The HeartBeat

A Message from Pastor Jeff

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Amidst brass, singing, and joyful acclamations, the people of God celebrate Christ’s victory over death on Easter morning. In some ways the Easter celebration is a welcome relief from the somber worship that precedes it. From Palm/Passion Sunday through the darkness of Easter Vigil, sorrow upon sorrow cascades upon those who walk the journey of Lent. But as Easter dawns, we hear the good news that Jesus has risen, just as he promised. Easter is, in so many ways, about God keeping God’s promises. Noah and his family are promised that God will never destroy the earth by flood—God keeps that promise. Abraham is promised a God, land, and decedents. Through Moses God’s people are promised freedom from Pharaoh and a homeland. Jacob wrestles and God’s promise is revealed. Throughout history God has promised to abide with us, and through the death and resurrection Jesus, God keeps that promise again.

The writer of the Gospel of John describes this ongoing promise this way: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The enfleshed Word still abides with us, and that is why we can celebrate again and again! Jesus promised to be with us, send us the advocate, and live with and through us in the Holy Spirit. Those who once gathered at Jesus’ feet to hear him speak are now his body in the world. St. Paul reminds us that the body is not static and immovable but sent (apostles) and dynamically involved in the world. Wouldn’t Jesus be disappointed to find out that the Body of Christ he left to transform the world had chosen to crawl back into a safe little tomb? When we refuse to engage the world, society, and difficult issues, we crawl back into the tomb.

When we pretend that the world is not changing and that everything will be OK if we just keep doing things the way we have always done them, we choose the tomb. When we refuse to stand up for justice and sustainability, turn a blind eye to the poor, insist on our own way, and create churches that are closed and insular, we crawl back into the tomb to die a quiet peaceful death.

In Christ’s resurrection and ascension we are called to live. How will we live? This is the exciting question with which we as Christians and congregations must fully engage. “How will we live in a post resurrection world where God is still keeping God’s promises but much of the world is not interested?” How will the church be a voice of the living God and not the drone of a dying polity. How can we remain faithful to God’s promises, live out the command to love one another, care for the planet for which we are stewards, and share the Good News of Jesus Christ?

The task seems overwhelming until we remember that we are a small part of a very large Body. It seems daunting and hopeless until we remember that God abides with us even now. The goals seem unreachable and impossible until we remember that love is never impossible—just hard to come by sometimes.

The trumpets and choirs have announced that Jesus is risen from the dead. Banners have flown, and Easter lilies grace the altar. The word has become flesh, has become us. Promise kept. Alleluia!

Pastor Jeff Lilley
pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org

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OYEA News

Bowling Bash a HUGE Success

Oahu Youth Education and Activities, the ELCA Youth group here on Oahu, had a wonderful time at the Bowling Bash held at Kaneohe Marine Base on February 29th. Over 80 ELCA youth and their friends came for the overnight event that began at 10:00 pm and ended the next morning at 7:00 am. The kids bowled, played games, worshipped, and thoroughly enjoyed one another. The event helped strengthen bonds among the young people and allowed their friends to see what a great organization OYEA is. Thank you, Adam Burke, for organizing this event.

Hike up Nuuanu-Judd trail

OYEA also sponsored a hike up Nuuanu-Judd trail on March 15. Participants met at Lutheran Church of Honolulu and hiked the trail from noon until 4:00 pm. The hike was led by Ian Coulter and our own Jimmy Castro.

BIG CARWASH

Our Junior and Senior High students joined six other Oahu churches for a MEGA carwash on March 29th. Seven churches participated at two locations!!

@ Calvary by the Sea (Calvary, LCH, Chinese Lutheran, St. John)

@ Maluhia (Maluhia, Christ, Joy of Christ)

This event raised funds to send our youth to the summer camp at Erdman in June. The money will be distributed proportionally to the participation of each church’s youth.

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We almost have enough money for the Ark!

We have money and pledges for more than $4,000. Remember we need $5,000 to purchase an Ark from Heifer International. We need your help to go over the top. We will be calling a few people who have pledged and not gotten the money to us yet. But please, if you have been meaning to give, put your check in the offering plate. Make it out to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, with a note that it is for the Ark Project. Thank you for being such good and generous example for the children of the congregation.

Angel Network Ingathering on April 6

Lutheran Church of Honolulu invites you to serve your neighbor by bringing canned goods and sample-sized personal care items on the first Sunday of every month. Angel Network, located at Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church, serves homeless individuals and families with emergency food and care. Favorite items are: Dinty Moore Stew, tuna, Spam, and canned beans. Items may be deposited in the green grocery basket located in the courtyard. Mahalo!

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Leadership Roundtable

On Sunday, April 6 (and the first Sunday of every month), at 11:45 am, the chairperson or another representative of each committee will meet in the Board Room with Pastor Jeff Lilley and Church Council President Brian Weis. This is to enhance communications between all committees. See you all there!

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In Stitches

In Stitches meets the second and fourth Saturday of the month from 9:00 to 11:00 am in the Board Room. Meetings between now and summer are April 12 and 26 and May 10 and 24. Come work on your own projects, or a pew pillow or lei for the church. Contact Linda Miller through the Church Office (941-2566) for more information.

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Hukilau Spring Assembly

You are cordially invited to attend the Hukilau Conference Spring Assembly at Pohai Nani Retirement Center in Kaneohe on Saturday, April 12, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. The Assembly is our yearly chance to gather with our brothers and sisters from other ELCA congregations in Hawaii. Members and clergy from the neighbor islands fly here to bring greetings and to get to know us as part of our ongoing commitment to ministry together. The agenda includes greeting from Assistant to Bishop Finck, Rich Ajer, worship, some business, and a discussion panel on “Caring for our Kupuna.” If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Administrator Coleen Howard in the LCH church office at 941-2566. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend!

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Process Thought Forum

The Process Thought Forum will meet on April 12, the second Saturday of the month, at 9:30 am in Isenberg Hall. The discussion will be based on an article by Philip Clayton, “Biology Meets Theology.” You can download the article at <www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1966>. One can expect that issues related to evolution will be a part of the discussion led by Fritz Fritschel. A repeat session will be held on Sunday, April 13 about noon.

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Mary Magdalene Society

The Mary Magdalene Society will meet on Saturday, April 12, at 6:00 pm. This month’s meeting is a movie night at the home of Roy Helms in Foster Village. We begin with a potluck (bring your favorite dish), followed by a short business meeting and then the movies. As a Reconciling Christ congregation, Mary Magdalene is our outreach to the GLBT community; however, all are welcome to attend. Please bring a friend.

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Lunch Bunch

Lunch Bunch meets on Sunday, April 13 (the second Sunday of every month). Everyone will gather in the Hörmann Courtyard at 12:00 noon, then decide where to go and have lunch. Please join us for this fun-filled fellowship!

For more information, see Stephanie Miller.

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Food for Thought

Food for Thought will meet for their next potluck supper and discussion at the home of Irmgard Hörmann on Saturday, April 19, at 6:00 pm. All are welcome. For directions or information, please contact Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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The Braeded Chord —

A weekend of contemporary music at LCH

Mark your calendars now for the visit to LCH by the acoustic folk duo, The Braeded Chord, April 18-20. Sharon Dennis and Doris Au MacDonald could be your typical Virginia suburban mom music duo— their kids were in the same class, they lived in the same neighborhood, and they played together in a church worship band. But they draw on their diverse backgrounds to produce a sound that is both unique and universal, appealing to all generations. Sharon, a former petroleum engineer, is a gifted lyricist who grew up playing guitar, studying French, writing poetry, and excelling in math and sports. While Sharon comes from Alexandria, VA, Doris (Kathy Crosier’s sister) is from California and grew up singing in numerous ensembles and choirs, studying the piano, living and traveling abroad, and preparing to be an elementary school teacher. Together they create songs that draw from multiple genres and are noted for their thought-provoking lyrics, strong melodic lines, and frequent interjections of musical humor. In addition to managing busy family households and numerous concert gigs, The Braeded Chord are the parish musicians at Church of the Word, an Episcopal church in Gainesville, VA. Visit them at <www.thebraededchord.com> or listen to their music at <cdbaby.com/cd/braededchord2>.

The weekend’s events will include:

• Friday, April 18, 6:30 pm. “Coffeehouse in the Courtyard”—potluck dinner and music. An evening of faith, fellowship and song.
• Saturday, April 19, 9:00 am to 11:30 am. “Worship Team Boot Camp” for all 8:00 am worshippers and ensemble members. All are invited to learn a new communion liturgy The Braeded Chord has written for LCH as well as other contemporary liturgical music.
• Sunday, April 20, 8:00 am. The Braeded Chord will lead the music at the 8:00 am worship service.

The duo recently received their second WAMMIE (Washington Area Musicians Association Award) for Best Gospel/Inspirational Recording for 2007. In 2006 they won the WAMMIE for Best Gospel/Inspirational Group. The WAMMIES (the equivalent of the Grammys or Hoku Awards) first began 22 years ago, with the first awards going to such notables as Emmylou Harris, Chuck Brown, Marvin Gaye, Patsy Cline, and Duke Ellington. “This is indeed a great honor to be recognized by our fellow musicians,” says Doris Au MacDonald, keyboardist of The Braeded Chord. “We were surrounded by all of these great musicians, and we couldn’t believe it when they called our names!”

Steve Morley, Freelance Music Journalist, (College Grove, TN) writes, “The songs themselves are soundly constructed, solidly played and the vocal performances sincere and touching. In an age when pop music often clamors loudly for attention in a glutted marketplace, these two young women take the risk of quietly inviting you in for homemade soup and humbly hoping you’ll accept.”

Instrumentation: Sharon Dennis—singer/songwriter, guitar, mandolin, banjo. Doris Au MacDonald—singer/songwriter, keyboard, piano, violin, tinwhistle.

Poster (PDF)

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Game Night

You are invited to Game Night on Saturday, April 26 (the fourth Saturdays of every month), at 6:30 pm. It’s a potluck at Stephanie Miller’s home, so bring a dish of your choice, and your favorite game! Would love to see you there. It’ll be great fun.

For directions to Steff’s home or for more information, call 941-2566.

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Second Annual Young Organist Concert

Saturday, April 26, 7:00 pm

In a time when many churches have an increasingly difficult times filling their organist positions, it is indeed remarkable that there is intense interest in the organ at LCH, especially by children. All are invited to the Second Annual Young Organist Concert on Saturday, April 26th, at 7:00 pm, when many of Kathy Crosier’s students will perform on the 1975 Beckerath organ. Students performing include Nathalie J. and Jordan M. of LCH, Christopher L. (who has played on the last two Heifer Concerts), and perennial favorite, Joey F. Come support these young students in their pursuit of the King of Instruments. A freewill offering will benefit the Organ Scholarship program of the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists.

Poster (PDF)

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Writers’ Workshop

Writers’ Workshop will have their fifth meeting of the year on Monday, April 28, 7:00-8:30 pm in the Board Room (or the Rainbow Room) at LCH. For information, please contact Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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What’s New on the LCH Website?

Bill Potter, Webmaster

Check out the slideshow of pictures from our Holy Week and Easter celebrations. You can get to the slideshow via a link from the Congregational Life page. It’s at the bottom of the stories about the Seder meal on Palm Sunday and our Easter festivities. Thanks to Francisco Barajas, Seth L., and Stephen Schmidt for taking pictures for the slideshow

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Council Highlights—March 18, 2008

Council initiatives. The Council will focus on three initiatives this year. They are: Leadership, Outreach that is genuinely welcoming, and Mission-driven property development.

• During the March meeting, the Council members examined traits of leadership and talked about ways to find and mentor new leaders and rejuvenate people who currently are in leadership positions.
• On April 13, Jim Sullivan will conduct a sustainability seminar for the Council and other church leaders. This will tie into the mission-driven property development initiative.

Treasurer’s report. For the first two months of the year, the Treasurer’s Report shows a deficit of $1,848.23. Based on the seasonality of offerings, the current financial situation looks promising for 2008.

Council officers. Stephen Miller will serve as assistant treasurer and Larry Nitz as vice-president for the 2008 calendar year.

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Katy Grindberg Ordained

Katy Grindberg, intern pastor at Lutheran Church of Honolulu during 2004-05, was ordained as an ELCA pastor on Saturday, February 23, 2008. The ordination took place at a worship service held at Chapel of the Cross, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, in Berkeley, CA. Professor Michael Aune presided, Bishop David Mullen (Sierra Pacific Synod) ordained Katy, and Pastor Jeff Lilley preached at the Eucharist.

In addition to Pastor Jeff and Jean Lilley, Jimmy and Olivia Castro and Austin Buckley represented LCH at the ordination. During the service, Katy was presented with a new stole—a sign of the office of pastor—by Jimmy and Olivia Castro, Katy’s father, Alan, and her brother, Hugh. The stole was designed by Randy Castello and fabricated by Terry Hiller. The design depicts ‘ohia flowers rising from a volcano into a dawn sky. The ‘ohia is often the first tree that grows through a lava flow and is a sign of hope and rebirth.

Katy has been call as associate pastor of Advent Lutheran Church, Citrus Heights, CA.

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Pastor Jeff as the Liturgy of the Palms is about to begin.

The Palm Sunday Procession.

The Passion Gospel

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

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OYEA Beach Clean Up & Barbecue

On Saturday, April 19, Maluhia Lutheran Church will host a Beach Clean-up & Barbecue at Pokai Bay Beach Park from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Please be there early so that we can start on time! OYEA has arranged for B-E-A-C-H (Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii) to provide a 15-minute chat on the value of Hawaii’s coastlines and our role in protecting them. Then, we will break up into teams and collect trash across the beach park for one hour. The City & County is providing trash bags and gloves free of charge, so all you need to do is show up! Everyone should wear a blue T-shirt so that we can identify our folks around the beach park. After the clean-up, we will have an ono B-B-Q on the beach, and then we’ll play some fun games and swim in the calm and safe bay. For more information on Pokai Bay Beach Park, visit <www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/pokai_bay_beach_park.htm>. The park is at 85-037 Waianae Valley Road in Waianae.

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Massive Banner Painting

On Saturday, April 26, Chinese Lutheran Church will host Massive Banner Painting with professional artist Mark Norseth (St. John) from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. First, we will all watch the movie Faith Like Potatoes, a South African film that explores growing one’s faith. Then, we will paint several MASSIVE Banners to encourage Christian youth groups in Klerksdorp, South Africa! The banners will be mailed to Tertius Nieuwoudt, a South African missionary who visited OYEA in January 2008. He works closely with several church youth groups and is the founder of CHIL Ministries. OYEA will provide the materials. You bring the creativity!

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Keep in Your Prayers...

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April Birthdays

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Heart Beat Deadline

Next Heart Beat Deadline is Tuesday, April 22!

Attendance and Offerings for March

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Heavenly Humor

“On an Easter Sunday, our late pastor, Jack Mitchell, was waiting with the choir to process into the sanctuary. The narthex was packed with chairs.

“Jack took one look at the large crowd and commented to us in the choir that we should make sure our ‘Hallelujah’s’ didn’t sound like ‘Hardly knew ya’s.’”

—Dottie Kennedy, First Presbyterian Church, Dearborn, MI

The aunt of a visiting four-year-old girl took the child to church and gave her the weekly envelope to put in the offering plate. Her niece looked at the envelope, leaned over and said to her aunt, “I think they want cash!”

—via Rev. Karl R. Kraft, Mantua, NJ

“I attended an Easter dinner with friends of various religious backgrounds. Three were Disciples of Christ, one was a Baptist, I’m a Roman Catholic, and another guest was Jewish.

“Our hostess said grace before our meal and ended it with the words, ‘In Christ’s name we pray.’ She quickly apologized to her Jewish guest for using the Christian ending to her prayer.

“‘That’s okay,’ her Jewish guest replied. ‘He was one of our boys.’”

—Joseph Basehart, Centennial, CO

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Calendar: April 2008

Wednesday, April 2

6:30 PM Joint Confirmation—Calvary by the Sea

Thursday, April 3

10:00 AM Preschool Chapel

7:00 PM LCH Choir Rehearsal

Sunday, April 6—Angel Network Ingathering

8:00 AM Holy Communion

9:10 AM Christian Education

10:30 AM Choral Eucharist

11:45 AM Leadership Roundtable

12:00 noon Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting

8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion

9:00 PM Compline

Monday, April 7

6:00 PM Mutual Ministry/Transition Team Meeting

Tuesday, April 8

6:30 PM Worship & Music

Wednesday, April 9

12:30 PM Finance Committee Meeting

6:30 PM 8:00 O’Clock Ensemble

6:30 PM Joint Confirmation—Calvary by the Sea

Thursday, April 10

10:00 AM Preschool Chapel

5:30 PM Communication Group

7:00 PM LCH Choir Rehearsal

Saturday, April 12

9:00 AM Hukilau Spring Assembly

9:00 AM In Stitches

9:30 AM Process Theology Forum

6:00 PM Mary Magdalene Society

Sunday, April 13

8:00 AM Holy Communion

9:10 AM Christian Education

10:30 AM Choral Eucharist

12:00 noon Process Theology Forum

12:00 noon Lunch Bunch

12:30 PM Sustainability Workshop

4:30 PM Joint Confirmation—Maluhia

8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion

9:00 PM Compline

Monday, April 14

6:00 PM Aloha Jam

7:00 PM Writers’ Workshop

Tuesday, April 15

6:00 PM Executive Committee

6:30 PM Council Meeting

Thursday, April 17

10:00 AM Preschool Chapel

7:00 PM LCH Choir Rehearsal

Friday, April 18

1:00 PM Prepare IHS Meals

5:30 PM Serve IHS Meals

6:30 PM Coffeehouse Concert/Potluck

Saturday, April 19

9:00 AM Worship Team Boot Camp Workshop

2:00 PM OYEA Beach Clean-up

Sunday, April 20—Earth Day Sunday

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, April 22

9:00 AM Heart Beat Deadline

Wednesday, April 23

6:30 PM Joint Confirmation—Calvary by the Sea

Thursday, April 24

10:00 AM Preschool Chapel

7:00 PM LCH Choir Rehearsal

Saturday, April 26

9:00 AM In Stitches

5:00 PM OYEA Banner Painting

6:30 PM Game Night

7:00 PM The Young Organist

Sunday, April 27

8:00 AM Holy Communion

9:10 AM Christian Education

10:30 AM Choral Eucharist

11:45 AM Dedication of the Board Room

8:30 PM Pre-Compline Discussion

9:00 PM Compline

Wednesday, April 30

9:00 AM Heart Beat Mailing

6:30 PM 8:00 O’Clock Ensemble

6:30 PM Joint Confirmation—Calvary by the Sea

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Enclosure: Thanks from Kokua Kalihi Valley

Our recent Advent/Christmas offering, fasting & feasting, was given to Kokua Kalihi Valley and earmarked for medical care for Pacific Islander immigrants. Copies of the thank you letter were included with The HeartBeat.

Enclosure: Blessed to Build Two Blessings (B2B2B)

Blessed to Build Two Blessings
A Journey in Faith with the ELCA Pacifica Synod

Our Pacifica Synod is on an exciting journey this year, and it’s called “Blessed to Build Two Blessings” (B2B2B).

The first steps on that journey took place on March 1, when our Pacifica Synod office moved into the new Center for Mission & Learning (CFML) with offices, classrooms and meeting areas, worship spaces, a labyrinth for meditation, and advanced communication technology. This last innovation will be especially beneficial to Hukilau congregations because it includes a satellite uplink located in Hawaii that will enhance our contact with the Synod and reduce the need for costly travel to California.

More exciting than just new office space is the B2B2B campaign that will set our Synod finances on a sound foundation for years to come. The campaign will raise $1 million from across the Synod to complete the payments for the CFML and create an Endowment Fund to provide for future expenses with the interest earned. With rent and building upkeep eliminated from the Synod budget, the tithes from LCH and other congregations can be dedicated to mission and learning.

The most exciting part of this B2B2B journey is the commitment to tithe the first 10% raised to our companion synod, the South West Synod of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). The EECMY is said to be the fastest growing Lutheran Church in the world, with 22 synods, and the South West Synod has 775 congregations but only 77 ordained pastors. With so few pastors, the South West Synod has asked for our help to build a facility to house and train lay evangelists to minister to their people. Our tithe can build a guest house and fund training for years to come. What a blessing for both the South West Synod and our own Pacifica Synod!

Working with our sisters and brothers across the Pacifica Synod, we can be “Blessed to Build Two Blessings.”

Please prayerfully consider how your contribution will impact your Lutheran sisters and brothers in Hawaii, California, and all the way to Ethiopia! We encourage you to send your check in now or bring it the next time you come to church.

The Synod will record the names of everyone who gives to B2B2B on the Wall of Thanksgiving in the CFML, and all the names will be listed in a booklet for the South West Synod, so please make sure you mark your contribution clearly with your name and “B2B2B.”

Further details (including pictures from the South West Synod, drawings of the guest house, and the floor plan of the CFLM) are available on the LCH website <www.lchwelcome.org/life/2008/b2b2b.html>.

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