by admin | Aug 12, 2015 | Message from Kahu
LABYRINTH AT MAHA’ULEPU
On Sunday, I shared some of my experiences walking on labyrinths, including the one at Maha’ulepu in the photo above. I walked on this particular labyrinth last week. It is in a stunning location: surrounded by beautiful mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
A labyrinth is a pathway on the ground on which you walk in a circular pattern while thinking about God. After you come to the end of the pathway in the middle, you turn around and walk in the opposite direction until you end up where you started. Unlike maze, there is only one path and no possibility of losing one’s way.
Here are some of the thoughts I have while walking on labyrinths:
- Life is a journey, and you often pass by the same places over and over again (and the same people and opportunities).
- Life really is not about the destination, but the journey!
- The important thing is not how far you travel or how many things you accomplish, but how you walk on the journey.
- One of these days, my journey on earth will end; how do I want to look back upon it?
- I am more aware of God when I spend time trying to be more aware of God.
It is amazing how many things that pop into my mind when walking on a labyrinth. One of the things that I shared with the congregation on Sunday is that we can walk a long way without every stopping to reflect upon God’s presence or what it is that God might be trying to tell us or show us. On the other hand, there is a much greater chance to see and hear God if we make the time and space to do so.
I hope you will see, hear and feel God’s presence this week as you walk on your journey. And I hope to see you in church on Sunday!
Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana
by admin | Jul 23, 2015 | Message from Kahu
Kōloa Sugar Mill
Koloa Plantation Days!
This is a busy week for our town and our church!
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about the rich history our church has played in our community since 1835. I focused on the Smith-Waterhouse Family, beginning with Dr. James and Melicent Smith, who arrived in Koloa in 1842 and lived on this island until they died. I shared the story of how Dr. Smith single-handedly traveled all of Kauai and Niihau in order to vaccinate the people from smallpox. When that disease came to Hawaii in 1853, only person died on these two islands, although thousands died of smallpox throughout the Hawaiian Kingdom. People have been here all along, following the example of Jesus in helping to make life fuller and richer for others: physically, spiritually and socially. Yet, there is still a lot we can do. I also talked about the importance of following another example of Jesus: getting proper rest and rejuvenation. In light of this, I challenged the congregation to consider three questions this week:
- How can you live a fuller and richer life?
- How can you help others to do the same?
- What will you do to find rest and new energy?
We had nearly 70 people attend Monday’s “lecture, walk and tour” about the missionaries of Koloa…and received lots of positive feedback from attendees. One of those attendees wrote the music to one of the songs in our Hawaiian hymnal, Na Himeni. (We are going to sing that song on Sunday!) Thanks to all of the church members and friends who helped to make that event such a great success!
I’m looking forward to our church being in the parade on Saturday (the 25th). As a reminder, come to the church at 8 a.m. and enjoy coffee and treats; we have to line up for the parade at 8:45 (and Poipu Road will be closed to traffic at 9:00!). Those who would like to help decorate our “float” can come to the parsonage on Friday at 3.
As always, I look forward to seeing everyone in church on Sunday as well! I trust that your life this week is full and rich!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
by admin | Jul 5, 2015 | Message from Kahu
Walking on the Great Wall of China
I am back home after attending my son Palani’s graduation in California and traveling with him in Japan and China. I found myself inspired once again by these two great cultures which I studied and experienced for two summers when I was in college: two cultures which have had a tremendous impact on our island and Hawai’i nei.
I am glad to be home where the air is clean, roads are relatively uncrowded, and a sense of quiet and peace pervades our island life. I am also looking forward to an exciting summer, as we plan for the future, focus more specifically on where God might be leading us as a church, and begin tearing down the old and building up the new–that which is part of Maika’i Hana Hou (creating goodness and beauty once again).
I look forward to sharing with everyone about my adventures in church tomorrow!
Aloha nui!
Kahu Alan Akana
by admin | Jun 9, 2015 | Message from Kahu
Kahu Alan Akana and Rev. Susumu Yamane
On Sunday, June 7, 2015, I celebrated the 25th anniversary of my ordination into Christian ministry. It was an honor to have Rev. Susumu Yamane give the benediction at our worship service at the parsonage. He was the pastor of our church in 1960, the year I was born and our current church building was built! I met Rev. Yamane several years ago in Hilo and he encouraged me to come back to Hawai’i and serve a church. Little did either of us know at the time that his daughter Naomi Giovanni would be calling me from Kōloa and inviting me to consider becoming the kahu at Kōloa Union Church!
I was also thrilled to announce on Sunday that our church raised $276,360 for our capital campaign, Maika’i Hana Hou! (Creating Goodness and Beauty Once Again!). We want to build upon what Rev. Yamane and the people of Kōloa Union Church began over 50 years ago to have a beautiful place where people could come and experience the goodness of God through worship, prayer, education, fellowship and reaching out to the community! Today, our church provides all of these things, including space for community groups five days a week. We decided last year to make our church building and grounds more welcoming and inviting, not just for us but for so many more people in our community. The congregation voted to conduct a capital campaign for this purpose (with a minimum goal of $150,000!)…and they blew right over the top of that goal! I am so pleased to be the kahu of such a generous and compassionate congregation!
Aloha nui loa!
Kahu Alan Akana
Editor’s Note: Kahu Akana will be taking a break, so the next “Weekly Pastor’s Message” will be in July.
by admin | Jun 5, 2015 | Message from Kahu
WHEN DO YOU FEEL MOST ALIVE?
On Sunday, I shared with the congregation about one of my favorite quotes, which comes from the character Emily in Thornton Wilder’s well know play Our Town. Emily dies as a young woman while giving birth to her child. In the afterlife, she has plenty of time to reflect on the meaning of life and the importance of her family and friends; she misses them all immensely. And so she asks permission to go back home, to return from the dead and spend just one more day with her family. Her permission is granted, and she is able to be with her family for just one day, although they will not be able to see her or know she is there. She shows up back home with high hopes…but she is deeply disappointed. As she observes her family, she realizes that they are all just going through the motions, hardly taking the time to even look at one another, much less connect with each other in meaningful ways.
And she asks this question: “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it—every, every minute?”
“Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?” Or do we spend most of our lives just going through the motions? Hardly ever taking the time to even look at each other? Hardly ever connecting on a deeper level?
I thought about that question as I read Sunday’s Gospel lesson, that people might have eternal life if they believe in Jesus. John’s Gospel tells us that this is why Jesus came to the world: that people might have eternal life.
“Eternal life” I thought! As I read that this week, I thought, “What about quality of life?” “What about life here on earth while we live it?” (The only life we really know!) “What about life with more love…more joy…more meaning?” “What about ‘realizing life while we live it,’” in the words of Emily in the play Our Town?
As I was thinking about these questions, there was another question that kept popping into my head: When do I feel most alive?
Here are some of the things I came up with:
- I feel most alive when I have a sense of my connectedness.
- I feel most alive when I feel loved and appreciated.
- I feel most alive when I am surrounded by beauty…and paying attention to beauty.
- I feel most alive when I am watercoloring.
- I feel most alive when I am sharing love and appreciation.
- I feel most alive when I am eating really good, fresh food.
- I feel most alive when I am aware of God.
- I feel most alive when I do something that helps others feel more alive.
Since the Gospel of John portrays Jesus as the one who brought not just eternal but also abundant life to the world, perhaps we ought to all ask ourselves what makes us feel most alive…and then go out and do it!
I hope you experience life to the fullest this week…and share your abundance with others!
Kahu Alan Akana
by admin | May 20, 2015 | Message from Kahu
Our Kahu, Alan Akana
MAIKA’I HANA HOU!
On Sunday, we collected and blessed many commitments for our capital campaign, “Maika’i Hana Hou!” During the sermon, I compared our church to a garden. I told the story of how I once turned a very drab cement and dirt patio in my former home into a vibrant flower garden. I soon was having friends over for meals and throwing parties there on a regular basis. I loved having people over to enjoy the space, and they loved being there! Imagine a future where the appearance of our church has that same feeling: where people love being and can’t wait to come back with friends!
I was so pleased when Dan Giovanni, our Capital Campaign chairperson, announced in church that we had already received early gifts in excess of $150,000! On Sunday, June 7, we plan to announce that we have raised our Capital Campaign goal of $200,000. Thank you so much to everyone who made a commitment already. For those of you who are still thinking about it, we need to hear from you by June 1 in order to count your commitment in the grand total announcement on the 7th. (You can pick up a commitment card in church or ask Penny to mail one to you.)
Once we have received gifts of $200,000, we will be able to complete all of the projects in Phase 1 of our master plan: a more beautiful, peaceful and comfortable sanctuary; new restrooms; a brand new parking area with nice landscaping all around; a new church sign; a nice entryway (with non-slip walking surfaces!); better office space for Penny; a place for deacons to store worship & greeting supplies; a contribution to pay back borrowed money from our permanent funds; a new fund for youth; and a few other smaller projects! If we receive significantly more than our goal, we will begin projects that are on our list for Phase 2, such as an upgraded kitchen; an enclosed narthex (entryway/lobby to the sanctuary); upgrades to Moore Hall and the parsonage.
Please keep praying for Kōloa Union Church and for a successful capital campaign, and plan to join us (in person or in spirit!) at 10:30 on Sunday, June 7, at the parsonage when we announce our grand total during an informal worship service on the lawn and celebrate our success with a barbecue luncheon!
Maika‘i Hana Hou!
Kahu Alan Akana
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