August 2007—In this Issue:
- A Message from Pastor Jeff
- July 2007 Church Council meeting highlights
- Summer Sundays
- First Sunday Ingathering—ANGEL NETWORK
- In Stitches
- Lunch Bunch
- Writers’ Workshop
- From generation to generation
- Game Night
- Ohana news
- What’s New on the LCH Website?
- Parking Reminder
- Keep in Your Prayers...
- Kupuna Sunday pictures
- August Birthdays
- LCH Worship Participants (9:15 AM)
- Heart Beat Deadline
- Attendance and Offerings for July
- Calendar: August 2007
View the entire issue as a full-color PDF via the link below:
August 2007 HeartBeat (PDF)
The HeartBeat
A Message from Pastor Jeff
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Matt. 10:14)
Over the past few weeks the local newspapers have been following the story of a little girl who was found emaciated and starving in her parent’s apartment. From all indications, this child had suffered this sort of abuse for most, if not all of her life. This child, this creation of God, this incredible specimen of God’s handiwork slipped under society’s radar and nearly came to a lonely, horrible death. It would be bad enough if this case was an isolated incident. But if you take a few moments and scan national and international news, you will find hundreds of similar stories about children neglected, starved, beaten, sexually abused or simply forgotten. One shocking case in Reno, Nevada, charged the parents of small child with neglect after authorities found their child filthy and starving in their home. The parents confessed that their addiction to the online game “Dungeons and Dragons” had left little time to care for the child.
The 2001 UNICEF Report “State of the World’s Children” declared “The true wealth of a nation is measured in the health and strength of its youngest citizens.” UNICEF and other child advocate agencies see the health of children as a barometer for the overall heath of a nation. If children are hungry, then the nation is starving its future. If children are abused and neglected, it reflects on the nation’s values as a whole. In our own nation, a growing awareness of elder abuse must be added to the mix. Perhaps a more accurate statement might be, “The true wealth of a nation is measured in the health and strength of its most vulnerable citizens.” Jesus certainly seemed to reflect this thought as he challenged religious and cultural rules in his own time. As the children pressed against him his disciples tried to hold them back. But Jesus drew the children near and declared, “Let the children come.” For Jesus, the very Kingdom of God was reflected in these little ones.
The ELCA and many other church bodies are taking very positive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of all of God’s people. “Children’s Sabbath,” “Safe Child,” and “A Child in our Hands” are programs aimed at providing good education and care for youngsters. Many churches employ parish nurses to help members maintain healthy lifestyles and be good stewards of their bodies. Here at LCH, we partner with Our Redeemer Lutheran in a Preschool deeply committed to raising healthy, educated, and safe kids. But we as individuals can take steps as well. Many abuse cases come to light when concerned families report abuse and neglect to the proper authorities. According to this morning’s paper, the abuse of a local girl came to light when family members had the courage to set aside familial ties in favor of the life of a child. It took courage, a willingness to become involved, and a willingness to put the needs of another above our own to take such action.
As school begins again this month, I encourage each of us to maintain a healthy vigilance on behalf of those most at-risk for abuse. Keep watch over the children walking by your home to school. Report suspicious activity, look in on an elder, and take a moment to thank the many people who give so much to our young people.
Pastor Jeff Lilley
Highlights of the July 17, 2007, Church Council meeting
Here are the highlights of the July 17 Church Council meeting:
- Poki Lot resurfacing—The Poki Lot will be resealed and striped. This is recommended maintenance and will increase the number of stalls from 49 to 58. The contract will be given to DC Asphalt Services, Inc. The work will need to be done before Punahou School is in session.
- The Council approved display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt from Nov. 30 to December 2, 2007. The display will be available to the public. This is the 20th anniversary of the quilt.
- The deficit spending continues. year-to-date, the deficit is $31,928. overall, expenses are running 7 percent under the budget. the stewardship committee is aware of this issue. it was suggested that this situation be publicized within the church to encourage people to think about additional donations.
- Importance of calendars—Pastor Jeff reminded the Council members that a master calendar is in place and will be used. All committees should begin to look at a rolling 12-month calendar.
Summer Sundays
Share your talents/learn something new
For most of the year during the learning ministry hour, the adults go to the adult classes or to choir rehearsal while the children attend Sunday School. During the summer, when some of these activities are on hiatus, we have the opportunity to try new activities in a fun atmosphere open to all age groups. Some members of the congregation have offered to share their skills and talents by leading an activity. We began with the teaching of two hula numbers, by the Cheng sisters, then Signing by Stephanie Miller, and Needlecraft by In Stitches.
A future activity is listed below. We hope to see you shortly after the service in Isenberg Hall on
Aug. 5 Art with Randy Castello—Try wet-on-wet watercolor painting
Do you have an idea for a session or two? If so, please contact Laurie Leach through the Church Office (941-2566). We are in hopes of an activity for August 12.
First Sunday Ingathering—ANGEL NETWORK
Mark Sunday, August 5, on your calendars and make that extra trip to Costco or Sam’s Club. While donations for Angel Network are welcome any time, Pastor Jeff would like to set the first Sunday of every month as a special ingathering for Angel Network. Bring canned foods, sample-sized shampoo, soap etc., and personal items. Spam, cup-a-noodle, and canned tuna are favorites. Also, bring plastic grocery sacks, which are used to distribute the items to our friends in need. There will be a table set up in the courtyard to receive your donations.
In Stitches
In Stitches will continue meeting through the summer to work on church projects and our own crafts. We meet in the Board Room the second and the fourth Saturdays of each month from 9:00 to 11:00 am. The summer dates are August 11 and 25. Come join us for fellowship and fun!
Lunch Bunch
The next Lunch Bunch is on Sunday, August 12, at 11:30 am at the Dixie Grill on Ward Avenue. Please come and join us!
For more information, please contact Stephanie Miller through the Church Office (941-2566).
Writers’ Workshop
For our first meeting of the Fall 2007 season, Writers’ Workshop will meet on Monday, August 13, 7:00-8:30 pm, at LCH.
We will be planning our Fall schedule and look forward to getting together after the summer break.
All are welcome. For information, after August 1, please contact Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).
From generation to generation
That is the theme of this year’s Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert, a yearly benefit concert for the Donald L. “Don” Conover Scholarship Fund of the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists. The concert on Tuesday, August 21, at 7:00 pm at Central Union Church will feature several generations of organists, including Nyle Hallman and Margaret Lloyd of Central Union Church, John McCreary and John Renke of St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Katherine Crosier of Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and Joey F. and Jordan M., two young Organ Scholars. Special guest will be Dr. Frederick Swann, national president of the American Guild of Organists, and former organist at the Crystal Cathedral and the Riverside Church, New York.
At LCH, our own Nathalie J. and Jordan M. have been recipients of the organ scholarship program. Come, support them in their musical education.
Game Night
Game Night is at Stephanie Miller’s, in Kaimuki on the fourth Saturday of every month...August 25 starting at 6:30 pm. It’s potluck, so bring a dish of your choice, and a game!
For directions to her home, or more information, contact Steff through the Church Office (941-2566).
Ohana news
Aloha to All,
Just wanted to give an update. Kathy got thru the first round of treatments, and is doing well on her week off. We want to thank everyone for the prayers and calls. It’s meant a lot to us that we are kept in your prayers while so far away. We miss everyone there and look forward to reading the newsletter each month.
Mahalo to all at LCH,
The Hillmans
What’s New on the LCH Website?
Bill Potter, webmaster
A new feature designed to enhance community is in the works for our LCH website—in mid-August we will be opening up “LCH Table Talk,” a discussion forum where everyone in the LCH ‘ohana can share their thoughts and explore all aspects of our community together.
Once everything is ready, you will be able to reach LCH Table Talk through links from major pages on the website. LCH Table Talk will be divided into several different parts, and each part will have a number of individual forums devoted to specific topics. We are still working on the initial configuration of forums, but let me describe some of the plans.
The first main section will be devoted to “Worship and Music,” with forums like “Worship and Liturgy Talk” and “Music Talk,” where everyone will be ask questions or discuss ideas related to those topics. In addition, Pastor Jeff Lilley has agreed to moderate a “Sermon Talk” forum for ideas raised in Sunday sermons and a Bible study we can check out during the week.
Another section will be devoted to “Spirituality and Theology.” Once forum will be open for all manner of “Spirituality and Theology Talk,” and Pastor Fritz will moderate “Process Talk” for issues related to Process Thought.
A third section will be devoted to “Children and Youth.” In addition to general discussion on issues related to children and youth, we will have two private forums—one for children in elementary school and the other for youth in junior high and high school. With a few exceptions (leaders like Pastor Jeff and the webmaster), only children or youth will be able to read or post in the private forums. As part of our commitment to protecting our children and youth, we will require a signed authorization from a parent or guardian before activating forum membership for anyone under 18 years old.
The final section right now will be for “Committees and Groups.” Any group that would like to have their own forum in this section can have one simply by asking. You can even have a public group and a private group restricted to your members if you like. In addition to discussions, forum members can make polls and vote on them.
The public parts of the forums will be available to everyone connected to the internet, so they will provide a dynamic picture of our life together here at LCH. Posting will be restricted to Table Talk members, but anyone with a valid email address can register.
We have set the forums up so that personal information will only be visible to members, and there are several features to keep spammers out of the forums. If you have any questions about LCH Table Talk, or if you have suggestions, just email the webmaster.
Watch the weekly announcement sheet or Pastor Jeff’s “LCH E-News” for the date when LCH Table Talk will go live. If you’re really anxious to check it out or want to help out as a forum moderator, email me and I’ll give you the URL.
Parking Reminder
Overnight parking in the Poki lot or church lot is not permitted. Ace Towing will tow.
Keep in Your Prayers...
| Kathy | Michie | Carolyn |
| Joan | Jerry | Lorie |
| Jackie | Gwen | Shane |
| Joe | Dorothy | Paul |
| Bauer family |
Kupuna Sunday pictures
Kupuna Sunday at Wai‘oli Tea Room hosted by Brian Weis.
(Guess who’s taking the photo? Answer by the next picture.)
Another shot of the whole group at Kupuna Sunday.
(You guessed it. It was Pastor Jeff.)
Happy conversation at Kupuna Sunday.
More conversation at Kupuna Sunday.
August Birthdays
| 08/02 | Arthur Wilson |
| 08/05 | Nedra Walker |
| 08/06 | Sissy Arakawa |
| 08/09 | Linda Mizuno |
| 08/11 | Jonathan Scheuer |
| 08/12 | Charlotte D’Evelyn |
| 08/13 | Alexa Sueda |
| 08/17 | Gordon Wallace |
| 08/18 | Jean-Paul Klingebiel |
| 08/22 | Bruce Kishimoto |
| 08/24 | Dennis Hethcote |
| 08/29 | Selena Schmidt |
| 08/29 | Melisa S. |
Heart Beat Deadline
Next Heart Beat Deadline is Tuesday, August 21!
Attendance and Offerings for July
| July 1 | 9:15 AM Service: | 83 | Offering: | $1,827.50 | |
| Compline: | 14 | Capital Campaign: | $100.00 | ||
| Total: | 97 | Hormann Courtyard: | $500.00 | ||
| July 8 | 9:15 AM Service: | 90 | Offering: | $1,022.50 | |
| Compline: | 14 | Capital Campaign: | $100.00 | ||
| Total: | 104 | Hormann Courtyard: | $210.00 | ||
| July 15 | 9:15 AM Service: | 94 | Offering: | $1,436.50 | |
| Compline: | 17 | Capital Campaign: | $23.35 | ||
| Total: | 111 | Social Ministry: | $15.00 | ||
| Hormann Courtyard: | $1,400.00 | ||||
| July 22 | 9:15 AM Service: | 111 | Offering: | $1,827.50 | |
| Compline: | 12 | Hormann Courtyard: | $100.00 | ||
| Total: | 123 | ||||
Calendar: August 2007
- Wednesday, August 1
- 6:30 PM 8:00 O’clock Ensemble
- Sunday, August 5
- 9:15 AM Holy Communion
- 10:30 AM “Summer Sundays”
- 8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion
- 9:00 PM Compline
- Monday, August 6
- 6:00 PM Mutual Ministry/Transition Team Meeting
- Wednesday, August 8
- 10:00 AM Preschool Chapel
- 12:30 PM Finance Committee
- Saturday, August 11
- 9:00 AM In Stitches
- Sunday, August 12
- 9:15 AM Holy Communion
- 11:30 AM Lunch Bunch—Dixie Grill (Ward)
- 8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion
- 9:00 PM Compline
- Monday, August 13
- 7:00 PM Writers’ Workshop
- Tuesday, August 14
- 6:30 PM Worship & Music
- Wednesday, August 15
- 10:00 AM Preschool Chapel
- Friday, August 17—Admission (Statehood) Day Holiday—Office Closed
- 1:30 PM Prepare IHS Meals
- 5:30 PM Serve IHS Meals
- Sunday, August 19
- 8:00 AM Holy Communion
- 9:10 AM Christian Education
- 10:30 AM Choral Eucharist
- 8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion
- 9:00 PM Compline
- Tuesday, August 21
- 9:00 AM Heart Beat Deadline
- 6:00 PM Executive Committee
- 6:30 PM Council Meeting
- Wednesday, August 22
- 10:00 AM Preschool Chapel
- Saturday, August 25
- 9:00 AM In Stitches
- 6:30 PM Game Night
- Sunday, August 26
- 8:00 AM Holy Communion
- 9:10 AM Christian Education
- 10:30 AM Choral Eucharist
- 8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion
- 9:00 PM Compline
- Wednesday, August 29
- 9:00 AM Heart Beat Mailing
- 10:00 AM Preschool Chapel
- 6:30 PM 8:00 O’clock Ensemble
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