Congregational Life at LCH—January, February, and March 2011

Lenten Wednesday Evenings

Again this year, many from LCH are observing Lent through our Wednesday Evening gatherings. Several dozen gathered on March 23 for fellowship and supper with homemade soup, salad, and bread. The rain threatened a bit, but there was plenty room under the eves of Hörmann Courtyard for tables, and everyone kept dry.

Following supper, the group moved into the Nave for Holden Evening Prayer, with sung responses, psalms, and canticle. This year, scripture lessons and homilies focus on a variety of prayers from the Bible.

The evening concludes with a book study based on Praying for Friends and Enemies. Copies are available for purchase at worship on Sundays.

Lenten Wednesday Evenings continue through April 13, and all are welcome to attend at no charge.

At left, the two cantors lead the congregation singing of the Magnificat during Holden Evening Prayer.

Another Friday at IHS

March 18 was the third Friday of the month, so the LCH crew was at IHS (the Institute for Human Services, Honolulu’s homeless shelter) for the regular month meal. The afternoon crew prepared the meatloaf and vegetables, and the serving crew showed up 5:30 to fix the salad and get everything ready for the guests. Again this month, Audrey Keller brought her ‘ono coleslaw dressing, so the meal was particularly good.

At right, the crew is beginning to serve up the first few trays. This month’s volunteers included (left to right), Jimmy Castro serving the rice, Audrey Keller with the cole slaw, Rudy Riingen dishing out the meatloaf, Mary Jo Estes with the hot vegetables, Marjan Lynch preparing to hand out trays, and Billie Jean Ries (just out of the picture) doing fruit and bread. Bill Potter (who took the picture) added dessert and forks, and Peggy Anderson arrived later to help handing out trays.

Everyone is welcome to join in this monthly event. In addition to the fun of cooking and serving, volunteers enjoy great fellowship and get a delicious meatloaf dinner once the guests have been served. Speak to Jimmy Castro for more information.

Fill the Ark VII

For the seventh year in a row, the children of LCH showcased their talents in a benefit concert to raise $5,000 for an ark of animals through Heifer International. This year’s concert included the performances on violin, cello, flute, piano, and organ; jazz dance and hula, recitation, and songs.

A large crowd of family and friends responded with lots of enthusiastic applause as well as a calabash full of contributions. Even if you could not attend the concert, please consider a donation of $40 ($1 a day for Lent) towards this worthy cause.

At left, the F.R.O.G.S. Chorus and Chamber Orchestra sing at the beginning of the concert.

Additional photos are available in the 2011 Benefit Concert slideshow.

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Lent Begins with Ash Wednesday

LCH begin the observance of Lent with the traditional Ash Wednesday Liturgy with imposition of ashes. At right, Pastor Jeff Lilley marks parishioners’ foreheads with the sign of the cross.

Throughout the Lent, members will gather on Wednesday evenings for soup and salad supper at 6:00 PM, followed by Holden Evening Prayer at 7:00 and book study at 7:30 PM. The focus this year is on prayer, using the book Praying for Friends and Enemies. Copies of the book are available Sunday mornings for $10, and all are welcome.

Darth Vadar Helps with Lenten Preparations

Pastor Jeff Lilley was in for a surprise when he called the children forward for the Children’s Conversation during the first service on Transfiguration Sunday, March 6. There was only one child, and he had come to worship in his Darth Vadar costume.

Undeterred, Pastor Jeff went ahead with his talk about getting ready for Lent and giving up our Alleluias until Easter. So, as you can see at the picture on the left, there they were with Pastor Jeff on one end and Darth Vadar and his mother on the other holding the large Alleluia banner as they prepared to hide it away for all the weeks of Lent.

Newest Members Welcomed in Baptism

The congregation joyfully welcomed two new members on February 27 as Amanda and Michael Lippert brought their children for baptism.

Family and friends gathered around the baptismal font as sponsors presented the brother and sister and the parents held them for the pouring of water in the name of the the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

At right, Michael Lippert holds his son as Pastor Jeff pours water over his head.

Additional photos from the baptisms are available on the LCH Facebook page.

Bach Vespers for Epiphany

Because Ash Wednesday comes so late this year, LCH’s series of Bach Vesper services featured a cantata for the Epiphany season on February 20. This service also was the occasion for the last Bach cantata Carl Crosier would conduct as cantor.

In addition to Cantata 111 Was mein Gott will, das g’scheh allzeit (What my God wills, may it always be), the service included the Magnificat attributed to Buxtehude, Tron der Liebe, Stern de Güte (throne of love, star of goodness) by Peter Cornelius as the offertory, and organ works by Bach and Pachelbel.

At left, the choir and orchestra performing the opening chorus of Cantata 111.

Additional photos from the Vespers are available on the LCH Facebook page.

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Care Package for Afghanistan

Gunnery Sergeant Stephen Schmidt, former LCH member, is deployed again with his Marine unit, this time in Afghanistan. Stephen has asked Pastor Steve Jensen and the folks of LCH for some supplies to help his troops get through this deployment. Here is what they would like (with Stephen’s comments in parentheses):

• Anything homemade (Stephen made a special request for homemade guava jelly: “If it would survive the trip, I think I’d just about be in heaven. Otherwise, the usual cookies, brownies, etc. go over great with everyone, and we all share.”)
• Hand sanitizer and baby/face wipes (“Probably the top two items of want/need.”)
• Little single drink mix packets you can pour in bottled water (“A big hit, especially when it starts warming up.”)
• Books/puzzle magazines (“They give Marines something to do during down times.”)
• Air fresheners (“No matter how many showers you take or change your clothes, we all smell kind of bad. Any kind of flameless air fresheners would be welcomed.”)
• Phone cards (“Real handy.”)
• Beef jerkey
• DVDs (“They’ll find a home over here, or share many homes.”)
• Bug spray (“They say mosquitoes are pretty bad, and malaria is a huge threat.”)
• Letters of support and encouragement (“Always welcome.”)

Priority mail boxes are in the Hörmann courtyard each Sunday to receive your donations of items listed above, or you may make financial donations towards supplies and postage.

Stephen and his family were very involved in the life of the congregation, assisting with worship, workdays, youth group, and confirmation to name a few. They were reassigned to North Carolina and both Stephen and son CJ are in the Corps. Son Kore is now in Air Force basic training.

At right, Stephen shows off some of the goodies from the first care package. Additional photos are available on the LCH Facebook page.

Celebrating the Place of Arts in Our Faith

February 13 was LCH’s annual celebration of Faith and Arts Sunday, and the Hörmann Courtyard was full of the arts and crafts of the people of the congregation. Items ranged from a koa reading stand to pencil drawings and knitted wash clothes, and each represented the artistic impulse at work.

At left, members of the congregation view some of the items on display.

Additonal pictures are available in the Faith and Arts 2011 Slideshow.

Thanks to all of the artists and to Linda Miller who organized the displays.

Young Organists Fill the Nave with Music

Twelve young organists filled the LCH Nave with music Saturday, February 12, for the Fifth Annual Young Organists Concert, sponsored by the Hawaii Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The performers—all students of Kathy Crosier—ranged from six years old to high school seniors and included four children from LCH. They delighted the audience with pieces ranging from beginner to Bach fugues.

The concert raised money for the Donald L. “Don” Conover Organ Scholarship Program of the AGO, which helps to pay for lessons for youth studying the organ.

At right, the young organists pose for photographs before the concert.

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Another Successful Punahou Carnival

The beginning of February means Punahou Carnival, and again this year our youth (with lots of help from the rest of the congregation) provided parking for Carnival goers. And once again, it proved a very profitable fundraiser to help our youth take part in the Western States Youth Gathering this summer.

The weather cooperated this year, and there was none of the rain that usually falls in February. The resulting crowds contributed more than $5,000 for the prime parking spaces available at LCH.

Thanks to Pam Buckley, Jean Lilley, and Jerelyn Watanabe, who organized the effort, and all the youth and adults who helped on February 4 and 5.

At left, Peggy Anderson, Josie Bidgood, and Pam Buckley—in their shiny safety vests—talk between customers at the Poki Lot.

New Format for Annual Meeting

The new format for second of the annual Congregational Meeting debuted this years to positive response. Rather than squeezing the meeting in between morning worship services, members gathered on Saturday evening, January 30, for a potluck supper, followed by small-group discussions and the meeting itself.

As usual, the potluck was both bountiful and delicious, and the weather cooperated with clear skies and balmy temperatures. Adding to the festive nature of the event, glasses of LCH-labeled wine were available for donations.

After dinner, the gathering divided up into smaller groups for discussion on property, staffing, social ministries, and youth/young adult ministries. At right, Mary Fastenau and Jean Lilley lead the discussion on social ministries.

The Congregational Meeting convened a little after 7:00 PM for the presentation of new Council officers and adopt the budget.

The Starks Go for Baroque

Darel and Georgine Stark wowed a large crowd Saturday evening, January 15, as they presented the first of two Abendmusiken Concerts. With the support of the Bach Chamber Orchestra, the Starks presented all four of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with Darel as soloist, and Händel’s Gloria and Bach’s Cantata 51, with Georgine singing soprano.

Both soloists and the chamber orchestra were in top form, with the audience calling them back for repeated bows and giving a sustained standing ovation at the end.

The program repeated on Sunday, January 16, at 4:00 PM.

At left, Georgine Stark sings the final “Alleluia” of Bach’s Cantata 51, with husband Darel Stark (in blue) playing first violin.

German Vespers Welcome New Year

In keeping with recent tradition, LCH welcomed in the new year with German Vespers, this year on Sunday, January 2. A large crowd of members and friends of LCH, German speakers, and fans of Baroque music filled the Nave for the service.

For the Vesper canticle, the LCH Choir, Bach Chamber Orchestra, and soloists offered Johann Kuhnau’s Magnificat in C-major with the Christmas interpolations. Kuhnau was J.S. Bach’s immediate predecessor at Leipzig where tradition called for the addition of several short seasonal pieces between movements of the Magnificat during the Christmas season.

Former Assisting Pastor Fritz Fritschel preached in German (with English translation thoughtfully included in the service leaflet) on the cantata that was to follow.

The cantata was Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende (Praise God! Now the new year comes to an end), BWV 28.

At right, Pastor Fritz preaches during German Vespers for New Year’s. Additional pictures are available in the Christmas 2010 slideshow.

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