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Join us for
HOLY EUCHARIST
November 19, 2023 at 7:00am & 9:00am
Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
To attend online, join our Facebook LIVESTREAM*
Download this week's ORDER OF WORSHIP
Missed a service? Watch on YouTube any time.
*Note: If you have difficulty connecting to the livestream, try reloading your page.
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LOOKING AHEAD
November 26 - Commemoration of the Holy Sovereigns
December 3 - First Sunday of Advent
December 10 - Second Sunday of Advent
December 17 - Third Sunday of Advent
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
This week's scriptures are potent! We start with words from the prophet Zephaniah:
"I will bring such distress upon people
that they shall walk like the blind;
because they have sinned against the Lord,
their blood shall be poured out like dust,
and their flesh like dung.
Neither their silver nor their gold
will be able to save them
on the day of the Lord's wrath;
in the fire of his passion
the whole earth shall be consumed;
for a full, a terrible end
he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth."
Zephaniah 1:17-18
Zephaniah's prophecy disturbs us. His words are meant to jolt us out of complacency, urging us to reconnect with God.
This is what prophets do. They show us what we don't want to see. They point to imbalances, inequities, and injustices happening now. To open our eyes and ears, they paint a picture of the dire consequences linked to our inattention and lack of awareness.
But Zephaniah's urgent message is not really about the future; it is not a doomsday prediction. It's about what we are doing today, in this moment. He acts as a guide, shining the light of awareness on how our actions could affect our potential future. He's a little bit like the Ghosts of Christmas giving Scrooge a grand tour of life, giving a glimpse of what may come to be. Zephaniah's message is meant to empower us to walk a good and loving path.
I see Zephaniah's message as calling us to see our own power, the Divine inside. God made us in God's own image and wants us to connect with that part of ourselves. By placing faith in our soul connection with God, we are empowered to create peace. Losing faith plummets us into fear, separates us from God and one another, and, ultimately, can drive us to create conflict or war.
Have faith in your relationship with God. Have faith that when you connect with God through your soul, you will expand into love. Living in Divine love brings peace through balance, equality, and justice.
Join us Sunday morning to hear more about the role of prophets and how we can live without fear through our faith in the Divine love that lives inside each and every one of us.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
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THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO | |
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The Acacio 'Ohana for cleaning the church and providing flowers this week.
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Maurine Gomes for serving as lay reader last Sunday.
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St. Augustine's members who pray for others each week.
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The many members of St. Augustine's and the community who help sort donations and operate the Thrift Shop.
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: Tom Leonard, Michelle, Georgia, Jeannie Marcom, Contrada Garcia, Wendell Mattos Jr., Linda Leonard Powell, David Peter Franco, Erin Manuel, George Webb Jr., all the people of Maui, Church of the Holy Innocents in Maui and Vicar Bruce & Sylvia DeGooyer, Arcadio & Filomena Badua, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Lisa Andrews, Guy Kaoo, Koa Paulo, Tula Brickel, Becky & Ludwig Simmet, Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello, Kaikoa-Aina Brown, Karen Miller, Marlene & Harry Ching, Annecita Tamayo, Benny Raymond, Lynn Dicus, Juana Mejia, and Jerry Kremkow. Thanksgiving for the life of Janine Mattos.
PRAYER CHAIN VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer to be part of St. Augustine's prayer chain! Contact Patsy Ching or Vicar Jennifer if you would like to:
- Pray for those who have requested prayers
- Be part of the phone tree that helps us know about prayer requests or emergencies
REQUEST PRAYERS
If you or someone you know would like to be added to our prayer list, please email Patsy Ching or Vicar Jennifer. You can request prayers for yourself, your 'ohana, or anyone in our community or beyond.
During our Sunday services, you can write prayer requests on a piece of paper. Prayers will be read aloud or silently (per your request) during the Prayers of the People.
ONLINE FORM
You can also send us prayer requests through our online form.
Mahalo for your care and prayers!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL - For children ages 3-10, every Sunday morning at 9:00 am with Youth Director Kathy Matsuda with Michelle White, Kathy Webb and Lucas Masada Corey.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR - Every Sunday after our 9:00 am service. We gather to enjoy conversation, coffee, and treats in Walker Hall. Please bring some savory or sweet treats to share if you like! Mahalo to all who have been providing delicious food and to Jeannette Hensel for bringing coffee.
TEEN GATHERINGS - Stay tuned for the next event coming soon!
BIBLE STUDY - Join us for Bible Study on Friday November 24th at 2:00 pm in Walker Hall. We'll discuss the following readings:
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 95:1-7a, Ephesians 1:15-23,
Matthew 25:31-46
CHOIR - New time! Join us Wednesday, November 22nd at 5:00 pm to sing through the hymns for the following Sunday. All are welcome!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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Thursday, November 23 - Thanksgiving Lunch hosted by Gospel of Salvation Church, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, Walker Hall, all are welcome.
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Sunday, December 3 - Keiki Holiday Giving Spree, 11:00 am to noon, Inviting children from ages 3-12 for this “kids only” shopping spree. We will help children choose gifts for their family members and wrap them. Parents are invited to enjoy a beverage and a snack at Walker Hall while children shop.
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Sunday, December 3 - Music at St. Augustine's - Presenting Frank Palani Cipriani. Affectionately known as "Uncle Frank" in Kohala, he has long championed youth and mentored many local keiki in gold smithing, hydroponics, and music. Join us for a joyful half hour of music followed by a potluck!
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Saturday, December 9 - Poinsettia Sale pick up, 9:00 to 11:00 am at Walker Hall, See Cindy Sakai for tickets or purchase them at the Thrift Store Wednesdays from 12 pm to 6 pm.
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Sunday, December 10 - Ecumenical Christmas Party hosted by St. Augustine's, 5:00 to 8:00 pm, St. Damien Hall, Sacred Heart Church
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THE ECUMENICAL CHRISTMAS PARTY IS COMING!
St. Augustine's is excited to be hosting this year's Ecumenical Christmas Party on December 10th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Sacred Heart's St. Damien Hall.
This is a wonderful chance for all of the Kohala churches to come together to celebrate the season. As always, the evening will feature an 'ono potluck and fun lineup of entertainment.
If you'd like to volunteer or participate in the musical program of the event, please contact Kathy Matsuda for details. See you there!
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S AT HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR!
Members of St. Augustine's had a great time at the Kohala Resilience Hub's Halloween Spooktacular on October 31st! Mahalo to Kathy Matsuda for organizing the event and St. Augustine's volunteers Eileen Hartwings & her sister Patti, Necole Garcia, Dahlia, and Analisa Marcom!
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Photo credit: Ginger Gohier - mahalo! | |
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THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF WATER: ANOINTING FOR PEACE
Last Sunday, St. Augustine's members anointed each other with water during Holy Communion. Vicar Jennifer was asked about the symbolism of this ritual and shared this beautiful reply:
"We remember so much when we think about water: flow, connection with Āina, and how Ke Akua lives in and through us.
As Christians, we are baptized with water, anointed to recall Divine presence within us and a reminder of our promises to have faith in our connection with God—to stay true to our soul selves for the highest good of ourselves, creation, and all humanity.
Our water is a gift from the ahupua’a where we are privileged to live. We honor creation for giving us water, the same water that has existed on this planet for 4.5 billion years. We give thanks to the wisdom of water, which flows from the inner earth, spreads across oceans, falls as rain, and brings life in streams.
The water in our font is joined by waters from every church on every island of Hawai’i (collected and shared at our most recent Diocesan Convention), as well as water brought from the Holy Land.
On Sunday mornings, as we prepare to receive our shared meal of bread and wine, we anoint one another. This is a sacred action symbolic of our spiritual bonds as humans who promise to live the way of Divine love.
When we dip our fingers in the water and anoint the forehead of another, we remember the gift of water, our care for each other, the wisdom of ancestors, and our promises to transform our lives in peace and love."
If you have questions about any practices in our weekly services, always feel free to reach out and ask Vicar Jennifer vicarjennifer@staugustineskohala.com. Maybe we'll start a weekly "Ask the Vicar" column!
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If you have information to share, please let us know! This is a space to help us stay in touch in a variety of ways, such as news, offers of assistance, or garden bounty (fruits, veggies) you would like to share. Please email Vicar Jennifer or Kathy Webb: VicarJennifer@staugustineskohala.com or admin@staugustineskohala.com Submissions due by Thursday morning for Friday's newsletter. | |
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FOOD WASTE: A MESSY PROBLEM AND THE GOOD NEWS
The New York Times recently reported on an initiative taken by the South Korean government to eliminate food waste (see HERE). In 2021 the Hawaiʻi State Legislature noted that nearly 523 million pounds of food is wasted each year here in Hawaiʻi, approximately 26% of the stateʻs total food supply. Though the bill introduced by the legislature in 2021 did not ultimately pass, food waste is a pressing and important issue to address in Hawaiʻi.
The good news is while the state is not yet taking action, others are. The City of Honolulu is conducting its own pilot program to test a different path for food waste (https://www.resilientoahu.org/ocp). A second project builds on the first pilot, taking the food waste from seven Windward schools and converting it to compost. Here are some ways to reduce or recycle food waste:
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Shop Smart - Be mindful of how much food you purchase and store, that spoils or goes uneaten - multiple small trips to the store may be helpful.
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Learn to Worm! - Learn about vermicomposting HERE.
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Countertop Composting - No backyard? Check this review of the 5 best countertop compost systems.
Mahalo to the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i for this week's Creation Care tip!
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S THRIFT SHOP
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THRIFT SHOP HOURS
The Thrift Shop is open Wednesdays from noon - 6:00 pm and also on the first Saturday of the month from 8:00 am - 11:00 am.
DONATIONS
St. Augustine's is grateful to the community for the many items generously donated to our Thrift Shop! We accept donations when the Thrift Store is staffed by our volunteers.
Please bring your items during these times:
Wednesdays 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursdays 8:00 am - 11:00 am
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS | |
MESSAGES FROM OUR BISHOP
& PRESIDING BISHOP
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