The HeartBeat

A Message from Pastor Angela

Looking Ahead to Summer

During this Easter season, I am looking ahead to summer and dreaming about opportunities for our young people to grow in faith and spend time with God. I hope that you will share the news with others and even participate in helping to make Vacation Bible School (VBS) a success here at LCH. If you’re interested in any of the information below, have questions, or want to be a part of a short-term team to get VBS off and running here, drop me a line. Last month I shared with you some preliminary info about two new big events, and below is a further explanation. These events are going to be fabulous faith formation opportunities for the children of LCH and our community. Please save the dates and contact me with questions or to sign up!

Yours on the journey,
Pastor Angela Freeman
pr.angela@lchwelcome.org

Hui Pū 2013: “Breaking new Ground”

Summer Bible Camp for Kids!

Would you like your children to have a great experience connecting with God and God’s beautiful creation? Hui Pū (meaning gather together) at Camp Mokule‘ia is something you will not want to miss! This camp for youth grades 4–12 gives participants the opportunity to experience God through nature and camping, while developing friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime. The programming includes such activities as a ropes course, beach art, night fishing, hikes, scavenger hunts, and much, much more—all while developing faith and spirituality and embracing Hawaiian culture and beauty. Youth will explore different ways of worship through music and art and friendships.

The theme for 2013 is “Breaking New Ground,” as we are beginning a new faith formational camping adventure. This kick off year, as we begin new traditions and ideas, we will offer two sessions of camp. The first session, called ‘Ōpio (meaning youth) is for students entering grades 9–12, and will be from July 5–11. The younger group, called Lōkahi (meaning unity), for students entering grades 4–8, will be a three day camp this year July 12–14.

We also have an opportunity for up to eight youth from the older group, ‘Ōpio, to become Kōkua, similar to junior counselors, for the younger session of camp. There is an application form available, and leadership training has already been planned into the programming of the ‘Ōpio camp. Kōkua will stay the entire time of camp, as participants the first week, then serving as leaders for the Lōkahi session, with more team bonding and leadership training immediately prior to the Lōkahi session.

For more information and/or an application, email or call Pastor Angela.

Vacation Bible School

Mark your calendars and make sure you tell your friends! We’re having VBS for young children here at LCH this summer! The theme is based on 2 Corinthians 5:16–20. There will be fun Bible study, worship, and other daily activities that will introduce and reinforce the daily themes. The young adult staff we are bringing in from Lutheran Outdoor Ministry is trained to make the programming age-appropriate, so your children will come away from day camp with a better understanding of the ways that God talks and listens to us.

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March Council Highlights

Council met Tuesday, March 19. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting:

• Council selected Linda Miller as the highlighted volunteer for the May newsletter.
• Approval of nominating committee’s recommendation for Mark Wong as selected candidate for Organist/Assistant Worship Director position.
• Approval of lay employee pension plan, effective as of January 1, 2013.
• Since the PV installation, system has avoided 205,043.34 lbs. of CO2, with a total yield of 132,865.86kWh.
• One in Mission Update: Still at only about 60% of total fundraising received (between pledges and actual giving). Effort to be made to revive the Campaign.
• Luther Place mortgage has been paid off—plans for a “mortgage burning party” in early or late summer.
• Member/plate giving below budget by approximately $8,000 YTD.
• New audit committee members selected. Work to begin under the leadership of Pastor Jeff and Randy Castello.
• Hörmann Courtyard Covering: Bid from Tropical J outside budget range. Researching alternate quote from KunkleWorks.

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Process Thought

Process & Poetry

The next monthly meeting of the Process Forum will meet on Saturday, April 6, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM at Lutheran Church of Honolulu. We will focus on an article from the website, “Jesus Jazz and Buddhism.” The particular article is entitled “Process and Poetry.” While highlighting poetry of Muriel Rukeyser, we will read her “Elegy of Joy” and Schiller’s “Ode to Joy” and also one of Rilke’s “Elegies.”

It may take us a couple of sessions to survey all three selections. The discussions are always great, often because of new visitors to the class. Repeat session on Sunday, April 7, at noon.

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Rev. Ruth Peterson Installation

Saturday, April 6, 1:30 PM • Pohai Nani Auditorium
45-090 Namoku St. • Kaneohe, HI 96744

Pacific Health Ministry and Good Samaritan Society Pohai Nani invite you to the Service of Installation for Rev. Ruth M. Peterson. Reception to follow. Clergy are invited to process. “Color of the day” is white.

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Food for Thought

Food for Thought will meet next on Saturday, April 6. at 6:30 PM at the home of Irmgard Hörmann, for potluck supper, video, and discussion. All are welcome. An additional get-together is scheduled for May 4. For information, please call Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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Writers’ Workshop

Writers’ Workshop will meet next on Monday, April 15, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Boardroom at LCH. Additional meeting is planned for May 20. All are welcome.

For information, please call Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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Beer and Hymns

Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 PM • REAL a gastropub
(at Ward Farmer’s Market, 1020 Auahi Street)

Beer, pub food, singing...really, it’s that simple! This simple and fun event is a great way to get to know your fellow church folk and remind us that God is everywhere and can be praised everywhere! Even in the pub! So just come on over—bring a friend if you’d like. Totally low-key but will leave you humming a happy tune!

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eARTh Day coming up April 21

Right after Easter, we’ll be asking people to sign up to share their creativity with the congregation by displaying their art. Earth Day and Faith and Arts Day will be celebrated on the same Sunday, April 21. We look forward to seeing your artistic side bloom forth. We especially welcome art that celebrates the Earth this year. Look for the sign up sheet in the courtyard.

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Exploring Boundaries and Beyond

Sunday, April 21 • 6:00–7:15 PM

Evening Prayer • 7:30–8:00 PM

LCH member John Bickel is the featured speaker on Sunday, April 21. His topic is the historical interplay between the Church and politics. John teaches several courses in the high school at ‘Iolani School: History of the Modern World, War in the 20th Century, and A.P. European History.

John writes: “As a historian, I am interested in the process of social and political change over long periods of time. From the Reformation of Martin Luther to the ordination of gays, the Church has been both the target of reform from within and the impetus for reform in society outside the Church. For this talk, I will explore how change in secular politics has affected the Christian Church and vice versa from the Renaissance to the present time.”

The evening ends with the optional service of Evening Prayer from 7:30 to 8:00 PM. This meditative service in the darkened nave includes the congregation in singing a hymn and responses. We also share a short reading from the Bible, have time for reflection and prayer, and include a special choir anthem. It is a perfect way to end a busy weekend.

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Good Gifts Benefit Concert

Thank you to everyone who attended the children’s Good Gifts Benefit Concert last month. Over $2,000 was raised that weekend for the ELCA’s program to aid families and people around the world! If you haven’t already, please consider making a pledge or donation. Checks can be written to LCH. Be sure to write “Good Gifts” on the memo line of your check. Thank you for your support!

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Spiritual Deepening

Monday, April 22 • 7:00–8:30 PM

“Lectio divina” and “contemplative prayer” are ancient spiritual disciplines that draw us deeper into our lives with God. Practicing these disciples together with a small group can not only help keep you accountable in prayer, but it can also add an invaluable dimension to your prayer life. Pastor Angela will be leading this evening of prayer and guiding the participants through the disciplines. If you have never used these practices or if you are a master, you’re welcome to gather in the Boardroom for the evening. Everyone is welcome!

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What’s New on the LCH Website?

Bill Potter, Webmaster

The most significant change to the LCH website over the last month has been to our monthly calendar of church events.

For many years we used a calendar provided (for a fee) by MyChurchEvents. While in many ways useful, there were also many drawbacks. For one thing, that calendar functioned on Midwest time, so “today” on the calendar didn’t match “today” in Honolulu after 7:00 PM (6:00 PM on daylight savings time). Another complication was the need for passwords, which made it difficult to ensure all the various church events got entered into the online calendar. The situation became even more complicated when Miguel created separate Google Calendars for use by the LCH choirs.

In February the staff decided to create a set of new calendars using Google Calendars to track worship, congregational activities, and outside rentals. These would function along side the music calendars and could be combined into one composite calendar listing everything all together. By mid-March the new calendar took the place of the old MyChurchEvents calendar on the LCH website. You can get to the calendar from links on the Home and Congregational Life pages, or just type in <www.lchwelcome.org/calendar.html>.

One advantage of the new calendar is that responsibility for maintaining different parts can be given to the person most directly responsible. Miguel maintains the music-related sub-calendars, and Sarah maintains the rest. This should make the new calendar more accurate than the old one was.

I encourage everyone to develop the habit of referring to the online calendar if you are not sure when something is scheduled or to check to see whether you told the Church Office about an event you are planning. If an event is not on the calendar, it’s not an official church event. And if you want to have some or all of the LCH events listed on your personal Google Calendar, just click on the “+ Google Calendar” icon in the lower right border of the calendar and select the sub-calendars to add to your personal calendar.

In addition to the new calendar, check out the new slideshow from the 2013 Children’s Benefit Concert and look for the Holy Week and Easter 2013 slideshow coming soon.

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LCH Volunteer of the Month for April 2013

Most folks at LCH see Jerome Vasconcellos each week, but they probably don’t know his name. Each Sunday, Jerome serves as crucifer for the 10:30 AM service and leads the morning procession of the Choir and ministers as we begin worship. Like so many liturgical duties, it seems easy, but setting just the right pace as the procession winds around the nave and surrounds the congregation with joyful singing can be a challenge. But no worries; Jerome has over 25 years experience carrying the cross of Christ in worship at LCH.

Jerome joined the congregation in worship almost 30 years ago. Early on, he became involved in Compline worship ringing bells, helping with sheet music, and substituting in the choir when needed. Additionally, he took on the role of music librarian at the request of Cantor Carl Crosier. He pulls needed music from the music collection and lays it out for choir members to pick up just prior to rehearsal. After the choir has sung the music, he collects it and returns it to the library, which is located behind the organ. He sometimes the music is not returned immediately so the process can take some time.

When not at LCH, Jerome works as a home health aid for a local company. If he does his “day job” with the same kind of humility, good humor, and joy that he brings to his volunteer work, his clients are very luck indeed. On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you, Jerome, for being such a wonderful volunteer at LCH.

Much mahalo,
LCH Council

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A Message from Pastor Jeff

Living out Easter

Each year we gather to celebrate the highest festival in the Church, the Resurrection of our Lord. In the ancient church, those who had been preparing for Baptism throughout Lent would be baptized and for the first time be admitted to the sacrament of Holy Communion. For the first time, they received God’s promise of grace through bread, wine, and fellowship in Christian Community. Testimonies of these “novices” describe the experience as “life-changing” and “illuminating.” Some found a deep and abiding hopefulness, and felt driven to lives of service and love remarkably different than their pre-baptismal habits.

These days, many of us who were baptized as adults do not have the experience of a long, and somewhat arduous, journey toward becoming a Christian like the ancients had. Yet we still have the opportunity to share the transformative power that Easter brings. Both the day and the season can lead us to an amazing renewal of our spiritual lives. The disciples are a great example. It was not until Jesus had risen that the disciples finally came to understand their call to be the Gospel—the good news—of Jesus. In his physical absence, they came to know him and love him more dearly than when he had stood next to them. Easter was not an event that happened, and was then forgotten. Easter became the definition and inspiration of their daily living.

In the same way, as long as we treat Easter as little more than the best holiday of the liturgical season, we will miss out on our own baptismal transformation. Easter beckons us back to God and back to each other. To live Easter is to seek where love may best be shared, and pour it out in the best way we can in a thirsty world. To live Easter is to refuse to be defined by death and to be refined by life.

As we celebrate this highest festival of the church, I pray it will be the highest festival of our spiritual lives as well—that we may be found by God, and by each other, and celebrate God’s grace with every breath.

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

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We Celebrate and Honor Kathy Crosier

Date: Sunday, April 14, 2013
When: 12 noon–2:30 PM
What: Catered luncheon and program

The entire congregation is invited to join in a gala fete to celebrate the ministry of Kathy Crosier. Kathy served as our organist for 35 years, stepping down from the organ bench on Christmas Day, December 25, 2012.

35 years translates to roughly 1680 regular 10:30 AM services, each with prelude and postludes. Add in the anthems, psalms, gospel acclamations, communion interludes, and 6700 hymns. Add in 1680 mid-week choir rehearsals. Add in all the extra rehearsals and special services (Holy Week, Advent, Vespers, concerts). Add in all the 8:00 AM services. Add in practice time. Add in time spent arranging, copying music (fine calligraphy is one of Kathy’s gifts), picking hymns, composing hymn introductions....

Kathy’s computer skills and graphic artistry, particularly page layout, have been another major contribution to our life at LCH. She designed many, many programs for music events. Particular mention must be made of the monumental program booklets for the St. Matthew and St. John Passions and the B-minor Mass. But she also did page layout for For Beer and the Bible, the centennial history of LCH; as well as the layout for The HeartBeat, the church’s monthly newsletter; and all the publications for the 2004–2006 Capital Campaign. Kathy also spent many hours with the In Stitches crafts group, completing seven different needlepoint cushions that can be found on pews around the nave. These include cushions for the St. John Passion, the St. Matthew Passion, and one to honor J.S. Bach!!

There is much more to know about the scope of Kathy’s ministry and activities at LCH. You can seek additional information on her blog “Another Year of Inanity” or on the church’s website at <www.lchwelcome.org/music/kathy.html>.

Kathy continues to give organ lessons on our von Beckerath organ. A gift calabash will be available for anyone who wishes to make a contribution in honor of Kathy. All donations will be given to the American Guild of Organists Hawaii Chapter to support scholarships for organ students. Makes your checks payable to LCH with a note on the memo line “Crosier scholarships.”

Save Sunday, April 14, on your calendars to honor this amazing woman and her contributions to LCH and our community. There will be a lovely catered luncheon (we’re all off the hook—no potluck!!), plenty of fellowship with Kathy and Carl, and an enjoyable short program.

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Have information to Share?

If you have news or information you would like to share with the LCH community in our weekly announcements, please send your submissions to Sarah in the church office <lch@lchwelcome.org>. Please send a fully written announcement by Wednesday at noon for the coming Sunday’s announcements. Thank you for your active involvement and support in the LCH ministry!

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Office Hours

Just a reminder that the LCH office hours are from 9:00 to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. The office is closed on the weekends. If you need to contact someone regarding church business over the weekend, please contact the appropriate ministry or committee leader. Voicemail will be checked when the office opens Monday morning. Thank you for your cooperation!

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Attendance and Offerings for Sunday, March 31, 2013, were not available at time of publication.

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Prayer Requests

Alicia	Elaine	Lani
Amy	Eric	Maggie
Carl	Gene	Stephen
Chris	George	Susan
Debbie	Karen	Trinity

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April Birthdays

Date	Name
04/02	Brent Buckley
04/04	Marisa Castello
04/07	Dr. Carl Watanabe
04/08	Azure S.
04/09	Thomas Motooka
04/12	Eric Doescher
04/12	Eric Ogawa
04/13	Larry Nitz
04/15	Peter Flachsbart
04/15	Darel Stark
04/17	Carol Langner
04/17	Joseph Pearson
04/19	April Smith
04/26	Anna Womack
04/29	Mitchell G.
04/29	Sarah Roseberg
04/30	Vicki Gorman

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HeartBeat Deadline

Next HeartBeat Deadline is Tuesday, April 16!

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