THE SEASON OF ADVENT

This year during Advent, some of the artists among us are sharing their art in order to help us fully enter into the spirit of the season. Christ is always present and yet coming to us in new ways all the time. We invite you to come, open your hearts to the art and the artists among us, and see how Christ might come to you in a brand new way during this special season.

AN ADVENT MINI-RETREAT

Resource for Christian Spirituality is hosting a mini-retreat called “They Who Wait” on Saturday, December 10th, from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. Click HERE to see the details.

CHRISTMAS PARTY AT THE PARSONAGE

Our annual Christmas party at Kahu’s home will be Friday, December 9, beginning at 6:00 pm. We will gather at the Smith Memorial Parsonage (3281 Waikomo Road). Please bring a dish to share for our potluck dinner and your singing voices, as we plan to sing Christmas carols!

POINSETTIAS

You are invited to bring a poinsettia to decorate the sanctuary during the Christmas season. Just place it on the floor in front of the communion table. We will keep it watered during the holiday season.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Sunday, December 18, 10:30 a.m.  The children of the church will share a very special story with us on December 18th.  They will practice for the program during Sunday school on December 11.  Parents, please have your children at church by 9 a.m. on December 18.

CHRISTMAS OUTREACH

“Spare Change to Help Needy Families”  We plan to give gift cards to families in our community before Christmas so that they can have food and gifts for their children. Just place your change before December 11 in the Spare Change Jar as you enter or leave the church. We will add up our change and purchase gift cards for local stores. If you know any families we can help, have any questions, or wish to volunteer, please contact Judyth Foley at 818-726-1344.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING

Once again we will be joining the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign as we sing Christmas carols in front of Sueoka Store on Friday evenings, December 16 & 23, 6-7:30 p.m. Please join us for singing a song or two or stay for the entire time. Bring musical instruments and your singing voice for this fun and casual evening as we raise money to feed hungry people on the island.

THE CHRISTMAS FUND

Each year at Christmastime, congregations of the United Church of Christ across the country take up a collection to provide pension and health premium supplementation to lower-income retired church workers, and emergency assistance to clergy and lay church employees in need, as well as “Thank You” gift checks to hundreds of faithful retired church workers. The fund is administered by the UCC Pension Boards. We will collect the Christmas Fund offering on December 18, 24 & 25. Please give generously to help faithful church workers who are experiencing difficult times.

PRAYERS & SQUARES

Our New Ministry: Making Simple Quilts to “Cover” People in Prayer! Our first meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2017 from 3-5 pm, at the Dressel residence. You do not need to know how to sew or quilt to join us; you just need to be willing to pray and help with the effort in any way you are able. Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry, by Kimberly Winston, is a lovely book introducing the ministry.  A copy of the book is available for loan. Please contact Angela Dressel to sign up:  abdressel@gmail.com or 808-332-7371; and please keep our new ministry in your prayers.

OFFICE CLOSED on Monday, December 26, 2016.

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Weekly News of the Church” is provided by 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!