Keeping you up-to-date at CHA

Church of the Holy Apostles is a welcoming and inclusive congregation that follows Jesus Christ through love, worship, and fellowship. These are our core values:

Welcoming - we eagerly greet and welcomed all

Inclusive - we respect all beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of living

Love - we express our love of God through love for others

Worship - we praise God, pray together, and partake in the sacraments of communion and baptism

Fellowship - we offer opportunities to share our aloha and strengthen the community of the church

LATEST MESSAGE: In his weekly Monday message, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick shares a reflection on Psalm 93, in light of the history of the Islands and racism.

LATEST STUDY: This week's lesson is on James 4:1-12, no jealousy and no fighting allowed.

A Letter from the Senior Warden

Occasionally, it is useful for the congregation to hear from the Senior Warden. I like to use the Goldilocks approach: not too much, not too little, hopefully just right. In this instance, with the Pastor visiting home for the first time in over a year, she asked me to write a brief post for our weekly email newsletter. The timing is good for me to share with you that the Vestry is about to take on a very important aspect of its duties—the call for a Rector.

Three years ago, from January to August 2017, this parish conducted a search for a priest-in-charge. The outcome of that intensive discernment was a call by the Vestry for the Rev. Katlin McCallister, which she accepted and Bishop Fitzpatrick approved, appointing her priest-in-charge with the Vestry’s consent. Since then (among other activities), our parish has supported those impacted by the Kilauea eruptions, served as the location for the annual gathering of the clergy of the diocese, conducted modifications and repairs to the sanctuary and other aspects of the campus, dealt with the distancing issues of the current pandemic, and perhaps most importantly developed a strategic vision and living action plan for the parish’s next ten years. It has been a busy, stressful, and fruitful time, during which a less intensive, but equally vital discernment has continued to occur.

In accordance with the September 2017 letter of agreement (amended in August 2019) that established the priest-in-charge relationship between Pastor Katlin and the Church of the Holy Apostles, the time has come for the Vestry to engage in a Rector Search Process. As the incumbent Priest-in-Charge, Pastor Katlin will first be considered for the Vestry’s call to Rector.

The letter of agreement for a priest-in-charge in the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii allows for the incumbent to be called as Rector by mutual agreement of the Bishop, Vestry and Priest. To help the discernment process along, the Bishop has established some “rules of the road” for the Vestry to follow. The Vestry will begin this process this coming Sunday, August 30.

Within the discernment process, the Vestry will consider an analysis of the recent congregational history, the current state of the congregation, key goals for the next five years, God’s mission for the congregation, and key characteristics of a rector to lead the congregation in fulfilling that mission. In addition, the Vestry will evaluate the joint ministry that the congregation and the priest-in-charge have engaged in to date.

On behalf of the Vestry, Junior Warden Cathy McPherson-Tampos and I ask for your prayers and God’s grace as we enter the intensive discernment process that we hope will result in a call for a Rector.

In faith and with Christ’s blessing,

Doug Adams, Senior Warden

Q & A about In-Person Worship:

Q: When will we have in-person worship service?

A: Sundays at 9am beginning August 16, 2020.

Q: Will services still be livestreamed online after people return to in-person worship?

A: YES! We will continue to video stream.

Q: Does everyone have to wear a mask for the duration of attendance?

A: Everyone over the age of 2, yes.

Q: What if I have a doctor's note to excuse a mask?

A: People who cannot wear masks due to medical necessity are encouraged to worship at home for your health and the health of others.

Q: May I wear a face shield instead of a mask?

A: Masks are required and face shields may not be used in lieu of masks.

Q: Will we be physically distanced in seating?

A: Yes; we will maintain 6 foot distance between households and/or individuals. "X marks the spot!" Sit where there are BLUE "x" marks.

Q: Will we celebrate Holy Communion?

A: Initially, no. We will worship with the liturgy of Morning Prayer for the time being and later we will assess our readiness to safely share in Holy Communion.

Q: Will we have music?

A: Yes, we will have instrumental music and potentially a soloist.

Q: Can we sing?

A: Congregational and choral singing is currently suspended based on government health guidelines to preserve the health of everyone gathered. The congregation gathering in person may hum along as an alternative.

Q: Will we have fellowship hour after worship service?

A: in-person fellowship hours are suspended in the diocese for the time being.

Q: Will there be Sunday School for children?

A: Not in-person at this time. ZOOM Sunday School is in planning process.

How much would a wood chip chip if a wood chip did chip chip?

That's a rhetorical question of course. =). But does your garden need some mulch? Does your compost need a fresh infusion? Do you need material to make a raised bed? Is there a walkway that needs to be softened?

There are many uses for wood chips. After the pruning of trees last week, there are several piles of chips. Please Help Yourself!

Editor’s note: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is offering Habits of Grace, a weekly meditation to help Episcopalians cope during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing physical distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace.’ A new meditation will be posted each week.” — Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

Missed this past Sundayʻs services?

Click HERE to view on Facebook OR visit our website at https://episcopalchurchhilo.org

VESTRY is looking for a SECRETARY

Are you good at taking notes? Would you be willing and able to attend meetings once a month? This ministry might be for you! The Vestry is looking for a Secretary. If you are interested, please email Pastor Katlin .

Centering Prayer

Contemplative Outreach of Hawaiʻi; August Newsletter

Come and join our Holy Apostles small group of centering prayer followers on Mondays starting at 3:30 pm online Zoom meetings. Drop in 15 minutes ahead of time for a brief introductory period. Questions? Contact lindymarzo@gmail.com

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/223091057

Meeting ID: 223 091 057

Centering Prayer

A method of quiet meditation in which a single symbolic word is used as a sign of one's willingness to wait on God and be available to God's presence. This word is used as a point of focus. The discipline involves setting aside twenty minutes or so for quiet prayer. This apophatic method has been widely taught and practiced in the Episcopal Church since the early 1980s. Thomas Keating's Finding Grace at the Center (1978) encouraged the practice of centering prayer.

From the Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

https://episcopalchurch.org/library/glossary/centering-prayer

SCAM ALERT!! Please be aware that scammers posing as Bishop Bob or Pastor Katlin have been emailing random congregation members asking for favors. Please DO NOT respond or click on any links. If in question, please call the office at (808) 935-5545. Here is a reference link to the most current scams out there: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/scam-alerts

Are you needing assistance?

Through the generosity of our congregation, we are able to meet some basic needs for anyone facing critical hardship to purchase groceries, rent, electric, and medicine. When we offer such assistance, it is done in the form of a check or giftcard and bills are paid directly to vendors and landlords. If you are in need of assistance from the church, call the office and leave a message for Pastor Katlin. 808-935-5545

Local Nonprofits Partner to Bring Rent and Mortgage Assistance Grants to Hawaii Island Households Impacted by COVID-19

Six local nonprofit organizations joined today to announce the launch of the Hawaii County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program (RMAP). Program applications will be available starting Monday, August 24^th at 8am.

RMAP nonprofit partners are encouraging Hawaii Island residents who are at least 18 years old and lost income or work hours due to COVID-19 to prepare ahead to apply.

RMAP is funded by the County of Hawaii with Federal CARES Act dollars and will provide a rent or mortgage payment of up to $1,000 per month for an estimated 1445 households that income qualify and can prove hardship due to COVID-19 for each month they receive assistance from March 2020 to December 2020. Funding will be limited to households’ primary residence on Hawaii Island. Households will be limited to one grant of up to $1,000 per month.

Applications will be processed by six Hawaii Island-based nonprofit partners and payments will be made directly to landlords, property managers or mortgage lenders. Approved applicants will also have access to financial counseling services. The Hawaii County RMAP nonprofit partners include:

· Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA)/Hawaii Community Lending (HCL)

· HOPE Services Hawaii (HOPE)

· Hawaii First Federal Credit Union (HFFCU)

· Neighborhood Place of Puna (NPP)

· Hawaii Island Home for Recovery (HIHR)

· Habitat for Humanity Hawaii Island (HFHHI)

Households who have been impacted by COVID-19 and have a past due rent or mortgage notice are encouraged to apply at one of the nonprofit partners. Persons without internet access or a computer are encouraged to call one of the RMAP nonprofit partners to request a paper application or to complete an application over the phone. See right for more information on how to apply.

RMAP Qualifications

To qualify for rent or mortgage assistance grants, applicants must meet the following qualifications:

· Be a Hawaii Island resident

· At least 18 years old

· Lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, and

· Current annual household income at or below 100% of area median income for the number of members in their household. See below to see if your household income qualifies.

Household Members: Max Household Income*

1 person: $58,400

2 persons: $66,700

3 persons: $75,000

4 persons: $83,300

5 persons: $90,000

6 persons: $96,700

7 persons: $103,300

8 persons: $110,000

*Add $8,300 for each additional household member

Required Documents

Applicants will be required to submit the following documents with their applications to be considered for rent or mortgage assistance: