by admin | Sep 19, 2018 | Message from Kahu
Gratitude: More Than a Feeling
On Sunday, I shared a story from Diana Butler Bass’ most recent book, Grateful: The Transforming Power of Giving Thanks. Diana was working as a professor of religious studies and history at the college where we both attended as undergraduates. She enjoyed her job and did good work. However, she wasn’t treated very kindly by some of the other faculty at the college. She also felt that some of the expectations of the college administration in regards to theology and personal piety were rather stifling. One day the President of the college called her into his office and told her that she was simply not a good fit for the school. He told her that she was being “let go,” even though he admitted that she did wonderful work and was an excellent teacher. Before she walked out of the room, he said to her probably the last thing she wanted to hear. He said: “One day you will thank me for this.” Let me just say that she was not having any feelings of gratitude towards him at the moment!
About a week later, Diana told a friend about it. She said, “Can you imagine the nerve of him? That one day I’ll thank him?” After her friend listened to her, he gently said to her, “You know, he’s right.” He went on to tell Diana about a similar situation when he was fired, and how he eventually thanked his boss who fired him after he learned gratitude. Diana was surprised to hear that gratitude was something that could be learned. She asked her friend how. He invited her to thank God for one thing every day and write it down in a journal. Diana kept that journal for 3 years! At first she wrote down one blessing each day, no matter what—something for which she was grateful. Soon, she was writing two or three things. Then more. And then, here is what eventually happened (in her words):
A larger narrative emerged; what had begun as a period of difficult personal crisis wound up being a time of profound happiness, deepened courage, and new self-awareness.
Diana reminds her readers that gratitude is not just a feeling; it is also a way of life; it is how we live our lives; it is what we do; and it is developing practices that invite gratitude to enter us and change us.
I invite you to practice gratitude this week. As Diana’s story indicates, gratitude is something we can do even during the dark and difficult times in our lives. Simply saying “thank you” on a regular basis can change your life for the better. I was pleased to learn that World Gratitude Day is this Friday—a time when people all over the world pause to give thanks for their blessings and also consider the abundance of the universe and give thanks that there is more than enough for everyone.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of his message from this past Sunday. 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.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
by admin | Sep 11, 2018 | Message from Kahu
A Time for Gratitude and Rainbows
I want to begin by thanking my church family for taking such wonderful care of me the past week and a half while I have been recovering from vascular surgery on my leg. I am deeply appreciative of the meals, fresh produce and groceries that people have dropped off, as well as the prayers on my behalf. The surgery was necessary because of poor circulation in my leg due to a major vein not working properly. The surgeon removed most of that vein, and other veins have now taken over to keep the blood properly flowing in my leg. My surgery was successful and I am healing well. However, my leg is still quite tender where the incisions are still healing, and so I will be working mainly from home while keeping my leg elevated as often as possible, and not driving much until my leg feels better. I am supposed to walk a little more each day, and hope to walk to the church by the end of the week. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call if you would like to talk or make an appointment to see me in person.
After one very long day of heavy rain at the end of August, I was so grateful for sunshine! I walked outside into the yard and saw a double rainbow right on the parsonage! “A pot of gold,” I thought. “What a treasure: this place I call home, my church, my community, my art, this island, my family and friends, my life. I am truly blessed!” As I looked at the rainbow, I felt I could almost explode with gratitude!
On Sunday, we read the ancient Jewish story of the rainbow in Genesis, chapter 9. Afterthe entire earth was inundated with rain, God set a rainbow in the sky to remind human beings of the covenant between God and the entire Earth. There are a few very important points about the story worth mentioning:
- Noah and his family walked off the ark nearly exploding with gratitude. Imagine 40 days and nights of nonstop pouring rain. Imagine being on a boat with your family and thousands of animals for five months. Imagine wondering if you would live through the ordeal. I imagine that the family was feeling many emotions, but mostly gratitude.
- God told Noah and his family that every living thing should be fruitful and multiply. It was not up to human beings to decide which forms of life were worthy to exist. All of life is good and should thrive.
- God provides in abundance. The Earth is and will continue to provide all we need to survive and raise families. There will be more than enough animals and plants for people to eat—and they are to eat and enjoy and share.
- The rainbow is a sign of God’s faithfulness and of the covenant set forth by God. God promises to never destroy the Earth with a flood. In return people are expected to allow every living thing—including every human being—to thrive.
In the story, God gives gifts in abundance and people freely accept those gifts and share them with others. The gifts are are for many generations. They are for all creatures, not just the human ones. They are for the entire earth.
Good stewardship is when we live with gratitude and in right relationship with God, other people, every living thing and the entire Earth. May we remember this as we offer our gratitude and consider how we might live in the days ahead.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of his message from this past Sunday. 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.
“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.
by admin | Sep 11, 2018 | News
With gratitude,
welcoming all and
sharing our blessings in 2019
STEWARDSHIP THEME This year’s stewardship theme is “With gratitude, welcoming all and sharing our blessings in 2019.” Gratitude, welcoming and sharing will be our focus during the month of September as we look forward to the coming year and what God might have in store for us. Our logo is the UCC comma encircled by the colors of the rainbow. The comma symbolizes that “God is still speaking.” The United Church of Christ emphasizes that God’s Spirit continues to speak through us and also through others, and encourages us to listen with open hearts and open ears. The rainbow symbolizes the inclusion of all God’s children, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, or anything else that might distinguish one person from another. With gratitude, we welcome all, we welcome their gifts, we welcome the ways which God speaks to us through them.
PRAYERS & SQUARES All are welcome to participate in this ministry of making quilts and prayer squares for those members of our congregation who are experiencing a life crisis. Our next gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, at Koloa Union Church from 1 to 4 p.m.
LECTIO DIVINA Wednesday, September 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Join us at the parsonage for a time to quietly reflect on the Scriptures. We will meet for Lectio Divina at the Smith Memorial Parsonage (3281 Waikomo Road). In Christianity, Lectio Divina is a traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word.
CHURCH CHOIR Our church choir is back from summer hiatus, rehearsals on Thursday nights 7-8 p.m. Bring your voices and your friends. You will enjoy being part of this melodious group under the direction of Kathleen Dahill.
THE LATEST COCONUT WIRELESS Koloa Union Church is mentioned in the HCUCC Coconut Wireless! Our Prayers and Squares ministry was mentioned through its impact on Hanapepe Hawaiian Church! The Council of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ shares news on the Coconut Wireless, the regular newsletter of the HCUCC. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click HERE for the latest news. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically and get the very latest news hot off the press.
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 Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38.
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COMING UP . . . .
NEW PASTOR AT LIHUE UNITED CHURCH Help us welcome the new pastor, Rev. Alex Tychkin at Lihue United Church on Sunday, September 23, at 3 p.m. A light reception will follow.
CHURCH BREAKFAST Tuesday, September 25, 7:30 a.m. Kalapaki Joe’s Poipu. Everyone is invited, bring a friend. Please contact Michael Horning or Penny Osuga if you plan to attend.
BLESSING OF COMMITMENTS Those who are committed to ongoing giving to Koloa Union Church are asked to bring their 2019 commitment cards during the church service on Sunday, September 30, for a time of blessing the commitments. Also, everyone is invited to share a talent during our talent show after the meal during Aloha Hour.
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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Sep 8, 2018 | Newsletter
September October 2018 Newsletter
by admin | Aug 23, 2018 | News
Hurricane “Lane”
A Brief Note from Kahu Alan Akana
As Hurricane Lane continues to move toward our beautiful islands, we anticipate at least strong winds and heavy rainfall and at worst major destruction. My prayers are that Lane will pass to the south of us as gently as possible and also that we will be prepared for worse so that all may be safe and at peace. I have talked to Dan Giovanni, the chair of our buildings and grounds committee, in order that the church will be secured for a major storm, and we are doing the same for the parsonage. I trust that each person here on Kaua`i is doing the same. I also encourage you to stay safe and heed the advice of state and county officials, so that there will be no injuries among us. If, by chance, our island suffers a severe blow, please let me know when you can how you are doing. I plan to be at the church or parsonage as much as possible, and will let others from our church know if anyone has any special needs. I also encourage everyone to keep an up-to-date emergency supply kit handy, as well as plenty of drinking water and food. Although it is late to begin thinking about your kit, you can click HERE for the FEMA Emergency Supply List to see if you have forgotten anything.
As long as it is safe to be on our property, we do plan to have our regular worship service at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
My prayers are for the safety of us all.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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PICK-A-PARTY “FUN”-RAISERS Koloa Union Church members and friends are hosting a variety of parties. Hosts choose the party theme, food selections and number of guests. Hosts also provide the meals and pay for all expenses, and also sell tickets for a chosen amount. All of the tickets sales income will be donated to the church’s general fund. Look for the Pick-a-Party folder on Sundays for available parties. If you have any questions, please contact Bonnie Kakinami. Click HERE to email Bonnie or call her at 639-7765. Our upcoming party is a pool party on September 8, from noon to 4:00 p.m. There are only 2 spaces left.
THE LATEST COCONUT WIRELESS The Council of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ shares news on the Coconut Wireless, the regular newsletter of the HCUCC. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click HERE for the latest news. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically and get the very latest news hot off the press.
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 1 Kings 8:1-43; Psalm 84; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69.
CHURCH BREAKFAST Tuesday, August 28 at Kalapaki Joe’s Poipu, 7:30 a.m. Everyone is invited, bring a friend. Please let Michael Horning or Penny Osuga know if you plan to attend.
PRAYERS & SQUARES All are welcome to participate in this ministry of making quilts and prayer squares for those members of our congregation who are experiencing a life crisis. Our next gathering is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28, at Koloa Union Church from 1 to 4 p.m.
SALVATION ARMY LUNCH August 29 Koloa Union Church serves lunch at the Hanapepe Salvation Army whenever there is a 5th Wednesday in a month. We are looking for 4-5 volunteers to serve, leaving the church at 9:30 a.m.
CHURCH ON THE BEACH Sunday, September 2, beginning at 11 a.m. Join us for an outdoor worship service at the Pavilion across from Nukumoi Surf Shop at Poipu Beach. Come early if you want to hang out. Worship will begin at 11:00, followed by a potluck luncheon, followed by bingo and games for kids. Bring something to eat for the potluck and your lawn chairs if you have any. There will be no worship service at the church on this day, and it is Kauai Marathon Day, so check the paper for road closures and give yourself extra time to get there.
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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
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