WEEKLY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
August 7, 2022
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Phone Number: (808) 482-4824
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Sunday Worship
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Readings for this Sunday:
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Service of Holy Eucharist
with Music, in the Sanctuary
8:00 am
Mask preferred.
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Service of Holy Eucharist
with Music, in the Sanctuary
9:30 am
Mask preferred.
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Are you serving this Sunday? Would you be interested in reading at either service (zoom or in person)? You can view what positions are
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WELCOME TO CHRIST MEMORIAL |
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Welcome to Christ Memorial Episcopal Church. We are devoted to following the life and teachings of Jesus, the Christ.
We hope your experience worshiping with us will bless and enrich your life.
People of all faiths are welcome to worship with us on Sunday.
During pandemic time, join us at 9:30 here.
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU |
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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.
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NEWS FROM THE EPISCOPAL
DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I
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Check out the latest news from the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i here
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JOIN THE CONTEMPLATIVE
PRAYER LABORATORY
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THE CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER LABORATORY
by The Rev. Canon Matthew Lewis
Each Thursday Matthew will lead a zoom class on contemplative prayer. The class will be more like a lab-- inductive with time to practice and experiment with silence together. The aim will be for you to discover for yourself the depth and beauty of prayer through the use of ancient and modern practices and in community with one another.
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INDOOR FACE MASK POLICY CHANGE |
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Christ Memorial Moves to Recommended Indoor Masking
Christ Memorial is keeping in step with the CDC and County of Kauaʻi guidelines, which now are that indoor mask wearing is strongly recommended but not yet required. As the prominence of the virus wanes, please keep those suffering from its effects in your prayers.
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CONVENTION 54: THE TRUE
LOVE OF PEACE
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The theme for this year's annual meeting is "The True Love of Peace" as taken from the Collect for Peace:
Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Bishop also calls upon the following Scriptures for reflection: Micah 4:1-5, Psalm 85:7-13, Ephesians 2:13-18, and Matthew 5:43-48.
The logo is formed with hands of different races cradling the Trinity knot that represents the Holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In its original form of vesicae pisces, it incorporates the Christian symbol of the fish. During these tumultuous times, the Bishop added the phrases "Peace is born from relationships ~ Unity in diversity."
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MESSAGE FROM PRESIDING BISHOP MICHAEL CURRY ON LAMBETH
CALL ON HUMAN DIGNITY
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The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is among an estimated 650 Anglican bishops worldwide—including more than 100 Episcopal bishops—attending the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England, through August 7. He shared a video message after bishops discussed the Lambeth Call on Human Dignity on August 2.
To view his video message, click HERE.
To read the transcript of the Presiding Bishop’s message, click HERE.
To read all Lambeth Calls, click HERE.
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SUZANNE'S READINGS REFLECTIONS:
IT'S JUST STUFF
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I love the readings for today. They all flow together so well. Starting with Ecclesiastes, “all toil is pointless,” and the Psalm “…the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish and leave their wealth to those who come after them.” Then in Colossians: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” all echoing across the centuries, the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel. Stuff is just stuff, and we get that on one level, we know we can’t take it with us. I am reminded of a comic I saw. A man is at the Pearly Gates, he’s talking to Peter and there is a U-Haul on the clouds behind him. Peter is shaking is head and wagging his finger at him, “Oh no. What happens on earth, stays on earth.” We know stuff is just stuff, we get that. So, will we take away anything new this morning?
Maybe you know someone, an aunty or uncle, a friend, or yourself who has been in a fight with family over an inheritance. Sometimes it’s a desire a certain thing in the inheritance like a house, property, or jewelry. Maybe is it a certain percentage of the estate that is sought. But beyond the actual things, each person has their own take on why they deserve whatever portion they think they should get, and they are absolutely sure they are right. “It is only fair and reasonable!” they say. Right? Well sometimes, their passion “about the fairness of it all” drives them and controls their thoughts and actions. In this state of indignation, this state of being the righteous victim, they are incapable of focusing on anything else. They are led either by their desire to prove they are right and/or actual greed for the items of the inheritance. This thought of fairness can drive jealousy too, not just inheritance fights. “Why should they have XYZ and not me? It is not fair! I deserve it too!” Sadly, families may be irreparably broken by this. You’ve probably seen this played out, perhaps lived some part it, so just hold that experience for now, tenderly please.
Our gospel today is in the middle of Luke 12, so let me set the scene just before our gospel. Many people are pressing in to hear Jesus. He has been revealing some major spiritual truths he wants people to understand. Things like:
- Nothing is secret that won’t be brought out into the open so watch out for the mismatch between what you profess and what you do or think in secret. (Important for us to know.)
- Don’t be terrified of those who can kill your body only but not do anything more, rather fear God who has control of your soul’s journey. (Again, super important.)
- Every hair on your head is counted, you are that precious to God! (Sweet knowledge for us to have.)
- Acknowledge Jesus before humans and he will acknowledge you before angles. (Wow!)
- When you are pressed, don’t worry about what to say, trust in the Holy Spirit to guide you. (Hmmm…)
These are big spiritual truths that may run counter intuitive to our physical life’s experience, but Jesus is setting them out so that we can understand the spiritual dimension we live in. It is the unseen reality that he wants us to set our sights on. Jesus is clearly in the middle of delivering a big picture message.
Yet, in our gospel today, a man breaks in with “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” This man is clearly on another channel. Jesus is probably blown away by his question in the middle of his teaching, (like, seriously dude?) hence he says “Man, who appointed me as judge or referee between you and your brother?” But Jesus gets right back on track with the big underlying truths, so that we understand our place in the spiritual and physical world. The rich man in this parable with the big harvest, who wants to build even bigger barns to keep all his stuff in, has no control of his life. He dies the very night he thinks he has his future on earth all secure.
What can we learn from this parable and this questioning brother? From the parable we see obviously, the rich man’s stuff is just stuff, and he can’t take it with him. His trust in his physical possessions to make him secure is why our reading from Colossians today calls greed for what it is: idolatry. His stuff is his God. He is trusting in stuff rather than his Creator! His stuff is a false idol of no use or power on it own.
But understand, it’s not the stuff which is bad. Having possessions or being rich is not either good or bad. Our Psalm today puts rich and poor in one basket, “…hearken, all you who dwell in the world, you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.” David, the writer of the Psalm, himself a very rich man who counts all his wealth and blessings as gifts from God and nothing to boast about, goes on to say “Why should I be afraid in evil days, when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me, The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, and boast of their great riches? We can never ransom ourselves, or deliver to God the price of our life…” What is important is our attitude towards wealth and where we put our trust. David puts all his trust in the God of Abraham. He understands that his life is entirely in God’s hands. Unlike the rich man, David’s trust is not in the stuff of this physical world, nor does he boast of his wealth.
And what can we learn from the questioning brother?
Whether motivated by greed or his thought that he is in the right, we can see that he was unable to hear, to learn, to receive any of the beautiful spiritual truths that Jesus was teaching that day. He was so focused on the object of his desire or the thought that he was clearly in the right and should get his just desserts, that there was no room in his heart or brain to hear the gifts Jesus was giving that day.
Are we ever so sure about what we think is right that we have no room to hear what Jesus is really trying to teach us? Do we think we have any aspect of our life, or any relationship, so figured out that there is no more room for God’s love to cause change and growth? Are we ever in the shoes of the questioning brother?
From our Buddhist brothers and sisters I borrow this analogy, “When we think we have things figured out and we are certain in our knowledge and experience, we are like the young student who travels to meet a great Zen master. Tea is served and the master pours. The student is busy telling the Master about all those he has studied under and what he knows. The master keeps pouring while the student talks. The student finally notices the tea overflowing the cup and tells the Master. The Master says, and you are like this cup, so full it can hold nothing new." Are we too full of what we think is true to receive new wisdom?
Luke 12 (12:22,23, 25 & 29-31) continues after today’s gospel with another big picture concept. (I just love it and it rounds out the big picture concepts of Luke 12.) “Therefore, I say to you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. There is more to life than food and more to the body than clothing. Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? … Don’t chase after what you will eat and what you will drink. Stop worrying. All the nations of the world long for these things. Your Father knows that you need them. Instead, desire his kingdom and these things will be given to you as well."
If you have room in your cup this morning, please remember 3 things.
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Physical stuff is just stuff.
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Trust Jesus’ teachings. Remember what Kahu said last week, God desires a relationship with us. A mutual exchange: not just us asking God for what we want or think we need, but God wants to teach you and grow in relationship with God. This is not a purely Sunday morning relationship.
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Desire God’s kingdom. Look for God’s kingdom here on earth, noticing random acts of kindness, beauty in music made together. Learn wisdom taught through scripture, other people, and in nature. Be God’s kingdom here on earth now, let your love flow, help strangers, forgive each other. When we walk out the door this morning, let’s notice & participate in God’s kingdom here now.
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KAUA'I CHURCHES GATHERING |
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Coming Up:
Kaua'i Churches Gathering
The Episcopal Churches on Kaua'i are gathering together for another day of food and fellowship on
Sunday, August 14, 2022, at Salt Pond in Hanapepe, beginning at 3:00 PM. There will be an imu kalua pig with an abundance of sides and good fellowship. Save the date and join your fellow island Episcopalians in August!
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EPISCOPAL ASIAMERICAN
MINISTRIES CONSULTATION
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The EAM (Episcopal Asiamerican Ministries) will be holding its 2022 Consultation in Minneapolis, MN on September 21-25. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will preach at the Opening Eucharist and spend part of his day at a "Meet and Greet" with conference participants. A lunch cruise along the Mississippi River is also planned for all attendees.
Besides the regular adult program, there will be a Youth (13-17) and Young Adult (18-24) program led by Carolyn Morinishi which will include Bible Study and prayer time, community service projects for a local Soup Kitchen, field trips to help learn about the local culture and of course, FUN!
Registration form for both the adult and Youth /Young Adult programs is available here. Deadline for registration is August 20. For more information, please contact Carolyn..
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SUICIDE & CRISIS LIFELINE |
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988 Suicide & Crisis
Lifeline is Here!
On Saturday, July 16, 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will go into effect nationwide. Similar to the 911 emergency phone number, dialing 988 will connect a caller directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and to a trained counselor. To help spread the word, SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) has set up a website with a variety of "shareables" that are formatted for social media and other outlets. For more information and to view these resources, visit the SAMHSA website HERE.
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NIGHT SKY OBSERVATIONS:
SHARED PHOTOS
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Some photos of the night sky were graciously shared with us from one of our church members, Tony Gaspar. We thought you might enjoy viewing (from left to right) a whirlpool galaxy, a star cluster and a ring nebula. The photographer/astronomer wanted to share how mind-blowing God's creation is! Mahalo for sharing, Tony!
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COVID TESTS AVAILABLE FOR ORDER |
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You can order free home covid tests now. Link below:
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Helen Mitsui Shared Blessings Thrift Shop in Kilauea is seeking Volunteers for 2022.
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!
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PRAYER REQUESTS THIS WEEK |
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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: Bobbi, Art and the Young family, Dan, Bill, Eleanor, Patrice, Marilyn, Webb, David, Linda, David, Satya, Penny, Helen, Noah, Hal, Madeline, Cordella, Uschi, Nicole, Beth, Dale, Bev, Eugene, Robert and the Pavao Ohana. 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 Pauls, St Michael & All Angels, and All Saints, 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.
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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
Donations Accepted:
Monday 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
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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
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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. |
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Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754
(808) 482-4824
Mailing Address: PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754
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