WEEKLY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
November 29, 2020

Sunday Worship
November 29, 2020
The First Sunday of Advent

Scripture Readings for this Sunday:
Service of Holy Eucharist
with Music,
in the Sanctuary
8:00 am

Please make a reservation as we are allowed a limited number due to social distancing.

Email the church office at: 

Please wear a mask.
Service of Morning Prayer
with Music, on Zoom
9:30 am

Here is the link to join us on Zoom:
PRAYER REQUESTS THIS WEEK
Healing of body, mind and spirit
Webb (lymphoma); Sarah (peace of mind & to feel God's love); Julie (patience and peace of mind); Peter (continued healing from heart surgery); Susan (strength and courage during cancer treatment); John; Ola; Michael; Terri (multiple myeloma); Stevan (Tinnitus); Scott (dementia); Elaine,
Sue Ellen, Peter, Xavier, Web & Kelly (cancer); Nancy (radiation treatment); Doug (stroke); Matt’s dad (polio) and Matt's mom (strength); Bill, in hospital (infected shoulder); those infected by the virus; healing for our world.
Christ Memorial Keiki Food Drive
We encourage you to participate and donate canned food items to support the efforts of our Keiki Ministry, as well as those facing food insecurities in our local community.

Please plan to have your food donations in by this Sunday 11/29.
MORNING COFFEE WITH PASTOR GAE
Aloha Friends,

I am writing this Chat from my son’s home in Phoenix. I miss you already! While there was much drama right before I left with a moving company unsure whether they could get a team on island, my travel went without a glitch. I give thanks to Melody and Branch who shared their beautiful home for a night and then helped me get to the airport with my two overweight and traumatized cats. 

The days have been beautiful. This is why people put up with the hot desert summers. I’ve spent the last two days playing with my granddaughter who is getting close to being a two, already exercising her will and independence. I realized how much I have missed playtime with kids.  My son and his wife are blessed to be able to work from home.  Because of Arizona’s inconsistent response to the virus, they have everything delivered.  They take this virus perhaps more seriously than most as my daughter in law’s father is currently in a Las Vegas hospital struggling to hold on to life. Her mom has tested positive but as yet without symptom. I was able to secure a sweet little condo three miles away, exactly where I wanted to be. The anxiety of arriving on island three years ago with little options for a residence was still with me. I can now breathe! 
It is perfect that this Sunday begins a new church year and the season of Advent. While this time is definitely beginning a new chapter for me, I think it is for all of us. Life has radically changed and we don’t have any idea what the future will entail. We are forced to live in the moment, challenged every day not to succumb to feelings of fear and despair. Our faith calls us just to trust that all will be well. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding” is our mantra.  

I am thinking the best way to describe us right now is “Advent People”. We are much like those first Advent people, Elizabeth and Zechariah and Mary and Joseph, aren’t we? Life unexpected hit them very hard as it is doing to us. I believe they can help us. And so, what did they do?  They prayed, they dreamed, they trusted, and they glorified God. My friends, that is what we must do too. We know the distractions of the world this time of year will offer little. We need to be the Christ for others, sharing hope and love. It’s Advent!  The Christ has come and he continues to come to us and in us.

I pray you have both a peaceful and very powerful Advent. Make intention for this time. Create an Advent wreath. Light the first candle this Sunday.  Read the story of one of the Advent people. Invite them into your life.  Let the lyrics and tune of
O come, O Come Emmanuel resonate deep within. And rejoice, rejoice! God is with us! 

In His love,
Gae +
MUSINGS
We welcome your thoughts to our Coffee Chats. Our hope is that the newsletter will become more than a calendar of events, and will instead act as a space to share and learn.
UPCOMING
THE WAY OF LOVE:
AN ADVENT JOURNEY
The season of Advent invites us into an attitude of hopeful expectation as we anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth. Each year in these four short weeks, we have this lovely, precious opportunity to wonder and reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ birth for our lives, the life of our community and the life of the world. Through the centuries, Christian communities have adopted disciplines and daily rhythms for living and expressing the teachings of Jesus. Our conversations will focus on several passages from the Gospel of Luke that suggest a pattern for considering practices that might help us to live more fully and meaningfully into the Way of Love as a way of life.

Please email the church office for more information.
SHOP SHARED BLESSINGS THRIFT SHOP
The thrift store has the best section of Christmas decorations on island! Bring the family and stop by to check out our huge selection of beautiful, second-hand items to spruce up your home this holiday season.
WELCOME OUR FIRST CLERGY-IN-RESIDENCE!
The Very Reverend Zachary Fleetwood will be coming to Christ Memorial this Advent Season, and will reside with us through the Christmas season. Fr. Zachary’s education includes a Master of Arts from University of Virginia; Master of Divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary; and Advanced Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He has served as Rector of St. Columba by the Castle Church in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Rector and Dean Emeritus at the American Cathedral in Paris along with many rector and interim placements throughout Virginia. 
CONNECT
GREETERS NEEDED AT THRIFT SHOP
Do you consider yourself a warm and welcoming individual? Do you have 4 free hours to serve your community and church?

We encourage you to reach out, and commit to volunteering at Shared Blessings Thrift Store. The store is in serious need of greeters, who can spread aloha while encouraging people not to spread COVID.
Duties include: greeting, reminding people to wear masks, offering sanitizer.

Please email the church office if you are interested.
CONNECT - A Note to Our Zoom Family
One big blessing for our church that has come out of the struggle with the COVID-19 virus is the connection we have made via Zoom. Many folks who are either seasonal residents, timeshare residents, or even tourists consider us their church community. They can now be a more active part of our church. We have a Sunday worship service, two Bible studies, an Adult Confirmation class and Centering Prayer, made possible through Zoom. Who knew? This has been a learning experience for us. The good news is that even after the virus crisis is over, we will continue many of these offerings on Zoom.

Here are some things everyone can do to help us all have the best experience possible:

  1. Please try to connect at least 10 minutes before the service or the meeting to make sure everything is working correctly.  
  2. If possible, keep your video on so it feels more like being together in church.  
  3. Have your audio always on mute unless advised by the facilitator.
  4. Be present. Try not to multi-task. Having your water or coffee nearby is fine but since your video is on, probably best not to be moving around.
  5. Try your best not to leave early. If your computer drops you out, come back on but make sure your video is on and your audio is muted.  
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Our Thrift Shop is Open!
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 3:00 pm

For a safe shopping experience, we can only allow 8 shoppers in the store at any time. All must wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
Online Study
Canceled this week, will resume the week of November 30
Monday 10:00 am-11:15 am:
Spiritual Lessons from the Book of Genesis

Wednesday 2:00 – 3:15 HST
Letters of Paul 

If you wish to join us, let us know know and we will send you the link and the questions we will discuss. 
Online Centering Prayer & Scripture Reflection
Canceled this week, will resume the week of November 30
Tuesdays, 9:00 - 9:45 am (HST)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7532197968

Centering Prayer is every Tuesday morning on Zoom, 9:00 - 9:45 am. We begin with a Scripture reading for the day followed by 12 minutes of meditation. Then a reflection is read and anyone who would like to share an insight is invited to do so. We finish with prayer time for those in need of healing.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Meets in the Parish Hall:
Monday 6:15 - 7:15 pm & 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Tuesday 10:00-11:00 am & 7:30 - 8:30 pm
Wednesday 7:30 - 8:30 pm

Go to www.kauaiaa.org for more info.
GIVE
Our giving is important, especially now.

Although we aren’t gathering in the sanctuary for worship, our church bills are still the same. We’ve had questions from our Sunday worshippers and now our Zoom worshippers about how to give. Your continued gifts really matter, especially in this time of uncertainty.  
If you like to give by check, please send to:
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church,
P.O. Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754

Or consider changing to Automated Giving. It makes life easy. Just click on the button below to make a one-time or recurring donation. 

Thank you for your love and care for our Christ Memorial community!

STAY INFORMED
Keep up-to-date with messages from the Bishop. Click on the buttons below to view the Bishop's weekly Monday & Wednesday messages, and find links to online worship in the Diocese.
QUICKLINKS
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.

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 by emailing her or call (623) 208-9436.
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754
Mailing: PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754
Phone: (808) 482-4824