The HeartBeat

A Message from Pastor Jeff

Looking Back, Looking Forward

End of the year newsletter articles are often filled with nostalgic memories about all the great and not so great things that happened during the previous year. Looking back is a very satisfying experience for those who have had a good year, but is painful for those who have suffered tragedy. For most of us, though, the year always turns about to be a mixed bag called life. So here goes...

Looking Back

LCH began this year knowing that it would be one of tremendous transition. Carl Crosier, our cantor of thirty-eight years announced his retirement effective September 2011. It was a banner year for our worship and concert ministries as we undertook several major projects, including Bach’s B Minor Mass. Carl’s last service, featuring the Lord Nelson Mass by Haydn, was a tribute to the gifts God has given him and the congregation for making great music.

Early in the year, momentum was beginning to grow to do even more with our life together as a congregation. By Easter, teams and taskforces had begun wrapping up their work on staffing, coming to the conclusion that the congregation should consider calling an associate pastor.

In May, the congregation took a huge leap by voting to establish a Mission Campaign to help fund three major initiatives: calling an associate pastor for an initial two year term, resurfacing the parking lot adjacent to the church building, and covering the Hörmann Courtyard with an all-weather cover. A goal of $250,000 was established to move us forward on these initiatives. As I write, concrete trucks are pouring a new parking lot, and the call committee is near completing its work in selecting a candidate for the associate pastor position.

Another exciting addition to our ministry is the call of Dr. Miguel Felipe to the staff as Director of music and liturgy. In addition to bringing the same kind of excellence and attention to detail, which has always been a part of this ministry, Miguel also brings his own unique style rooted in a deep desire to make fabulous music as worship. He is a truly wonderful addition to the ministry at LCH. Which brings us to the future...

Looking Forward

One of the first things Miguel asked when he came on staff was, “Where does the congregation want to head?” We talked about the rich history of worship and how important it is to honor that legacy while at the same time asking, “What is God calling us to now?” Miguel brings the eyes and ears of a younger generation of Christians and looks forward to working with the congregation and leaders to “listen and sing” in some exciting new ways. As we look forward we will do well to give our full support to Miguel as he works with the worship team and myself to reach another generation.

Sooner than expected, we may be looking forward to new and continuing ministries led by a new associate pastor as the Call Committee expects to make a recommendation to the council in early January! This is truly an exciting time in the life of the congregation.

Another project we can eagerly anticipate is moving forward with the covering of the Hörmann Courtyard. This will increase our useable space by nearly one thousand square feet. The design team for this project will be assembled in early January.

Most of all, we continue to look forward to praising and serving God. The rest of the projects, initiatives, and fundraisers really don’t mean a thing if we are not doing the work God calls us to—attending to our worship life and spiritual formation and sharing the word of God with our neighbors. It can be tempting to get caught up in building projects and neglect our core values of worship, service, welcome, and Word. As I look forward, I am excited to see a horizon filled with many possibilities that God has laid out before us and am looking forward to the journey in God’s 2012.

Blessings,
Pastor Jeff Lilley
pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org

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December Council Highlights

Council met Tuesday, December 20. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting:

• Goodbye to outgoing Council members. Mahalo for your service!
• Call Committee Update: Skype interviews completed for four candidates. Two candidates remain for committee consideration at January 9 meeting.
• Parking Lot Taskforce update: construction underway! Due to be completed by close of the week.
• Expenses have remained low for the period.
• Since the PV installation, system has avoided 49,786.04 kg of CO2, with a total yield of 71,122.91 kWh.
• 2012 Budget reviewed and and ready for presentation at Second Half Congregational Meeting on January 28.
• Administrator’s Report: Punahou parking rental income remains below expected levels for the year.

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Year-End Giving

Thank you for your wonderful stewardship and giving this year! Our ministry grows and thrives because of God’s gifts and your generosity of time, talents, and treasure. As you consider your year-end gifts to the ministry at LCH, please remember that gifts must be received in the office by December 29 (since the office will be closed December 30) or postmarked no later than December 31, 2011 to be eligible for tax-deductibility. Mahalo!

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Second Half Congregational Meeting

The Second half of the Annual meeting will be held Saturday, January 28, at 5:00 PM. We will receive reports and approve the 2012 Budget.

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In Stitches

In Stitches will restart the new year with meetings on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at 9:00 AM in the Boardroom. The next few meetings are January 14 and 28, February 11 and 25, and March 10 and 24.

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Adult Forum

Beginning January 8 and continuing through February 22, Dr. Miller will begin his practical and informative forum, “Living The ‘Good’ Life? Levels of Morality in Children and Adults.” Join in the discussion each Sunday from 9:20 to 10:20 AM in the Boardroom. Materials will be available before the sessions at the LCH website on a link from the Adult Education/Small Groups page.

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Writers’ Workshop

Writers’ Workshop will hold its first meeting of 2012 on Monday, January 23, 7:00–8:30 PM in the Boardroom at LCH.

All are welcome. For information, please contact Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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Save the Date! Youth Fundraiser

February 3 and 4, 2012

Each year the youth group requests your help with their Punahou Carnival Parking fundraiser. This year the carnival takes place on Friday, February 3, and Saturday, February 4.

We will need adult volunteers for three-hour shifts during the carnival on Friday and Saturday. Event coordinators provide snacks and drinks, flashlights and safety vests. You provide the fellowship! Sign-up sheets will be available in the Hörmann Courtyard in January.

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RIC Sunday 2012

Annually, the last Sunday in January is designated by the ecumenical welcoming community as “Welcoming Sunday.” On this day, worshippers are encouraged to join other welcoming congregations from various denominations in celebrating the witness to God’s love for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Please join us for RIC Sunday on January 29, 2012 as we live out our LCH mission statement of

Welcoming to all
worshipping, growing, serving
Christ’s community

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What’s New on the LCH Website?

Bill Potter, Webmaster

The month of December ended up with a flurry of excitement with renovation of the back parking lot during the week leading up to Christmas. Thanks to pictures provided by Pastor Jeff, daily updates on this work were provided on the Congregational Life page, with additional pictures on the LCH Facebook page.

I also worked with Fred Benco and Josie Bidgood of the m1ssion campaign committee to create a group of pages to document progress in both pledges towards the campaign and work on each of the three projects.

Finally, as we have for the last several years, we have a slideshow with photos documenting Christmas 2011 at LCH. There you will find pictures of members decorating the church and all the different activities of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

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Prayer Requests

Barbie	Judy	Ruth
Carl	Karen	Ryan
Cindy	Katy	Sally
Debbie	Kristin	Stephen
Gene	Maggie	Susan
Gus	Pat	Ulrike

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January Birthdays

Date	Name
01/01	Biz Person
01/03	Jeanne Castello
01/05	Fred Benco
01/06	Angie Niermann
01/06	Matthew S.
01/12	Allen Bauchle
01/12	Mary Kubota
01/12	Michael Okikawa
01/15	Dennis Rike
01/17	Palmyra Hethcote
01/20	Robert Raasch
01/22	Chuck Huxel
01/23	Jim Niermann
01/29	Annelore Yakabi

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HeartBeat Deadline

Next HeartBeat Deadline is Tuesday, January 17!

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Heavenly Humor

God’s kids say the funniest things

When St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Houma, LA, burned down, a parent explained to her young daughter, “Our church was the oldest church in Houma.” The ultimate optimist, the girl replied, “And now we’ll have the newest church in Houma!”

—Columnist Smiley Anders
Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate

“On the first day of Sunday school, a five-year-old boy handed his teacher a note from his mother. It read, ‘The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents.’”

—via George Goldtrap
Ormond-by-the-Sea, FL

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