Easter Sunday
Members and friends gather for a joyful celebration Easter Sunday morning.
Between two festive worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am, the younger children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt, and everyone enjoyed a bountiful potluck brunch.
Great Vigil of Easter
The last part of the Great Three Days (Triduum) began with the congregation gathered in the Hörmann Courtyard for the kindling of the new fire and the lighting of the Pascal Candle.
Members of the congregation lit their candles the flame passed from the Pascal Candle and listened to the Exsultet. The service continued with the retelling of salvation history through lessons from the Hebrew Scriptures, the renewal of baptismal vows, and the litany.
Following the litany, the ministers returned to the courtyard in white Easter vestments and let the congregation into the Nave as the choir sang the Kyrie. The Vigil continues with the joyous Easter proclamation and holy communion.
Following worship, the congregation returned to the Courtyard to break their Lenten fast with a sweet feast of champagne, strawberries, and cookies.
Good Friday
The observance of the Great Three Days (Triduum) continued with the Good Friday Liturgy. Members gathered to hear the Passion Gospel and venerate the cross.
“The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John” was sung in a setting by Heinrich Schütz. Benjamin Leonid sang the part of the Evangelist, Keane Ishii sang Jesus, and Karol Nowicki sang Pilate; the choir took the part of the crowd.
The Passion was followed by the Solemn Collects and the the Adoration of the Crucified.
The Triduum concludes with the Easter Vigil Saturday evening at 7:30 pm.
Maundy Thursday
Our celebration of the Triduum—The Great Three Days—began on Maundy Thursday on April 18. Members gathered to hear again the story of the Last Supper, when Jesus met with his disciples in the Upper Room before being handed over to suffer and die for us.
The Gospel of John recounts how after supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and gave them a new commandment (Latin, mandatum, from which we get the word “Maundy”): ”Love one another.” In response, members of the congregation washed each other’s feet in the Maundy ritual.
The Maundy was followed by Holy Communion, in remembrance that Jesus instituted the sacrament in the Last Supper.
The liturgy concluded with the stripping of the altar, as Jesus was stripped before being crucified.
Palm Sunday
Our celebration of Holy Week began with Palm Sunday, April 14.
At both morning service, worshipers gathered in the courtyard to listen to the Palm Sunday Gospel, followed by the blessing and distribution of palms and procession around the church.
Once the congregation was inside the Nave, the focus turned to the reading of the Passion Gospel according to Luke.
Worship concluded with holy communion.
The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.
The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.
Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.
Each year, the LCH youth (with help of others from the congregation) hold Punahou Carnival parking fundraiser. The carnival takes place this Friday and Saturday, February 1 and 2.
Reconciling in Christ Sunday is January 27! This annual commemoration recognizes ELCA faith communities that have made public stands; welcoming people of all sexual orientation and gender identities. LCH is proudly included among those congregations, having agreed to become an RIC congregation in 1993.
Welcome the new year with German Vespers for New Year’s Day, a tradition—either on January 1 or for Epiphany—at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu since 2002. The service honors the church’s heritage as a congregation founded by German immigrants to Hawaii‘i and the the German practice of ushering in the new year with religious celebrations.
During Advent the whole congregation joins our children for the Jesse Tree devotions each Sunday in the nave at 9:10. It is a tradition at LCH for the children to present this short service of music and readings during Advent. Each week the children focus on the people in the Old Testament that lead the way for Christ. This year the Jesse Tree service will be held on December 2, 9, 16, and 23.