An Invitation from Our Kahu

by | Mar 31, 2018 | Uncategorized

IMG_3927

 

Join Us in Walking the Labyrinth!

 

JOIN US on Holy Saturday morning, March 31, for a labyrinth walk on the church lawn (in Moore Hall if it rains). Bob Vlach, a labyrinth facilitator will give a talk at 10 a.m. and at 10:30 a.m., so come at either time, and then walk the labyrinth as you reflect upon the meaning of Holy Saturday.

 

I hope to see you there!

Kahu Alan Akana

IMG_3907

A Message from Kahu Alan Akana

by | Sep 13, 2017 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized

IMG_2064

“Changing Lives, Transforming the World”

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about my visit to the World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan just a couple weeks earlier. I was surprised at how emotional it was for me as I stood there at the giant fountain with the names engraved of all the people who lost their lives on that day. It brought back memories of that horrible morning sixteen years ago. We changed on that day. As individuals, we were shocked and numb that something like this could happen. Communities across the nation were impacted. Airports were closed and the way we travel was changed. As a country we were no longer invincible; we were vulnerable to people who hate us.
I was reminded as I stood there in New York City that change is inevitable. As the ancient Greek philosopher said, “No man can step into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.” It is so true that change is constantly happening all around us…and changing us!
So how do we change for the better? And how can we be intentional about change and transformation in our lives and in our society? We found some clear instructions from our Scriptures on Sunday—both from Jesus and the Apostle Paul:

  • Let love be genuine.

  • Love your neighbor as yourself.

  • Let us not judge one another.

  • Welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed you.

When we are committed to this way of being, we change for the better and our world is transformed into the kind of place God intended it to be. For the next three weeks, I will continue focusing on the theme “Changing Lives, Transforming the World” in our worship services. As you come to church over the next few weeks, I invite you to continue bringing two particular questions with you:

  • What are the changes I would like to see in my life and the lives of people around me?

  • What kind of transformation might God be envisioning for the world?

May God surprise us with many wonderful changes within and all around us!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
_______________
Due to technical difficulties, videos of Kahu’s Sunday’s sermon have not been uploaded onto YouTube during the past two months. The situation should be resolved very soon. In the meantime, past sermons can be viewed and shared. You can also subscribe to Kahu’s sermon page on YouTube; that way you can receive a notification when a new sermon is posted.

“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.

News of the Church

by | Sep 20, 2016 | Uncategorized

CHOIR PRACTICE. Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Please come, bring a friend.
WAINEKE WORKDAY September 23-24, 2016. It is time to spruce up our much-used Waineke cabins in Kokee. Lots of cleaning and refreshing to be done. The cabins are showing a bit of wear and tear. We would appreciate your help. Details to follow.
ANNUAL SPRING RUMMAGE SALE. Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8: a.m. – noon. We are accepting your rummage sale donations at the church. Call the church (742-6622) or Judyth (818-726-1344) for drop-offs. We welcome all smaller items, larger items later (storage space is an issue). Our goal is to have both storage sheds full of your donations. Profits are used for our youth.

Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference. Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!

Weekly News of the Church

by | Sep 13, 2016 | News, Uncategorized

FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12TH

COMING UP….

A Workshop Presented By

The Kauai Association of the United Church of Christ
HURRICANES, TSUNAMIS AND MORE:
HOW CAN WE BE PREPARED?Tuesday, September 20, 2016
5:30-7:00 p.m.
Lihue Christian Church
2943 Kress Street in Lihue

__________________

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY / NEIGHBORS IN NEED:

Join us in church on October 2 as we celebrate World Communion Sunday

and collect the Neighbors in Need special mission offering.

CHOIR PRACTICE will be starting up. Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. Please come, bring a friend.
WAINEKE WORKDAY September 23-24, 2016. It is time to spruce up our much-used Waineke cabins in Kokee. Lots of cleaning and refreshing to be done. We would appreciate your help. Details to follow.

__________________________

“Weekly News of the Church” is provided by Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.

Join us at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!

A Message from Kahu Akana

by | Jul 22, 2016 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized

hawaii-lei-greeting

Hawaiian “Hospitality”

On Sunday, we heard the story in Genesis 18 of Abraham entertaining three strangers with “over the top” hospitality. When they arrived, he washed their feet, insisted they rest in the shade, and brought them water and a lavish feast. Even though Abraham most likely had no idea who any of the three guests were, we read in the text that Abraham and Sarah were entertaining God! It reminded me of the stories I read about my ancestors on Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island when a stranger—usually an elderly woman—would show up at a home on the slopes of the volcano. As it turned out, the stranger was Madame Pele herself—the great goddess of the volcanoes! If the family showed hospitality, the next eruption would spare their home—sometimes by just a few feet. However, if they did not show hospitality, the home would be covered by lava within days. The elders told these stories to their grandchildren to make sure they knew the importance of showing hospitality to others. These stories remind me of what Mother Teresa used to say when she was alive: that every stranger we meet is Jesus in disguise.

I think our church does really well when it comes to hospitality! The people here have definitely showed “over the top” hospitality to me, and I have watched them share it with others. Our capital campaign even came from our desire to show hospitality toward others; coming right from our new vision statement:

When people pass by our church, they notice its beauty and feel a sense of invitation and welcome. When they visit, they feel God’s unconditional love and a sense of beauty and peace everywhere on our campus. When they return, they find it effortless to connect spiritually and emotionally with others and to become involved in the life of the church in meaningful ways.

I am so honored to be the kahu of a church that cares so much about hospitality and making people feel so welcome among us! I invite you to come and experience the Hawaiian hospitality for yourself!

Aloha nui!

Kahu Alan Akana

“A Message from Kahu Alan Akana” is provided most weeks by the Kahu (Pastor) of Koloa Union Church, a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a member of the Kauai Association and Hawaii Conference.

Join us at 10:30 on Sunday mornings at 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa to hear a full sermon by Kahu Akana.