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November 2017 Volume 11, Issue 11
"The Messenger of Love"
Christ Church, Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians 1300 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI, 96734-4356 Phone: 808.262.6911
Worship - Sunday, 10AM Email - [email protected]
www.ccukailua.org
Pastor Liz Leavitt www.facebook.com/ChristChurchUniting
Dear CCU 'Ohana,
It's stewardship season! Everyone's favorite time of year!
I say that a bit in jest, but truly, isn't it a blessing that we are able to be a
blessing to others? Isn't it a gift that as we prepare for give thanks for all
we have that we are also free to think about how to return a portion of
those gifts to God in praise? I believe it is.
Giving thanks and giving have always been connected. Since ancient
times, when harvest festivals involved returning the first and best fruits to
God, the work of gratitude has always been connected to the discipline of
generosity. In this way stewardship is as much an act of trust as it is a
discipline of celebration. Rather than "What can I spare?" our mantra as
followers of a generous God might be "Look what I am able to give!"
I am so grateful for the ways you, the CCU family, so generously
supported the ministry of our church this year. With tithes and offerings,
hours of service and acts of provision and care, you have advanced our
mission to be a place where God's vision of abundance is made manifest.
It has been a big year: we have survived and thrived the absence of our
pastor on parental leave; we have grown our staff, welcoming Louise
South and Melody Heidel to support our most critical ministries; we have
pushed to grow our Vespers program through targeted outreach to our
neighbors; we've welcomed the community to important and challenging
conversations about critical issues for our time and found new and willing
partners in discussion. And the good news is that there are more folks
waiting in the wings to join us in this exciting work.
We'll be welcoming a small class of new members this month, those who
wish to commit themselves to our common life at CCU, accept our care
and support and join in our ministry of justice and peace. Among those
will be the Revs. Mary Paik and Dwight Morita, who may be familiar to you
having served in various capacities at CCU over the past 10 years.
During this time while they are not serving in full-time ministry elsewhere,
they've chosen to affiliate with CCU as a spiritual community in which to
worship and serve. Because P.C. (U.S.A.) ministers are not able to join a
congregation as traditional members, Dwight and Mary will be joining our
ranks through a process which labels them "Parish Associates." Like the
many other minister members of CCU, this is not a pastoral role, but one
of voluntary support and engagement. I hope you'll help to welcome
Dwight and Mary as they connect, once again, to our fellowship.
I hope you sense, as I do, that all of this is evidence of the Spirit at work in
our midst, breathing new life into our worship, service and outreach. In this
way, I'm proud that the council has challenged us to reach for an
increased pledge goal of $100,000, a fitting sign of fiscal growth to support
our growth in ministry. I hope you've received your pledge card and
invitation to participate in that important work. And I hope you will join me
in gratitude for the ways we are each able to give back. And that you too
will look toward this season of thanksgiving with a renewed sense of your
capacity for giving.
With many blessings to you,
Pastor Liz
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 2 of 15
The monthly men's fellowship breakfast is
Saturday, Nov 4th at 8am at Honey's at the
Ko'olau Golf Course. This month's topic:
"Context Matters In Religion", by Jay
Sakashita. View the article on our website:
www.ccukailua.org/ministries/mens-fellowship-
breakfast-topics/.
November 2017CCU Event Schedule:
Sundays: 10 am, Worship & Aloha Fellowship
11/4, Sat: 8AM CCU's Men's breakfast at Honey's at Ko'olau Golf course
11/10, Fri: Veteran's Day Holiday, Office closed
11/10, Fri: 7PM Vespers on the Lanai welcomes Michael Tanenbaum
11/19, Sun: State Council meeting after worship
11/19, Sun: Contributions to the December newsletter are due
11/23-24, Thurs/Fri: Thanksgiving Holiday, Office closed
October 15
Paul & Dottie
Brennan
Sunday, November 5th8:30-11:30 am
HI-5 CONTAINERPICK-UP DAY at CCU.
No glass bottles, please.Please put containers in
Heidels’ white pick-up truck,which will be parked in the
CCU parking lot.CCU has chosen to give allrecycling collections to the
Institute for Human Services.~ an expression of compassion ~
~ a practice of eco-justice ~
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 3 of 15
October 8th
Leavitt
'Ohana
November
BirthdaysRichard Smith .................... 3Peter Tchou ....................... 5Paul Brennan .................... 6Angyl Magbee ................... 7Rennie Renfroe ............... 11David White .................... 16Jane Muench ................... 28
CCU: $2,795.00
Foodland: $ 450.14
Western Union: $ 87.36
Total for CCU: $3,332.50
NovemberAnniversaries
Laura & Brian McCreanor .. 20
Pancake Breakfast hosted by
your Church Council!
Join us for an all-church
pancake breakfast on Sunday,
November 12 BEFORE
worship, 8:30-9:30am. Council
will be flipping flapjacks and
thanking everyone for their
contributions to CCU in 2017
and in anticipation of a
successful pledge campaign in
2018!
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 4 of 15
CCU will be observing All Saints Sunday on
November 5. If you'd like the name of a saint
(long passed or recently departed) read aloud
in worship, please let our office know by
Thursday, November 2. You can also put a
note in the offering plate with your name and
the name you'd like honored.
Mark your calendars
for the November
Vespers. CCU
welcomes Michael
Tanenbaum on
Friday, November 10.
Opens at 6:30PM,
Celtic Slack-key music
at 7PM. Bring a lawn
chair, a dessert and a
friend! See you there!
Save the date! Join us for our annual Handel's Messiah singalong on
Sunday, December 3, 4pm. Listeners & Singers welcome. Scores provided.
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 5 of 15
Facilities Updates
(keeping you informed about how our buildings and
grounds are being reformed!)
The Air Conditioner was fixed! A wire needed
to be replaced. It is working now and we should
not anticipate further outages.
The faucet in the utility room sink broke and
was repaired.
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 6 of 15
Gratitude Corner!
"Give thanks in all circumstances."
1 Thessalonians 5:18
This month, we give a huge:
MAHALO to those able to join in fellowship and discussion around our medical
aid in dying forum. Particular thanks are due to Bob Grantham for his interest in
this topic, his encouragement for us to hold such a discussion, and his sharing
during our gathering. Also thanks to Dianne Brookins for helping us make a
connection with Compassion and Choices.
MAHALO to those who participated in the commemoration service for the 500th
anniversary of the Reformation at St. Andrew's Cathedral on Saturday, Oct 14.
Charlene Hosenfeld
Despite the truly awful anti-environment rhetoric,
decisions, orders, and Cabinet and agency head
appointments coming out of Washington these
days…. as promised, more hopeful signs, both
internationally and from “we the (American) people”:
Costa Rica ran 300 days in 2015 on 100%
renewable energy; Iceland is powered at 100%
by hydropower & geothermal.
1.
Because animal agriculture is a leading cause
of climate change and environmental
degradation, Germany’s environment
2.
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 7 of 15
minister decided that her ministry would no
longer serve meat, fish or meat-derived
products at official functions.
The largest source of new electric capacity
in the U.S. in 2016 was solar photovoltaic
panels.
3.
Oahu has about 54,000 private rooftop solar
systems sending electricity to the grid.
4.
In 2016 solar jobs in the U.S. increased by
25%, and wind jobs by 32%.
5.
The Netherlands has many more bicycles
than people — 22.5 million bikes vs. 18 million
humans. More than 25% of all trips are made
by (yes, zero-emission) bicycles.
6.
Next month: The good news about automobiles.
Every one of our actions matter — now more than
ever.
FROM ED & MIRIAM NOYES, MISSIONARIES IN THE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO:
"Dear Friends at CCU,
Thank you for your latest contribution ($300) to our work. We got the notice
about it several days ago, but I was busy with monthly meetings for the Baptist
women and our literacy group. Last Saturday we held a celebration of
International Literacy Day and graduation ceremonies for our students around
Kinshasa. It's just a beginning, but we certified 74 students from 5 centers.
Yesterday at our monthly meeting, we determined that we have about 60 more
to graduate next month. In the Vanga area I certified 28 students at the
beginning of this month, and we have 511 to go. It's the largest number of
students that we've graduated in one year since we started. In addition
possibly 100 students simply left their classes when they'd attained proficiency
in reading and writing, and didn't bother with any ceremony or diploma.
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 8 of 15
BBC has an article in their online magazine, "In School, but Learning Nothing",
posted on September 27, highlighting a worldwide crisis in education exposed in
two recent reports, one from UNESCO's Institute for Statistics and one from the
World Bank. Two of our graduates, both from different literacy centers, a boy
and a girl, testified that they were high school graduates who had managed to
get through without learning how to read and write, and actually use French, but
who now are competent. Afterwards women in the audience questioned it
unbelievingly, but we've seen too many of these young people in our literacy
classes, and assured them that it was true. Journalists were there, and a
newsclip on our ceremony (featuring that skit and those testimonies) was aired
on TV several times.
Thank you again for your support,
Miriam"
Ed and Miriam have just moved back to Lusekele, the agricultural extension
farm, where they have spent most of their years; this is where Ed has done
most of his agricultural development work, while Miriam has done more
traveling to Kinshasa and other towns with the literacy program she and the
local women church leaders developed. The past few years they had been in
Kinshasa, because Ed was working with Larry Sthreshly of the Presbyterian
denomination on spreading health centers (with a agricultural component to it)
across a large area of the DR Congo. See page 6 in the latest Mission
Crossroads magazine (found in church office).
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
MONIES ARE RELEASED FOR KAPUNA CARE !
The Legislature passed a bill that created a fund of $600,000 (to start
with) to help working people get relief caregivers for their aging loved ones at
home. The Office of Aging has been designated to run the program.
Applications will soon be available. Meanwhile, FACE has asked church
members to tell acquaintances about this, and give FACE names and
addresses of those who might want or need this service so that a list can
be sent to the Office of Aging. To learn more about this, you can attend the
documentary film showing and panel discussion. See the particulars below.
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 9 of 15
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 10 of 15
What We Do
In Hawai‘i, ‘ohana is important to us. That’s why Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels
treats all of our clients like family. We make sure kupuna and others have hot,
nutritious meals delivered to their door, whether for lunch or dinner. But we
don’t stop there. Our volunteers also take the time to make sure each one is
doing okay. We serve as another set of eyes and ears for families. The aloha
spirit is alive and well…and that’s why we’re called Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels.
Mission
Hawai‘i Meals on Wheels is dedicated to helping Oahu’s elders and individuals
with disabilities preserve their independence at home. We do this primarily by
providing hot, nutritious meals and regular personal interaction with those we
serve
About
Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels was founded in 1979 to provide a hot home-delivered
meal service for frail elderly and disabled persons who were unable to cook or
shop for themselves and did not have access to help for these essential
functions.
We are a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, founded by former State
of Hawaiʻi librarian Irmgard Hörmann and the Social Ministries Committee of
the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. She spearheaded the formation of a
committee representing different denominations and several Honolulu churches
to provide a basic nutritional and human support system for their isolated,
disabled, and frail elderly neighbors.
The other eight founding churches included Central Union Church, Church of
the Crossroads, Manoa Valley Church, The Parish of St. Clement, Unitarian
Church of Honolulu, First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church and First
United Methodist Church.
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 11 of 15
October 8, 2017
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 12 of 15
Dana will be collecting boxes again this year (Nov 5 & Nov 12) for CCU (leave
your boxes in the office). To follow your box & receive labels to affix on your
box, go here: www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/follow-your-
box/.
Some items, like toothpaste, and any edible items are no longer allowed.
They still suggest that you include a toothbrush. Go to the website
(www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-
shoebox-suggestions/) to read the list of items not allowed.
The shipping donation increased this year to $9 per box. Please DO NOT seal
your box closed.
FAMILY PROMISE AT CCU IN DECEMBER - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
The mission of Family Promise of Hawai’i is to mobilize existing community
resources to aid families with children experiencing homelessness and help
them transition to sustainable independence. CCU will once again serve as a
host site for Family Promise the 1st week in December (4th-10th) with
kitchen/room cleaning and setup on Saturday am, 12/3 starting at 9 am.
New volunteers are always welcome and any type and amount of support is
greatly appreciated! Opportunities include:
clean and set-up separate bedroom areas for each family using blow-up
mattresses, fresh linens, and curtains for privacy
provide and serve 1 meal for up to 14 people, dinner is served at 6 pm
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 13 of 15
serve1 night as overnight host; 2 people needed each night from 8 pm to
7:30 am the next morning
help out with activities with children- reading books, playing games, etc.
break down and clean-up on last morning of host week-Sunday
launder linens after host week
Please contact the CCU Family Promise co-coordinators if you'd like to help out:
Beth Davidann [email protected], 808-371-5594
Marian Heidel [email protected], 808-261-4585 (h) or 808-358-6345 (c)
For more information about Family Promise of Hawai’i, visit:
familypromisehawaii.org
Date Name Duty5-Nov Liz Leavitt Minister
Paul Haring & Richard Smith Usher / GreeterDianne Brookins LiturgistJohn Heidel T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
12-Nov Liz Leavitt MinisterKeith & Peggy Zeilinger Usher / GreeterLarry Grimm LiturgistPaul Brennan T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
19-Nov Liz Leavitt Minister
Rollo Scheurenbrand &Charlene Hosenfeld Usher / Greeter
Courtney Nichols LiturgistDianne Brookins T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
26-Nov Liz Leavitt Minister
George Wyman & ClancyLyman Usher / Greeter
Paul Haring LiturgistAnnie Walenta T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
2017 November Ka Elele Aloha Page 14 of 15
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