an online publication of the
the Church of the Holy Nativity, Aina Haina
February 13, 2019
The Coming Week
at Holy Nativity

Worship this Sunday, 
February 17, 2019
The Sixth Sunday
After Epiphany
 Eucharist 7:30am
Eucharist 9:30am
Sunday School 9:30am
 

Wednesday, February 20
Eucharist 
 (10am)  Chapel

Thursday, February 21
 Centering  
Prayer (4pm)  Chapel


Worship the 
following Sunday,
February 24, 2019
The Seventh Sunday
After Epiphany
Eucharist 7:30am
Eucharist 9:30am
Sunday School 9:30am




Serving this Sunday 
(February 17)   
The Sixth Sunday
after Epiphany

7:30am Eucharist 
Celebrant: 
    The Rev'd Canon Kate Cullinane  
Preacher:
    The Rev'd Christopher Bridges
Lector: Lorraine Mau
Prayers of the People: 
    Lorraine Mau    
Usher: David Callies

9:30am Eucharist
Celebrant: 
    The Rev'd Canon Kate Cullinane  
Preacher:
    The Rev'd Christopher Bridges
Server/Eucharistic Minister
    Wyn Aubrey-Child
Lectors: 
    Bob & Jean Steele
Acolyte:  Alexander Domecki 
Prayers of the People:  
    Wyn Aubrey-Child 
Usher: Justin Donahue

Altar Guild: Nina Livingston's Team



Serving next Sunday 
(February 24)   
The Seventh Sunday
after Epiphany

7:30am Eucharist 
Celebrant: 
    The Rev'd Canon Kate Cullinane  
Preacher:
    The Rev'd Christopher Bridges
Lector: Shauna Nakamura
Prayers of the People: 
    Shauna Nakamura    
Usher: Ed Moore

9:30am Eucharist
Celebrant: 
    The Rev'd Canon Kate Cullinane  
Preacher:
    The Rev'd Christopher Bridges
Server/Eucharistic Minister
    Kathy Otani
Lectors: 
    Barbara Abe & Rosemary Domecki
Acolyte:  Sophia Yu
Prayers of the People:  Kathy Otani
Usher: Mark Slovak

Altar Guild: Sandra Braham's Team

The Sunday Readings


 
Interim Rector
The Rev. Canon Kate Cullinane
hncinterim@gmail.com
Curate
The Rev. Christopher Bridges
hnccurate@gmail.com

The Vestry
Sr. Warden: Austin Nakoa
Jr. Warden: Eva Eglinton
Treasurer: Jean Steele
Clerk: Nancy Thomas
Members at Large: Lila Johnson, Justin Donahue, Nina Livingston, Joe Kindrich, Rich Miller, Ed Moore, Jeff Taylor, John Verghese, Ken Zitz
Rector Search Committee Chair: Bob Steele

Office Hours
Monday-Thursday, 9am-1pm
(808) 373-2131
hncparish@gmail.com
www.holynativityhawaii.org
 
Parish Bookkeeper
hncoperationsmanager@gmail.com
 
Parish Administrator
hncparish@gmail.com
 
Prayer List
Byron, Kendall,  Rita, 
Ken & Erin,  Elma,  Wayne,
William, Bonnie,  Bob, Chris,
Kenneth,   Delia, Wayne, Tina, Ashely, Marge, Tony


Holy Nativity School
Tim Spurrier,  Head of School
(808) 373-3232

Holy Nativity School is dedicated to excellence in education within a small and personalized environment. Built upon the qualities of respect and inclusion, as exemplified in the Episcopal tradition, Holy Nativity School values each child's individuality as it develops principled citizens who recognize their role in a global community.

Click here to visit the School website.


Holy Nativity Thrift Shop
(808) 373-3744

Wednesdays and Fridays 
9 am - 3 pm

Saturdays 
9 am - 12 noon

Click here to visit the Thrift Shop webpage.



Interim Rectors 
Ramblings
 

GOD IN A BOX
"...a wandering Aramean was my ancestor." (Deuteronomy 26:5).
I love the story of Abraham. God calls Abraham to leave his home and all that is familiar to strike out on a journey into the unknown. Abraham is an Aramean and as a nomad he wanders until he is led by faith to the land of promise. Did Abraham have a map that told him how to get where he was going? No. But, Abraham did have faith. He had faith in the God who called him into relationship and would lead him into the unknown. The God of Abraham is bigger than the safety and security of the already known and familiar of his homeland.
Eventually the children of Abraham, the Israelites, find themselves wandering in the desert. They need more structure and more direction so God provides them with the ten commandments. These commandments are reflective of the covenant that God has established with the people and the stone tablets are put in a "box" called the Ark of the Tabernacle. The Israelites carried the Ark with them wherever they went as a tangible reminder that God was with them.
In due course the Israelites occupied the promised land, became more settled and in some ways wanted God to become more settled as well. They insisted on a King rather than rely on God as King. Eventually, King Solomon built a temple. The temple was an even bigger box to store the Ark of the Tabernacle which was a smaller box in which to keep the covenant and perhaps, the covenantal relationship. It was just too tempting for the Israelites to relegate God to the box and rely instead on their earthly king.
In time the Israelites were conquered and carried off into exile - another time of wandering and regaining the trust and faith that God would wander with them. They lost both the Ark and the Temple. Things did not go as they had planned, but God remained with them. God left the box of their expectations and journeyed with them once again into the unknown.
I find myself wondering if there are ways in which we try to keep God in a box. At times I am sure that all of us want to control God, or at least bargain with God. We want God on our terms. We want God to fix our problems, fix our kids and fix our finances. We want God to do bigger things too; fix our church, fix our country, fix our environment. We would prefer that God do as we direct; that God meet our expectations and parameters and climb into the box of our design. But God does not do as we instruct. God chooses to be bigger than we can imagine and have ideas and that we could never have envisioned.
Christians are often referred to as a pilgrim people. We are people on a holy journey with God, wherever that journey may lead. The journey may very well lead into intimidating or alien places but God promises to leave the box we have created for God and go with us into our unknowns.
I'd like to share with you a prayer by Thomas Merton. This prayer has given me hope and encouraged the faith that is in me when I have felt particularly lost and in need of God to accompany me in my journey outside the box.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you and I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road although I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Blessings,
Canon Kate+  

Rectors Search Survey
At our annual meeting last Sunday, members of the parish had an opportunity to provide feedback to the Holy Nativity Search Committee about qualities they would like to see in the new rector. To afford an opportunity to participate for those members who were unable to attend annual meeting, the survey will be available on the lanai. The surveys will be also available at the church office during the week. The anonymous survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Please return the survey to the church office or to Bob Steele Chair of the Search Committee by February 17
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Getting to Know Jesus
Come and join us at 8:30 to 9:10 for our Adult Bible Study every Sunday. We are going through the Gospel of Matthew. We read a chapter a week of the Gospel of Matthew and then come together on Sunday to discuss what we have read. It is a time for reflection and sharing with one another about Jesus. Do not worry that you have not started out with the group. Just come on and join us. All are welcome!! Please see Fr. Christopher if you have any questions. 
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Soup for the Soul Sunday February 17, 2019
Please join us for special music from our very own Lucia Bu at our 9:30 service. After the service we will enjoy food and fellowship with wonderful soup from our Happy Kitchen Team. Please come and enjoy the time together.

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The Britt Lectures February 15-18, 2019 at Christ United Methodist Church 1639 Keeaumoku Street, Honolulu HI.

Diana Butler Bass who is an author, speaker, and independent scholar specializing in American religion and culture will present the lectures. She holds a Ph.D. in religious studies from Duke University and is the award-winning author of ten books, including Grounded: Finding God in the World -A Spiritual Revolution (HarperOne, 2015), Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening (HarperOne, 2012) and Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (HarperOne, 2006). Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks 
Resource: https://dianabutlerbass.com/about/
The schedule for the lectures:
Fri 2/15: 7:00 - 8:30 pm; followed by q&a up to 9:30 pm
Sat 2/16: 7:00 - 8:30 pm; followed by q&a up to 9:30 pm
Sun 2/17: 7:00 - 8:30 pm; followed by q&a up to 9:30 pm
Mon 2/18: Three-Hour Workshop from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
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The Holy Nativity Thrift Shop is at it again with giving!
 
Mrs. Cheri Keefer, Mr. Alika Campbell YO Program Director and Mrs Ann McCrary.

On February 7, 2019 the Holy Nativity Thrift Shop continued the tradition of giving by donating $4,400 dollars to the Waikiki Youth Outreach Center. Youth Outreach or YO! as it is called provides basic needs and services to about 1,000 youth through their street outreach and drop in programs. Last year YO served over 5,000 meals, gave out countless pairs of socks and underwear and worked individually with many youth on issues such as employment, education and housing.


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A Message from the Holy Nativity School and Church Mission Possible Group
The Holy Nativity School is an important and cherished mission of the Church of the Holy Nativity. The school is a corporation owned by the parish and the land and buildings they share are held in trust for the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii. The church and school share many expenses including maintenance, insurance and utilities. The school is supported by tuition payments, fundraising and gifts; it has a small endowment. The church is supported by its congregation's giving, rental income from external parties and from endowments; it also operates a thrift shop. The church and school have agreed upon which indoor and outdoor spaces are designated for each-- either in their entirety or as scheduled.
The Church of the Holy Nativity worships God, encourages spiritual growth and shares God's bounty through outreach. Holy Nativity School values each child's individuality and seeks to develop principled citizens. Our Episcopal identity is found in our traditional worship, religious study, community life and pursuit of justice.
Our school's Board has fiduciary responsibility to our church. The board hires the Head of School with prior concurrence by the parish's Rector. The Head of School develops and implements policies and programs, hires staff and faculty, answers to the school's board, reports regularly about the school's progress to the Vestry and maintains a collegial relationship with the Rector. The church's Vestry calls the parish Rector, appoints school board members (nominated by a committee with church and school members), meets semi-annually with the school board and monitor's the school's well-being. In 2018-19 our school will begin to contribute to the capital improvements of the shared property. The school and the parish appoint members of a Capital Improvement Committee which prioritizes and manages needed improvements as approved by the Vestry and the Diocese.