Our life together as members and friends of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu is rich and varied.
Congregational Life at LCH—July, August, and September 2011
Director of Music and Liturgy Installed
Dr. Miguel Ángel Felipe was installed as LCH’s director of music and liturgy at both morning worship services on Sunday, September 18. He replaces Cantor Carl Crosier, who retired in August after 38 years at LCH.
Dr. Felipe recently moved to Honolulu to become director of choral activities and assistant professor of music at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Before coming to Honolulu, he lived in Boston, where he earned his graduate degree and conducted several groups. Outside the United States, he has been associated with the International Meeting on Choral Music in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
At right, the congregation at 8:00 AM welcomes Miguel following the service of installation. Additional photographs are available on the LCH Facebook page.
Choosing a White Wine for LutherFest
With LutherFest approaching and the white wine stock running low, it was time to journey over the Pali to Oeno Winemaking in Kailua to select a wine to replenish the cellar.
Greg and Lynsey from Oeno Winemaking prepared an array of white and red wines for tasting, and the group brought an array of pupus to fortify the group for the hard work of tasting, pondering and selecting the new wine. In the end, a plurality voted for the Cru Select Argentinean Trio, which will be bottled on October 23, the Sunday before LutherFest (October 29).
At the same time, several members of the group chose their own wines for personal use.
At left, everyone looks up for a picture before the tasting begins. Additional photographs are available on the LCH Facebook page.
First Communion Class
Four of LCH’s young children met with Pastor Jeff for a first communion class last Saturday, August 27. Having see their older siblings and parents take communion, they were eager to learn about this sacrament and be able to participate themselves.
The children first learned that God shows us his love by making a place for us at the communion table. And then came the experiential part as they worked together to bake communion bed. After baking their bread, went into the Nave to practice in preparation for their first communion. All four took communion the very next day.
At right, the four children work together to mix their own communion break. Additional photographs are available on the LCH Facebook page.
Aloha Pumehana Carl Crosier
LCH and the Honolulu music community celebrated Carl Crosier’s thirty-eight years as cantor at a festival worship service on Sunday, August 21. All of the musical forces of the congregation—three adult choirs, the F.R.O.G.S.Children’s Choir, the Bach Chamber Orchestra, and Organist Kathy Crosier—pulled out all the stops for a two-hour service that will be remembered for years to come.
All of the events leading up to this service (first rehearsal and choir party, Carl’s last Compline, preparing the bulletin, extra Thursday rehearsal, and the dress rehearsal with orchestra), and the events of the day (worship, thank yous and Carl’s message, and dinner) are chronicled in Kathy’s blog, Another Year of Insanity.
Photos from morning worship are available on the LCH Facebook page.
Click on the photo of the bulletin board above to see a larger version.
The End Is Near
With just over a week left until Carl Crosier’s last Sunday at LCH, it was about time for the choir to start rehearsing Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, which will be sung as the service music for communion that day. So, they gathered on Saturday afternoon, August 13, to run work on the music for a couple of hours.
After working through most of the Mass, the choir worked on their other anthem for the service, and then the Compline Choir practiced their anthem while the women and members of the other choirs set up for a potluck all-choir party.
Following dinner, Carl made a few remarks of reflection and thanks, and many members of the different choirs expressed their gratitude for all the years of fellowship and music making.
At left, the altos woodshed part of the “Gloria” while the other parts study their scores. Additional pictures from the rehearsal and potluck are available on the LCH Facebook page.
Decked Out for IHS
The LCH crew looked particularly spiffy as they prepared to serve the monthly dinner at IHS (The Institute for Human Services, Honolulu’s full-service homeless shelter). Mary Jo Estes has brought along the cloth aprons from the LCH kitchen, so they were all decked out in matching red and black aprons embroidered with “Lutheran Church of Honolulu” across the front.
In addition to the aprons, there was another change. Because of the annual IHS picnic the previous Friday, LCH had been moved from the third Friday to the fourth. But there were no changes in the popular menu of meatloaf, hot vegetables, and cole slaw, along with rice, fruit, bread, and dessert.
At right, Marjan Lynch and Ilse Layau cut the meatloaf while Mary Jo Estes finishes up the coleslaw. Other volunteers this month were Peggy Anderson, Jimmy Castro, and Bill Potter.
To find out more about serving dinner at IHS or to volunteer for the next dinner on August 19, speak with Jimmy Castro or any of this month’s volunteers.
New Baby Welcomed into the LCH ‘Ohana
On Sunday, July 17, the LCH family joyfully welcome Kyra Ann Takamura’s daughter into the family of Christ through the sacrament of baptism. The congregation was joined for this happy occasion by many friends and family members.
At left, Kyra Ann (center with her baby) is surrounded by family and friends for a picture following worship.
We all join in the affirmation said following the baptism: “You belong to Christ, in whom you have been baptized. Alleluia.”
Pau Hana Friday Returns
After a hiatus of almost a year, Pau Hana Friday returned on July 15 as members and friends gathered once more at Ala Moana Beach Park for this time of fellowship, food, and fireworks.
The Pau Hana Crew gathered early to save the spot, get set up, and start the fire, and others drifted by after work, even though parking was tight at the park on this warm summer evening. The group of faithful regulars was joined by other members of the congregation, visitors from the mainland, a couple of seminarians, and lively children. There was lots of good food from the grill and plenty of good conversation, and the evening ended with the fireworks over Magic Island as darkness fell.
At right, April Smith helps Pastor Jeff Lilley, favorite grillmaster, with the hamburgers.
Additional photos are available on the LCH Facebook page.
Pipeworks Introduces Youngsters to the King of Instruments
Nationally, there is a growing shortage of young organists, but the Hawai‘i chapter of the American Guild of Organists is working to turn the tide. One of their strategies is to introduce young folks to the organ through a program called Pipeworks, where participants experience this amazing instrument on and “up-close-and-personal” basis.
LCH hosted the most recent Pipeworks on Saturday, July 9, under the leadership of Joey Fala, a young organist who attended the first Pipeworks held in Honolulu eight years ago. About forty participants gathered at LCH to learn about how organs are put together, hear performances by young organists like Joey, climb inside the organ to see how it works, and even play themselves with guidance from current students.
Following lunch at LCH, participants walked to St. Clement’s and Central Union to hear and explore two other wonderful—but very different—instruments. At the end, they even got to take home an organ pipe of their very own.
We hope that some of these youth will take advantage of the Don Conover scholarship for young organ students administered by the AGO chapter. Who knows; one of them may end up leading a Pipeworks event of their own eight years from now.
At left, Pipeworks leader Joey Fala shows participants the inner workings of LCH’s Beckerath organ.
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