Coronavirus and Church

Since the spread of coronavirus throughout the world and confirmed cases in the United States, I have talked to friends and colleagues on the mainland who have cancelled church due to the virus. I have also been approached by people at our church who are wondering if we are going to change the way we do things in order to stay healthy.

Our Deacons discussed this at our meeting last week and decided to continue having worship services and our regularly scheduled communion. If people begin getting sick on Kauai, we will likely change to another way of distributing the elements or stop serving communion altogether until the virus in under control. I also talked to Penny Osuga about Aloha Hour, which will continue until further notice.

In the meantime, here are some suggestions which should apply whenever you are at church, even without the coronavirus:

• If you are feeling sick (or even if you feel like you might be coming down with something), stay home and do not attend church. You can ask Penny Osuga to send you a copy of the bulletin as an email attachment and you can watch the message (sermon) almost every week online.
• If you cough or sneeze, cover your mouth completely and face away from people and food.
• Wash your hands before eating, touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
• Wash your hands before preparing or serving food, and before touching cooking, serving or eating utensils.
• Consider hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
• Please wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before Aloha Hour. I’ve asked Penny to look into having hand sanitizer available for people as they enter Moore Hall.
• After washing your hands in a public restroom, use a paper towel when touching faucets, light switches and door handles.
• When greeting others at church or “passing the peace” at the end of the worship service, feel free to refrain from touching if you feel so inclined. If someone attempts to shake your hand or hug you, you can politely say, “I am not touching people during flu season.”
• During the closing song (The Queen’s Prayer), feel free to touch elbows rather than holding hands.
• When being served communion, hold open both hands so that I can place a piece of bread in your hands with out touching them. When dipping your bread in the cup, hold the bread at one end and dip the other end of the bread into the cup just enough to get a few drops of juice without touching the juice with your fingers.
• Parents, please be responsible for your children.
• Use common sense.

If there are any changes due to the spread of the virus, I will send an email to everyone as soon as those changes are made. Let us pray for individuals, families and communities who have been affected by illness…and for an end of the coronavirus.

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana

Through April 1

We will begin with a simple bread and soup supper, followed by a time of discussion and reflection based on the reading for the week from Parker Palmer’s book, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. You don’t need to read the book, but if you want to follow along and spend some time reflecting on your own during Lent, there will be 10 copies of the book (while supplies last) on the Deacon’s cabinet in church beginning this Sunday. Just leave $15 cash or a check if you want to take a book.

Please sign up on the Lenten Soup Supper sheet on the bulletin board at church for the Wednesdays you plan to attend! We want to make sure we make enough soup for everyone.

Please also consider signing up to bring a pot of soup and some bread on a Wednesday evening.

 

MEN’S BREAKFAST  The men of the church are enjoying their weekly breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Kalapaki Joe’s in Poipu every Tuesday except the 4th Tuesday of the month. Church breakfasts for men and women are on the 4th Tuesday of every month, 7:30 a.m. at Holoholo Grill in the Koloa Landing Complex.

COCONUT WIRELESS  Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ).

LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)  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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Genesis 12:1-5; Psalm 121; Romans 4:1-17; John 3:1-17, Matthew 17:1-9.

Through April 1

We will begin with a simple bread and soup supper, followed by a time of discussion and reflection based on the reading for the week from Parker Palmer’s book, On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. You don’t need to read the book, but if you want to follow along and spend some time reflecting on your own during Lent, there will be 10 copies of the book (while supplies last) on the Deacon’s cabinet in church beginning this Sunday. Just leave $15 cash or a check if you want to take a book.

Please sign up on the Lenten Soup Supper sheet on the bulletin board at church for the Wednesdays you plan to attend! We want to make sure we make enough soup for everyone.

Please also consider signing up to bring a pot of soup and some bread on a Wednesday evening.

 

MEN’S BREAKFAST  The men of the church are enjoying their weekly breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Kalapaki Joe’s in Poipu every Tuesday except the 4th Tuesday of the month. Church breakfasts for men and women are on the 4th Tuesday of every month, 7:30 a.m. at Holoholo Grill in the Koloa Landing Complex.

COCONUT WIRELESS  Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ).

LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)  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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Genesis 2:15-3:7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11.

“MAHALO NUI” from Kahu

Thank you so very much to everyone who helped and attended our Valentine’s Party at the Smith Memorial Parsonage on Sunday afternoon! It was an honor having Michael DeMotta, Curator of Living Collections at National Tropical Botanical Garden, speak about the maiapilo flower, which I recently finished painting. Please stop by the gallery and see the framed original and prints, and be sure to ask for your free gift of our maiapilo postcard, which features a photograph of this remarkable flower which I took in July 2018.

Kahu Alan Akana

 

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

KAHU’S ANNIVERSARY  On Sunday, we will celebrate Kahu Alan Akana’s 6th year with us as our pastor! Please come and celebrate with us.

COCONUT WIRELESS  Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ).

LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)  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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9.

Coming up….

ALL CHURCH BREAKFAST  Church members and friends are invited to breakfast on Tuesday, February 25, 7:30 a.m. We gather monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at Holoholo Grill in the Kōloa Landing complex. The men meet for breakfast Tuesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. at Kalapaki Joe’s in Poipu every Tuesday except the 4th Tuesday of the month.

PANCAKE SUPPER/SHROVE TUESDAY/MARDI GRAS  Tuesday, February 25, 6 p.m. Join us in Moore Hall on this day before Ash Wednesday as we observe Shrove Tuesday/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras/ Pancake Tuesday. This day can be traced back to 1000 AD and is a time to feast in order to consume all restricted food during the Lenten season.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE  Wednesday, February 26, 7 p.m. We mark Ash Wednesday as the first day of Lent. It follows Shrove Tuesday and is traditionally a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for receiving or reaffirming baptism at Easter.

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“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, an Open and Affirming (ONA) Congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.  Please contact the church office if you would like to have our weekly news sent directly to your inbox. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!

ALL CHURCH BREAKFAST January 28

The men’s winter breakfast has begun. Meet them at 7:30 a.m. Kalapaki Joe’s in Poipu. The men meet there for breakfast every Tuesday but the 4th Tuesday of the month. Church men and women meet on the 4th Tuesday, 7:30 a.m. at the Holoholo Grill in the Kōloa Landing complex.

SALVATION ARMY LUNCH

The next time our church is scheduled to serve lunch at the Salvation Army in Hanapepe is Wednesday, January 29. Volunteers who carpool usually meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. Please check in with Suzanne Pearson if you can assist.

COCONUT WIRELESS

Click HERE to see the latest issue of the Coconut Wireless (the weekly e-news from the Hawai`i Conference of the United Church of Christ).

LECTIONARY READINGS (Old & New Testament Readings for the Week)

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 of them on the following Sunday. This week’s readings are Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23.

PARKING NOTES

Thanks to all who are able and have been making parking more manageable on Sunday mornings! Those who have been carpooling or parking at the school and on Waikomo Road have made a big difference in making room for the elderly, our visitors, and those who have trouble walking.

Coming up….

PRAYERS & SQUARES

Prayers & Squares is our ministry promoting prayer using hand-tied quilts. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month in Kahu’s office, 1-3 p.m. All sewers and non-sewers are welcome! Next gathering February 4.