In this issue:
- A Message from Pastor Jeff
- Committee/Interest Group Chairs
- Angel Network In-Gathering
- New Member Reception
- Godly Play—Sunday School News
- Adult Forum
- Confirmation Classes
- Poetry Group
- Evening Prayer
- Pacifica Synod Assembly
- Book of Faith Bible Study
- In Stitches
- LCH Community Book and Media Exchange
- Bibles for Our Second Graders
- Holoholo Pick-Up
- Mother Mary Comes to Me
- Process Thought Forum
- Exploring Boundaries and Beyond: The Entanglement of Early Christianity and Islam
- LCH Women’s Book Club
- Writers’ Workshop
- One Pot, One Hope
- Office Closed—Memorial Day
- LCH Scholarship Applications Available
- Summer Schedules
- Wet’n’Wild Youth and Family Outing
- Giving Statements
- Thoughts from Robert Zimmer
- Consider Baking Bread
- Anticipating a Big Celebration
- HeartBeat Deadline
- Electronic Funds Transfers for March
- Attendance and Offerings for April
- Prayer Requests
- May Birthdays
- LCH Worship Participants (8:00 am)
- LCH Worship Participants (10:30 am)
- Calendar: May 2016
A Message from Pastor Jeff
A Time for Reflection
At least once a week I set time aside to sit in a pew and pray for the many folks who fill out prayer requests, those who are sick, and those who have lost contact with our faith community.
It is also a time to quiet the almost constant chatter of ideas, to-do lists, and regrets that seem to bounce around inside my mind. In the quiet, creaking, and sometimes-spooky empty Nave, I find an opportunity to listen, feel, and hope without the distraction of waiting emails, calls, and daily tasks and to be opened to a reorientation in God’s Spirit. In listening, I hear in new ways and find my week shaped in new and surprising ways.
Congregations can benefit from the same sort of practice, now and again. Even when things are going well and congregational ministries are running smoothly and meaningfully, a prayerful reorientation can be a helpful exercise. Meeting together for prayer, conversation, and questions can lead us to affirm what we are already doing or lead to new adventures in ministry and life together. After all, perhaps God might be up to something new in us!
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, recently called for just that sort of exercise across the ELCA. The initiative, named “Called Forward Together in Christ” will unfold in three phases. Congregations, synods, and centers for learning will all participate in discerning God’s call to the church and shaping the future of our ministry together. Some questions (taken from the FD Toolkit) our parishioners might ask themselves are:
- What are my hopes for the future of this church?
- What drew me to this congregation, and what helps me feel connected?
- What important things should this church do in the future—in my community and in the world?
- Who would I like to see join my congregation, and how might this happen?
These are “reset” questions that are worth our pondering together. Your Congregational Council has been working on just these sorts of questions to shape and focus our ministry efforts for this year. The exercise in which we engaged indicated that one of our greatest passions, and one of the greatest needs in the community, is an interest in working together with others to help with homelessness. What do you think?
I will be working with our leadership to develop a way for us not only to have these conversations but also to help you implement your passions for ministry. Prayer, contemplation, questions, and (of course) food will be part of our conversations. I pray you will do your part in helping us to “reset” this ministry of God by participating and contributing your thoughts, prayers, and efforts.
Any time is a good time for reflection, but perhaps now is an especially good time to put aside distractions for a while and listen carefully to God and to each other. Who can say what we will hear? But one thing is sure, unless we take the time to listen, we will hear nothing.
May God give us ears to hear!
Committee/Interest Group Chairs
| Committee/Group | Leader |
|---|---|
| Archive: | Jim Cartwright |
| Concert: | Scott Fikse |
| Communications: | Carol Langner |
| Council: | Craig Clissold & Mary Fastenau |
| Exploring Boundaries: | Carol Langner |
| Fellowship: | Jeanne Castello & Mary-Jo Estes |
| Finance: | Steve Miller |
| Financial Review: | Ron Murashige |
| Food for Thought: | Kathryn Klingebiel |
| In Stitches: | Linda Miller |
| Lay Ministers: | Carolyn Koehler |
| Learning Ministry: | Fred Benco |
| Mary Magdalene Society: | James Cartwright |
| Process Theology: | Fritz Fritschel |
| Property: | Jean-Paul Klingebiel & Greg Gebhardt |
| Scholarship: | Fred Benco |
| Social Ministry: | Jean Lilley |
| Stewardship: | Pam Buckley |
| Sunday School: | Laurie Leach |
| Worship & Music: | Linda Miller & Randy Castello |
| Writers’ Workshop: | Kathryn Klingebiel |
| Youth: | Pr. Jeff Lilley |
Angel Network In-Gathering
Sunday, May 1
On the first Sunday of each month, an in-gathering of food and personal items is collected at LCH for Angel Network, a ministry based out of Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church. The items are taken to Angel Network during the following week. Over 2,500 individuals are served monthly through this program. We are grateful for your generosity and support.
New Member Reception
Sunday, May 1, 8:00 & 10:30 services
LCH welcomes new members to the congregation through affirmation of Baptism on Sunday May 1. This Sunday, we welcome Greg and Sharon Gebhardt, Scott and Marcus Fikse, and Kristen and Mel Siebert as members of our congregation. If you are interested in deepening your relationship with God’s people at LCH, please contact Pastor Jeff, pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org.
Godly Play—Sunday School News
Sunday School 9:20–10:20 am
LCH offers Sunday school for children from kindergarten through senior high. The older children (grades 6–12) meet in the Rainbow Room. The younger children (grades k–5) meet in the Godly Play Room. All are welcome!
Below is the schedule of Godly Play stories for May:
- 5/1—Jesus and the Twelve
- 5/8—Julian of Norwich object box
- 5/15—The Mystery of Pentecost
- 5/22—Paul’s Discovery
- 5/29—End of Sunday School—Play Day
Adult Forum
May 1 and May 8
The format for early May involves two discussion/debate Sundays, featuring Pastor Jeff and Wayne Gau. These serve as good follow up to the new member classes completed recently. Feel free to bring your refreshments and join us in the LCH Boardroom between services.
Confirmation Classes
Sundays, May 1 and 15, 12:00 pm in the LCH Rainbow Room
Confirmation is a time for pre-teens and teens to discover more about their faith in God and to deepen their learning about the church, The Bible, and Lutheran concepts. Please contact Pastor Jeff for more information.
Sunday, May 15, three confirmands will be confirmed and we will celebrate their confirmation with a reception following the 10:30 service.
Poetry Group
Sunday, May 1, 6:45 pm
Poetry group will meet on the first Sunday of May prior to Evening Prayer, which begins at 7:30 pm.
Evening Prayer
Sundays, May 1 and 15, 7:30 pm
Join us for Evening Prayer. May 1 will be our regular peaceful a cappella experience of rejuvenation and prayer provides a respite of calm and thoughtful contemplation, adding balance to our busy lives.
On May 15, Pentecost, we will celebrate Vespers, the sunset evening prayer service of the canonical hours. This service is comprised almost entirely by music, with the LCH Choir singing a rich array of selections including the psalms for that evening, the Magnificat, and several motets. All are welcome, and freewill offerings in support of the music ministry will be gladly accepted for this service.
Pacifica Synod Assembly
Voting members from around the Pacifica Synod will gather in Irvine California, May 5–7, for the Pacifica Synod Assembly. Pastor Jeff, Scott Fikse, and Olivia Castro are voting members to the assembly from LCH. In addition, Rev. Steve Jensen will attend as retired clergy, and Rev. Phyllis Hörmann will attend as a Chaplain.
The assembly is a time for ELCA congregations to gather for prayer, worship, discernment, and business. This is a particularly important assembly since we will be electing a synodical bishop. Rev. Murray Finck is retiring after 18 years as our bishop. Please keep the assembly, our bishop, and all voting members in your prayers. Our voting members will return Saturday, May 7, and will have a short report at each service, May 8.
Book of Faith Bible Study
Thursdays, 10:00–11:30 am, in the LCH Boardroom
The Book of Faith Bible study meets on Thursday mornings in the Boardroom. All are welcome to join this lively discussion of the Biblical texts, relevant current events, and historical foundations. The group continues their study Paul’s letter to the Romans. As much a theological treatise as letter, Paul’s missive has had undeniable influence on Christian thought and practice. As we engage the text, the group is finding a lot to talk about. Please join us!
In Stitches
Saturday, May 7 • 9:00 am in the LCH Rainbow Room
In Stitches, the LCH craft group, meets on the first Saturday of the month. Come for fellowship, bring your current project, or help us make ribbon lei to give to visitors. All are welcome!
Calling all Lei Makers: There will be a basket of ribbon on the table outside the Godly Play room on Sundays for people to take home in order to make lei at home.
LCH Community Book and Media Exchange
May 7, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, in the Hörmann Courtyard
Join us for a free book and media exchange! Bring your used books, CDs, and DVDs—fiction, non-fiction, children’s, cookbooks, travel guides—all genres welcome. Feel free to browse and take home titles that catch your eye. Books remaining at the close of the event will be donated to the Friends of the Library. This event will be open to the local community as well. Contact Hope Jahren via the LCH office for more information.
Bibles for Our Second Graders
Sunday, May 8, during 8:00 & 10:30 services
During both services we will be giving Bibles to the children in our congregation who have completed second grade.
Holoholo Pick-Up
Tuesdays, May 10 & 24, 2:30–4:00 pm in the LCH Boardroom
Holoholo General Store is a Community Supported Agriculture organization, or csa, that works with the Lutheran Church to bring you fresh produce from multiple, local farms. To join or find more information visit their website www.holoholostore.com.
Mother Mary Comes to Me
At the New Year’s German Vespers service, Pastor Anke Flohr introduced LCH to a German tradition. The Jahreslosung is a designated verse from Scripture that serves the entire country of Germany as a guideline or motto for the coming year. The verse for 2016 comes from Isaiah 66:13: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” LCH adopted this year-long focus on the feminine, loving, comforting side of God. It was featured in our Holden Worship during the Wednesday services of Lent, and has been referred to many times in sermons by Pastor Jeff.
Two events in May—Process Thought Forum on May 14 and Exploring Boundaries and Beyond on May 15—will include this emphasis on the feminine in our experience of the Divine. Mary, Mother of Jesus, figures prominently in both events. The congregation and friends are invited to share in these opportunities to further our understanding of the role of mothering in our experience and theology.
Process Thought Forum—Mother Mary Comes to Me
Saturday, May 14, 9:30 am in the LCH Boardroom
Our focus is an article by Jay McDaniel entitled “Mother Mary Comes to Me: Explorations in Process Mariology.” Although Protestants have often downplayed the position of Mary, mother of Jesus, in our spiritual life, we may have more in common with her than we think. All are welcome to this lively discussion group. If you can review the article before our meeting, so much the better, but if you can’t, don’t let that keep you away! Here’s the link: www.jesusjazzbuddhism.org/mother-mary-comes-to-me.html
Exploring Boundaries and Beyond: The Entanglement of Early Christianity and Islam
Sunday, May 15, 600-7:15 p.m. in Isenberg Hall
LCH welcomes Dr. O’Harrow, Professor of Philology and the Director, Center for Southeast Asian Studies at University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Based on the study of philology (the study of texts, especially early texts, in their historical, social, and archeological contexts), Dr. O’Harrow uses words and concepts from Greek, Hebrew, and Arabic to investigate connections in the early histories between these two great monotheistic religions, Christianity and Islam. He will especially focus on the evolving figure of the Virgin Mary.
Consider lingering after Exploring Boundaries for Evening Prayer at 7:30 p.m.. This evening, the service of Compline will be offered, sung by the LCH Choir. This beautiful meditative service features chant, anthems, prayers and responses, all in the quiet glow of candlelight.
LCH Women’s Book Club
Monday, May 16, 10:00–11:30 am
We are meeting at Murashige’s to discuss Catherine of Siena, by Sigrid Undset.
Writers’ Workshop
Monday, May 23, 5:30–7:00 pm
Please note change of date! Writers’ Workshop will meet in the LCH Boardroom—our last meeting before the summer break. All are welcome! For information, please call the LCH office at 808-941-2566.
One Pot, One Hope
Saturday, May 28, 10:00 am
A consistent group of LCH volunteers helps feed 100 to 125 people each month in Wai‘anae. Help support this mission outreach project by participating or by bringing donations of designated items—Costco gallon-sized cans of chili, fresh fruit, granola bars, bottled water, recycled grocery bags, and large cardboard boxes—or checks, payable to “One Pot, One Hope.” Bring donated items to church on the third Sunday of the month (May 15). See Peggy Anderson for more information, including volunteering and carpool.
Office Closed—Memorial Day—Monday, May 30
LCH Scholarship Applications Available
Scholarship applications are available for the coming summer and 2016–17 school year. Scholarships may be used for tuition assistance, music study, and the like. If you wish to apply for an LCH scholarship, please call the church office (808-941-2566) for an application.
Summer Schedules
As June approaches, please keep in mind that we change our Sunday service time to the summer schedule for June, July, and August. There will be one worship service on Sundays, at 9:15 am. This is a communion service. There will be no Evening Prayer during the summer months. Evening Prayer resumes on the first Sunday of September.
Other programs, such as Exploring Boundaries, Confirmation classes, Food for Thought, Poetry Group, and Writers’ Workshop, will break for the summer as well. Check the LCH calendar on-line, or The HeartBeat and weekly LCHNews calendars for scheduling information.
SAVE THE DATE! Wet’n’Wild Youth and Family Outing
Sunday, June 12, 10:30 am to 5:00 pm
LCH youth, family, and young at heart are invited to join us for a fun filled day at Wet’n’Wild! We will depart together following the LCH service that morning. More info coming soon. In the meantime, mark your calendars for this fun event!
Giving Statements
Giving statements for the first quarter of 2016 are prepared. Please pick yours up at the back of the nave after Sunday service or at the church office to save on postage. Statements that are not picked-up by May 15 will be mailed.
We are grateful for all contributions, whether by check, cash, or electronic funds transfer (EFT). We do our best to accurately record contributions, but mistakes do happen. Please review your statement and let us know of any errors by telling the church office or financial secretary, Bill Potter.
Thoughts from Robert Zimmer
One day I found an oasis of real love, Lutheran Church of Honolulu. I am not sure how others think; however, when your church becomes a real consideration on whether to move or not, that is a pretty powerful statement. Each member of LCH had some very special something that made worship there very unique.
The first time I went to services I was bowled over by the music. It took me to an appreciation of how the great music could be entwined with the sacred. Then there was the welcome that I received and the knowing that I would have friends there. Having been known as a mad hugger, I really found a place to share hugs, and the few seconds hugging one and the other makes such a difference in how you can appreciate each other.
As time went by I got to know so many of you in a personal way, to be able to share your joys and your sorrows. Over the years I was asked to share from the “pulpit” what my life was about and related, as best I could, to scripture. An awesome thing with responsibility. From Pastors Johnson, Barber, and Jensen, and now with Pastor Jeff; we have had the best in preaching the Gospel. Of course our potlucks were always amazing. Green Jell-O contests and the like were fun.
There are many things I could enumerate on about being a member, including the four times I went to synod meetings on the mainland. I just hope that all of you know what a special place you are and how much, I am sure, God loves you.
Bob Zimmer
Consider Baking Bread
We need people to sign up to bake bread for communion. We can provide recipes if needed. Please sign up in the courtyard. Thanks!
Anticipating a Big Celebration: 500th Anniversary
The year 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the traditional beginning of the Lutheran movement that started in Wittenberg, Germany with the nailing of Luther’s 95 Theses to the door of that town’s church. The period, known as the Reformation, was inaugurated and its effects spread worldwide. Now we ask what our congregation can do to honor and celebrate that rich heritage? Ideas are already circulating, but there is certainly room for more. More definite plans will be elaborated after the first of the year. Meanwhile, let your own creative imagination suggest some activity or project that seems fitting for such a celebration.
| Offering Fund | Amount | Offering Fund | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offering | $5,311 | Mission Campaign | $50 |
| Music Fund/Instruments | $170 | Wounded Warriors | $141 |
| Capital Improvements | $107 |
HeartBeat Deadline
Tuesday, May 17, 9:00 am
Geno, Irmgard, Jenny, John, and Swede
| Day | Date | Event and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | May 1 | Angel Network In-Gathering New Member Reception Sunday 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:15 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 12:00 pm, Confirmation Class 6:45 pm, Poetry Group 7:30 pm, Evening Prayer |
| Monday | May 2 | 7:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Thursday | May 5 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | May 7 | 9:00 am, In Stitches 10:00 am, LCH Community Book & Media Swap |
| Sunday | May 8 | Mother’s Day 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:15 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist |
| Monday | May 9 | 6:00 pm, Worship & Music Meeting 7:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Tuesday | May 10 | 2:30 pm, Holoholo pick-up |
| Wednesday | May 11 | 12:30 pm, Finance Committee Meeting |
| Thursday | May 12 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | May 14 | 9:30 am, Process Thought Forum |
| Sunday | May 15 | Day of Pentecost 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:15 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 12:00 pm, Confirmation/Reception 6:00 pm, Exploring Boundaries 7:30 pm, Pentecost Vespers |
| Monday | May 16 | 10:00 am, LCH Women’s Book Club 7:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Tuesday | May 17 | Heartbeat Deadline! 6:30 pm, Council Meeting |
| Thursday | May 19 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Friday | May 20 | 1:00 pm, IHS Meals prepared 5:30 pm, IHS Meals served |
| Sunday | May 22 | 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:15 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist |
| Monday | May 23 | 5:30 pm, Writers’ Workshop 7:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Tuesday | May 24 | 2:30 pm, Holoholo pick-up |
| Thursday | May 26 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | May 28 | 10:00 am, One Pot One Hope 6:00 pm, Karol’s Karolers Concert |
| Sunday | May 29 | 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:15 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist |
| Monday | May 30 | LCH OFFICE CLOSED—Memorial Day |