A Message From Our Kahu

“Lenten Love”

No one has greater love than this,

to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

(John 15:13)

As I began looking at the worship schedule for the new year back in

December, one of the first things I noticed was that Lent begins this year on Valentine’s Day. That’s right: Valentine’s Day is also Ash Wednesday! My first thought was, “This just doesn’t feel right at all.” (Frankly, I am still trying to get used to it!) However, the more I thought about what these two “holy days” stand for, the more it made sense to me that they actually have something to do with each other.

On the Feast Day of St. Valentine, we honor this Roman saint, who was born some 200 years after Jesus died, and known as a fearless promoter of Christianity. He ministered to persecuted Christians and was later persecuted himself. According to legend, Valentine was arrested for advancing the Christian faith and placed under arrest. The wealthy judge who oversaw his case told him that he would grant him any wish if would restore his blind daughter’s sight. After miraculously giving the girl the gift of sight, Valentine asked the judge to convert to Christianity. The judge replied by smashing all of the idols in his home, freeing all of the Christian inmates under his authority, and baptizing his entire household. Upon being arrested again, Valentine was ordered to renounce his faith by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Refusing to do so, the emperor sentenced Valentine to death. The execution took place on February 14, 269. Before he died, it is said that Valentine wrote a note to the formerly blind daughter of the aforementioned judge and signed it “from your Valentine,” which inspired lovers to send notes to each other with the same signature.

Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, which is a time of prayer, fasting and personal reflection before Holy Week and Easter. Christians are invited to ponder the love of God which is demonstrated in the death and resurrection of Jesus, and to consider how to be more faithful and committed to God because of such great love.

So these two “holy days” actually do have a lot to do with each other. They both remind us of the importance of reflecting upon love and commitment. Beginning on Valentine’s Day / Ash Wednesday this year, let us be especially mindful of God’s unconditional and eternal love for all people and how we might be more open to receiving and giving love, remembering the depth of God’s love as demonstrated in Jesus:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

You are my friends if you
do what I command you. 
(John 15:12-14)

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

“A New Year’s Message”

New Year’s is a time to look back and look forward.

We have much to celebrate as we think back over 2023: a fantastic centennial celebration; an expanding music ministry; ongoing outreach to the community; a strong youth group for our middle and high school students; a deep level of generosity to relief efforts in the world, including Maui after the devastating wildfires; a growing sense of community as people show up to worship services, outreach opportunities, and social activities. Many among us also celebrated important milestones during the year, such as births, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries. It has also been a difficult time for many, as illness, injury and death have all touched our congregation this past year. During these times, we have prayed for and supported those who have faced great losses.

As we enter a brand new year full of opportunities, we can look forward to the completion of our church kitchen, enjoying meals together again at church on a regular basis, and making plans for the next 3 to 4 years. Personally, I am looking forward to another sabbatical in Europe this spring (March 11 through June 11).

I am reminded that we never know what surprises the year will have for us. Some we will welcome with joy; others we would wish to avoid altogether. However, I am confident that we will be there for one another: celebrating the upcoming milestones and supporting each other whenever difficulty or tragedy strikes.

We are truly a special congregation: diverse in background and united in love for one another and for the world. One of my dreams for 2024 is that we will share the gift of our congregation with others; and so, I invite you to consider someone you might invite to church this year and also think of someone you know whom our church might help, whether it be our prayers, our fellowship, or our assistance in difficult times.

May 2024 be a year of growth and continued celebration!

Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

“A Christmas Message”

Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,

    and they shall name him “Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Matthew 1:23

Christmas is a time of joy and fond memories for many of us. It is also one of the most difficult times of the year for some. This is especially tough for those who have lost loved ones. It is also hard for those who have experienced other kinds of losses: significant relationships, jobs, homes, health, etc.

Whether you are overflowing with joy or feeling the heavy burden of recent losses (or somewhere in between, like most of us), may you feel God’s loving presence. This is what Christmas is all about: in the midst of life as we experience it, God shows up and reminds us that we are loved, appreciated, adored even.

Jesus came into a world full of pain, hardship and injustice, and he reminded people of God’s deep, deep love for them—in their joy and in their sadness, in the midst of peace and in the midst of conflict, in their times of celebration and their times of grief and anger.

Whatever you experience during this Advent season and whatever emotions you may feel, may you be reminded of God’s unconditional and eternal love for you; and may you not miss the opportunity to remind someone else of God’s lover for them!

Mele Kalikimaka and Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

“A Time To Give Thanks”

November is a time to give thanks, so let me begin by saying “Thank you” to the congregation! I am deeply grateful for the generosity and faithfulness of our church members and friends. We have had such an amazing year: celebrating our 100th anniversary; a huge turnout for the Koloa Plantation Days Parade (I believe our largest number of participants ever); generous giving to the general fund, as well as many other areas, including the Maui wildfire relief fund; support of our youth director and youth ministry. I am also so thankful to our Deacons, who have done an outstanding job moving into our “new normal” when it comes to our post-pandemic worship services. I am grateful for our Church Council, and especially Dan Giovanni (our Buildings & Grounds Chair) and Becky Sakimae (our Treasurer) for their management of our finances during a challenging year when the parsonage needed roof repairs (twice!), structural reinforcements, and replacement of damaged wood due to insects and moisture, and the church building had unexpected maintenance needs as well! Most importantly, I am grateful that we continue to to encourage those who are feeling sad, feeding those who are hungry, praying for all who need our prayers, and providing inspiration to all.

As we approach Thanksgiving Day, I hope that you too will feel a deep sense of appreciation for our church, for we truly make a difference in our community and in the world. I invite you to take some time this month to express your gratitude. Spend some extra time in prayer to thank God for your blessings. Write a thank you note to someone you really appreciate. Try to say “thank you” more often. And, as much as you can, live a life of gratitude!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

“A Time To Blossom”

There are some things that have gone really well this year and I’d like to begin by pointing them out.

• Under the leadership of Tiffany Marrotte, our youth ministry to middle and high school students continues to go well. Young people attend youth group meetings and activities, as well as show up on Sunday mornings and serve as lay readers, musicians and sometimes even dancers! Seven youth attended our confirmation retreat last month and learned all about the Christian faith, the Bible, church history, and the benefits and responsibilities of membership.
• We had an amazing Centennial celebration in July! Our entry in the Koloa Plantation Days parade was “over the top,” and our celebration at church the next day was well-attended and celebratory.
• A handful of generous donors chipped in to pay for a brand new certified commercial kitchen in its entirety. Dan Giovanni, who serves as chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, announced at our last Church Council meeting that we are waiting on a permit from the county in order to move forward, which should be any day now. In the meantime, the kitchen has been almost completely gutted so that work can begin as soon as we have a permit in hand.
• After successful fundraising efforts in 2021 and 2022, we completed most of the projects at the parsonage that were tagged “urgent” or “important,” including roof repair, fixing and replacing most of the areas caused by termite and water damage, termite tenting, repairing and/or replacing every movable window, replacement of all movable screens, mold removal, full exterior painting, and most of the landscaping projects on our list.

There are actually many other good things that have happened this past year, and I could probably fill up pages talking about them all. As I consider all that we have accomplished and also think of the possibilities for the future, I believe that Koloa Union Church is on the cusp of blossoming! We are ready to grow like never before! Here is what that looks like to me:

• A sanctuary filled on Sunday mornings with people worshiping God and connecting with one another—and people on the patio and in Moore Hall as well!
• An attractive space on the west end of our property with a large permanent covering, which serves as an overflow seating area for worship services, an outdoor space to enjoy meals and fellowship out of the elements, and a place for our growing youth group to gather.
• An increase in outreach to those less fortunate, including those who are lacking adequate healthcare and basic resources in life.
• Generosity that allows us to thrive without dependence on borrowing from our permanent funds to cover our normal expenses.

Those who have been around for awhile and paying attention know that I am not pulling these thoughts from “off the top of my head.” They are all part of the vision statement we created and adopted as a congregation in 2018 and revised in 2020 (due to the pandemic).

Our theme for 2024 is “A Time to Blossom.” I’ve mentioned above how we have been blossoming so far, as well as what further blossoming looks like. In order to truly blossom as a congregation, I invite you to consider two things:

• Ask yourself: “How would YOU like to see our church blossom in 2024?” Then let us know. Our Church Council will take your answers into consideration as we create next year’s budget and decide how we can focus our commitments. We’ve made it easy by creating a large board with stickers for you to write your answers on during the month of October. You can see pictures below of how we are already collecting answers from all ages—from middle school students to kupuna. Please add your suggestion in a word or brief phrase to the board on Sunday mornings or drop by the church during the week.
• Pray our Prayer for 2024 and allow your prayers to inform how you will commit to our vision in terms of your time, talent and treasures. Once you have determined a financial amount as your commitment to the church, please fill out a commitment card and bring it to church with you on Sunday, October 22, when we will bless all of our commitments for the coming year. Commitment cards will be mailed to our members this week. There will also be extras on the 22nd. You may also get one at any time by contacting the church office. We will also give thanks on October 22 for the past 100 years of our church’s history!

I hope to see you then!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

Study Leave in Illinois

After visiting family in California for a couple of days in early August, I spent two weeks in Illinois on study leave with friends, Cathy, Barbara and Kitten. We began in Chicago, learning about the history, culture and art of the largest city in the midwest. We participated in several tours, which covered art, architecture, culture and history—beginning with a private tour of the Art Institute of Chicago. One of the interesting things I learned was that the very first Parliament of the World’s Religions took place in the Institute’s main building on September 11, 1893. I then spent an entire week at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions. I shared some of my thoughts about both of those events on Sunday morning in church.

You can click HERE to see the short and impactful speech of Swami Vivekananda at that gathering and click HERE to watch my message on video if you missed church on Sunday. (Note, we have had technical difficulties uploading the video this week, but it should be there any time now.)

We then drove to central Illinois to the Allerton Park and Retreat Center, where Robert and John Allerton designed and created a majestic mansion, formal gardens and forest trails. After a brief stop in the town of Arthur, home to one of the largest Amish communities, we drove to Springfield to learn all about Abraham Lincoln, his life and legacy, which included a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Lincoln Home (National Historic Site). After Illinois, Cathy and I said “goodbye” to Barbara and Kitten and flew to Quebec City where we learned about the history and culture of French-speaking Canada, including the life and history of the Indigenous people of the region.

I look forward in the coming weeks to continue sharing with you on Sunday mornings about my experiences during this time of learning and reflection!

Oh, and before flying home, I spent some time with my son Palani and daughter-in-law Isobel at their new home in New York City. Palani has begun his “Frontiers in Science” fellowship at Columbia University where he will be lecturing and continuing post-doctoral research in ecology. Isobel is also teaching ecology at Baruch College in NYC!

I hope to see you soon!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu