Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, bring order out of chaos.
Holy Spirit, breathe life into the lifeless.
Holy Spirit, make strong the weak.
Holy Spirit, give talents to your people.
Holy Spirit, guide all who venture.
Holy Spirit, fill all things.
Holy Spirit, come… and renew the face of the earth. Amen
~ David Adams

Morning Coffee Inspiration from Pastor Gae

Aloha Friends,

Twenty one years ago on the Eve of Pentecost, I was ordained to the priesthood. As I reflect back, there couldn’t have been a more appropriate day. It had been a journey to get to that day and without the Holy Spirit at work, it never would have happened.

I had been working in the modeling/talent industry in Las Vegas. I hated my work, but it was what I had always done. I was in the Catholic Church at the time and actively involved in an adult confirmation program that I loved. One morning, I woke up with the thought, “Why am I working in a profession I despise? Why can’t I work full time doing the work I love?” I am convinced that Spirit dropped that thought into my mind.
There were a couple of problems though. The first is that I didn’t have a Bachelor’s degree which at the time was needed. The second problem was that I was in the Catholic Church, and there really was no place for me unless it was in directing religious education.

On the scene comes the Holy Spirit who directed me back to my roots in the Episcopal Church. However, the Bishop of Nevada at the time, Stewart Zabriskie, didn’t make it easy for me. In fact, he was really tough. He required that I leave the ministry I loved in the Catholic Church and just hang with an Episcopal community for awhile. At that time of my life, I was not a patient person. How long was I going to have to hang?

I can see now how the Holy Spirit worked with me. She kept me on task and gave me the energy to finish my college degree in philosophy (at age 40!). She helped me find a place in my new church community. She gave me tenacity when I was deeply hurt by the Catholic priest I had worked with and thought was my friend said, “Aren’t you a little old to get started?” or when the Episcopal priest at my new church wasn’t exactly thrilled that the Bishop would even consider someone for ministry who came out the modeling and talent biz. Even my mother wasn’t supportive as she didn’t approved of women priests.
Once I completed the first hurdle just getting on the Ordination track, it was as though Spirit was walking with me every step of the way. She constantly soothed my anxiety and guilt about splitting up my family to go to seminary in Berkeley for three years. She calmed me during the times I was overwhelmed with seminary classes, being a mom to our 5th grade son, working on Sundays at my field ed parish, and maintaining a long distance relationship with my husband who was still in Las Vegas.

Direction, tenacity, courage, patience, calm and peace. That is how the Holy Spirit got me to that Eve of Pentecost and the work I love. I know she is still walking with me.

As you reflect on your life, how has the Holy Spirit been at work? Please share!

I hope to celebrate Pentecost with you this Sunday. They don’t make red clergy shirts, but I will find something to wear. It’s a great day to celebrate an important presence in life!

Joy, joy, joy,
~Pastor Gae+

CONNECT
KIDS! The Great Adventure: Great Stories of the Old Testament
Summer Sunday School
Sundays 8:00 – 9:00 am
Begins June 16th
Meets in the Center Building
Each week, we are going on a Great Adventure to explore the great bible stories of the Old Testament. We’ll meet heroes and villains, and encounter some really big challenges. 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, let Keana or Leona know. (A perk… you will learn the great bible stories of the Old Testament)

[NEW] Bible Study
Wednesdays, 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Beginning June 19
Meets in the Church office
A few weeks ago, we did a survey of ideas for summer activities at Christ Memorial. Ideas were:
  • Card Group (Gin Rummy or Bridge)
  • Hikes
  • Bible Study
  • Potluck BBQ on the Beach
  • Dinner with Friends
  • Mini Golf
  • Tour of the Hindu Temple

We’re starting a Bible Study on June 19. This is a study group, not a lecture. If you are new to the bible, please come. We’re all beginners! Bring a bible, any translation. We’re going to begin with the Gospel of Mark.


Our Beautiful Hawaiian Royal Poinciana Tree

For all our Christ Memorial followers, our beautiful Hawaiian Royal Poinciana Tree is not to be missed. If you are on island, stop and ponder its glorious bloom, a beautiful frame to our stone church. For those off-island, we wanted to share this special summer season. It feels like it has been dormant… forever, and many of us have never seen it so extraordinary.

The Royal Poinciana is also called Flamboyant or Flame Tree for its obvious vibrant blossoms. It is a naturalized ornamental flowering tree native to Madagascar. Red is the most common blossom, but you can find them in orange and yellow. We estimate that our Royal Poinciana is over 100 years old; there is a tombstone marker dated 1906 at the base of the tree.
Labyrinth Update
A peace pole for the center of our labyrinth has been ordered from the Peace Pole Project. It will be 8’ with 8 translations of ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Maggie Lea studies genealogy and has connected eight languages to those buried on our grounds: Hawaiian, English, Scottish(Gaelic), Tagali, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese and German.

You can walk the labyrinth now even though the grass and bricks haven’t settled in fully. Our hope is to dedicate the Labyrinth in mid-July and perhaps have a special training in early fall.

Men’s Fellowship Meets Every Monday at 9:00am
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
A Christ Memorial Teen Celebrates a Graduation and a New Beginning
Many of you know Victoria, greeting you at the door, carrying the cross, serving our gifts at communion, helping with set-up and clean-up of our services and potlucks, all quietly pitching in whenever needed at Christ Memorial for the past six years. Today, we want to celebrate Victoria’s graduation (magna cum laude) from high school at Hawaii Technology Academy! The ceremony took place at the Hawaii Convention Center last week in Honolulu with 113 high school graduates from all the Hawaiian islands.
Victoria was accepted at 10+ colleges and universities to earn her B.S. in equine science. Her primary interests today are in Therapeutic Riding, which utilizes the horse for therapy to those in need, and Natural Horsemanship, which uses gentle and humane approaches in training horses. However, Kaua ' i further infused her passion for environmental science, so that played an important factor in Victoria’s final college selection. Victoria chose University of New Hampshire, one of the top horse schools in the country with deep agricultural and environmental programs.

The good news for Christ Memorial is that Victoria requested and has been granted a “gap year,” which means the college will hold her spot until Fall 2020, and we will still be able to enjoy Victoria’s joyful presence on Sundays until then. The year will be a busy one: Victoria has already secured a full-time job at Silver Falls Ranch in Kilauea as a horse handler and groom, and in the spring, she is exploring a Southeast Asia service program for three months.

So much to celebrate: the completion of 12 years of schooling, a much-deserved break to experience the real world, and great anticipation for new beginnings as she moves to college life in the northeast. Congratulations Victoria from all of us at Christ Memorial!

Helen Mitsui Shared Blessings Thrift Shop
Donations that Make the Difference

Shared Blessings is known for its “treasures” – cool, unusual, rare, antique, vintage, odd and often a “mystery of the day” that we all enjoy trying to figure out “what is it?” We will be featuring some of these items for fun in the newsletter, but since everything in the thrift shop is priced to sell, they just don’t last long in the shop… but no worries, every day brings new treasures as we shared the blessings bestowed on us with our grateful patrons and visitors.
Red Bin Donation Drop-Off
Have you seen our big red bins in front of the church on Sunday’s? They are there for your convenience. Bring us your donations before and after the 8:00 am and 9:30 am services.

Best practice tip: keep a bag or box by the door, and make it a good habit to bring your donations weekly, rather than let the pile up.

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.

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.



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
Dr. Michael Foley Moves his Therapy Practice to Christ Memorial

On June 1st, Dr. Michael Foley (our 8:00 am service musician) will be moving his mental health treatment practice to our Christ Memorial office complex. We are very excited about this as our property is becoming a place of renewal in body, mind and spirit.

Michael E. Foley, MSW, D.MIN., PSY.D.
CSAC, ICADC, Board Certified Diplomate

North Shore Mental Health Treatment Services
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm
808-651-8269, seanhi1234@gmail.com
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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