A Message From Our Kahu

“We Have Begun”

We have begun imagining! At our Leadership Retreat last month the leaders of the church began to “Imagine Together” what God might be calling us as a congregation to be and do during the next 3 years.

During October we are asking people to prayerfully imagine how you believe God is leading us as a congregation. I have invited various people to share their thoughts about this on Sunday mornings. I also invite you to share your thoughts with me and the Church Council.

In the November Newsletter we will include a draft of our vision for the next 3 years and invite any feedback you may have at that point.

In the December Newsletter we will publish again the vision with any updates that may be made. I hope that looking at the vision over the next few months will help everyone stimulate ideas of how to accomplish everything in it.

At the Annual Meeting on January 26 the members of the congregation will vote on the new vision and we will begin implementing it.

In the meantime, I invite you once again to look at the picture above and consider what ideas might pop into your head as you consider the empty space where the lightbulb would normally be. Knowing that God “is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,” what do YOU think God might be calling us as a congregation to be and do in the next 3 years? Please feel free to think “outside the box”! Have fun imagining! Let us know your thoughts! You can do this by talking directly to me or anyone on the Church Council. Remember: this is our vision, and your voice matters!

Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

“Imagine Together”

I am looking forward to our Leadership Retreat on Saturday when the leaders of the church will gather to “Imagine Together” what God might be calling us as a congregation to be and do in the years ahead! In the coming weeks, we will be sharing with the congregation some of ideas we imagined, as well as any commitments that may come out of our time together.

During the fall, we will continue with the them of “Imagine Together.” In fact, I would like all of our members and friends to look at the picture above and consider what ideas might pop into your head as you consider the empty space where the lightbulb would normally be. Knowing that God “is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,” what do YOU think God might be calling us as a congregation to be and do in the next 3-6 years? I invite you to think “outside the box” of limitations and fears. Have some fun imagining; and please consider sharing what you come up with when we ask you about it in October

Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

“Wonder All Around Us!”

After spending three months on sabbatical in Europe I returned to Kauai in June with the intention of holding onto the same sense of wonder that I experienced while away. Let me just say, it has not been difficult to do! Soon after my return, I began walking in some of my favorite places on Kauai’s south shore. I came across flocks of nene (Hawaiian goose), a number of `ilioholoikauaua (Hawaiian monk seal), and many honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle)—sometimes dozens at a time on Poipu Beach!

The natural beauty of our island provides enough wonder to last a lifetime. The same can be said for our cultural beauty and aloha. I have been thinking a lot lately about the beauty of community as well. When I look out among the congregation on Sunday mornings, I see beautiful faces and am reminded of the wonder of people who are gathered for the purpose of loving one another and the world.

The Revised Common Lectionary focuses on the Gospel of John for the second half of the summer. (Scroll down to “Lectionary Readings” below to learn more about the RCL.) John highlights the wonder of heaven and earth, body and spirit, Word and flesh—and most importantly, the wonder of God’s love which is abundant and eternal!

I invite you to spend some time every day thinking about the wonder that is all around us. Whether you are reading this on Kauai, on the U.S. mainland, or abroad, just remember that there is beauty and opportunities for wonder all around us!

Aloha Nui Loa!

Kahu

While our Kahu is on sabbatical, we will continue publishing the article below…….

and we are proud and excited to welcome guest preachers and speakers to fill our pulpit from Kauai, Maui, Hawaii Island and Oahu including the Hawaii Conference Minister, Rev. Dr. David Popham, Associate Conference Minister Rev. Jonathan Roach, Ph.D, retired Kahu Kealahou Alika (Maui), Rev. Scott Landis (Hawaii Island), Rev. Dr. Walt Weiss (Kauai), Linda

Kaauwai-Iwamoto (Kauai) and our very own Youth Director, Tiffany Marrotte and the church youth.  …..

A Message From Our Kahu

Sebatical

A Time for Inspiration, Energy & Vision

I will be leaving on Monday, March 11, for a 3-month sabbatical in Europe! I’ll spend most nights in a home which was built in the 17th century, near the town of Libourne, which is just east of Bordeaux. This former convent is the same home where I stayed during my last sabbatical five years ago (photo above). I plan to travel throughout France, with side trips to Ireland, Italy and Iceland, and hopefully adding a couple other countries to that list as well. I intend to visit sacred places in each country and focus on what makes a place sacred, as well as how people have encountered the divine in such locations. I will also be doing some reflecting and writing on “joy and wonder.”

I deeply appreciate the opportunity to take a sabbatical every five years to focus on something that is important to me and benefits my commitment to pastoral ministry. I love ministering to the people of Koloa Union Church! Taking a sabbatical allows me some time to catch my breath, evaluate, focus, and find some new inspiration, so that I can continue in ministry with renewed energy and vision. Mahalo nui loa for this time away!

I’ll be doing another house and car exchange with Christian and Paule Riso, so don’t be surprised to see some different faces if you are passing by the parsonage or see someone else driving my car. Just in case you are wondering who they are…they are the owners of Christian Riso Fine Art and Framing next to Sueoka’s in Old Koloa Town (where a lot of my art is framed). The Riso’s spend most of the year in France and are always hoping to spend a few months here in Koloa where they used to live full-time and still have family.

I will return to the office on June 12, and then leave the very next morning to Honolulu for the annual gathering of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. I look forward to seeing everybody who will be in church on June 15!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

A Message From Our Kahu

Sebatical

A Time for Inspiration, Energy & Vision

I will be leaving on Monday, March 11, for a 3-month sabbatical in Europe! I’ll spend most nights in a home which was built in the 17th century, near the town of Libourne, which is just east of Bordeaux. This former convent is the same home where I stayed during my last sabbatical five years ago (photo above). I plan to travel throughout France, with side trips to Ireland, Italy and Iceland, and hopefully adding a couple other countries to that list as well. I intend to visit sacred places in each country and focus on what makes a place sacred, as well as how people have encountered the divine in such locations. I will also be doing some reflecting and writing on “joy and wonder.”

I deeply appreciate the opportunity to take a sabbatical every five years to focus on something that is important to me and benefits my commitment to pastoral ministry. I love ministering to the people of Koloa Union Church! Taking a sabbatical allows me some time to catch my breath, evaluate, focus, and find some new inspiration, so that I can continue in ministry with renewed energy and vision. Mahalo nui loa for this time away!

I’ll be doing another house and car exchange with Christian and Paule Riso, so don’t be surprised to see some different faces if you are passing by the parsonage or see someone else driving my car. Just in case you are wondering who they are…they are the owners of Christian Riso Fine Art and Framing next to Sueoka’s in Old Koloa Town (where a lot of my art is framed). The Riso’s spend most of the year in France and are always hoping to spend a few months here in Koloa where they used to live full-time and still have family.

I will return to the office on June 12, and then leave the very next morning to Honolulu for the annual gathering of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ. I look forward to seeing everybody who will be in church on June 15!

Aloha Nui Loa!
Kahu

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