In this issue:
- A Message from Pastor Jeff
- Stewardship Corner
- LCH Office Hours
- Committee/Interest Group Chairs
- Mahalo for Give Aloha Donations
- Pew Chair Fundraiser—We’re at 91% of our goal!
- Book of Faith Bible Study
- Nursery Hours September–May
- Feast of St. Francis—Blessing of the Animals
- Angel Network In-Gathering
- Godly Play—Sunday School Continues!
- Adult Forum—October
- Leadership Roundtable
- Compline
- Maurice Duruflé at St-Étienne-du-Mont
- Process Forum
- LCH Family Day at Wet ’n’ Wild!
- LCH OFFICE will be closed Monday, October 14
- IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep
- Food for Thought
- LCH Women’s Book Club
- Writers’ Workshop
- One Pot, One Hope
- LutherFest!
- Mary Magdalene Society
- All Saints’ Sunday
- Mary Magdalene Society
- An Easy Way to Donate
- Edward Shipwright Memorial Piano Fund
- HeartBeat Deadline
- Electronic Funds Transfers for August
- Attendance and Offerings for September
- Prayer Requests
- October Birthdays
- LCH Worship Participants (8:00 am)
- LCH Worship Participants (10:30 am)
- Calendar: October 2019
A Message from Pastor Jeff
Fearless Compassion
Compassion fatigue is a real thing. The Oxford English Dictionary online defines it this way: “Indifference to charitable appeals on behalf of those who are suffering, experienced as a result of the frequency or number of such appeals.”
In more general use, “compassion fatigue” is used as a way to describe a kind of exhaustion brought on by the relentless barrage of real needs in the world. Just this morning, I listened to an extended hearing on possible misconduct and impeachment of the U.S. president, flooding in the south, recovery efforts for hurricane victims in the Atlantic, growing numbers of homelessness in Hawai‘i, the nearly irreversible damage to our oceans by carbon emissions, the U.S. rollback of emissions standards, deportation agreements by the U.S. with some of the most dangerous countries in the world, and threats of yet another war with Iran. All of that in just an hour. Just now, it started to pour down rain. I can’t help but think about the small group of homeless folks who visit our campus and wonder where they are right now. Add to that the little problems of our individual lives like paying rent, affording school for our kids, cranky spouses, and trouble at work, and it is not hard to imagine compassion fatigue worming its way into our professional and spiritual lives.
Most of the literature on compassion fatigue seems to be centered around the phenomenon as it effects caring professions like health care practitioners, social workers, and pastors. But I wonder about the effect the deluge of human suffering we hear about each day is having on our ability to care deeply about important things like children dying in U.S. deportation camps or our neighbor who has just lost a spouse to cancer. For some, there is so much difficult, challenging, even hopeless news that they find themselves unable to cope in any meaningful way with the enormity of the problems in life and in the world. One reaction to compassion fatigue is to simply shut out the noise and turn inward. It is a perfectly natural reaction rooted in self-preservation; but you can only turn inward for so long.
So, what are our options? One of the things I admire about Jesus was his fearless compassion. Faced with demons, he threw them out; leprosy, healed; blindness, a little mud in the eye and on your bike; menstruation issues, a tug on the robe and you’re healed. Whole crowds amassed around him with innumerable problems, illness, withered hands, and withered hearts; and the Bible says, “and he had compassion on them.” He did not worry about appearances or sabbath rules. He ignored social conventions and religious expectations and fearlessly proclaimed the presence of God in the midst of all of it! (Okay, sometimes he skipped out of town and rested, or prayed, or both.) Perhaps there is a clue for us there.
One source of compassion fatigue is the sneaking (and accurate) realization that the enormity of the world’s suffering cannot be borne on our individual shoulders or cured in an instant with our personal hands. That sense of helplessness can be debilitating, but it can also be instructive. Perhaps the first step for us—as people of faith—is to follow the lead of Jesus and proclaim God’s presence in the midst of the world’s hurt. Then we can see where our hands can join the hands of God to bring healing to the world.
Change doesn’t begin when we become angry enough to act; change happens when we have the courage to hope for a brighter and more just future. Together with all of God’s people, we join together in bringing God’s future to light.
Peace,
Pastor Jeff
Walking into the beautiful Nave at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, our eyes are drawn to the colorful banners, altar hangings, and needlepoint kneeling pads, each painstakingly and lovingly made. In his letter to Colossians, Paul describes the tapestry each of us weaves as we go about our daily lives: “I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery” Colossians 2:2 (The Message translation).
St. Paul envisions each of us using the talents, our individual personalities, and the other gifts God has given us to create a tapestry—visible to others—that is filled with and reflects God’s love for us and for all creation. As we weave our personal tapestries, we also become part of the larger LCH tapestry, weaving God’s mercy and grace into the world. We add to this work of art as we go about our daily lives, bringing God’s love to a broken world.
The verse from St. Paul calls us to be intentional in creating both our personal tapestries and our communal LCH tapestry. Both grow more beautiful, more complex, and more interesting by incorporating strands of varying colors and textures. Let us think about the personal tapestries we are weaving, as well as the ways we contribute to the LCH tapestry. Perhaps it is time for each of us to weave new colors and textures into our lives.
Over the next few weeks—and throughout the rest of the year—we will offer opportunities for each of us to understand God’s call to be good stewards of all that we have been given and to discover how the various threads we bring into God’s tapestry are woven together into a tapestry of justice as we do kindness, walk humbly with God and share God’s love.
- On Sunday, October 6, we will present this year’s theme during worship and preview our plans to begin weaving an LCH tapestry during Advent. Our congregational tapestry will incorporate materials from members and friends of LCH.
- On October 13 and 20, members of the congregation will share Temple Talks.
- On October 27, we will ask you to begin completing Commitment Cards, which will be dedicated on November 24.
- On November 10, we will hold a Ministry Fair between services. Everyone will have a chance to learn about current ministries within our congregation and in the larger community and to make commitments to be part of these ministries.
- From Advent through the Epiphany season, we will look at “Weaving Faith and Arts.”
- During Lent, we will consider “Weaving Faith and Justice.”
- During Easter, we will focus on “Weaving Faith and Creation.”
- In the time after Pentecost, we will explore the themes of “Weaving Faith and Self Care” and “Weaving Faith and Community.”
We invite you to join us as we explore new ways of using our talents to weave tapestries of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.
Your Stewardship Team
Peggy Anderson, Bobby Broyles, Pam Buckley, Willow Chang, Phyllis Hörmann, Barbara Poole-Street, and Bill Potter
Committee/Interest Group Chairs
| Committee/Group | Leader |
|---|---|
| Archive: | Jim Cartwright |
| Concert: | Scott Fikse |
| Communications: | Carol Langner |
| Community Life: | Larry Anderson |
| Council: | Josie Bidgood |
| Fellowship: | Jeanne Castello & Mary-Jo Estes |
| Finance: | Steve Miller |
| Financial Review: | Dori Palcovich |
| Food for Thought: | Kathryn Klingebiel |
| Lay Ministers: | Carolyn Koehler |
| Learning Ministry: | Fred Benco |
| Mary Magdalene Society: | Bill Potter & Roy Helms |
| Process Theology: | Carol Langner |
| Property: | Richard Mundell |
| Scholarship: | Fred Benco |
| Social Ministry: | Jean Lilley |
| Stewardship: | Phyllis Hörmann & Willow Chang |
| Sunday School: | Laurie Leach |
| Worship & Music: | Roy Helms & Randy Castello |
| Writers’ Workshop: | Kathryn Klingebiel |
| Youth: | Pr. Jeff Lilley |
LCH Office Hours
- Monday—9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Tuesday—9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Wednesday—9:00 am to 12:30 pm
- Thursday—9:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Friday—9:00 am to 3:00 pm
We recommend calling the office (808-941-2566) before making a visit to see Pastor Jeff or the administrator, as schedules may vary with appointments, other work commitments, and lunch breaks.
Mahalo for Give Aloha Donations
We are grateful to all who participated in the Give Aloha Program sponsored by Foodland/Western Union during the month of September at local Foodland and Sack ’n’ Save locations.
Note: If you want your contribution listed on your giving statement, please put your receipt (clearly noting your name) in the offering plate or leave it in the office. Although, for tax purposes, your contribution is listed as “Foodland” or “Sack ’n’ Save,” we are happy to include it on your giving statement and consider it as giving towards your annual pledge. We can direct it someplace other than the general fund if you make that designation.
Pew Chair Fundraiser—We’re at 91% of our goal!
We borrowed from ourselves to pay for the pew chairs we enjoy every Sunday. However, we would like to raise the remaining $5,300 in order to pay off our debt.
The incredible generosity of the congregation resulted in raising almost $54,000 for the chairs, which means we raised 91% of the money! At the end of 2018, we decided we would put the fundraising on hold for a few months while we focused on other priorities. We are now back with a final push to pay off the chair debt.
As a reminder, the chairs cost about $300 apiece. Any contribution is welcome and appreciated. If you would like to help us push to pay off the chair loan, please make a check to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, or simply LCH, and write Pew Chairs on the memo line of the check. Our goal is to have the chairs paid off by the end of 2019.
Thank you so much for your generous contributions to date—just a little bit more to make it to the end. If you have any questions, please talk to Mary Fastenau, mfastenau@gmail.com.
Book of Faith Bible Study
Thursdays, 10:00–11:45 am • 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. Please come for engaging fellowship and discussion!
Nursery Hours September–May
The nursery is available for children ages 0–5 from 7:45 am to 12:00 noon, from September through May. We encourage children of all ages to attend worship, but if your young child needs a rest during the busy morning, please take advantage of this space. The nursery entrance is located across the courtyard from the entrance to the Nave.
Feast of St. Francis—Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 6, during both services
Recognizing God’s love for all creatures and in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, please join us for the Blessing of the Animals, during worship at both services. We will have pet treats available for the social hour and water stations to keep our friends comfortable.
Feel free to bring your pets of various species to church with you. Please be mindful of temperament and companionability. Some pets simply do not get along with others and should remain comfortably at home. We will bless them from afar.
There will be a pet-free zone for those who may be uncomfortable sitting next to a water buffalo or a duckbill platypus. Without exception, all pets must be leashed or caged at all times while on campus. Free flights of large birds and unfettered wandering of Bengal tigers will, no doubt, lead to unpleasantness. So please, religiously observe the commandment to cage and leash at all times.
Angel Network In-Gathering
Sunday, October 6
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.
Godly Play—Sunday School Continues!
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 October:
- October 6—Francis of Assisi object box
- October 13—The Exodus
- October 20—The Ten Best Ways
- October 27—Martin Luther object box
Adult Forum—October
Sunday Mornings 9:20–10:20 am
Wayne Gau presents “Obstacles to Christian Unity” for discussion. Wayne’s focus is two-fold:
- obstacles to Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox unity, and
- obstacles to Roman Catholic and Protestant unity.
Please grab your refreshments and join us Sundays, between services, in the LCH Boardroom.
Leadership Roundtable
Sunday, October 6, 11:45 am • LCH Boardroom
Committee chairs and team leaders, please plan to gather for a short (45 minute) meeting. This is an opportunity for us to sit down together and share information on what is happening with all the ministries at LCH. If you are a committee or team leader, please be prepared to share a little information on your activities with the group. Mahalo and see you there!
Compline
Sunday, October 6 and 20, 7:30 pm
Join us on the first and third Sunday of each month for Compline, led a cappella by the LCH Men’s Schola. This is a peaceful experience of rejuvenation and prayer.
Maurice Duruflé at St-Étienne-du-Mont
Monday, October 7 • 6:30 pm Refreshments, 7:00 pm Concert
Join us for the premier of our First Mondays Concert series. Organist Mark Wong and the LCH Choirs present a concert of music by renowned organist, composer, and improviser Maurice Duruflé, who served as organist at Saint-Étienne-du-Mont in Paris from 1929 until his death in 1986. During this time, he composed the majority of his relatively small output of works, among them the lesser-known but strikingly beautiful Messe “Cum jubilo,” Op. 11, for baritone chorus and organ. Come early, at 6:30, to enjoy refreshments and fellowship before the program. This is a free concert; donations are gratefully accepted.
Process Forum
Saturday, October 12, 9:30 am • LCH Boardroom
Our views of the nature of God have a profound impact on how we understand God to be active in our lives, the world, and the far reaches of space/time. Recently in his blog, shared through The Center of Action and Contemplation, Franciscan Father Richard Rohr has been writing on the very issue of how we understand God in the universe.
Theologians and philosophers call this area of thought “cosmology.” This will be our topic of discussion this month at the Process Forum. Specifically, we will examine and discuss an important tenet in Process cosmology—the concept of “panentheism,” as opposed to “pantheism.”
Rohr’s writings, for the week of September 1–6, are devoted to Cosmology: Part 2, and include a couple of meditations for us to think about. If you can, please look especially at September 1, Participating in God, and September 5, At the Heart. All are welcome to attend and be part of the discussion.
LCH Family Day at Wet ’n’ Wild!
Sunday, October 13, following worship
Join members of our LCH ‘ohana for a day of fun—sponsored by the LCH youth—after worship. We leave following the 10:30 service and enjoy the attractions at Wet ’n’ Wild, between 12:00 and 5:00 pm. LCH youth are free, and adults are $25.00. Youth must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Register in the courtyard following Sunday services. Contact Pastor Jeff at pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org or call the LCH office if you have questions.
LCH OFFICE will be closed Monday, October 14
in observance of Discoverers’ Day
IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep
Thursday, October 17, 8:00 am • LCH Isenberg Hall
The schedule for our monthly meal service to the homeless at IHS, for the remainder of 2019, involves making sandwiches and packing sack lunches in Isenberg Hall. The remaining dates are Thursdays, October 17, November 15, and December 19. When we make meatloaf at the IHS kitchen, we do it on the third Friday of a given month. Friday hot meal prep will be on the schedule again in 2020.
So, for the next three months, come to LCH on the dates listed above at 8:00 am to help prepare brown bag meals. Enjoy coffee, tasty treats, good conversation, and the satisfaction of helping Honolulu’s homeless.
To participate or for additional information, please speak to Carol Langner or contact the LCH office. A driver with a van or SUV is needed to help transport meals. To learn more about the Institute for Human Services, visit their website at www.ihshawaii.org. Mahalo to all who help with this ministry to Honolulu’s homeless.
Food for Thought
Saturday, October 19, 5:30 to 8:00 pm
Food for Thought meets at the home of David Hörmann. All are welcome for potluck supper, video, and discussion. For more information, please contact the LCH office at 808-941-2566.
LCH Women’s Book Club
Monday, October 21, 10:00 am
We will meet at the Murashige’s. Mary Jo leads discussion of Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. In November, Audrey leads discussion of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, by Lisa See. All are welcome. Please contact the church office at 808-941-2566 if you have questions.
Writers’ Workshop
Monday, October 21, 4:00 pm
Writers’ Workshop meets in the Boardroom at LCH. All are welcome. For more information please contact the LCH office at 808-941-2566.
One Pot, One Hope
Saturday, October 26, 9:30 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. See Peggy Anderson for more information, including volunteering and carpool. Chili donations are appreciated, #10 sized cans (from Costco or Sam’s Club).
LutherFest!
Saturday, October 27, 5:30 pm • Hörmann Courtyard
Come celebrate our Lutheran heritage at our annual LutherFest, where we eat, drink, laugh, and have fun in the Hörmann Courtyard. Festivities will begin at 5:30 pm with light pupus and non-alcoholic punch provided. Beer and wine are available for a donation. A German themed potluck follows at 6:00 pm. Brats will be provided, but please bring a German dish, if possible. To help ensure a balanced table, we suggest the following guidelines:
- A thru H—salad or side dish
- I thru Q—dessert
- R thru Z—main dish
You can look online for suggested German dishes like sausages and sauerkraut, sauerbraten, roast chicken, potato salad, potato dumplings, spätzle, and many other options.
Following dinner, we will enjoy a rousing game of Lutheran Jeopardy! (You Betcha). Brush up your knowledge of the Bible, Martin Luther, favorite hymns, and all things Lutheran so that you’re ready to compete.
Donations for beer and wine will be by LutherBucks, so bring a check or cash to exchange for your LutherBucks. And don’t worry about purchasing too many LutherBucks since all donations will go to the Waikīkī’s Youth Outreach (YO), which serves as a safe haven for homeless youths. YO offers medical care, social services and non-judgmental support along with food, hot showers, and clothing.
More details will be forthcoming in future Sunday announcements. Danke sehr and hope to see you there!
Confirmation Preparation Classes
Sunday, October 27, 11:45 am • LCH Rainbow Room
Confirmation is voluntary for youth, grades 6 and up, who would like to confirm their faith. At baptism we promise to “place in (your child’s) hands the Holy Scripture and provide for their education in the Christian Faith.” In confirmation class we study scripture, the Reformation, and Christian history, but we are more interested in helping young people develop as persons of faith. For more information, please contact Pastor Jeff.
All Saints’ Sunday
Sunday, November 3
On All Saints’ Sunday, you have the opportunity in worship to come forward to remember a deceased loved one by lighting a candle during the prayers. Please fill out a Saints Remembrance form at church or email the church office (lch@lchwelcome.org) with the names of those you would like printed in the special bulletin insert. Join us for this special remembrance.
Mary Magdalene Society
Our group of LGBTQI and friends will not meet in October because of LutherFest on October 26. The next gather for potluck supper, socializing, and games will be on Saturday, November 16. For more information, contact Bill at bill.potter808@gmail.com.
An Easy Way to Donate
Did you know you can donate to Lutheran Church of Honolulu while shopping without spending any extra money? Shop at smile.amazon.com and increase donations to Lutheran Church of Honolulu! Any Amazon purchase can be made through LCH’s unique charity-link, which will take you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of LCH. Just type this URL in your browser and start shopping: smile.amazon.com/ch/99-0079975.
Edward Shipwright Memorial Piano Fund
The church has an ongoing need for maintenance of our current piano, which is on generous loan from Mark Wong. We also need to plan for eventual purchase of an excellent, permanent piano for LCH.
Therefore, we have established the Edward Shipwright Memorial Piano Fund. Dr. Shipwright was the head of the piano division of the Music Department at UH Mānoa. Many people associated with LCH were students or friends of Ed. The fund will be a fitting memorial to his 50 years of teaching and playing.
| Offering Fund | Amount | Offering Fund | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offering | $6,705 | Music Fund/Instruments | $263 |
| Shallow Subsidy | $90 | Capital Improvements | $122 |
HeartBeat Deadline
Tuesday, October 22, 9:00 am
Carol M., Chuck P., Colleen K., George, Greg, Karen O.,
Keahi, Kendra K., Maseeh G., Patricia, Resi, Richard B.,
Vonia, Wayne G.
| Day | Date | Event and Time | Wednesday | October 2 | 5:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | October 3 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Sunday | October 6 | Angel Network In-Gathering Blessing of the Animals, both services 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 11:45 am, Leadership Roundtable 7:30 pm, Compline |
| Monday | October 7 | 7:00 pm, First Mondays Concert |
| Wednesday | October 9 | 5:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Thursday | October 10 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | October 12 | 9:30 am, Process Thought Forum |
| Sunday | October 13 | 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 11:45 am, Family Day at Wet ’n’ Wild |
| Monday | October 14 | Discoverers’ Day—LCH Office Closed 6:00 pm, Worship & Music Meeting |
| Tuesday | October 15 | 12:30 pm, Finance Committee Meeting |
| Wednesday | October 16 | 5:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Thursday | October 17 | 8:00 am, IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep at LCH 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | October 19 | 5:30 pm, Food for Thought |
| Sunday | October 20 | 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 7:30 pm, Compline |
| Monday | October 21 | 10:00 am, LCH Women’s Book Club 4:00 pm, Writers’ Workshop |
| Tuesday | October 22 | HeartBeat Submissions Deadline 6:30 pm, LCH Council Meeting |
| Wednesday | October 23 | 5:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Thursday | October 24 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | October 26 | 9:30 am, One Pot One Hope 5:30 pm, LCH Annual LutherFest |
| Sunday | October 27 | Reformation Sunday 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education—all ages 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 11:45 am, Confirmation Class |
| Wednesday | October 30 | 5:00 pm, Early Worship Ensemble Rehearsal |
| Thursday | October 31 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:30 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |