Experience the beauty of the hula "Shout to the Lord" performed by Carolyn, Noe, and Diane at the beginning of the 9:30 am service, Sunday, February 18!

Sunday school will be held February 18, 8:00 a.m. in our classroom building across from Christ Memorial with beloved teacher Leona.

Remember: next Sunday, February 25, 8:00 am is our monthly "Ohana Sunday" service, a joyful youth-led service for all ages with prayers, music, Gospel story, and Holy Communion. All are welcome!

Aloha ke akua

Would you like to read during the Sunday service

either onsite in the church or online?

Information here

Holy One, source of all life, who calls to us

from the realm of boundless love,

be with us as we enter in your presence. 

We come to you

with our burdens, 

our sadness,

our missteps, 

our hopes and yearnings, 

our whole being.

We proclaim, 

here we are, 

we are loved, 

we are known, 

we are guided. 

We are drawn

into the story, 

into the moment, 

into the communion, 

into the unknown. 

We discover a pathway through the wilderness,

with you walking alongside us,

and we follow the dawning light

of the risen One, Jesus the Christ. Amen. 

Prayer by Rev. Catherine Amy Kropp

A beautiful way to enter the season of Lent together in beloved community!

Mahalo to the hosts

and all those who participated!

On February 7, 2024, the Hawaii House of Representatives celebrated and honored Branch Lotspeich, member of Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, for his lifesaving efforts to reduce drowning deaths on the beaches of Hawaii. Fourteen years ago, under Branch’s leadership as a founding member and with the support of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, the first rescue tubes were installed on Kauai. Since then, the Rescue Tube Foundation has expanded to include more than 700 stations across Hawaii beaches as well as beaches on the mainland and Canada.

Today Branch serves as Executive Director of the Rescue Tube Foundation and leads by example in the assembly and creation of the bright yellow, 52-inch rescue flotation devices at the Foundation’s shop in Kilauea. He is also instrumental in educating other beach communities of how the tubes can save lives.

We congratulate Branch and his wife, Melody and are thankful for their many ministries in our church, our community and abroad.

Our pastor and vicar, Rev. Catherine Amy, would love to see you! Join her for conversation Wednesday, February 21, 4:00-5:00 and Thursday, February 22, 2:00-3:30 at the Kilauea Bakery, 2484 Keneke St. Or schedule a call or Zoom meeting at pastor@christmemorialkauai.org

This past week, on the morning of Ash Wednesday, a small group gathered in the church for a "sunrise" service at the dawn of Lent. I wasn't sure who would want to start the day so early. As each one entered into the dim light of the quiet church, my heart was moved by the sense of shared witness for the tender life we have been given. Instead of a printed paper bulletin, we got out the trusty red Book of Common Prayer, so as not to draw more resources from the Earth. We followed the simple liturgy for Ash Wednesday, with the beautiful opening prayers, silence, imposition of ashes, and the litany of penitence for the world. Instead of a homily, I shared a few simple thoughts on the sweep of energy, matter, life and Spirit in which our lives find their origin, journey and return. We remembered all those at Christ Memorial who came before us; the ones who once remembered in the same pews that they, too, were dust and to dust they would someday return. And we felt a bond with those who would someday come after us. At the end of the short service, the dawning light was streaming through one of the stained glass windows so intensely that it seemed to offer a brighter array of color than the human eye could perceive.

Later I stood outside the Shared Blessings Thrift Shop and offered ashes and a prayer to whomever asked, asking their first names, and then sharing with them the recognition of the preciousness of all life.

At the noonday service, a few visiting families came into the church with their children, all them wanting to come forward for the ashes, except for one. The young child who stood next to her father shook her head at me. I nodded. After the service, I remembered I had some special heart-shaped paper from someone who had asked for the mark of the cross on paper to take to a loved one. Holding now the extra paper in my pocket, I found the family exploring the memorial grounds. I asked the girl if she would like to receive the mark on paper instead, and she nodded without saying a word. I said her name and, making the mark of the cross on the paper, I said almost in a whisper "...remember you are loved... and to love you shall return." She took the paper and smiled.

In the evening, as I hosted a dinner in the vicarage, as a joyful group of us remembered both the beginning of Lent and the celebration of Valentine's Day. It seemed so fitting to remember that this season of introspection, penitence, remembrance, and preparation is all about awakening to love.

Rev. Catherine Amy Kropp

On the last Sunday after the Epiphany, February 11, in the story of the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top (Mark 9:2-9), Rev Catherine Amy remembered the radiance of Christ shining through an ordinary moment and discovered the power of the human voice. Listen to her sermon here:

Welcome to Christ Memorial Episcopal Church. We are devoted to following the life and teachings of Jesus, the Christ.  

We hope your experience worshiping with us will bless and enrich your life. People of all faiths are welcome to worship with us on Sunday.

For an online service, join us Sundayat 9:30 here.

Help us… help you… help those affected by the Maui Wildfires!

Due to the generosity from people around the Diocese, country, and globe, we want to make sure we can help wherever help is needed. We are asking every congregation to think BIG on this one. For example, if there is someone you know (or have heard about) that has taken in family or friends who were displaced, they may find themselves with a tripled-or-quadrupled electricity bill that they hadn’t seen coming. Same goes for the increase in food and household living costs. 

Assistance isn’t limited to just people currently on Maui (there are many who have taken people in on other islands), nor is it ever limited to Episcopalians. So combine your thinking hats and your generous hearts and let us know! To send a request for financial assistance, click on the button below:

The Diocese of Hawai'i has set up a webpage with the latest resources, and updates about Maui recovery efforts. Click HERE to go there.

You can also visit the Facebook page HERE.

Sharing One Home Can Change Two Lives

Homesharing Hawaiʻi is a project of Hawai‘i Intergenerational Network, a nonprofit with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Our program helps match individuals seeking a home with people who have a home to share. Two or more people share a home for mutual benefit. A person offers a private bedroom and shared common space in exchange for rent, help around the house or a combination of the two. Each home sharing arrangement is tailored to the unique needs and interests of the people involved. To learn more, visit their website HERE.

This issue's header photo was taken last week during the Annual Clergy Retreat at Camp Mokulē'ia on O'ahu, that was led by Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick (far right). Read more under the Feature Stories section further below. (Photo: Camp staff)

Check out the latest news from the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i here

We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church, and are part of the third largest group of Christians in the world.

We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church.

Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.

We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.

_______________________________________

988 Suicide & Crisis

Lifeline is Here!

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is now in full effect nationwide. Similar to the 911 emergency phone number, dialing 988 will connect a caller directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and to a trained counselor.

Helen Mitsui Shared Blessings Thrift Shop in Kilauea is seeking Volunteers.

Each volunteer shift is a 2-4 hour commitment for a minimum of one day per week. Experience in Retail, Customer Service, and/or Retail a plus, but not required.

Volunteers are invaluable to serving our community. Our goal is to reuse, repurpose and recycle goods — keeping as much as possible out of landfill — while providing our community with access to reasonably priced, quality merchandise.

Here are ways you can help:

* Greeters welcome shoppers and monitor our COVID guidelines.

* Customer Care helps shoppers to ensure a pleasant shopping experience.

* Merchandisers organize departments, restock the floor and display retail goods.

* Philanthropy distributes merchandise to organizations in need.

* Donation Intakers receive, sort and process donations.

Work-from-Home volunteers help prepare merchandise for sale. We are especially looking for help in these areas:

* Games: checking games to ensure all components are intact

* Stationery: packaging up cards and envelopes

* Holidays: preparing merchandise for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentines, 4th of July, and more

* School, Office, Art Craft Supplies: organizing and packaging materials for reuse

* Toys: sorting, cleaning, and packaging toys

* Hardware: sorting and packaging tools, materials, electronics and appliances

Requirements?

*Team players with a genuine interest in serving the community and contributing to the reuse movement.

* Willingness to support COVID-19 safety measures set by Shared Blessings

* Physically able to lift 50 pounds (Merchandisers and Donation Intakers only)

Benefits?

Serving the community and our environment is rewarding work. We have a lot of fun! New merchandise is donated daily, so the element of surprise and wonder is constant. Get a first peek and more!

Interested?

Click on the reply button here! Let us know 1) your interests, 2) your availability to volunteer and 3) your contact information. Mahalo!

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others. We remember especially those on our prayer list. Healing of body, mind and spirit for: Liam, Jeanne and family, Marie, Tom, Mike, Lei, Julia, Jane, Cynthia, Wayne, Sheila, Elise and family, Becca, Sara, Steve, Art, Paul, Charlyn, Erin, Niles, Robbie, Jane, Dale, Webb, Linda, David, Helen, Tony, Penny, Tommy, Matthew, Pam, and Rich.  For the residents of Lahaina and greater Maui who have lost their loved ones, homes, worship spaces, and businesses from the fires.  We pray for resilience of the land and fortitude of the people, for all that is Maui. We pray also for the people and leadership of Ukraine and the people of Russia who wish for peace and an end to the war. We pray also for people who live in a perpetual state of danger in the Middle East, Central America, and in conflicts around the world; that all who suffer danger and violence would know hope in their troubles and courage in their hearts.

We pray for all who have died, especially for Bev and Bob. We pray for all who are grieving. May they be comforted. 

We pray that you will bring people together in worship. Enliven your church and bless our musician, our clergy and lay leadership. We pray for our sibling Episcopal congregations on Kauai: St John and St Pauls, St Michael & All Angels, and All Saints, and for all churches on the North Shore. We pray for our own congregation of Christ Memorial, Kilauea for those present, online and absent - that all of us together may be united in your ministry. 

Are there others? Send a prayer list request to christmemorialkilauea@gmail.com

Do you have news, an article or an event to contribute to the newsletter? Email to christmemorialkilauea@gmail.com by Tuesday 5:00 pm each week for consideration in the weekly Christ Memorial newsletter.

THRIFT SHOP MISSION STATEMENT:

Our goal is to provide our community with reasonably priced, quality merchandise. We will reuse, repurpose and recycle goods and keep as much as possible out of the landfill in an effort to help Kauai and our planet toward Zero Waste. Above all we will show compassion, kindness and tolerance to each other and our community.

Christ Memorial Episcopal Church

2509 Kolo Road, Kilauea, HI 96754

http://www.christmemorialkauai.org

E-Mail Christ Memorial

(808) 482-4824

Mailing Address: PO Box 293, Kilauea, HI 96754