Church News: April 20th, 2023

New Covid Guidelines

You Event Koloa Union Church Poipu Youth Group

On Sunday, March 19, the Church Council voted on the following new guidelines:

We will no longer require social distancing and will allow people to sit where they wish during worship services: in the sanctuary, on the patio, in Moore Hall. We suggest that people place a purse, bag, book or item of clothing on the chairs next to them if they wish to have some space between them and those not in their social bubble.
Masks will no longer be required indoors. We suggest that people wear masks if they are concerned about their health. We also suggest that people wear masks if they have been traveling off-island or had close contact with those who have been traveling or who have been sick.
We will continue to not allow wind instruments (including the Pū), or have congregational singing, or unison/responsive readings indoors during worship services. Wind instruments can be played if they have the appropriate coverings to keep germs from being spread. Wind instruments, group singing and unison/responsive readings project everyone’s germs into the air, and we wish to continue keeping the spreading of germs to a minimum.
We will continue the use of the small communion packets. So far, this seems to be the safest way to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
We will continue the policy of not passing an offering plate during worship services. The fewer things everyone touches, the better.
We will allow up to any three singers to perform together and allow musicians to perform anywhere in the front of the sanctuary or in the area by the piano.
We will comply with guidelines of other organizations for activities off-campus (Grove Farm, NTBG, bowling, miniature golf, etc.).
We will allow for all-church meals as long as we continue to provide and encourage use of hand sanitizers and masks at tables where food and drinks are served. Since we are about to demolish and renovate the kitchen, Aloha Hour is still on hold until the kitchen project is completed.

The Church Council Sends Out “Mahalo” to CAPS (The Committee for the Assurance of Pandemic Safety): Michael Horning, Penny Jessup, Penny Osuga and Kahu Akana. They have been meeting regularly for 3 years and have made regular recommendations to the Church Council throughout the pandemic.

The Church Council Sends Out “Mahalo” to all of the Deacons who have served since the pandemic began. They have been meeting weekly for 3 years in order to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible, and to do their best to communicate with members and friends.

Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone safe and healthy in 2023!

Lunch With Bill & Angela

Time to reconnect with the Dressels during their visit on Kauai!!

Sunday, April 23, 12pm at Kauai Poke

Poipu Bay 2250 Ainako Street Koloa, HI 96756
(Next to Poipu Bay Golf Course) Please RSVP today!

Church Breakfast

Tuesday, April 25th 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Kiawe Roots 2-3687 Kaumualii Highway in Lawai (Next door to 7-Eleven)

Join us on the 4th Tuesday of each month for delicious food and a fun time getting to know others from Koloa Union Church! Location each month to be determined.

Please RSVP by signing up on the church bulletin board or contacting the church office.

Church On The Beach

April 30, 2023, 11 a.m.

Outdoor Worship & Lunch at the Pavilion Across from Nukumoi Surf Shop At Poipu Beach Park!

Our worship service will be at 11:00 a.m. followed by a potluck luncheon…games for the keiki…and bingo for everyone! Feel free to hang out afterwards at the beach! There will be no worship service at church on this day.

Please Consider Bringing:
Something for the potluck
Your own drinks
Lawn chairs, sunscreen, swimsuits, towels
Friends and neighbors

New Kauai County guidelines:
No plastic utensils
No plastic bottles
Bring your own drinks!

KUC will provide eco-friendly plates and utensils. Please see the potluck signup sheet on the bulletin board. We begin at 11 in case visitors arrive at the church at 10:30. This way they have time to get to the beach before we begin!

Please contact Elizabeth Mares, our Activities Chair, if you have any questions about this event.

April Youth Gathering

Don’t forget to RSVP to Tiffany by Wednesday, April 26!

Squares & Prayers

Tuesday, May 2nd 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Prayers and Squares is a ministry promoting prayer by creating beautiful hand-tied quilts and offering them to people in crisis or those whom we wish to offer a special aloha. A prayer is said with each knot that is tied in the quilt. When recipients put the quilts it over themselves, they are covering themselves with our prayers. Our motto: “It’s not about the quilt; it’s all about the prayers.”

To request a quilt for church members or friends in crisis, call Debbie Gunning at 808-652-7899.

Prayers & Squares is expanding its ministry and could use your help! We are creating Prayer Quilts to be distributed at Wilcox Hospital. We have packets available to take home and sew squares together. If you can help or have questions, call Sheila Harman at 717-514-9020.

No experience in quilting or sewing is necessary. There are jobs for everyone to help in the making of the quilts…and everyone is invited to pray! Mahalo nui loa!

Fundraising Auction

Aha Mele: Kauai Association (UCC)
Friday, May 5 Kapaa First Hawaiian Church
“Rejoice and Be Glad”

Schedule:
5:00 p.m. Drop off Auction Items
5:30 Catered Dinner & Silent Auction
7:00 Aha Mele & Announcements

Please consider donating an auction item. Please email a completed Auction Item Form for each auction item (available at the church office).

Please attend Aha Mele and the Auction. Don’t forget to bring extra cash or your checkbook. RSVP on the signup sheet or by contacting the church office by April 26.

Aha Mokupuni: Annual Meeting & Worship Service

Saturday, May 6 Kapaa First Hawaiian Church 9 to 11 a.m.

Voting Delegates from Koloa Union Church
Kahu Akana
Michael Horning
Doug Duvauchelle
Tiffany Marrotte

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina

May 10th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Join Kahu and Karen Johnson at the Smith Memorial Parsonage for a time to hear and respond to the Scriptures in a quiet, reflective and meaningful way. Lectio Divina is a traditional monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s word.

Please RSVP by May 7th if you plan to attend

Kauai Pride Parade and Festival

On Rice Street in Lihue Saturday, June 3, 2023

Parade: 9-10 a.m. Beginning at the Vidinha Stadium Parking Lot and Ending at the Historic County Building

Festival: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Historic County Building Lawn

Koloa Union Church will once again participate in the Kauai Pride Parade and then have a resource table set up afterwards during the festival. Members and friends of the church are invited to walk in the parade as we let the community know that our church welcomes everyone!

“100 Years of Aloha”

Our Centennial Theme: Our theme will be “100 Years of Aloha” as we celebrate our Centennial with the entire Kauai community!

What To Wear / What To Bring
Wear your Centennial t-shirt, or brightly colored clothing, rainbow clothing & accessories! Consider bringing sunscreen, water bottles, umbrellas!

Please Sign Up:
See the signup sheet at church for the following

Float Decoration (8-9 a.m.)
Participation in the Parade (8-10 a.m.)
Resource Table Setup (9-10 a.m.)
Volunteer for shift #1 at the table (10 a.m.-Noon)
Volunteer for shift #2 at the table (Noon-2 p.m.)
Resource Table Cleanup (2 p.m.)

100 Years of Aloha

NEWS FROM THE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE
1923-2023

CENTENNIAL T-SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE IN CHILDREN’S SIZES! We plan to order children’s t-shirts at the end of the month. You must pre-order keiki t-shirts! If you would like to order a t-shirt, please let us know by April 30 the size you would like: XS/S/M/L/XL. Kid’s t-shirts are $15. They will be available for pickup by the end of May.
PURCHASE A CENTENNIAL T-SHIRT. Of course, adult sizes are still available at church. $20 for the first t-shirt; $15 for additional shirts.
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR YOUR T-SHIRTS IN 2 PARADES! We will be wearing Centennial t-shirts in the Kauai Pride Parade on June 3 and in the Koloa Plantation Days Parade on July 29. Don’t forget to sign up to participate in either parade!
CENTENNIAL ORNAMENTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. We still have a limited number of ornaments available. However, we don’t plan to order more—so don’t miss out on your opportunity to purchase an ornaments for $20 while they last.
DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME! Additional gifts to help cover the costs of the centennial may be directed to the “Centennial Fund”—on the note section of your check or the “Comment” section when giving online.

Alan Akana Gallery

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Mahalo Nui Loa Worship Participants

Lectionary Readings

Each week, Christians throughout the world read biblical passages from the Revised Common Lectionary, including the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospels. After three years, a good portion of the Bible is included and the cycle begins again. RCL passages are often read in church worship services, and Kahu Akana usually includes at least one reading each Sunday.

Readings for April 16: Acts 2:14-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

Readings for April 23: Acts 2:14-41; Psalm 116:1-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

Readings for April 30: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10

Readings for May 7: Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 31:1-16; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Readings for May 14: Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:8-20; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21

Readings for May 21: Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-35; 1 Peter 4:12-5:11; John 17:1-11