SANCTUARY EXPANSION PROJECT
The holiday season has begun with our sanctuary expansion project! Curtis Law and his crew were busy last week completing the installation of the new window and entryway. Beginning next Monday and in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we can expect to see the new doors hung, the folding doors removed (in front of where the pews are currently located), new sliding glass doors (directly behind the pews), and a beautiful new deacon’s cabinet with a countertop to display church materials. After the holidays, all of the walls will be painted and the flooring textured and stained for safety and appearance; we will also install new signage, a bulletin board and a place for name tags.
Since it may take our wood worker several more weeks to manufacture our new koa doors (made from beautiful wood donated from Hawaii Island), we may need to hang temporary doors while the koa doors are completed. The koa doors will be hung as soon as they are ready and will provide a welcoming invitation to all who visit our church!
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Second Sunday of Advent
The holiday wreath is hung!
The Christmas tree is decorated!
The poinsettias decorate the sanctuary!
The nativity set is on the communion table!
We are singing the songs of the Advent Season!
Join us on Sunday as we light the Candle of Peace.
Our special guest musician will be vocalist Jake Lester!
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CHILDREN/YOUTH CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
The children and teenagers practice during Sunday school (~10:45 a.m.) for the Christmas Program, which they will perform in church on Sunday, December 17. Please RSVP to Tiffany Marrotte if your children are planning to participate and which practices they will attend. If your child(ren) would like to play the ukulele for the songs, practice is at 9 a.m. on Sundays.
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CHRISTMAS OUTREACH
We will distribute ten boxes of food, including a ham, to our neighbors on the south shore who might otherwise struggle to provide Christmas dinner for their families. We will also give gift cards for parents to buy Christmas gifts for their children. Those who wish to contribute food items can sign up on the signup chart on Sunday. Those who wish to make cash donations can place coins or cash in the spare change jar at church or write “Christmas Outreach” on the note section of your check. The last day to make donations is Sunday, December 17. If you know of any families who can use our help, please contact Judyth Foley. Thank you so much to those who have been putting coins and cash in the spare change jar all year, and for those making special donations during the holiday season!
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LECTIO DIVINA
Join us for Lectio Divina at the Smith Memorial Parsonage (3281 Waikomo Road) on Wednesday, December 13, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. In Christianity, Lectio Divina is a traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase the knowledge of God’s Word. Join Angela Dressel, Karen Johnson and Kahu Akana for a time to reflect, meditate and pray in the middle of the busy holiday season.
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CHURCH CHRISTMAS PARTY
Join us Friday, December 15, at 6 p.m. at our annual Christmas party at the Smith Memorial Parsonage (3281 Waikomo Road). We will enjoy a potluck feast and sing Christmas carols. Bring a dish to share for dinner and your singing voices!
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CHRISTMAS FUND OFFERING
This special offering, administered by the United Church of Christ Pension Boards, provides direct financial assistance to retired and active UCC authorized ministers and lay employees and their surviving spouses, including pension and health premium supplementation, emergency assistance, and Christmas “thank you” checks. Each year, UCC congregations throughout the country collect this offering to assist faithful servants of God who are facing financial difficulties. We not only share hope, peace, joy and love with them; but they, in turn, pass these things along to others in their communities and in the world. We will collect the Christmas Fund offering on Sunday mornings, December 17 & 24, as well as at the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
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CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Our annual Christmas Eve service will be held at 7:30 and will include Christmas readings and carols, as well as the lighting of candles during the closing carol. Be sure to come early in order to get a seat!
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COCONUT WIRELESS
The Council of the Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ shares news on the Coconut Wireless, the regular newsletter of the HCUCC. If you would like to keep abreast on news, opportunities and events, please click HERE for this past week’s news. If you like what you see, you may subscribe and get every issue of the Coconut Wireless automatically.
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PRAYERS & SQUARES
Contact the church office if you would like to get involved in praying for people in crisis or helping to make quilt squares for those in crisis.
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