Volume 3, Issue 1
January 12, 2018
In This Issue
Aloha Sierra
Vestry Opportunities
Annual Meeting
Convention Delegates
Pledge Cards
Japanese Dance
This Week in Sunday School
Christmas at All Saints'
In Brief...
THIS SUNDAY
Upcoming Dates
McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
6:00PM - Church

Every Thursday
Choir Practice
6:00PM - Choir Room

Sunday, January 14
Youth Group Meeting
Memorial Hall
11:15AM

Tuesday, January 16
Vestry Meeting
6:00PM Eucharist
6:30PM Meeting
Rectory

Wednesday, January 17
Laundry Love (Team B)
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapa'a Laundromat

Sunday, January 21
Heavenly Hikes
Location TBD
Depart Church @ 11:45AM

Thursday, January 25
Daughters of the King
Memorial Hall
7:00PM

Sunday, January 28
Annual Meeting
of the Church
8:00AM

Wednesday, February 7
Laundry Love (Team C)
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapa'a Laundromat

Thursday, February 8
Daughters of the King
Memorial Hall
7:00PM

Wednesday, February 14
Ash Wednesday Liturgy
Church
8:00AM

Ashes to Go
Kuhio Highway
9:00AM - 11:00AM
4:00PM - 6:00PM

Ash Wednesday
with Eucharist
Church
6:30PM

Wednesday, February 21
Laundry Love (Team A)
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapa'a Laundromat
Quick Links
Social Media
Get the All Saints' Epistle
PARISH NEWS

Aloha Sierra!

Last  month, Sierra Gore, All Saints' Ministry Intern for the past year and half announced she was moving to Richmond, Virginia  to continue her education and discernment for ministry. This Sunday, January 14th, will be Sierra's last Sunday at All Saints'. Sierra will preach both the 7:00AM and 9:30AM this Sunday. We will also have an opportunity to say "aloha" at the Aloha Hour following the 9:30AM service. 

Sierra plans to join the Young Priest Initiative while finishing her Bachelors degree in Anthropology. Her boyfriend, Jeremy, will also be joining her and they are very excited to spend more time with each other. Living in Virginia will also allow Sierra to more easily continue her call to camping ministry and direct Explorers' Camp at Shrine Mont.

Please join us to celebrate Sierra's ministry and to wish her "a hui hou."
FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN
Vestry Opportunities

Dear All Saints' 'Ohana,
 
Since becoming a member of All Saints' back in 2003, I have served on the vestry in one capacity or another just about every year. It is my belief that vestry service needs to be personally fulfilling, life-giving, and fun. It is an awesome responsibility to help lead a congregation, especially in times such as these when the congregation is growing and transforming .

Amid this period of transformation, especially as we rebuild, renew, restore, and enhance the physical space of the church, we are also seeking to help our congregation to grow and thrive. Many people find transformation exciting and invigorating; however, for others, it can be challenging. New ideas, new approaches, and new people can create anxiety and stress. Yet, with new vitality comes incredible opportunities for innovation and new ways of being the Body of Christ in the world.

To serve on the Vestry is both an amazing opportunity and a significant privilege. While it is an honor to be elected to serve on Vestry, the role is not an honorary position-it comes with expectations and responsibilities.

Those who serve on the Vestry of All Saints' are expected to participate in the broad life of our church. Regular attendance at worship services and Vestry meetings is the cornerstone of a Vestry member's duties. In addition, vestry members will be called upon to exercise servant leadership by example and by participating in both the business and spiritual life of the church.
 
A simplified Vestry member job description might look like the following:
  • Offer time, talents, and treasure to support the ministries of All Saints'.
  • Maintain an active prayer life which includes praying daily for the clergy, staff, lay leaders, and members of our 'Ohana.
  • Continually engage with members of the congregation-being attentive to their concerns, needs, hopes, and visions for the Church.
  • Participate in and promote the annual financial stewardship campaign of the Church.
  • Provide sound stewardship and oversight of All Saints' finances and facilities.
  • Be an active minister of the Gospel in daily life and work.
  • Bring one's whole self to the table; being present in mind, body and spirit.
  • Identify and recruit individuals to serve in leadership roles and committees as needed.
  • Embody and promote love, accountability, authenticity, healthy habits, and spiritual well-being.
  • Share openly one's ideas, beliefs, and desires.
The Vestry welcomes and thrives on diversity in background, skills, and experience and there is no one set of qualifications that make a person an excellent candidate. It is important for us to have new ideas, new perspectives, and new views as we discuss issues and make decisions.

The work of the Vestry is for everyone-young and young at heart. Whether you have been at All Saints' a lifetime or just a little while, you might be called by God to serve on the Vestry. All of us have very busy lives and lots of demands on our time and energy, but if you can bring a sense of joy and wonder to your work on the Vestry, you will be doing a great service for yourself, your family, and the entire All Saints' 'Ohana.
 
We invite you to submit your name for consideration to be on Vestry. Applications are available at the entrance of the Church (look for the pink form) or can be downloaded below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to Fr. Ryan or Vestry members including myself.

Mau loa me ke maluhia aloha - always with loving peace.
 
David Murray
Senior Warden

PARISH NEWS
2018 Annual Meeting

This year's Annual Meeting will be held between the two services on  Sunday, January 28th from 8:00AM - 9:15AM.

There will be a breakfast 
potluck. A potluck sign-up will be located at the entrance of the Church  the next two Sundays. 

The Annual Meeting of the Parish is important to the mission and ministries of All Saints'. During the annual meeting, we will be electing new Vestry members and delegates to the Diocese's Convention. Please plan to attend.

Applications for download:
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING NEWS
Convention Delegates 2018

At the Annual Meeting (Sunday, January 28th) All Saints' will elect five delegates (and alternates) to attend the   Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii's Annual Convention  October 26 and 27, 2018 at the  Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Resort, Kailua-Kona.

Candidates and/or a person nominating a candidate are required to complete and submit a nomination form.   Nomination forms must be submitted no later than Tuesday, January 23 at 8:00PM. 

The Epistle will publish the Nomination Packet in January 26th issue and the nomination packet will be made available on the day of the Annual Parish Meeting.

The Diocesan Convention is the primary representative governing body of the diocese. It convenes annually in October to conduct diocesan business, including election of various leadership bodies; approval of a budget for the upcoming year; setting mission strategy; and establishing diocesan policy and procedure by considering and voting on resolutions and approving changes to the diocesan constitution and canons. It is also an occasion for communication and teaching from the Bishop. The Convention allows delegates to connect with other Church leaders, share ministry ideas, and to gather for a celebration of the Holy Eucharist together as a diocesan community.

To download a nomination form,  click here.
STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
Call for pledge cards to be returned
 
Last month, you should have received in the mail a 2018 Pledge Card. We are asking the 'Ohana to return their pledge cards as soon as possible in order to finalize our 2018 budget prior to the Annual Meeting.

In addition to a financial pledge, we are asking our 'Ohana to pledge their time and talents for 2018. Mahalo nui loa for your generous donations of Time, Talent, and Treasure in the past. We hope we are able to rely on your generosity once again as we continue our journey together in support of our church, our 'Ohana, and our community.

Pledge cards are available at the entrance of the Church or can be downloaded on the link below.

WORSHIP NEWS

Japanese Dance Group Advent offering

Mahalo to our amazing and talented Japanese Dance Group ( Mabel Chiyono Antonio,  Tracy Bauman,  Cecilia Caldwell,  Madison Ami Doo,  Hannah Kostka,  Melissa Misaye Morinishi,  Diane Michie Sato,  Faith Satoko Shiramizu,  Erin Michie Takekuma, and  Kari Yachiye Villabrille)  who offered a liturgical dance piece during Advent. Carolyn Morinishi directs the group and choreographed the dance. 

To view a video of the dance, please click on the image above. 
THIS WEEK IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
Each week, The Epistle will highlight the upcoming Sunday School lesson from "Weaving God's Promises."

January 14, 2016: Nicodemus Pays a Secret Visit

John 3: Nicodemus is a religious leader, a Pharisee. He pays a secret visit to Jesus to try to find out who he is, and to learn from him. Jesus talks to Nicodemus about the need to be "born again" or "born from above". Nicodemus does not understand. He keeps not understanding. In this story, we never get the sense that Nicodemus begins to "get the point."

We may have trouble today understanding Nicodemus's misunderstanding, because we have already experienced rebirth through Jesus. We have had 2,000 years of Christian belief and civilization. Christianity is conventional now, not radical or new. So we may not see Jesus' words as Nicodemus saw them. But Jesus' concept of rebirth was a new and radical thought, breaking all of the assumptions of Judaism on the nature of God and humankind. To the Jews of Nicodemus's day, God and man are totally separated from each other.

Jesus brings them together-for the first time since our creation. He finally reverses the alienation that Adam and Eve wrought. He brings not only understanding as he patiently tries to explain to Nicodemus and to us, he also brings divine grace.

We too may need to "get out of our box" and just listen to Jesus. His words do not always fit into our accustomed ways of thinking, just as they did not fit into Nicodemus's. Listen to Jesus.

Sunday School Teachers this Sunday, "Team A."
CHRISTMAS AT ALL SAINTS'














Mahalo to Marge Akana for many of the photos.
IN BRIEF . . .
These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle."  

All Saints' Thought Box
Do you ever have a suggestion, an idea, some feedback, or comment you want to pass along to the Vestry? Now you can share that thought with the Vestry anytime and virtually anywhere.  All Saints' Vestry is happy to introduce the    All Saints' Thought Box!   In keeping with their communication goals, the Vestry wanted to create a way that parishioners can freely and anonymously communicate directly with the Vestry. Users can access the Thought Box through the All Saints' Website (look for the light bulb logo) and there will be a link in each issue of the Epistle. Comments are NOT screened and go directly to everyone on the Vestry.
"The Epistle" is published weekly by Friday.
Submissions for consideration are due by Wednesday at noon and can be sent to ryan@allsaintskauai.org.