by admin | Sep 13, 2017 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized
“Changing Lives, Transforming the World”
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about my visit to the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan just a couple weeks earlier. I was surprised at how emotional it was for me as I stood there at the giant fountain with the names engraved of all the people who lost their lives on that day. It brought back memories of that horrible morning sixteen years ago. We changed on that day. As individuals, we were shocked and numb that something like this could happen. Communities across the nation were impacted. Airports were closed and the way we travel was changed. As a country we were no longer invincible; we were vulnerable to people who hate us.
I was reminded as I stood there in New York City that change is inevitable. As the ancient Greek philosopher said, “No man can step into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” It is so true that change is constantly happening all around us…and changing us!
So how do we change for the better? And how can we be intentional about change and transformation in our lives and in our society? We found some clear instructions from our Scriptures on Sunday—both from Jesus and the Apostle Paul:
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Let love be genuine.
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Love your neighbor as yourself.
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Let us not judge one another.
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Welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed you.
When we are committed to this way of being, we change for the better and our world is transformed into the kind of place God intended it to be. For the next three weeks, I will continue focusing on the theme “Changing Lives, Transforming the World” in our worship services. As you come to church over the next few weeks, I invite you to continue bringing two particular questions with you:
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What are the changes I would like to see in my life and the lives of people around me?
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What kind of transformation might God be envisioning for the world?
May God surprise us with many wonderful changes within and all around us!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
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Due to technical difficulties, videos of Kahu’s Sunday’s sermon have not been uploaded onto
YouTube during the past two months. The situation should be resolved very soon. In the meantime, past sermons can be viewed and shared. You can also subscribe to Kahu’s sermon page on
YouTube; that way you can receive a notification when a new sermon is posted.
“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 6, 2017 | Message from Kahu
Back from New York City!
I returned to the office yesterday morning after a wonderful trip to California and New York City. My trip began with meeting my son Palani in the Bay Area and helping him organize his belongings, getting it all packed up for his move to New York, and dropping off quite a bit of clothing and other items at a thrift store. We also spent time with all of my siblings and their spouses, including a “bon voyage” party for Palani. While there, I learned that my brother-in-law Adrian was in need of heart surgery, which happened yesterday and so far everything looks good; I appreciate your prayers.
Palani and I then flew to NYC where we saw many of the sites, including Times Square, the World Trade Center Memorial, Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Grant’s Tomb and the historic Riverside Church. We also connected with friends, did some furniture shopping, got Palani moved into his apartment across the street from Columbia University and took a tour of the campus where he’ll be spending the next five years working on his Ph.D. in ecology. We also got to see some pretty amazing shows on Broadway, which I will be sharing about in my sermons in the upcoming weeks.
For the next four weeks, I will be focusing on the theme “Changing Lives, Transforming the World” in our worship services. Making changes in our lives is sometimes a difficult thing; transforming the world seems virtually impossible. However, the Scriptures tell stories and give guidance about change and transformation, and they compel us to believe that they are possible. As you come to church over the next month, I invite you to bring two particular questions with you:
1. What are the changes I would like to see in my life and the lives of people around me?
2. What kind of transformation might God be envisioning for the world?
We will likely come up with more than one answer. However, the answers we have will help form who we are as a congregation and guide us in our decisions for mission and ministry in the future. May we be open to the God of peace and compassion as we search for answers together.
Before I close, I have a special prayer request for the family of Mylo Korn. Mylo is the 4-year-old boy who was run over by a truck on Sunday and died in the hospital in Honolulu yesterday. His mother Miana works with me on the Kaua`i Association Youth and Young Adult Committee and is a member of the Kaua`i Marshallese Church in Hanapepe. I ask that you keep Miana, her family and church in your prayers during this devastating time of loss. May we also remember to pray for all of those on our prayer list, as well as the people affected by hurricanes, flooding and other natural disasters.
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
_______________
Due to technical difficulties, videos of Kahu’s Sunday’s sermon have not been uploaded onto
YouTube during the past two months. The situation should be resolved very soon. In the meantime, past sermons can be viewed and shared. You can also subscribe to Kahu’s sermon page on
YouTube; that way you can receive a notification when a new sermon is posted.
“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 6, 2017 | News
HURRICANE HARVEY The United Church of Christ has established a fund to support Harvey relief and recovery efforts. Donations may be made online by clicking
HERE. Gifts may also be made through Koloa Union Church; please indicate “Hurricane Harvey” on the note line; checks will be then forwarded to the Hawaii Conference for Wider Church Missions. Donation will be accepted through October.
FALL CHOIR begins on Thursday, September 7 at 7 p.m. Bring your voices and your friends. You will enjoy being part of this melodious group under the direction of Kathleen Dahill.
COCONUT WIRELESS The Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ sends a regular newsletter to people in UCC congregations throughout Hawai`i. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click
HERE. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically.
FREE SMOKE ALARMS Click
HERE if you or a neighbor on Kaua`i might like a free smoke alarm installed by a volunteer from the Red Cross.
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. The ladies have recently made and delivered two beautiful prayer quilts to two church members.
AND COMING UP…
BREAKFAST, BEACH, BINGO! Saturday, September 23, 9:00 a.m. Join us at the big pavilion across Nukumoi Surf Company for a delicious breakfast followed by a rousing game of bingo! Bring your lawn-chairs and swimsuits. Donations for food costs are much appreciated. A sign up sheet is on the bulletin board.
COMMITMENT SUNDAY Please bring your completed 2018 commitment card on Sunday, October 1, when we bless our commitments for the coming year. Each year in the fall we ask our members and friends to let us know what they plan to give to the general fund during the following year. This is a great help to our Finance Committee and Church Council in planning the upcoming budget, which is then presented to the congregation in January each year.
FALL `AHA MOKUPUNI! Koloa Union Church will host this year’s fall gathering of the Kaua`i Association of the United Church of Christ on Sunday afternoon and evening, November 12. Details are forthcoming. Be sure to save the date on your calendar now, as we will need a lot of volunteers to help us host the Kaua`i churches!
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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 | Aug 15, 2017 | News
WAINEKE WORKDAYS September 25 & 26. Koloa Union Church is so fortunate to host several church events at Waineke Cabins throughout the year. It is time to show our appreciation by volunteering on these workdays. Please check with Uncle Diki for details.
SALVATION ARMY SOUP KITCHEN
On the 5th Wednesday of the month, our church volunteers to set up, serve lunch and clean up at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Hanapepe. Please talk to Judyth Foley if you are able to help on Wednesday, August 30th. Volunteers typically meet in our church parking lot at 9:30 a.m. to carpool.
UCC PRESENCE AT CHARLOTTESVILLE United Church of Christ ministers, lay leaders and national staff were present in Charlottesville over the weekend. Click
HERE to see the article of what is like from the perspective of the Rev. Traci Blackmon, who serves as Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ.
COCONUT WIRELESS The Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ sends a regular newsletter to people in UCC congregations throughout Hawai`i. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click
HERE. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically.
FREE SMOKE ALARMS Click
HERE if you or a neighbor on Kaua`i might like a free smoke alarm installed by a volunteer from the Red Cross.
AND COMING UP…
YOUTH SUNDAY The church youth will be conducting the entire Sunday service on August 27. Any youth wanting to participate, contact Tiffany Marrotte.
CHOIR REHEARSALS begin on Thursday, September 7, at 7 p.m. Please join us, bring a friend. You will enjoy being part of this melodious group under the direction of Kathleen Dahill.
“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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