First Half of Annual Meeting • Sun., Nov. 13, at 11:00 am

people are the church graphicEach year, congregational members gather as a community to tend to important matters of business and ministry. These include nominating leadership, passing a budget, receiving reports, and discussing our mission objectives. At LCH, we divide our annual meeting into two halves. This year’s meeting will be conducted in-person and via Zoom meeting. In November we’ll elect Congregational Council members to take office in January, review the draft budget, and conduct other business that may need to be transacted. In January, the main business is approving a final budget for the new year. All are welcome and encouraged to attend the meetings, but only members in good standing may vote. Please plan to attend!

If you will be attending the meeting over Zoom, contact Pastor Jeff, via email at pr.jeff@LCHwelcome.org, for a meeting number and password to log into the meeting.

LutherFest • Saturday, October 29, at 5:30 pm

beer garden graphicJoin us on Saturday, October 29, at 5:30 pm in the Hörmann Courtyard to celebrate our Lutheran heritage at our annual LutherFest, where we eat, drink, laugh, and have fun. Festivities begin at 5:30 pm with light pūpū and non-alcoholic punch provided. Beer and wine are available for a donation.

More details will be forthcoming in future Sunday announcements. Danke sehr and hope to see you there!

Forest Hike and Service Project • Saturday, August 13

hike graphicWe will be going deep into the Wai‘anae Mountains above Mokulē‘ia. After learning about native plants, we will follow our guide David Anderson up the Nike Road, through a locked gate, to the rare plant nursery on the 685-acre Pahole Preserve. We will outplant some native species and do weed control on the hiking trail.

Participants will gather Saturday morning, August 13, at 8:30 am in the Waialua School parking lot. Bring work gloves, plenty of water, a sack lunch, sunscreen, and insect repellent. Wear good sturdy close-toed shoes, have a hat, and consider a long-sleeved shirt and rain gear. Hand tools will be provided. This schedule is dependent on several factors: rain, hiking ability of our group, and our timing. Alternative trails and service areas enable us to be flexible in our activities. The hike is scheduled to end around 3:00 that afternoon.

The hike is approximately 4 miles round trip. There are spectacular views to Mākua Valley and the coastline. All participants must turn in release forms. The Pahole Preserve was established in 1981 under the management of the State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources.

LCH Bids Farewell to Scott Fikse • Sunday, July 31

Farewell and Good Wishes graphicWe’re saying goodbye to our director of music, Scott Fikse, on Sunday, July 31.

The celebration of Scott’s ministry at LCH begins with worship at 10:00 am that morning. The LCH Choir and Bach Chamber Orchestra will fill the service with special music, including Bach’s Cantata 187, Es wartet alles auf dich. Following worship, all are invited to a Cake Reception in honor of Scott.

Festivities continue that evening with a Celebration Potluck in the evening at 5:30 pm. Please prepare a dish and join us in wishing Scott and Marcus a blessed farewell.

For those who cannot attend, we are collecting farewell cards or letters for Scott. Please mail them to the church and we’ll make sure to get them to Scott before his departure. If you have questions about the potluck, please contact the church office at 808-941-2566.

17th Annual Faith and Arts Sunday • Sunday, June 12

Members look at examples of the art work of children and adults submitted as part of 2022’s Faith and Arts Sunday

LCH celebrated its somewhat-delayed Faith and Arts Sunday on June 12. Usually held each spring, 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.

Works displayed this year 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, members look at examples of the art work of children and adults submitted for Faith and Arts Sunday 2022.

The slideshow below shows the items displayed this year. Click on any of the photos to 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.)

Read Poetry and prose written by members of the Writers’ Workshop displayed during Faith and Arts Sunday.

Updated Guidance for In-person Worship Attendance

Meeting together safely graphicFollowing revised City and County guidelines, Lutheran Church of Honolulu is no longer requiring proof of vaccination to participate in worship. However, for the protection of the most vulnerable in our midst, we strongly encourage all persons coming to the LCH campus to be fully vaccinated and boosted.

In addition, all participants are requested to wear an appropriate mask on campus while indoors.

If you are not feeling well, please enjoy our events in the comfort of your home via our online offerings.

These rules are subject to change as the covid-19 pandemic evolves.

Lenten Fellowship and Evening Prayer • Wednesdays, March 9–April 6, 7:00 pm

Lenten Vespers graphicPlease join your LCH ‘ohana as we journey through the Lenten season each Wednesday evening beginning March 9.

Our theme this year is “Embraced by the Holy.” We will explore and expand our faith-life and spirituality through the beauty of God’s created world. How is God’s proclamation being communicated by the very environment around us? What do we see, hear, and feel of God in the misty wood or the urban garden?

Due to covid-19 limitations, we will not be able to have our usual Lenten Soup Supper this year. However, you are invited to join us for light pūpū and a cup of soup at 6:20 pm before the service. Evening prayer will begin at 7:00 pm with both in-person attendance and livestream broadcast.

For those not attending in person, the Lenten Evening Prayer will be livestreamed on our streaming page and the LCH Facebook page and then archived on the LCH Facebook page.

Ordination and Installation of Pastor Brianna Lloyd • Sun., Feb. 20, 5:00 pm

Pastor Brianna LloydBrianna Lloyd will be ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament and installed as associate pastor at Lutheran Church of Honolulu on Sunday, February 20, at 5:00 pm. Bishop Andy Taylor of the Pacifica Synod will preside, and Sister Joan Mitchell, a sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ), whose community supported and funded Bree’s divinity schooling, will preach.

Offerings will go to the CSJ community to support women’s theological education and to the Pacifica Synod’s first-call theological education ministry. Donations may be made in-person at the ordination service, by check mailed to Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822, or via PayPal using the donation button at the bottom of this page.

Limited in-person seating is available by reserving a seat through our Eventbrite page. Proof of vaccination or a negative covid-19 test taken within the past 72 hours is required for entry; masks are required throughout the performance. Those not attending in-person can tune in on our streaming page and the LCH Facebook page.




LCH Garden Planning 2022 • Wednesday, January 12, 1:00 pm

Vicar Bree by the first garden bedThe small but mighty LCH garden is reviving! For anyone who has garden ideas or who has interest in planning this year’s garden, let Pastor Bree know at pr.bree@LCHwelcome.org. You are also welcome to join Pastor Bree in person for a gardening hour on Wednesday, January 12, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. We will clean-up the two beds, maybe start some seeds, and dream about what the garden might provide for the church and neighborhood.

Modified Christmas Worship Information

modified worship graphicWhile we were all looking forward to celebrating a blessed Christmas season in the Nave as an in-person community, the rising covid positivity rate in Hawai‘i has caused us to rethink these plans. In the interest of safety, we’ve modified our Christmastide services as outlined below.

The following services will take place outside in the Hörmann Courtyard. All attendees must be fully vaccinated, wear a mask, and observe social distancing protocols. We ask that if you feel unsafe or unwell, you please stay home and join us online. Seating will be limited and physically-distances, so anyone planning to attend should RSVP using the link for that service.

The 7:30 pm Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist will be offered livestream-only. Family members of the choir and production crew may join in-person (while observing all safety protocols as mentioned above).

Plans for morning worship and Compline on Sunday, January 2, and German Vespers on Friday, January 6, will be determined at a later date.

Thank you for your understanding as we navigate the ups and downs of the pandemic together.

On behalf of the entire staff, we wish you a blessed, safe Christmas season.