A Season of Celebration—Christmastide at LCH

Posted on December 19, 2024December 19, 2024 by admin

Christ is Born!

Please join us for services of joy.

December 24 • Christmas Eve
5:00 pm	Family Service of Carols
7:30 pm	Festival Prelude with Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols”
8:00 pm	Choral Eucharist

December 25 • Christmas Day
10:00 am	Christmas Day Eucharist featuring the sopranos and altos of the LCH Choir

December 29 • First Sunday of Christmas
10:00 am	Sunday Worship: Lessons and Carols

January 5 • Celebrating Epiphany and Confirmation Sunday
10:00 am	Sunday Worship

All are welcome to these services. All services will also livestream on the LCH Facebook page.

Blue Christmas • Wed., Dec. 18, at 7:00 pm

Posted on December 12, 2024December 19, 2024 by admin

The Longest Night: A Service for Grief and Remembrance during the Holidays

This service of Blue Christmas recognizes that for some of us the holidays can be a difficult time, full of more emotion than joy or cheer. In a season of conversations around shared tables, of family, and of gift-giving, some of us grieve the loss of loved ones, the struggle of finances, the feeling of loneliness, or the despair of a world unraveling. Christian hope trusts that, even in these darkest moments, God remains with us. This is the journey of Advent; we are not left alone even in the darkest places.

This service begins at 7:00 pm and will only be offered in person. All are welcome.

First Mondays Concert: A Festival of Carols in Brass—Re-Imagined • Mon., Dec. 9, at 7:00 pm

Posted on November 30, 2024December 12, 2024 by admin

Ei Nei Join our brass ensemble for some fresh arrangements of your favorite traditional carols. Inspired by A Festival of Carols in Brass, recorded in 1967 by the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, these arrangements were created by Japan-born trumpet player Hayato Tanaka. Performing will be Casey Tamanaha and Ethan Garland, trumpets; Marie Lickwar, horn; Gabe Cruz, euphonium; Jordan Goto, trombone; and Lisa Stoneham, bass trombone.

Let the festive sounds of brass bring you some holiday cheer with beauty, elegance, and flare! This concert will help you set the mood for the Christmas season.

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.

Through the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation and support from other individual supporters, this concert is free. Additional donations to support this concert and the entire series are gladly accepted online (details below) or at the concert.

First Mondays 2024–2025 Concert Series

Help Make “First Mondays” a Success by Becoming a Sponsor

Your tax-deductible donations make it possible for us to offer these free concerts to the community. Please consider a donation by sending a check (payable to “Lutheran Church of Honolulu”) to the church at 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu HI 96822 or using the button to the right to make a secure donation via PayPal. Mahalo for your support.

A Season of Preparation—Advent at LCH

Posted on November 30, 2024November 30, 2024 by admin

December 1 • Advent I
10:00 am	Sunday Worship: Signs and Strength
7:30 pm	50th Advent Procession: Hallock’s “O” Antiphons
December 8 • Advent II
10:00 am	Festival of Carols in Brass Re-Imagined
December 9 • First Mondays Concert
7:00 pm	Sunday Worship: Promises and Portents
December 15 • Advent III
10:00 am	Sunday Worship: Proclamations and Prophets
7:30 pm	Advent Compline
December 18 • Blue Christmas
7:00 pm	A Service of Remembrance with Hope
December 22 • Advent IV
10:00 am	Sunday Worship: Blessings and Bethlehem

All are welcome to these services. All services, except for the Blue
Christmas worship, will also livestream on the LCH Facebook page.

Support the Beckerath Organ Renovations

Posted on October 28, 2024October 28, 2024 by admin

We welcome your support of the Beckerath organ renovations. This project that will enhance worship at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and the musical fabric of the greater Honolulu community for the another 50 years. For more information about the project, visit the Beckerath Organ Renovations page.

Donations may be made by check (made out to Lutheran Church of Honolulu with “Organ Fund” in the memo line) and sent to the church (1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822) or via PayPal using the button to the right.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact, Barry Wenger, dma, organist and directory of music and liturgy, at b.wenger@lchwelcome.org.

H3RC Donations in honor of Pr. Jeff

Posted on October 17, 2024October 17, 2024 by admin

The Lilley family has asked that memorial gifts made in honor of Pr. Jeff go to the Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center (H3RC) for their transgender program.

Checks may be made out to Lutheran Church of Honolulu and sent to the church (1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822) or made via PayPal using the button to the right.

On the Passing of Pr. Jeff Lilley

Posted on October 17, 2024November 30, 2024 by admin

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.—2 Timothy 4:7–8

Pr. Jeff on their boat As many of you know, Pastor Jeff Lilley passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, [October 13,] before services. The congregation of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu is grieving, while providing support for Jeff’s wife Jean, and their children Seth and Meghann and family. Jeff had served this congregation for more than 16 years and was beloved both within and outside the church. Please keep his loved ones in your prayers and thoughts during this most difficult time.

As Bishop Dave Nagler told your church council Sunday morning, Pastor Jeff was one of a kind. We all have stories that bears this out and we will expect to hear and capture many others to honor his life in the coming days and weeks.

First and foremost, we need to support Jean, Seth, and Meghann and family through this very difficult time. The council has established a support committee for this purpose. The Lilley children, Seth and Meghann, will arrive on Monday. The council has decided that LCH will cover their housing during their stay and will also waive the rent for the pastor’s Luther Place apartment as long as Jean needs it.

We also need to be with one another in our grief. We have both in-person and virtual options for pastoral care or grief counseling below and hope to provide additional opportunities to you early this week.

In the meantime, Pastor Margarethe will join Thursday bible study at 10:00 am and Pastor Ruth will be at Choir Practice on Thursday at 7:00 pm.

We are receiving tremendous support from the Pacifica Synod, from the Hukilau Conference, and from the Council of Bishops.

We firmly believe Pastor Jeff would want our congregation to continue providing the spiritual sustenance, community outreach and goodwill, and special events that LCH is well known for.

Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones during this especially difficult time, and do not hesitate to contact another member of the LCH family or a council member if you feel the need to just talk.

And while we all grieve, please give the Lilley family time and space to do so in their own time and way.

On behalf of the LCH Council,
Dan Dennison

Memorial Service for Pr. Jeff, followed by JeffFest • Sat. Oct. 19

Posted on October 17, 2024November 30, 2024 by admin

Pr. Jeff on their boat Pastor Jeff’s Memorial Service is scheduled for 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, at LCH. Pacifica Synod Bishop Dave Nagler will preach. The service will be live streamed on the LCH Facebook page. Overflow seating will be available in Isenberg Hall.

LutherFest is now JeffFest and is scheduled to begin at approximately 6:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, in the LCH Courtyard. Brats, salads, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. Please bring a non-perishable dessert, as the LCH refrigerator is full. Volunteers from other Hukilau churches are being sought to help with cooking and set-up in order to allow LCH member and friends to attend the service.

On Sunday, October 20, in the 10:00 am worship service, Bishop Dave Nagler will be preaching, and Pastor Ruth Peterson will lead worship. Kimberly, a social worker from Joy of Christ, will also be with us and is making herself available for emotional support.

Compline will not be sung Sunday evening.

Our sincere thanks to all the clergy, active and retired, the bishop, and many others who are assisting the LCH family through this very difficult time. And mahalo to each of you for continuing to support one another and the Lilley family.

The Lilley family has asked that memorial gifts made in honor of Pr. Jeff go to the Hawai‘i Health and Harm Reduction Center (H3RC) for their transgender program. Checks may be made out to Lutheran Church of Honolulu and sent to the church (1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822) or made via PayPal using the button to the left.

19th Annual Faith and Arts Weekend • September 28–29

Posted on October 5, 2024October 17, 2024 by admin

UH Scholarship Wind Ensemble play as part of 2024’s Faith and Arts Weekend

LCH’s annual celebration of Faith and Arts took place on the weekend on September 28 and 29. This is a time when members of the congregations recognize the many ways the arts enrich our lives and honor the artist of all ages who call LCH home.

The weekend began with performances Saturday evening. Works displayed Sunday morning represent a wide variety of media: needle craft, paintings, poetry, prose, photography, woodworking, and more. Participating artists included young children, working adults, and retirees. Some, like members of the Writers’ Workshop, meet regularly as a group, but many work at home and share as part of this annual event.

At right, the UH Scholarship Wind Ensemble played in the performing arts showcase on Saturday evening.

The slideshow below shows a collage of photos from Saturday evening (courtesy of Linda Muller, and the items displayed on Sunday morning. Clicking on most of the photos will open a larger version in a new window. (Because the files are rather large, it may take several seconds for the larger image to appear. Close the new browser window to return to the slideshow.)

Poetry and prose from members of Writers’ Workshop will be available soon.

First Mondays Concert: Mele Monday featuring Ei Nei • Mon., Oct. 7, at 7:00 pm

Posted on October 1, 2024October 7, 2024 by admin

Ei Nei Continuing with the tradition of celebrating the music of Hawai‘i, we feature local favorite artist Ei Nei. Composed of Dane Fujiwara, Grant Kono, and ‘Ekolu Chang, this Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner will bring to us their unique blend of their sonorous voices combined with rich harmonies. Ei Nei will guide us on a captivating journey through the timeless melodies of traditional music while offering a fresh perspective on its future. Their performance promises to be a memorable experience, honoring the past and embracing the evolution of Hawaiian music.