WEEKLY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
October 18 , 2020

SUNDAY WORSHIP:
The Twentieth 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 Pastor Gae 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 Neeli family whose home was destroyed by fire; Elaine, Sue Ellen, Peter, Xavier, Susan, Nancy, Web & Kelly (cancer); Nancy (radiation treatment); Doug (stroke); Matt’s dad (polio); Bill, in hospital with infected shoulder; all those hospitalized by the virus.
NEWS UPDATES
Angels in our Church
Two of our 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!
Congratulations to Branch and Melody!
Branch and Melody Lotspeich celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this past Tuesday by having a Renewal of Vows Ceremony in the sanctuary! Pastor Gae celebrated the service, and our church musician Chanterelle sang the favorite Hawai`ian Wedding Song. 
The couple were married at Christ Memorial when Father Donor Macneice was Vicar.  
FROM OUR BISHOP
BISHOP ROBERT'S SUNDAY CONVENTION MESSAGE

Bishop Robert Fitzgerald will be preaching his Convention Sermon live at the Cathedral (the whole liturgy will be available on the Cathedral’s Facebook page). Here is the link to the video.

BISHOP’S VISITATION
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Bishop Robert will be joining Christ Memorial for the Sacrament of Confirmation. He will also be blessing of our Labyrinth and new memorial benches. Mark your calendars and help us celebrate this very special event.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
VOTE

We sincerely urge you to exercise your right to vote!

Pray for a peaceful election process.
Christmas Mailing Help
Christmas
Help us prepare our Christmas mailing!
Thursdays in the church office 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,

I am weening myself from the news and instead opting to binge watch The Good Wife on CBS all-access. I remembered liking that show when it was on network once a week. Remember those days? I would do everything possible to not have a conflict so I could catch the next episode. 

The news has been taking a toll on me. Even on PBS NewsHour the main stories every day for the past six months have been COVID and the drama in the White House. It’s as though just when you think things can’t get worse, there is something worse! It got to where every time I watched the news I ended up feeling bad. So I’ve just decided to spend more time in an alternate universe in which, while there is definitely drama in The Good Wife law office, most episodes usually end in a good way with something positive. 

I am also using this time to pray for our country. Jesus says, “Ask and you shall receive.” OK, Jesus, I’m asking, pleading, praying, “Send us an angel to help us discern and elect leaders who are like you, who desire not to be served, but to serve.”  
I’ve been studying the scripture for the qualities to look for in leadership. Most leaders, especially in the Old Testament, were a big disappointment to God. God wanted the kings to be protectors of the people and to inspire them to be righteous and faithful. Unfortunately, for most of His “anointed ones”, pride and arrogance got in the way and wrecked everything.  David was probably the best, and even he fell short. But then came Jesus. Jesus possessed the spirit God wanted. He had compassion for the weakest and powerless ones - the widow, the orphan, the alien, the leper, and the demon-possessed. He was humble. He spent time in the wilderness working on himself, “emptying himself” before he declared his mission to proclaim the Kingdom. There was authenticity in every bone of his body. And so he was able to teach authentically about how pride and power and attachment to material possessions would only bring disappointment and suffering. He was tough too. Actually he was the epitome of “tough love.” “Do you really want to be made well?”, he asked those who came to him for healing.  He routinely reprimanded his listeners not to sin and he called out the Pharisees and religious leaders in their hypocrisy, pride and obsession with riches.

I know that there is not going to be the perfect leader. I know everyone has flaws and it is unrealistic to expect an overnight shift in the political consciousness of today. But I’m still going to pray we discern leaders who have a level of consciousness that is a bit more like Jesus and who deeply understand the trust that will be given to them. And I pray that we will be inspired by their words and actions to be compassionate, kind, merciful, gentle and loving, and to work for justice, freedom and peace.

How are you coping now? How are you discerning who should be our next leaders? Please share,

Peace, peace, peace,
Gae +
CONNECT - A Note to Our Zoom Family
One big blessing for our church that has come out of the struggle with the Covid 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 our offerings on Zoom.

Here are some things everyone can do to help us all have the best experience possible:

  1. Please try to connect at least 10 minutes before the service or the meeting to make sure everything is working correctly.  
  2. If possible, keep your video on so it feels more like being together in church.  
  3. Have your audio always on mute unless advised by the facilitator.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.  
Vicarage Project- NEWS UPDATE
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. We have hired a company to stake the property.

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!
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Our Thrift Shop is Open!
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.

See our newly renovated Thrift Shop! Click here

Online Study:
Monday 10:00 am-11:15 am:
Spiritual Lessons from the Book of Genesis

Wednesday, October 14, 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. 

Connect via Zoom for both study sessions:
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
Go to www.kauaiaa.org for more info.
GIVE
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!

STAY INFORMED
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.
QUICKLINKS


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