100 Years of Aloha 1923-2023

Be sure to mark these two big events on your calendar now:

• Saturday, July 29: Koloa Plantation Days Parade: Koloa Union Church will be the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade!
• Sunday, July 30: Centennial Celebration and Luncheon

Centennial Fundraising

In order to help pay for the costs, the Centennial Committee is selling two items on Sunday mornings until they are sold out:

• Christmas Tree Ornaments: These shiny, durable, solid metal ornaments with our centennial logo printed on both sides come with a bright red ribbon to make it easy to hang on your tree (or anywhere else you like) for years to come!
• Centennial T-shirts: These 100% cotton white t-shirts are printed with our centennial logo printed on the chest.

The cost for an ornament or t-shirt is $20 apiece. Just think of all the people you know who would appreciate an ornament or t-shirt!

Additional gifts to help cover the costs of the centennial may be directed to the “Centennial Fund”—on the note section of your check or the “Comment” section when giving online.

Rev. Tana Roseboro

Visiting this Sunday, January 15

10:30 a.m. Worship Service
Rev. Roseboro’s Message: “Love in Action”

2:00 p.m. Presentation
“Theological Education for Leadership”
Pacific School of Religion

We are blessed to have the Rev. Tana Roseboro visiting Koloa Union Church from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, this Sunday during Martin Luther King, Jr., weekend!

The afternoon presentation will be for any in the community who are interested in learning about the program, those currently taking courses, certificate holders, and those interested in supporting students financially or by facilitating a cohort on Kauai. Theological Education for Leadership provides progressive, accessible Christian theological education year-round through special courses and seminars for clergy, laity, and spiritual seekers. 

Rev. Roseboro is the Program Coordinator for the school’s Theological Education for Leadership program. She is an educator who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and a Master of Arts in Teaching, both from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC. She received her Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in May 2018. Currently, she is working on her Ph.D. in religion and philosophy with a concentration in women’s spirituality. She is ordained in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) and has standing in The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. She is also in the process of holding standing in the United Church of Christ.

Invite your friends and family!

Middle & High School Youth

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Kalaupapa Sunday

January 22

A Time to Reflect on the Story of Kalaupapa

Kahu Akana & Taka Harada will share about their experiences & reflections. Taka will share about his brother who lived at Kalaupapa as a patient, his many trips to the peninsula, and poetry and songs of Kalaupapa.

The Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ has designated the 4th Sunday of January as “Kalaupapa Sunday.” It is a time to remember, commemorate and honor all the patients of Kalaupapa, many of whom came from or had connections to our families and churches. The date was chosen in January to commemorate the landing of the first people exiled to the Kalaupapa peninsula in January of 1866.

To learn more about Kalaupapa, click the link below. The page includes a message from Kahu and poetry by Taka!

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, January 24 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Kauai Poke Co. at Poipu Bay

2250 Ainako Street in Poipu

(Next to Poipu Bay Golf Course)

Directions:

Drive pass the Grand Hyatt Resort.

Make the next right on Ainako Street.

Turn left into the driveway.

You’ve gone too far if you arrive at Shipwreck Beach.

Park in the back if the front parking lot is full.

Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church!

Location each month to be determined. Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

Prevent Suicide Kauai.org

Kaua`i Association
United Church of Christ

Presentation
Suicide 101: Signs, Prevention, Resources

Tuesday, January 24, 5:30 p.m.
Patricia Wistinghausen (Co-chair for Prevent Suicide Kauai Task Force)

Tiffany Marrotte is a member of PSK Task Force and has organized this event for the KAUCC.

All members and friends of UCC Churches on Kauai are invited to attend the presentation by Zoom. Special registration is required to attend!

Please contact Penny at the church office if you would like to register.

Annual Church Meeting

Members are encouraged to attend.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The congregation will meet on Sunday, January 29, after the worship service for the Annual Meeting of the Congregation. We ask members to attend in order to have a voting 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 2023
• Receive reports from Kahu Akana and other church leaders
• Receive our updated Church Directory
• Hear about plans for 2023, including our kitchen remodel
• A time for questions and answers

NOTE: Committee chairpersons are reminded to submit your annual reports to the office by January 15.

Youth Fundraiser Bake Sale

Support Our Youth Ministry

On February 12

Plan to purchase a cake, pie, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or whatever else our youth bring to the bake sale!

If you would like to donate a baked item, please be aware of the following guidelines…

• Follow good hygiene practices while preparing, baking and packaging: wash your hands, wear a mask if you have been exposed to illness, do not participate if you might have a serious contagious illness, such as Covid-19, influenza, etc.
• Baked goods must be individually wrapped for sale in food storage bags or containers and/or wrapped with plastic or wax paper. No part of the baked good should be exposed.
• All baked goods must be marked with the following information: 
• The item (such as chocolate chip cookies with macadamia nuts)
• Any hidden allergens that are not obvious (such as nuts, peanut butter)
• Optional: list of ingredients
• Name of the person who made/donated it
• Suggested price

NOTE: Foods that require refrigeration are NOT acceptable

Please bring baked goods to church before the worship service begins. Contact Tiffany Marrotte if you have any questions about the youth bake sale.

Thank you for supporting our youth ministry!

Ash Wednesday Service

FEBRUARY 22, 7 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.

NOTE: There will be no lectio divina in February. All are encouraged to attend the Ash Wednesday service.

2023 C.A.P.S Guidelines

FACE MASKS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED OUTDOORS.

Face masks are now optional any time you are outdoors at church. This

includes the patio area where you may choose to sit during a worship service.

THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED INDOORS MOST OF THE TIME.

You are asked to wear a face mask before entering the sanctuary and Moore Hall for worship services. Kahu or a Deacon will let you know when you may remove your face mask.

Students, teachers and volunteers are asked to wear face masks in the Sunday school room until instructed otherwise.

If you are visiting staff or volunteers indoors, please check before entering if they would like for you to wear a face mask.

You do not need to wear a face mask indoors when gathering with a small group who are all part of your family or social bubble.

PLEASE BRING A FACE MASK WITH YOU.

It is best to have a face mask handy in case you need one even if you don’t plan to use it. We will do our best to always have a supply on hand in case you forget yours.

PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO STAY HEALTHY.

The best way to keep from spreading coronavirus and other contagious diseases is to stay healthy yourself, so let’s keep washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, and wearing a face mask in the presence of strangers and those who might be sick.

PLEASE CONSIDER THE COMFORT LEVEL OF OTHERS.

Please be sensitive to the concerns, beliefs and practice of others. Rather than assuming another person has the same comfort level as you, it is better to ask such questions as:

• Would you prefer that I wear a face mask?
• May I shake your hand?
• Can I give you a hug?

Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe and healthy over the holidays!

Alan Akana Gallery

Open & Affirming

A Gift of Support And a Letter of Thanks

Since becoming an Open & Affirming (ONA) Congregation in 2019, Koloa Union Church has been donating a small gift each year to the ONA Coalition in order to support more churches in opening their doors fully to everyone, including those in the LGBTQ+ Community. In December, our Church Council decided to give $250 to the Coalition.

Last week, we received a nice thank you note from the Rev. Derek Terry, who is the new ONA Coalition President. In his letter are the following words:

“Thank you for putting your hope into action by donating to the Coalition…..It’s because of your faithful giving that we are able to continue advocating and teaching throughout the entire United Church of Christ. We recently certified ONA church #1,800 and the number continues to grow. Every month, new congregations join our movement. Our ambitious program of webinars, workshops and coaching is bringing churches together and opening up new possibilities for ministry with and for LGBTQ+ neighbors. The results: an unprecedented growth in the number of Open and Affirming congregations in the United Church of Christ, and a revival of existing ONA churches who through the Coalition’s ministry are discovering radical and effective ways to work in their communities for justice, freedom and dignity. By giving to the Coalition, and by taking action in your church and community, you are growing our movement in numbers and spirit. The staff and Leadership Team of the Open and Affirming Coalition thank you and ask you to hold us in your hearts and in your prayers.”

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!

Mahalo Nui Loa Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

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 8: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17.
Readings for January 15: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42.
Readings for January 22: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23.
Readings for January 29: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12.
Readings for February 5: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20.
Readings for February 12: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37.

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

C.A.P.S Guidelines

FACE MASKS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED OUTDOORS.

Face masks are now optional any time you are outdoors at church. This

includes the patio area where you may choose to sit during a worship service.

THEY ARE STILL REQUIRED INDOORS MOST OF THE TIME.

You are asked to wear a face mask before entering the sanctuary and Moore Hall for worship services. Kahu or a Deacon will let you know when you may remove your face mask.

Students, teachers and volunteers are asked to wear face masks in the Sunday school room until instructed otherwise.

If you are visiting staff or volunteers indoors, please check before entering if they would like for you to wear a face mask.

You do not need to wear a face mask indoors when gathering with a small group who are all part of your family or social bubble.

PLEASE BRING A FACE MASK WITH YOU.

It is best to have a face mask handy in case you need one even if you don’t plan to use it. We will do our best to always have a supply on hand in case you forget yours.

PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO STAY HEALTHY.

The best way to keep from spreading coronavirus and other contagious diseases is to stay healthy yourself, so let’s keep washing our hands, using hand sanitizer, and wearing a face mask in the presence of strangers and those who might be sick.

PLEASE CONSIDER THE COMFORT LEVEL OF OTHERS.

Please be sensitive to the concerns, beliefs and practice of others. Rather than assuming another person has the same comfort level as you, it is better to ask such questions as:

• Would you prefer that I wear a face mask?
• May I shake your hand?
• Can I give you a hug?

Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe and healthy over the holidays!

Centennial Events & Fundraiser

100 Years of Aloha 1923-2023 Centennial Events & Fundraiser

The Centennial Committee has been meeting for nearly 3 years in order to plan the very best celebration in 2023!

The two big events are:

• Saturday, July 29: Koloa Plantation Days Parade
• Sunday, July 30: Centennial Celebration and Luncheon

Be sure to save these dates on your calendar! There will be lots of music, food, gifts, and a beautiful memory book of the past century. We also plan to remodel our church kitchen during the year as part of our celebration.

In order to help pay for the costs, the Centennial Committee will be selling two items on Sunday mornings until they are sold out:

• Christmas Tree Ornaments: These are round, shiny, durable, solid metal ornaments with our centennial logo printed on both sides. Each ornament comes with a bright red ribbon to make it easy to hang on your tree for years to come!
• Centennial T-shirts: These are 100% cotton white t-shirts with our centennial logo printed on the chest. You can show off our centennial all year, wear the shirt in the parade or when representing Koloa Union Church at an island-wide gathering of the Kauai Association of the United Church of Christ!

The cost for an ornament or t-shirt is $20 apiece.

Just think of all the people for whom you might want to get one more Christmas gift! Additional gifts to help cover the costs of the centennial, including the kitchen remodel, may be directed to the “Centennial Fund.” (Drawings of the kitchen will be available in early 2023.)

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

To Be Collected on December 18, 24 & 25

Thank You for Supporting The Christmas Fund!

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 18, 24 and 25. 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 note section.

Congratulations!

Alan Akana Gallery

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 18th, 10:30 a.m.

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Love” As We Prepare Our Hearts for Christmas

Christmas Eve Service

December 24th, 7:30 p.m. Music & Readings

Join Us for a very special Christmas Eve service with lots of special music and the reading of the Christmas story.

Pandemic Guidelines for Christmas Eve:

• Please wear face masks indoors during the entire service.
• Face masks will be optional anywhere outdoors, including on the patio.
• We will not observe social distancing requirements: attendees may sit in any of the seats.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. Because this is our first in person Christmas Eve service since 2019, we anticipate a decent crowd. Those wishing to sit together should come early.

Christmas Day Service

Christmas Day Service
Holy Communion

Sunday, December 25 10:30 a.m.

Join Us for a very special Christmas Day service with lots of special music, reflections on the Christmas story, and Holy Communion. Our regular Sunday morning guidelines will be in effect on Christmas Morning.

• Please wear face masks until the service begins.
• Please sit 6 feet from others.
• Masks are no longer required outdoors.

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!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

Prayers and Squares

Youth Christmas Party

Everyone had a wonderful time at the parsonage! Lots of laughs, games, music and gift exchange!

Delicious food, thanks to Aunty Chel!!

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

Holiday Survey

Holiday Worship Survey

Thank you for those who completed our survey!

Here are some important things we learned from the survey:

• Most people are quite happy with our worship services.
• Kahu’s messages and musical offerings were marked “especially liked” more than other parts of the worship service.
• Most respondents look forward to getting things back to pre-pandemic “normal,” including: sitting together, no more face masks, congregational singing, unison readings, etc.
• Most would plan to attend an in-person Christmas Eve service in the 7-7:30 timeframe.
• Although there are some who would not attend a Christmas Eve service if we lifted all pandemic requirements for the evening, others prefer lifting all requirements and an equal number prefer sitting anywhere as long as people are masked.
• Only one person indicated that they are not concerned at all about Covid-19 in a crowded space. Others still have some concerns regarding their health. Nearly forty percent marked that they are not concerned “as long as there are reasonable pandemic requirements.”

The Deacons greatly appreciate those who took the time to take the survey. The results gave them some helpful data on which they considered in their decisions in moving forward during the holiday season.

Prayers and Squares

Tuesday, December 6, 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers and Squares is a ministry promoting prayer by creating beautiful hand-tied quilts and offering them to people in crisis or those whom we wish to offer a special aloha. A prayer is said with each knot that is tied in the quilt. When recipients put the quilts it over themselves, they are covering themselves with our prayers. Our motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.”

To request a quilt for church members or friends in crisis, call Debbie Gunning at 808-652-7899.                        

No experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. There are jobs for everyone to help in the making of the quilts…and everyone is invited to pray!

Mahalo nui loa!

Youth Christmas Party

YOUTH CHRISTMAS PARTY Calling all middle and high schoolers! Join us for a Christmas Party! Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Road December 11 4:45-7:00 p.m. Christmas Feast Fun & Games Good Conversation $5 Gift Exchange RSVP to Tiffany (808) 651-1397

Outreach

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet.

If you signed up to bring food items, please bring them to the church by this coming Sunday, November 20.

Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact Amber Strong or the church office.

The deadline for donations for this year’s stockings is December 4.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online. Contact Amber Strong or the church office.

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina December 14th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Join Kahu and Karen Johnson at the Smith Memorial Parsonage for a time to hear and respond to the Scriptures in a quiet, reflective and meaningful way. Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word. Please RSVP by December 11 if you plan to attend.

United Church of Christ Christmas Fund

To Be Collected on December 18, 24 & 25

Thank You for Supporting The Christmas Fund!

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 18, 24 and 25. 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 note section.

Alan Akana Gallery

2nd & 3rd Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent And Communion Sunday

December 4

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Peace” And Celebrate Holy Communion

December 11

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Joy” And Enjoy this Year’s Children and Youth Sharing the Theme of “JOY” With Us!

Christmas Eve Service

December 24 7:30 p.m.

Join Us for a very special Christmas Eve service with lots of special music and the reading of the Christmas story.

Pandemic Guidelines for Christmas Eve:

• Please wear face masks indoors during the entire service.
• Face masks will be optional anywhere outdoors, including on the patio.
• We will not observe social distancing requirements: attendees may sit in any of the seats.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. Because this is our first in person Christmas Eve service since 2019, we anticipate a decent crowd. Those wishing to sit together should come early.

Christmas Day Service

Christmas Day Services

Sunday, December 25 10:30 a.m.

Join Us for a very special Christmas Day service with lots of special music and reflections on the Christmas story. Our regular Sunday morning guidelines will be in effect on Christmas Morning.

• Please wear face masks until the service begins.
• Please sit 6 feet from others.

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!

Give Thanks

Youth Group Activity “Giving Thanks”

Our middle and high school youth met at the church on November 20 for a delicious thanksgiving dinner, games and a time to give thanks for the many blessings in their lives!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Baptism and New Members

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Sunday, November 20th 

Join us in our worship service as we give thanks for the many blessings in our lives and in our church!

You are invited to consider a special blessing and write it on a “Joys & Concerns” card before the worship service this coming Sunday morning.

The church office will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

May our hearts be filled with gratitude!

Holiday Worship Survey

Can we have just a few minutes of your time today?

Will you be around over the holidays? If so, would you consider taking a few minutes right now to fill our a brief survey in order to help Kahu and our Deacons plan a special holiday season according to your needs?

Your input is especially needed if you plan to attend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services.

Prayers and Squares

Comfort Prayer Quilts for Wilcox Hospital

Prayers and Squares is expanding its ministry: We are creating “Comfort Prayer Quilts” to be distributed at Wilcox Hospital by its chaplain, Rev. Deborah Ball. These quilts will be for patients who don’t have visitors and need to know that someone cares.

We could use your help! If you can sew a straight line and have a sewing machine quietly sitting in a closet, we will have packets available to take home and sew together. Each packet has precut 6 ½ inch squares. Instructions will be inside the bag. Basically you’ll sew 6 squares together to make a row. When you’ve make 8 rows, you sew these together to make a rectangle. Done! (The Prayers & Squares team will add borders and backing.)

Packets are available on the table in front of the office on Sundays. This is an ongoing project and your continued help is greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions, call Sheila at (717) 514-9020.

Mahalo nui loa!

Annual Holiday Outreach

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet.

If you signed up to bring food items, please bring them to the church by this coming Sunday, November 20.

Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact Amber Strong or the church office.

The deadline for donations for this year’s stockings is December 4.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online. Contact Amber S

Youth Group Activity

Miniature Golf

Alan Akana Gallery

Holiday Open House

Friday, 25th: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Please contact the gallery if you wish to visit after November 27.

All Plumeria Originals & Prints 50% Off or More

Everything Else 20% Off or More:

2023 Wall Calendars
Museum-Quality Prints
(Framed & Unframed)
New Greeting Cards
Coffee Mugs . . .
Proceeds fund the maintenance and repairs of the parsonage

Pandemic Guidelines

Please be vaccinated for Covid-19 or wear a face mask. We request that you sanitize your hands before entering. (Hand sanitizer provided) 6 Guest Maximum in the Gallery at a Time.

RSVP Suggested: Email [email protected]

Alan Akana Gallery is Located In The Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Rd. in Koloa (Parking available on the street and on the property.) 808-855-8806

Online discount of 20% during the holidays: Type discount code “20Percent” at checkout. www.alanakanagallery.com

First Sunday of Advent

November 27th

Join Us for Worship When We Light The “Candle of Hope” As We Anticipate the Coming of Christ.

Salvation Army Lunch

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!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Baptism and New Members

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

100 Years of Aloha

Koloa Union Church’s 99th
Anniversary Was on October 22!

Commitment Sunday
Was October 23.

On Sunday, we blessed the 2023 commitment cards of all those who brought them (or turned them in earlier). During the month of November, the budget committee will begin creating a budget for next year based on the overall financial commitments we have for the year. Your commitment card is so very helpful in this process! 

Thank you so much to all those who made financial commitments for 2023! If you missed getting your commitment in by Sunday and would still like to let us know your giving plans for next year, we ask that you turn in a commitment card by November 3.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the ministry of Koloa Union Church, especially as we begin our next 100 years!

Stewardship Talks

Thanks to those who gave stewardship talks over the past 2 weeks: telling us about the importance of Koloa Union Church in their families and in their lives and also reminding us about the importance of supporting our church as we begin our next century!

All Saints Day (Observed) Sunday, October 30

Join us in church on Sunday, October 30, as we give thanks for all the saints in our lives—those who are no longer with us and those who are still alive. You are invited to submit a prayer card giving thanks for a particular saint or group of saints for whom you are especially grateful.

Simply write the following: Name of person or group A quality of their life/lives for which you are grateful Kahu will read your card during the sharing of joys and concerns and give thanks for the saint in your life.

Membership Gathering

Date: Sunday, October 30

Time: 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Join Kahu Akana and our Deacons for a couple of hours right after church as they share about the United Church of Christ, our church’s history, the benefits and responsibilities of church membership, and what is involved in joining as a member of Koloa Union Church! Those who attend this gathering may then choose to join the membership of the church.

Bring a drink in your own drink container.

The Deacons will provide snacks.

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

Prayers and Squares

Tuesday, November 1

10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers and Squares is a ministry promoting prayer by creating beautiful hand-tied quilts and offering them to people in crisis or those whom we wish to offer a special aloha. A prayer is said with each knot that is tied in the quilt. When recipients put the quilts it over themselves, they are covering themselves with our prayers. Our motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.”

No experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. There are jobs for everyone to help in the making of the quilts…and everyone is invited to pray!

To request a quilt for church members or friends in crisis, call Debbie Gunning at 808-652-7899.

Annual Holiday Outreach

Thanksgiving Meal Boxes

We will be collecting and creating Thanksgiving meal boxes for 10 local families who are struggling to make ends meet. The signup sheet is on the Outreach Information Board just outside the main doors to the church.

Please sign up for food items and bring them to the church by November 20. Boxes will be packaged and delivered to the families by the Koloa Union Church Outreach Committee and Youth Group.

Christmas Stockings

We will stuff Christmas stockings with special items and gift cards for 10 local families who are struggling financially this year. We collect change, cash and checks throughout the year in our spare change jar. If you have some extra funds in your bank account or wallet, please consider an extra gift to make Christmas even merrier for a local family. If you know of any families who could use some extra help this holiday season, contact Amber Strong or the church office.

The deadline for donations is November 27.

Note: We primarily pay for this outreach through the change jar, to which people contribute throughout the year, and from personal donations. So be sure to look for spare change lying around at home or in your car.

You can contribute financially to this ministry by writing “Holiday Outreach” on the note section of your check made out to “Koloa Union Church” or on the “Comment” box when you give online.

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!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

Welcome Our New Member

Reverend Deborah Ball has been a resident of Hawaii since 1995. Prior to coming to Hawaii, Deborah served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa. She obtained her Master of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and her Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Under the UCC Board of Global Ministries, Deborah was a missionary for one year in Dumeguette in The Philippines, working with girls and women. Deborah has been a member of Church of the Crossroads on Oahu since 1995. She has served as an associate minister for children and youth at Church of the Crossroads and as Central Union Church’s Associate Minister for Community Outreach. Rev. Ball has served for decades as a chaplain in hospice, hospitals, long-term care, and palliative care settings. She moved to Kauai in March when she began a new ministry as Chaplain at Wilcox Medical Center. Deborah enjoys hiking, gardening, horseback riding and surfing.

More Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News

Youth Halloween Party

Sunday, October 16

4:45 – 7:00p.m.

BOO!!!!

Don’t forget to RSVP by Wednesday, October 12!

100 Years of Aloha

October 23 is Commitment Sunday!

This year’s stewardship theme is “100 Years of Aloha!” On Sunday, the Rev. Dr. David Popham, Conference Minister of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ thanked the congregation for our commitment as faithful stewards in making the world a better place! He highlighted each of the 5 offerings which Koloa Union Church contributes to every year:

• Our Church’s Wider Mission, which we give directly from our general fund to support the mission of the Hawaii Conference and the United Church of Christ national office.
• Christmas Fund, which assists working and retired clergy and church workers who face financial difficulties.
• One Great Hour of Sharing, which is currently helping people and communities facing disasters, in such locations as Florida.
• Strengthen the Church, which provides grants to strengthen new and innovative ministries in congregations and Associations all across the country.
• Neighbors in Need: which we just collected last week in order to assist ministries of justice and compassion, including Native American ministries.

It was nice to hear from Rev. Popham just what a difference our congregation has made throughout the world!

A portion of your gifts to the church’s general fund goes to Our Church’s Wider Mission (the first bullet point) which, in turn, supports all UCC congregations, including us! The general fund also allows us to have a kahu, youth director, administrative assistant; support all of the ministry that we do throughout the year; and pay our utility bills.

Later this week, we will be mailing a letter to everyone on our stewardship mailing list. (If you are not already on our stewardship mailing list, please let us know and we will add you right away!) The letter will include a Percentage Giving Chart. We encourage you to consider what percentage of your income you currently give to Koloa Union Church and then ask yourself what percentage you would like to give. There is no “right” answer. We simply hope that your gifts to the church represents the gratitude that you have for all that the church means to you and so many others. There will also be a commitment card enclosed. We ask that you prayerfully consider an amount, write it on your card, and then bring it to church with you on Sunday, October 23, for the blessing of our commitments. (If you can’t make it to church on the 23rd, feel free to bring your commitment card early or send it to the church office.)

During the month on November, the budget committee will create a budget for 2023 based upon the overall financial commitments we have for the year. The Church Council will review the budget in December, make recommendations and adjustments, then pass on the budget for approval by the Congregation at our annual meeting in January.

Your commitment card is so very helpful in this process! Thank you in advance for your participation and for your ongoing support of the ministry of Koloa Union Church, especially as we as we begin our next 100 years!

Our Stewardship Prayer

O God, just as your faithful servants

have so freely given to our church

over the past century, may I carry

on their tradition of generosity

as I prayerfully consider my

commitment to this

church in 2023.

May my gifts to Kōloa Union Church

truly express the gratitude I have

for this congregation and all

you have done for me.

Amen.

Planned Giving Luncheon

Building a Strong Foundation for the Next Century

Date & Time: Sunday, October 23 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Smith Memorial Parsonage 3281 Waikomo Road, Koloa

Every church has its ups and downs when it comes to income versus necessary expenditures, including Koloa Union Church. One of the reasons we have made it through the difficult times as a congregation over the past 100 years is because of the legacy gifts that people have left us in their estate plans.

As we plan for the future, we are asking our members and friends to consider a planned gift to the church. You can leave the entirety of your estate to the church or decide upon a specific amount or a percentage to the church, thereby leaving an appropriate amount to your heirs and others as well. Many people are not aware of tax advantages and high bank fees that sometimes eat up a significant portion of an estate gift before it ever gets to the recipient.

If you are interested in learning more, please attend this free planned giving luncheon. After a delicious meal, Norma Doctor Sparks will lead a brief workshop on how to leave the church in your estate plans so that the church will benefit from the maximum amount that you intend to give.

RSVP by contacting the church office by October 16.

Church Breakfast

Date: Tuesday, October 25

Time: 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Kiawe Roots
2-3687 Kaumualii Highway in Lawai
(Next door to 7-Eleven)

Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each Month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church!

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

Space is limited.

Membership Gathering

Date: Sunday, October 30

Time: 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Join Kahu Akana and our Deacons for a couple of hours right after church as they share about the United Church of Christ, our church’s history, the benefits and responsibilities of church membership, and what is involved in joining as a member of Koloa Union Church! Those who attend this gathering may then choose to join the membership of the church.

Bring a drink in your own drink container.

The Deacons will provide snacks.

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

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!

Mahalo to Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

Weekly Readings from the Bible

Prayers and Squares

Fun Pictures Since Our Last Weekly News