Church News: May 6th, 2026

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

Koloa Facebook Pages

 

Koloa Union Church has TWO Facebook pages:

Public Page:

This page is designed as an outreach tool and primarily targets people outside our church family, and includes information about Koloa Union Church, upcoming events, and contact information. You can help by sharing the link to the page with anyone, especially those to whom you have invited to a worship service or a special event:

Click Here to visit page

Ohana Group Page:

This is a private page that we share with one another as a church family: a fun place to share photos and stories, and also a way for us to stay in touch and post invitations and reminders. This group page is specifically for church members and friends.

If you would like to join the “ohana page” all you need to do is contact the church office. We will then send you an “invite” and you’re in!

Yard Maintenance

Join Julia Every Other Monday!

Julia Liua recently told Kahu that she would like to volunteer regular time to make the church grounds look as welcoming and inviting as possible!

Julia will be at the church every other Monday, from 9-11 a.m., to tackle whatever yard work is needed. She started Monday, April 6 and plans to be at the church April 20, May 4, 18 and so on.

Please join her whenever you have time. Bring work gloves and yard tools, especially large and small clippers. Contact Julia at (650) 207-4353 and/or the church office if you are able to help.

You may have noticed that the berm which separates the church parking lot from Poipu Road has recently been cleared of overgrown bushes and weeds. In the coming weeks, we will be repairing the lighting and irrigation, and also planting ground cover and plants.

We will keep you posted on progress and on specific help that might be needed!

Eastside Book Group

The book of Joy

Eastside Book Group Wednesdays 6 p.m. Beginning with Dinner

Taka Harada and Ellen Caringer invite you to their home in the Wailua Homesteads to discuss “The Book of Joy” by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu. The group began on April 29 and goes through May 20. You can come for any or all of the discussions. Please RSVP by Sunday for each Wednesday gathering. Contact Tiffany Marrotte or Ellen Caringer for address and additional details.

Celebrating Our Mothers

Poster for Youth Gathering in Poipu Koloa Union Church

Aunties, Tutus & Sisters Too! Mother’s Day Lunch Sunday, May 10, 2026 After the Worship Service The men of the church are having lunch catered for the ladies. Attention all men: Please see Michael Horning if you can contribute to the cost of lunch.

Mother’s Day Recipe 1 heart full of love 1 head full of understanding 1 large pinch of courage 3 healing cups of patience (!) 2 cups of laughter 1 handful of generosity 4 scoops of fun Mix well; sprinkle with kindness; add plenty of faith; heat with sunshine and spread over a lifetime for a plateful of joy and warm memories.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, May 13th 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the Smith Memorial Parsonage Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired). Lectio Divina typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Alan Akana Gallery

Spring Aha Mokupuni May 16, 2026 Church of the Pacific Princeville

Saturday, May 16

10-11 a.m. KAUCC Annual Meeting Come and see how KAUCC functions!
11-12 a.m. Worship Service Our Annual Celebration of Ministry
12-1 p.m. Lunch Provided by Church of the Pacific
1-3 p.m. Aha Mele Our Annual Celebration of Music

RSVP by May 10! Sign up on the church bulletin board if you plan to eat lunch at noon.

Youth Gatherings

Youth Gatherings For Middle School & High School Youth

Sunday, May 17 & 24 4:45 – 7:00 p.m.

Youth: Please RSVP to Aunty Tiffany by the previous Wednesday if you plan to attend!

Adult Volunteers: Please consider volunteering your home or providing a dish or two for a meal.

Salvation Army Lunch

A DAY TO CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT

Pentecost is the day we celebrate the Holy Spirit among us! Pentecost reminds us of the unexpected possibilities when we allow our faith and our words to build one another up.

Invite friends and family members to this special day!

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

We will welcome new members into the Church!

COLOR OF PENTECOST IS RED.

Our deacons will decorate the sanctuary in RED.

You are invited to wear something RED. (But wear whatever you feel like wearing!)

STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH: SPECIAL MISSION OFFERING

“Sent Forth in Love”

Each year on Pentecost we collect the “Strengthen the Church” offering, which is one of the annual offerings of the United Church of Christ. STC supports the expansion of ministry and growth of the local UCC congregations, helps create a just world for all by investing in new ministries. Your gifts will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches, develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.

You can give by placing a donation in the envelope provided in your bulletin on Pentecost Sunday, by sending a check to the church office, or by giving online (with “Strengthen the Church” or “STC” on the note section of your check or the “Comment” box on the donation page of the church website).

Thank you for giving generously! Donate Now

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, May 26th

Breakfast in Koloa Village! Break+Feast Upstairs 5460 Koloa Road Please sign up. Because we make reservations, we need a definite head count. You may place your order ahead of time. Identify yourself as part of the Koloa Union Church group Join us on the 4th Tuesday of the month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! Location to be determined each month

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

Kauai Pride Parade and Festival

Kauai Pride Parade and Festival Saturday, June 7, 2025

Saturday, June 6, 2026

_______________________

All 4 Open & Affirming Congregations

will walk together this year!

Hanapepe UCC

Kapaa UCC

Koloa Union Church

Lihue UCC*

_______________________

Parade: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

(Participants meet at 9 a.m.)

Beginning at the Vidinha Stadium Parking Lot

Ending at the Historic County Building

Festival: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lihue: Historic County Building Lawn

Koloa Union Church will have a resource table

where we will tell others about our church

and invite them to join us!

 

 

What To Bring

Consider bringing sunscreen, water bottles, umbrellas!

Wear your KUC Pride t-shirt if you have one.

Otherwise, bright colors are great!

 

 

Please Sign Up

 

See the signup sheet at church for the following:

 

Participation in the Parade (9-11 a.m.)

Resource Table Setup (9-10 a.m.)

Volunteer for shift #1 at the table (10 a.m.-Noon)

Volunteer for shift #2 at the table (Noon-2 p.m.)

Resource Table Cleanup (2 p.m.)

*We welcome Lihue UCC as the newest congregation

to become “Open & Affirming” in the Hawaii

Conference of the United Church of Christ!

Kauai Pride Parade Tshirts

Aloha Hour

June Aloha Hour Sunday, June 7th

We usually enjoy Aloha Hour right after the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we can have Aloha Hour more often. Please check in with Penny Osuga, our Aloha Hour chairperson, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering.

Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food.

Celebrating Our Mothers

Aunties, Tutus & Sisters Too!

Mother’s Day Brunch Sunday, May 10, 2026 After the Worship Service The men of the church will prepare and serve the meal!

Mother’s Day Recipe 1 heart full of love 1 head full of understanding 1 large pinch of courage 3 healing cups of patience (!) 2 cups of laughter 1 handful of generosity 4 scoops of fun Mix well; sprinkle with kindness; add plenty of faith; heat with sunshine and spread over a lifetime for a plateful of joy and warm memories.

Remembrances

Remembering Tamiko The sanctuary flowers on April 19 were dedicated in memory of Tamiko Asahi, a long-time member of Koloa Union Church. Wishing Tamiko a heavenly 99th birthday!

Jacqueline Mampel Sunday, May 17 1:30 p.m. Memorial Service Prospect Congregational United Church of Christ 1919 East Prospect Street, Seattle, WA, 98112 Reception following the service Please contact the Mampel family to participate on Zoom.

Roy Kimo Marrotte Saturday, May 30 9 a.m. Visitation 10:30 Service Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 4561 Ohia Street in Kapaa

Carol Mattern Saturday, May 30 1:00 p.m. Memorial Service Santa Monica, CA Please contact Sharon Mattern for more information.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 reading each Sunday.

Readings for May 10: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Ascension Day, May 14: Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47; Psalm 93; Ephesians 1:15-23; Luke 24:44-53

Readings for May 17: Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

Readings for May 24: Acts 2:1-21; Numbers 11:24-30; Psalm 104:24-36; 1 Corinthians 12:3-13; John 20:19-23; John 7:37-39

Readings for May 31: Genesis 1:1-2:5; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20

Help us with the newsletter!

The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.

Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!

Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!

Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!

Church News: April 10th, 2026

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

Welcome New Members

On Sunday, March 22, we welcomed five new members:

Shyrl Matias, Lynn Van Vactor, Norm Van Vactor, Scotty Sagum, Rose McCullough.

Deacons Michael Horning and Debbie Gunning joined Kahu in welcoming them in the photo above.

Koloa Facebook Pages

 

Koloa Union Church has TWO Facebook pages:

Public Page:

This page is designed as an outreach tool and primarily targets people outside our church family, and includes information about Koloa Union Church, upcoming events, and contact information. You can help by sharing the link to the page with anyone, especially those to whom you have invited to a worship service or a special event:

Click Here to visit page

Ohana Group Page:

This is a private page that we share with one another as a church family: a fun place to share photos and stories, and also a way for us to stay in touch and post invitations and reminders. This group page is specifically for church members and friends.

If you would like to join the “ohana page” all you need to do is contact the church office. We will then send you an “invite” and you’re in!

Yard Maintenance

Join Julia Every Other Monday!

Julia Liua recently told Kahu that she would like to volunteer regular time to make the church grounds look as welcoming and inviting as possible!

Julia will be at the church every other Monday, from 9-11 a.m., to tackle whatever yard work is needed. She started Monday, April 6 and plans to be at the church April 20, May 4, 18 and so on.

Please join her whenever you have time. Bring work gloves and yard tools, especially large and small clippers. Contact Julia at (650) 207-4353 and/or the church office if you are able to help.

You may have noticed that the berm which separates the church parking lot from Poipu Road has recently been cleared of overgrown bushes and weeds. In the coming weeks, we will be repairing the lighting and irrigation, and also planting ground cover and plants.

We will keep you posted on progress and on specific help that might be needed!

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, May 13th 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the Smith Memorial Parsonage Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired). Lectio Divina typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Youth Gathering

Poster for Youth Gathering in Poipu Koloa Union Church

Youth Gathering For Middle School & High School Youth

Sunday, April 26 4:45 – 7:00 p.m. (Youth Group on April 12 is cancelled.) Koloa Union church Youth: Please RSVP to Aunty Tiffany by the previous Wednesday if you plan to attend! Adult Volunteers: Please consider volunteering your home or providing a dish or two for a meal.

Alan Akana Gallery

Alan Akana Gallery

Final Open House Reception

Sunday, April 26, 1 p.m. Church Members & Friends 2-5 p.m. Open to the Public

Visit by Appointment: The gallery continues to be open by appointment. Call or contact Kahu during the month of April if you would like to visit the gallery.

Future Opportunities: Our Deacons will continue to gift a greeting card of Kahu’s work to each first-time visitors to our worship services.

There will also be a box of greeting cards available on Sunday mornings beginning in May for those who wish to purchase greeting cards for a donation of $5 per card. Kahu will continue to provide cards to the church at cost. Proceeds will continue to go to the care and maintenance of the Smith Memorial Parsonage.

Discounts

Nearly everything in the gallery will be available for sale at least 50% off until we close.

Can You Help?

Please contact Penny Jessup if you are able to bring some food, provide entertainment, or help host at our final open house.

Invitation Click Here for the official invitation:

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, April 18th

Living Foods 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St. (near the west end of the Shops at Kukui`ula) Join us on the 4th Tuesday of the month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! RSVP on the sign-up sheet or by contacting the church office 3 Location to be determined each month

Salvation Army Lunch

April 29th – Looking for volunteers to serve a meal to hungry people on the west side!

You can carpool from the church or meet at the Hanapepe Salvation Army at 10:00 a.m. Please let Becky Sakimae know if you would like to volunteer to serve lunch. Koloa Union Church serves meals on 5th Wednesdays.

Quilt Dedication

April 29th – Looking for volunteers to serve a meal to hungry people on the west side!

After our church launched a capital campaign in 2015, Angela Dressel volunteered to make a hand-stitched quilt to be hung in our newly expanded sanctuary. In the midst of health issues (hers and husband Bill’s), a move to Colorado, and other hurdles to the project, Angela kept at it and has finally completed the quilt! Over eight years in the making, the piece is a triptych (in 3 pieces) called “Hovering over the Deep,” and will be dedicated on Sunday, May 3, during our worship service.

Angela is a Spiritual Director and fiber artist, whose work grows from liturgical tradition and lived experience. Her work carries a stained-glass sensibility, combining vibrant batiks and intricate top-stitching to explore presence, lineage, and the movement of the Holy Spirit within life’s formless spaces.

We hope you will join us for church on this special Sunday with Angela and Bill! Aloha Hour lunch will be served after the worship service.

Aloha Hour

May Aloha Hour Sunday, May 3

Following the Worship Service Join us for lunch as we welcome church members, Bill and Angela Dressel, after we dedicate Angela’s quilt, “Hovering Over the Deep” during our worship service.

We usually enjoy Aloha Hour right after the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we can have Aloha Hour more often. Please check in with Penny Osuga, our

Aloha Hour chairperson, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

Celebrating Our Mothers

Aunties, Tutus & Sisters Too!

Mother’s Day Brunch Sunday, May 10, 2026 After the Worship Service The men of the church will prepare and serve the meal!

Mother’s Day Recipe 1 heart full of love 1 head full of understanding 1 large pinch of courage 3 healing cups of patience (!) 2 cups of laughter 1 handful of generosity 4 scoops of fun Mix well; sprinkle with kindness; add plenty of faith; heat with sunshine and spread over a lifetime for a plateful of joy and warm memories.

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS<br />
Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 reading each Sunday.

Readings for April 12: Acts 2:14-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

Readings for April 19: Acts 2:14-41; Psalm 116:1-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

Readings for April 26: Acts 2:42-27; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Readings for May 3: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Help us with the newsletter!

The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.

Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!

Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!

Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!

Church News: March 20th, 2026

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

Office Closure Date

The church office will be closed on Thursday, March 26 in observance of Prince Kuhio Day and on Monday, April 6 in observance of Easter Monday

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, March 24

Breakfast in Koloa Village! Break+Feast Upstairs 5460 Koloa Road You may place your order ahead of time. Identify yourself as part of the Koloa Union Church group Join us on the 4th Tuesday of the month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church!

Cybersecurity

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Wednesday, March 25 10 a.m. – noon

Stay healthy and safe with your digital device! Learn how to track health, prevent fails and prepare for emergencies. Just bring your device and your questions and join us! IT’S FREE! Connect with others in your community.

  1. Track steps, sleep, medications, set up emergency contacts.
  2. Use your device to improve safety, including emergency alerts.
  3. Prepare digitally for emergencies like tsunamis or hurricanes.
  4. and much more……

Lenten Series & Soup Supper

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Lenten Series & Soup Supper

This year during Lent we will be “exploring our family stories” through scripture, history and faith. We will start with a soup dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion created by leaders of the Hawaii Conference through story circles, video reflections, engaging discussions and Lenten practices.

Come and join us on Wednesday, March 25 for our last Soup Supper. Please sign up on the bulletin board.

Palm Sunday

Psalm Sunday Koloa Church

Palm Sunday March 29, 10:30 a.m. Celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus entering Jerusalem! Our Sunday School and youth will start the service off with the procession of the palms during the prelude and provide Sunday service. Children and youth: please arrive by 10 a.m. Those arriving late, please wait outside the main doors of the sanctuary until the procession of the palms is finished.

Maundy Thursday

Psalm Sunday Koloa Church

Maundy Thursday  April 2, 7 p.m.

On Maundy Thursday we commemorate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and reflect on his command to be loving servants to one another. This will be a time of Scripture reading, reflection, prayer, music, and the Lord’s Supper.

Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday and three days before Easter when Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. “Maundy” comes from the Old French word “mande” and the Latin “mandatum,” which means “mandate,” “command” or “commandment.” At the meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a demonstration of loving service and then said to them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Maundy Thursday

Psalm Sunday Koloa Church

Maundy Thursday  April 2, 7 p.m.

On Maundy Thursday we commemorate Jesus’ last supper with his disciples and reflect on his command to be loving servants to one another. This will be a time of Scripture reading, reflection, prayer, music, and the Lord’s Supper.

Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday and three days before Easter when Jesus shared a meal with his disciples. “Maundy” comes from the Old French word “mande” and the Latin “mandatum,” which means “mandate,” “command” or “commandment.” At the meal, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as a demonstration of loving service and then said to them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Easter Sunday

Psalm Sunday Koloa Church

WORSHIP SERVICE Celebrating the Resurrection of Christ! 10:30 a.m.

Be sure to arrive early for a good seat. Please remember that this is one of our Sunday morning services with high attendance.

Those who are able & willing are invited to park on the lawn just east of the parsonage or on Poipu and Waikomo Roads.

(Please do NOT park in the parsonage driveway)

EASTER EGG HUNT After Church

Middle schoolers and high schoolers will hide the eggs during Sunday school.

POTLUCK LUNCH After the Easter Egg Hunt in Moore Hall Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board if you are able to help with food and/or in the kitchen. All ages are invited as we gather for our Easter lunch!

Psalm Sunday Koloa Church
One Great Hour of Sharing OGHS

“Our Love Offering to the World” Easter Sunday

One Great Hour of Sharing is one of four special mission offerings of the United Church of Christ. This Lenten Offering supports the disaster, refugee, and development ministries of the United Church of Christ.

This offering helps fund health and education initiatives, strengthen agricultural development, and provide emergency relief when disaster strikes. OGHS sustains vital refugee ministries and supports both international and domestic disaster response, ensuring that help arrives quickly and compassionately.

This year’s theme “Our Love Offering to the World” is very relevant: OGHS supports Ukrainian refugees who have fled for safety, and victims of weather-related disasters in the U.S. and throughout the world.

The OGHS offering will be collected on Easter Sunday.

Offering envelopes will be provided.

Please indicate “OGHS” in the note section of your check or in the “Comments” box on our website donation page.

Thank you for considering a generous donation!

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

DONATE TODAY

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, April 8th 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the Smith Memorial Parsonage Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired). Lectio Divina typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS<br />
Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 reading each Sunday.

Readings for March 22: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45

Readings for March 29: Psalm 118: 1-29; Matthew 21:1-11; Isaiah 50:4-10; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66; Matthew 27:11-54

Maundy Thursday: Exodus 12:1-14; Psalm 116:1-19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-35

Good Friday: Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrew 10:16-25; Hebrew 4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

Holy Saturday: Job 14:1-14; Lamentations 3:1-24; Psalm 31:1-16; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66; John 19:38-42

Easter: Acts 10:34-43; Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-24; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10

Help us with the newsletter!

The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.

Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!

Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!

Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!

Church News: February 4th, 2026

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

Movie Night for Adults

Adult Movie Night Koloa Union Church

Adults and teenagers are welcome! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Youth Bake Sale

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Donations of your baked goods AND purchasing baked goods help support our youth activities throughout the year–bowling, Koke`e retreats, `Aha Pae`aina youth events, to name a few. Enjoy delicious baked donations made by our youth and their ohana.

Mask Making Merriment

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

***NOTE: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is on FEBRUARY 17

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, February 11 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the Smith Memorial Parsonage Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired). Lectio Divina typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Let’s Go Camping!!

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne"

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Henry Opukaha`ia Offering

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, February 15th

Each year on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Henry Opukahaia’s death (February 17), churches in the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ are encouraged to honor the legacy of the young Hawaiian credited with inspiring the Sandwich Islands Mission which brought Christianity to Hawaii. The Henry Opukahaia Scholarship Fund supports the training of clergy for Christian mission by providing financial aid for seminary students who have in-care standing with their association and continuing education funds for active ministers.

Gifts will be received during the worship service on February 15. You may also donate by sending checks to P.O. Box 536, Koloa, HI, 96756 or visiting the donation page on our website. (Please write “Henry O” on the note section of your check or in the comment section on the donation page.)

Please consider a generous donation.

Valentines Day Luncheon

Pancake Supper And Mask Contest

February 17, 2026 6:00 P.M. Moore Hall

Kahu and our Deacons are planning our next membership gathering for those wishing to learn more about our church. Attendees will learn about our history, our congregation, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more! There will be opportunities to ask questions about our church. There is no expectation for participants to join the church. However, those who participate will be able to join as church members in the near future.

Ash Wednesday Service

Ash wednesday service koloa union church

February 18, 2026 7:00 P.M.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. Each year we gather at the church for a time of hearing the Scriptures, prayer and meditation, followed by the placing of ashes on our foreheads. The ashes serve as a reminder of our mortality and our need for Christ and God’s loving presence in the midst of life and death.

 

February Youth Gatherings

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, February 24

Living Foods 2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka St. (near the west end of the Shops at Kukui`ula) Join us on the 4th Tuesday of the month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! Location each month to be determined. RSVP on the sign-up sheet or by contacting the church office

Lenten Series & Soup Supper

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne"

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

This year during Lent we will be “exploring our family stories” through scripture, history and faith. We will start with a soup dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion created by leaders of the Hawaii Conference through story circles, video reflections, engaging discussions and Lenten practices. Come and join us on Wednesday during Lent. Sign up on the bulletin board.

Aloha Hour

March Aloha Hour Sunday, March 1st

Following the Worship Service We usually enjoy Aloha Hour right after the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we can have Aloha Hour more often. Please check in with Penny Osuga, our Aloha Hour chairperson, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

DONATE TODAY

Membership Gathering

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Membership Gathering March 15, Noon

Kahu and our Deacons are planning our next membership gathering for those wishing to learn more about our church. Attendees will learn about our history, our congregation, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more! There will be opportunities to ask questions about our church. There is no expectation for participants to join the church. However, those who participate will be able to join as church members in the near future.

Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board.  

A Note from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone for your generosity throughout 2025!

A special thanks to those who completed commitment cards for 2026. The Church Council is currently working on our budget (based on the total from the commitment cards) which will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on February 1st!

The 2026 offering envelopes have arrived and are available at the greeting table. If you do not see a box with your name and would like one, please see Penny.

You can leave a legacy! Indicating an amount or percentage to the church in your estate can guarantee a legacy for many generations in the future!

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 reading each Sunday.

Readings for February 8: Isaiah 58:9-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20

Readings for February 15: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

Readings for Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:1-17; Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10; Matthew 6:1-21

Readings for February 22: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Readings for March 1: Genesis 12:1-5; Psalm 121: Romans 4:1-17; John 3:1-17; Matthew 17:1-9

Help us with the newsletter!

The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.

Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!

Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!

Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!

Church News: January 16th, 2026

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

Congregational Renewal Cohort

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President of Pacific School of Religion (PSR), presented the Congregational Renewal Cohort program to members of our church on January 12.

The program is designed to support congregations in assessing and adapting their ministries to thrive in a changing world. PSR partners with religious congregations to strengthen their ministries, deepen relationships with their communities, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them. 

Congregations are asked to identify 3-5 congregants to participate in a 10-month-long, community-based learning journey on PSR Collective, a digital platform facilitated by leading theological experts from the PSR faculty. Participants should expect to commit at least 10-12 hours per month for the duration of the 10 month program. The next cohort will begin in September after an August orientation.

Please contact Kahu Akana if you are interested in the program.

For more information Click Here

Membership Gathering

March 15th 12:00pm

Kahu and our Deacons are planning our next membership gathering for those wishing to learn more about our church. Attendees will learn about our history, our congregation, benefits and responsibilities of membership, and more! There will be opportunities to ask questions about our church. There is no expectation for participants to join the church. However, those who participate will be able to join as church members in the near future.

Please see the signup sheet on the bulletin board. 

January Book Group

Kalaupapa Sunday

January 25th

Come and learn about the inspirational leaders who lived there… and helped others to thrive there!

Youth Gathering

Youth Gathering For Middle School & High School Youth

Sunday, January 25 4:45 – 7:00 p.m. Koloa Union church Youth: Please RSVP to Aunty Tiffany by the previous Wednesday if you plan to attend!

Adult Volunteers: Please consider volunteering your home or providing a dish or two for a meal.

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, January 27 8-9:30 a.m.

Breakfast in Koloa Village! Break + Feast 5460 Koloa Road Upstairs on Koloa Road You may place your order ahead of time. Identify yourself as part of the Koloa Union Church group Join us on the 4th Tuesday of the month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! Location each month to be determined. RSVP on the sign-up sheet or by contacting the church office

The Annual Meeting

The congregation will meet on Sunday, February 1, immediately after the worship service for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation. We ask all members to attend in order to have a quorum.

Some of the items on our agenda:

  • Vote for Officers of the church, Council Members, Deacons and Committee Chairs
  • Review and approve our budget for 2026
  • Receive reports from Kahu Akana and other church leaders
  • Receive our updated Church Directory
  • Hear about plans for 2026
  • A time for questions and answers

Aloha Hour We will enjoy our monthly Aloha Hour just before the annual meeting in Moore Hall. Join us for delicious food and heartfelt fellowship! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering. Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

*NOTES:

Committee chairpersons are reminded to submit your annual reports to the office today!

We are offering an electronic “annual report” and “church directory.” Please let office know if you would prefer digital copies.

February Youth Gatherings

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

In the last half of 2025, through the generosity of time and skills, Dan Giovanni and Michael Horning built a Prayers & Squares closet in Moore Hall. In January, the sewing team moved their sewing machines, fabric, quilts and supplies into the new closet. We also thank those who gave financial help for this project. Prayer quilts are more than blankets. They are the visible, tangible, physical evidence of faith: faith in God, faith in love, faith in prayer. Once a request for a quilt is received, the quilt is blessed with a prayer as a knot is tied by Kahu Alan; additional prayers knots are tied by the congregation. The finished quilt is then presented to the person needing our prayers.

DONATE TODAY

Supporting Immigrants and Refugees

As the federal government continues to send ICE agents into cities and towns, we want our church members to be aware of our rights at church, in our homes and communities.

Although we hope that our church will not be visited by immigration agents, here are a few steps which we have taken:

  • We have signage in the church office and pastor’s office/Sunday school room indicating that they are private spaces (and therefore immigration agents are not allowed in without a judicial search warrant).
  • We ask all congregants to say, “I exercise my right to remain silent,” if immigration agents show up to church and ask ANY questions (such as, “What is your name?” “Are you a citizen?” “Are there any non-citizens/ immigrants/ undocumented people among you?” “How many people are here?”).
  • We invite everyone to begin video-recording immigration agents if they show up during a worship service or other church event. We also ask you to keep your distance from agents and give them plenty of room so that they cannot justifiably claim that you are keeping them from doing their job.

Please click any of the links below to learn more:

UCC Resource

Hawaii Conference Article

Hui Aloha PowerPoint

“I exercise my right to remain silent.”

A Note from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone for your generosity throughout 2025!

A special thanks to those who completed commitment cards for 2026. The Church Council is currently working on our budget (based on the total from the commitment cards) which will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on February 1st!

The 2026 offering envelopes have arrived and are available at the greeting table. If you do not see a box with your name and would like one, please see Penny.

You can leave a legacy! Indicating an amount or percentage to the church in your estate can guarantee a legacy for many generations in the future!

Movie Night for Adults

Adult Movie Night Koloa Union Church

Adults and teenagers are welcome! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Youth Bake Sale

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Donations of your baked goods AND purchasing baked goods help support our youth activities throughout the year–bowling, Koke`e retreats, `Aha Pae`aina youth events, to name a few. Enjoy delicious baked donations made by our youth and their ohana.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, February 11 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. At the Smith Memorial Parsonage Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired). Lectio Divina typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu or Karen Johnson know if you plan to attend.

Let’s Go Camping!!

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne"

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Lenten Series & Soup Supper

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne"

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez

This year during Lent we will be “exploring our family stories” through scripture, history and faith. We will start with a soup dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a discussion created by leaders of the Hawaii Conference through story circles, video reflections, engaging discussions and Lenten practices. Come and join us on Wednesday during Lent. Sign up on the bulletin board.

Centennial Book

Now Available for $30

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup,

Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Contact the church office if you wish to purchase a copy.

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup, Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 reading each Sunday.

Readings for January 18: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

Readings for January 25: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

Readings for February 1: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12

Help us with the newsletter!

The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.

Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!

Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!

Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!

Church News: December 6th, 2025

Church Office Closed

The church office will be closed on:

Thursday, December 25th

Thursday, January 1st

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

Watch Our Most Recent Worship Service

You can click the button below to watch a video of a recent worship service:

Watch the most recent worship service

Watch ALL of Our Worship Services

Please Share!

Our online worship services are a great way to introduce people to Koloa Union Church…and provide inspiration and hope to friends and family!

Feel free to forward this email or send the YouTube link to anyone whom you think would enjoy watching our online worship service.

Share our worship service with even more people! You can also put the link of any video of our worship services directly onto your Facebook page and thereby introducing every one of your Facebook friends to our worship services and our church!

The Sundays of Advent

Be sure to join us during the next three Sundays of Advent, as individuals and families light the next three candles and reflect on the themes of. . .

Peace, Joy, Love

Holiday Community Outreach

We will deliver Christmas stockings filled with gift cards and goodies to families who are struggling financially. Please bring your spare change, cash or checks to feed the Outreach Jar that supports our holiday community outreach.

Funds for the Christmas Stockings will be collected through December 14th.

Girl Scouts

Koloa Union Church is proudly hosting Girl Scout Troop #4368. The troop has about 17 members, from 1st to 5th grade. They meet in Moore Hall twice a month. Koloa Union has hosted Girl Scout troops off and on for more than 25 years and we are happy to welcome our new troop!

Immigration Education For Churches

We Gather in the Name of Jesus

On Sunday, November 23, Ellen Caringer and Cathy Evans gave a presentation to the congregation regarding plans by the current Administration in Washington, D.C., to send immigration agents to churches and places of worship during the holidays. We also know of pastors who were breaking no laws who have recently been attacked and harmed by federal agents (including one colleague of Kahu Akana whom he knows in the San Francisco Bay Area). We have also been hearing many stories of citizens and immigrants who are in our country legally being arrested, physically harmed and detained in inhumane facilities.

Over the past couple of weeks, the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ has also informed church leaders throughout the state of the possibility of raids by immigration officers, the rights of churches, and the importance of being prepared. The United Church of Christ has also been publishing resources for churches during the year.

Although we hope that our church will not be visited by immigration agents, our church leadership felt it was important to make our congregation aware of the possibility and begin preparing for such incidents. Below are a few steps which we are taking:

  • We will have signage available in the church office and pastor’s office/Sunday school room indicating that they are private spaces (and therefore immigration agents are not allowed in without a judicial search warrant).
  • We ask all congregants to say, “I exercise my right to remain silent,” if immigration agents show up to church and ask ANY questions (such as, “What is your name?” “Are you a citizen?” “Are there any non-citizens/ immigrants/ undocumented people among you?” “How many people are here?”).
  • We invite everyone to begin video-recording immigration agents if they show up during a worship service or other church event. We also ask you to keep your distance from agents and give them plenty of room so that they cannot justifiably claim that you are keeping them from doing their job.

Please click any of the links below to learn more:

UCC Resource

Hawaii Conference Article

Hui Aloha PowerPoint

Stewardship Committee

A Note from the Stewardship Committee

Thank you to everyone for your generosity throughout 2025! We were able to do so much this year because of you! With your continued support throughout the month of December, we hope to end the year “in the black” with a little left over to begin the New Year with money in the bank!

A special thanks to those who completed commitment cards for 2026. The Church Council is currently working on our budget (based on the total from the commitment cards) which will be presented for approval at our Annual Meeting on February 1st!

You can leave a legacy! Indicating an amount or percentage to the church in your estate can guarantee a legacy for many generations in the future!

Scandinavian Stars

Our Prayers & Squares Ministry at Koloa Union Church uses strips of fabric to make these gorgeous stars. Cathy Evans helped our church develop this special ministry almost 10 years ago.

Cathy has made several humanitarian trips to Ukraine and other war torn countries with the nonprofit group, Hands On Global (HOG). In years past, our group has made and auctioned off quilts to raise funds to donate to HOG. This year we decided to make and sell these Scandinavian stars, with all proceeds being donated to HOG. Earlier this year we sold stars at Aha Paeaina in Kapaa making more than $1000 to donate to HOG. All the money raised from these stars buys tourniquets in HOG’s “Stop the Bleed” ongoing project. We will continue making and selling the stars each Sunday throughout the holiday season and beyond!

As the war continues, Koloa Union Church has not forgotten the people of Ukraine.

November Aloha Hour

Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy

Sunday, December 7

Following the Worship Service

We usually enjoy Aloha Hour right after the worship service on the first Sunday of each month. If there is more interest (and volunteers!), we can have Aloha Hour more often. Please check in with Penny Osuga, our Aloha Hour chairperson, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board for food contributions. Kitchen help is also needed for a successful gathering.

Everyone is welcome, whether or not you are able to bring food!

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS

Wednesday, December 10 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Location To Be Determined Lectio Divina is a time to silently reflect together on a repeated reading from the Bible and then share with one another about the experience (if so desired). Lectio Divina typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Please let Kahu know if you plan to attend.

Art Gallary

Summer Book Group Koloa Union Church "Jesus and John Wayne"

by Kristin Kobes Du Mez
Alan Akana Gallery

Centennial Book

Now Available for $30

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup,

Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Contact the church office if you wish to purchase a copy.

The Centennial Committee, Jeanie Odo (chair), Kahu, Penny Jessup, Penny Osuga, and JoAnne Machin, researched and gathered information over the last 4 years and have a completed a book with the history of Koloa Union Church. It is 22 pages of photos and texts of our 100 year history, on 8 by 11 inches of high quality semi-gloss pages in hardcover format.

Christmas Party

Koloa Union Church Christmas party

Youth Gathering

Youth Christmas Party For Middle School & High School Youth

Youth are invited to the parsonage for their annual Christmas party! Friends are welcome! RSVP: Youth are asked to RSVP to Aunty Tiffany for all youth events! Volunteers: See sign-up sheet if you can provide a meal for the youth or if you are interested in helping out in another way.

Be sure to save the dates for our other youth events!

Youth christmas church gathering holiday events
Youth christmas church gathering holiday events

Christmas Eve Service

Christmas Eve Service

Candles & Carols December 24 7:30 p.m. Christmas Carols Special Music The Christmas story Lighting of the Candles

Doors will open at 7 p.m. We anticipate a large crowd. Those wishing to sit together should come early.

Christmas Eve Service

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

December 21 and 24 Sunday Morning and Christmas Eve

This special offering, administered by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards, provides direct financial assistance to retired and active UCC authorized ministers and lay employees and their surviving spouses, including pension and health premium supplementation, emergency assistance, and Christmas “thank you” checks. Each year, UCC congregations throughout the country collect this offering to assist faithful servants of God who are facing financial difficulties. We not only share hope, peace, joy and love with them; but they, in turn, pass these things along to others in their communities and in the world.

We will collect the Christmas Fund offering on December 22 at Sunday morning service and December 24 Christmas Eve service. Offering envelopes will be provided. Please write checks to “Koloa Union Church” and write “Christmas Fund” on the note section of your check.

If you would like to make a donation online, please write “Christmas Fund” in the comment section. Thank You for Supporting The Christmas Fund!

Church Breakfast

Breakfast is on hiatus until January 27. In the meantime, enjoy all of the holiday festivities! We usually gather on the 4th Tuesday of the month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! Location each month to be determined.

Salvation Army Lunch

Looking for volunteers to serve a meal to hungry people on the west side! You can carpool from the church or meet at the Hanapepe Salvation Army at 10:00 a.m. Volunteer Dates:

Wednesday, December 31

Please let Becky Sakimae know if you would like to volunteer to serve lunch.

Prayers and Squares

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Prayers and Squares – Tuesday, January 6th, 2026 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers & Squares continues to meet in Moore Hall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. once a month on a Tuesday, where we spend most of our time promoting prayer by creating hand-tied quilts. Volunteers with all ranges of quilting experience may join for prayer, fellowship, stitching, and learning about quilting. The motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.” If you or someone in your ohana are in need of a tangible representation of prayer, please contact Debbie Gunning to request a quilt.

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January Book Group

Kauai Quilting Class Prayer Meeting Koloa

Movie Night for Adults

Adult Movie Night Koloa Union Church

Adults and teenagers are welcome! See the sign up sheet on the bulletin board.

Lectionary Readings

LECTIONARY READINGS
Weekly Readings from the Bible

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 reading each Sunday.

Readings for December 7: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Readings for December 14: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; Luke 1:46-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Readings for December 21: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25

Readings for Christmas Eve: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrew 1:1-12; John 1:1-14

Readings for Christmas Day: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20

Readings for December 28: Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrew 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23

Readings for New Year’s Eve and N.Y. Day: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelations 21:1-7; Matthew 25:31-46

Readings for January 4: Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:1-18

Readings for Epiphany: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

Help us with the newsletter!

The KUC Newsletter is how we stay in touch! We send out our Newsletter on a monthly basis in order to keep everyone updated on what is going on at Koloa Union Church.

Be sure to see the pictures and images! If you don’t see any photographs and images by now (like a picture of our church directly above), you are missing out! You can usually fix this issue by clicking “View images” (usually at the very top of the email) in order to see the great photos and images throughout the Newsletter!

Be sure to see ALL of the news! You may not be seeing all of the KUC Newsletter! Some email servers “clip” the message in order to save storage space, so be sure to click on “View entire message” if it appears (usually at the bottom of the email). Otherwise, you’ll be missing out on someof the news!

Add to the KUC Newsletter! Scroll to the bottom of this email to learn how to add any announcements to the Newsletter or add an email to receive future editions! The next edition of the Newsletter will be April 9. Deadline for articles is April 6 Early submissions are greatly appreciated!