Church Newsletter for the week of March 20: ❤️ Upcoming teaching series, Episcopal Church Welcomes You, Episcopal Relief Update in Ukraine, Prayers, Poetic Reflections and more...

Class Introduction: The religious impulse begins with experience. We experience something mysterious and wonderful. Something greater. The numinous, the beautiful, the awe-inspiring. Something intuitively true. We find ourselves elevated and humbled simultaneously.

Then we seek ways to remember. Liturgy, prayer, theology, memory.

In this series, we will first seek to remember and honor our own experience of the divine. Then we will explore practices that can help renew and ground us.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU

We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.

We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church.

Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.

We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.

WATCH NOW

EPISCOPAL RELIEF IN UKRAINE

Friend in Christ, we just wanted to give you a quick update on our response efforts in Ukraine — and how you can still support families fleeing violence.

Since we last wrote, more than two million people have been displaced after Russian forces invaded the country, making this the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II. Damage to civilian infrastructure has left thousands without electricity or water — and homes have been destroyed, affecting hundreds of thousands of people within the country. Ukrainians continue fleeing to neighboring countries such as Poland, Hungary and Romania.

We are supporting Action by Churches Together (ACT Alliance) as it works through ACT member Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) and other local organizations to provide emergency assistance such as food, shelter, water and basic supplies to refugees and people displaced within Ukraine.

On February 27, HIA set up a refugee support point on the Ukrainian side of the border at Beregsurány, where volunteers are providing hot tea, sandwiches, refreshments, blankets and basic hygiene items for families, who often wait long hours to cross the border into Hungary. HIA is in contact with its network of churches and organizations, as well as local governments in Hungary, to coordinate cash assistance, shelter, food and medicine for people who have been displaced.

ACT Alliance is setting up similar support points at other border towns to assist people as they leave Ukraine. It is working through local partners to provide aid for refugees in Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland.

If you can, please help us support these efforts and continue to hold the people of Ukraine in your prayers and thoughts as they face this ongoing crisis.

DONATE NOW

PRAYERS FOR UKRAINE AND PEACE

We pray for peace, but maybe we don’t have the words. We pray for a just peace, but maybe we don’t have the words. We pray that the lives of innocents and the lives of any human child of God will be spared. We pray that our leaders will find a diplomatic way, a nonviolent way of solution. But we don’t know how to pray as we are. So, the Spirit must intercede for us at this time.

– The Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

COMMUNITY RESOURCES: FREE PRODUCE BAG FOR THOSE THAT TAKE THE SURVEY

LEARN MORE

YOUTH PRAYER HIKE: SLEEPING GIANT

Diocesan Youth Ministry - Hawaii

March 26, 2022

9:00am-2:00pm

All Youth (grades 6-12) are invited to participate in one of our Diocesan Youth Ministry-sponsored Prayer Hikes scheduled to be held on March 26, 2022. These hikes will be our first events to host since the COVID pandemic began 2 years ago!

We are so excited for our Youth to be able

to gather together safely for an outdoor event!

Prayer Hikes will be offered on three of

our islands (O‘ahu, Kauai, and Hawaii Island).

All three hikes will begin at 9:00 am and end at 2:00 pm.

Cost: Free

Things to bring:

Hiking/Sturdy Closed-Toe Shoes (no slippers)

Cell Phone

Small Backpack

Water Bottle

Sunscreen

Lunch/Snacks

Kauai Hike

Sleeping Giant (West Trailhead)

5711 Lokelani Rd, Kapa‘a, HI

Hike Leaders:

Rachel Secretario

rachelsecretario@gmail.com

Rev. David Jackson

rector@allsaintskauai.org

Please register by March 23

POETIC REFLECTIONS

A BLESSING FOR WAITING IN THE DARK

March 15, 2022

Kimberly Knowle-Zeller

A blessing for waiting in the dark

This blessing is for you –

the one who feels alone

and tired and unsure

the one wrestling with doubt and belief

the one who can’t seem to move forward

the one who feels like they are alway behind

the one who can’t pay the bills

the one who is immobilized by fear

this blessing is for you

when you wonder if good will prevail

when you worry that all you know is darkness

when your heart breaks and your tears won’t stop

this blessing is for you

as you wait and wonder and worry

as you question and cry out

as you claw your way towards hope

this blessing joins you in the dark

to remind you that you are not alone

this blessing clings to you

loves you

believes in you

and calls you forward

this blessing knows that the light shines in the darkness

this blessing knows that God’s light is near

this blessing knows that God draws us close

this blessing is with you in the dark

never leaving your side

and will be with you as dawn breaks.

Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ELCA pastor, mother, and writer who lives in Cole Camp, MO with her family. If you’d like to read more from Kim, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter, Walk and Talk here. As a gift to her readers and subscribers who sign up, she has a free downloadable resource: Walk and Talk with God: Reflection, Scripture references, and a how-to for your own contemplative walk.

THIS IS MY OFFERING

A Prayer:

Magnificent Holy Father.

I stand before you at this altar. So many have given you more.

I may not have much I can offer. Yet what I have is truly yours.

This is my offering, dear Lord.

This is my offering to You, God.

Your offering enables us to maintain worship, prayer and study during this time. Help us continue to provide a beautiful, flourishing, and safe "Sanctuary for the Spirit" at our historic and faithful church on Kaua'i.

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.

Live off island? If you have a prayer intention or would like to pray for those on our prayer list, email our office. To be part of the church collective means we all share in the cost of being a church. We want our church to have inspiring worship; pastoral care for those in need; beautiful church grounds; programs to learn and grow; and tools to reach out to those who are seeking a closer relationship with God. See the different ways you can share your gifts, on our Giving page HERE.

DONATE TO CHRIST MEMORIAL

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!

PASSING THE PLATE

PAYPAL

http://www.christmemorialkauai.org/radicalgiving.html

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Sunday school will be held at 8:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall across from Christ Memorial with beloved teachers Leona and Keana.

Masks are required.

Aloha ke akua.

THRIFT STORE IS OPEN

Shopping Hours:

Monday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Tuesday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Wednesday 9:30 am -12:30 pm

Thursday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Saturday 9:30 am -3:00 pm

Donations Accepted:

Monday 2:00 - 5:00 pm

Wednesday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Saturday 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Please wear a mask

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Helen Mitsui Shared Blessings Thrift Shop in Kilauea is seeking Volunteers for 2021.

Each volunteer shift is a 2-4 hour commitment for a minimum of one day per week. Experience in Retail, Customer Service, and/or Retail a plus, but not required.

Volunteers are invaluable to serving our community. Our goal is to reuse, repurpose and recycle goods — keeping as much as possible out of landfill — while providing our community with access to reasonably priced, quality merchandise.

Here are ways you can help:

* Greeters welcome shoppers and monitor our COVID guidelines.

* Customer Care helps shoppers to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.

* Merchandisers organize departments, restock the floor and display retail goods.

* Philanthropy distributes merchandise to organizations in need.

* Donation Intakers receive, sort and process donations.

Work-from-Home volunteers help prepare merchandise for sale. We are especially looking for help in these areas:

* Games: checking games to ensure all components are intact

* Stationery: packaging up cards and envelopes

* Holidays: preparing merchandise for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentines, 4th of July, and more

* School, Office, Art Craft Supplies: organizing and packaging materials for reuse

* Toys: sorting, cleaning, and packaging toys

* Hardware: sorting and packaging tools, materials, electronics and appliances

Requirements?

*Team players with a genuine interest in serving the community and contributing to the reuse movement.

* Willingness to support COVID-19 safety measures set by Shared Blessings

* Physically able to lift 50 pounds (Merchandisers and Donation Intakers only)

Benefits?

Serving the community and our environment is rewarding work. We have a lot of fun! New merchandise is donated daily, so the element of surprise and wonder is constant. Get a first peek and more!

Interested?

Click on the reply button here! Let us know 1) your interests, 2) your availability to volunteer and 3) your contact information. Mahalo!

PRAYER REQUESTS THIS WEEK

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others. We remember especially those on our prayer list. Healing of body, mind and spirit for: Janice, Marilyn, Webb, David, Linda, David, Satya, Penny, Scott, Gordon, Suzanne, KB, Kim Edge, Helen, Noah, Micki, Hal, Matt, Huy and the Nguyen family, the Oliveria family, and the Hanchett family.We pray for the people of Ukraine. We pray that you will bring people together in worship. Enliven your church and bless Michael our musician, our clergy and lay leadership. We pray for our sibling Episcopal congregations on Kauai: St John and St Paul, West Kauai, St Michael & All Angels, Lihue and All Saints, Kapaa; and for all churches on the North Shore. We pray for our own congregation of Christ Memorial, Kilauea for those present, online and absent - that all of us together may be united in your ministry.

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Thrift Store Hours :

Monday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Tuesday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Wednesday 9:30 am -12:30 pm

Thursday 2:00 pm -5:00 pm

Friday 2:00 pm -5:00 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.

VISIT THE THRIFT STORE WEBSITE

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.

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.