Volume 6, Issue 52
December 24, 2021
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
December 24 and 25, 2021


Isaiah 52:7-10
Speaking to a people in exile, the prophet Isaiah predicts the day when God will restore the people and bring them back to their homes and land. For Christians, the ultimate fulfillment of this prediction is carried out through the birth of Jesus, the worldʻs Savior.

Psalm 98
In praise of God, who will one day restore all things and bring salvation to the world.

Hebrews 1:1-4
Jesus, as the exact image of God in human form, is thus also the epitome of perfect love given to an imperfect world.

John 1:1-14
Jesus, as the Word made flesh, chose to leave his home in heaven to “encamp” with us, as the original language actually says.
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THIS SUNDAY: December 26, 2021
First Sunday after Christmas


Jeremiah 31:15-17
Jeremiah offers God’s word of hope for a better future when their children will get to return to the Holy Land.

Psalm 31:1-5

Acts 6:1-7:2a, 51c-60
Stephen preaches about God’s love through Jesus and prays for the very people putting him to death. Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr.

Matthew 2:13-19.
God warns Joseph in a dream to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt; in another dream years later after the death of Herod, God tells Joseph to bring the Holy Family back to Nazareth.
ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICE
WITH COMMUNION

8:00AM
Mark Cain (EM)*
Jeff Albao (U)
Diane Sato (AG)
Muriel Jackson (DM)

9:30AM
Muriel Jackson (EM)
Mario Antonio (U)
CeCe Caldwell (LR)
Faith Shiramizu (AG)
Nelson Secretario, Vikki Secretario (HP)
Suzanne Kobayashi (DM)

Live Stream
9:00AM on our home page, YouTube, or Facebook accounts
@allsaintskauai

* EM - Eucharistic Minister; U - Usher; LR - Lay Reader; AG - Altar Guild; HP - Healing Prayers; DM - Digital Ministry; SS - Sunday School
UPCOMING EVENTS

All Age `Ohana Christmas Service
Friday, December 24th
5:30 - 6:30PM
Church

Christmas Pūpū Potluck
Friday, December 24th
6:30PM
Church lanai canopy

Christmas Midnight Mass with Choir
Friday, December 24th
10:30 - 12:00PM
Church

Christmas Service
Saturday, December 25th
9:30AM
Church

Project Vision Hi`ehi`e Mobile Showers with Laundry Love Go-Bags
Thursday, December 30th
11:00AM - 4:00PM
Church Lawn
Recurring Events
Aloha Hour
Every Sunday after the 9:30AM service
Church Lanai

Monday/Friday Crew
Every Monday/Friday, 8:00AM 
Church Office

Project Vision Hi`ehi`e Mobile Showers
Every Thursday, 12:00 - 3:00PM
Church Campus
Laundry Love Go-Packs
1st and 3rd Thursdays, 12:00 - 3:00PM
Church Campus

Daughters of the King
2nd & 4th Wednesday, 6:00 - 7:00PM
Zoom
Bring rest and reassurance to those facing struggles this holiday season, especially: The Cawley ʻOhanaThe Tsunami Victims in the Philippines; The Victims of the Midwest Tornadoes; Patti; Cesar ChristopherThe Morinishi ʻOhana; Carol Lee Bray; Cathy Gott; Larry Revilla; Suzanne Woodruff. ​Lord, have mercy. 

We give you thanks for all the saints who have gone before us and now proclaim your glory, especially Michael Cawley and Grace Morinishi. We pray to you, O Lord. 
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s 2021 Christmas Message
‘In the name of these refugees, let us help all refugees’

December 15, 2021
Please click on the link below to enjoy the Presiding Bishopʻs Christmas message. Feel free to skip the ads.
[Episcopal News Service] “The Christmas stories are reminders that this Jesus came to show us how to love as God loves. And one of the ways we love as God loves is to help those who are refugees, those who seek asylum from political tyranny, poverty, famine, or other hardship.

“In the 1930s, Episcopalians did this to love as God loves, and today, ministries like Episcopal Migration Ministries, the work of this church, have helped to resettle some 100,000 refugees as of December 2021. And that work goes on for refugees from Afghanistan and from other places around the world.

“The Christian vocation as Jesus taught us is to love as God loves. And in the name of these refugees, let us help all refugees.

“God love you. God bless you. And, this Christmas, may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.”

Download full video transcript in English or Spanish.

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
How to aid refugee neighbors this Christmas:
Learn more: Find out about Episcopal Migration Ministries’ work and how to get involved at episcopalmigrationministries.org. Sign up for the EMM newsletter or weekly news digest here.
Upcoming Christmas Events
Mark Your Calendars and Celebrate!
December 24th
  • 5:30PM `Ohana Christmas Eve Service in-person and livestreamed
  • 10:30PM Midnight Mass with Choir in-person and livestreamed

December 25th
  • 9:30AM Eucharist: in-person

Livestreaming services are available via links on the All Saints' website: allsaintskauai.org
Christmas Pūpū Potluck
Friday, December 24th, 6:30PM
Weʻre going to have a "Christmas Pūpū Potluck" at 6:30PM on Friday Christmas Eve, just after the 5:30PM ʻOhana Christmas Eve Service, at and around the lanai picnic tables under the canopy. Please bring a dish to share -- beverages and paper goods will be provided. This will be a great time of fellowship and of sharing the Christmas spirit together.

Mele Kalikimaka & a hui hou,
Kahu Kawika+
Reflections from Suzanne Kobayashi
Are You Joseph?
The Epistle offers both video and text versions of the sermon presented each Sunday. To watch this week's engaging sermon, click on the link below. To read the text, please scroll down.

A Note from Suzanne about her sermon:

I'd like to mention that when Kawika and I talked, early last week, it was he who said "Maybe you want to talk about Joseph? I think he is an unsung hero." I thank him for that direction. I had a great week living with the scriptures and contemplating Joseph and all of our supporting roles.

-Suzanne Kobayashi
Are you Joseph? Are you in a supporting role? Have you ever thought, gee, what have I done with my life? Have I even made a difference? Have you ever thought that no one sees or appreciates your contribution? Did you ever think that you didn’t get the credit you may have secretly craved? Have you ever been a partner with someone who you think your life has been subservient to? If so, let’s consider Joseph and his role in the gospel story.

Today we heard how he listened to God in via a message of an angel not to divorce Mary and that she would bear a child of the highest God. He was Mary’s protector through her pregnancy. When the wise men of the East told Herod of the new born king, Joseph hears God through a dream to get Mary and Jesus out from under Herod’s pogrom to kill all the young boys. And he listens again, when it was safe to come back from Egypt. Without Joseph the young family would not have made it. He was obedient and trusted in God, even when he perceived it may not be in his best interest. Joseph is responsible for raising Jesus in the faith of his ancestors and keeping Jesus alive to survive to adulthood so Jesus could show us the kingdom of God. Wouldn’t you agree he was a major player in the Christ story? Someone worthy of admiration and accolades? 

Me too, yet, on Friday, I was looking for a particular Catholic artist whose name I had forgotten. One of her paintings is the lead art for today’s service, a beautiful piece showing Mary and baby Jesus who are rightly the stars of this advent season. I went through more than 1000 religious images on the computer looking for her work. There were many images of Mary and Jesus, some of the holy family, many of Jesus throughout his life and many, many saints. Yet there was only one picture of Joseph with baby Jesus. Jesus is a bubbling baby in Joseph’s arms, and they are smiling at each other. Only this one artist, Jen Norton, thought to show Joseph in his role as Jesus’s loving dad. Yet Joseph was critical to the whole of Jesus’s life on earth. He was a true hero, yet how much acclaim does he get in the worldly sense? We are not told about his death. In religious art, he is honored just one in a thousand. By worldly standards, he is an unsung hero. What can we learn from him that pertains to us? 
First, the size of our role or the kudos we get, are not a measure of our value in God’s eyes. These are just worldly measures. Each of us is treasured by God. We are all invited to the banquet. We are all important to help bring God’s kingdom here on earth and into each person’s heart and we work best, working in harmony. 

Think of a TV show or movie in which the supporting roles enrich the story, drawing us into the story in different ways than the main character alone could do. Think of music in which harmonies make the song so much richer and more beautiful. Gladys Knight & the Pips were a Motown band of the 70’s and 80’s. Gladys was a fantastic rhythm and blues vocalist and a star. She was backed by these guys with great voices who humbly took the back row to her and backed her strong vocals with textured harmonies. On stage, they danced in synchronicity behind her. Who were the Pips? We probably don’t remember their names, but when we think of the band’s hits like a Midnight Train to Georgia, it is the harmonies which makes the song so beautiful. Here at home, there have been many great Hawaiian solo artists, but the most beautiful songs are collaborative. Sunday Manoa, The Peter Moon Band, The Sons of Hawaii, the Beamer Brothers, C & K, Hapa, Kupaua. These are groups of individual stars who came together to make some of the most beautiful Hawaiian music we know. And none of these bands would be able to give us the gift of their music without countless other folks who will never get credit. No stars are independent of the many people supporting them. 

In the same way, our mentors and relatives who have helped us grow in faith may never make the news or be remembered. We may not be remembered except by those closest to us. Unnamed and unacclaimed people have touched our lives and have lead us closer to God. I dare say, each of us has done that for someone else. No one may write it down, but our gift grows in the heart of the person we have loved, or helped or just listened to. It could be people close to us, it could be a stranger. We will never know what seed we may have planted or what God may bring forth from that person. God does not make irrelevant parts of creation but God sees us as precious and necessary. We are loved, and our contributions bring God’s love into the world. Our contributions, no matter how seemingly small, all come together in perfect harmony to bring God’s love and beauty closer.

Mary and Jesus are celebrated stars of the advent season. Some might say that Joseph had only a supporting role. Yet I think Joseph loved his family, trusted God, and not only accepted but rejoiced in his role. That trust, acceptance, and joy enabled him to follow God’s lead. If you’ve ever thought that you are merely a supporting role, if you compare yourself to the accomplishments of others, if you doubt your value or contribution, maybe you can remember Joseph and, like Joseph, claim your role in life with joy and gratitude. You don’t know how your life may affect others. Joseph did not have the leading role, he does not get much credit, but God works through supporting roles. After all, without Joseph, we might not be celebrating a baby born to a family in Bethlehem at Christmas time. 

1 Samuel 1:19-28
Psalm: The Canticle of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1-10)
Titus 3:4-7
Matthew 1:18-25
Advent 4C w/ Women’s Lectionary
19 December 2021
All Saints’ Church, Kapaʻa
All Saints' Dance Ministry Hula
December 19, 2021
The All Saints' Dance Ministry, led by Carolyn Morinishi, performed during the 9:30 service on December 19th. Joining Carolyn, Jan, Muriel, Mabel, and Nadine, who performed live, were a host of other dancers who joined virtually. You can see our off-island performers on the monitors behind the live performers in the video below.

From Carolyn:

In 2019, we choreographed a super-simple hula to "Angels from the Realms of Glory." A hula to this song had been taught by Mrs. Punua as part of the Christmas pageant back in the 1960s -- all wearing white -- so we decided to recreate that dance in 2019.

For this year, we decided to keep the same choreography. Instead of live music, we will all dance to the same recorded track, which will enable the live and video dancers' timing to match.

The in person and online congregation were treated to a truly lovely offering of the Dance Ministry. To watch the dance, click below.

Sign Up for 2022 Altar Flower Donations Now
Donation Forms Available Online or at Church
Ever wonder where all our beautiful altar flowers come from each Sunday? 

Our flowers are lovingly arranged by Mrs.Tanaka or by JC Flowers. These flowers were all donated by members of the congregation. To participate with a donation in 2022 sign up on the form outside the sanctuary before or after services. You may also contact Pam Sokei at psokei@gmail.com or Kathy Miyake at 808-652-9393 to request a date.
Lost and Found Collection
If You Lost It, We Found It
These items have been found by the Altar Guild. They are in a basket on the table in front of the church on Sunday. There are also a black ladies' sweater, a black children’s jacket and a black men’s jacket. They are kept on the back pews of the church. 

-Diane Sato
Travels with Joan
Alaska 

You are welcome to join in on another fun-filled travel presentation by our own Joan Roughgarden, this time about her trip to Alaska. She is an excellent photographer and is guaranteed to have stunning photos of unspoiled nature. Bring and share pūpūs and beverages. This will be on Wednesday 5 January, 6pm-8pm, in Memorial Hall. A hui hou!
Christmas
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Christmas (in old English, Cristes maesse) is a festival celebrated on Dec. 25, commemorating the Incarnation of the Word of God in the birth of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) it is also called The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In the United States it is also a popular secular holiday.

According to the Philocalian calendar, Christmas was first celebrated in Rome in the year 336. It gradually spread to the churches of the east, which already had a festival on Jan. 6 commemorating the manifestation of God in both the birth and baptism of Jesus. The date, Dec. 25, rests on no historical foundation. It was probably chosen to oppose the feast Natalis Solis Invicti, the birthday of the "Unconquerable Sun God" (Saturn), which took place at the winter solstice to celebrate the birth of "the Sun of Righteousness."

The customs associated with Christmas have developed from many sources. From early days the popular observance of Christmas was marked by the joy and celebration characteristic of the Roman Saturnalia and the pagan festivals which it replaced. It came to include the decoration of houses with greenery and the giving of gifts to children and the poor. In Britain other observances were added including the Yule log and Yule cakes, fir trees, gifts, and greetings. Fires and lights (symbols of warmth and lasting life) and evergreens (symbols of survival) were traditionally associated with both pagan and Christian festivals. Their use developed considerably in England with the importation of German customs and through the influence of the writings of Charles Dickens

In the BCP, Christmas Day is one of the seven principal feasts. The Christmas season lasts twelve days, from Christmas Day until Jan. 5, the day before the Epiphany. The season includes Christmas Day, the First Sunday after Christmas Day, the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and may include the Second Sunday after Christmas Day. In many parishes, the main liturgical celebrations of Christmas take place on Christmas Eve. The Book of Occasional Services (BOS) includes a variety of resources for use during Christmas, including a form for a Station at a Christmas Crèche, a form for a Christmas Festival of Lessons and Music, and seasonal blessings for use during the Christmas season.


FROM THE EPISCOPAL CAFÈ
Are you Ready for Christmas?

Kimberly Knowle-Zeller
December 21, 2021
Are you ready for Christmas? 
The question gets asked

to children and adults alike –

Are you ready for Christmas? 
Are the presents bought

cards sent
food cooked
cookies baked
services planned
emails answered
volunteers coordinated
Are you ready for Christmas? 
But perhaps the question also means
Are you ready for love to come down
the world to be turned upside down
a young woman to give birth in a stable
shepherds to be astounded by the light
wisemen to travel great distances. 

Are you ready for Christmas? 
Are you ready for the story of God 

putting on flesh
To know this life and this world
To know us and love us
Are you ready for Christmas? 
The gift is ready for you. 
Kimberly Knowle-Zeller is an ordained ELCA pastor, mother of two, and spouse of an ELCA pastor. She lives with her family in Cole Camp, MO. You can read more at her website, follow her work on Facebookor sign up for her monthly newsletter.
Join Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Washington Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the Rev. Glenna Huber, and other local and national leaders for a livestreamed celebration of Epiphany, the season of light, from the Church of the Epiphany in Washington, D.C.
 
Thursday, Jan. 6, at 12PM Eastern
 

During a worship service featuring a diversity of voices from across the church, Bishop Curry will invite Episcopalians to commit afresh to looking, acting, and loving like Jesus—in our communities and in our nation. 
IN BRIEF . . .

These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"
From The Epistle, December 10, 2021


Laundry Love Volunteer Opportunities
Please Support Our Ongoing Ministry
The recent collaboration with Project Vision Hawai`i on our campus has created an opportunity for a small, core group of volunteers who collectively can commit to staffing a table for three hours (noon-3:00) on the first and third Thursday of each month. Your service would include distributing to our houseless population the materials needed to do their own wash. Rolls of quarters will be in your possession and part of the distribution, so comfort with this responsibility is something to consider. Other than that, the only prerequisite is a giving heart, which I know exists in great quantity within the All Saints' `Ohana.

Please contact the office to have your name added to the list. We need to have this team assembled as soon as possible, at which point we can develop a schedule of solo or paired volunteers, however the team members prefer to operate.
 
Mahalo in advance for this contribution of your valuable time.

Blessings,

-Geoff Shields
Laundry Love Ministry Lead
Who Do You Call?

Contact information for All Saints' Ministries and Outreach

Please submit your story ideas to the Epistle Staff at news@allsaintskauai.org.
USHER MINISTRY
If you would like to serve as an All Saints' usher, please contact Cami at church@allsaintskauai.org.

HALE HO`OMALU ACCEPTING DONATIONS
There is an on-going need for travel sized toiletries and canned goods so these items will be accepted every week. As always, monetary donations are gratefully accepted. Leave them in the red wagon outside the sanctuary

KUPUNA SHOPPING ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
Any of our All Saints' kupuna who need assistance with grocery shopping can contact Carolyn Morinishi at church@allsaintskauai.org to set up a delivery.

ALL SAINTS' VIRTUAL SWAP MEET
If any ministry has an unmet need, reach out to put it in the All Saints' Virtual Swap Meet and it will be published in the Epistle. Contact Bill Caldwell at news@allsaintskauai.org.

PASTORAL CARE CONTACT INFORMATION
Whenever you have a need for support, please call (650) 691-8104 and leave a voice mail. The system will immediately forward the information to the Pastoral Care Committee who will respond to each request. If you prefer, you may send an electronic pastoral care request via email to pastoralcare@allsaintskauai.org.

PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY
Individuals who want to participate in the Prayer Chain Ministry must re-enroll to continue receiving the email communications. To re-enroll, please visit the newly established Pastoral Care web page or contact the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.

SUBMITTING A PRAYER REQUEST
Prayer requests will now be submitted online or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Names can be added to the Prayers of the People petitions by using the Prayer Chain Request form or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267. Names will remain in the Prayers of the People for a maximum of four Sundays before a name must be resubmitted.
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