January 19, 2020
The Second Sunday after Epiphany
8:00 am and 9:30 am

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 On this second Sunday in the season of Epiphany, we will be celebrating the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the great prophets of our time.  


Weekly Centering Prayer and Meditation
This Sunday, January 19
4:00-5:00 pm
Centering Prayer now meets weekly and is open to all faiths and to anyone who is seeking a deeper meaning to their spiritual life along the Contemplative Path. Each session, Pastor Gae gives meditation instruction followed by a bit of music and sacred reading, time to sit in silence, and time for observations and questions. Cushions for the pews are provided. “ Silence is God’s first language. Everything else is a poor translation .” ~Thomas Keating

Prayer Ministry
Beginning Wednesday February 5 
10:00 - 10:30 am
Healing Service
One of the seven sacraments in our church is known as Unction, or Healing. Beginning Wednesday, February 1, 10:00 – 10:30 am, Christ Memorial will have a Healing Service in the sanctuary. We will pray for the healing requests that come in everyday from those who visit the church. There will also be Anointing and Laying on of Hands for those who desire it.

Morning Coffee Inspiration from Pastor Gae

Aloha Friends,

At our next Quiet Morning on February 1st, I’ll be giving a teaching on Writing your Spiritual Autobiography. One of the exercises we will do is recalling the important people at various stages of life, the ones who inspired and taught us and the ones whose connection resulted in a shift in our consciousness.Yesterday, I had a chance to reconnect with one from my life. 
Bill Sell-lee arrived one Sunday morning at the 8:00 am Sunday service at the last church I served, St. Peter’s.  Bill was in his late 70’s at the time. He’s a second career Episcopal priest, formerly an engineer and management consultant. When we first got together over coffee, I learned that he was an avid seeker and learner. The bio he wrote for a workshop at St. Peter’s said that after retiring he “continued his learning by exploring many holistic health modalities, seeking to discover the balance between science, medicine, religion and metaphysics.” Here was a faithful Episcopal priest (an 8:00’er no less!) who was open to taking all kinds of workshops at places like Esalen; seeking wisdom from alternative medicine; and constantly reading about new ideas. I knew right away this man would be an important teacher for me and my church.
In one of the workshops at St. Peter’s, Bill said “There comes a time after a full life of growing, learning, creating a family, building a career and giving back through community service, that a person is “called” to pause, to take a time-out… to explore the universal questions:

Who am I?

Where did I come from?

Why am I here?

Where do I go when I die?

Yesterday, when I talked to him, (he’s now mid-80’s), he said he was spending a lot of time sitting on his porch of his tiny condo on Bainbridge Island overlooking the harbor, and contemplating the third question, “Why am I here?” 

I am now almost 66 and more conscious of my age than ever before. I used to be able to do four services on a weekend, but now I go home and take a little nap at the end of two. I see a physical therapist because of some joint issues. I have to watch my diet because of gastro stuff. I can barely keep awake past 8:00 pm (my excuse… I’m always up by 4:00 am!) And yet, I am more excited about this stage of life than ever before. I love my work, but the great thing about conscious aging is you’ve hopefully learned what is really important in life ~ your family, friends, faith and community, but also it’s the time to pause and spend quiet time thinking and writing and talking with other soul-journers about the big questions. Who talks about that when you’re raising kids or developing a career or preparing for retirement? I didn’t. Even when I was ordained, my focus was being a good priest and rector, wife and mom. Sure, I saw a spiritual director and therapist as most priests do, but most of my energy was outwardly focused and not on the journey of my own soul.
I am so grateful to be almost-66 and to have Bill as my friend and teacher. I’m grateful for folks on Kaua`i who I’ve connected with as soul-journers. One shared a book she is reading about this very subject, Sue Monk Kidd’s “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter.” I’m loving it and can’t wait to talk about it.   

If I had a dream come true for our little church, it would be women and men, especially those of us in the second half of life, gathering together in three or four-somes over coffee, lunch or a glass of wine and sharing our thoughts on these big questions. I know how much I learn from the experience of others.  

We are all on a journey, right? As the popular saying reminds us,“ We are spiritual beings having an earthly experience.” God is so good! As always, I welcome your thoughts,

Joy, joy, joy,

Pastor Gae+


 CONNECT
Church Work Morning  
This Saturday, January 18
8:00 am - Noon
Our Church Work Mornings are a lot of fun and the way in which we can beautify our property and do some maintenance work without having to hire workers! Consider coming over for an hour or two. Sustenance of coffee and muffins are provided (and sometimes lunch if we work that long). Even if you can’t make it on Saturday the 18th, you can sign up for one of the odd jobs. As of this printing, here is a list of some of the work:

  • Graveyard weeding and caretaking (we can use a couple of foster families)
  • Brass polishing …. in great need
  • Clean lamps in sanctuary
  • Wash pews
  • Parish hall kitchen… everything organized in bins, wall prep to prepare for painting
Christ Memorial Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 26
Following the 9:30 am service
Meets in the Parish Hall

Nominations for the Bishop’s Committee are open! Our Bishop’s Committee is charged with the leadership and business of the church. Each of our Bishop Committee members leads a particular ministry. We are particularly interested in folks who have an interest in one of the following ministries: 



Writing Your Spiritual Autobiography
God spoke to me… and the message was…
A Quiet Morning at Christ Memorial
Saturday, February 1
9:00 am - Noon
Quiet Mornings at Christ Memorial are an opportunity to check out of the busy-ness of life and spend quiet time with God. 

This month’s teaching, “God spoke to me… and the message was… ” will be about writing your spiritual autobiography. What have been the significant events on your spiritual journey? Who have been your greatest teachers? What have you learned about God? Jesus? Yourself? Pastor Gae will be sharing the process she learned at the Haden Institute of Spiritual Direction.

Quiet Mornings begin with a Taize-style worship service. Following the teaching, participants are invited to journal, create a Soul Collage, meditate, walk the labyrinth, draw, create a poem, or just sit in quiet under the Poinciana tree. Materials and sustenance of coffee and muffins are provided. Faith offering suggested: $10. Sign up on the walkway or email Pastor Gae.
Bible Study - Gospel of John
Begins Wednesday, January 8 , 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Meets in the Church Office

We are starting a new study in January on the gospel of John. Bring a bible, any translation. If you’ve never been in a bible study, there is no better time to start than the New Year! Sign up on the walkway or email Pastor Gae gdchalker@gmail.com .  
Keiki Fall Sunday School 
Every Sunday, 8:00 – 9:00 am
Meets in the Church Office

For the first Sunday of Advent, our Keiki created their Advent candles. We welcome new students, as well as volunteers and parents to assist in our Sunday School program. For more information, contact Keana Oliveira keana@ischool.org or Leona Blankley at lcblankley@aol.com .

Men’s Fellowship 
Every Monday at 9:00 am
Meets at Kilauea Bakery and Pizza 

For more information, see Patrick O’Connell at worship or email him at paoco65@gmail.com
Support and Recovery Groups

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

Christ Memorial wants to be known in the community as a healing place for the body, mind and spirit. We are inviting 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, financial peace, Al-Anon, Gamblers Anonymous, etc., please tell them to contact Pastor Gae. 

 SERVE
Shared Blessings Thrift Shop: The Blessing of Teamwork
Under the leadership of Helen Mitsui, the team at Shared Blessings keeps growing. This Sunday and Monday, we thank: 

  • Gordon, who tested, assembled and packaged clocks, tripods, and emergency flashlights. 
  • Marilyn, who displayed our cosmetic bags, wallets, purses and computer bags in a new dedicated department of the shop. 
  • Christie, who prepped bins of clothing and got lots of men’s, women’s and children’s garments out on the racks
  • Kathy, who merchandised all our tables with beautiful new decorative home goods, dishware and gifts in beautiful color themes reflecting the sea. 
  • Margaret, who saved the day sorting price tags and clothes.
  • Deb and Cindy, who priced and moved mountains of new merchandise for Tuesday opening.

Life is good. The blessing of teamwork, friends, community, fellowship and volunteers!
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: fellowship 11-12pm

Credit cards accepted
Gift cards available for purchase


PRAY
Special Ministry of Christ Memorial ~ Open for Prayer
Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
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.

Our Sunday prayer list includes those whom our visitors have asked us to pray.

 GIVE


Update on Stewardship 2020

Thank you to all of our members who submitted their pledge offering for 2020. At Christ Memorial, as in all Episcopal churches, we believe we all share in the cost of being church.  

We are now beginning the work on the church budget. You can still make a pledge. Just ask an usher for a Pledge card.
 P rayer:    

Magnificent Holy Father. 
I stand before you at this altar. So many have given you more.
I may not have much I can offer. Yet what I have is truly yours. 
This is my offering, dear Lord. 
This is my offering to You, God.



Change to Automated Giving

Thank you to those of you who automate your giving and having 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 Tom Blankley for information at tblankley@msn.com . 

Live off island? If you have a prayer intention or would like to pray for those on our prayer list, email Pastor Gae at gdchalker@gmail.com .


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Newsletter Mission: Our weekly newsletter was launched 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 2020 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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