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Worship for the Christmas Season

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The Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Eve
Sunday, December 24

5:00 pm Family Service
Joyous Christmas worship with congregational carols and music
by members of the Early Worship Ensemble
 
10:00 pm Music for Christmastide
Conrad Susa’s Carols and Lullabies: Christmas in the Southwest
10:30 pm Festival Choral Eucharist
Christmas Eve worship with choir, chamber orchestra, and soloists
J. G. de Padilla’s MMissa Ego flow campi,
motets, carols, and readings.

 

Christmas Day
Sunday, December 25

10:30 am Choral Eucharist
Welcome the newborn king with beloved carols and readings
led by the men of the LCH Choir.
 

Lessons & Carols for the
First Sunday of Christmas
Sunday, December 31

8:00 am Holy Communion
with the Early Worship Ensemble
 
10:30 am Choral Eucharist
with the LCH Choir and organist Mark D. Wong

 
 
 

Epiphany
Saturday, January 6

7:30 pm German Vespers for Epiphany
A tradition at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu since 2002,
this service honors the church’s German heritage.
Music will be performed by the LCH Choir, soloists,
and the Bach Chamber Orchestra.
The sermon will be offered in German with translation.

 

43rd Annual Advent Procession (Dec. 3)

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Advent Procession graphicA Way to Hope: An Advent Procession

Sunday, December 3 • 7:30 pm

Join us for the 43rd annual Advent Procession. In our chaotic, stressful time, this meditative service explores the theme “A Way to Hope” through word and song.

Find comfort in beloved readings of the Advent season, congregational carols, and the anthems of Howells, Biebl, Mathias, and Scheidt sung by the Men’s Schola and LCH Choir. Texts for the readings and information on all the music sing is available on our December music list.

All are welcome. Freewill offering accepted.

All Saints Sunday (Nov. 5)

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angels graphicJoin us for the Feast of All Saints (November 1 on the church calendar) as we celebrate on All Saints’ Sunday, November 5.

Members of the congregation will 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.

Thanksgiving Events at LCH (Nov. 22 & 23)

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pies graphicAnnual Thanksgiving Eve Service and Pie Potluck

Wednesday, November 22 • 7:00 pm

LCH will once again host the Parish St. Clement Episcopal church for our annual Thanksgiving Eve service. St. Clement’s new Rector, the Rev. Heather Hill, will preach at the worship service. Following the service, we join with our friends in the pie feast! Please bring a pie to share. Pie sign-ups will be available November 5.

Thanksgiving at LCH

turkey dinner graphicYou are most welcome to join your LCH ‘ohana for Thanksgiving potluck on Thursday November 23rd at 4:00 pm. Turkey, ham, and fresh baked rolls will be provided along with beverages and wine. You are invited to bring your favorite hot dish, side dish, or desert in quantities great enough to share. Please sign up on the clipboard beginning November 5. You are welcome to bring friends, neighbors, or folks you find in the streets. Just let us know how many you are planning to bring so we have enough food!

Echoes and Refrains: Music for a Reformation · October 21 & 22

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Echoes and Refrains poster

Echoes and Refrains

Music for a Reformation

Saturday, October 21 • 7:30 pm
Sunday, October 22 • 5:30 pm
A series of two different concerts

In observance of the quincentennial anniversary of the Reformation, Lutheran Church of Honolulu will present two concerts with premier visiting brass and string ensemble ¡Sacabuche!, Grammy-nominated tenor Eric Neuville, and our own LCH Choir and Bach Chamber Orchestra. In addition to stunning polychoral works by 17th-century German masters Schütz and Schein, each concert will feature one of Bach’s splendid cantatas with libretto from Luther’s Bible.

Saturday, October 21• 7:30 pm   repertoire listing

      Polychoral motets, solos, duets, and instrumental canzons
      Cantata 38, Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (J. S. Bach)

Sunday, October 22 • 5:30 pm   repertoire listing

      Polychoral motets, solos, duets, and instrumental pavanes
      Cantata 80, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (Bach)

Two Concert Series: Students $25, General $40
Single Concert: Students $15, General $25

Online sales for the Sunday concert have ended. Tickets will be available for cash or credit card purchase at the door.

500th Anniversary Plans

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Luther nailing 95 theses graphicIn the late days of October 1517, Martinus Luther, an Augustinian Monk teaching in Wittenberg, Germany, posted 95 theses he hoped would be debated by scholars. Those questions coupled with social, economic, and religious unrest, gave birth to a revolution we call “the Reformation.” October 29, 2017, marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of the reformation that would trigger profound changes in the European world.

Communities around the world are observing this important historical and religious anniversary, and Hawai‘i is no exception. Our observance will begin with an ecumenical and interfaith service held at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu on Saturday, October 14. Dr. David Lose, scholar, past seminary president, and respected biblical commentator, will deliver the sermon for the day. On October 15, he will offer a lecture to the public, and on the 16th and 17th he’ll deliver two more lectures to the public and rostered persons.

The second major event involves reformation concerts on October 21 and 22, hosted by Lutheran Church of Honolulu. Period instruments and combined choirs will highlight the evening with music that has inspired generations.

The third event is LCH’s annual LutherFest. Held each October on the Saturday before Reformation Sunday, October 28 this year, LutherFest is a time of celebration, food, and fellowship in the LCH courtyard. Once again, there will be authentic bratwurst, but the treat of the evening is all the wonderful potluck dishes brought by all who come. Please be sure to mark your calendars and bring your friends. We hope to make this LutherFest one to remember!

On Reformation Sunday, October 29, the LCH community will gather for a festive and beautiful worship on the occasion of this 500th anniversary. We will have one service that Sunday with worship at 9:30 am only.

To prepare for our celebrations, Adult Forum will concentrate on Reformation topics each week leading up to Reformation Sunday. Join us in the LCH Boardroom at 9:15 am on Sundays, between services, for this wonderful educational opportunity.

  • Saturday, October 14: 3:00 pm, Ecumenical and Interfaith Worship at the Cathedral of St. Andrew
  • Sunday, October 15: 2:00–4:00 pm, Tenney Theater at the Cathedral, lecture by Dr. David Lose, courtesy of the Margaret “Peggy” Kai Memorial Fund
  • Monday/Tuesday, October 16/17: 9:00 am–3:00 pm, Christ Church Uniting, Kailua, lectures by Dr David Lose, $25 for two days, courtesy of the Margaret “Peggy” Kai Memorial Fund
  • Saturday/Sunday, October 21, 7:30 pm/October 22, 5:30 pm: Reformation 500 concerts at LCH
  • Saturday, October 28: 5:30 pm, LCH annual LutherFest
  • Sunday, October 29: 9:30 am, LCH Festival Reformation Service

Cantate: A Choral Concert for Good Shepherd Sunday (May 7 • 5:00 pm)

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Cantate graphic
Cantate Sunday is the fourth Sunday after Easter, though because of the appointed scriptures for the day (Psalm 23 and John 10), it is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. These familiar readings have inspired composers for centuries, and can be found as the text of some of the most beautiful pieces in the choral library today.

Bach composed several works for this day, and Du Hirte Israel, Höre remains one of his most beloved cantatas. Our choirs also present Edvard Grieg’s masterpiece, Fire Salmer in the original Norwegian. These four motets remain relatively unkown inspite of their haunting and majestic beauty. The Men’s Schola will also perform three settings of the 23rd Psalm, then join the LCH Choir and baritone Jeremy Wong for the last of the Fire Salmer.

LCH Choir, LCH Men’s Schola, and Bach Chamber Orchestra, under the director of Scott Fikse

Jeremy Wong, baritone, and Renson Madarang, tenor

Mark Wong, organist

Tickets available at the door. $25, general | $10, students

LCH Launching “Shallow Subsidy” Ministry

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Family Promise logo“Shallow subsidy” is a program that provides short-term financial assistance to help prevent a family-at-risk from losing their housing. In many cases, a few hundred dollars helps a family meet their monthly expenses, making the difference between a stable home or life on the street. We partner with Family Promise, a faith-based organization focused on transitioning families into housing, to launch our shallow subsidy ministry at LCH. An additional goal is ensuring that families retain their housing, which can be challenging with Honolulu’s high cost of living.

Family Promise began operating in Hawai‘i in 2006, and they have succeeded in getting 80% of their families into sustainable housing within three months (more information at familypromisehawaii.org). The goal of Family Promise and its participating churches is to assist families as they transition to permanent housing. This is where LCH comes in. Family Promise matches shallow subsidy donors with families needing longer-term financial support to sustain their placement in permanent housing units.

On Easter Sunday, April 16, we kick off our fund drive by asking for pledges to the shallow subsidy fund. Our goal for LCH is $300 a month—$3,600 for the year. This amounts to 30 pledges of $10 each month (or $120 a year), or combinations of other amounts. Consistency in giving is the most important aspect of your pledge. Donors may make a full-year payment or contribute monthly by check or cash, indicating “Shallow Subsidy” on the contribution envelope or check memo line.

Please consider making a monthly donation—any amount you’re comfortable with. LCH will commit to support a family through Shallow Subsidy for a year. Pledge forms will be available in our Sunday worship bulletins. Please return them by Pentecost Sunday, June 4. If pledges are especially generous, we may be able to help two families!

Earth Day Sunday (April 30)

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tree graphicFor many years, the Lutheran Church has observed Earth Day, in April, with special projects and worship. Sunday, April 30, is our 2017 Earth Day celebration.

The liturgy, sermon, Sunday School, and music will all reflect our care for God’s wonderful creation. Please join us for this important event.

Holy Week and Easter at LCH

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Celebrating the Cross and Resurrection
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER
at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu

Christ showing wounds

PALM SUNDAY   †   Sunday, April 9
8:00 am

PROCESSION OF PALMS AND HOLY COMMUNION

The service moves from the commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the reading of the story of Jesus’ passion and death in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Music by the Early Worship Ensemble of singers and instrumentalists.
10:30 am

PROCESSION OF PALMS AND CHORAL EUCHARIST

The service moves from the commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem to the reading of the story of Jesus’ passion and death in the Gospel according to St. Matthew. Music by Heinrich Schütz and a brass quartet for the Procession of Palms.
robe and wash basin for Maundy liturgy

MAUNDY THURSDAY   †   Thursday, April 13
7:30 pm

CHORAL EUCHARIST AND MAUNDY LITURGY

A joyous celebration of the Eucharist meal quickly changes to one of love through humility in the washing of feet. The service concludes with the stripping of the altar, dramatizing Christ’s betrayal, stripping, and mocking by his captors. Music by Proulx, Tallis, and Gesualdo.
crown of thorns

GOOD FRIDAY   †   Friday, April 14
7:30 pm

GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY AND ADORATION OF THE CRUCIFIED

This service commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The choir presents the St. John Passion setting by Heinrich Schütz. Throughout the service the congregation and choir sing Lenten chants from the Taizé Community as we pray and meditate on the passion of our Lord.
empty cross and Paschal candle

EASTER EVE   †   Saturday, April 15
7:30 pm

EASTER VIGIL AND SOLEMN CHORAL EUCHARIST

Kindling of a new fire, the story of deliverance from the Hebrew Scriptures, and renewal of Baptismal promises lead to the proclamation of Easter Victory and a joyous celebration of Holy Communion. Music by Edvard Grieg, Forrest Pierce, and Michael Praetorius.
Chi Rho and empty tomb

EASTER SUNDAY   †   Sunday, April 16
8:00 am

FESTIVAL HOLY COMMUNON

We celebrate the empty tomb, the central mystery that through death comes new life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Music includes a brass quartet playing hymns and the music of Randall Thompson and the Hawaiian anthem “Lei Media” performed by the Early Worship Ensemble.
10:30 am

FESTIVAL CHORAL EUCHARIST

We celebrate the empty tomb, the central mystery that through death comes new life. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Festive music with brass and organ, including “God is Gone Up” by Gerald Finzi and “Victimae Paschali Laudes” by Thomás Luis de Vittoria.
7:30 pm

EASTER COMPLINE

Contemplative Easter meditation presented by the LCH Men’s Schola. Candlelight illuminates the Nave for this short service of prayer, chant, and polyphony.

The Reverend Jeff Lilley, Pastor   †   Scott Fikse, Director of Music and Liturgy