an online publication of the
Church of the Holy Nativity, Aina Haina
May 20, 2020
In this Issue of the Banyan Tree:

The local "Formation for Ordination" process
--Frank Condello

"In response to the Gospel, HNC Vestry votes Outreach Gift"

"Who's in the Pews?"
(Chandi Hinrichs!)


HNC THRIFT STORE:
Opened for Business--
with great success!


Pentecost is coming on May 31:
WEAR RED
(and let us know if you have RED flowers to share!) 


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Do you receive the Banyan Tree and find the content is missing?  Do you close this email, open it again, and still find no content?  
Here is what you do: open the email, scroll to the bottom of it and click on "View Entire Message." What a relief! It works!

Upcoming Services
at Holy Nativity
(Go to the front page of our website, "www.holynativityhawaii.com" 
and click "Sunday Banyan")

May 24, 2020
The Seventh Sunday
after Easter
Morning Prayer with Music-- 9am
ONLINE


May 31, 2020
Day of Pentecost
Morning Prayer with Music -- 9am
ONLINE

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Thursday Centering Prayer
(Thursday afternoons, 4-5pm)
Join us online using "Zoom." Go to www.zoom.us and click on the phrase,"Join a Meeting."  When prompted, type in the Meeting ID, which is 330990103.

(Please note that our Wednesday 10am Eucharist
postponed until further notice; please pray for one another during this time!) 

Serving this Sunday 
(May 24)  
The Seventh Sunday 
of Easter

9am Morning Prayer
Officiant:  The Rev. Libby Berman
Deacon: The Rev. Bob Steele
Readers:  Bob Steele & Kim Garner
Prayers of the People: 
   Wyn Aubrey-Child
Student in Formation for Ordination: Frank Condello II

Serving next Sunday 
(May 31)   
Day of Pentecost

9am Morning Prayer 
Officiant:  The Rev. Libby Berman
Deacon: The Rev. Bob Steele
Readers: Jean Steele & 
   Frank Condello (Student in Formation for Ordination)
Prayers of the People: 
   John Verghese
The Sunday Readings


 
Rector
The Rev. Libby Berman
hncrector@gmail.com

The Vestry
Sr. Warden: Austin Nakoa
Jr. Warden: Joe Kindrich
Treasurer: Jean Steele
Clerk: Nancy Thomas
Members at Large: Justin Donahue, Rich Miller, Lila Johnson, Jeff Taylor, Ed Moore, Wyn Aubrey-Child, Nina Livingston, Tusi Mayer, Gretchen Yamaguchi

Office Hours-Staff may be working from home; please call ahead to make sure someone is in the office; thank you!
Monday-Thursday, 9am-1pm
(808) 373-2131
hncparish@gmail.com
www.holynativityhawaii.org
 
Parish Bookkeeper
Kathy Kia
hncoperationsmanager@gmail.com
 
Parish Administrator
Punahele Coldwell
hncparish@gmail.com
 
Prayer List

In our parish, we pray for Sylvia, Lois, Heather, and Chris J., for those who have contracted the Corona virus and those caring for them and/or seeking a vaccine or other measures of relief.

To add a name to our prayer list, please contact Punahele Coldwell in the church office at (808) 373-2131 or hncparish@gmail.com. 

 

We are posting a day by day meditation from Forward Movement.  This is a great way to start your day with prayer.  Please consider clicking on the website above. 
Interim Head of School 
Jeanne Wilks

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


Holy Nativity Thrift Shop
(808) 373-3744

Our Thrift Store will re-open on Friday, May 15 from 10-2 and thereafter on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10-2 and on Saturdays from 9am-12noon. Please check here or on the website for more information.  See you soon!

Click here to visit the Thrift Shop webpage.

 JOIN US ONLINE for WORSHIP 
EVERY SUNDAY AT 9AM!

 On the front page of our website,( holynativityhawaii.org) click " Sunday Banyan" to find a copy of the service and information about how to join us online OR look for your copy of our Thursday "Banyan Tree," which has the same information.

STAY TUNED FOR COMING INFORMATION ABOUT A RETURN TO IN-PERSON WORSHIP!

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OUR LOCAL "FORMATION FOR ORDINATION" PROCESS
--Frank Condello II
Student in Formation for Ordination

Aloha to all at Holy Nativity!  I hope you are all doing well and dealing okay with all that we have had to deal with over the past several months.  I know it has been hard on many of you and I continue to keep everyone in my prayers.

Some of you saw me prior to the shutdown serving weekly with Rev. Libby.  You may have wondered where I came from and why did I suddenly pop up in mid January.  So I thought I would give you an explanation. I have been assigned by Bishop Fitzpatrick to Holy Nativity, as part of my requirement to complete a Field Educational placement.  I am currently attending a local formation seminary type program here in the Diocese of Hawaii, called Waiolaihui'ia.  It allows someone to pursue ordination as a Priest without having to move to the mainland and attend a seminary program at a university there.  It is sponsored partly by the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas.   I am completing my third year of a four year part-time program.  I attend classes both in person and online on weekends.  It has been quite challenging, considering that I work full-time as a Police Officer and take care of my 91 year old dad at home.  I have been married for 21 years to Leah, and have a 20 year old son, Frank III, who will be a Junior in college this fall, in North Carolina.  He is attending on an NCAA Cross Country and Track scholarship.

My sponsoring church is St. Mary's in Moiliili.  I will continue to assist Rev. Libby until I graduate from the program in August 2021.  Once ordained, I will be required to complete a two year Curacy at a different church.  In the meantime, I will continue to become more active in various aspects of church life at Holy Nativity.  So now you know a little bit more about me.  I look forward to getting to know many of you better once we return to church services and activities in person again.   Yours in Christ, Frank




IN RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL,
VESTRY VOTES AN OUTREACH GIFT 

As many of you know, our parish recently received over $45,000 in loan funds from the Payroll Protection Plan (through the Small Business Administration).  Assuming we keep careful records of our spending, that loan will be forgiven.  Though it would have been tempting for the Vestry to hold tightly to these "windfall" funds, they voted, on Tuesday, May 19, to share a portion of our good fortune with those who need it most right now.  The Vestry voted to increase our outreach budget by $4500 and to direct those separate funds toward one or more programs that address "food sustainability" in our community.  Scripture calls upon us to offer the "first-fruits" of what receive to God.  In giving the equivalent of a "tithe" from what we have just received for ourselves, we are following Jesus' teachings about discipleship.  Thank you, HNC Vestry!  May those in our households who have many resources follow your lead!
--Rev. Libby

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"WHO'S IN THE PEWS?" 
An occasional series in the Banyan Tree, featuring members of our congregation. Today, we feature Chandi Hinrichs. Chandi, t hanks for sharing your story; we are so glad you are with us!


Chandi Hinrichs was born in South India.  After college, she worked at a hotel in the Guest Relations Department. That is where she met her Joern, who shortly after asked her to marry him.  She left behind her family and friends and moved to Germany, a country very different from India. The cold weather there made them choose Hawaii for their annual holidays. When Joern was approaching retirement, Chandi urged him to think of moving to Hawaii.  In 2001, they came here and stayed for six months and loved it.  They decided to move here for good.  Chandi planned to visit various churches--but on her first visit to the Church of the Holy Nativity, she was asked to teach Sunday School and she's been doing that ever since: a whole generation of children have been blessed with her affection, tutelage and shepherding!  You may also know Chandi as a member of the Happy Kitchen Crew who manage the bounteous food for special coffee hours, receptions or dinners for our congregation.  She is never failing in her good will and joyous spirit.



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HOLY NATIVITY THRIFT SHOP:
OPENED WITH   A GREAT FIRST WEEKEND!

Peggy Budlong, our Thrift Store Manager, along with several volunteers, customers the Rev. Libby and Ed Moore (from the HNC Vestry) were on hand on opening day, last Friday, May 15, for a prayer of blessing and a virtual "ringing of the opening bell."  It was a joyful day!  The store was open from 10am-2pm on Friday and from 9am-12noon on Saturday, May 16.  Peggy reports that, even with reduced hours, the store brought in nearly the same amount of income as it would have on a "regular" day before the pandemic.  We congratulate everyone at the Thrift Shop on re-opening, meeting their customers' needs, and spreading joy!

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Temporary Thrift Store hours will continue to be Wednesdays & Fridays from 10am-2pm and Saturdays 9am-12noon. During these hours, volunteers will serve customers and accept donations.  Donations also will be accepted at other times, by appointment, by calling 808-373-3744.

To continue to provide safe shopping, we reprint the guidelines from last week.   Stay safe!

-We require all customers wear face masks.
-If you have corona19 symptoms, please do not enter.
-We require social distance spacing of 6 feet.
-Please use hand sanitizer as often as needed.
-Enter and follow arrows enabling you to walk through the store in one direction.
-Fitting rooms will be closed, per state regulations.  
We will monitor the stores space and allow a maximum of ten customers at one time.




PENTECOST IS COMING ON MAY 31!

Do you have red flowers in your garden?  Our Altar Guild is seeking to decorate for this celebratory season.  If you have red ginger or heliconia, please contact our Altar Guild Director, Sandra Braham, and let her know:  (808) 551-0187. Thanks!

At our online Sunday worship on May 31, we will celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit coming down upon Jesus' disciples--and upon us!  Our first lesson  will be read by HNC participants in FIVE languages, symbolizing the gift of our ability to reach ALL people with our Good News.  In addition, we encourage everyone to wear and/or bring something RED; we celebrate with this bright color on Pentecost to symbolize the power of the God's Holy Spirit.  Finally, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick will be preaching to our whole diocese once again, on that day.  

Join us in the usual way for that Sunday service (via the Zoom link listed on our holynativityhawaii.org website or by phone).  Join us as we celebrate this new church season and say hello to summer, too!

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In addition to preaching in May, the bishop is sharing short video messages on Mondays and Wednesdays.   To watch or listen, go to: www.episcopalhawaii.org.

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Bishop Fitzpatrick also commends to us the Presiding Bishop's messages and other news of The Episcopal Church at:   https://episcopalchurch.org.