Frank Condello, pictured here with his wife, Leah, and Rev. Libby, preached his last sermon at Holy Nativity on this past Sunday, July 25. Frank is headed off to serve his curacy at Church of the Epiphany beginning August 1.
In his sermon, Frank reflected on the Gospel passage for the day, the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes on the hillside where he had been teaching. The crowd had only a few fish and some bread, yet after Jesus blessed this food, there was enough for everyone. Frank's message focused on the preciousness of the "Bread that is life," that is, Jesus, himself. He encouraged the congregation to remember to share their experiences of Jesus with others, since "even just the crust" of the true Bread brings life to others with whom we share it.
Frank, we will endeavor to heed these wise words as we continue our ministry here. Thank you for all you have blessed us with in these past two years!
WHO'S IN THE PEW?
HNC CHOIR MEMBER YOKO
KOKUNI KESSLER
Last year, Chris Suzuki, our choir director, invited Yoko Kokuni Kessner to join our choir. You may not have met Yoko because we see her and hear her only through Zoom. But we are lucky to have her voice and love of singing in our choir.
Yoko is from Kobe, Japan where her Buddhist family sent her to a Catholic girls school for 16 years. She graduated College of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo with her BA in human relations. She married and lived in Tokyo but then divorced. Due to family pressure and expectations, Yoko formed a plan to pursue her education and moved to Honolulu where she took the English as a second language program at Hawaii Pacific University. She went on to earn her Masters Degree in counseling psychology at Chaminade University and then earned her Ph.D in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She returned to Honolulu and worked as a contract therapist for the Department of Education and the Department of Health dealing with autistic children while getting her Green Card. Yoko met her husband, Bob Kessner (pictured with her, above), in 2010 and they married in 2016.
Yoko has been a member of the choirs at Central Union Church, the Oahu Choral Society and Chamber Choir and with Hawaii Vocal Art Ensemble. It was through these choirs that she met Chris Suzuki. Her husband became ill in late 2018 and they had to relocate for a year to Phoenix for his treatment. While there, a fellow singer from Oahu Choral Society suggested she go to All Saints Episcopal Church to hear the choir. Yoko wound up joining the choir and attending services. The pastor learned she was not baptized. After taking classes about the church, she was baptized on Easter Day 2019 and later confirmed by the Episcopal Bishop of Arizona. Yoko continued to sing at All Saints until she and Bob moved home to Honolulu in late 2019, where she sang with the choir at St. Marks Episcopal Church until the pandemic closure in March 2020. Chris then contacted Yoko and invited her to sing with our Holy Nativity choir.
We are so pleased to have Yoko and her lovely voice in our choir family!
OUR
STAINED-GLASS WINDOW...
IS FULLY REPAIRED!
Property Manager Skye LeGros passes a sample of window glass, above, to technician Steve Alevizos, who has repaired the broken window in the nave. Take a closer look, next time you are in church; it looks great!
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HNS and RAINBOW ARTS SUMMER PROGRAMS WRAP UP
Pictured below are members of the Rainbow Arts Camp staff, who have led their many students in artistic ventures during several week-long camp sessions this summer. It has been pleasure to have them with us on campus and we hope to see them again during another school break.
HNS finished their summer school offerings last week, as well. Congratulations, everyone, on a great summer!