WEEKLY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
July 31, 2020
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SUNDAY WORSHIP:
The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Scripture Readings for this Sunday:
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Service of Holy Eucharist
In the Sanctuary
8:00 am
This service is spoken (no music)
Please wear a mask.
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Service of Morning Prayer with Music, Only on Zoom
9:30 am
Here is the link to join us on Zoom:
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WE LOVE OUR THRIFT SHOP VOLUNTEERS:
JANICE FUKUDA
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Our volunteer spotlight is on Janice Fukuda who volunteers in our Thrift Shop every Wednesday. She helps Aunty Helen price and tag every bit of merchandise that goes out on the floor. Pictured here at top are Aunty Helen (left) and Janice (right) tagging items; and ever camera-shy, we've managed to capture a couple photos of Janice. We appreciate all of our dedicated volunteers!
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Morning Coffee with Pastor Gae
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Aloha friends,
I am so into gratitude this week! It started on Sunday night/Monday morning when Hurricane Douglas came close, but opted not to land on any of the islands and just move graciously around us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Since then it occurred to me that I shouldn’t need anything quite so grand as a missed hurricane to shift me into a gratitude mode. St. Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances
; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
I’ve mentioned before my friend Sandra who lives in Arizona. She is a retired minister living on a very modest income and taking care of the love of her life who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease. She rises very early in the morning before her husband for a bit of quiet time and then begins the day with gratitude for at least three things in her life. Most of her “gratitudes” are simple things that I take for granted, like “having a washer/dryer” or “being able to use the insta-pot to make a quick meal” or “witnessing a beautiful sunrise.” But sometimes they are more reflective like a recent one “a new day to create consciously or by default.”
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I start my day by reading Sandra’s gratitudes because they inspire me to think about the abundance of blessings in my life. Developing a discipline of gratitude is a proven antidote to feeling discouraged during times of trial and suffering. It’s more important than ever right now as we wonder, “How long, O Lord?” How long is this virus going to infect and affect our life? Is it ever going to end?
It occurred to me that in all our communication, my friend Sandra has never mentioned the virus. Perhaps it’s because caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is enough of a struggle. But she doesn’t ever complain about that either. She always seems to turn the struggle on its head by being grateful for things she receives such as “patience” or “an hour of extra sleep” or “my resilience as I experience life, knowing I am never alone.”
“Give thanks in all circumstances.” OK Paul, I get what you are talking about. This virus has created many blessings in my life. I love my Bible study groups more than ever since COVID. We were forced to use technology and so now those who live part of the time on the mainland can study with us. My family is closer than ever because of our ZOOM family happy hours that meet every week. Before the virus, some of us would talk only a few times a year! I have a little more time to study and take on-line classes. And I am more attentive to those who pass me by every day. What is under that mask? Are they smiling?
I’ll end this with three new gratitudes just for today: The Costco worker who pumped my gas because he wanted to be sure the pump didn’t leak; President Obama’s eulogy for John Lewis that was so inspiring I jumped up from the sofa and clapped with joy and tears; a call from Phil, my priest mentor during seminary, who I haven’t talked to in a year; and one extra, I’m so grateful to be alive one more day to learn and grow.
Joy, joy, joy!
Thoughts please...
In Love,
Pastor Gae
✝️
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A response to Pastor’s Gae’s Coffee Chat last week on “the unconditional love of God”:
Aloha Pastor Gae:
I'm so glad to see that you and all the ohana at Christ Memorial are safe and well. Let's hope and pray that it continues. It's been a while since I've written. Even though I've not written, I look forward to your Coffee Chat essays each week.
Your message this past week about God's unconditional love struck a chord in me as I've thought about this a lot through the years.I think the idea of unconditional love is hard for us to grasp because we are finite creatures that don't do well in a world of "absolutes."
If you think of a box drawn on a piece of paper, it's two-dimensional … there is up and down and that's all. Yet we, living in a three-dimensional world, can add a couple of lines to the paper and see a cube. The depth of the cube is so easy for us to grasp. Yet the box is forever stuck in a 2-D world.
That's how I envision "God things" … we just can't fully understand them; they are forever just beyond our grasp. Yet, unlike a box drawn on a sheet of paper, we can sense that something more is out there with the gift of faith.
Unconditional love is like that. We understand the concept intellectually. However, doing so in practice is so often beyond our grasp.
When people do awful things (like abuse children or animals), I'm so happy that I believe in God because God knows what to do with these people. I try to pray that God takes them and does His/Her will … and God's choices and actions last an eternity.
And to your point about people who don't believe in God or have not heard of God or follow a path different from our Christian path, I think about God's reply to Abraham when Abraham asked who He was. God said "I AM." Everpresent and everlasting. God didn't mandate anything to Abraham. She/He is beyond that. The message was that God was/is/will be forever ... all we need to do is trust.
Please stay healthy and happy! And keep writing! Even though you may not know who is reading and who you touch, trust that your messages are important and valued. Aloha! See you in May 2021 (fingers crossed)
Larry Mazuchowski
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Rest In Peace: Olivia de Havilland, Lifelong Episcopalian
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[Episcopal News Service] Dame Olivia de Havilland passed away July 26 in Paris, France, announced the Very Rev. Lucinda Laird, Dean of the American Cathedral in Paris.
“Olivia was 104, and had been a member of the Cathedral since she moved to France in the 1950s. She died peacefully, with love and prayers surrounding her. Please keep her daughter, Gisèle, and her many friends in your prayers,” wrote Laird in a newsletter to members and friends of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe.
An honored screen actress with more than 60 film and television credits and a two-time Oscar-winner, de Havilland played Melanie Hamilton Wilkes, Scarlett O’Hara’s sister-in-law, in “Gone With the Wind,” the 1939 Civil War epic. She also paved the way for actors to disassociate with studios and become “free agents” in the early 1940s.
What’s your favorite Olivia de Havilland movie?
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Every little cell in my body is healthy!
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Marcie Sweet shared a tune she sings with her grandchildren as they are washing their hands. “Every little cell in my body is healthy, every little cell in my body is well.” Here’s the tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JOTK-6Jb0M
Catchy! What if not just little kids were singing it but us big kids as well? Energy flows where attention goes, right? What if it went viral and the whole world was singing it? COVID wouldn’t stand a chance!
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Previously Announced Reminders:
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ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASS - Now gathering
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If you’ve never received the Sacrament of Confirmation in our Episcopal Church, what a great time to do it! Pastor Gae is gathering those who have never been confirmed; those who were confirmed in other denominations; and those who were confirmed as a pre-teen for an on-line Zoom class. We will be meeting weekly and following our Catechism found in the Boook of Common Prayer. The schedule will depend on who joins the class. Once we have finished and are able to be back in the church, we will summon our Bishop. Let Pastor Gae know of your interest and availability. It will be fun!
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Join the Remembering Reception Team
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Currently Melody is gathering photos and any information about priests who served, events, challenges, and accomplishments. Even if you can’t join the Team, can you take a bit of time and send her a note about when you came into the church and what you remember. Maybe it’s just something little like, “There was a big storm that year” or “There were a lot of baptisms” or “We had big dance”. Anything you can remember is helpful. And we’d love pictures. Send them over and we’ll scan them and send them back! Here’s how to connect with Melody:
mellomack@gmail.com
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~Marcos E. Carver, 1917 – 1925 Founder and Priest-in-Charge of missions on the Island of Kauaʻi
~Henry A. Willey, 1924 – 1945
~Harold Wilmot-Smith, 1945 – 1948
~Paul R. Savanack, 1949 – 1950
~Norman R. Alter, 1950 – 1952
~E. Lani Hanchett Layman-in-Charge, 1951 – 1952, Deacon at CMEC in 1952, ordained Priest in 1953, later became the 1st Hawaiian Bishop, and 1st Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi
~Keith Kreitner, 1952 – 1953
~Samuel N. McCain, Jr., 1953 – 1958
~Thomas D. Hughes, 1958 – 1960
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~Charles T. Crane, 1960 – 1962
~Thomas K. Yoshida, 1962 – 1966
~Charles G. Hopkins, Jr., 1966 – 1969
~Elsberry W. Reynolds, 1969 – 1970
~George T. Eppley, 1972 – 1973
~Richard S. O. Chang, 1973 – 1979 later became the 4th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi
~Robert E. Walden, 1979 – 1981
~Jan C. Rudinoff, 1982 – 1984
~James P. Eron, 1984 – 1992
~A. Donor Macneice, 1993 – 2005
~Shirley Ellingboe, 2009 – 2010
~Roberta R. Taylor, 2011 – 2016
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CONNECT - A Note to Our Zoom Family
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One blessing that has come out of the virus is the connection we have on Zoom. We now have two Zoom Bible studies and a Zoom Centering Prayer service. Since we are unable to have singing in the sanctuary, we chose to go back to Zoom for our 9:30 service. It will be a service of Morning Prayer with Chanterelle leading the music. The 8:00 service will continue to be a service of Holy Eucharist, but without music.
For Sunday Zoom worship attendees:
- 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.
- If anyone would like to share any thoughts about the message or the Scripture readings, let’s get a discussion going following the service.
THANK YOU!
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Some of you have asked about the VICARAGE PROJECT. We want to reassure you that we haven’t given up the ghost. The virus slowed our momentum for the past couple of months but we are back on track.
Having a vicarage for a priest is essential for the future of our little church. When Pastor Gae arrived, full-time rental housing was very scarce on our side of the island. We didn’t know if she was going to have to live in Kapa’a or Lihue and commute. In the time that she has been here she has already had to move once.
We are currently looking at some architectural drawings. Stay tuned!
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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.
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Monday 10:00 am-11:15 am:
Spiritual Lessons from the Book of Genesis
Wednesday 2:00 pm-3:15 pm:
Gospel of John
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Connect via Zoom for both study sessions:
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Online Centering Prayer & Scripture Reflection
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Tuesdays, 9:00 - 9:45 am (HST)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7532197968
We will continue to have Centering Prayer 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.
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ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA)
Monday: 10:00-11:00 am
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 7:30 pm
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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.
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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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Keep up-to-date on Diocesan news and activities, and messages from the Bishop. Click on the buttons below to view the Bishop's weekly Monday message and Wednesday Bible Study discussions.
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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 at
ChristMemorialKilauea@gmail.com
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 at
gdchalker@gmail.com
or (623) 208-9436.
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Christ Memorial Episcopal Church
2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754
Mailing: PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754
Phone: (808) 482-4824
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