In this issue:
- All Saints’ Sunday
- First Mondays Concert—Echoes of Passion: An Eclectic Collection of Romantic Art Songs
- First Half of Annual Meeting and Giving Thanks Dinner
- LCH Office Hours
- Stewardship Corner
- Committee/Interest Group Chairs
- Committee Chair Reports
- Angel Network In-Gathering
- Book of Faith Bible Study
- Restorative Yoga
- Food for Thought
- Mary Magdalene Society
- All Ages Sunday School
- Adult Forum
- Virtual Coffee Talk
- Leadership Roundtable
- LCH Office Closed for Veterans’ Day
- Confirmation Classes
- IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep
- Compline
- LCH Women’s Book Club
- Writers’ Workshop
- One Pot, One Hope
- Pictures from LutherFest
- Notes from the Organ Bench
- 49th Annual Advent Procession
- Regular Offerings
- Save on Your Taxes!
- HeartBeat Deadline
- Electronic Funds Transfers for September
- Attendance and Offerings for October
- Prayer Requests
- November Birthdays
- Calendar: November 2023
All Saints’ Sunday
Sunday, November 5
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.
First Mondays Concert—Echoes of Passion: An Eclectic Collection of Romantic Art Songs
Monday, November 6, at 7:00 pm
New Hawai‘i-based duo ‘Imi Ola (to seek life in its highest form) will transform us through the music of Queen Lili‘uokalani, Alban Berg, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and others. You will be serenaded by the transcendent soprano voice of Natalie Mitchell collaborating with the vibrant piano skills of Jasmine Nagano. They will take you on a journey through art songs from around the world and provide you with an unforgettable evening.
All are invited to gather for pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard and 6:15 pm. The concert is free, with a suggested donation $20. In addition, we will continue to collect packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g., cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned food donations for the Angel Network at each concert.
As a courtesy to others, please wear a face mask inside the church.
First Half of Annual Meeting and Giving Thanks Dinner
Saturday, November 18, at 4:30 pm • Hörmann Courtyard
The congregation of LCH comes together again on Saturday, November 18, for the first half of our Annual Meeting. We will begin promptly at 4:30 so there will be enough time to do our business and then turn our attention to a grand party.
During the meeting at 4:30 pm, there are several items for our consideration.
- Draft of the 2024 budget
- Election of new LCH Council members
- Proposal for Beckerath organ maintenance
- 2024 Missional Objectives—Of the five original goals, two have risen to the top of the list.
- Outreach to the LGTBT+ community
- Planning for the 125th anniversary of the founding of LCH
- Report on some preliminary plans the 125th anniversary of the founding of LCH in 2025 and how each member can get involved
At 6:30 we will enjoy a Giving Thanks dinner. There will be no thanksgiving dinner at LCH on Thursday, November 23rd. Here’s your opportunity to celebrate our partnership God’s grace and abundant mercy during the past year. David and Phyllis Hörmann will each prepare a roasted turkey for us, and there will also be a ham. Please augment with any side dishes you wish: potatoes, yams, vegetables, salads, desserts. There will also be beer and wine available with a LutherBucks donation. Proceeds will go to Maui Strong. Please come for both the meeting and feast. We all look forward to turkey!
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
Given the persistence of covid in our community, the LCH office and church campus are generally closed to in-person meetings and gatherings as we continue to practice mutual care. 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.
Committee/Interest Group Chairs
| Committee/Group | Leader |
|---|---|
| Archive: | Jim Cartwright |
| Concert: | Barry Wenger |
| Communications: | Carol Langner |
| Community Life: | Larry Anderson |
| Council: | Dan Dennison |
| Fellowship: | Mary-Jo Estes |
| Finance: | Steve Miller |
| Financial Review: | Dori Palcovich |
| Food for Thought: | Marlise Tellander |
| Lay Ministers: | Carolyn Koehler |
| Learning Ministry: | Fred Benco |
| Mary Magdalene Society: | Bill Potter Roy Helms |
| Process Theology: | Carol Langner |
| Property: | Richard Mundell Pastor Jeff Lilley |
| Scholarship: | Fred Benco |
| Social Ministry: | Jean Lilley Miles Sato |
| Stewardship: | Phyllis Hörmann Willow Chang |
| Sunday School: | Linda Miller |
| Website: | Bill Potter |
| Worship & Music: | Roy Helms Randy Castello |
| Writers’ Workshop: | Peter Flachsbart |
| Youth: | Pastor Jeff Lilley |
Looking Back and Moving Forward in Gratitude II
What a rich and full year it has been! Together, we here at LCH have studied, worked, and prayed as part of our commitment to the theme of Healing a Broken World. God has blessed and worked through us to begin the healing process. And what a lot God has helped us accomplish!
Throughout the year we focused on spiritual health and wellbeing, renewing community, healing creation, working through trauma, and finally growing into financial health. Each focus provided opportunities to learn together, grow our individual skills, work together as a community on projects that furthered healing, and spend time in fellowship. Together we experienced healing in different ways and to varying degrees.
We have so much for which to be thankful while recognizing that more healing is needed. What does this mean? It means God has more work for our hands to accomplish. The journey we have embarked on towards wholeness continues. Yes, we are indeed on a journey.
The Stewardship Team distributed commitment packets after worship on Reformation Sunday, October 29. Those we missed or who were unable to be there should receive a packet in the mail next week. If you do not receive one in the next week, please contact the office by email: at lch@LCHwelcome.org or by phone at 808-941-2566, and a packet will be sent to you.
We invite you to think about ways you might express your gratitude for God’s blessing throughout the past year. You might commit your time and talents to continuing some of the ministries in which you are already involved. Or you might consider stretching yourself a little further by sharing your time and talents in a new way. Striving together and using our diverse gifts helps to broaden the scope of our ministries—our community outreach as well as in-reach as we continue the journey. There is a place on the commitment card to include your commitment along these lines. And, there is also a place where you can designate what you would like to give of your treasure as you are able, in thanksgiving to God.
In anticipation of continuing the journey of healing and moving towards wholeness, through the next year, we look forward to celebrating and dedicating our commitments Sunday, November 26. Please remember to return them on, or preferably before, that date. Look for a box near the entrance of the Nave.
With thankful hearts,
Your Stewardship Team
Pam Buckley, Willow Chang, Phyllis Hörmann, Barbara Poole-Street, Bill Potter, and Cynthia Scheinert
Committee Chair Reports
It’s time to begin compiling the Annual Report! Please submit your committee’s yearly report to the LCH office by Monday, December 18. Direct questions to the office at 808-941-2566 or email LCH@LCHwelcome.org.
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.
Book of Faith Bible Study
Thursdays, 10:00–11:45 am • Boardroom/Zoom Meeting
The Book of Faith Bible Study meets on Thursday mornings in-person or via Zoom meeting. All are welcome to join this lively discussion of the Biblical texts, relevant current events, and historical foundations. Please contact Pastor Margrethe at pr.margrethe@LCHwelcome.org to receive an invitation to the next Zoom Bible study discussion.
Restorative Yoga
Thursdays, 5, 12, 19, and 26, 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!
Food for Thought
Saturday, November 4, at 5:30 pm • Hörmann’s Home
Food for Thought meets at the home of David Hörmann, who will provide the main dish, while others are asked to bring side dishes or dessert to complete the potluck. If you would like to participate virtually, please contact Peter Flachsbart at pflachsbart@gmail.com to receive an invitation for the next Zoom meeting. If you wish to come in person, contact Marlise Tellander at marlisetellander@hotmail.com. Those who plan to come in person should be vaccinated.
Mary Magdalene Society Potluck and Game Night
Saturday, November 4 at 6:00 pm • Hörmann Courtyard
Mary Magdalene Society will meet in-person for our potluck and game night in the Hörmann Courtyard. We invite LGBTQI members and friends of LCH to prepare their favorite potluck dish and join in the festivities. As part of our commitment to mutual care, participants should RSVP in advance and be fully-vaccinated. With the decline in covid cases, the group has decided that masks are optional.
An email will be sent around October 29 to those who are already on the Mary Magdalene mailing list, detailing the RSVP procedure. If you don’t receive your invitation, have questions, or want to be added to the mailing list, please contact Bill Potter, group facilitator, at bill.potter808@gmail.com.
All Ages Sunday School
Come explore with each other the highlights of our Judeo-Christian tradition. Starting September 3, we will meet each Sunday in Isenberg Hall at 9:00 for a story, discussion, and creative response. We will use the form and techniques of Godly Play. This approach will help us understand how our history and practice weave together to create today’s church. Everyone is welcome from the youngest child to the oldest adult.
All Ages Sunday School topics for October:
- 11/5—The Ark and the Tent
- 11/12—The Ark and the Temple
- 11/19—The Exile and Return
- 11/26—The Story of the Prophet Isaiah
Adult Forum
Sundays at 9:00 am • In-person in the Boardroom or Via Zoom Meeting
Wayne Gau will start off the month of November talking about the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man from Luke’s Gospel. Is this just a parable or is it describing a real-life near-death experience? Come and find out.
All are welcome to join the Adult Forum on Sunday mornings, either via Zoom Meeting or in-person in the Boardroom. If you are coming for worship, just head to the Boardroom at 9:00 and join the others who are there. You do not need to bring your own computer. If you are participating via Zoom, download the free Zoom app, click on the Zoom link sent to you, and enable your microphone and video capabilities. If you are not already on the list for the Adult Forum, please contact Stan Baptista at stan.baptista@gmail.com to receive an invitation to join the next Zoom Adult Forum discussion. (Please note that, because there has been no online attendance in recent weeks, Adult Form will not offer Zoom participation after November 12.)
Virtual Coffee Talk
Sunday, November 5, 11:30 am • Via Zoom Meeting
Virtual Coffee Hour will be held at 11:30 am on the first Sunday of each month. Hope you can join us! You are invited to join with your LCH ‘ohana on the first Sunday 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 Kathy Baptista via email at kathynt@gmail.com 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.
Leadership Roundtable
Tuesday, November 7, 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 with login information. Please be prepared to share a little information on your activities with the group. Mahalo!
LCH Office Closed for Veterans’ Day
Monday, November 10
Confirmation Classes
Sundays, November 12 and 26, at 11:45 am • 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.
Please contact Pastor Margrethe at pr.margrethe@LCHwelcome.org for more information.
IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep
LCH continues our commitment to IHS to assist with feeding the homeless during these difficult times. Although covid restrictions in the community have relaxed, we continue to practice the requirements of social distancing, masks, sanitizing, etc. in this ministry. 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.
Compline
Sunday, November 19, at 7:30 pm • In-person and Via Livestream Broadcast
We warmly invite all people in all places of faith and life to Compline. This beautiful candle-lit service is a meditative experience of a cappella singing and chanting to commemorate the day’s end. Led by members of the LCH Men’s Schola, musical selections include Gregorian chant, Taizé chant, Renaissance polyphony, and more.
Beginning this fall, Compline will be sung only on the third Sunday of the month from September through May.
For those not attending in person, Compline will be livestreamed on our Worship Services page and the LCH Facebook page.
LCH Women’s Book Club
Monday, November 20, at 10:00 am • In-Person at the Murashige’s Home and Via Zoom
LCH Women’s Book Club will meet on Monday, November 20, at the Murashige’s home. We will also be on Zoom for those who prefer to maintain distance. While no book has been selected in advance, please come and join us for a fun morning.
If you are not already on the Book Club list, please contact Juditha Murashige at jcmurashige@earthlink.net to receive an invitation to join them. All are welcome.
Writers’ Workshop
Tuesday, November 20, at 4:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Writers’ Workshop will continue to meet via Zoom meeting. All are welcome! If you would like to participate, please contact Peter Flachsbart at pflachsbart@gmail.com for information on how to connect remotely.
One Pot, One Hope
There will be no One Pot, One Hope in November and December. Contact Billie Jean Reis or Linda Muller with any questions. Mahalo for assisting with this mission to provide meals to our neighbors.
Notes from the Organ Bench
There are many celebrations and festival services in the month of November, so we will focus on music from all over the world that enhances each Sunday, including a few contemporary selections from the U.S. and Britain. All Saints Sunday will include an introit by Hallock, the beautiful “Song for Athene” by John Tavener, and a piece brought to us by section leader David Webb written by Michael Hoppé. “Safe to Port” is a beautiful setting of a 9th-century text that was a requiem poem written for the Abbess of Grandestine.
On November 12, the LCH Choir will share Gabriel Fauré’s “Cantique de Jean Racine” and the spiritual “Keep Your Lamps” by André Thomas, which ties closely with the readings of the day.
November 19 we will have a “Thanksgiving” service and feature Bach’s Cantata No. 192 “Nun danket alle Gott,” and a newer piece commissioned for a colleague and friend written by Howard Helvey and titled “My God, Accept My Heart This Day.” We will hear Egil Hovland’s setting of “Now Thank We All Our God” as the organ postlude that day.
Christ the King Sunday, November 26, will include a favorite spiritual “Ain’-a that Good News!” by William Dawson and “The Queen’s Prayer” by Queen Lili‘uokalani. This beautiful text and tune were arranged into an anthem by Carl Crozier.
Barry J. Wenger
Director of Music and Liturgy and Organist
49th Annual Advent Procession
December 3 at 7:30 pm • In-person and Via Livestreaming Broadcast
Join us for Lutheran Church of Honolulu’s annual Advent Procession, a beloved Hawai‘i tradition since 1975. This year the service, led by Barry Wenger, our organist and director of music, will include seasonal readings, hymns old and new, and glorious choral selections by the LCH Choir.
For those not attending in person, the concert will be livestreamed on our Worship Services page and the LCH Facebook page and then archived on the LCH Facebook page
Regular Offerings
If you are not attending church 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!
Save on Your Taxes!
For individuals taking required distributions from a retirement account, under the new tax law, if you give cash or check donations from your personal funds, you will be taxed on them and you may not be able to take the deduction. There are two ways to avoid this.
- Donate directly to LCH from your IRA. If you take money directly from your IRA to give to LCH, this increases your income and may increase your tax bracket. You may not be able to use the deduction because of the new, higher standard deduction. Give directly by telling your IRA provider to donate to the church—the account representative will do this easily.
- Give appreciated stock directly to LCH. If you sell stock and then donate, it increases your tax bracket, and you may not be able to use the deduction because of the new, higher standard deduction. Instruct your broker to donate directly to LCH.
The church’s legal name and address is:
Lutheran Church of Honolulu
(Note: There is no The in the church title)
1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822
If you need the Federal Tax ID (EIN) or if you have questions, please contact Steve Miller. As always, please check with your tax advisors to determine what is appropriate for you.
HeartBeat Deadline
Tuesday, November 21, 9:00 am
Betty H., Chuck H. and Nan W., Colleen K., Diane B., Dutton S., Elaine, Greg G., Harold W., Intae K., Irene McLeod, Jenny P., friends and family of John David S., Jamie W. and his family, Karen and Kerstin, Karen and Richard E., Keith W., Kim B., Lissa G., Lori W., Marilyn B., Michael, Mike M., Miriam S., Nancy R., Robert N., the family of Ruth S., Sarah, Samantha C., Salina R., Sophia and baby, Star W., William, Yvonne and Andy M., Willow C.
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.
