by admin | May 3, 2016 | Message from Kahu
WEEKLY NEWS & NEWSLETTER!
The first edition of “Koloa Union Church Weekly News” will be sent this week to everyone on our email list and those who have asked to receive weekly news from us! It will come from the email address kucofc@gmail.com. It has been a few months since we have been considering how to best keep in touch with people on a weekly basis; and we have decided to go with the online marketing company Constant Contact. If you do not receive your copy in your email this week, please contact Penny Osuga at kucpenny@gmail.com and she will add your email address to our list.
I am really happy for this new way by which we will be able to keep in touch with people and get out the latest news and information as quickly as possible!
I also want everyone to know that our monthly newsletters are posted on this website as well. Just click on “News” at the top of this page and then click “Newsletter.”
Have a great week!
Aloha nui loa!
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 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Apr 26, 2016 | Message from Kahu
‘AHA MELE AND ‘AHA MOKUPUNI
“Ko Kakou Ho’oilina” (Our Legacy)
I invite everyone to join us this weekend for our annual Spring ‘Aha Mokupuni—our island-wide gathering of the congregations of the Kaua’i Association of the United Church of Christ! We will honor our legacy and look to the future for our congregations and mutual ministry.
This year’s ‘Aha will take place at Kapa’a First Hawaiian Church (4-1325 Kuhio Highway in Kapa’a). Parking is available to Kapa’a United Church of Christ, located right across the street.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29 (5:30-9:00 PM)
5:30 PM: We will begin the weekend with a delicious dinner provided by Kapa’a First Hawaiian.
6:30 PM: ‘Aha Mele! This is our annual songfest. Our own chancel choir from Koloa Union Church will participate! There will also be announcements from churches and other groups, and a brief introduction for the following day’s workshop.
If you want to carpool with others, meet at the church at 4:30 on Friday.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 (8:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
8:00 AM: Breakfast provided by Kapa’a First Hawaiian
9:30 AM: Kaua’i Association Annual Meeting
11:45 AM: Worship Service
12:45 Lunch provided by Kapa’a First Hawaiian
1:30 PM A workshop (“Sharpen Our Vision”) led by Rev. Dr. Alan Akana!
I hope to see you this weekend!
Aloha nui loa!
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 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Apr 11, 2016 | Message from Kahu
What are you focusing on? What are you missing?
SEEING THINGS FOR THE FIRST TIME
On Sunday, I told the story of a training meeting I went to in my professional fundraising days. There were probably close to 75 of us in the room, and we saw a 30-second video of six people passing 2 basketballs to each other in a rather small space. Three of the players were wearing white shirts and three were wearing black shirts, and they were all standing really close to each other. We were simply asked to keep track of how many times the people wearing white shirts passed the basketball. For 30 seconds we watched attentively, focusing our entire attention upon the people wearing white. After the video was over, we were asked how many times the people in white passed the basketball—and most of us got it wrong! It was more difficult than it looked!
However, the next question and answer shocked nearly every one of us. The presenter simply asked, “Did you see anything else on the basketball court besides the six players and the two balls?” The room was silent. “Really? You didn’t see anything else? Nothing at all?”
Then the newest person in our group slowly raised his hand and asked, “You mean, the gorilla?”
When the presenter asked if anyone else had seen a gorilla in the video, not a single person admitted to seeing one; so he told us that he would show the exact same video again and he wanted us to look really hard to see if anyone else saw a gorilla anywhere on the basketball court. About 15 seconds into the video, a person in a gorilla suit walked right in front of the camera, and a few seconds later stood right in the middle of the group of people passing the 2 basketballs and stood there beating his chest…and then walked off the court.
The question we all asked was: “How did we all miss it?”
The presenter went on to say something like this. “The point is that sometimes when you are so focused on certain things, you miss other things that are really big. Sometimes those things are very important and you never even see them. It is important not only to open your eyes, but also to consider what you are looking at and what you are looking for.”
I began thinking of all of the things in my life that I may have missed seeing all together… the important things… the really important things… all because I was looking at the less important things… and looking for the less important things.
I am convinced that when we learn to see the world through the eyes of God, we will see things we have never seen before. We will notice God’s love in places we have never noticed before. We will look for opportunities to share God’s love and we will see new things for the very first time.
May we open our eyes! May we look at God! May we look for God! May we see God everywhere! And may our lives be transformed by our vision and the things we focus upon!
Aloha nui loa!
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 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Apr 5, 2016 | Message from Kahu
THE PRISON DOORS ARE OPENED!
As we journey through the Book of Acts during this Easter season, we are considering stories of Jesus’ early followers and what life was like for them in the days following the resurrection.
On Sunday, we read the story of the twelve Apostles (Chapter 5) and how they were sent to prison for telling people about the life and teachings of Jesus…and how they were then released from prison and continued telling people about Jesus.
We also considered the prisons we encounter in our own lives. I mentioned how we often create our own prisons by the habits and patterns of our lives…and how it is possible to find freedom (through different habits and patterns!) from anything that holds us back from living and loving fully.
In closing, here are some of the words to the song “It’s About Time” by Kenny Loggins:
It’s about time
I shed my skin
And set aside this self-made darkness
and walk on into the light
I’m sick of this Prison
I been calling my life
I finally found out the gates of hell are locked from the inside
[Chorus:]
If it’s about joy
If it’s about life
If it’s about love
It’s about time we get started
If it’s about trust
If it’s about hope
If it’s about us
It’s about time we get started
Oh baby
It’s all right
You only gotta face yourself
To make it to the other side
Oh baby you don’t know what you’ll find
‘Til you tear down those walls
And make up your mind
May you find freedom to live and love today…and in the days to come.
Aloha nui loa!
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 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Mar 28, 2016 | Message from Kahu
Mary Magdalene on Easter Morning
I love this picture of Mary Magdalene at the tomb of Jesus on Easter morning. Without seeing her face, we can feel her sense of loss, grief and utter despair. Jesus, her beloved teacher and mentor, is dead and someone has stolen his body. What more could be taken from Mary?
On Easter Sunday, we read the story of the resurrection from John’s Gospel. John’s account is unique in three particular ways: Mary Magdalene is all alone at the tomb of Jesus; it is still dark when she visits it; Jesus is there at the tomb. The other 3 Gospels portray Mary with other women at (or after) dawn, and Jesus never meets her there. John is painting a picture of Mary all alone in the darkness of her grief; and yet (to her surprise), Jesus is alive and visits her at the tomb. She doesn’t recognize him at first, even as he talks with her; but then, when she hears Jesus calling her by name, she suddenly recognizes him and her life is changed forever.
There is an important message in this story for us: Even in our darkest and most alone moments in life, God continues to be present. We may not recognize God’s presence. We may not be able to see at all in our darkest moments. Nevertheless, God is always there…always loving us…and always inviting us to open our hearts to receive and give love.
May we recognize God’s loving presence during this Easter season, and may our lives be changed forever!
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 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
by admin | Mar 24, 2016 | Message from Kahu, Uncategorized
During this very special week, we will celebrate Holy Communion at 7 p.m. on Thursday evening…decorate Easter eggs and enjoy lunch with our children and their families on Friday from 10 to noon…and celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ with an Easter sunrise service, breakfast, worship and luncheon/Easter egg hunt. See our NEWS page for all of the details.
During our worship service on Easter, I will wrap up our time with Diana Butler Bass’ book Grounded: Finding God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution. Resurrection and the message of Easter is not an escape from the world but an call to fully live in the world and care for it as God’s beloved creation. Come and find God in the world! Join the spiritual revolution!
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 3289 Poipu Road in Koloa!
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