by admin | Apr 18, 2018 | Message from Kahu
“Peace Be with You”
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about the kind of peace which Jesus offered the world—and still offers the world. It is a peace that is for everyone, and it can be identified in a willingness to share it with others.
I have come to understand my art as a way in which I can share peace with others. I told the congregation about Darlene, the person who is my Spiritual Director, who meets with me monthly on the phone to help me discover how God is showing up in my life. As I shared with her several months ago about my desire to share peace through my art, she was very encouraging; she also emailed me these words later that week:
The divine calls us to bring our art,
whether it’s sacred listening or painting flora,
to the world.…
We are called to bring Peace,
to wage Peace with our art.
Darlene also sent me the painting above by Irene Hardwicke Olivieri. It’s a picture of a woman dressed as a warrior, and she (as an artist) is loaded down with weapons: her weapons are all the things she needs to paint. There are paintbrushes of all sizes and many tubes of watercolors; there are pencils and scissors; and there is canvas and paper. There are also a necklace and bracelets with little charms depicting the paintings she was working on at the time. Just like a soldier would have badges representing past triumphs and victories, the charms represent her accomplishments in pieces of art. Irene called the piece “Better Is the Ready.” However, when Darlene sent it to me, she called it “Peace Warrior,” to remind me that my art not only brings peace to me, but it is a way I bring peace to the world.
I begin most days watercoloring for about an hour, trusting that my art will bring a bit more peace to the world. And, as I paint, I am reminded that we are all creative artists in one way or another, and we can use our art to share peace. I hope you will take a moment just now and give thanks for the art forms you use to share peace with others.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
___________________________________________
Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. Click HERE to see a video of his sermon 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 | Apr 11, 2018 | Message from Kahu
“The Goodness of Light and Dark”
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation some of the things I enjoyed most about Barbara Brown Taylor’s book Learning to Walk in the Dark. She writes about the bad rap “darkness” gets in our culture and churches: “I cannot remember the last time I heard anyone use ‘dark’ to describe something good.” Just think about the ways we use “dark” in our language. When someone says, “I am in a dark place in my life right now,” it is definitely not a good place to be! If someone says “I have been having dark thoughts,” these are certainly not good or happy thoughts. Our Scriptures generally refer to darkness in a negative light as well.
However, Barbara Brown Taylor points out that many stories in the Bible describe really good things happening in the darkness. It was at night that God led Abraham outside his tent and told him to look up in the sky; God then told Abraham to count the stars and said, “So shall your descendants be.” The promise of our Judeo-Christian heritage began in the dark! Furthermore, the author goes onto say that Joseph in the Old Testament had dreams at night which led him to saving his large, extended family, which eventually became the Jewish people. The amazing dreams which turned into reality happened in the dark! Finally, Jesus rose from the dead in the darkness of a cave at night. The list goes on…. Darkness is not such a bad thing after all. In fact, many good things happen in the dark!
I wrapped up my message by sharing a painting of Koki`o `Ula, the brilliant red hibiscus in the picture above. As an artist, darkness and shadows are my friends. They are absolutely necessary to create a painting that is three-dimensional, alive and beautiful. Imagine this painting without any darkness on the petals and leaves or in the background. I need darkness and shadows to paint a flower that is alive. We all need darkness and shadows to live. In fact, whether we realize it or not, darkness is as much a part of our lives as light and color. Perhaps we can accept the darkness in our lives and all around us when we realize that God is there as well.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
___________________________________________
Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. 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 | Apr 11, 2018 | News
YOUTH FUNDRAISING GALA!
Kapa`a United Church of Christ
Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 5 p.m.
The youth will be serving a meal, providing entertainment
and holding an auction with amazing ticket items,
including…
A beautiful quilt made by the women of
Waimea United Church of Christ
A large print of Koki`o `Ula
Kahu’s signature watercolor!
(Framed by Christian Riso)
A two-night stay in a suite at
the “Moana Surfrider: A Westin Resort” in Waikiki!
$20 for Adults (Age 12 and older)
$5 for Children
The proceeds from this fundraiser will assist
our Kauai high school students and chaperones attend
The UCC Western Regional Youth Event in Honolulu in June,
Please contact Kahu Akana this week if you would
like to donate an item or know of an organization that would.
And let Kahu know by Sunday if you can attend!
______________________________
CHURCH COUNCIL
The Church Council will meet after Aloha Hour this Sunday, April 15, in Kahu’s office.
ANNUAL RUMMAGE AND BAKE SALE
Thanks to everyone who helped with our annual bake sale and rummage sale! We raised almost $2,200 to help our youth attend the Western Regional Youth Event in June and other activities as well! We appreciate your donations and volunteer time setting up, working the sale, and cleaning up afterwards!
FIVE YOUTH TO ATTEND UCC EVENT!
We now have FIVE youth from our church who will be joining a total of 20 youth and adult chaperones from Kaua`i to attend the Western Regional Youth Event, which will be held at University of Hawaii at Manoa from June 25-29!
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.
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.
________________________________
“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 | Apr 5, 2018 | News
ANNUAL RUMMAGE AND BAKE SALE
This year’s sale will be Saturday, April 7, from 8 a.m to noon, and proceeds will go to support our youth ministry! Please bring something for the bake sale. We appreciate your donations and volunteer time setting up and working the sale!
FIVE YOUTH TO ATTEND UCC EVENT!
We now have FIVE youth from our church who will be joining a total of 20 youth and adult chaperones (including Tiffany Marrotte!) from Kaua`i to attend this year’s event, which will be held at University of Hawai`i at Mānoa from June 25-29!
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.
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……
FUNDRAISING GALA!
Please attend our big island-wide fundraising gala, to be held at Kapa`a United Church of Christ on Sunday, April 22, at 5 p.m. The youth will be serving a meal, providing entertainment and holding an auction with amazing ticket items, including a two-night stay in a suite at the “Moana Surfrider: A Westin Resort” in Waikiki! Please contact Kahu Akana if you would like to donate an item or know of an organization that would. (Thanks to Bonnie for already donating gifts to the auction!) Tickets for the gala and details of the event will go on sale soon. Reserve the date now on your calendar and support our youth!
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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 | Apr 5, 2018 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized
“A Very Special Week Indeed!”
I told you it was going to be a very special week!
Our Maundy Thursday Communion Service was a meaningful time of reflecting on Jesus’ last supper with his disciples; the choir made the service “extra special!” Easter Egg Decorating and lunch is always a favorite time of the year for our keiki, and this year was no exception, along with a new way of decorating eggs with shaving cream! The Good Friday Lectio Divina Service was meaningful as well, as we pondered the suffering of Jesus and love of God. At the Holy Saturday Labyrinth Walk, we learned about labyrinths, focused on “the in between day” between crucifixion and resurrection—a day of waiting, wondering, praying, hoping—and then walked the labyrinth on the church lawn. (And, yes, the labyrinth is still drying out!) The community Easter Sunrise Service was my favorite one so far—partly because of the lively music, which Doug Duvauchelle participated in, and also because of the beautiful hula by Rose Warken Ceballos (just as the sun was rising over the horizon on Easter morning!). During the Easter Worship Service, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus by remembering that there truly is life after death—with wonderful music by our choir and dancing once again by Rose…and a visit by the movie star Sigourney Weaver! (I can’t believe I shook her hand and wished her a “Happy Easter” without recognizing her!) The Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic at the parsonage was well-attended and fun as always!
One of the things I noticed during Holy Week is that we had visitors attend every single one of our services this past week (some from just down the street and one family who drove all the way from Kapa`a). When I asked our visitors how they found out about us and how they chose to come to church here, they all said either they found us through our website or they saw our sign as they drove past. I was especially pleased when the couple from Kapa`a said that they checked out a bunch of church websites, but they watched a few of my sermons online and that’s what made them decide to drive here from Kapa`a!
I am grateful to everyone who made a gift to ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING! The money given to the collection enables our church to share God’s love with people in need around the world by providing relief to those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry and help empower the poor and oppressed. On Sunday, the children began bringing their OGHS coin boxes, and continue doing so during the next couple weeks. If anyone else would like to make a gift to OGHS, please use the OGHS offering envelopes available at church or write a check to “Koloa Union Church” with “OGHS” in the note section. Thank you for your generous gifts!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
_________________________________
Our Kahu (Pastor) offers a weekly message in church most Sundays during the year. 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.
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