days was the place where the roads came together just outside the city. It’s where the “undesirable people” hung out: beggars, refugees, prostitutes, the sick, the poor. Jesus’ audience would have been shocked because these are not the kinds of people who are invited to the palace, especially not for a feast.
This story reminds us that all kinds of people are part of God’s great vision for the world, which I called on Sunday “an outrageous fantasy.” The shocking things that Jesus said would have sounded like a fantasy to the people living at that time. Imagine an emperor who loves you deeply, who considers your wellbeing with every word, action and policy decision in the empire. Those who do the emperor’s bidding carry forth his love throughout the empire. Everyone feels the love!
This still sounds like an outrageous fantasy today—whether the leader is a president, prime minister, or king. The Bible commentator Warren Carter writes in his book, Matthew and Empire:
Some might say that all of that is just a fantasy. Perhaps it is. I would suggest, though, that it is preferable to a fantasy of violence and domination.
His point is that we can choose the way of Jesus, which may be a fantasy. However, it is a fantasy that we turn into reality in a thousand ways. So why not come along and take part in this vision where everyone is loved and invited—including you?
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana _________________________________________________________
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana”is provided most weeks by Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
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 see our Sunday morning schedule, 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.
Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, “I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.” (Isaiah 56:8)
Both our Old Testament and New Testament readings on Sunday (Isaiah 56 and Matthew 15) reminded us that God gathers people together from different cultures and backgrounds from all over the world. The texts also reminded us that we are all fully human and completely valuable in God’s eyes. As far as God is concerned, we are worth gathering! Most societies tend to label certain people as less than human, less valuable, less important, or less equal; and they tend to keep the “lesser thans” apart and separate. However, God sees us all as beloved children and delights in gathering people together who are different.
As I ponder this fact, I think that God must be very happy with our church. Our families originated from so many different parts of the world. We come from various religious backgrounds: Congregationalist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Mormon, Buddhist, and people who grew up with little to no religious heritage whatsoever. People of all different ages show up. In terms of political backgrounds, I am just guessing that close to half of us had parents who were Republicans and close to half had parents who were Democrats. Some of us have made lots of money in our careers and others have spent our lives just getting by from one paycheck to the next.
Just as God has gathered us all together—whether in person at the church or virtually over the internet via the Weekly News, email, virtual church breakfasts, or watching the weekly worship services online—God is still gathering! Isaiah recognized that God had gathered together the people of God, including “the outcasts of Israel,” and also heard the divine voice saying, “I will gather others to them, besides those already gathered.” May we too recognize that God has not only gathered us together but continues bringing others to us; and may we continue welcoming them with open arms and open hearts. And may God continue to delight in the diversity among us!
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana”is provided most weeks by Koloa Union Church, an Open & Affirming (ONA) congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
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 see our Sunday morning schedule, 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.
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
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SHARE ALOHA in August
Child and Family Service
This is a Hawaii non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen families and foster healthy development of children. See their website to learn more: childandfamilyservice.org.
Help us Share Aloha throughout the month by picking up 1 or 2 of the following items while you are out doing your own grocery shopping, or search your house for some unused items you are willing to donate:
Hand sanitizers
Clorox wipes
Face masks
Hand soap
Bleach
Detergent
Paper towels
Lysol
Non-latex gloves
You can drop items off at the church in the tote bin labeled “Community Outreach,” which is located near the front door of the sanctuary. You can also arrange a home pick-up by contacting the church office. We will be collecting donations until August 31st.
Mahalo for your support!
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LECTIONARY READINGS
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 August 16 are Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Isaiah 56:1-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-32; Matthew 15:10-28.
Readings for August 23 are Exodus 1:8-2:10; Psalm 124; Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20.
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“Weekly 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 weekly news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
Live-streaming in Moore Hall on a Large TV Monitor
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“Strengthen the Church”
Special Mission Offering
On Sunday we collected the “Strengthen the Church” special mission offering. This offering supports the expansion of ministry and growth of local United Church of Christ congregations throughout the U.S. as it helps create a just world for all by investing in new ministries. Your gifts will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults. If you missed the opportunity to donate on Sunday, checks should be made out to “Koloa Union Church” with “Strengthen the Church” or “STC” on the memo line.
Thank you for your generous gifts!
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Make a Difference on Kauai
You CAN help COVID-19 from spreading!
COVID-19 is a deadly virus! Fortunately, there are only a few active cases on the island. However, we have seen a recent spike in cases on Oahu and many places on the mainland—and people are traveling here on a regular basis, potentially carrying the virus and not even knowing they are sick!
Whether you are at church or somewhere else on the island, if you are going to be around other people who are not part of your household or your “social bubble,” please observe these following practices to keep the virus from spreading:
No touching other people! This includes hugging, shaking hands, fist and elbow bumps, and patting on the back.
Keep a distance of 6 feet if you or anyone else is not wearing a mask.
Wear a mask any time someone is less than 6 feet from another person—and be sure it covers your mouth and your nose.
Wash your hands before eating or touching your face, or after touching anything that may have been touched by another person.
Stay away from people who have traveled off-island or who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 for 14 days.
Stay home if you have any new COVID-19 symptoms and call your doctor.
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LECTIONARY READINGS
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 July 26 are Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-46; Psalm 128; 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-52.
Readings for August 2 are Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-15; Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21.
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“Weekly 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 weekly news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
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