Volume 7, Issue 1
January 7, 2022
THIS SUNDAY: January 9, 2022
Third Sunday after Christmas


Isaiah 43:1-7
Speaking to the Jewish exiles scattered throughout the Babylonia Empire, the prophet reassures them that God still loves them as children and that God will one day gather them back to their homes again.
 
Psalm 29:1-2, 10-11
The Psalmist affirms the greatness of God, who gives us as God’s people strength and blessings.
 
Acts 8:14-17
Peter and John make go to the Samaritans when they hear that they have received Jesus Christ into their hearts and got water baptism. Peter and John come to finish their inclusion as God’s people by baptizing them with the Holy Spirit.
 
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin, baptizes Jesus. This is one of the few times we see all three members of the Trinity present at one time.
ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICE
WITH COMMUNION

8:00AM
Mark Cain (EM)*
Jeff Albao (U)
Diane Sato (AG)
Suzanne Kobayashi (DM)

9:30AM
Dileep Bal (EM)
Mario Antonio (U)
Tabitha Secretario (LR)
Jan Hashizume (AG)
Rachel Secretario (SS)
Nelson Secretario, Vikki Secretario (HP)
Joan Roughgarden, Ron Morinishi (DM)

Live Stream
9:00AM on our home page, YouTube, or Facebook accounts
@allsaintskauai

* EM - Eucharistic Minister; U - Usher; LR - Lay Reader; AG - Altar Guild; HP - Healing Prayers; DM - Digital Ministry; SS - Sunday School
UPCOMING EVENTS

Ke Akua Youth Group
Wednesday, January 12th
5:00 - 6:00PM
Zoom
Contact Cami for login info.

Daughters of the King
Wednesday, January 12th
6:00 - 7:00PM
Zoom
Contact Mabel Antonio for login info.

POSTPONED
See below for details
Diocesan Wide Youth Hike
Saturday, January 15th
9:00AM - 2:00PM
Sleeping Giant, West Trailhead
Recurring Events
On Hiatus due to COVID surge
Aloha Hour
Every Sunday after the 9:30AM service
Church Lanai

Monday/Friday Crew
Every Monday/Friday, 8:00AM 
Church Office

Project Vision Hi`ehi`e Mobile Showers
Every Thursday, 12:00 - 3:00PM
Church Campus
On Hiatus due to COVID surge
Laundry Love Go-Packs
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 12:00 - 3:00PM
Church Campus

Daughters of the King
2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:00PM
Zoom
Bring rest and reassurance to those facing struggles this holiday season, especially: Taylor; Cathy Gott; Larry Revilla; Suzanne Woodruff. ​Lord, have mercy. 

We give you thanks for all the saints who have gone before us and now proclaim your glory. We pray to you, O Lord. 
Reflections from Kahu Kawika
Promises, Promises
The Epistle offers both video and text versions of the sermon presented each Sunday. To watch this week's engaging sermon, click on the link below. To read the text, please scroll down.
Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a
Jeremiah 31:7-9
Luke 2:41-52
Psalm 84:1-8
Christmas 2C
2 January 2022
All Saints’ Church, Kapaʻa

Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou – Happy New Year! It’s still hard for me to believe that we live in the 21st Century, and even the thought of the year 2022 makes me think of that futuristic cartoon “the Jetsons” with flying cars and conveyor sidewalks.

Muriel and I had a rather quiet New Year’s Eve (with the exception of the neighborhood fireworks and blustery weather). She prepared some tasty pūpūʻs and we searched for a good program on TV to welcome in the new year. We were on CNN, but soon that got rather silly – the attempts at celebration were more often off-color jokes and drunken antics. Not very uplifting. So I started to channel-surf when my finger somehow accidentally hit a button on our remote, and we ended up on BBC World News – except rather than showing normal global news, it was featuring the live funeral service of Archbishop Desmond Tutu at St. George’s Cathedral in Capetown, South Africa. It was live because, of course, South Africa is exactly 12 hours ahead of Hawaiʻi time, so their services started at 10AM on New Year’s Day but we were watching it live from 10pm on New Year’s Eve. That “accidental” touching of the wrong remote button turned out to be the greatest blessing for us! We witnessed many people extolling the saintly virtues of Desmond Tutu – his passion for social justice, his profound sense of humor, his ability to relate to people high and low, but most of all the holiness he exhibited out of his sheer joy in knowing he was a child of God. It is that latter quality that seemed to fuel the other great ones in his life. Muriel and I remarked that there really was no better way we could celebrate the transition of the years than to look up to someone like Desmon Tutu as a role model for joyful and holy living in God.

When we get to a new year, many of us make resolutions, or promises to ourselves and maybe to others, that we will change some of the ways we have been living. Usually, they take the form of a new diet, fitness regime, or use of time. However, for me I’m only making one New Year’s resolution as inspired by Desmond Tutu – to live more consciously and conscientiously into my status as a child of God and with God as my loving parent. Quite often, in my daily reality I am not so conscious of the magnitude of this high calling, let alone recognize it in other people I encounter. But if I can do that in a better way in 2022, then everything else will fall into place naturally.

As it turns out, our readings this morning all point to God as our loving Father or Mother and thus asks for our response as God’s children. The Hebrew Bible reading from Jeremiah 31 describes the prophet’s extension of hope to a people who had been uprooted from their homes and homeland, with no apparent prospect of return or restoration. However, the prophet, speaking for God, says at the end of this reading, “For I am forever Israel’s parent, and Ephraim is my firstborn.” The implication here is clear – God sets up the framework of the relationship as one of love between a caring parent and their child, and so the people scattered in exile can dare to hope that God will one day restore them.

Our gospel reading from Luke 2 is one that normally doesn’t appear much in our weekly Sunday readings, but is an option for today, the second Sunday of Christmas. It describes Joseph, Mary, and a pre-adolescent Jesus who had joined with a large caravan of folks from their hometown of Nazareth in the north to journey for about a week to go down south to Jerusalem for their annual pilgrimage to the week-long celebration of Passover. After spending their days down there with all the throngs of fellow pilgrims, they start to make their return journey up north to Nazareth. Since they were traveling in a large company of relatives and friends, Mary and Joseph had thought that Jesus was still with them somewhere with their loved ones – but after a day they still couldn’t find Jesus anywhere! So they decide to return to Jerusalem to search him out. Now get this – they had already been on the road for a whole day before noticing that Jesus was not with their caravan – what a long time! 

This reminded me of when my dad, son Caleb (when he was about 8 years old), and I had gone to a Lakers game in downtown Los Angeles. After the game, we were making our way to our car in the thick of the crowd of people, when my dad and I noticed that somehow Caleb had gotten separated from us in the crowd! After what seemed an agonizing 3 minutes or so, we finally spotted him on the sidewalk at the intersection of two big boulevards. I cannot describe the feeling of both gladness at finding Caleb again and the stark realization of the scary prospect of permanently losing him! And that was only after three minutes! 

So imagine Mary and Joseph’s panic extended more than two days (the time of the initial trip back home and then doubled to return again to Jerusalem). No wonder when they finally found Jesus debating with the scholars in the Temple, Mary exclaims, “Son why have you done this to us? You see that your father and I have been so worried, looking for you!” Any one of you who is a parent, grandparent, auntie, or uncle can identify with the anguish of Mary and Joseph at this point. But I want to focus on Jesus’ answer to Mary: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in my Abba’s (Father’s) house?” Jesus wisely reminds Mary of the fact that Jesus is rooted and grounded in the love-relationship with God as his caring and loving Heavenly Father.

And then we have our New Testament reading from Ephesians 1, in which the writer makes the case of us being adopted children of God, and by proxy fellow siblings of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the natural-born child, but thanks to God’s all-inclusive love, we are hanai children of the Maker of the Universe. But do we really have that as a living reality in our lives? We hear it and read it and thus we are used to the idea, but do we really feel it and live our lives in such a way as to reflect that?

To make the case more strongly, the writer to the Ephesians lays out three ways where the reality of being adopted children of God becomes more tangible to us:

  • Wisdom from the Past: The writer says that they “pray that the God of our Savior Jesus Christ, the God of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation, to bring you to a rich knowledge of the Creator.” We have inherited the gift of our faith from our forebears, from those who had walked with Jesus and bore witness to him and his resurrection, from the saints of old warts and all, and from those who compiled our present-day Bible over a thousand-year process. We can get to know God and Jesus as God’s Son thanks to the wisdom we have been given before.

  • Glories Promised in the Future: The writer adds to their prayer for their readers that they may “see the hope this call holds for you – the promised glories that God’s holy ones will inherit.” These words “hope” and “inherit” imply looking forward to things set in the future. And especially that second word, “inherit,” seems to be intentional by reinforcing our status as God’s children – as children, we are the natural heirs of future treasures as children often are of their parents’ property. And what are these future glories we can look forward to? (1) Eternal Life; (2) Even more than no more death, an eternal life filled with joy, love, peace, and the prospect of celebration with God and the Saints Above forever; (3) The ongoing process of restoration in our daily lives – we are not yet in heaven and we still have to face the twists and turns of this life, but with God alongside us, we can claim a process of healing and wholeness that the world cannot provide, a “peace that passes all understanding” no matter what is going on.

  • Power for Today: The last part of the writer’s prayer is for their readers to know “the infinitely great power that is exercised for us who believe.” By power we don’t mean something explosive or necessarily grandiose, but the ability given to us often in daily doses by the Spirit to live into God’s love and will in our daily lives. Here, believing in God is an ongoing process rather than a one-off act, like a child who continues to grasp the hand of their parent in order to be led to safe and pleasant places.

In closing, and as part of my New Year’s resolution and promise to God, I hear God telling me to “be the person you are, in order to become who I have made you to be.” Let us pray for the Spirit’s power and wherewithal to live into the vibrant, vital, and adventurous life of being a Child of God. Amen.
Join us in Welcoming the Rev. Bob Carver
Guest Celebrant January 9th and 16th
Fr. Bob and Kris have been married for 53+ years, have two middle-aged sons and six grandchildren. He graduated with an M.Div. from Church Divinity School of the Pacific (’71). He served in Minnesota, Washington State, and Florida. 

He chose to become a nurse in 2004. Earned a Masters in Nursing in 2014 and taught nursing until 2021.

He now writes science fictions novels full-time. Book one of the Corvis Epic, Corvis from Earth, will be published soon (one way or another). His website is rcodycarver.com.

Bob and Kris now live on Kaua`i each winter. They have attended All Saints’ every year for the past 25 years.
What Is an Annual Parish Meeting?

The Annual Parish Meeting is a meeting of the members of a parish. The by-laws of the parish generally require an annual parish meeting and state the qualifications to be a voting member of the parish. Diocesan canons may state requirements concerning parish meetings. The annual parish meeting typically elects vestry members, and it may elect vestry officers. Delegates to diocesan convention and representatives to other diocesan, deanery, or parish entities may also be elected by the parish meeting. The budget of the parish may be presented. The rector, vestry officers, and ministry leaders may make presentations at the annual parish meeting. The parish by-laws may allow the rector or a majority of the vestry to call a special parish meeting at any time. The by-laws may specify the requirements for a special parish meeting, including the requirements for notice to the members of the parish.

All Saints' Annual Parish Meeting
Sunday, January 30, 2022, 10:30AM
On Sunday, January 30th, All Saints' will hold its Annual Parish Meeting. On that Sunday, we will have both 8:00 and 9:30AM services. These will be livestreamed as usual.

After the 9:30AM service is finished, we will hold our Annual Parish Meeting in the sanctuary. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are giving members the option to attend the Annual Parish Meeting virtually, via a secure Zoom link.

With Zoom, attendees will have the option of participating in the meeting and voting, via hand-raise, chat or Zoom poll.

Details about the Zoom link and other pertinent information about the Annual Meeting will be published in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned.
Diocesan Episcopal Youth Hikes Postponed
To Resume as COVID Cases Decline
Due to rising COVID-19 (Omicron variant) concerns the Episcopal Youth Community has postponed the January 15, 2022 hike. We are hoping to reschedule the event in February or March depending on the situation in our local communities.

Please stay tuned for more information from the Episcopal Youth Community by visiting the Diocesan Youth webpage HERE.

Stay safe and healthy! Mahalo.
Mobile Showers Lunches and Laundry Love Go-Bags Paused
To Resume as COVID Cases Decline
Due to the rapid rise in COVID cases on island, Laundry Love Go-Bags and the lunches provided by All Saints' to the Mobile Showers patrons will be on temporary hold. We hope to begin these ministries again in February. Mahalo to those who serve in these two important ministries.

-Kahu Kawika+
The Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion Called to be the
New Vicar of Episcopal Church of West Kauai
The people of the Episcopal Church on West Kaua'i and the Bishop of Hawai'i, Rt. Rev. Robert Fitzpatrick, have called The Rev. Kerry Holder Joffrion to be our new Vicar. She will begin serving here February 1, 2022.
 
She has been at ECWK as one of our 'priests-in-residence' several times over the past few years and has made a positive impact on our faith community and the community in general during her relatively short time here.
'Kahu' Kerry and her husband Peter (pictured here with daughter Lilly) live in Huntsville, Alabama and have four adult children.

We look forward to seeing them again soon.
This photo was taken at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Kailua where students from the 'Iolani Key Club came to help distribute gifts at the church's Christmas Party event for the community. (Photo from the Emmanuel Facebook page by the Rev. Annalise Pasalo.)
Storm Damage Takes a Toll on Trinity By-the-Sea
The December 5th storm that wreaked havoc across the islands, especially on Hawai'i Island and Maui, hit Trinity By-the-Sea in Kihei especially hard. Giant kiawe trees crushed buildings, storage containers for their thrift shop were flooded, and their outdoor worship space and columbarium were under a foot of mud. An unstable kiawe tree threatens their altar and needs to be removed. While insurance covers some of the storm damage, it will not cover the tree removal. If you'd like to help our brothers and sisters at Trinity, please consider donating HERE(Photos contributed by Scott Zipf)
Baptism
Full Initiation by Water and the Holy Spirit
Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the church. God establishes an indissoluble bond with each person in baptism. God adopts us, making us members of the church and inheritors of the Kingdom of God (BCP, pp. 298, 858). In baptism we are made sharers in the new life of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of sins. Baptism is the foundation for all future church participation and ministry. Each candidate for baptism in the Episcopal Church is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons.

Sponsors (godparents) speak on behalf of candidates for baptism who are infants or younger children and cannot speak for themselves at the Presentation and Examination of the Candidates. During the baptismal rite the members of the congregation promise to do all they can to support the candidates for baptism in their life in Christ. They join with the candidates by renewing the baptismal covenant. The water of baptism may be administered by immersion or affusin (pouring) (BCP, p. 307). Candidates are baptized “in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” and then marked on the forehead with the sign of the cross. Chrism may be used for this marking. The newly baptized is “sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.” When all baptisms have been completed, the celebrant and congregation welcome the newly administered within the eucharist as the chief service on a Sunday or another feast.

The Catechism notes that “Infants are baptized so that they can share citizenship in the Covenant, membership in Christ, and redemption by God.” The baptismal promises are made for infants by their parents or sponsors, “who guarantee that the infants will be brought up within the Church, to know Christ and be able to follow him” (BCP, pp. 858-859). Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saint’s Day or the Sunday following, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany).

Epiphany
Hope and Gratitude

By the Rev. Heather L. Melton, staff officer for the United Thank Offering

One of the things that you might not know about me is that I am a huge fan of folk art and local traditions. With the internet, we’ve been able to learn about all sorts of things that people do to make art or celebrate life events; unfortunately, as we share information, sometimes traditions get lost, merged, or simply changed. 
Epiphany is one of my favorite feast days in The Episcopal Church because of all the amazing ways that people celebrate it. Some of you will welcome the arrival of the three kings with presents (for our Episcopalian family in Italy, La Bufana will bring gifts to children). Others will celebrate with a three kings party or with rosca de reyas. Still others will usher in “king cake” season and an extended period of Mardi Gras. Others will chalk their doorway; some will go to church for candles to be blessed. Some households will remove their Christmas decorations. There are so many ways to celebrate Epiphany—it is sort of a magical moment around the world where people note not only the shift in the seasons but an important moment in our liturgical year. It’s a moment to give thanks for what was and what will be. Epiphany marks a transitional moment in the story of our faith as a new year begins to unfold.

Colorado Episcopalians Coordinate Aid to Neighbors Affected by Wildfire

Egan Millard
January 3, 2022
A statue stands amid the remains of homes destroyed by the Marshall Fire in Louisville, Colorado. The wildfire burned over 6,100 acres and destroyed some 1,000 homes in Boulder County between Dec. 30 and 31. Photo: Alyson McClaran/Reuters

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians in Boulder County, Colorado, are beginning the long task of recovering from a devastating wildfire that destroyed about 1,000 homes and burned over 6,000 acres in Superior and Louisville, suburbs northwest of Denver, on Dec. 30 and 31.

Mike Orr, canon for communications and evangelism for the Diocese of Colorado, said that the Episcopal churches in the area had not been damaged but some parishioners had lost their homes. No deaths or major injuries were reported as of Jan. 2, though two people were missing, The New York Times reported.

“The rectors and priests in charge are coordinating some of those efforts on the ground to assess the immediate needs of those families right now, as well as the needs of people who don’t call themselves Episcopalians,” Orr told Episcopal News Service. “This week we’re going to be putting out a request for people who want to give to that cause and we’ll be coordinating that through the Office of the Bishop, setting up a way for people to apply for funds to meet their needs.”

Orr added that the Rev. Carl Andrews, the diocese’s disaster coordinator, is working with Episcopal Relief & Development, which has already provided an initial grant to the diocese.

The area affected by the wildfire, which had been suffering from a severe drought, was hit by high winds last week, including gusts of 108 miles per hour, which fanned the flames. Two days later, about a foot of snow blanketed the area, putting out the fire but hampering recovery efforts. Investigators continue to look for the cause of the wildfire.
During and after the wildfire, the Episcopal churches in the area shared status updates on social media, including the aid programs that are being deployed.

“We enter dusk on the eve of a new year with heavy hearts as the impact of the fires continues to sink in,” wrote the Rev. Lyndon Shakespeare, rector of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Broomfield.

“The reality for many is nothing less than challenging. While it is indeed a miracle that the human fatality count remains at zero at this moment, the outlook for those who have lost homes and property involves difficult choices about the next steps.”

Holy Comforter is part of Broomfield VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), a network of nonprofits and community groups that are coordinating assistance, and Shakespeare said there are preliminary plans for the church to host a donation site for clothing and other supplies.

“The winds on [Dec. 30] took down a tree across the street from the rectory, and half of our fence,” wrote the Rev. Mary Kate Réjouis, rector of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Boulder. “As the rest of that day unfolded, that loss is small in the context of what happened next. Thank you for your support in prayer and concern for our evacuated parish households, all of whom have found that their homes are intact. The impact of losing almost 1,000 buildings, almost all of them homes, within a few hours will be felt for years.”

Réjouis encouraged parishioners to donate to the Wildfire Fund established by the Community Foundation of Boulder County, and said she would use donations to her discretionary fund to help parishioners of the neighboring churches who were affected by the wildfire. She also warned that the long journey of recovery was just beginning.

“As much as I’d like to be able to do something, anything, right now, the long-haul needs are just unfolding,” she wrote. “On Friday morning, neighbors and I helped remove the tree across our neighbor’s drive, so she could access her car. That felt good – really good. A task to accomplish. I wish fire recovery were that easy. It’s not.”

Correction: The Rev. Mary Kate Réjouis’s surname was misspelled in an earlier version of this story.

– Egan Millard is an assistant editor and reporter for Episcopal News Service. He can be reached at emillard@episcopalchurch.org.

FROM THE EPISCOPAL CAFÈ
Soaring Prayers for the New Year


Kimberly Knowle-Zeller
January 4, 2022
My seven-year-old daughter had three wishes for Santa this year: glow sticks, a math book, and an Elsa kite. Thankfully Santa delivered on all accounts, and two days after Christmas, with a hint of sun breaking through streaks of clouds, our family headed to an open field. Both kids chanted, “Fly kites, fly kites, fly kites!” Their energy soared high. My four-year-old son also received a kite, and both kids grasped their kites close to their chests as if holding treasure. 

“Mine first,” Charlotte yelled as my husband held the body of the kite and took a few steps back while Charlotte unrolled the string. He reached his arm into the air and with a gust of wind let go of Elsa. All of our heads turned upward to the sky as we watched the kite fly higher and higher. Charlotte couldn’t stop smiling. “Look at her go,” she said. 

This kite was a simple wish fulfilled for my daughter, but my wishes this year felt harder to bring to reality. I’ve been holding close the challenges of another year living in a pandemic, the seeming inability neighbors and friends have to engage in honest conversations, and the health scares and diagnoses of family and friends. In holding the prayers of this world, my community, and my own heart, I’ve felt untethered, lost in doubt and uncertainty. I’ve longed to feel God’s presence. 

When it came time for Isaac to get his shark kite soaring, he had a few more missteps along the way. There were nose dives and immediate flops back to the ground. This is what my heart feels, I think. With every news headline and report from doctors, my heart crashes. Yet, Isaac continued to smile and lift his kite to the wind.

After an hour of kite flying, I turned to Charlotte and saw her sitting on the ground, her face to the sky watching Elsa dance in the wind. Her body rested confidently against the ground. I know this feeling too—of dancing and connecting with God and others. Of seeing the beauty of this creation. Of resting in stillness and silence. Of being held by the prayers of others.  

Turning to the horizon, I saw more light, a shimmer of pink cascading through the clouds. As I watched the scene unfold, I felt the wind as a whisper of God’s Spirit—a reminder that even when I’m falling and floating, unsure and unsteady, I am held.

As we turn to a new year, may you know this whisper of the Spirit and feel it in your bones. May you run and cheer into the wind, and, when you fall, may you know the strength of the ground beneath you. And perhaps most importantly, when you feel alone and untethered, may you trust that the One who holds you close whispers to you: You are loved. 

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. 
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ordained ELCA pastor, mother of two, and spouse of an ELCA pastor. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, MO. You can read more at her website, follow her work on Facebookor sign up for her monthly newsletter.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message 2022 

Read the transcript of the Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message, which was broadcast on BBC One on New Year's Day. The message, which was filmed at Kew Gardens in London, can be viewed here

January 1, 2022
Here at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, there are signs of new life all around, even in deepest winter. Kew scientists know that all life on earth – including our own – depends on plants and fungi. 

And yet one fifth of the world’s plant species are at risk of extinction because of multiple threats, including climate change. Meanwhile hundreds of millions of people are already suffering the impacts of our rapidly warming planet – extreme weather, droughts and famines, and conflicts intensified by competition over natural resources. 

I’ve been learning how the team here are researching solutions that protect not just the plants of the world – but also help some of its people. 

Coffee is the world’s most valuable traded commodity after crude oil, and supports farmers from Africa to Latin America. It’s also a crop that is highly vulnerable to climate change. 

However, as Dr Olwen Grace explained to me, Kew rediscovered a wild coffee species in West Africa that thrives in warmer conditions than the now-threatened Arabica plant. This knowledge could help to protect the incomes of millions of families. 

And in Kew’s tropical nursery, over 10,000 plant species – including some of the world’s rarest plants – are being studied and nurtured, preserving them for generations to come. 

When it comes to climate change, it is tempting to despair, but there are real reasons to hope.
 
Last year, faith leaders representing three-quarters of the world’s population stood together at the Vatican and called for definitive action on climate change. 

People of every background are campaigning and working for justice. 

Important steps were taken at the COP26 summit. World leaders recognise the problem. Now they must agree and implement a fair solution for everyone. 

When we plant a seed, we don’t see the fruit immediately. But under the surface, God is working with what we have planted. 

In the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I see that God turns all endings into new beginnings, and death into life. God invites us to be part of this story – to be people who bring hope, healing and renewal to our world. 

This year, let’s keep planting those seeds – let’s keep moving forward in hope. 

I wish you all a happy New Year.
IN BRIEF . . .

These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"
From The Epistle, December 31, 2021
Happy New Year
Mahalo Nui Loa from the Altar Guild!
Left to right: Kathy Miyake, Sarah Rogers, Marge Akana, Jan Takenouchi-Phifer, Leslie Womack, Nora Takenouchi, Pan Sokei, Diane Sato, Faith Shiramizu, and Lorna Nishi
These women transformed our sanctuary into a beautiful tropical setting of red ginger, anthuriums, ti leaves, ferns, and other greenery in preparation for the celebration and the welcoming of our Christ Child.

We were truly blessed to have received such beautiful flowers and greenery and the talent to make our sanctuary a beautiful place to worship for our Christmas Eve and Day services. Our gratitude and Aloha to you all and may this spirit of Aloha continue throughout the New Year!

Mahalo from your Altar Guild
All Saints' Celebrates Christmas
Christmas Eve
5:30PM `Ohana Service
Our 5:30PM Christmas Eve service was a combination of our usual Keiki Service and our early Christmas Eve service. Our youth participated with Enrico Levi reading the first and second lessons and the Prayers of the People. Triton Kurisu and Cami Baldovino read the a Christmas story in lieu of the Gospel with illustrations provided by the youth. The service finished with a lovely candlelit rendition of Silent Night.
Christmas Eve
10:30PM Midnight Mass
Our 10:30PM Midnight Mass was extra special this year as it brought back the All Saints' Choir for the first time in almost two years. Click below to hear the choir lead the congregation in a candlelit Silent Night.
Christmas Day
9:30AM Service
At our Christmas Day service the in person congregation had a musical treat. Michael Koerte, a regular at our 8:00AM service, offered his musical talents during the service.
All Saints' Dance Ministry Hula
December 19, 2021
The All Saints' Dance Ministry, led by Carolyn Morinishi, performed during the 9:30 service on December 19th. Joining Carolyn, Jan, Muriel, Mabel, and Nadine, who performed live, were a host of other dancers who joined virtually. You can see our off-island performers on the monitors behind the live performers in the video below.

From Carolyn:

In 2019, we choreographed a super-simple hula to "Angels from the Realms of Glory." A hula to this song had been taught by Mrs. Punua as part of the Christmas pageant back in the 1960s -- all wearing white -- so we decided to recreate that dance in 2019.

For this year, we decided to keep the same choreography. Instead of live music, we will all dance to the same recorded track, which will enable the live and video dancers' timing to match.

The in person and online congregation were treated to a truly lovely offering of the Dance Ministry. To watch the dance, click below.
Who Do You Call?

Contact information for All Saints' Ministries and Outreach

Please submit your story ideas to the Epistle Staff at news@allsaintskauai.org.
USHER MINISTRY
If you would like to serve as an All Saints' usher, please contact Cami at church@allsaintskauai.org.

HALE HO`OMALU ACCEPTING DONATIONS
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. Leave them in the red wagon outside the sanctuary

KUPUNA SHOPPING ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
Any of our All Saints' kupuna who need assistance with grocery shopping can contact Carolyn Morinishi at church@allsaintskauai.org 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.
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