News from your Parish

Preparing for Sunday:
Second Sunday of Advent

"The Advent wreath originated a few hundred years ago among the Lutherans of eastern Germany. At that season of the year our pre-Christian forefathers began to celebrate the month of Yule (December) with the burning of lights and fires. The Christians in medieval times kept many of these light and fire symbols alive as popular traditions of ancient folklore. In the sixteenth century the custom started of using such lights as a religious symbol of Advent in the houses of the faithful."
Source: "Handbook of Christian Feasts and Customs" by Francis X. Weiser c. 1958 Harcourt Brace and Company

Featured here is an advent wreath created by our Sunday school students.


Please find below an outline of  pertinent events at the parish for the next month .  

Monday, December 2
1:00PM Staff Meeting 
3:30PM Centering Prayer
VISION POLLING OPEN UNTIL 12/9*


Wednesday, December 4 - Advent Quiet Day
CHA will be open for prayers, office closed for business
12Noon Noonday Prayer
4:00PM Bible Study
5:30PM Compline Taize' 
6:15PM – 7:45PM Choir Practice 

Thursday, December 5
10:15 - 12:30PM Vision Process Team

Saturday, December 7
3:00PM Hilo Community Chorus - Carols for Christmas
First United Protestant Church, 1350 Waianuenue Street

Sunday, December 8 - Advent 2 
7:30AM Holy Eucharist Quiet Service
10:00AM Holy Eucharist with Music

Monday, December 9
1:00-2:30pm Staff Meeting
3:30PM Centering Prayer

Tuesday, December 10
2:00PM Finance Meeting

Wednesday, December 11
12Noon Noonday Prayer
4:00PM Bible Study
5:30PM Compline Taize' 
6:15PM – 7:45PM Choir Practice 

Thursday, December 12
10:15 - 12:30PM Vision Process Team

Saturday, December 14
All Day - Pastor @ Diocesan Spiritual Growth Design Team meeting

Sunday, December 15 - Advent 3
7:30AM Holy Eucharist Quiet Service
10:00AM Holy Eucharist with Music
11:30AM Vestry Meeting

Monday, December 16
11:30AM Worship Team Meeting
1:00-2:30pm Staff Meeting
3:30PM Centering Prayer

Wednesday, December 18
10:30AM Preschool Chapel
12Noon Noonday Prayer
4:00PM Bible Study
5:30PM Compline Taize' 
6:15PM – 7:45PM Choir Practice 

Thursday, December 19
POINSETTIA CARDS DUE
10:15 - 12:30PM Vision Process Team
2:00PM Peanut Butter Ministry - Prep Crew - Hilo United Methodist Church
5:00PM Peanut Butter Ministry - Serve Crew - Hilo United Methodist Church
7:00PM Blue Christmas on lanai

Saturday, December 21
9:00AM Parish Work Day

Sunday, December 22 Advent 4
7:30AM Holy Eucharist with Baptism
10:00AM Holy Eucharist with Music

Monday, December 23 - Office Open
3:30PM Centering Prayer
Tuesday, December 24 - Office Open
4:00PM Christmas Eve Family Mass w/ Keiki Activities
10:30PM Christmas Eve Midnight Mass w/ Lesson and Carols

Wednesday, December 25
9:00AM Christmas Day Service

Thursday, December 26 - Office Closed
Friday, December 27 - Office OPEN
Wednesday, January 1 - Office Closed

Thursday, January 2 - Office Open
10:15AM Vision Process Team

January 26th - CHA Annual Meeting

 Fellowship follows all Sunday services.   
 Please stay and partake.
Grappling with Advent
-excerpt from Father David Glaser's sermon

Advent reminds us that one of the important things we do during this time is to prepare for  is to prepare to receive Jesus.

Advent calls us to prepare to welcome God bursting into creation once again at Christmas, but also again in the last days. 
Advent also calls us to renew our invitation to him to dwell within our hearts, to make our hearts a comfortable place for him to live.
To help us prepare to receive Him anew this Advent: GRAPPLE!

Gratitude ---- Reflect ---- Pray ---- Look ----

Gratitude : Take a Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did, the people you interacted with. What did you receive from these people? What did you give them? Pay attention to small things—the food you ate, the sights you saw, and other seemingly small pleasures. Savor them. Then thank God for these gifts.

Reflect : Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Boredom? Elation? Resentment? Compassion? Anger? Confidence? What is God saying through these feelings?
God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Make note of these sins and faults. But look deeply for other implications. Does a feeling of frustration perhaps mean that God wants you consider a new direction in some area of your work? Are you concerned about a friend? Perhaps you should reach out to her in some way..

Pray : Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of pleasure or peace. Or it may be you have done something you regret. Express your sorrow to God and ask for forgiveness. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.

Look : Look toward tomorrow. Ask God to give you grace and light for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delighted anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask for help and understanding and strength. Pray for hope.

May your Advent preparations be deep and meaningful and may they lead you to a renewed sense of Godʻs presence in your life.
Compline Taize'
JOIN US on December 4, 11 and 18 in the Sanctuary!

Thankful for day that is past? Come and give thanks and ask for God's protection through the coming night.
This ancient and simple service lasts about 30 minutes and gives one a chance to slow down, pause and thank God for the day that is past, and is set with candlelight and chant.
Reminders and Announcements:
The Welcome Committee is looking for a few men and women to welcome newcomers at the door with a lei and a friendly smile. If you are interested and would like more information, please see Barbara Gallop or email her at
Looking for a spiritual network of individuals committed to receive the gift of contemplative prayer in which we experience God's presence within us? This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

Visit our weekly Centering Prayer meetings held on Mondays at 3:30p.m.. (NEW TIME!)

For those experiencing grief, loss or hardship, the Christmas season is far from the most wonderful time of the year. Typical holiday festivities—merry carol singing, decorating, gathering with family and purchasing gifts—emphasize joy and cheer, leaving little room for pain and grief. In response, some churches offer special services leading up to Christmas that accommodate those for whom the season is trying and difficult. Join us for Blue Christmas service on December 19th at 7PM.
December 2019 Green Tip
There are several local efforts focused on our “Plastics” challenge. These were listed in a November 1, 2019 article in West Hawaii Today:
 
Puna Precious Plastics  has over 1,000 members since they organized on the Big Island. This local effort spearheaded by David Marquis held their first plastics collection in November. They are modeled after Precious Plastic in Amsterdam, started by Dave Hakkens, is a global community sharing knowledge, tools, techniques, and solutions to the plastic pollution. Puna Precious Plastics is a facebook group, which I am not, but if you are, please share any updates on Puna Precious Plastics with us!
 
Hawaiizerowaste.org  is a website sponsored by the County of Hawaii Department of Environmental Management. It has information on solid waste and how we can Reduce, Reuse and Recyle. 
 
Hilo ReStore  located at 863 Iolani Street in Hilo, phone 935-6677 is a Habitat for Humanity store that accepts and offers gently used home improvement items. They have an educational recycling section in their store and recently held workshops. Profits go to eliminating poverty housing in Hawaii. Our very own Janet Synder, just returned home after participating in an international Habitat for Humanity effort in Vietnam.
 
Recycle Hawaii   is a non profit providing free recycling educational services and innovative reuse programs on Hawaii Island.
 
Zero Waste Big Island – East Hawaii Chapter  is also a facebook group which started a support group to help us reduce waste.
Donate a poinsettia of remembrance for a loved one this holiday season.

Reservation envelopes are available in the back of the sanctuary. One plant per card, please. If paying with a check, please put "Poinsettia" in the memo line and the suggested donation amount is $20. per plant. Please turn in all envelopes by December 19th.
*Strategic Vision Update Corner

Mahalo to all our parishioners who participated in last Sunday's polling of New Ministries and a name for our Vision Plan!   The Polls will remain open until Tuesday, December 10, 2019.  Polling boards will be up on easels on Sunday, December 8, 2019 and Vision Process Team members will be present to assist. Please participate, your input is valued!
Posted on our website are the  6 proposed ministries  which need to be prioritized; and   5 suggested titles for our plan . You have 2 dots to choose one ministry and one plan name. 

Also posted ~ don't forget to review the  Preliminary Vision, Mission and Core Value s which are a result of your input.

If you are unable to attend and need assistance, please contact one of the Vision Process Team Members:
7:30am service: BJ Saito, Deb Sakurai-Horita, Penny Chu
10:00am service: Susan Gagorik, Diana Kahler, Karl Eschbach, David Hryniuk, Jim Penny
Office: Amy or Pastor Katlin
Received, with Gratitude!

CHA received this heartfelt letter thanking the congregation for the wonderful Thanksgiving goody bags. These goody bags were prepared by the Meals on Wheels Ministry on November 19th and delivered to the Office of Aging. All 150 bags were then delivered to seniors throughout East Hawaii who are homebound.

A small deed that goes a long way.
"Listening creates a holy silence. When you listen generously to people, they can hear truth in themselves, often for the first time. And in the silence of listening, you can know yourself in everyone. Eventually you may be able to hear, in everyone and beyond everyone, the Unseen singing softly to itself and you."
~ from KITCHEN TABLE WISDOM by Rachel Naomi Remen 
Whatʻs going on in the Diocese?

Click HERE for the most current news!

Links of interest:
CHA is now registered at Amazon Smile ! When customers shop on  AmazonSmile  ( smile.amazon.com ), the  AmazonSmile  Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to CHA! Be sure to select CHA from the list of charitable organizations FIRST.
Pastor Katlin is available for Pastoral Care at 808-333-7693
Prayer List: Call the church office or speak with our pastor if you have a prayer request. (808-935-5545) or admin@episcopalchurchhilo.org. Prayer Lists are refreshed monthly.