WEEKLY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
October 25, 2020
|
|
SUNDAY WORSHIP:
The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Readings for this Sunday:
|
|
Service of Holy Eucharist
In the Sanctuary
8:00 am
This service is spoken (no music)
Please make a reservation as we are allowed a limited number.
Email the church office at:
Please wear a mask.
|
|
Service of Morning Prayer with Music, Only on Zoom
9:30 am
Here is the link to join us on Zoom:
|
|
|
|
PRAYER REQUESTS THIS WEEK |
|
|
|
Healing of body, mind and spirit for Michael, Terri (multiple myeloma), Stevan (Tinnitus); Elaine, Sue Ellen, Peter, Xavier, Susan, Web & Kelly (cancer); Nancy (radiation treatment); Doug (stroke); Matt’s dad (polio); Bill, in hospital (infected shoulder); relief for Nelli family who lost their home in a fire; those hospitalized by the virus; healing for our world.
|
|
|
|
All five memorial benches have been placed on the burial grounds. A special thanks to Suzanne Kobayashi, husband Joe, and son Ray for creating these beautiful additions to our grounds! |
|
|
|
|
All Soul's Day
Monday, November 2
10:00 am
|
Commemoration of the Departed, will include the reading of names.
If you wish to have a loved one’s name read at the service, please email the church office.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bishop's Visitation
Sunday, November 15
11:00 am
Bishop Robert will be joining Christ Memorial for the Sacrament of Confirmation. He will also be blessing our Labyrinth and new memorial benches.
If you wish to attend this service, please email the church office to reserve a spot.
|
|
|
|
We sincerely urge you to exercise your right to vote!
Pray for a peaceful election process.
|
|
Help us prepare our Christmas mailing!
Thursday in the church office at 9:00 am for a fun hour of serving together. Let's have a cup of coffee, enjoy each other's company, and work to finish this important task!
|
|
Volunteer at Shared Blessing Thrift Shop |
The Shared Blessings Thrift Shop is seeking Volunteers to work 4-hour shifts once a week.
The Thrift Shop is integral to our church and the community! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the church office.
|
|
MORNING COFFEE WITH PASTOR GAE |
|
Aloha Friends,
The other day I was coming out of the workout room at the Makai Club gym. A fellow was getting out of the pool and he asked me how to pronounce my name. I told him and the conversation followed with “I know who you are. You’re the minister at the church in Kilauea, right?” I continued the conversation asking if he had been to our church recently…and I confess I probably did a bit of bragging about the beauty and peacefulness of the sanctuary, burial grounds and the labyrinth. He then said to me, “I used to be a Catholic but I now go to the church down the street. We’re a bible believing church.” I was a bit struck by that but decided not to probe any further.
His words have stuck with me. What did he mean by “bible believing church”? Aren’t all churches who profess to be Christian “bible believing”? The Catholic church, just like us and many other churches, use the Revised Common Lectionary for worship. If we were not “bible believing”, why would we want to take the time every Sunday to hear words from the Hebrew scriptures, the Epistles, and the Gospel? Why would we have bible study groups every week? And why would there be the Daily Office, prescribed scripture for every day of the week?
My guess, although I can’t be sure, is that this fellow understands “bible believing” as biblical literalism and thinks Catholics (and us) don’t. He would be right. We are not biblical literalists. We engage the scripture from at least three levels: 1. The narrative (the story); 2. How was the story heard by the first listeners; and 3. How does this text speak to us today. We don’t believe it is authentic to take scripture out of context. And we believe if you profess biblical literalism, to be authentic to that perspective you can’t pick and choose what you want to be literal about.
|
|
My guess, although I can’t be sure, is he thinks that because the “sacramental churches” like us, Catholics, Lutherans, etc., value worship in which the two center points are the Liturgy of the Word (the scripture) and the Liturgy of the Eucharist (holy communion), we are somehow not serious about the scripture. I would guess he hasn’t been to one of our services recently as there is a heck of lot more scripture heard every Sunday in our churches than I suspect in most other churches. (Honestly, I think we have too much scripture in our worship service. It’s too much for my little mind to absorb but that is for another discussion.)
My guess, although I can’t be sure, is that since he was raised Catholic, and he’s older than me, he remembers a worship service back then that was in Latin and little scripture was heard. But all that changed after Vatican II as it did in our church. When I was growing up, we all brought to worship our Prayer Book and Hymnals were in the pews. Scripture was proclaimed but if I remember correctly it was typically a reading from the Epistles, Psalms and the Gospel.
I am sure I am showing my sensitivity when it comes to misunderstandings of our church, especially from those in the evangelical tradition. I think before I create a scenario that may or may not be true I best try to engage him in a conversation with a goal of understanding what he means by “bible believing church”. Who knows? Maybe it isn’t at all what I am thinking. Maybe he just wants me to know that his church, like mine, views the bible as sacred text. Maybe it could even begin a conversation in which we can share our thoughts about God, Jesus, the Kingdom, life and death, and prayer!
As always, I welcome your thoughts,
Gae +
|
|
CONNECT - A Note to Our Zoom Family |
One big blessing for our church that has come out of the struggle with the COVID-19 virus is the connection we have made via Zoom. Many folks who are either seasonal residents, timeshare residents, or even tourists consider us their church community. They can now be a more active part of our church. We have a Sunday worship service, two Bible studies, an Adult Confirmation class and Centering Prayer, made possible through Zoom. Who knew? This has been a learning experience for us. The good news is that even after the virus crisis is over, we will continue many of these offerings on Zoom.
Here are some things everyone can do to help us all have the best experience possible:
- Please try to connect at least 10 minutes before the service or the meeting to make sure everything is working correctly.
- If possible, keep your video on so it feels more like being together in church.
- Have your audio always on mute unless advised by the facilitator.
- Be present. Try not to multi-task. Having your water or coffee nearby is fine but since your video is on, probably best not to be moving around.
- Try your best not to leave early. If your computer drops you out, come back on but make sure your video is on and your audio is muted.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 2:00 - 5:00 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
Saturday 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
For a safe shopping experience, we can only allow 5 shoppers in the store at any time. All must wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Monday 10:00 am-11:15 am:
Spiritual Lessons from the Book of Genesis
Wednesday 2:00 – 3:15 HST
Letters of Paul
If you wish to join us, let Pastor Gae know and she will send you the link and the questions we will discuss.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online Centering Prayer & Scripture Reflection |
Tuesdays, 9:00 - 9:45 am (HST)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7532197968
Centering Prayer is every Tuesday morning on Zoom, 9:00 - 9:45 am. We begin with a Scripture reading for the day followed by 12 minutes of meditation. Then a reflection is read and anyone who would like to share an insight is invited to do so. We finish with prayer time for those in need of healing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
Our giving is important, especially now.
Although we aren’t gathering in the sanctuary for worship, our church bills are still the same. We’ve had questions from our Sunday worshippers and now our Zoom worshippers about how to give. Your continued gifts really matter, especially in this time of uncertainty.
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
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. |
|
Newsletter Mission: Our weekly newsletter was launched to inform our island community, as well as connect with our broader community of old and new friends, near and far. Whether you live on Kaua'i, visit seasonally or joined Christ Memorial for the first time during vacation, we welcome you into our global family. We endeavor to include inspiration, new ideas, practical advice and updates on news and events of Christ Memorial. Let us know how we can serve you best in 2020 by replying to this newsletter or emailing us.
Have you met Pastor Gae? Pastor Gae wants to get to know you all – phone chats, home visits, morning coffees, afternoon teas or walks on the beach. Near or far, reach out to meet or share your thoughts by emailing her or call (623) 208-9436.
|
|
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754
Mailing: PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754
Phone: (808) 482-4824
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
