The E-Newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i

Reporting on the events & activities in our Diocese and beyond... 

August 2017
In This Issue
Bishop's Message
ABCD Facilitator Formation Workshop
Hui Pu 2017: S.W.A.G.
Episcopal Youth Event 2017 & Mission
The Episcopal Church's New Community Conference
Saying Aloha & Mahalo to David Turner
The Reckless Rector in Kenya
Retired Clergy: Staying Active and In Touch
Queen Emma Ball Raises Record Funds
'Iolani School's Summer Happenings
O'AHU PARISH NEWS
ECWO: The Episcopal Church of West O'ahu
KAUA'I PARISH NEWS
MAUI PARISH NEWS
THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAI'I PARISH NEWS
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH & BEYOND
Contact Information
Bishop's Calendar
 
***** AUGUST ****

August 4
Teaching Waiolaihui'ia
August 6
Sunday Visitation: TheCathedral of St.Andrew, Honolulu
August 8-16
Semi-annual Visit to Episcopal Church in Micronesia (ECIM)
August 19
Governance Meetings
August 20
Sunday Visitation: Good Samaritan, Honolulu
August 27-29
Clergy Retreat, Kaua'i 


***** SEPTEMBER  *****

September 5
Chapel: 'Iolani School
Est. September 6
Non-Sunday Visit: St. Christopher's, Kailua
September 7
Preaching Conference, St. Elizabeth's, Honolulu
September 10
Sunday Visitation: St. Jude's, Ocean View
September 12
Non-Sunday Visit: Epiphany, Honolulu
Est. September 13
Non-Sunday Visit: Holy Nativity, Honolulu
September 16
Governance Meetings
September 18-27
Fall House of Bishops Meeting, Fairbanks, AK
September 28-30
EAM Consultation, Honolulu

Stay Informed!
Bishop's Message


Simple Practices for a Christian Life


Aloha o ke Akua:

I have a secret spiritual practice. When I'm alone in the car, I listen to Gospel music - even Country and Blue Grass Gospel. Yes, I sing along. There is one song that has recently given me pause: "You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine" (by Marty Cooper). It was a hit for Donna Fargo in 1974 (found on YouTube HERE.) I once heard a version by The Blind Boys of Alabama that was moving, but I can't seem to find it now.

The lyrics are simple enough:

Chorus
You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine 
You can't be a beacon if your light don't shine 
There's a little light in all of us by God's design 
But you can't be a beacon if your light don't shine

As I listened again, I was reminded of the Letter of James (1:19-21): "Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. This is because an angry person doesn't produce God's righteousness. Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you--the very word that is able to save you."

Verse 1
How can you ask for the truth 
When you do not truthful live 
How can you ask forgiveness 
When you don't forgive 
I don't mean to bring you down or speak to you unkind 
But you can't be a beacon if your light don't shine

This echoes Jesus in Matthew 6:14-15: "If you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don't forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your sins."

Verse 2
How can you ask a child to be honest and true? 
When he can only judge what's right by what he sees in you
How can you offer vision, yet walk around blind 
No you can't see a beacon if its light don't shine

And again from Matthew 18:2-6: "Then [Jesus] called a little child over to sit among the disciples, and said, 'I assure you that if you don't turn your lives around and become like this little child, you will definitely not enter the kingdom of heaven. Those who humble themselves like this little child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and be drowned in the bottom of the lake.'"

In an age of tweets and public mean-spiritedness, the words remind us of the simple practices of a Christian's life. In a time when violence and division are celebrated, the personal habits of telling the truth and forgiveness are essential to following Jesus Christ. It is upon such things that allow us to live in the Kingdom of God in the here and now.

Aloha ma o Iesu Kristo, ko mākou Haku,
+Bob

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MAUI'S SPECIAL GIFT TO THE BISHOP
   
During a week on Maui for meetings and visitations, Bishop Fitzpatrick received a very special gift from Maui parishioners: an exquisite feather lei stole that he is wearing above. Bea played a large role in making sure the gift came to fruition.  The special feather lei stole was presented to him as a gift to mark the tenth year year of his Episcopate. See story under Maui Parish News.  (Photo by Rev. John Hau'oli Tomoso)

DIOCESAN  NEWS
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
ABCD Facilitator Formation Workshop


The Called to Transformation Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) facilitator workshop took place at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on June 8-10, 2017.  Called to Transformation is a partnership between  The Episcopal Church and Episcopal Relief & Development. The workshops are developed to train facilitators in leading a faith community in understanding ABCD.  Participants learn about the theory and practice of ABCD work, and then begin the process of creating a working plan to implement an ABCD project in their own ministry communities.

Leading the workshop were Sean McConnell, Director of Engagement for Episcopal Relief & Development, and the Rev. Shannon Kelly, Officer for Young Adult and Campus Ministries for The Episcopal Church and a member of the Presiding Bishop's staff. 

"Every time we present the Called To Transformation training, we learn from the place and our participants, and our time with the people of Hawai'i was especially rewarding," said McConnell, pictured at right. "Asset-based community development starts with listening to others to understand their passions and gifts."

He shared how the people they encountered in Hawai'i already know what it means to talk story. "They taught us so  much about how to truly honor the story of the other," said McConnell in an e-mail exchange.  "Add a sense of aloha, and you have the posture of hospitality that makes asset-based community development possible."

"Another gift of ABCD is that it lifts up the gifts inside our communities and ourselves. In Hawai'i, we learned that  hana is not simply a person's work or career. It has more to do with identity -- what we express as 'gifts' or 'assets.' So, much of what we talk about is  hana-based."

McConnell will definitely be taking a bit of the aloha spirit with him.  "Future trainings on the mainland will be much richer because of what we learned while presenting in Hawai'i, and I look forward to my next opportunity to experience the Aloha of ABCD."

In the photo at top are some of the participants of the ABCD workshop just before a commissioning service in the Cathedral, although not everyone made it into the picture. From left: Peter Pereira, Sean McConnell, Jazzy Bostock, Georgenette Kam, Fr. Dick Tardiff, Fane Lino, Fr. Moki Hino, Jenny Wallace, Rev. Cn. Alexander Graham, Mariterie Adams.   (Photos by Rev. Shannon Kelly)
 
Hui Pu 2017: S.W.A.G. (Saved with Amazing Grace)
By Seini Lino, Program Director, Camp Mokule'ia

Hui Pu is the annual faith-based summer camp that hosts three different age groups:  'Ahe (ages 9-12), Lokahi (ages 13-14), and 'Opio (ages 15-18) . In previous years, each age group attended camp separately, but this year, all three age groups were combined. The interaction in this year's mixed age camp experience was heartwarming and most importantly, a learning experience for both campers and staff involved! 

 

There were 45 campers, 21 of whom were members of, or connected to, an Episcopal Church in Hawai'i. There were 7 campers from St. Augustine's on the Big Island, twin brothers from All Saints, Kaua'i, and the remaining campers from O'ahu churches: 11 from St. Elizabeth's and 2 from St. John's By-the-Sea. Big mahalo to those churches for their support and for the opportunity to fellowship with your youth! Mahalo nui loa also to St. Elizabeth's and the Diocese for helping provide transportation for the week. The 15-passenger vans helped greatly with airport runs and shuttling campers to and from hikes. 

This year Hui Pu was blessed with amazing volunteers to help protect, guide and lead our campers throughout the week. A very big mahalo to Camp Mokule'ia's Episcopal Service Corp volunteers past and present, Terrin Walker, Andrew Page, Sabol Rodgers from the Diocese of Alabama, Mary Catherine Robinson from the Diocese of Texas, Nai'a Turner (our Executive Director's daughter) Joshua Lino (Epiphany Episcopal Church), Kaimana Zarka, Sanerisa Terno (St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church).  Special thanks also to Christine Delnat who volunteered as our camp nurse, and Rev. David Berkey, UMC Camp Coordinator for Cal-Pac, who volunteered as our chaplain. 



The typical schedule for Hui Pu was morning Bible Study/Godly Play with materials supplied by Epiphany Episcopal Church; afternoons in the ocean, pool or field; and evenings occupied by 'Ohana Group times. Throughout the day the campers fellowshipped amongst their own age groups but after dinner, everyone came together in "Ohana Groups." Campers were encouraged to treat everyone like their brothers and sisters in Christ and it wasn't long before we witnessed our high school campers taking on a more mature and responsible role. 

This year's theme, S.W.A.G. (Saved With Amazing Grace), was taken from  the story of Jose ph, whose young life was filled with many obstacles, but he continued to live with grace and faith. The colorful life of Joseph was reflected  in the youngest kids tie-dying shirts, the middle school group thinking about obstacles in their own life, and the high school campers voicing their own dreams and aspirations. Rev. David Berkey would end every night with a summary of the days' reading with a skit, song and a beautiful prayer. The Holy Spirit was definitely with them as they returned to their cabins energized, despite a long day. 

Stories from camp counselors about the youth warmed the hearts of everyone on my staff as we reflected on them: shy characters expressing themselves freely; quiet campers sharing deep and meaningful insights on what Hui Pu meant to them; and watching the little 'Ahe group campers being led by the oldest 'Opio campers who made them feel safe and valued! The middle Lokahi campers kept everyone entertained and were the life of the party...so much so that camp counselors surprised them with a well-deserved pizza pool party on their last evening at camp!

Most of the campers would not have been able to attend without financial aid from Camp Mokule'ia. About 75% of the campers were granted "campership" funds. A majority of our youth this year came from underserved communities such as Kalihi, Waimanalo, Kahalu'u and Kaneohe. Youth who had never camped in a formal setting with other peers of their age were able to experience this at Hui Pu 2017, thanks to donations and Camp Mokule'ia's fundraisers. 

Thank you to everyone who kept us in prayer. We know that it is the Lord's blessing and covering that made this Hui Pu another successful, safe and fun camp. In the words of a Hui Pu 2017 camper.."how many months till the next Hui Pu?"

I look forward to working with you all as we plan for another great year. Until then MAHALO NO NA MEA 'APAU and GOD BLESS YOU ALL! Ofa moe lotu, Seini Lino.

Our Youth
 Episcopal Youth Event 2017 & Mission
By Sybil Nishioka, EYE17 Diocesan Registrar



Many agree that one of the best events that the Episcopal Church puts together is a triennial gathering of high school youth called the  Episcopal Youth Event  or EYE. Youth from all corners of the Episcopal Church come together for three days of energized worship, a variety of workshops, impressive guest speakers, lively fellowship and activities galore that highlight the host city's uniqueness.  

"You're meeting people your age from all around the country and beyond, hearing powerful messages about God," said Grace Yatsko, one of the youth delegates who also attended EYE back in 2014 as a freshman. 

This year's EYE17 event was held at the  University of Central Oklahoma  in Edmond, OK, from July 10 - 14, 2017, where over 1,500  youth and their adult leaders came together. The theme, Path to Peace, was taken from Matthew 5:1-12, to focus on peacemaking and the ways each member of the Jesus Movement can pursue a path to peace. Pictured at top is a group shot of participants from the EYE17 Facebook page. 

Following EYE17, the Hawai'i delegation stayed in Oklahoma a few more days for mission, serving at various sites that included the Regional Food Bank, City Rescue Mission, Feed the Children, Hope Center and St. Christopher's Episcopal Church.



The Diocese of Hawai'i took a delegation of fourteen high school youth and three chaperones, hailing from O'ahu, Kaua'i and Maui. On July 9, the delegation gathered at the Cathedral of St. Andrew to have lunch with the Bishop and meet the rest of the group, before heading off to Oklahoma. They had a chance to review the itinerary, collect their trip t-shirts, give-aways, and awesome goody bags from Epiphany Episcopal Church. Pictured above, after a couple hilarious ice breaker games and lunch, the Bishop took the group on a tour of the Cathedral where most of the youth had never been before. He offered a prayer and blessing around the Cathedral font before departing.



Although the flights to Oklahoma were fraught with challenges (including turning back to Honolulu 1-1/2 hours into the flight and a missed connection in Texas resulting in an 8 hour layover), the youth were troopers and made the best of it!  After nearly 30 hours, they finally reached their destination, but missed the first day's pre-event activities.  After a couple hours of sleep, their first full day of EYE17 awaited!

DAY 1:  The Opening Eucharist began with superb music by a group (with no official name) of talented musicians brought together just for this event, and for every plenary session and Eucharist gathering, they successfully pumped up the crowd with praise and worship songs, and a lot of "silly stuff" too! Pictured below, representatives from each diocese processed in with an EYE17 banner (with our own Mason Tabura) followed by a line of attending Bishops, priests and officiants.



The Rt. Rev. Dr. Edward J. Konieczny, Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma, officially greeted everyone with a warm Oklahoman welcome, and introduced representatives from the Muskogee Nation in Oklahoma to translate his opening remarks (third picture above).  The Rev. Gay Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, welcomed everyone to EYE17, and Bronwyn Clark Skov, Director for Formation, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, shared some ground rules and reminders for the event. In his sermon, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry turned up the energy with his unfailing zeal, humor and verve, declaring Jesus' words to make disciples, and "to change the world, follow Jesus!" (View his sermon  HERE .)

Following the service, most of the delegation attended the  New Community  luncheon, where people of color were invited to fellowship and learn about the Church's model of diversity and ethnic ministries. Afternoon "Praxis" sessions followed with topics such as advocacy, Polity & Governance of the Episcopal Church, refugees, Scripture and Drama, summer camp games and of course, peace, to name a few. The Presiding Bishop spoke about the Jesus Movement in two workshops and held an open Q&A (pictured below). Youth lined up to ask their questions in earnest, but unfortunately, there just wasn't enough time to get to everyone.  



After dinner, the evening plenary session took on a more somber tone with the focus on the  Oklahoma City Bombing, an  event that rocked the nation and the world during the Spring of 1995, and a date well before the birth of any of the high school attendees. Among the speakers (pictured above from second photo) was survivor Melissa Houston, whose emotional and tearful account visibly moved the audience. She shared the hopelessness and loss of faith that followed, and how an introduction to a priest by her mom, re-ignited her faith journey.  Wendy Lambert was a Physical Therapist who immediately felt called to be there and help in any way she could, not knowing at the time that her own dad had been killed in the bombing. The uncanny chain of events that followed were both incredulous and amazing!  The final speaker was a first responder, Fire Chief Larry Hansen, who shared how the city came together so quickly and how the nation opened their hearts to help the city recover and heal.  (View the video of the plenary session  HERE .)

READ MORE:  To read this article in its entirety with a day by day account, visit the diocesan website HERE, where you will also find slideshows, post-EYE mission reflections, and where the video presentation for the Annual Meeting of Convention will be posted.
 
The Episcopal Church's New Community Conference



The 2017 New Community Clergy and Lay Conference was held July 19-22, 2017, at Camp Allen in the Diocese of Texas. The theme of this year's event was Affirming Life, Liberty and Justice.  The event is sponsored by the Episcopal Church Ethnic Ministries Offices, and is a gathering of Asian, Black, Latino/Hispanic and Native American clergy and lay leaders, to provide a safe place to explore mission in ethnic ministries. 

"The New Community Clergy and Lay Conference is a venue for us to learn from one another as we strive to live together as the beloved community," said the Rev. Canon Anthony Guillen, Episcopal Church Director of Ethnic Ministries Department.  The conference addressed current issues through plenary sessions and workshops and included ethnic-specific meetings, cross cultural conversations and mutli-cultural worship.

"Overall, I would say that the Diocese of Hawai'i lent itself to laying the foundation, nurturing it actually, of a culturally competent, diverse and inclusive [community of the Episcopal Church]," said Hawai'i delegate, Rev. John Hau'oli Tomoso from Good Shepherd, Maui. "We already live it in this unique multi-cultural and 'culturally up-close' diocese and 'aina aloha."

During the conference, the Hawai'i delegation got together with familiar faces from around the Episcopal Church. Pictured above from left, Rev. Bayani Rico from the Diocese of Northern California, Rev. Tomoso and Rev. Irene Tanabe from Epiphany, Honolulu. Pacific Islander Missioner, Fane Lino and her daughter Seini Lino perform a hula during a cultural night.  Below, from left: Keane Akao, Revs. Tomoso, Rico and Tanabe; Second photo seated: Fane Lino, a Tongan couple from the Diocese of California, Bruce Hanohano; standing: Rev. Tomoso, Seini Lino, Rev. Irene Maliaman from Diocese of Micronesia, and Pi'ilani Hanohano.  (Photos contributed by Rev. John Tomoso)


Saying Aloha & Mahalo to David Turner
By Sybil Nishioka, Communications, Office of the Bishop

On July 31, 2017, we bid a fond aloha to Rev. David Turner, who has been the Executive Director of Camp Mokule'ia for over eight years.  Back in 2009, Turner was asked to be the interim Director and never left. Eight years later, and after transforming a camp that was in shambles both structurally and financially, into a model of one of the finest campgrounds to serve any community, he will be returning "home" to his childhood church as their pastor. 

But his journey with the camp actually began in 2006, when a friend asked him to assist with a 2-day visioning/planning retreat with the Board of Directors of Camp Mokule'ia.  No one knew then that it would lead to a long and fruitful relationship, but it was at this retreat that Turner took away one of the most important lessons that would serve him in the near future-- "the close connection between being true to mission and camp stability."

In a recent interview with David, I was blessed with his passion and vision for serving God and the community. He spoke about the retreat back in 2006, and how the information he took with him years before was key to forming his focus and vision for the camp-- a return to mission .  The why and how to achieve that goal took some time, because, as he explained, "...the realities of what it means to be faithful in the 21st century are so different than the mid-20th century when the camp was founded..."

The visionary changes and programs he instituted are nothing short of remarkable, and although not every idea survived the trials and tribulations of the massive overhaul, most have flourished and grown. 

"There is no question that the vehicle that best delivers our mission and vision is our myriad of programming opportunities," said David in a report to the Board.  Indeed, they can customize a program for a group's needs utilizing the different offerings available at the camp like the ropes course. By partnering with other agencies (such as NOAA) they have developed programs for exploration and caring for God's creation, while incorporating Hawaiian values, wisdom and spirituality.  

He has addressed and affected every square inch of the magnificent oceanfront property led by a staff that is now focused on mission rather than facilities. They are trained to handle the numerous components of the camp and attend a variety of ongoing workshops that include key Hawaiian values, building trust, and articulating the camp's mission and vision.



One of the many bright spots in addressing both staffing and mission was the camp's affiliation with the Episcopal Service Corps that began five years ago. Each year, 2-4 young adults volunteer at the camp for a year of faith-based service. They are provided a yurt to live in, meals, a limited stipend, and a "structure in which to explore their call and form their faith."  They are key to helping run the camp and have served as inspiration to the regular staff who periodically join in on their daily reflection/devotional time and weekly "Love Feast (communion)."

Through grants, financing and fundraising, the facility itself has undergone a tremendous facelift offering an inviting, clean and safe haven for guests. The installation of 250 photovoltaic panels reduced fossil fuel consumption by 90%, water utilization is down 50%, and recycling, composting and re-using, reduced waste by 50%. The biggest facilites challenge that David sees in the future is the engineered shoreline that was damaged during the high surf in 2016, noting that if climate scientists are correct, such events could be a regular occurrence and threaten the camp and its facilities.

The Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers held their annual conference at Camp Mokule'ia this past February, eliciting lots of positive comments and admirers. Although there is still more to do, David feels comfortable knowing that the camp and its finances are in a good place. " It has been one of the great privileges and blessings of my life to be in ministry at Camp Mokule'ia," said David in the closing remarks of his report. 

Mahalo nui loa David, for your incredible vision, dedication, and hard work rooted in God's love, and having helped create such a blessed place for the community!



The Reckless Rector in Kenya
By Rev. David Gierlach, St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church

The following article and photos are from the St. Elizabeth's June Newsletter, sharing Fr. David Gierlach's adventures in Kenya, Africa, where he went on sabbatical four years ago and returned again this year.

Four years ago I got to spend time with three different community groups, one raising watermelon, one bees and a third chickens. We, the community of St. Elizabeth's, also helped with some modest funds over the last few years. What a joy to report that each of these groups has made truly amazing use of the modest funds we have given! The watermelon growers have raised and sold over 3,000 watermelons in three seasons and are now branching into corn growing.  The bee keepers (who didn't even have a bee keeper  outfit before [think of harvesting honey from a bee hive in your gym  shorts!]) and who had 5 beehives, have produced over 50 gallons of  honey and now have 21 beehives, all diligently cranking out sweet,  clear honey.  The chicken growers, all young women in their 20's and  early 30's, have gone from 10 chickens to several generations of  500+ birds that are grown, eggs harvested, then sold at a profit. 

These grateful entrepreneurs are not only tripling or quadrupling the initial sums, and using them to in turn grow larger crops, more honey and many more chickens: They are using some of the excess cash from the sale of their goods to pay necessary school fees for their children, and are reaching outside of their own groups, paying the various school fees for a large number of orphans in the area. Each of the groups has money in the bank as seed money for the next project. Many thanks to all of you!!! 



In the meantime, I'll send updates on the $4,500 you generously gave this time around. During my time here, we will meet on several occasions with the three original groups plus two others and they will tell us what their needs are and how they might use $900 each to meet these needs. Mama Joyce, the community organizer, mentors each group and provided me a painstakingly accurate breakdown of how much each group has received from us, what expenses were incurred, what gross income was received, and how the profit was used, right down to the last shilling (penny)!!!   A hui hou!!

Pictured above from left, enjoying fresh avocado and corn tortillas at the home of Julius and Beatrice, the leaders of the watermelon project; a lunch feast with community organizer Mama Joyce, husband George and friends--yummy chicken (it had been running around the yard earlier in the day), corn tortilla and some tilapia; joining a Kenyan priest and lay leader for a series of home pastoral visits--no driving here--five families were visited during this 2+ hour trek!

Retired Clergy: Staying Active and In Touch



Did you know that the retired clergy in Hawai'i gather together each month?  Did you know that the Diocese has an incredible couple who makes sure to stay in touch with and visit our retired clergy even on the mainland?  Did you know the retired clergy have their own newsletter?  In case you missed it, in the June 2016 E-Chronicle, it contained an article about the Chuns who had visited the late Bishop Browning and his wife Patty in Vancouver, WA. In a side note, it read:  

Six years ago, Bishop Fitzpatrick appointed the Rev. Canon Franklin Chun and his wife Norma Chun to be the Chaplains to Retired Clergy and their Spouses and Partners, and the Clergy Widows in our Diocese.  Their roles are primarily a pastoral care ministry that keep the Bishop, as well as the retired community, apprised of the well-being of each other.  Contact is made via e-mail, phone calls, visits, gatherings, an occasional newsletter, and birthday notes. The Diocese of Hawai'i numbers 67 retired clergy and 85 spouses/partners and widows, about half of whom live in the Islands, and the others throughout the U.S. and abroad.  In addition, the list also includes retired clergy, who have come from other dioceses, and have made the Islands their home.
 
Frank and Norma have been wonderful blessings for the Diocese, volunteering a lot of their own retired life to care for others and making sure clergy stay in touch and informed. Their "occasional newsletters" are filled with lots of information not only about the Diocese, but updates, photos and stories from clergy near and far, health and wellness, reviews on books, scams to be on the alert for, and lots lots more!

Pictured above are retired clergy at their monthly gathering that takes place the second Tuesday of every month at "The Shack," a restaurant in the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center on Keahole Street. All retired clergy, spouses and widows are invited to attend.  Presently, a few spouses of the pictured clergy have also decided to meet at the same time but in a different area of the restaurant, and that has worked well. They invite other retired clergy spouses and widows to join them.  The starting time of these gatherings is 11:30 AM and usually ends at 1:00 PM. It is informal and inexpensive, and the agenda is whatever they want to share that day! 

Spread the word and i f you'd like more information, e-mail Frank or Norma. (Photo from their latest newsletter)

Our Schools
St. Andrew's Schools: Queen Emma Ball Raises Record Funds



St. Andrew's Schools raised more than $800,000 at the 2017 Queen Emma Ball - 150th Anniversary Celebration held on Friday, May 26, 2017 - the largest amount ever raised at the Queen Emma Ball in the school's history!

The monumental gala kicked off a season of celebration for St. Andrew's Schools' 150th anniversary, commemorating the schools' many years of actively engaging and educating students in a culture of care, love, and service where every child is known, challenged, understood, and empowered to strive for the highest!

"For the past 150 years we have been educating children to thrive by nurturing their unique skills and talents to become meaningful contributors to our community and society," said Dr. Ruth R. Fletcher, head of school at St. Andrew's Schools. "We are proud to honor our founder, Queen Emma Kāleleonālani, who was an extraordinary visionary of her time. Together with her husband, Kamehameha IV, she was an alii who created significant and impactful legacies in education, health and spirituality that are pillars in our society today. We thank our alumnae and the community for their outpouring of support and aloha and look forward to many more years of educating the children of Hawaiʻi."

More than 480 guests gathered under the stars on the school's campus in the heart of downtown Honolulu to enjoy performances by extraordinary talented St. Andrew's students and delicious farm-to-table cuisine by Chef Mark Noguchi. Proud graduate, Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa flew in from Washington DC especially for the event and inspired the crowd when she shared how her education at The Priory and the influence of Queen Emma's legacy of leadership and care positively shaped her life.

During the event's Ignite the Mission Matching Gifts Campaign, the gala made its goal of raising an additional $150,000 to match a gift of $150,000 given to the school in honor of its 150th anniversary. The resulting $300,000 will be used to develop a new campus master plan and begin the work on long-term campus improvements. The campus master plan, debuting in fall 2017, will re-imagine current learning environments and actively create spaces designed to empower students and set the stage for transformational learning.  (Article and photos from the St. Andrew's Schools' website)

'Iolani School's Summer Happenings


Although many children look forward to a summer break from academic life, 'Iolani School welcomed 2,400 students to their summer school program, that featured a multitude of activities, guest speakers, field trips and new experiences to enrich these young people's lives. Pictured above from left, Living Art Marine Center inspired young ones in the "Under the Sea" art class with hands-on access to reef animals before doing some Gyotaku fish printing; "Our Ahupua'a: Observing and Experiencing the Watershed Through Stories and Citizen Science" class was another example of the wonderful summer sessions offered; and the annual Grooves & Grindz Summer Concert sponsored by the 'Iolani School Alumni Association drew a large crowd with performers like Willie K.   (Photos and info from the 'Iolani School Facebook page) 
 
O'AHU PARISH NEWS

Holy Nativity Changes the Lives of Ducks
By Barbara Poole-Street


...the Mighty Ducks, that is!  The Mighty Ducks is a Special Olympics team started over 20 years ago  with the support of Holy Nativity and the participation of several church families.  Over the years, Holy Nativity has served as a sponsor for the Ducks, offering the use of the gym for the basketball teams in the fall, Osco Field for the softball practices in the spring, and Glantz Hall for the potlucks we periodically hold for fellowship and dissemination of information.
 
With the support from Holy Nativity, the Ducks have flourished, becoming a large and active Special Olympics team.  They participate in every sport offered by Hawaii Special Olympics except ice-skating, have over 180 athletes on the rolls, and participate in every State Tournament.  Last month the two coach-pitch softball teams played in the state competition and won the gold and the silver medals!
 
If you are familiar with Special Olympics, you will know that they serve the Intellectually Disabled in our community, who have limited activities available to them.  Participation in Special Olympics focuses on sports activities, and thru this it is able to increase our athlete's fitness levels and self-esteem, provide social experiences, develop friendships, provide medical care to those needing it, and offer opportunities for athletes to develop public speaking skills. In short, Special Olympics changes lives in many different ways,  and we have a lot of fun  as we go along!  (Photo and article from the Holy Nativity E-News)
__________________________________________________________ 

Emmanuel's Summer Mālama Honua 
The members of Emmanuel and Calvary Episcopal Churches on O'ahu's Windward side, have embarked on a summer mission to care for God's creations by volunteering with local organizations for community workdays. With gloves and gear in hand, they visit various sites that include archeological treasures. Their first outing in July was to Sherwood Beach in Waimanalo, joining up with HVN, a locally owned sports apparel company, dedicated to eliminating micro-plastics littering on our beaches. Pictured at right, they teamed up with Ke Kahua O Kuali'i at the Kawainui Marsh, cleaning ti plants, pulling weeds, and building a rock wall for an area of the marsh that is used for Makahiki at the end of the year.  

The following is a story that appeared in the Emmanuel newsletter about a recent workday that took place at the He'eia Fishpond.

Stewarding Day with Paepae o He'eia Fishpond
By Sara Ka'imipono Banks
On Saturday, July 22, 2017, there were four of us that came to the  Paepae o He'eia Community work day to be good stewards of God's creation - the kai, wai and 'āina.  Nancy Bullen from Calvary Episcopal, Kelly and her son Cody, new parishioners of Emmanuel Episcopal and me.  
 
Paepae o He'eia is a private non-profit organization dedicated to caring for He'eia fishpond, an ancient Hawaiian fishpond located in He'eia, Ko'olaupoko, O'ahu.  Back in 2001 a group of young Hawaiians established this organization and partnered with the landowner, Kamehameha Schools, to manage and maintain He'eia Fishpond for the community. Paepae o He'eia was established to mālama He'eia Fishpond and serve as kia'i to this precious resource and treasure.
 
There were many volunteers from different walks of life that came that day.  Some, like us, came as a group from another organization, some came by themselves.  At 63, I think I might have been the oldest one there.  Many, many young adults in their teens, 20s-30s dedicated their Saturday to be servants of the land.  One of my favorite Hawaiian Olelo No'eau and one I strive to live by is:

He ali`i ka aina, ha kauwa ke kanaka -   The Land is a Chief, Man is its Servant... 
 
Our task for the day was to tackle a huge pile of rocks by separating big rocks from smaller po'o size (size of a human head).  Once that was done we formed a line to move the larger rocks by passing them to the person next to us until we got them to the other side of the stream for rock retaining walls to be built. 
 
During our break - the Paepae staff took us halfway around the fishpond and shared how the ancient Hawaiians gathered rocks from the base of the Ko'olau mountain and formed lines just like we did to bring them to the kai.  I thought of how long it took so many of us to move those rocks just 30 yards.  I pictured the many hands of the ancient Hawaiians of the He'eia ahupua'a lined up from the Koolau passing the stones to one another.  What a daunting task but another Oleleo No'eau wise saying of mine is:

A'ohe Hana Nui Ka Alu'ia - No Task Is Too Big When Done Together...
 
Each Mālama Honua stewarding day I experience, I give thanks that we have opportunities to come together with others in our community and as "ONE" care for our 'āina. It is during the hana (work) as we hear each other's stories we build an appreciation for our neighbors.  

Pictured above, Kelly and her son Cody hard at work, and in the second photo, the writer at far left holding a large rock. (Photos and article from the Emmanuel E-News)
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Setting Up Kalihi Waena Students to Succeed
By Ann Dugdale Hansen, Outreach Committee, The Cathedral of St. Andrew


Fr. Moki Hino blessed the Cathedral's donations of school supplies and monetary contributions for Kalihi Waena School at all three services on Sunday, July 30, 2017. This year, unlike prior years, the monetary contributions actually exceeded the physical supplies: Cathedral Bookkeeper Julia Jackson confirms "I will be issuing a check for Kalihi Waena for $1,615 this Friday, August 4." That is a truly substantial amount, representing a considerable pile of composition books, folder paper, pencils, magic markers and crayons.

On Monday, the day before teachers reported to school, Elizabeth Conklin and I drove the supplies over to Kalihi Waena. There were three big boxes plus several bags of supplies, backpacks and slippers. The office staff was grateful for the supplies, and really open-eyed  in appreciation of the news of the large check coming their way. Elizabeth and I volunteered to do the shopping at Fisher Hawai'i if they drew up a shopping list.

Leila Bajarin, the Parent Coordinator, was pleased with the slippers. Last year, we donated 26 pairs, which Leila "loaned" to various students for use at school, but none of those slippers ever returned. Apparently the need in those students' lives is just too great. Ear buds are a new addition to the school supply list, because each grade level has a set of iPads sufficient for one classroom to use at a time. These are on a cart that can be wheeled from classroom to classroom. If you have an extra pair of ear buds you don't need, please hand them to me and I will deliver them to Kalihi Waena!

Thank you to everyone who donated to this project, either the physical supplies or the cash to buy what the school needs for their students. Your donations allow children to go to school where they will be given school supplies, unashamed because their parents cannot afford to buy the needed supplies. Your donations enable teachers to present learning activities that their students can accomplish because they have the needed supplies.   (Photos and article from The Cathedral weekly E-News)
 
ECWO: The Episcopal Church of West O'ahu

Editor's note: The following article is about the response of West O'ahu churches to the deadly Marco Polo Condominium fire that broke out on July 14, 2017, leaving three dead and dozens displaced. Over 100 firemen responded to the five-alarm fire that destroyed 12 units and left many to question the safety of buildings that were built before 1974 without the mandatory sprinkler system requirements.

Reaching Out to Victims of the Marco Polo Fire
By Laurie Luczak, Bishop's Warden, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Aiea


As the Episcopal Church in West Oahu continues to grow, we are mindful to focus on the ministry areas that exemplify the mission of our churches. What we all share is the "ministry of outreach."  So when word spread about the fire, Keane Akao contacted the Red Cross to ask how we could help. They were still getting organized but eventually Seto Hall at 'Iolani School was designated as the support site. 

After several phone calls, a number of us got the invitational-rallying text message to help prepare, cook, deliver, and serve breakfast for 70 people. All churches in the [ECWO] region are involved in reaching outward whether it is in the form of a food pantry, thrift shop, providing meals at transition centers, boat harbors, or at Blaisdell park. So the invitation was not a surprise but a welcomed call to action. What followed was a flurry of text messages confirming participation, with instructions to convene at 4:00 AM at St. Timothy's Aiea, which has a certified kitchen.  

At 4:00 AM on Saturday, July 15, around a dozen people showed up to slice, dice, prep, cook, pack, and load. Using the St. Nicholas van, items from our Outreach room were loaded and ready for distribution. Dry goods were assembled along with tables and table cloths. The trays of white rice, edamame rice (vegetarian option), scrambled eggs, Portuguese sausage, Spam, and bacon were loaded into cambros for the trip to 'Iolani. It was 5:45 AM when we rolled off. Fr. Dan Leatherman, a Chaplain at 'Iolani, contacted security at the school to arrange for us to use the fire lanes, providing easy access to Seto Hall.  It worked like a charm! 

Head of 'Iolani, Dr. Timothy Cottrell, was there to greet and thank us. Tables were set-up in no time ready to serve residents, responders, and supporters.  All were welcomed and everyone was appreciative. Fr. Dan Leatherman, Fr. JaR Pasalo from St. Nicholas, and Rev. Annalise Castro, Chaplain of the St. Andrew's Schools, walked to Marco Polo delivering packaged food to the residents who had already returned to their units. While we were at 'Iolani, people with connections to the school stopped by to drop off coffee, malasadas and donuts. Their generosity and care was evident. 

By 8:00 AM left-over food was boxed and we headed out (in pairs no less) delivering the bento boxes to residents of various parks along the Ala Wai, Kaka'ako, Blaisdell, and at the transition center near St. John's in Maili. It's a blessing to have the capacity to share and serve. Our collaborative efforts demonstrates the power of shared beliefs, shared ministry, and shared desire to live the Gospel. We are West Oahu!  

Pictured at top, the charred building of the Marco Polo stands out eerily in the early morning light; the group of volunteers outside of the Red Cross station at 'Iolani School's Seto Hall.  Above from left, volunteers work quickly to prepare breakfast in St. Timothy's kitchen; the writer, Laurie Luczak, and Keane Akao take a quick break; serving up a hearty breakfast at 'Iolani to grateful people.   (Photos contributed by Laurie Luczak)
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Groundbreaking Ceremony for Solomon Elementary Rebuild


On Friday, July 7, 2017, the Rev. Kaleo Patterson was on hand at the groundbreaking ceremony for a nearly $90,000,000 two-year project to rebuild Solomon Elementary School located in Schofield Barracks. This is a joint project with the United States Federal Government and State of Hawai'i as part of a 2010 worldwide review of military elementary schools in 2010.  

Solomon and a sister school (Daniel K. Inouye) also on the base, both ranked high on the list, and both received grants from the Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and Hawai'i State Legislature for the project. The funding will allow for the construction of 63 state-of-the-art classrooms, two computer labs, a news production and video tech room, cafeteria and more. The school is scheduled to open at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.  Pictured above from left, many "partners" take part in the ceremony; Schofield Garrison Commander, Colonel Stephen Dawson and Principal Sally Omalza, former Senior Warden of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wahiawa; Govern and Mirs. Ige with Rev. Patterson and wife Nancy. (Photo contributed by Rev. Kaleo Patterson)
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Connecting: Blessing the Land of New Business in Kapolei

Pictured above, the Rev. Ernesto "JaR" Pasalo (with green stole) from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Kapolei, was on hand to bless the site of the new Fleenor Paper & Packing distribution center on Tuesday, August 1, 2017. The family-owned business is expanding it's Hawai'i operations and building this facility in Kapolei.  (Photo contributed by Keane Akao through Fleenor Paper & Packing.)  

KAUA'I PARISH NEWS

Laundry Love Celebrates Two Years on Kaua'i

June marked two years that the Laundry Love ministry was launched on Kaua'i by members of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Kapa'a.  Since then, they have provided over 4,000 loads of free laundry service to the community involving over 2,000 volunteer hours. Recently, they received support from Gain who provided 6-months of detergent and dryer sheets, and last year received customized laundry bags from a local realty company. Laundry Love is a national movement that began over 15 years ago in Ventura, California, as a simple way to give a homeless man a bit of dignity through clean clothing. It has now partnered with hundreds of organizations and laundromats throughout the United States including five and counting in Hawai'i.   (Photos from the All Saints' Facebook page)
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St. Michael and All Angel's Helps Create Giant Ti Leaf Lei for Kalaupapa Commemorative Service

Folks from Kaua'i attended a 5-day Ignatian Service Retreat at Kalaupapa on the island of Moloka'i, as guests of The National Park Service (NPS). While there, they learned that the NPS has an annual commemorative service on June 30, for the 8,000 residents who lived and died there. They receive lei from all the islands to place on each grave, however, more than 75% of the deceased rest in unmarked graves. It was asked if the people of Kaua'i could weave one very very long ti leaf lei to place around the circumference of the cemetery of the unmarked graves. Believing this was a holy privilege to be asked to do this ReSource for Christian Spirituality, who organized the trip, asked for the kokua of the UCC, Episcopalian and Lutheran churches on Kaua'i to join Lihue United's youth to fulfill this request.   Pictured above are St. Michael's participants, including Mady Hiraga-Nuccio who provided a truckload of ti leaves for the occasion.   (Article from the St. Michael's newsletter, photos by Rev. Phyllis Meighen)

MAUI PARISH NEWS

Maui Churches Working with the Mayor

During July, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick joined with the priests from all four of the Maui Episcopal Churches to discuss with Mayor Alan Arakawa the issues facing the island, and concerns about the community. Maui churches have a vibrant and cohesive outreach machine that includes the successful A Cup of Cold Water Care-van ministry.  Pictured from left, the Revs. Bruce De Goyer of Trinity By-the-Sea, Kerith Harding of St. John's, Craig Vance of Good Shepherd, Mayor Alan Arakawa, Amy Crowe of Holy Innocents, and Bishop Fitzpatrick. (Photo by Ryan Piros, Office of the Mayor, County of Maui)
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On Sunday, July 30, 2017, during a visitation to Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Wailuku, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick was presented with an exquisite "feather lei clergy stole," in celebration of his tenth year of consecration. The following story, collaborated on by several of the stole's creators, shares how this special gift came to be. 
Lei Hulu Mamo
 (Choice/Precious Feather Lei)


Back in November of 2016, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church was celebrating the Feast of the Holy Sovereigns as well as their year-long Sesquicentennial, but another special event took place at the same time. The Royal Order of King Kamehameha I conferred the status of Honorary Ali'i (member of royalty) upon Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick. This is a distinct honor for a person of non-Hawaiian blood and was done in recognition of the Bishop's many efforts to incorporate Hawaiian culture and leadership into the Episcopal Church in Hawai'i. ( E-Chronicle December 2016 ). 

Kit Hawkins and his wife, the Rev. Jodene Hawkins were in attendance at that service. Kit was wearing a feather lei hatband he had made and the Bishop's wife Bea admired it greatly. It turned out that some time back, Bea had volunteered to help make the Kahili (Royal Standards) now in use at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, under the direction of Kumu Auntie Paulette Nohealani Kahalepuna. (Auntie Paulette and her mother, Auntie Mary Louise Kaleonahenahe Kekuewa, are widely credited with bringing back Hawaiian feather art as part of the Hawaiian cultural renaissance beginning in the late 1960s - 1970s.)  An idea began to form, and Bea wondered if perhaps a Hawaiian feather lei could be made to celebrate Bob's 10th anniversary of his Episcopate! 

Bea and Kit wasted no time going to Auntie Patty Hana's Maui Feather Lei Shop just down the street, to share the idea of creating something special. Auntie Patty readily agreed to be a cultural advisor as well as supervisor of volunteers from all four Episcopal congregations on Maui. They invited  Rev. John Hau'oli Tomoso to participate, both for his deep knowledge of Hawaiian culture and his connection to the Native Hawaiian community on Maui. Fr. Hau'oli readily agreed and immediately set to work with Auntie Patty, and with  input from the Royal Societies, the design and colors began to come together .

Auntie Patty desires that the following story be told in conjunction with the making of Bishop Bob's lei, a story that could have been taken straight out of Scripture. May it be fuel for future teaching by our Bishop when he wears his stole:

A volunteer recruited by Fr. Hau'oli came to Auntie Patty's Maui Feather Lei shop one day. She loudly complained to Auntie Patty that she couldn't do feather lei work because of arthritis, lack of patience, and attitude..."it's just not me!" ...and told Auntie Patty to "tell that to Father John and anyone else!" So Auntie Patty asked her to show her why she couldn't do it. Auntie Patty guided her hands, demonstrating how to do it. Ten minutes later the woman exclaims "Oh! I did it! I can do this! I'll be back with more ladies in a few days." And she came back and became a huge supporter of the effort.

ABOUT BISHOP BOB'S HAWAIIAN FEATHER LEI CLERGY STOLE:
Bea felt that she should at least tell her husband that a special gift was being prepared for him on Maui to celebrate his tenth year as Bishop, and she asked if he wanted any particular colors for this unspecified gift. Bishop Bob very much wanted the 'Iolani school colors of red and black. In addition to those colors, gold is used. The royal colors of red and gold are appropriate for Bishop Bob because of his induction into The Royal Order of Kamehameha I.

The stole's richly rounded shape is traditional. The feathers are tied to a handmade banana sennet cord, made in Tahiti by contacts of Auntie Patty Hana. The cord extends beyond the last feathers and it forms the part of the stole around the neck connecting the two lengths of feathers. The kukui nuts at the neck are a traditional feature.  While the feathers used in ancient Hawai'i included 'I'iwi, 'O'o, various Honeycreepers and 'Apapane, they are either extinct or endangered and protected. Dyed goose feathers were used for Bishop Bob's stole.  No count of the feathers was kept, but each row of feathers is 1/16th inch apart and contains 8 -12 feathers or more, so there are thousands. Each feather was hand selected, trimmed, and woven to the banana sennet cord. Hundreds of hours by the volunteers were involved. 

Without Auntie Patty Hana (Gomez) this work of Hawaiian feather art would not have been possible. It is traditional that the heritage of a creator of such a work be set forth. Auntie Patty was trained and guided over many years by a number of older ladies, beginning as a 9-year old in Keokea in upcountry Maui. Under her guidance, an original work of Hawaiian feather art with no known precedent but faithful to the traditional feather works for Hawaiian royalty, was created by many to honor Bishop Bob. 

Pictured at top, the Bishop proudly wears his treasured feather stole with wife Bea and presenters from the Maui Episcopal churches.  Above right, the completed feather stole laid out on the altar before the service. (Photos contributed by John Hau'oli Tomoso)
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Serving Up PBJs at Trinity By-the-Sea
By Paula Baldwin, A Cup of Cold Water Interim President, Trinity By-the-Sea, Kihei

I have a success story to tell you. Trinity's Bishop's Committee had a retreat in January. One of the creative ideas that came forth was to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for A Cup of Cold Water runs in Kihei. I thought that was a neat idea. The Kahului Hongwanji and the Wailuku Hongwanji makes them for the Wailuku runs, Holy Innocents makes them for Lahaina, and Trinity could make them for Kihei.

So, I started asking around who would like to create and join a once-a-month outreach. In less than three conversations, Trinity had six volunteers, Love's Bakery agreed to donate the bread, there were many deliveries of peanut butter and jelly from Trinity members, and we were off and running!

We are now six months into this project. Every second Saturday of the month, 4-6 of us gather at 9:00 AM, and in about 30 minutes we make 40-50 sandwiches, wrapped and boxed for delivery to the ACCW van Sunday morning. We talk story, we laugh, we hear how family members are doing, and we leave with a clean, quiet kitchen and a sense of "thank you God, we shared your love of all of God's children a little more today."

Come join us. You'll have a fun Saturday morning, and know you have helped make a day brighter for a needy person in Kihei.  (Photos contributed by Paula Baldwin)

THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAI'I  PARISH NEWS

St. Jude's Welcomes Bay Clinic Medical Van
St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View is welcoming a new medical van to operate from their parking lot where a special concrete pad with a lanai was built for a previous medical van in 2014.  They weren't sure that this new much larger van would fit but were relieved when the van came by for a test run on July 21, 2017, and was able to utilize the space.  Unlike the original medical van which provided free services, this van will operate like a Bay Clinic doctor's office with most patients coming in with appointments. They will take drop in patients and help people who do not have insurance, complete the necessary paperwork to obtain medical coverage. There will be a physician and dentist available, and plans are to have them at St. Jude's one day a week.  (Photo from the St. Jude's monthly newsletter)
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St. James' Vacation Bible Study Happiness

In July, St. James' Episcopal Church in Waimea held their Vacation Bible Study, Maker Fun Factory, that brought an average of 25 enthusiastic children each day to enjoy the wonderful stories, crafts and activities.  The kids had different themes every day, played games, made "gobots" and GUTSY bears, learned fabulous songs from Auntie Rona, then set the tables so they could enjoy dinner with their families. Best of all, keikis and volunteers learned all about God's love for us!  (Photos from the St. James' weekly e-news)

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH & BEYOND

Presiding Bishop Responds to Trump's Transgender Military Ban
[Episcopal News Service] In light of President Trump's tweet banning transgender individuals from serving in the military and the Department of Justice's argument that employers can legally discriminate against people on the basis of sexual orientation, I am compelled to oppose these actions and to affirm the moral principle of equal rights for all persons, including the LGBTQ communities. I do so as a follower of Jesus Christ, as Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, and as a citizen who loves this country.

This conviction is not born primarily of a social ideal, but of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and the witness of our biblical and theological tradition.

Genesis 1:26-27 teaches us that all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. This is a divine declaration of the inherent sanctity, dignity and equality of every person.

Further, the sanctity of every human person and the principle of human equality before God are deeply imbedded in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. In Mark 22:26 and Luke 13:10-17, Jesus teaches the inherent worth and dignity of the human person. In Matthew 5:43-38, he tells us of God's love for all people equally. In Luke 10:25-37, he commands us to love God and to love every person. Above all, Jesus teaches that we are to treat all others as we ourselves would want to be treated (see Luke 6:31-36).

As followers of Jesus Christ we believe the inherent sanctity, dignity, and equality of every human being as a child of God is part of the moral foundation of our faith. In the Episcopal Church we promise in Holy Baptism to "respect the dignity of every person," and to "seek and serve Christ in all persons."

As Americans, we believe in civil and human equality, as one of the foundational ideals of our country. Discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is a violation of the fundamental ideal of equality in America. The Declaration of Independence says, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights."

Those rights - and the protection from discrimination - apply equally to all Americans.

I truly believe that the overwhelming goodness and kindness and sense of justice of the American people are summed up in the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, which says that we are "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."  Therein is the soul of America!

So, to the transgender individuals currently serving in the armed forces: thank you. We are grateful for your service and for your sacrifices.  We support you and all service members and veterans. You are our neighbors, brothers and sisters in God's human family, and fellow citizens of this country we love.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
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Episcopal Migration Ministries Hosts World Refugee Day Interfaith Conversation

[Episcopal News Service]  Judaism, like all religious traditions, calls Rabbi Victor Urecki to welcome the stranger, the refugee. In the Torah, God tells the Jews no less than 36 times to "love the strangers in their midst," reminding them they were once strangers in Egypt, he said.

Still, it's not Urecki's Jewish faith that drives him to welcome and to assist refugees arriving in Charleston, West Virginia. "As a Jew, I feel I'm called to be there for refugees because the refugee story is very personal for Jews," said Urecki, a  West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministryadviser. "It's my people's story. The image of every refugee should be an image imprinted on every Jew's heart."

Urecki spoke on a six-person panel during a June 20 interfaith conversation and prayer for World Refugee Day hosted by Episcopal Migration Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center in New York. An iftar, the meal eaten by Muslims after sunset during Ramadan, followed the panel conversation. (The holy month of Ramadan, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur'an to Muhammad, began May 26 and ends June 24.)

EMM encouraged congregations across the country to host similar interfaith conversations, and the June 20 panel was recorded on video for future use, said moderator Allison Duvall, EMM's manager for church relations and engagement.

The refugee narrative is encoded in Jews' spiritual DNA. They were forced to flee pogroms in Europe, withstood anti-Semitism and hatred across the globe and endured centuries of war and bloodshed. "We've been swept up as bystanders and brutalized as victims. We've been killed in our homelands ... because of who we were, what we believed and what we practiced," said Urecki, an immigrant whose grandparents and father were refugees. READ MORE

Pictured above, t he Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation, left, Rabbi Victor Urecki, of B'nai Jacob Synagogue in Charleston, West Virginia, center, and Hani Hamwi, of Islamic Relief USA, during a June 20 interfaith panel discussion for World Refugee Day. (Photo by Lynette Wilson/Episcopal News Service)
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Collars on the Corner Brings Prayer, Spiritual Connection to Streets of Milwaukee
[Episcopal News Service - Milwaukee, Wisconsin] Luria Sampson had plans Saturday morning, and they didn't include prayer - not at first.   Driving east down West Center Street in Milwaukee, he was on a course for his daughter's house, his thoughts focused on her safety in a city suffering through a surge in shooting deaths. But when he slowed for the stoplight at 51st Street, an unexpected sight gently altered his morning travels.  Sampson, 59, stopped his car, and prayer found its way into his plans.  He turned to park the Pontiac Vibe next to St. Catherine's Catholic Church, exited the car and, grabbing his cane, walked up to the sidewalk where men dressed in black and wearing white clergy collars were waiting to greet him.

It is called  Collars on the Corner, a public ministry that an Episcopal deacon and Roman Catholic deacon launched after a  Milwaukee police shooting last August. The killing of a black man during a chase by an on-duty city officer, also black, sparked days of protests and unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood and thrust  the city's stark segregation into the national spotlight.

Although the  Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee's congregations are well represented in the city's surrounding suburbs, there are no Episcopal churches in  city neighborhoods with majority black or Latino populations. Despite lacking a structural presence, the diocese's commitment to a personal presence in such neighborhoods is embodied by the Rev. Kevin Stewart, the diocese's missioner for community engagement.

Stewart has spent much of the past year growing the ecumenical Collars on the Corner ministry with fellow deacon the Rev. Jim Banach, with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee. They invite clergy of all denominations to join them outside collecting and responding to prayer requests, and they encourage churches to host the ministry on their own nearby corners. READ MORE  (Photo by David Paulsen/Episcopal News Service)
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On  a lighter note...

Editor's note:  The following article appeared in the Episcopal News Service about The Rev. William Miller and his beloved dog, Nawiliwili Nelson, who is dying of cancer. Fr. Bill was the Rector of St. Michael and All Angels in Lihue, Kaua'i for nearly eight years. He has published two books during his time in Hawai'i and has been a popular guest speaker. Those who know him, know his humor and his love of animals well. Since the publication of this article, they have returned home to Covington,LA, raising over $13,000 for animal welfare organizations throughout their tour. 

Last Howlelujah Tour: Taking Nawiliwili Nelson On a Roadtrip
[Episcopal News Service]   The Rev. Bill Miller is taking a close friend to Las Vegas on vacation, but this trip is about the bark, not the bet.

Miller's traveling companion is his 12-year-old dog Wili, who is dying of cancer, and Vegas is only the final stop on a six-state road trip that the Episcopal priest from Louisiana is calling the "Last Howlelujah Tour."

"It's been extraordinary," Miller said July 6 when reached by phone in Corsicana, Texas, south of Dallas. "The best parts of the trip have been really what we set out to accomplish, just to spend time together. We've just had a ball being together."

In addition to spending precious time with Wili, the other goals of the tour are to remind people of the spiritual importance of close relationships - whether with family, friends or "man's best friend" - and to promote and raise money for animal welfare organizations.

The tour will take the Rev. Bill Miller and Wili from Louisiana to Nevada, passing through Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona. Pictured above, they pose for a photo on July 4, during a stop at Barrow Brewing Company in Salado, Texas. 

The stop in Corsicana was about a week into the two-week tour, and a fundraiser there July 5, raised $1,600 for the  Humane Society of Navarro County. Miller has lined up about two dozen similar events in 18 cities on his route. Miller also is the  author of two books, which he sells during his visits to churches, breweries and bookstores, and part of the proceeds of those sales are added to the fundraisers.

"We have met some incredibly gracious and loving people along the way. They have shown [Wili] great hospitality," Miller said.   READ MORE  (Photos from Rev. Bill Miller's Facebook page)

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sybil Nishioka, Editor & Communications Contractor

The electronic Hawaiian Church Chronicle is the official news publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i.  All policy, editorial and administrative decisions are under the direction of the editor in consultation with the Bishop's Office.  The Chronicle welcomes suggestions, story ideas, comments and opinions from its readers.  Send articles, letters, news and photographs (electronic files preferred) to:   News , Office of the Bishop, 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI  96813
(808) 536-7776

 

The Chronicle does not assume responsibility for the return of photographs or manuscripts.

 

The deadline for submissions in the next October issue is September 23, 2017. 
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