Category Archives: Congregational Life

Advent Means Preparing for Christmas

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The season of Advent has begun, and all around the church preparations for Christmas are underway. The children are practicing their skit for Christmas Eve worship, and the choirs are working on their music. Each Sunday of Advent we will light another candle on the Advent wreath during worship, and there aren’t any Christmas carols.

Plans are already being made to decorate the Nave for Christmas on the morning of December 24. The antique crèche (imported from German in the 1920s) will be brought out from storage, poinsettias unwrapped and placed around the Nave, a wreath of greens assembled and hung by the entrance, and a tree decorated. With the help of many hands, we will be ready for two worship services on Christmas Even and one on Christmas Day.

All are welcome to the three Christmas worship service:

  • Family Worship on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm featuring a Christmas skit by the children, familiar carols, and Holy Communion.
  • Festival Choral Eucharist on Christmas Eve at 11:00 pm featuring the LCH Choir, familiar carols, and Holy Communion. Come early and enjoy music of Egil Hovland and Gustav Holst sung by the LCH Choir at 10:30.
  • Choral Eucharist on Christmas Day at 10:30 am featuring the men of the LCH Choir, familiar carols, and Holy Communion

Above, an acolyte lights one of the candles on the Advent wreath.

At left, Steve Miller and the kids unwrap poinsettias.

Barbershop Quartet for the Last Summer Sunday

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August 30, the last summer Sunday with only one worship service, Scott Fikse, our new director of music and liturgy, brought along the other members of his Barbershop Quartet to provide music for worship. Pastor Jeff joked that the roof might cave in because LCH is not used to this kind of music, but God was cool with it all, and the roof is still intact.

Society Dues, which includes Scott and three friends, is beginning their second year of competing within the Barbershop Harmony Society, so when Scott moved to Honolulu this summer to join the staff at LCH, they decided to rehearse here for the upcoming Evergreen District competition in October. (The sacrifices one makes for the sake of music!) Everyone at LCH was glad to welcome them to worship on Sunday and to hear their uplifting renditions of spiritual songs.

Outdoor Worship and Picnic July 5

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Worship

God’s People gather for worship

The LCH ‘ohana worshipped outdoors on Sunday as we dedicated the new eco-shade covering for the Hörmann Courtyard. The ensemble choir lead the congregation in worship as we heard God’s word and shared God’s supper. Following worship, everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn.

Grillers

Grillmasters Craig and Walter at work

 

Hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, and a variety of side dishes made for a festive meal.

The congregation also had a chance for some friendly competition of Cornhole and Lawn Darts
We give thanks to everyone who helped make the Hørmann Courtyard Eco-shade covering possible. The courtyard is now usable in all weather conditions allowing us to better serve our community.IMG_1541

A Joyful Easter Celebration

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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 a puppet show and then headed out to hunt for Easter eggs that the older children had hidden, and everyone enjoyed a bountiful potluck brunch.

Children’s conversation on Easter morningThe younger children enjoy a puppet show while the older children hide the Easter eggsHunting for Easter eggsA girl with her basket of Easter eggsA young baby with her grandmotherA family with their children and cousinsTwo children decked out for EasterThe bountiful Easter potluck

Children’s Benefit Concert a Great Success

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Members and friends of the congregation gathered for the 9th (mostly) annual Children”s Benefit Concert on Saturday afternoon, March 7

In keeping with tradition, the concert began with “Hittite Hints,” an original poem by Pr. Fritz Fritschel, read by Peggy Brandt because Pr. Fritz was out of town. Following the poem, more than a dozen children presented their musical talent. They performed on the trumpet, guitar, piano, violin, drum, and organ; one sang a solo, and all the children joined together to sing the finale.

The first Children”s Benefit Concert took place during Lent 2006, and except for last year, has taken place every Lent. Each year the children challenge members of the congregation to pledge $1 a day for the 40 days of Lent to be used to help families in need around the world. At the early years, donations were made through Heifer International, but in 2013 and again this year, donation will go the ELCA”s Good Gifts program.

Pastor Jeff welcomed the audience to the 9th Children’s Benefit ConcertPeggy Brant read “Hittite Hints,” a new poem by Pr. Fritz Fritschel written for the event.A boy played Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary.”A boy played a guitar arrangement of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”A girl played “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” on the violin.A girl played “What Can I Share” by Palmer, Manus, and Lethco on the piano.A boy played “Hip Little Sixteen” by Murray Hollif on the snare drum.A boy played Beethoven’ “Für Elise” on the piano.A boy played “Toccotina” by David Schaap on the organ.A girl played “Vivace” by Ferdinando Carulli and “Minuet in G minor” by J.S. Bach on the piano.A girl sand “New York, New York” by Kander and Ebb.A boy played “Sicilienne and Rigaudon” by Fritz Kreisler on the violin.A girl played “Morning Vista” by Melody Bober on the piano.A boy played the second movement of Diitri Shostokovich’s “Sonata in D minor” on the cello.A boy played “Toccata” form Suite Gothique on the organ.The concert ended with the F.R.O.G.S. Choir singing “Elijah Rock!”

LCH Bids God Speed to Pr. Angela

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After two and a half years of dedicated service and dynamic ministry, Pastor Angela returns to the continent to begin new adventures in life and ministry.

In recognition of this milestone in the life of Pr. Angela and of LCH, the congregation ended both morning services on January 4 with a liturgy of Thanksgiving at the Conclusion of a Call. Between services, there was a reception with lots of hugs, lei, and wishes of God speed.

All of us at LCH will miss Pr. Angela very much and give thanks to God for her time with us.

At right, April Smith, president of the Church Council, presents Pr. Angela with a book of photos from her time at LCH.

At left, Pr. Angela and the cake from her reception.

Additional photos are available on the LCH Facebook page.

Preparing for a Joyous Christmas

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With only one more day until our celebration of Christmas begin, members gathered to prepare for worship. The antique crèche (imported from German in the 1920s) was brought out from storage, poinsettias were unwrapped and placed around the Nave, a wreath of greens was assembled and hung by the entrance, a tree was decorated, and worship booklets prepared for all three Christmas worship services. It was a lot of work, but with many hands, it was completed quickly.

At right, Jim Cartwright and Peggy Anderson decorate the Christmas tree.

Below, Steve Miller and the kids unwrap poinsettias.

All are welcome to the three Christmas worship service:

  • Family Worship on Christmas Eve at 5:00 pm featuring a Christmas skit by the children, familiar carols, and Holy Communion.
  • Festival Choral Eucharist on Christmas Eve at 11:00 pm featuring the LCH Choir, familiar carols, and Holy Communion. Come early and enjoy a concert of Christmas music by the LCH Choir and Organist Mark Wong at 10:30.
  • Choral Eucharist on Christmas Day at 10:30 am featuring the women of the LCH Choir, familiar carols, and Holy Communion

Interim Music Leadership Installed

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Today, LCH installed the first member of the interim leadership for its music program during morning worship. Jeremy Wong was installed as interim director of the LCH Choir during the traditional choral eucharist at 10:30 am. Michael Bartels will be installed as interim director of the Eight O’Clock Ensemble during the contemporary worship service next Sunday.

Neither Jeremy not Michael is new to the LCH ‘ohana. Michael has been playing piano and filling in for Miguel Felipe from time to time for the contemporary worship service, and Jeremy has been singing in the LCH Choir.

You can learn more about Michael and Jeremy on the Leadership page

At right, Pastor Jeff installs Jeremy Wong as interim director of the LCH Choir.

LutherFest Rescheduled

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LutherFest – Postponed

Due to the uncertain nature of Tropical Storm Ana, LCH has postponed LutherFest to NEXT Saturday, October 25th.

Same time. Same place! One week later!
Bring your pretzels and your friends!

We pray that you all stay safe and sound over the weekend.

Sunday’s Worship events will be as scheduled unless otherwise notified via eNews, Website, Facebook and via phone.

New Members Received

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Today, LCH welcomed two new members into its ‘ohana of faith.

Lindsey (left) – serves in the US Navy and has begun discernment in the candidacy process toward possible ordination in the ELCA

Melody (right) – currently PhD Candidate at University of Hawai’i recipient of Fulbright-Clinton fellowship and soon on her way to East Timor for field work in her studies as a linguist.

We pray for them and for the whole of our family of faith.

If you are interested in learning more about LCH and what “becoming a member” means, contact the church office or the pastor directly. We’d be happy to schedule a time to sit down together and get to know one another and answer any questions.