Morning Coffee Inspiration from Pastor Gae

Aloha Friends,

One of my favorite television shows is Grantchester. It has everything I love in a TV show ~ detective story set in England that involves the church! The main characters are the vicar of the church, the town detective and the church curate (a curate is a title given when we are serving our first parish job as priest).

Often Grantchester ends in church on Sunday worship with a few words of wisdom from the pulpit. In an episode I watched recently, the words from the Curate were, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” I did a rewind several times to get the exact words.
I’ve been wrestling with those words since I saw the show. “Everyone I meet is fighting a battle I know nothing about.” When I go to Foodland, looking at all those people I don’t know, tourists and locals, I now wonder what battles are in their life. Health? Relationship? Loss of work? Money? Depression? Physical pain? Addiction? Fear? Death? I look at the teenagers and wonder about them. I even look at children. Children have battles going on in their life too. 

Last week in a small group discussion, we talked about compassion and pity. Compassion emanates from the heart. You can feel it at the heart center. It usually hurts. I don’t believe you can think your way into it, because it comes from God. It’s just there, at times when you least expect it. 
You can think your way into pity though. Pity gets a bad name as there is a tendency to think of pity as though the person offering pity considers themselves better than another. But scripture shows us that our Master Jesus was often moved with pity. He encountered someone, had pity for them, and helped them.
Pity is a step towards opening the heart so that the compassion of God can enter in. I can meet someone or hear a story and feel little in the heart, but in my mind, I can know that the person is suffering or fighting a battle that I can't even begin to fully understand. And that can move me to take action of some kind. Maybe it’s just kindness. We can also think our way into being kind to everyone. It’s a choice we get to make hundreds of times every day. Taking a moment to think about the person, remembering they too have battles, makes it easier. 

Random thoughts. Thank you for listening. I’m interested in yours. 

Much joy today,
~Pastor Gae+

CONNECT
Quiet Mornings ~ Our First Quiet Morning is Coming Up!
Saturday, September 14th, 9:00am-12:00noon, includes lunch
Meets in the Sanctuary
Faith offering suggested: $10

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46)
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A note from Pastor Gae ~ In my year and nine months on Kaua`i I have had conversations with other ministers and church members of the hunger that exists on this island for spiritual nurturing. I’ve heard about feelings of emptiness, anxiety, and fear of aging and that many thought coming to Kaua`i would be an antidote to many of those feelings. I’ve seen many people plunge into very active service which is wonderful and certainly helps get us out of ourselves. But as you all know, at some point in time, we have to come home to ourselves. The peace and joy of God comes from within and to quiet minds.   

My hope is that these Quiet Mornings, a 3-hour morning retreat once a month, will at least give all of us a respite from the busyness of life and nurture the spirit within. Our first Quiet Morning will be on Centering Prayer. Prayer is the groundwork for everything. Read the scripture carefully and notice that Jesus was always anchored in prayer.  

Liedeke Bulder will be our teacher. Liedeke is a long-time centering prayer practitioner in the teaching of the late Fr. Thomas Keating. Fr. Keating was one of the principal architects and teachers of the Christian contemplative prayer movement. His desire was to recover the contemplative dimension of Christianity. 

Our Quiet Morning will begin with a simple Taize service and will conclude with a simple lunch. Please email me gdchalker@gmail.com or sign up on the walkway of the church this Sunday.


Recap: Invite ~ Welcome ~ Connect Workshop
Last week, eight members of our church attended the Invite~Welcome~Connect (IWC) Workshop conducted by Mary Foster Parmer. We were blessed that All Saints in Kapaa sponsored the event, so we could take a team. It was a great day at the Hilton Garden Inn. We all came back fired up with ideas to grow our little church and to create more connection among those in our church.  

Here are thoughts shared by some of our team:

Josie Kamano ~ It takes COURAGE to invite someone new to church!

Tommy Moran ~ I loved the ideas for spiritual nurturing and community involvement.

Margaret Furze ~ It was a day of Blessings.  

 Bill Butler ~ OHANA was my takeaway. We are all family.

Sandy Moran ~ The IWC workshop had wonderful ideas and resources for evangelism, the ministry of hospitality, and pathways to belonging. Our congregation is already so warm & inviting. I can’t wait to share what we learned with our community.

Maggie Lea, Sybil Nishioka and Pastor Gae also attended.


Blessing of the Animals
Save the Date! October 6
Meets on the Front Lawn of the Sanctuary

Celebrating the life and ministry of St. Francis of Assisi
Can you help? We need help promoting the event and a Sunday morning set up crew. Email Pastor Gae at gdchalker@gmail.com or sign up on the walkway on Sunday.  
KIDS! The Great Adventure: 
Great Stories of the Old Testament  
Summer Sunday School
Every Sunday, 8:00 – 9:00am
Meets in the Church Office
Wow! Our Keiki are just about finished with our Summer Sunday School Great Adventure series. They have learned about the great stories of the Old Testament:

  • Creation
  • Adam and Eve
  • Noah and the Flood
  • The Tower of Babel
  • Abraham
  • Joseph
  • The Israelites in Egypt
  • Moses & Pharaoah
  • The Ten Commandments

Sunday School meets every Sunday, 8:00 - 9:00. Our Keiki join us for communion. For more info, contact Keana keana@ischool.org or Leona lcblankley@aol.com .

Can you volunteer? 

We are required to have two adults in Sunday School class. Can you help out our leaders one week? If so, please contact Keana or Leona.
Men’s Fellowship  
Every Monday at 9:00am
Meets at 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
A co-production of AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and FRONTLINE, this six-hour series examines how religious dissidents helped shape the American concept of religious liberty and the controversial evolution of that ideal in the nation's courts and political arena; how religious freedom and waves of new immigrants and religious revivals fueled competition in the religious marketplace; how movements for social reform —from abolition to civil rights — galvanized men and women to put their faith into political action; and how religious faith influenced conflicts from the American Revolution to the Cold War. Watch for free  https://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/view/

Worth Watching! God in America  
SERVE
Helen Mitsui Shared Blessings Thrift Shop News
“Many hands make light work.” We are so grateful to our Thrift Shop team and those that jump in to help during business hours... and after hours! This past Labor Day weekend was spent overhauling the table displays, which is a major feat. Everything needs to be cleared, and merchandise needs to be re-stocked in all departments, so our volunteers came out in full force. 

Marilyn, a seasonal resident, tackled the office supplies, stationery and picture frame sections. Margaret, a regular Sunday volunteer, folded all the towels, organized the linen department, and took home 100+ wedding votives to clean and prep for sale. Christie and Susan, Friday volunteers, braved the housewares department to organize everything from stemware to bakeware to silverware. 

And then for the finale, Deb, a long-time weekly staffer, worked a good part of Monday merchandising all the tables. We had received a very large collection of beads and craft supplies, so Deb spent much of the prior weeks sorting and packaging beads for the crafters, jewelry makers and collectors. Mahalo nui loa to everyone for contributing your time and talent. Let the shopping begin!
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 (fellowship 11am - 12pm)
Monday: closed

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.

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 .

 GIVE
There is no better investment on planet earth than the church
No other organization has been operating continuously for 2000 years and no other organization will continue to exist throughout eternity. Other organizations are doing good work, but there simply is not any organization with more potential to change the world than the church of Jesus. The church is where lost people are saved, hopeless people find hope, addicted people are set free, broken people are restored, hungry people are fed, and rejected people are accepted and loved. The most beautiful thing about what happens in the church is that God gets the glory for it all, because the church is God’s.

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.



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
Connect with the Diocese of Hawa i ' i

To keep up with the news from the Diocese of Hawai'i, please click on the buttons below:

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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