by admin | Aug 17, 2016 | Message from Kahu
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN?
On Sunday, we considered how the world around us has changed in the last century. Just think of the events that caused a major shift in the way we see: World War I and the major social changes that followed; World War II with the Holocaust and atom bomb; the Cold War, anti-war demonstrations, the pill, the Civil Rights movement, the LGBT Rights movement (just to name a small handful!).
With all these changes also came changes in how we see God and the universe all around us. Diana Butler Bass, in her book Grounded, Finding God in the World, writes: “During the last century, the three-tiered universe and its orderly certainty crumbled.” She is referring to the way people formerly saw the universe: God up in heaven, people on earth, and the underworld where no one wanted to go. In this universe, people needed the Church to help get them to heaven where God is and avoid going to hell where God is not.
People now tend to think of God as being omnipresent—filling all space everywhere at all times. So, if God is always everywhere at all times and forever, what is the point of the Church these days? I shared with the congregation that I need the Church (I need them!) to remind me that God is everywhere, because it’s easy for me to forget this when I listen to the news and hear about cruelty, hate crimes, religion-inspired killing, refugees who are turned away from safe places, and so much more. I do believe that God is always with me…always with each of us…but the Church helps remind me of this when it is hard to see God amid the experiences of our world.
I hope Koloa Union Church will always be a place that will help us see God! I invite you to come and see God for yourself!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
To see a video of Kahu Akana’s sermon from past Sundays, scroll down to earlier entries of “A Message from Kahu Alan Akana.” There is no video this week due to the electricity not working at the church on Sunday morning.
You are invited to join us for worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
“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 | Aug 11, 2016 | Message from Kahu
ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about my difficulty reading through the Old Testament because of the violent and brutal actions people believed God wanted them to do. Over and over again, the people of God believed that God gave them not only permission, but instruction, to kill others with God’s blessing and guidance. This theme begins in Genesis. The book of Joshua (chapter 12) actually lists 31 kingdoms that were defeated in battle by Joshua alone. The first verse of the next chapter states: “and very much of the land still remains to be possessed.” In other words, in terms of slaughtering people of different kingdoms, ethnicities, cultures and religions, the Israelites were just getting started!
The people of ancient Israel were not all that different from others, who believed that their gods rewarded them for appropriate sacrifices, prayers and worship by giving them success in battle over their enemies. The main difference was that the Israelites believed in one God (who also rewarded for the same things in the same way). Throughout history, the Christian Church has also continued this pattern of belief and action. I am opposed to killing others in general; I am also opposed to killing others because “our country, culture and religion” are believed to be superior to others and more dear to God.
I am encouraged that there is another perspective in the Scriptures regarding why we worship and what makes God really happy with our worship. In the opening pages of Isaiah, we read that God is not pleased with sacrifices, offerings, festivals and prayers if they are not accompanied by justice and compassion. When our worship leads to the opening of our eyes and hearts to people in the world who need justice and compassion, then God is truly pleased!
May we open our eyes and hearts this week to people all around us and show them justice and compassion—regardless of their citizenship, ethnicity, culture or religion…or anything else that might make them different from us!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
To see a video of Kahu Akana’s sermon from this past Sunday, click HERE.
You are invited to join us for worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
“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 | Aug 9, 2016 | News
Church Planting Day Thursday, August 18, 9:00 a.m. Bring your shovels and muscles to plant more shrubs, plants, greenery. Every plant that goes into the ground brings us that much closer to completing the yard beautification project.
Videotaping We are now videotaping Rev. Dr. Alan Akana’s Sunday sermons with the help of Jordan Deason. The link to this Sunday’s YouTube posting will be available soon on our church website on the page “Weekly Pastor’s Message.”
Happy 100th Birthday Celebration for Toyo Nishida will be on August 21 during Aloha Hour. Bring Toyo a card and/or a lei to celebrate his becoming a centenarian!!!
Hong Kong-style Mahjong More fun lessons/gatherings coming soon. Will post future dates and times.
Weight Watchers meets at Koloa Union every Saturday morning, weigh-in at 7:30 am, meeting at 8:00 am. Join Romae and her team. Questions? 1-800-651-6000.
Music Director We are still looking for a new Music Director. The position description and application for employment are found on the “News” page of our church website: www.koloaunionchurch.org. Please pass along this information to anyone you know who has experience leading musical groups.
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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 9, 2016 | Newsletter
Click August 2016 to see the AUGUST newsletter!
The Newsletter is provided monthly 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 4, 2016 | Message from Kahu
HELPING OTHERS WALK WITH JESUS
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about a woman named Kathy who had spent years saving up for a trip to the Holy Land. Most of the plans for the trip were already in her head. As soon as she retired, she would take the trip to walk where Jesus walked. And then one day something happened that changed all of those plans.
Her church was just starting a capital campaign, and Kathy decided to give all of the money that she had saved for her Holy Land trip to the campaign. She told her pastor about her plans. When he asked if she was sure about her decision, she said, “It’s what I want to do. All this time I had been saving up so that I could walk where Jesus walked; but what I was actually saving for was the opportunity to help people walk with Jesus.” Then she handed her pastor the largest check she had ever written in her life.
Her example set the tone for her church’s capital campaign, and they were very successful in their fundraising efforts! Her story reminds me of the people of Koloa Union Church, for many people here gave so generously to our capital campaign, even though I know some had that money saved for other things. As I look around at all of the progress made in the past few months, I know that we are helping people to walk with Jesus. We are inviting them to church, welcoming them when they come, and offering them God’s love.
If you would like to see a video of my sermon, click HERE.
I hope to see you in church soon, as part of your walk with Jesus!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
“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.
You are invited to join us for worship at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
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