Weekly News of the Church
Sunday, November 10, 2019
“The Celebration of Saints”
Holy Communion
Join us on Sunday as we remember the saints from the past who made a lasting impression on our lives and give thanks for the saints who surround us today! Our monthly celebration of the Lord’s Supper was moved to this Sunday since Kahu Akana was on study leave last week.
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FALL `AHA MOKUPUNI IS THIS WEEK! If you have signed up for the fall `Aha Mokupuni (the annual gathering of the congregations of the Kaua`i Association of the United Church of Christ), you can meet this Sunday, November 10, 3-7 p.m. at Lihue United Church, 4340 Nawiliwili Rd, Lihue (behind King Auto). There will be music from all ages, conversations about the various journeys we have all been on in our churches, group singing led by Doug Duvauchelle, hula by Rose Warken Ceballos and a message by Kahu Akana!
COCONUT WIRELESS The Hawaii Conference welcomes Andrew Bunn, who began on November 1 as the Executive Director of the Hawaii Conference Foundation! Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ).
LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week) 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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Haggai 1:15-2:9; Psalm 145:1-21 or Psalm 98 or Psalm 17:1-9; ; Job 19:23-28; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17; Luke 20:27-38;
PARKING NOTES Thanks to all who are able and have been making parking more manageable on Sunday mornings! Those who have been carpooling or parking at the school and on Waikomo Road have made a big difference in making room for the elderly, our visitors, and those who have trouble walking.
Coming up….
CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
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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!
A Message from Our Kahu
My Study Leave Retreat on Oahu
“Study Leave”
I returned to the church office yesterday from my 2-week study leave in California and Oahu. I spent 3 days in Berkeley, beginning with a welcoming/training session and dinner for new trustees and staff at Pacific School of Religion, where I have been a trustee for four years and am a member of the Board Membership and Effectiveness Committee. I then spent 2 days in board meetings, considering important matters such as academics, finance, recruitment, enrollment, innovation in education, and, of course, advancement, which is the committee I chair that oversees our philanthropic endeavors. I also attended chapel on Tuesday where I listened to students share about the saints in their lives. (All Saints Day was November 1.) That evening, I had dinner with PSR’s President David Vasquez-Levy as the two of us planned his next trip to Hawaii in January. After dinner I attended a talk at First Presbyterian Church Berkeley to hear Jim Wallis, who is one of my favorite authors and heroes of the Christian faith. He spoke about his newest book Christ in Crisis, focusing primarily on the parable of the Good Samaritan and how Christians in America today have missed the point of being neighborly to those who are considered “other.” After the talk, David Vasquez-Levy participated in a panel with Jim. By the way, Jim authored the book America’s Original Sin, which our church’s book group discussed over the summer!
For the remainder of the two weeks, I spent most of my time reading, writing, focusing on our church’s vision and mission statements (and how they might guide us in the upcoming months), preparing worship services and catching up on a bunch of church “business” that I rarely seem to have time for in my regular weekly schedule. For example, I updated our church website with new color, photos and fonts, and updated information on most of the pages.
Overall, it was a very productive study leave. I also got to spend a bit of time with family and friends. The highlight was being with my sister and her family, including her 3 grandkids, including baby Kaia who is less than 2 months old! On Oahu, I enjoyed staying in a beach house near Kahana Bay. It was a nice place to work without interruptions while listening to the ocean and enjoying a view of the beach right outside. It was also a great place to hike and swim during my breaks. I also got together with good friends for Halloween and my birthday on Sunday! I feel rested, refreshed, “caught up,” and ready for the upcoming holiday season!
Aloha nui!
Kahu
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“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 one of Kahu Akana’s recent messages, click HERE. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and 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.
To learn more about Kahu Akana (and the rest of the staff at Koloa Union Church), click HERE.
A Message from Our Kahu
“God Loves a Cheerful Giver”
Sunday was another special day in the life of Koloa Union Church. In my message, I talked about how 2 Corinthians is a testament of generosity and joy among the early followers of Jesus. The Apostle Paul points out that the Christians in Macedonia and Corinth were both extraordinary in their generosity. When Paul wrote the letter, the Macedonian Christians had already given more than he thought they were capable of giving and the Corinthians had committed to giving an extraordinary gift themselves. Paul also wrote about the abundant joy they experienced. When he wrote, “God loves a cheerful giver,” it wasn’t to try to get them to give more, but to point out the reality of their experience. I feel very much like how I imagine Paul felt, for the people of Kōloa Union Church are already generous and joyful, already giving more than I knew we were capable of giving and already experience and sharing so much joy. My stewardship message this year: “Keep being who you are being and keep doing what you are doing. It’s working!”
During Aloha Hour, we had a fantastic meal and a beautiful and delicious chocolate cake with the words: “Generosity and Joy.” We then had a fun and meaningful kanikapila reception at the parsonage, filled with music, singing, dancing, refreshments, a slideshow and plenty of sales in the gallery.
Mahalo nui loa to a congregation that is filled with generous and joyful people!
Aloha nui!
Kahu
__________________________________________
“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 one of Kahu Akana’s recent messages, click HERE. You may see the Koloa Union Church YouTube channel to see many of his past messages and 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.
To learn more about Kahu Akana (and the rest of the staff at Koloa Union Church), click HERE.
Weekly News of the Church
RSVP FOR
FALL `AHA MOKUPUNI
THIS WEEK!
“Huaka`i Me Ke Aloha”
(Journey with Love)
A fantastic `Aha Mokupuni (the annual fall gathering of the United Church of Christ congregations on Kauai) is planned for Sunday, November 10, 3-7 p.m. at Lihue United Church, 4340 Nawiliwili Rd, Lihue (behind King Auto). This year’s theme is “Huaka`i Me Ke Aloha” (Journey with Love) and the entire event will be intergenerational. There will be music from all ages, conversations about the various journeys we have all been on in our churches, group singing led by Doug Duvauchelle, and a message by Kahu Akana!
The gathering will begin with activities; following a break, worship will begin at 4:45; after worship will be a delicious dinner provided by the people of Lihue United Church.
Please RSVP by October 27.
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS . . . .
WAINEKE WORK DAYS The next work days at our Kaua`i Association Waineke Campground will be October 25 & 26. From 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, members and friends of Kaua`i United Church of Christ congregations gather at the Waineke Cabins for vacuuming, painting, washing, yard work, light construction, etc. Those who wish to spend the night (for free) can go up on Friday afternoon and participate in a potluck dinner with others. For more info call 335-3505.
CHOIR ENSEMBLE PRACTICE Fay Bartels will be directing volunteer singers on Sunday, October 27, at 10 a.m. Everyone is invited to join our church ensemble for practice and then will sing a song during the Sunday service.
COCONUT WIRELESS Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ).
LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week) 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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65 or Psalm 84:1-7; Jeremiah 14:7-22; 2 Timothy 4:6-18; Luke 18:9-14.
COMING UP . . . .
SALVATION ARMY LUNCH The next time our church is scheduled to serve lunch at the Salvation Army in Hanapepe is Wednesday, October 30. Volunteers who carpool usually meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. Please contact the church office if you can assist.
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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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