by admin | Jun 1, 2018 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized
A Note from Kahu Alan Akana
“Trinity Sunday”
On Sunday, we celebrated the Holy Trinity, as we sang “Holy, Holy, Holy” and read from Isaiah and Revelation, where those words are proclaimed by heavenly beings in dreams. They are wild dreams filled with fear and wonder—like many of the dreams we have from time to time. I focused mostly on Isaiah’s dream in my message and shared with the congregation a bit of background in order to understand what might have been going on at the time Isaiah had his dream.
There are four messages that I believe Isaiah most likely understood from his dream.
- First of all, God is ultimately in control. Kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers, come and go. Some make big marks in history; others are forgotten in a generation or two. Some make the world a much better place; others seem to make a mess of everything they touch. Yet, after every leader moves on and every regime comes to an end, God remains.
- God is holy and is a mystery. Even when God reveals part of God’s self to us, there remains so much more about God that we don’t know. This ought to give us some degree of humility. It also ought to make us wary of leaders who think they have everything figured out or believe that they are above the rules that apply to everyone else.
- God forgives our sins and shortcomings. With a simple touch, Isaiah’s sins were blotted out—the moment he admitted his imperfections. Our sins disappear just as quickly, but it is important that we too are aware that we are far from perfect.
- God sends people out into the world to do the work of God. When God asked, “Whom shall I send? Who will go?”, Isaiah responded, “Here am I. Send me.” There is work for all of us to do—important work in the world. May we be just as quick as Isaiah to say, “Here am I. Send me.”
Be sure to watch the video of my sermon if you missed it on Sunday. I think this will help make sense of how I came up with these four messages. In the meantime, may God speak to you through your dreams, your conversations and your thoughts; and may you be ever mindful of God’s deep, deep love for you!
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 | May 29, 2018 | Newsletter
June 2018 newsletter PDF
by admin | May 23, 2018 | News
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITMENTS As we wind down our capital campaign this year, including donations and projects, you are encouraged to fulfill your campaign commitments on time. We have asked for all commitments to be fulfilled by June. If you need a bit more time or if you wish to change your commitment, please let Penny or Kahu know as soon as possible in case we need to adjust our plans for the final projects. This will greatly help us as we prepare for our upcoming Capital Campaign Celebration on June 10!
KAUAI FLOOD RELIEF Koloa Union Church continues to reach out to our neighbors who were affected by the recent flooding on the island, especially our neighbors in Koloa. So far, we have collected $2,961and many items that are already being used by flood victims. We have delivered many carloads of items and gift cards to the Hardware Store in Koloa to most families in the community whose homes were damaged by the flood. Unless needs change, additional money will be used for kitchen appliance purchases and more gift cards. An updated list of “most needed” will be provided soon. Those who wish to make monetary donations can write checks to “Koloa Union Church” and write “Flood Relief” in the note section. Thanks to everyone who has given so generously so far!!!
LECTIO DIVINA Join us again on Wednesday, May 23, at the Smith Memorial Parsonage for a time to quietly reflect on the Scriptures. We will meet from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for Lectio Divina at the 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.
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER In order to save trees and money on increased postage costs, we are offering our monthly newsletter online for those of you who wish to read it on your computer or print it off yourself. Just contact Penny if you would like to no longer receive a paper version of the newsletter; and she will send you a notification each month as soon as the newsletter is uploaded. You can visit our website anytime for the most current and past newsletters. The paper version of the June newsletter will be available in church this Sunday.
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 this past week’s 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.
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 upcoming gatherings are scheduled for Tuesdays, May 29, June 12, and June 26 at Koloa Union Church from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Angela Dressel, 808-332-7371.
COMING UP………..
OFFICE CLOSED Memorial Day, May 28.
SALVATION ARMY LUNCH We will serve lunch next on May 30. Please see Judyth Foley if you can help serve lunch at the Hanapepe Salvation Army. We serve this meal on every fifth Wednesday. Volunteers meet at the church at 9:30 a.m.
“VOLCANO TALK” OPEN HOUSE Alan Akana Gallery will be having an OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, June 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. Alan will give a talk at 2 p.m. about life on Kilauea Volcano and in the lower Puna District where the volcano is currently erupting and lava is flowing through neighborhoods, across roads, and into the ocean. Alan visits the volcano every year, has relatives and friends who reside there, and wrote a book about the lives and perspectives of the people who have lived there for centuries, entitled The Volcano Is Our Home: Nine Generations of a Hawaiian Family on Kilauea Volcano. With Kilauea Volcano making news nearly every day, you won’t want to miss learning more about this fascinating place! Alan Akana Gallery is located in the Smith Memorial Parsonage at 3281 Waikomo Road in Koloa. Enjoy stories, art, live entertainment, refreshments and 20% off everything in the gallery at this event. Attendees will be among the first people to see Alan’s newest painting of a flower so rare that the Hawaiian people never named it! As always, all sales benefit the care of the parsonage. Click HERE to see the gallery website.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION! Be sure to mark your calendars now for Sunday, June 10—the day we will celebrate our successful capital campaign! We will give thanks for all of the beautiful improvements on our grounds and in our sanctuary, as well as all of the other accomplishments over the past three years! We certainly have a lot to celebrate! We will also announce the plans and timelines for the remaining projects. Join us in church and then for a catered luncheon afterwards…and invite your friends!
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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 | May 23, 2018 | Message from Kahu
Pacific School of Religion
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A Note from Kahu Alan Akana
“Pentecost Sunday”
We had a wonderful celebration on Sunday! We read the story of Pentecost from the Book of Acts and I shared with the congregation some of the key lessons that I learned back when I was in seminary—lessons that came straight from the story of Pentecost!
- I learned the importance of “being together.” After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples were all together in one place. They knew the importance of community and supported one one another in their faith journeys.
- I learned the importance of acceptance and hospitality. All of the people who were visiting Jerusalem in the story heard the good news of Jesus in their own language. They didn’t need to learn a new language or way of being in the world in order to hear about Jesus or join the community of faith.
- Finally, I learned that God’s presence is abundant and real here and now. The Holy Spirit was poured out upon all flesh. God’s Spirit was not lightly sprinkled; it was poured out—and not just upon a few select people, but upon all.
These lessons and many others prepared me to be the pastor I was to become. I knew that it is good for us to be together—and a big part of my job was to make sure that it was good…and not just for people who speak my language and see the world like I do, but for everyone. If I can help people who come to church and who live in communities surrounding the church to see how God’s Spirit is abundant and alive within them and all around them, then I have done my job. If it were not for seminary, I would not have had the important training I received to be the pastor I am today.
I also shared on Sunday about my involvement with Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. As a Trustee of the school and the Chair of PSR’s Advancement Committee, I am committed to the well being of the school and making sure that it is well funded for years to come. Sunday was also “Seminary Sunday,” and I invited friends and visitors to consider a gift to Pacific School of Religion. Many people on Sunday stepped up to the plate and made a donation to PSR, and I thank you for your support! It means the world to me that you support the education and training of leaders for our churches’ future.
If you would still like to make a gift to Pacific School of Religion, please do so by the end of the month. You can drop off or send a check to the church office or make a donation on Sunday. Special “Pacific School of Religion” offering envelopes are available on the counter as you enter the sanctuary. Checks should be made out to “Koloa Union Church” with “PSR” in the note section.
Mahalo nui loa for your support of our church and Pacific School of Religion!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
_____________________________________________________
JOIN US THIS WEEK FOR TRINITY SUNDAY!
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Music, Scripture, Liturgy and Message
Will Reflect Our Understanding Of
God as Holy Trinity
_____________________________________________________
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 | May 16, 2018 | News
KAUAI FLOOD RELIEF Koloa Union Church continues to reach out to our neighbors who were affected by the recent flooding on the island, especially our neighbors in Koloa. So far, we have collected over $2,000 and many items that are already being used by flood victims. We have delivered many carloads of items and gift cards to the Hardware Store in Koloa to most families in the community whose homes were damaged by the flood. Unless needs change, additional money will be used for kitchen appliance purchases and more gift cards. An updated list of “most needed” items will be provided next week after Kahu returns and checks in on our neighbors. Those who wish to make monetary donations can write checks to “Koloa Union Church” and write “Flood Relief” in the note section. Thanks to everyone who has given so generously so far!!!
KAUCC AHA MELE The annual songfest of the Kauai Association of the United Church of Christ is this coming Friday, May 18, at Waimea United Church of Christ, beginning at 5 p.m. Our church choir will sing and everyone will have the opportunity to participate! Dinner will be provided by Waimea UCC. An offering will be connected to benefit the Kauai Council of Hawaiian Congregational Churches. Check with Penny if you have not yet signed up for dinner to see if there is still room.
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 this past week’s 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.
PRAYERS & SQUARES Contact Angela Dressel if you would like to get involved in praying for people in crisis or helping to make quilt squares for those in crisis.
COMING UP………..
CHURCH BREAKFAST Our first monthly church breakfast (for men and women) will be on Tuesday, May 22, at 7:30 a.m. at Kalapaki Joe’s in Poipu (1941 Poipu Road). Just a fun time to hang out with friends and good food! Please RSVP with Michael Horning or Penny if you would like to attend.
LECTIO DIVINA Join us again on May 23 at the Smith Memorial Parsonage for a time to quietly reflect on the Scriptures. We will meet on Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 p.m. for Lectio Divina at the 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.
OFFICE CLOSED Memorial Day, May 28.
SALVATION ARMY LUNCH We will serve lunch next on May 30. Please see Judyth Foley if you can help serve lunch at the Hanapepe Salvation Army. We serve this meal on every fifth Wednesday. Volunteers meet at the church at 9:30 a.m.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CELEBRATION! Be sure to mark your calendars now for Sunday, June 10—the day we will celebrate our successful capital campaign! We will give thanks for all of the beautiful improvements on our grounds and in our sanctuary, as well as all of the other accomplishments over the past three years! We certainly have a lot to celebrate! We will also announce the plans and timelines for the remaining projects. Join us in church and then for a catered luncheon afterwards…and invite your friends!
________________________________
“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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