Volume 5, Issue 34
August 28, 2020
THIS SUNDAY: August 30, 2020
Thirteen Sunday after Pentecost

ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICES WITH COMMUNION

8:00AM
Joe Adorno (EM)*
Jeff Albao (U)
Marge Akana (AG)

9:30AM
Mario Antonio (EM)
Alfonso Murrillo (U)
Mary Margaret Smith (LR)
David Crocker (AG)
Mabel Antonio, Vikki Secretario (HP)

* EM - Eucharisitic Minister; U - Usher; LR - Lay Reader; AG - Altar Guild; HP - Healing Prayers
UPCOMING EVENTS
ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICES WITH COMMUNION
8:00AM and 9:30AM
Sanctuary and Side Lanai

Aloha Hour
Every Sunday
10:45AM - 12:00PM
Side Lanai and Tent

Monday Crew
Every Monday
8:00AM
Church Office


Daughters of the King
Thursday, September 10th
7:00 - 8:00PM
Memorial Hall
RECURRING EVENTS
ALL RECURRING EVENTS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Sunday School
Every Sunday, 9:30 - 10:15AM
Memorial Hall

Laundry Love
1st & 3rd Wednesday, 5:00PM
Kapa`a Laundromat
McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
Every Wednesday, 6:00PM
Church

Choir Practice
Every Thursday, 6:00PM
Choir Room
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The editor-in-chief of your Epistle will be taking a few weeks off for surgery on Oahu. In the mean time, we will be publishing a very abbreviated issue each week. These issues will detail the weekly scripture readings, service schedules, duty rosters, upcoming and recurring events, and All Saints' news. Once recovered, the editor-in-chief will resume his duties.

Mahalo for your support.
burning bush
Weekly Sermon from Kahu Kawika
Not Your Ordinary Wild Goose Chase
“Not Your Ordinary Wild Goose Chase”
Romans 12:1-8
Matthew 16:13-20
Exodus 1:8-2:10
23 August 2020
All Saints, Kapaa, HI




In my time here on Kaua‘i, I have been glad to see the return in numbers of the N­­ene, or Hawaiian Geese. Just the other day, I saw a group of about six of them grazing on our own church lawn! Like other geese, they have their own way of relating to one another and of being in community with each other. They actually support each other and help to protect one another.

This morning, I want us to learn from geese as we examine two of our passages in tandem: Romans 12:1-8 and Exodus 1:8-2:10. The first has to do with the Apostle Paul’s explanation of the faith to the church in Rome, whom he was about to visit for the first time and thus wanted to send an introduction of himself and of his view of the Gospel ahead of his visit. The second is the story of the birth of Moses in Egypt, and like last week’s Gospel lesson showing us a strong woman of faith, there are no less than five such women in this story without whom Moses would not have been born and indeed arguably the Jewish people might have been nothing more than a footnote in history. Together, the women in this story save the Israelites, resulting years later in their freedom from Egyptian slavery and eventually their becoming a nation in their own right.

Learning from the example of geese, we will use the outline for whole-self stewardship found in our Romans 12 reading and with each of our three points look at the strong women in Exodus 1-2 as examples for us to emulate. So “Geese, Romans, and Exodus” will be our format for each point as we ponder a renewed sense of stewardship.
Paul in Romans 12 is following up on chapter 11, in which he shows God’s great over-the-top love and mercy for all people, no matter who they are, what group they belong to, or what they have done in their past. Paul wants his people to be “living sacrifices,” and yet this seems strange because sacrifices in the Old Testament tended to be (1) dead; and (2) as perfect as can be. Yet the Roman church then and we today are neither, but Paul nevertheless wants them and us to be “living sacrifices.” There are three steps to this that we will look at:

  1. A Renewed Sense of Vision: Romans 12:1-2
  2. A Renewed Sense of Vocation: Romans 12:3-5
  3. A Renewed Sense of Vigor: Romans 12:6-8


A Renewed Sense of Vision: Romans 12:1-2

Geese: They fly in a “V” formation. Ornithologists (bird scientists) have discovered why they do so. The first reason is to achieve a common direction: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird behind and to the side of it. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds about 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

Romans: In the first two verses of Romans 12, Paul’s vision for the Roman church members is that they would offer their bodies (meaning whole selves) as living sacrifices, and in order to do this they need to develop a God-given vision of the way to live. They are to allow God to renew their minds so that they can see and do God’s will in their lives, and this gives them a common direction. To me, this involves two views:
(1) Thankfulness for God’s goodness in the past – quote from St. Teresa of Ávila, 16th-century Spanish mystic and head of a religious order – “O God, please save me from thankless Christians!”; 
(2) Hope for God’s blessings in the future: Look for God’s presence and activity in our lives, as an impetus for staying on course in God’s good will.

Exodus: The two Egyptian midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, knew they should do the right things an honor God more than following their Pharaoh’s cruel plan. They saved many Hebrew boys, which leads to the birth of Moses and him being saved as well. They had the right vision, and so God grants their hope of having their own families.

Us: Do we have the right vision and thus are we going in the right direction with God? How much of our lives are filled with thankfulness for God and hope in God?


A Renewed Sense of Vocation: Romans 12:3-5

Geese: Another reason geese fly in a “V” formation is, when the lead goose gets tired it rotates back in the formation and another goose flies in the point position. They each know their roles, and will support each other and play their part.

Romans: Paul goes on in verses 3-5 to spell out that members of church have different roles but are one body in their support of each other and thus called to work in concert with each other. 

There is a story of two men who were riding a tandem bicycle built for two. They came to a steep hill. It took a great deal of struggle for the men to complete what proved to be a very stiff climb. When they got to the top, the man in front turned to the other in back and said, “Whew, that sure was a hard climb!” The fellow in back replied, “Yeah, and if I hadn’t kept the brakes on all the way, we would have certainly rolled back down!” POINT: It would have helped to have been united in what they were doing, to get to where they were going. Had they fulfilled their roles in concert with each other, then they would have achieved much more.

Exodus: Our third strong women in our Exodus story of the birth of Moses is his own birth mother. Unnamed, she plays a vital part that would have profound ramifications for both Moses and for the people of Israel. From the priestly family of Levi, she gave birth to Moses, hid him for three months, and then entrusts him to God’s care by making a papyrus basket, putting him into it, and placed the basket on the edge of the Nile River where there would be a good chance it would get spotted. Later, when Pharaoh’s daughter ends up adopted baby Moses, his birth mother then willingly plays the role of his wet-nurse and, in what must have been a heart-wrenching act, gives him back in adoption for Pharaoh’s daughter to raise within the royal household of Egypt. Moses’ bio mom knew her changing roles and willingly fulfilled her vocation, and thus fulfilled God’s plan.

Us: God calls us to live into our vocation sharing the variety of our gifts, skills, and inclinations for the greater glory of God and for the blessing of all around us. Like a superb orchestra, each of us as a role to play that contributes to the greater good by serving in concert with one another. We may think we have little or no part to play, or that we do but have not had the right place to put that to practice. But like the geese that know their place but can fill in the pukas where necessary, we each can play a vital role. None of us can do everything, but each of us can do something.

A Renewed Sense of Vigor: Romans 12:6-8

Geese: Geese also honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. Additionally, when a goose gets sick or wounded and falls out of formation, two other geese will join it down to help and protect it. They then stay with it until it is either able to fly again, then the three of then form a “V” and continue. Geese know how to make the extra effort to look out for each other.

Romans: The tone of the verses from Romans is to do whatever you are doing to the Nth degree. In the original Greek, the tone is: “If you are serving, really serve! If you are teaching, teach with enthusiasm! If you are leading, govern diligently! If you are showing mercy, do so cheerfully!” Wherever God has placed us, serve with all the vigor you can muster - no half measures.

Exodus: Our fourth and fifth strong women from Exodus 1-2 show us how to be living sacrifices filled with vigor. Pharaoh’s daughter goes above and beyond in her love for baby Moses – when she notices him floating in the basket, even though she recognizes him as a Hebrew boy, she nevertheless wants to adopt him and love him as her own – in defiance to her father the Pharaoh’s genocidal command! Additionally, Moses’ older sister, whom later we come to know as Miriam, follows the papyrus basket containing Moses on the Nile River to see what would become of him. When she sees Pharaoh’s daughter retrieve him, she takes the initiative and offers to get a wet-nurse for the boy – only to bring back Moses’ bio mom! Both these women show us the extra mile effort they take with the roles God gave them.

Us: Helen Keller, born deaf, blind, and mute: “I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. For the world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.” Nothing done with a whole-hearted attempt will be in vain in God’s economy.

The upshot from the world of geese: NO LONE RANGERS – EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY. Realize your vision, vocation, and vigor in order to offer a true living sacrifice to God.

All of this will help us, as well, understand a wider definition of malama, or caring stewardship, that goes way beyond mere fundraising for our church. The Vestry and I have been looking at a new approach to stewardship for the Fall called “Malama Matters” that involves a personal talk-story approach and an appeal for all of us to live into our calling as God’s people at All Saints’ and to re-examine how God can use our skills, likes, resources, and our whole lives to glorify God and to be a blessing to each other and to our wider community and world.

Maya Angelou, the great contemporary poet who passed away just six years ago, said something that relates to a sense of right vision, vocation, and vigor to be a living sacrifice: “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” May God make it so in our lives and in our church ‘ohana as we live out the stewardship of God’s malama. Amen.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, especially Bob, The Sloggett Family, Annie, Mike, Destry, Laragh, The Hiyane Family, Fr. Ryan and Family, The Hoffman Family, and those we name silently or aloud, let us pray to the Lord. ​Lord, have mercy. 

For all who have died, especially those affected by the COVID-19 virus, for those persecuted from racial injustice and bigotry of any kind, and those we name silently or aloud, in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord. ​Lord, have mercy. Amen.
E Komo Mai to Our New Senior Warden!
Linda Crocker Chosen and Has Accepted the Position of Senior Warden
As I announced at our Sunday services on August 2nd, I am thrilled that we have a new Senior Warden -- Linda Crocker! Linda has been serving on our Vestry, and I have noticed both there and in other areas that she is a Spirit-filled person who is wise, has a concern for the whole church and surrounding community, has the pulse of the various parts of our church 'ohana, and is not afraid to give me truthful and candid counsel for the sake of God's glory and our blessing. She also has a pastoral heart, proactively concerned for both individuals and groups within our church and wider community. She has agreed to serve at least until our next Annual Meeting in late January. If you have not already done so, please extend to Linda your best wishes and blessings upon her. Mahalo nui loa, Linda, for stepping up to serve God and our church 'ohana in this vital area of ministry!

-Kahu Kawika
Chickens, Chickens, and more Chickens
Please Don't Feed the Fowl!
As you may have noticed, we have had an uptick in the number of chickens on the All Saints' campus. There were so many around the rectory that they were chasing the cats away from their food when Kahu+ and Muriel fed them. So many chickens create an unsanitary and unsafe environment. Through the concerted efforts of the Jackson family and CeCe Caldwell, many of the chickens were trapped and released far away from All Saints' and any neighborhoods. Twenty nine chickens were removed from the rectory side of the campus and eighteen were removed from the gym side (with a few yet to go). Yes, chickens will return and we will go through the process again. But let's not encourage their presence by feeding them.

-CeCe Caldwell
Hale Ho`omalu Accepts Donations
All Saints' Restarts Donation Collection
All Saints’ has had a long relationship with Hale Ho`omalu, a Child and Family Service program that provides families with the tools and resources they need to create meaningful and lasting change in their lives. Over the years, our `Ohana has collected donations specific to monthly-need requests provided by Hale Ho`omalu.

COVID-19 changed our ability to collect donations since on-site church services were canceled. Now that we are open for on-site worship, our Hale Ho`omalu donations will be collected again for delivery to this worthy program. We are grateful to our wonderful Monday Crew that takes the donations to Hale Ho`omalu each week.

Hale Ho`omalu is requesting donations of school supplies. There is an on-going need for travel sized toiletries and canned goods so these items will be accepted every week. As always, monetary donations are gratefully accepted.
Special Request from Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick
August 21, 2020

Aloha my dear Siblings in Christ Jesus,

I have a request for all lay members of Episcopal churches in Hawaiʻi and Micronesia: Please tell your priest thank you. Drop them a note or an email. The pandemic has been complicated and harmful for all of us. Most clergy really do love people. We like to talk and be with people. The pandemic has pushed is into virtual worship and endless Zoom gatherings. I’m not sure some clergy are really taking their day off. Many have certainly decided to forgo vacations. A note of thanks would be appreciated.

To the Wardens and members of Vestries/Bishop’s Committees, please ensure that your clergy are taking their day off each week without answering emails or text messages. It would be wise for them to take some vacation time (even a staycation without calls and email).

I deeply appreciate that the clergy of this Diocese (and the Convocation in Micronesia) have stepped up during a difficult time. As the pandemic ebbs and flows, we have had to be all the more adaptable. We all look forward to 2021 with a vaccine and/or effective treatments making COVID-19 inconsequential. Until then, we must care for one another. Please tell your priests and deacons how much you care for them.

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are called to any office and ministry for your people, and especially the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Hawaiʻi and the Episcopal Church in Micronesia; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Aloha ma o Iesu Kristo, ko makou Haku,

+Bob

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick,
Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
Bishop-in-Charge of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia
IN BRIEF . . .

These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"

Please submit your story ideas to the Epistle Staff at news@allsaintskauai.org.
KUPUNA SHOPPING ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
Any of our All Saints' kupuna who need assistance with grocery shopping can contact Carolyn Morinishi (808-651-2061) to set up a delivery.

ALL SAINTS' VIRTUAL SWAP MEET
If any ministry has an unmet need, reach out to put it in the All Saints' Virtual Swap Meet and it will be published in the Epistle. Contact Bill Caldwell at news@allsaintskauai.org.

PASTORAL CARE CONTACT INFORMATION
Whenever you have a need for support, please call (650) 691-8104 and leave a voice mail. The system will immediately forward the information to the Pastoral Care Committee who will respond to each request. If you prefer, you may send an electronic pastoral care request via email to pastoralcare@allsaintskauai.org.

PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY
Individuals who want to participate in the Prayer Chain Ministry must re-enroll to continue receiving the email communications. To re-enroll, please visit the newly established Pastoral Care web page or contact the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.

SUBMITTING A PRAYER REQUEST
Prayer requests will now be submitted online or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Names can be added to the Prayers of the People petitions by using the Prayer Chain Request form or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267. Names will remain in the Prayers of the People for a maximum of four Sundays before a name must be resubmitted.