Morning Coffee Inspiration from Pastor Gae

Aloha Friends,

Have you been haunted by the latest school shooting on Tuesday that resulted in the death of the teenager Kendrick Castillo and eight other children being wounded? Or how about last week when there was a shooting on the campus of UNC and a young college boy, Riley Howell died. Or are you starting to feel immune to the gun violence that seems to be an everyday occurrence in our country.
I can’t get Kendrick’s face out of my mind. He looks like such a sweet kid who could be anyone’s kid or grandkid. I am angry at myself for giving in to such thoughts as, “I just don’t know what to do.” I am angry at myself that all I’m doing is applauding the kids who are doing what they can to protest gun violence, even if it’s just walking out of school while I am doing… nothing.

And then I read Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day Proclamation which I read every year the week before Mother’s Day. Julia is a distant relation. She was a woman of faith and a social activist who called the women of her day to stand together and speak out against war as a means to achieve peace.

As I read her Proclamation, I can hear her speak today. She would be calling all women, mothers and daughters, to stand together with courage to take on the NRA and any political leader who obstructs the path to strict regulations of gun ownership. She would have no tolerance for all the political rhetoric that has amounted to little to nothing.

I invite you to read Julia’s proclamation, imagining the year 2019. What are your thoughts? What can we do before there’s another mom grieving the loss of her child?

In our Master’s love,  
Pastor Gae+


The First Mother's Day Proclamation – 1870 – Julia Ward Howe

Arise then...women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts!
Whether your baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have questions answered by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country,
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil
At the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God -
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

CONNECT
Walk Our New Labyrinth!
Christ Memorial is excited to announce that it now has a labyrinth that all are invited to experience. Labyrinths are a wonderful way to quiet the mind and move deep into the heart. and we welcome all to take a break and rest in the presence of God.

Bob Vlach, the Kaua'i “labyrinth guy,” marked and trenched the design, and on Sunday, May 5, after the second service, volunteers went to work laying the stones that outline the path. Originally, the work was scheduled for Saturday, but mother nature said otherwise. Sunday was a glorious day, and nearly 20 people donned gloves and grubs and went to task laying 800 bricks! Mahalo nui loa to all our dedicated volunteers!
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Over the next month or so, Bob will continue to monitor and care for the labyrinth to make sure the stones and grass set just right, but in the meantime, all are welcome to experience prayer and meditation in a whole new way! To learn more about labyrinths, please visit https://veriditas.org .
Men’s Fellowship Meets Every Monday at 9:00 am
Kilauea Bakery and Pizza (Kong Lung Market Center)

Christ Memorial Men’s Fellowship group is growing! We meet every Monday morning at 9:00am for coffee or breakfast at the Kilauea Bakery. For more information, see Patrick O’Connell at worship or email him at paoco65@gmail.com .
SERVE


Mother’s Day at Helen Mitsui Shared Blessings Thrift Shop
Mamma Mia! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12th — make sure to stop in at our Thrift Shop for that special something for that special someone — your mother, grandmother, auntie…

Thrift Shop Hours for Shopping and Donations

Tuesday, Thursday & Friday: 2:00 - 5:00pm
Wednesday: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Saturday: 9:30am - 3:00pm
Sunday: closed
Monday: closed

PRAY
Special Ministry of Christ Memorial ~ Open for Prayer
Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Feeling a little overwhelmed with life? Just drop in to Christ Memorial for a little peace and quiet.

One important ministry of Christ Memorial is the opening of our church doors, Monday through Friday, during the day. It’s amazing the number of people who drop in to pray, meditate, or just to seek a few minutes of quiet. Unfortunately fear has crept into many churches. Pastor Gae believes our country would be very different if all churches kept their doors unlocked.
GIVE
Ways to Support Your Church
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your financial support and generosity allow us to create and enhance the beautiful environment and worship that you and your family enjoy on a weekly basis.

Change to Automated Giving
Thank you to those of you who automate your giving and have a plan to support your church. Your consistent, planned generosity makes it possible for us to budget and dream responsibly. Want to change to automated giving? It makes life easy, especially if you travel. Contact our Treasurer Scott Oliver for information at j.scott.oliver380@gmail.com .
Check
Thank you to all of you who still like to write checks. Please make checks payable to Christ Memorial Episcopal Church and mail to PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754.

 Stock
Through the decades, many have given stock to Christ Memorial, enabling us to be a consistent presence in Kilauea. For more information on contributing stock, contact Scott Oliver at j.scott.oliver380@gmail.com.

Easter Appeal
Thank you to all who gave to our special Easter appeal. Easter is 50 days, so you can still give. To read Pastor Gae’s Easter letter, click Easter 2019 . To give to our Easter Appeal 2019, please click on one of the buttons below:



Sharing our Property for Support and Recovery Groups
Christ Memorial wants to be known in the community as a healing place for the body, mind and spirit. We are seeking support and recovery groups to meet on the property, either in the Parish Hall or the Office. If you know of a group looking for a place to meet: grief support, eating disorders, anxiety, Al-Anon, Gamblers Anonymous, etc., please tell them to contact us.

If you know of a group looking for a place to meet: grief support, eating disorders, anxiety, Al-Anon, Gamblers Anonymous, etc., please tell them to contact Pastor Gae.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups meet at Christ Memorial Parish Hall every week on these days and times:

  • Tuesday at 10:00 am
  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Sign Up for the Diocese of Hawaii E-Newsletters

We invite you to sign up for the Diocese of Hawaii E-News and E-Chronicle to stay informed and to learn about happenings taking place around the Diocese.

E-News is published twice monthly and announces upcoming events and activities throughout the Diocese.

E-Chronicle is magazine-like and publishes special feature stories.

To sign up for the Diocesan E-News and E-Chronicle, click HERE .

Newsletter Mission: Our weekly newsletter was launched this year to inform our island community, as well as connect with our broader community of old and new friends, near and far. Whether you live on Kaua'i, visit seasonally or joined Christ Memorial for the first time during vacation, we welcome you into our global family. We endeavor to include inspiration, new ideas, practical advice and updates on news and events of Christ Memorial. Let us know how we can serve you best in 2019 by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at ChristMemorialKilauea@gmail.com

Have you met Pastor Gae? Pastor Gae wants to get to know you all – phone chats, home visits, morning coffees, afternoon teas or walks on the beach. Near or far, reach out to meet or share your thoughts at gdchalker@gmail.com or (623) 208-9436.
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754
Mailing: PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754
Phone: (808) 482-4824

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