Summer Worship Schedule Begins June 3

Our summer worship schedule begins on June 3. We will have one morning worship each Sunday morning at 9:15 am. This communion service incorporates elements from both the 8:00 and 10:30 services.

Watch the calendar, ENews, and HeartBeat for fellowship and education opportunities following worship around 10:45.

Compline will conclude with a special service at 7:30 pm on June 3 as the Men’s Schola bids farewell to members who are moving to the continent. Regular Compline will resume the first Sunday of September.

Celebrating the Cross and Resurrection—
Holy Week and Easter at LCH

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 of the Saints.

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 Three Great 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 Zachary Wadsworth. Benjamin Leonid sang the part of the Evangelist, Simon Crookall sang Jesus, and Logan Webber 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 Three Great Days—began on Maundy Thursday on March 29. 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.

Holy Week and Easter Worship at LCH

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


Christ showing wounds

PALM SUNDAY   †   Sunday, March 25

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. Mark. Music by the Early Worship Ensemble.

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. Mark. Music by Heinrich Schütz and a brass quartet for the Procession of Palms.


robe and wash basin for Maundy liturgy

MAUNDY THURSDAY   †   Thursday, March 29

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, Gjeilo, and Leighton.


crown of thorns

GOOD FRIDAY   †   Friday, March 30

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 Zachary Wadsworth’s setting of the St. John Passion and Antonio Lotti’s Crucifixus.


empty cross and Paschal candle

EASTER EVE   †   Saturday, March 31

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 Renaissance masters Palestrina, Hassler, and Lassus.


Chi Rho and empty tomb

EASTER SUNDAY   †   Sunday, April 1

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 and brass quartet.

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 including Samuel Wesley’s Blessed be the God and Father.

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.


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

Lenten Suppers and Worship (Wednesdays through March 21)

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. This year’s worship will focus on the theme “Made Whole: Remembering our Baptism.”

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 (Feb. 14)

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 February 14 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. This year’s worship will focus on the theme “Made Whole: Remembering our Baptism.”

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. The liturgy used during Wednesday worship will incorporate the music and prayerful song from Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.

Reconciling in Christ Sunday • January 28

Welcoming Sunday graphicWe invite everyone to join us for worship on “ Reconciling in Christ Sunday,” January 28.

In 1993 our congregation made the bold and prayerful decisions to be public and affirming in our welcome of all people, including gay, lesbian, transgendered, and questioning folks, who seldom found welcome in Christian churches. Two decades later we rejoice that churches around the world are beginning to share that same welcome. But there is much work to do, and our witness of Christ’s welcoming love is more important than ever.

Join us for worship and in welcoming our LGBTQI friends on Sunday, January 28, at 8:00 and 10:30 am.

More information about the process by which LCH became a “Reconciling in Christ” or welcoming congregation, is available on our RIC page.

German Vespers for Epiphany (Jan. 6 • 7:30 pm)

German Vespers graphicGerman Vespers is a tradition at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu which began in 2002. Paying homage to the church’s German heritage, the service is completely auf Deutsch.

The LCH Choir, Bach Chamber Orchestra, and soloists will present choral works with orchestra including Bach’s Cantata 32 Liebster Jesu, mein Verlangen, and Magnificat in G by Heinrich Schütz. Again this year, we welcome the Rev. Anke Flohr as presider for this festival worship. Martina Bingham makes her return to Honolulu as our soprano soloist after completing doctoral studies at Stony Brook University. Tim Carney will share his rich baritone as a featured soloist as well.

All are welcome. Free will offering accepted.

Worship for the Christmas Season

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)

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)

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.