HeartBeat—June 2021

From Pastor Jeff

Need to Know, Need to Act, Part 2: Youth and the Internet

Let us pray. Holy God, teach us to see in one another dignity and belovedness, that we might honor one another as creations of your hand, and help one another to live as you intend. Amen.

I recently attended on online training through U.S. Department of Homeland Security that included some very helpful information about youth and the internet that I would like to share with you.

With young people receiving their first internet connected digital device as early as eight years old, the challenges of keeping young people safe online, informed about current online trends, and supported when things go wrong have grown increasingly important. Adults find it difficult to avoid the pitfalls of phishing scams, identity theft, and hacking even with all the information and resources at their disposal. Youth find themselves in much the same situation but complicated by peer pressure, social media, and immaturity that is more easily exploited by bullies and criminals alike. Harvesting of personal information, unintentional in-app spending, and downloading of harmful viruses are all common online experiences for both adults and youth. However, a growing trend among young people is online sharing of sexually explicit texts and photographs commonly referred to as “sexting.”

A 2018 study conducted by The Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics found that at minimum:

• 1 in 4 teens are receiving sexually explicit texts and emails
• 1 in 7 teens are sending sexts
• 1 in 10 teens are forwarding sexts without consent
• 1 in 12 teens have had sexts they’ve sent forwarded without their consent

Most experts agree that these statistics have probably grown since the study was conducted, as teens have even greater access to multiple devices and online platforms. One of the social workers on the workshop I attended noted that online sharing in itself may be part of normal and natural teen development. However, peer pressure, coercion, and emotional blackmail can lead a youth to share images or texts unwillingly. In some cases, images may be taken by a teen partner without the subject’s awareness. As indicated above, some teen’s images are then shared digitally with others without their consent or knowledge. As you can imagine, this is devastating to the victims involved.

In video testimony during the training workshop, a 16-year-old girl talked about sharing a nude photo with her older boyfriend. He quickly shared the photo with his friends, who then shared it all over school. She was a bright and cheerful person with lots of friends and a healthy social circle. Within weeks, she was ostracized from her friends who labeled her a “sl*t” and “whore,” and eventually she had to move to another school because she was so terribly bullied. Her parents were supportive and understanding, did not blame her for what had happened, and made every effort to rebuild her life. She said at the end of the video “At the time all this happened, I had only ever kissed a boy.”

The non-consensual sharing of sexting images and texts can be emotionally and spiritually devastating for young people. Some experience extreme depression, social isolation, and ostracization from family and friends; others simply withdraw and hide from the embarrassment. Not only is non-consensual sharing harmful; it is also illegal. Persons sharing such images can be arrested and imprisoned!

As creatures of God, we teach and believe in the sacredness of our very being and call one another to mutual support and care. These principles certainly apply to our children. Experts urge parents and guardians to maintain open lines of communication with young people. If your youth is a victim of cybercrime or sexting, remember that it is simply not their fault—they are a victim. Your love, support, and help are most important. Judgement and recrimination are not helpful; understanding and love are helpful!

Lastly, there are resources available to get your youth and your family the help they need. The Center for Missing and Exploited Children has lots of resources to help you navigate through these issues. There is a hotline for cybertips, information about how to get online images removed, and a really helpful program called “Netsmartz” to help you talk about these issues with your children. (A guidebook is available at this link [PDF].) I urge you to utilize these resources to prepare your youth to have a safe online experience, and to support your youth when they are victims of online exploitation. Should you need help or someone to talk to, please contact me day or night.

Let us pray. Holy God, you wonderfully create us and stand with us through all of life’s joys and challenges. Teach us to be good stewards of others, and treat one another with respect and dignity Amen.

With aloha,
Pastor Jeff

NEW LCH Office Hours

• Monday—Closed
• Tuesday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Wednesday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Thursday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Friday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Saturday–Sunday—Closed

The LCH office and church campus are generally closed to in-person meetings and gatherings as a precaution in accordance with the CDC, Hawai‘i State Governor’s Office, and Honolulu City and County Office of the Mayor’s recommendations regarding covid-19 virus safety. We require masks for in-person interactions and recommend calling the office (808-941-2566) before dropping in to see Pastor Jeff or the administrator, as schedules may vary with appointments, other work commitments, and lunch breaks.

Please visit the LCH website at www.lchwelcome.org for more information about weekly events and ministries, and to access the public LCH Facebook page for online worship services (you do not need a Facebook account to access the LCH Facebook page).

Looking In: Stewards of Talents, Part 2

Throughout the year our theme “Stewards of God’s Love” has led us to consider how God’s love comes down to us, works in us, and now leads us to explore how we move that love out into the world. We do that through our vocations, whether they be paid or unpaid. But discerning our gifts and deciding how to use them can be circuitous, as Phyllis Hörmann shared last month about her winding path to discovering her true vocation

My story is quite different. I was one of the lucky ones who discovered my career field the first semester of college when I fell in love with the study of economics. It was me! It so resonated with the way I had always looked at things. Decision made—my future planned. Graduating an economics major, I went on to earn my Ph.D. and began teaching my beloved economic principles to mostly-uncertain students. Along the way, I experienced the usual life events, particularly marriage and children. But my vocation determined my identity. Sure, I was a wife, mother, and a churchgoer; but when I thought of my role in the world, it mostly dealt with economic principles.

Now, it should be no surprise to you, but God works in mysterious ways (as Phyllis so clearly illustrated last month). For me, the mysterious way began with a Stewardship Spaghetti Dinner Square Dance (Yes, that’s not a typo. That was the event!) at my church. Having eaten our fill and before the square dance, we listened to the rector speaking of the parable of the servants and the talents, noting that the servants who expended effort to grow their talents were favored by the master, who then castigated the servant who did nothing but bury his talents to protect them.

The rector then challenged us to discern whether we were really doing the most with the “talents” we were given. He then held up a fistful of bills, offering $50 in seed money to anyone wanting to grow an enterprise and give the proceeds to the church. I sat, smugly thinking, “I certainly can’t do that. I have a full time job, three children, and a husband to look after.” But as I saw others, also very busy people, take the money and announce plans for an event, I began to question whether I really was using my talents as fully as possible. The question stayed with me, and shortly after the event I decided to try increasing my capacity by adding MBA director to my plate of responsibilities and donating much of the increased income to the church.

To my surprise, it all went well—not perfectly smoothly, but well enough for me to gain confidence that I could do more than I originally thought. And when Ethan, my son with special needs, was nearing his high school graduation, I began to wonder how he would retain contact with his school friends after they no longer saw each other at school. So, I took another leap of faith and started a Special Olympics team, “The Mighty Ducks” turning in my MBA director title to become mother duck to the team. And then, seeing that I could develop activities that would enrich the lives of people like Ethan, I started several other activities that integrated people with intellectual disabilities (ID) more fully into the community. The credit is not mine, though, as the success comes because God equips us for the journey and travels with us. So many times I have worried “How can I do this?” And when the answer comes, it is often from one of the mysterious ways God works in and through us.

I continued to enjoy my vocation as an economics professor, certain that this is a contribution I was meant to make. But the joy I get from interacting with the folks with ID and seeing the difference the activities make in their lives convinces me that this is also meant for me. My life is much fuller because of this unexpected vocation, and I am so grateful that I was led to ponder whether I could do more. I had placed unnecessary limitations upon myself, not believing that we are supported in our journey.

I urge you to also consider whether there is another vocation waiting for you to discover. It may lead you down a very interesting path, but you can be assured you will not travel alone.

Barbara Poole-Street on behalf of the Stewardship Team:
Peggy Anderson, Pam Buckley, Willow Chang, Phyllis Hörmann, Barbara Poole-Street, Bill Potter

Congratulations Graduates!

Congratulations to Hunter Nishimura, LCH Council youth representative. Hunter graduated Saturday, May 22, from Damien High School. He will be heading to Northern Arizona University in the fall.

Congratulations to Marcia Larsen, who just graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing!

Summer Schedules

We hope to get back to some level of in-person worship this summer; possibly mid-July. Typically, there is no Compline during the summer months. However, there is a special Compline scheduled for June 6. Compline resumes on the first Sunday of September. Other LCH programs may break for the summer as well. Check the LCH website calendar or the HeartBeat newsletter for monthly scheduling information.

Angel Network In-Gathering

LCH is not collecting donations for Angel Network Charities until further notice. However, Angel Network is accepting donations at the Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church location in east O‘ahu: 5339 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Honolulu 96821.

For those who are able and interested in donating, they accept donations on Thursdays and Fridays, from 8:30 am to noon. They will only accept packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g. cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned goods.

Angel Network requires that donating drivers identify themselves and remain in their vehicle. Volunteers will offload donation items from your vehicle with protective gloves. Over 2,500 individuals are served monthly through this program. Mahalo for your generosity and support.

Leadership Roundtable

Tuesday, June 1, 6:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting

Committee chairs and team leaders, please plan to gather for a short (45 minute) meeting. This month’s meeting will be conducted via the Zoom online meeting platform. Please refer to your email for the Zoom Meeting details. 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, you will receive an email from Pastor Jeff, via Zoom Meeting, regarding login information. Please be prepared to share a little information on your activities with the group. Mahalo!

Book of Faith Bible Study

Thursdays, 10:00–11:45 am • Via Zoom Meeting

The Book of Faith Bible Study meets on Thursday mornings via the Zoom online meeting platform for the duration of the pandemic. All are welcome to join this lively discussion of the Biblical texts, relevant current events, and historical foundations. Please contact Pastor Jeff at pr.jeff@LCHwelcome.org to receive an invitation to the next Zoom Bible study discussion.

Restorative Yoga

Thursdays, June 3, 10, 17, and 24 at 6:00 pm • Via Zoom Meeting

Explore the restorative and ancient practice of yoga, led by LCH member Willow Chang. As a yoga practitioner for over 30 years, Willow shares the joy, wonder, and enthusiasm of a beginner. She emphasizes the origins, cultural context, and safe practice of yoga for all. In this 4-week session, she’ll share various aspects of yoga, from pranayama (breathing exercises) and yogic philosophy (ahimsa), to poses, referred to as asanas.

Join for one, two, or all four sessions from the safety of your own shelter-in-place. These unique classes also provide an opportunity to answer your questions about yoga practice and form. You don’t need yoga pants, previous experience, youth, flexibility, or any real-life experience in India to learn about yoga. Bring your amazing self to be in wonder of your abilities! Please contact Willow Chang (willowchang@hotmail.com) to be included in the weekly Zoom meeting invitation. Let’s learn and find a new center, together!

LCH Volunteer Work Day

Saturday, June 5, 9:00 am

In preparation for a possible resumption of some in-person worship services at LCH, we need to do some house-cleaning chores as we transition the campus (which has been closed for in-person gatherings for over a year now). Join us on Saturday, June 5, to tackle these chores.

If you are willing to help, please let us know so that we can plan the projects accordingly. Please click one of these links to contact Rich Mundell or Randy Castello to RSVP. Thanks for being willing to help as we prepare for a safe reopening of in-person worship.

Sunday School on Vacation for the Summer

During the summer, starting June 6, there is no Sunday school. Beginning in September, LCH will offer Sunday school for children from kindergarten through senior high. Look for future information about how and where we will be meeting. In the meantime, have a great summer!

Adult Forum

Sundays at 9:00 am • Via Zoom Meeting

All are welcome to join the Adult Forum Zoom meetings, live Sunday mornings. Participation in Adult Forum via Zoom works best if you download the free Zoom app beforehand. You may need to enable your microphone and video capabilities. If you are not already on this list for the Adult Forum, please contact Dr. Stephen Miller at stevedmiller.sm@gmail.com to receive an invitation to join the next Zoom Adult Forum discussion.

Virtual Coffee Talk with Pastor Jeff

Online Coffee Talk, Sundays, 11:15 am • Via Zoom Meeting

You are invited to join with your LCH ‘ohana on Sundays for a virtual coffee talk following online worship. This discussion time will be via Zoom Meeting, and will run for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.

In order to avoid “Zoom bombing” (surprise visits from unsavory folks), you will need to contact Pastor Jeff, via email at pr.jeff@LCHwelcome.org, for a meeting number and password to log into the meeting. While these are not ideal gathering circumstances, we can at least enjoy a chance to commune together briefly.

In-person Compline • June 6, 7:30 pm • RSVP Required

The LCH Music and Worship Committee and LCH staff are carefully planning an in-person Compline service for June 6 as we begin our considered transition back to in-person worship. The number of attendees is limited to 35 to accommodate the 6-foot CDC distancing guideline. RSVPs and masks are required. Please use this link to RSVP.

We strongly recommend attendees be fully vaccinated. Volunteers will be present to take temperatures, check tickets, and help with distanced seating. We joyfully anticipate these steps toward gathering in person again as we also move forward with thoughtful patience, considering the care and health of one another.

For those living off island and others not ready for in-person worship, Compline will be livestreamed on our Worship Services page and the LCH Facebook page.

This will be final Compline for the season. Compline will resume on the first and thirds Sundays of each month beginning in September.

LCH OFFICE CLOSED

Friday, June 11 in observance of King Kamehameha Day

Writers’ Workshop

Tuesday, June 15, 4:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting

Writers’ Workshop will meet via Zoom meeting since restrictions on group meetings at LCH are still in effect. All are welcome! If you would like to participate, please contact Peter Flachsbart at pflachsbart@gmail.com for information on how to connect remotely.

IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep

LCH continues our commitment to IHS to assist with feeding the homeless during these difficult times. Although stay-at-home orders may have relaxed a bit, we anticipate that all the requirements of social distancing, masks, sanitizing, etc. will still be in force. Therefore, only a small group will be asked to make sandwiches, and those individuals will be contacted directly by phone or email. We will keep you updated about when we can be back to our regular group. Thank you for your patience as we navigate our way through the uncertainty.

LCH Summer Jazz Series

As our First Mondays Concerts break for the summer, Lutheran Church of Honolulu is proud to introduce our first ever Summer Jazz Series. Join us for a monthly concert featuring outstanding local players and singers. Our programs are planned for the live stream format, but hybrid in-person/livestream performances may take place as restrictions ease. For livestream, the concert will be on our streaming page and the LCH Facebook page and then archived on the LCH Facebook page.

The Rachel Gonzales Trio (Friday, June 18, 7:00 pm)—Vocalist Rachel Gonzales is joined by guitarist Jim Guss and bassist Alex Morrison for a concert of jazz standards and tunes from the Great American Songbook. Join us for a magical evening as we kick off our summer series. Suggested donation: $10–20.

Jazz Evolution (Friday, July 2, 7:00 pm)—Summer Jazz continues with a quartet led by our very own Reid Ishikawa and including Jeremy Lawi on drums, Alika Lyman on bass, and Allen Won on sax. This outstanding combo will play through a historical sampler of jazz music composed by some of the genre’s greats, including pieces by Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and more. The quartet will be joined by a surprise guest vocalist or two.

Tribute to Manhattan Transfer (Friday, August 20, 7:00 pm)—Enjoy a night of vocal jazz in the swinging styles of legendary groups like Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, and Singers Unlimited. Wearing a hat from a previous life with Celebration Vocal Jazz, music director Scott Fikse and pianist Reid Ishikawa will be joined by a talented vocal and instrumental ensemble to share a fabulous evening of unforgettable music.

Food for Thought

Saturday, June 19, at 5:30 pm • the home of David Hörmann

Food for Thought will be doing a trial run, hybrid in-person gathering, at the home of David Hörmann. We will limit attendance to 10. The first 10 to RSVP to Phyllis Hörmann via email or phone may come in person. Please have masks. We will begin with a Zoom option to include those who are either living elsewhere or didn’t RSVP in time to make the first 10 list. Please contact the church office (808-941-2566) for additional information

LCH Women’s Book Club

Monday, May 17, 10:00 am, • Via Zoom Meeting

LCH Women’s Book Club will meet via Zoom online meeting. The group will discuss Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors, a novel about the building of the Taj Mahal. Connecting to Zoom meeting works best if you download the free Zoom app beforehand. You may need to enable your microphone and video capabilities. If you are not already on the Book Club list, please contact Juditha Murashige at jcmurashige@earthlink.net to receive an invitation to join the next Zoom online Book Club meeting. All are welcome.

Garden Volunteer Day

Wednesday June 23, 3:00 pm

The front garden bed is thriving after our Children’s Earth Day in the garden! The children transplanted basil, tomatoes, chard, and beets in the second bed, facing Punahou street. Check out this recent photo of the bed! The children’s plants have grown. If you are able, join Vicar Bree in the garden on June 23 to continue their good work. We will likely seed some more flowers, transplant and up-pot lettuce, and water. Also, anyone is welcome at the church during open office hours to harvest; just contact Vicar Bree. Chard, mixed greens, and beets are ready, and tomatoes and leeks are on their way!

Mary Magdalene Society

Online Happy Hour Saturday, June 19, at 5:00 pm • Via Zoom Meeting

Now that all our regular Mary Magdalene participants have been fully-vaccinated, we invite LGBTQI members and friends of LCH to return to the LCH campus for a potluck and game night. We are still working out all the details for compliance with church guideline and the evolving city/state regulations, so watch for more information in the weeks to come. Please contact Bill Potter, group facilitator, at bill.potter808@gmail.com with questions or to be added to the group’s mailing list.

Aloha LCH Family

Dear LCH ‘ohana,

Thank you for nearly seven years of support, flexibility, and stability. I have been buoyed by your care, patience, and kindness through personal illness, and my family has benefitted from your support as well. LCH has been an excellent environment for me while raising children. My son is always comfortable here and stopped fre- quently through the years for snacks or a convenient spot to work on homework. When my daughter was still in school, she was at an easy distance as well.

You are an excellent example of care in action for the commu- nity. I am impressed by your generosity, determined unfailing stewardship, and your expressions of love for your LCH family, the local community, and for humanity. You’ve taught me so much about true giving and caring, and about the depth and commitment of love.

I am not leaving Honolulu, just moving to another chapter of life. I hope to see and stay in touch with my dear LCH friends. You’ve been so good to me.

Aoha!
Anne

Updating Prayer Requests

Please help us to keep the Prayer Requests list relevant. If you have a friend or loved one who should remain on the list, we are glad to keep them in prayer. Please email the office to let us know when a name may be removed from the list.

Regular Offerings

While we are not able to meet in person, you are encouraged to mail your offering check directly to the church: Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu HI 96822. If you would like to set up regular electronic funds transfer from your checking or savings account, forms are available at www.lchwelcome.org/support or can be requested by email to LCH@LCHwelcome.org. If you prefer to make a one time contribution or ongoing pledge by credit card, there is a link in the bottom right corner of each page of the church website or you can go directly to www.lchwelcome.org/donate. Thank you!

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.

Electronic Funds Transfers for April

Offering Fund	Amount	Offering Fund	Amount
Offering	$9,112	Family Promise	$70
Concert Funds	$318	Capital Improvements	$54
Music Fund/Instrument	$303	One Pot, One Hope	$20
Streaming Equipment	$98

Attendance and Offerings for May

Date	Worship Service	Attendance	Offering Fund	Amount
May 2	Streaming Worship	239 views	Offerings	$6,040
	Streaming Compline	176 views	Social Ministries/IHS	$120
			Family Promise	$50
May 9	Streaming Worship	229 views	Domestic Relief	$30
May 16	Streaming Worship	181 views	Offerings	$14,990
	Streaming Compline	107 views	Family Promise	$250
			Wounded Warriors	$165
May 23	Streaming Worship	235 views	Social Ministries/IHS	$150
			Capital Improvements	$100
Attendance for May 30 not available at time of publication

HeartBeat Deadline

Tuesday, June 22, 9:00 am

Alyssa B., the family of Anita B. and Malissa T., Arnold, friends and family of Chris W., Billy S., Bruce H., Colleen K., the family of Edvins K., Elwin B., Greg, Judy M., Karen and Richard E., Kathy M., Kathy S., Kawai S., Keahi, Kendra K., Lori W., Michael, Patricia, the family of Pilar C., Pomai S., Resi, Tim S. and family, William

June Birthdays

06/03	Kiyoko Nitz
06/03	Vincent Reid Womack
06/04	LaVerne Rickard
06/04	Michael Sato
06/04	Angela Freeman-Riley
06/05	Scott Fikse
06/05	Jaime Crozier Garcia
06/06	Crescent Cheng
06/07	Austin Buckley
06/09	John Bickel
06/09	Kathryn Klingebiel
06/10	Miriam Sato
06/11	Susan Burns
06/11	Diane Perushek
06/13	Don Blanchard
06/14	Randy Christensen
06/16	Max Womack
06/18	Seth Lilley
06/26	Jeff Lilley

Calendar: June 2021

Day	Date	Event and Time
Tuesday	June 1	6:30 pm, Leadership Roundtable Zoom Meeting
Thursday	June 3	10:00 am, Bible Study Zoom Meeting 6:00 pm, Restorative Yoga Zoom Class
Saturday	June 5	9:00 am, LCH Volunteer Work Day
Sunday	June 6	9:00 am, Adult Forum Zoom Meeting 10:00 am, Streaming Worship Service 11:15 am, Virtual Coffee Talk Zoom Meeting 7:30 pm, In-Person/Streaming Compline Service
Thursday	June 10	10:00 am, Bible Study Zoom Meeting 6:00 pm, Restorative Yoga Zoom Class
Friday	June 11	LCH Office closed for King Kamehameha Day
Sunday	June 13	9:00 am, Adult Forum Zoom Meeting 10:00 am, Streaming Worship Service 11:15 am, Virtual Coffee Talk Zoom Meeting
Monday	June 14	6:30 pm, Worship and Music Zoom Meeting
Tuesday	June 15	4:30 pm, Writers’ Workshop Zoom Meeting
Wednesday	June 16	noon, Finance Committee, Zoom Meeting
Thursday	June 17	10:00 am, Bible Study Zoom Meeting noon, IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep (closed group) 6:00 pm, Restorative Yoga Zoom Class
Friday	June 18	7:00 pm, Summer Jazz: Rachel Gonzales
Saturday	June 19	5:30 pm, Food for Thought at David Hörmann’s
Sunday	June 20	Father’s Day 9:00 am, Adult Forum Zoom Meeting 10:00 am, Streaming Worship Service 11:15 am, Virtual Coffee Talk Zoom Meeting
Monday	June 21	10:00 am, Women’s Book Club Zoom Meeting
Tuesday	June 22	HeartBeat Submissions Deadline 6:00 pm, Executive Council Zoom Meeting 6:30 pm, LCH Council Zoom Meeting
Wednesday	June 23	3:00 pm, LCH Garden Volunteer Day
Thursday	June 24	10:00 am, Bible Study Zoom Meeting 6:00 pm, Restorative Yoga Zoom Class
Saturday	June 26	6:00 pm, Mary Magdalene Potluck
Sunday	June 27	9:00 am, Adult Forum Zoom Meeting 10:00 am, Streaming Communion Service 11:15 am, Virtual Coffee Talk Zoom Meeting