In this issue:
- A Message from Pastor Angela
- Holoholo Pick-Up
- Evening Prayer
- Process Thought
- Women’s Book Club
- O‘ahu Youth Gathering May 17
- LCH Bible Camp Bake Sale FUNraiser
- Exploring Boundaries…and Beyond
- Life Foundation AIDS Walk
- Our Sabbatical Project
- Council Highlights
- Easter Sunday photo
- Scholarship Applications Available
- Work Day Thank Yous
- Hawai‘i’s Summer Church Camp
- Western States Youth Gathering
- Day Camp at LCH—June 30 through July 4
- What’s New on the LCH Website?
- Committee/Interest Group Chairs
- Volunteer of the Month: Jim Sullivan
- HeartBeat Deadline
- Attendance and Offerings for April
- Prayer Requests
- May Birthdays
- LCH Worship Participants (8:00 am)
- LCH Worship Participants (10:30 am)
- Calendar: May 2014
A Message from Pastor Angela
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
I am entering my second summer season as your pastor here at LCH, and I am happy to say I’m beginning to pick up on some of the signs of spring around us in this beautiful tropical place. Of course spring here in the islands is hardly spring if all you have to compare it to is tulips and daffodils. The transition from the rainy season to the dry season is one filled with beauty and subtle nuances that I’m starting to be able to observe.
Experiencing the gifts of the empty tomb and rejoicing at the good news of Jesus’ resurrection is a different experience for me here in Hawai‘i than it was in the Midwest or New England. The signs of new life and glimpse at the promises that are apparent in nature are much more elusive here—as for example, Diamond Head has already turned brown from the lush green color of the winter months. So what is Easter without the tulips and crocuses popping out from the dry ground?
It forces me to dig deeper and ask what resurrection looks and feels like when the world around me isn’t much different—at least not on the surface? Signs of the resurrection can be, at times in our lives, very poignant and apparent. Perhaps a healed heart or a mended relationship can point us to the way of new life.
I think that, more often, resurrection is something a little more delicate and indirect. Perhaps even you find yourself in this season of Easter “not feeling it.” Perhaps you feel like Diamond Head, all dried up and dark.
That is just the craziest part of this whole resurrection thing! No matter where we are in our lives, in our hearts, or in our world, the truth of the promises remain. Christ has risen! There isn’t a magic pill or a perfect tulip rising from the ground that will help us to feel “better” or help us fully comprehend the gift of new life that is given to us. Rather, so often, it is in the hidden, ever so subtle places of our lives and sometimes in the deepest places of our hearts that a pinhole of light begins to shine.
Perhaps you aren’t even able to see the pinhole of light. Maybe you feel like Lent and the wilds of the wilderness journey are all around you and Easter is yet to come. If you’re there, know you’re not alone. We all have our moments and times where the darkness seems greater than the spring. I pray that you then turn to the beauty of your faith community. Those of us who are able will walk with you, and we will journey together until we all are living fully into the promises of new life and hope. This thing of faith, this life of being a resurrection people, is not one of isolation!
Wherever you are in the journey toward the empty tomb, hold tightly to the promises. Reach out for assurance if you need it. And reversely, offer joyous love to those who seem to remain in the wilderness. Together, as a community of faith, may we know, celebrate and trust in the gifts of love and promise of life!
Happy Easter,
Pastor Angela
Holoholo Pick-Up
Thursday, May 1, 15, & 29, 2:00–4:00 pm
The Holoholo General Store is a Community Supported Agriculture organization, or csa, that works with the Lutheran Church to bring you fresh produce from multiple, local farms. For more information, visit www.holoholostore.com.
Evening Prayer
Sunday, May 4 & 18, 7:30 pm
Join us on the first and third Sundays for Evening Prayer. This is a peaceful experience of rejuvenation and prayer.
Process Thought
Saturday, May 10, 9:30–11:00 am
The May session for our Process Thought discussion will be held on Saturday, May 10, 9:30–11:00 am. We are switching to the second Saturday of the month because of a conflict with the Synod Assembly closing worship on May 3. We will be exploring ideas related to “theopoetics” during that session. Poems from various traditions will be used in the discussion as examples of a poet’s search for language and metaphors that explore our deepest values. Specific poems will be announced later.
Women’s Book Club
Tuesday, May 13, 9:30–11:30 am
Come join us for the first LCH Women’s Book Club meeting. Bring a current book or author that you would like to share. We will be meeting at the Murashige’s, 887 Hind Iuka Drive in ‘Āina Haina. If you’d like further information, please contact Juditha Murashige through the Church Office (808-941-2566). Everyone is welcome.
O‘ahu Youth Gathering May 17
The last O‘ahu Youth Gathering of the school year takes place at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu on Saturday, May 17, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Don’t miss out on our movie night complete with popcorn, junk food, and a great movie. Bring a blanket or chair, a snack to share, and a sweatshirt.
LCH Bible Camp Bake Sale FUNraiser
Sunday, May 18 • Hörmann Courtyard
Help the children of LCH raise money for Bible Camp 2014. Yummy delights will be for sale between services on Sunday, May 18, in the courtyard. Quite a few of our LCH youth were campers and councilors at last year’s Day and Overnight Bible Camp and loved it. The FUNraiser will also include camp testimonials and music provided by our youth during the services. We may even sing a camp song!! Please see Georgine or Pastor Angela if you would like to donate an item for the bake sale or make a donation.
Exploring Boundaries…and Beyond
Sunday, May 18 • 6:00–7:15 pm
Dr. Robert Joseph, who is on the faculty of the UH Institute of Astronomy, will give a presentation entitled “Galileo and the Roman Inquisition.” The presentation will cover the historical background of Galileo’s life, his first use of a telescope for astronomy, and its implications lead to Galileo’s increasing criticism of Aristotelian ideas. He was eventually brought before the Inquisition in 1615. Dr. Joseph will also address some of the common myths about this episode, place it in the larger historical context of the Counter-Reformation and the Thirty Years War, and show that much larger issues than Science vs. the Church were involved.
Dr. Joseph is a member of Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church and heads their Peace and Social Justice Committee. He has taught classes about Galileo, including the complex relationship of science and church, as pertinent a subject today as it was 400 years ago.
Life Foundation AIDS Walk
Saturday, May 24 • Honolulu Hale Grounds
Do you like to walk? Do you want to help defeat aids? Join Pastor Jeff and Jean for the annual Life Foundation AIDS Walk May 24 on the Civic Center grounds of Honolulu Hale. Take note, the Walk is scheduled for Saturday this year! For more information or to sign up for the walk, please check the bulletin board or sign up at the information table. Our goal is to raise $2,000 for the Life Foundation.
Our Sabbatical Project
We praise God for the seven years that Pastor Jeff has been at LCH. Now it is time for him to take a sabbatical of some three months. While on sabbatical he will use some time to recharge, some time to study, and some time to explore how congregations like LCH work through transitions.
During a pastor’s sabbatical time, it is common for a congregation to also undergo some reflection and special time of learning. That often involves a congregational project. As a congregation, we hope to engage in a project that will not only deepen our relationships as a family of faith but also help us connect with our surrounding community. To start our portion of the sabbatical, the Congregational Council is soliciting suggestions from you for such a project. Any suggestion is acceptable. The Council will review all your suggestions and select a project for the congregation. Suggestion slips and a box to collect them will be available starting Sunday, May 11, and extending through the end of May.
Mahalo for your consideration and suggestions!
Gary Brauer
Council Highlights
- Council is drafting a response letter to Thrivent Financial regarding their new “neutrality policy” which excludes ReconcilingWorks and Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries as well as other similar organizations from its benevolence programs.
- Beginning May 11, the congregation will be asked for suggestions for planning a project to be completed during Pastor Jeff’s sabbatical.
- Approved scholarship for Reid Womack to attend summer music camp. We encourage all families to apply for scholarship consideration for all forms of educational ventures.
- Hörmann Courtyard covering update:
- Bryan Miyasaki of Drafting Solutions, LLC, was asked to redraw plans for the covering after an error in number of support posts was noted.
- City and County of Honolulu DPP asked us to submit a minor modification application for our CUP.
- Canopy materials from Kunkelworks have been ordered.
- Three bids for the installation have been received. We will ask two of the contractors to submit contracts for consideration.
Scholarship Applications Available
Scholarship applications for tuition assistance are available for the upcoming summer and fall. Contact the main office for more information.
Work Day Thank Yous
A big mahalo to all who helped out on work day April 12! We had a sewing circle making stoles for the Synod Assembly; a construction team building the new sign board for the parking lot; sanders and painters working on the altar rails; weed and tree trimmers; and silver polishers, steam cleaners, and altar decorators hard at work in the Nave.
A special thank you to our nursery attendant, Angela Rose, for making child care available and to our staff members Gaylen and Brian for their valuable assistance as well.
We appreciate each and every gift of time and talent in helping to maintain our beautiful worship space and campus.
Hawai‘i’s Summer Church Camp
Registration Has Opened
Please register your youth by June 2. Payments can be made either with a check to the Episcopal Diocesan Office or online with PayPal.
- ‘Ōpio (completed grades 9-12)—June 21–26—$350
- Ahe (completed grades 3-5)—June 27–29—$200
- Lōkahi (completed grades 6-8)—June 30–July 3—$300
Register or download the PDF brochure with more information at episcopalyouthofhawaii.weebly.com/hui-pu-summer-camp-for-youth.html
Western States Youth Gathering
California Lutheran University
June 27–July 1, Thousand Oaks, CA
This event only happens every two years in Southern California. What is it? Basically, it is an awesome trip we do together to CA to be with other Lutheran teens for loads of fun!
Pastor Angela will be attending this year’s gathering with four teens from O‘ahu. They’ll join up with the youth group from Maui. Please keep them all in your prayers for safe travel and for a Spirit filled time for everyone.
Day Camp at LCH—June 30 through July 4
Once again LCH will be hosting a Day Camp on our Campus for kids ages 5 through sixth grade! Older kids and teens are invited to come to camp as helpers and junior counselors. Last year was a huge success, and we’re blessed to again bring staff back over from Lutheran Outdoor Ministry in California. Mark your calendars, share the dates with friends, and begin praying for a successful program. Registration materials will be available soon.
What can you do to help with Camp?
- Invite friends and neighbor kids to participate.
- Offer to help with snacks and hospitality.
- Help to find housing, transportation and meals for our four young adults staff members.
- Participate in the Bake Sale on May 18.
- Pray for all the pieces of the puzzle to come together to make this a Spirit-filled week!
Committee/Interest Group Chairs
| Committee/Group | Leader |
|---|---|
| Archive: | Jim Cartwright |
| Audit: | Randy Castello |
| Concert: | Miguel Felipe |
| Communications: | Carol Langner |
| Council: | April Smith |
| Exploring Boundaries: | Carol Langner |
| Fellowship: | Jeanne Castello & Mary-Jo Estes |
| Finance: | Gary Brauer |
| Food for Thought: | Kathryn Klingebiel |
| In Stitches: | Linda Miller |
| Learning Ministry: | Fred Benco |
| Mary Magdalene Society: | Robert Zimmer & Francisco Barajas |
| Process Theology: | The Rev. Fritz Fritschel |
| Property: | Jean-Paul Klingebiel & April Smith |
| Scholarship: | Fred Benco |
| Social Ministry: | Jean Lilley |
| Stewardship: | Pam Buckley |
| Sunday School: | Laurie Leach |
| Worship & Music: | Linda Miller |
| Writers’ Workshop: | Kathryn Klingebiel |
| Youth: | Pr. Angela Freeman |
What’s New on the LCH Website?
Bill Potter, webmaster
Holy Week and Easter were packed with activity at LCH, and so there was lots of activity on the website as well.
The most important additions were new posts for the Congregational Work Day on April 13, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday. Each post describes the highlights of the day along with a picture. In addition, the posts for Holy Week and Easter include a slideshow with many more photos. Thanks to Jean Lilley for taking the photos in the slideshow.
In previous years on the old website, the Holy Week and Easter Slideshow was its own page, but WordPress has a built-in slideshow widget that can be included on each related post. There is one small problem that I haven’t figured out. I don’t know how to make the instance of the slideshow on Maundy Thursday page (for example) begin with the first slide from that day. As a result, each slideshow starts with the first slide from Palm Sunday. So for now, I’ve included the number of that first slide, so you can count off the dots under the photos and find the first one for that particular day.
LCH Volunteer of the Month
Jim Sullivan
Jim Sullivan has been a member of Lutheran Church of Honolulu some twenty years. He says he became interested in being a member of LCH when he noticed that LCH was a welcoming church, something no other church’s literature mentioned.
Jim is an Eight O’Clock Ensemble member, both as a choir member and as an instrumentalist. Jim has played the steel drum some eight years now.
Few renovations at LCH since 2000 have occurred without Jim’s involvement. From the remodeling of the Nave, the remaking of the music room, the renovation of the kitchen and the bathrooms, and more recently, to the paving and landscaping of the church parking lot, Jim has been involved in some way. He planned the kitchen and bathroom renovations and scheduled the volunteer workforce while Roy Helms worked with the subcontractors.
For the renovation of the kitchen and the bathrooms, as well as the paving of the Poki parking lot, Jim also played a part in organizing the capital fund drive and took the lead on the 24-hour prayer vigil for the campaign.
Jim brings to the table discussion about sustainability and corporate ethics as we at LCH seek to be good stewards of God’s gifts in our congregation, a good neighbor to our community, and a witness to the people on our island.
We thank God for bringing Jim Sullivan to us. We thank God for the many gifts and talents Jim has. We thank God for leading Jim to share those gifts and talents with Lutheran Church of Honolulu.
HeartBeat Deadline
Tuesday, May 20, 9:00 am
Just a reminder that if you have an article or piece of information you would like to share in the June edition of the Heartbeat, email it to the office no later than Tuesday, May 20, by 9:00 am.
| Bob | Gene | Juanita |
| Carl | Irene | Karen |
| Diane | Jason | Marvin |
| Fay | Jeff | Stephen |
| Jerry |
| Day | Date | Event and Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | May 1 | Synod Assembly 2:00 pm, Holoholo Pickup 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Friday | May 2 | Synod Assembly |
| Saturday | May 3 | Synod Assembly 9:00 am, Synod Assembly Worship Rehearsal 10:30 am, Synod Assembly Closing Worship 4:00 pm, Mark Russell Piano Recital |
| Sunday | May 4 | Angel Network In-Gathering 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 7:00 pm, Poetry Group 7:30 pm, Evening Prayer |
| Monday | May 5 | 7:00 pm, Writers’ Workshop |
| Tuesday | May 6 | 6:30 pm, Mutual Ministry Meeting |
| Thursday | May 8 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | May 10 | 9:30 am, Process Thought Forum |
| Sunday | May 11 | 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 3:30 pm, Confirmation Class |
| Monday | May 12 | 6:30 pm, Worship & Music Meeting |
| Wednesday | May 14 | 12:30 pm, Finance Committee Meeting |
| Thursday | May 15 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:00 pm, Holoholo Pickup 3:00 pm, Weekly Staff Meeting 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Friday | May 16 | 1:00 pm, IHS Meals Prepared 5:30 pm, IHS Meals Served |
| Saturday | May 17 | 6:00 pm, O‘ahu Youth Gathering |
| Sunday | May 18 | Earth Day Sunday 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist 3:30 pm, Confirmation Class 6:00 pm, Exploring Boundaries & Beyond 7:30 pm, Evening Prayer |
| Tuesday | May 20 | HeartBeat Deadline 6:00 pm, Executive Council Meeting 6:30 pm, Council Meeting |
| Thursday | May 22 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | May 24 | 9:00 am, AIDS Walk |
| Sunday | May 25 | 8:00 am, Holy Communion 9:20 am, Christian Education 10:30 am, Choral Eucharist |
| Monday | May 26 | Office Closed—Memorial Day |
| Thursday | May 29 | 10:00 am, Book of Faith Bible Study 2:00 pm, Holoholo Pickup 7:00 pm, LCH Choir Rehearsal |
| Saturday | May 31 | 10:00 am, One Pot One Hope |
| Sunday | June 1 | Summer Worship Schedule Begins Angel Network In-Gathering Pastor Angela’s Installation during worship 9:15 am, Worship 5:00 pm, O‘ahu Youth Gathering 7:00 pm, Poetry Group 7:30 pm, Evening Prayer |