Category Archives: Worship

Holy Week and Easter Worship 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 14
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. Luke. Music by the Early Worship Ensemble. List of music for this service
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. Luke. Music by Franz Schubert and a brass quartet for the Procession of Palms. List of music for this service
robe and wash basin for Maundy liturgy

MAUNDY THURSDAY   †   Thursday, April 18
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 Hallock, Dalitz, Laloux, and Lewkovitch. List of music for this service
crown of thorns

GOOD FRIDAY   †   Friday, April 19
7:30 pm

GOOD FRIDAY LITURGY AND ADORATION OF THE CRUCIFIED

This service celebrates the triumph of the cross. The service features the chanting of the St. John Passion and concludes with prayer around the cross. Music includes Heinrich Schütz’ setting of the St. John Passion and Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere Mei Deus. List of music for this service
empty cross and Paschal candle

EASTER EVE   †   Saturday, April 20
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. Featuring A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott. List of music for this service
Chi Rho and empty tomb

EASTER SUNDAY   †   Sunday, April 21
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 by the Early Worship Ensemble. List of music for this service
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 for Easter by Proulx, Robinson, and Parry. List of music for this service
7:30 pm

EASTER COMPLINE

Contemplative Easter meditation offered by the LCH Men’s Schola. Candlelight illuminates the Nave for this short service of prayer, chant, and a cappella singing. List of music for this service

The Reverend Jeff Lilley, Pastor   †   Andrew Flatt-Kuntze, Vicar   †   Scott Fikse, Director of Music and Liturgy

Lenten Suppers and Worship (Wednesdays through April 10)

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The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.

Each Wednesday evening during the season of Lent, members and friends of LCH will gather for table fellowship and worship.

The evenings begin with a light supper of soup, salad, and bread beginning at 6:00 pm. The meal is provided by volunteers, and all are welcome to join in fellowship and conversation around the table. If you feel moved to contribute to the meal, please sign up in the courtyard on Sunday morning.

Worship follows the meal at 7:00 pm using the music and prayerful song from Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.

Our Lenten theme for 2019 is “Love Unspoken.” As Karoline Lewis writes in her essay for Sundays and Seasons, we tend to let the word “grace” do a lot of the the theological heavy lifting in our proclamation. Her thought is that we find a way to highlight grace in the world without actually having to use the word. We might then look to explore “grace” expressed through actions, relationships, and moments. Grace is God’s love unleashed. Our hope is proclaim God’s love through image, story, experience, art and worship in a way that opens our eyes and hearts to God’s grace unleashed in the world.

The primary text for the entire midweek Lenten cycle will be I Corinthians 13:4–13, which will be read each week as a kind of lectio divina. Verses 4–7 will be incorporated into our opening litany. Writer’s Writers Workshop will be asked to focus on a different verse or verses each Wednesday. Our hope is that the reflection will be artistic and engaging. Poetry, prose or reflective meditation are all possibilities.

As we all move forward on our Lenten journey and prepare for Easter joy in the resurrection, all are invited to come together at the table, to be fed and nourished in body and soul, and to worship together as a faith community.

The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.

Lent Begins with Ash Wednesday (March 6)

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Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.

LCH begins the observance of Lent on March 6 with the traditional Ash Wednesday Liturgy with imposition of ashes.

Throughout the Lent, members and friends will gather on Wednesday evenings for table fellowship and worship. Beginning on March 6 and continuing through April 10, members and friends will gather at 6:00 pm for a light supper of soup and salad, followed by worship at 7:00. This year’s worship will focus on the theme “Love Unspoken.” The liturgy used during worship will incorporate the music and prayerful song from Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.

As our congregations prepares for our Easter joy in the resurrection, all are invited to come together at the table, to be fed and nourished in body and soul, and to feast together as a faith community.

Reconciling in Christ Sunday • January 27

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Welcoming Sunday graphicReconciling 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.

Please join us, next Sunday, when we recognize our 26th year of welcoming and affirming LGBT+ persons in the life of the LCH congregation. Vicar Andy will preach at both services. More information on Reconciling Works can be found at www.reconcilingworks.org.

Please, invite those who may be interested in worshipping in an environment “Welcoming to all.” We look forward to seeing you and all new faces interested in learning about LCH and the ELCA!

German Vespers · January 1 · 4:00 pm

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German Vespers posterWelcome 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.

This year’s German Vespers features a cantata by Telemann, a Magnificat attributed to Buxtehude, German hymns, and other works. Music we be performed by the LCH Choir, soloists, and the Bach Chamber Orchestra, all under the direction of Scott Fikse. The sermon will be offered (in German, with translation) by the Rev. Anke Flor.

The worship service is free, and a freewill offering will be received to benefit the church’s music program.

A Season of Celebration—Christmastide
at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu

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The Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24

5:00 pm Family Service
Joyous Christmas worship with congregational carols and music
with guest pianist Keith Montross
Reid Womack, cello • Max Womack, violin
 
10:00 pm Music for Christmastide
Carols in honor of the “Truce of 1914”
with the Bach Chamber Orchestra
Fantasia on Carols: Vaughan Williams
Willkommen, süßer Bräutigam: Lübeck
10:30 pm Festival Choral Eucharist
Christmas Eve worship with choir, chamber orchestra, and soloists
Mass in B: Anthony Caldara
and works by Hassler and Handel

 

Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 25

10:30 am Choral Eucharist
Welcome the newborn king with beloved carols and readings
featuring the women of the LCH Choir
Missa Brevis in D: Robert Peters and works for choir, cello, and organ

Lessons & Carols for the
First Sunday of Christmas
Sunday, December 30

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

 
German Vespers
Tuesday, January 1
 
4:00 pm New Year’s Vespers
with the Bach Chamber Orchestra
Halt ein mit deinem Wetterstrahle: Telemann
and works by Buxtehude
 

Epiphany Compline
Sunday, January 6

7:30 pm Compline
with the LCH Men’s Schola
Gregorian chant, Renaissance polyphony,
and meditation at the close of day

 

Observing Advent—Jesse Tree and Advent Devotions

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Children Lead Jesse Tree Devotion Each Sunday at 9:10 am

placing a symbol on the Jesse TreeDuring 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.

Sometimes called the Root of Jesse or radix Jesse in Latin, the Jesse Tree is a visual representation of Jesus’ genealogy dating back to Jesse, the father of David. The Jesse Tree is found in the writings of Church Fathers, Latin hymns, and in visual arts—especially during the 12th to 16th centuries.

Each week’s presentation is divided into segments referring to key figures in the genealogy. Each segment begins with one child who introduces the character by describing key events in their life and relating those events to our lives today. During this presentation, one of the younger children hangs the individual’s symbol on the tree. Then all the children sing the verse about that individual from the Jesse Tree song, with the congregation joining in the chorus. Each week, the chorus grows as new inviduals are added. And when Advent IV arrives, we can sing the whole story of the Jesse Tree.

2018 Advent Devotions Available

For many years LCH maintained a tradition of creating a devotional for the Season of Advent, using short meditations written by parishioners.

Our intern pastor this year, Vicar Andrew Flatt- Kuntze, brought this project back to life. He selected the verses, recruited the writers, and gentle encouraged everyone to meet the deadlines and guidelines. A special thank you to all writers for your thoughtful participation.

Download your copy of the 2018 Advent Devotions booklet.

44th Annual Advent Procession • Dec. 2, 7:30 pm

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Advent Procession poster

The “O” Antiphons
Sunday, December 2, 2018, 7:30 pm
1730 Punahou Street + 808-941-2566

A Honolulu tradition since 1975, this year’s Advent Procession will feature the hauntingly beautiful Great “O” Antiphons, by Peter R. Hallock, along with Advent lessons and carols. Our choirs will also share some of the finest choral works of the season, accompanied by the Beckerath organ.

Freewill offering accepted. All are welcome!

  1. Machet die Tore Weit: A. Hammerschmidt (1611–1675)
  2. Rorate Caeli Desuper: F. Guerrero (1527–1599)
  3. The Flower of Jesse: G. Oldroyd (1887–1956)
  4. Hail, Gladdening Light: C. Wood (1866–1926)
  5. Magnificat in D: E. Bairstow (1874–1946)
  6. and others

Selections by Vaughan Williams and Mendelssohn, works for organ, hymns, and plainchant

LCH Choir & Men’s Schola
Rev. Jeffrey Lilley, pastor
Andrew Flatt-Kuntze, vicar
Scott Fikse, conductor
Mark Wong, organist

Celebrate Thanksgiving with LCH • Nov. 21 & 22

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pie graphicThanksgiving Eve Joint Worship

Wednesday, November 21, 7:00 pm • St. Clement Church

St. Clement Church is hosting the Thanksgiving Eve worship this year. Pastor Jeff Lilley is scheduled to preach.

The annual pie reception will follow immediately after worship. Sign-up sheets for the pie reception will be made available starting Sunday, November 4.

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at LCH

Thursday, November 23, 3:30 pm • Isenberg Hall and Hörmann Courtyard

turkey dinner graphicAll are welcome to join the LCH ‘ohana for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the courtyard. This is a potluck meal for anyone who would like to attend. Please bring your friends, neighbors, college and university students, and folks who would like some fellowship and food. Pastor Jeff and Jean will prepare the turkeys and bring fresh-baked rolls. A donation of ham would be appreciated. Please plan to bring your favorite dish in quantities to feed at least six persons. Pupu, side dishes, casseroles, desserts, or any other dish is very welcome! Please sign up in the courtyard beginning November 6 so we can plan accordingly.

Vespers for All Saints • Nov. 4 at 7:30 pm

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All Saints Vespers poster

Vespers for the Feast of All Saints
Sunday, November 4, 2018, 7:30 pm
1730 Punahou Street + 808-941-2566

Joined by young virtuoso pianist Jairus Rhoades, Mark Wong and the LCH Choir will offer selections from Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem in honor of the Feast of All Saints, when we honor those who have left this earth and grieve for our beloved dead.

Ein Deutsches Requiem: Brahms

  1. Selig sind die da Leid tragen
  2. Denn alles Fleisch es ist wie Gras
  3. Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen

Selections by Vaughan Williams and Mendelssohn, works for organ, hymns, and plainchant

LCH Choir & Men’s Schola
Jeffrey Lilley, pastor
Scott Fikse, conductor
Mark Wong • Jairus Rhoades, accompanists