Our life together as members and friends of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu is rich and varied.

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Congregational Life at LCH—April, May, and June 2013

Saturday Evening Pau Hana

For the first time in many months, members of the congregation gathered at Ala Moana Beach Park for a Pau Hana picnic. The difference for this Pau Hana was that it took place on a Saturday evening since different people’s schedule conflicts made the more-traditional Friday evening impossible.

Even though the day was different, most everything else went as usual. Pastor Jeff grill up the hot dogs and hamburgers, many folks brought salads and desserts so there was more food than we needed, and everyone pitched with set up and clean up to make for a successful evening. All together, about thirty people showed up for the festivities.

At right, people enjoyed some post-dinner conversation as the sun began to sink and evening approached.

Day Camp a Great Success

All week long from June 3 through 7, twenty kids, two high school helpers, and four staff leaders gathered for an awesome Day Camp at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu.

Monday through Friday, the staff led the kids in song, worship, service projects, Bible studies, craft projects, outings to the park with games, and so much more.

At left, the staff and kids enjoy some circle time as part of one of the outings to Makiki Park. Additional photos from camp are available on the LCH Facebook page.

This new initiative was made possible through the cooperation of LCH with Lutheran Retreats, Camps, and Conferences (LRCC) from Southern California, who brought their well-established Day Camp program to the islands. Key to the success of this endeavor were a number of adult helpers for the program who served as snack organizers and providers, registration helpers, cooks for meals for the staff, and hosts who housed staff members (and in ne case even gave use of their car for the staff members).

World Premiere of New Cantata

LCH presented the world premiere of New York composer Robinson McClellan’s “Trinity Dancing Cantata” during Vespers for the Holy Trinity on Sunday, May 26.

The new cantata was commissioned as part of The Cantata Project, a new project of LCH that builds on our Germanic Lutheran musical heritage (exemplified by Buxtehude, Distler, Telemann, and Bach) and our belief that God’s work is continually revealed to us through the mysteries of our daily lives and the beauty of new art.

The cantata was composed on a text by Australian poet Robin Muir-Miler, a frequent collaborator with Mr. McClellan. The text combined her 1963 poem “Creation” with reworkings of the psalms and lessons for the vespers, culminating in the hymn “Come, join the dance of Trinity” (elw 412).

At right, Miguel Felipe, director of music and liturgy, conducts the LCH Choir and Bach Chamber Orchestra in the first chorus of the cantata.

Sunday School Year Ends with Fun Day

May 26 was Trinity Sunday, but for the children of the congregation the focus was on the annual Fun Day marking the end of the Sunday School year.

The teachers had prepared a variety of games for children of all ages ranging from simple to complex, so everyone could find something fun. The older children pitched in to help, there were plenty of prizes. and there was even food for everyone in the courtyard.

Beginning on June 2, the congregation switches to the the summer schedule with one morning worship service at 9:15 AM, and Sunday School begins their summer break. Classes resume on the first Sunday in September.

At left, children gather around for for games and craft activities as part of the annual Sunday School Fun Day.

Welcoming the Lehigh University Glee Club

LCH was pleased to welcome the Lehigh University Glee Club as guest choir for Choral Eucharist on May 12.

The Glee Club is one of the ensembles that make up Lehigh University Choral Arts (LUCA), who are visiting O‘ahu on their 2013 choir tour. The LCH Choir and the Punahou School Chorale sang with LUCA the previous evening in a concert that featured a performance of Kumulipo by Dr. Steven Sametz, LUCA director. The piece had been commissioned by Punahou School in honor of President Barak Obama and James K. Scott, current president of the school.

During worship, the Glee Club provided all the special music of the service (giving the choir a day off) and sang a choral postlude. At right, they sing a setting of Psalm 114 that combines traditional Sephardic cantillation, Gregorian chant, and men’s chorus.

LCH Celebrates eARTh Sunday

A family offers skit about Adam and Eve in the Garden as part of eARTh Sunday “What is ‘eARTh Sunday’?” you may ask. It’s a way to combine “Faith and Arts Sunday” (which LCH celebrates every year) with “Earth Sunday” (which we also celebrate every year) so we don’t use up all the Sundays with special observations.

For Faith and Arts Sunday, the Hörmann Courtyard was full of a wide range of artistic offerings from members and friends of the congregation. There was knitting and painting, sculpture and stained glass, writing and baked goods, even plant sculpture and weaving.

Continuing with artistic expression, a mother and her two children offered a skit retelling the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden in place of the children’s conversation. The skit also touched on Earth Sunday by reminding us that we are stewards of the Earth and all of God’s creation. (Listen to the skit.)

As part of the observation of Earth Sunday, Jim Sullivan presented a Temple Talk on Earth Day, with particular emphasis on the faced of climate change, including a look at LCH’s response to this issue. (Listen to Jim’s Temple Talk.)

At left, a family from the congregation presents the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden for the children’s conversation. Additional photographs from eARTh Sunday are available in the Faith & Arts Sunday 2013 slideshow.

Mahalo to Kathy

The people of LCH and friends from the community were able to express their thanks to Kathy Crosier for her 35 years as organist at LCH at a joyful celebration following worship on April 14. And the weather cooperated with a break from the storm warnings until a couple of hours after the celebration concluded.

A number of organists from across the island, many of Kathy’ current and former students, and worshippers from the early service joined with the 10:30 congregation to pile Kathy high with lei. About 150 people fill tables in the courtyard and Isenberg Hall for a delicious catered lunch.

Following lunch, everyone moved into the Nave for a slideshow highlighting Kathy’s life and career, organ pieces by some of her current students, a poem from Fritz Fritschel, tributes from Carl Crosier and Pastor jeff Lilley, and some words from Kathy. For the grand finale everyone joined in singing “When in our music God is glorified,” with Kathy playing the organ.

At right, the Carol Langner’s bulletin board recounting the many facets of Kathy Crosier. Click on the picture to see a larger version, or visit Kathy’s blog post about the bulletin board for commentary and details of each part of the bulletin board.

LCH at the Honolulu AIDS Walk

Again this year members of the LCH congregation fielded a tem for the annual Honolulu AIDS Walk to benefit the Life Foundation.

The team of thirteen members (one more than their goal of twelve!) raised almost $2,000 from friends and relatives.

At left, the LCH team poses for a photo before they begin the walk.

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