PressFirst Press is the monthly newsletter of First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu 45-550 Kionaole Road, Kane‘ohe, HI 96744

FirstOCTOBER 2014 | Volume 19 | Issue 9

IN THIS ISSUE Find out what it means to fast (page 5)

Have you taken Alpha?40FastDay

turning the page to a new chapter

First Prez moves

ECOto

2 OCTOBER 2014 | FIRST PRESS

ON THE COVER

On Tuesday, September 16, the Presbytery of San Diego, at the request of our congregation, took up a request to be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA) so that we might affiliate with a new Presbyterian denomination formed in 2012 called ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

This was the culmination of a lengthy season of discernment for our church. At the Presbytery meeting held at the Village Church in Rancho Santa Fe, The Rev. Tim Beal, chair of the Task Force of the San Diego Presbytery that has worked with our church in our discernment process since fall 2013, made a presentation, which was followed by a discussion of

Here are our recent "graduates" of the Seekers and Joiners membership class—the first set of First Prez new members under ECO! LEFT PHOTO: front row (L-R): Mary Robinson, Shawna Board, Callie Takahashi, Brian Miller, Dana Miller, Pastor Dan. Second row: Sandi West, Jennifer Hopley, Kim Soares, Greg Eardley, Helen

our request by the entire Presbytery. Ninety-five percent of the presbyters present voted to affirm our request to be dismissed to ECO.

We are grateful for how God has enabled us to partner with the San Diego Presbytery. Together we sought God guidance regarding the future denominational affiliation of our congregation. We are grateful for our partnership with the PC(USA) and in particular the relationships we formed in the Presbytery of San Diego. We are excited for what is ahead as we open a new chapter in the life and ministry of the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu as we join ECO.

Eardley. Third row: Mary DeNinno, Daren Tran, Juanita Sweet, Ron Palma (and granddaughter Alana), Barry Matsumoto, and Janice Matsumoto. RIGHT PHOTO: Karen Lindsay and Richard Jones. Richard is also the first to be baptized under our new affiliation with ECO.

San Diego Presbytery Votes Yesby Pastor Tim Shaw     

Our First Set of New Members Under ECO

Alice Yoder, Chris Pan, and Pastor Dan Chun speak at the San Diego Presbytery meeting during the vote.

,

The name ECO is not an acronym. It reinforces

its passion for strengthening the ecosystems

of local churches. ECO believes the church

is a living organism that needs life-giving

resources to help it grow, thrive, and multiply.

ECO is committed to cultivating a healthy,

diverse, resource-rich ecosystem where

pastors and congregations can flourish.

Year started: 2012Number of member churches: 151Number of member pastors: 253

FIRST PRESS | OCTOBER 2014 3

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4 OCTOBER 2014 | FIRST PRESS

STAFF NEWS

Rosella Shishido is a familiar face to many at First Prez. That’s because she has been a church member since 1999 and a church staff member since 2001. Recently, her job description changed from being the Executive Assistant of Pastor Dan to being the very first Communications Director of First Prez. Although she will continue to provide support for Pastor Dan in certain areas, her main focus will be the Communications Department. Read on to find out what her new job entails.

First of all, why is your name pronounced differently from how it’s spelled? In Manila, where I was born and raised, the double “L” in most names is pronounced like there’s a letter “I” after the double “L.” So it’s not “Ro-sell-a,” but “Ro-sel-li-a.”

What will be your job at First Prez?As Communications Director I will be managing and directing internal and external communications. This will involve a lot of writing and editing too. The goal is the clear communication of messages to help people connect with God. That goes hand-in-hand with removing barriers that prevent people from doing so. I’m here to make sure the congregation is informed about what’s going on in the church, and that the messages we send out are clear, accurate, interesting, timely, relevant, and consistent with First Prez’s mission and core values. Communication tools like the website, social media, the First Press newsletter, email blasts, bulletins all fall under my kuleana. But it’s not a one-person job. I collaborate regularly with other staff members.

Who takes your place as Executive Assistant?I will continue to provide support for Pastor Dan in some ways. My co-worker Gary Toh, who’s Pastor Dan’s other assistant, has taken on a lot of my other duties. I’m grateful for Gary and other staff members who are helping me in

this transition. One other responsibility I will keep is being the staff liaison for the Red Carpet Ministry, the ministry that oversees all teams that have to do with hospitality in the church—parking, shuttle van, ushers, greeters, hospitality team, coffee team, and front desk.

Where did you go to school?In Manila. Got my bachelor’s degree in Tourism from the University of the Philippines. While here in the US, I earned a certificate in editing from UC Berkeley.

Tell us about your family.Proud to be Michael's wife! In fact, we make 24 years this year! I'm also proud of our two adult sons Matthew and David, and our other son ... the hairy one, Buster the Golden Retriever.

What are your spiritual gifts?Main gift: administration. Secondary gifts: wisdom and discernment.

What inspires you?Panoramic views, humility, generosity, times spent with God, brilliant writing.

What are some things that most people may not know about you?• That I’m a freelance copyeditor. (I can't

help but edit almost everything I read.)• That I love words—spellings and

definitions. (I'm such a nerd that way.)• That I was a radio news writer and

newscaster once upon a time.

Meet Our New Communications Director by Shayna Kusumoto

FACEBOOK CAPTION CONTEST

Winning Caption The winner of last month's caption

contest photo, based on the number of likes from Facebook users, is Kelly Gillis! She wins a $10-gift certificate to Ko‘olau Kitchen! Congratulations!

Here's Kelly Gillis's winning caption:"My next book is...How to pick an egg"

Remember, if you have a photo you think would be good for the Facebook Caption Contest, email it to shayna@fpchawaii.org. We love all your great captions – keep them coming because they keep us laughing! See next caption contest photo below.

FACEBOOK CAPTION CONTEST

WRITE A CAPTION FOR THIS

Write a caption for this photo, and enter to win! Post your suggestion on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/firstprez or email it to shayna@fpchawaii.org and we'll post it for you.

Captions with the most "LIKES" will be published in next month's First Press. Winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to Ko‘olau Kitchen donated by Ko'olau Ballrooms. Go now to www.facebook.com/firstprez, and enter your caption as a comment on this photo!

Day

FIRST PRESS | OCTOBER 2014 5

Meet Our New Communications Director by Shayna Kusumoto

ALL-CHURCH 40-DAY FAST

Perhaps no spiritual discipline today is as much misunderstood as fasting. Why fast? What is fasting? How? What type? Should I fast? These and probably other questions cycle and repeat in our thoughts at least twice a year when our church is called to fast for 40 days preceding Advent (Oct. 18-Nov. 26, 2014) and Easter.

Why? Even though fasting was an expected discipline in the Old Testament (Moses, Ezra, Nehemiah, Queen Esther, King David, Daniel), what does Jesus say about it? In Matthew 6, Jesus discusses three activities with His disciples and gives instructions on how to do them. He says, “So when you give…” “And when you pray….” “When you fast…”.

Jesus modeled the practice of fasting and He wants us to also fast because it will:

• Allow us to come before God in humility and repentance. We need Him. We cannot “do life” (or fast) without Him, and humility will place us in a position to receive from Him.

• Help us focus on God, draw near to Him, and become sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Doing without food, drink, or an activity will cause us to turn to prayer and hear His voice.

• Empower us for service. Often there is a release of power when fasting and prayer are combined.

What? Abstain from a type of food, drink, a meal, an activity, or something that controls us (fear, pride, jealousy, criticism etc.). If it’s food, turn the physical and psychological craving into a prayer. “Father, as my body craves, I crave Your presence.” If it’s emotions or habits, recognize the moments, know that God is at work, and pray. Fasting is always partnered with prayer.

How? No one, except family, really needs to know what you and God agree on. (Matthew 6:16-18) And do start slowly. CAUTION: Fasting is not to be done out of guilt, or when it is not medically safe. Consult with your doctor if unsure.

What type? Partial fast (from meal, meat, dessert, coffee, etc.); Daniel fast (eating only vegetables, fruits, and juices).

Should I fast? It’s about the condition of your heart, not the number of days. The most important consideration is your motive. Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, guidance, healing, resolution to a problem, or grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit for His leading. Experience His blessing during these forty days.

Butts, Dave & Kim. Why Fasting is Relevant for Today. www.harvestprayer.comFoster, Richard. The Discipline of Fasting. Excerpts from Celebration of Discipline.Whitney, Donald. The Discipline of Fasting. www.ligonier.org.

Why Do We Fast?by Patti Marshall

MEN'S MINISTRY

Spartans Cheer for UH Rainbow Wahine October 24, Friday, Stan Sheriff Center

Spartans (men of First Prez), unite! Let’s go to the game and cheer for our University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Volleyball Team when they take on the Cal Poly Mustangs of New Mexico at the Stan Sheriff Center on October 24th. We will meet at 5 pm for a pre-game meal and Christian male-camaraderie before cheering on the Wahine. Game starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $18 each. We will purchase group tickets so we can sit together. Email John Schum at jschum@hawaii.rr.com for more info or to make

reservations.

First Prez 40-Day FastOct 18 to Nov 26, 2014We encourage you to join us.

40FastDay

Middle blockers Olivia Magill (left) and Kalei Adolpho (below) set the tone for the Rainbow Wahine (photo courtesy of www.hmswire.com)

6 OCTOBER 2014 | FIRST PRESS

OUT & ABOUT

A Tour of the U.H. Cancer CenterAn OUT & ABOUT event, Oct 30, Thurs, 10:30 am, UH Cancer Center in Kaka’akoby Jane Tai

Do you know that we have one of the only 67 cancer research centers in the country here in Honolulu? It’s the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, a newly constructed world-class facility at the John Burns Medical School in Kaka’ako. Hawaii’s ethnically diverse population provides the UH Cancer Center ideal opportunity to study why certain cancers impact our residents.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. and Hawaii and accounts for one of every five deaths statewide. More than 6,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Hawaii. Yet groundbreaking discoveries are being made every day helping to prevent and fight cancer, resulting in more than 13 million survivors today.

The UH Cancer Center is comprised of two separate buildings connected by an open-air lobby and central staircase. The glass and steel structure reaches six stories and covers over 150,000 square feet. Though the façade is impressive, even more inspiring is the attention to detail inside that creates the optimal environment for scientists engaged in winning the war on cancer. And, the cost

It’s fall. The slant of light in the air has shifted, and you can feel the change. I know we don’t get fall colors, but we do have subtle changes on our island home. Enjoy them while ye may!

The holidays will soon be upon us. As you’re doing your fall decluttering and organization projects to get ready, please set aside some choice items to donate to the Bazaar scheduled on the first weekend in November.  It is organized by the FPC Women’s Ministry to help local and international charities that FPC supports. This year’s Bazaar will benefit local charities such as Family Promise, which helps homeless families on Oahu, and an African orphanage for AIDS orphans in Swaziland among others. It says in Proverbs 11:25 that the generous will be blessed, so we hope you’ll support the Bazaar.

I have learned that Reed Glover, one of our smiling 9:30 am ushers, is a very skilled wood worker. When one of the offering bowls develops a crack, he does an excellent job using Butterfly Key Joinery or spline to insert and hold the bowl together. This is not only a repair but also a beautiful addition to the authenticity of the inner beauty of wood. (And a little birdie told me that he has also created new offering collection bowls for us too!) Thanks, Reed.

Here’s another story about another usher: Dr. Chris Brigham has published a book. Here is the Amazon.com abstract: “Living Abled and Healthy: Your Guide to Injury and Illness Recovery  offers us help for some of the most difficult times of our lives—when we or someone we love are injured or ill and doing our best to recover as fully as possible. In an easy-to-read presentation,  Living Abled and Healthy  provides insights, knowledge, and resources for dealing with our most challenging medical, legal, insurance, disability, and financial issues.” 

Jerry Coffee was interviewed on PBS’ Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox. He shared his story of imprisonment for seven years as a POW in a communist prison in Vietnam after his plane went down. Watch it online as Jerry tells how he survived and how his faith was strengthened through this unimaginable experience.

Pastor Dan and Pam Chun made the MidWeek’s NEWSMAKER, along with pampered pooches Molly and Max, in a great article by Jamie Kim. This in-depth article featured Pastor Dan’s new book How to Pick a Spouse. He was also recently interviewed on TV by Grace Lee on KHNL's "Sunrise" morning show.

In June Julie Sparks traveled with daughter Paige Jimenez to Tokyo, who signed with a modeling agency there called Idea. They stayed in Shibuya for ten days.  Paige stayed for another five weeks.  Her roommate was a model from Shanghai, and they got along famously. Paige went on many go-sees and auditions and booked a Japanese TV ad job for Lipton and a print job for Sony. She will probably return to Tokyo next summer because she loved it so much. Yay, Paige!

On the 4th of July Julie Sparks rode in the Kailua 4th of July Parade with the American Mothers, Inc. Hawaii Chapter.  This organization selects the mother of the year.  There was a convertible for husband Cory and Julie and a pickup truck full of kids trailing behind them as well as other members of the Hawaii Chapter walking in the parade. AMI is an organization for women and men who identify with the Purpose of strengthening the moral and spiritual foundations of the family and the home.

Okay, folks, over and out. See you in November, and keep telling me all those good things the Lord is doing in your lives! manoaw@hawaiiantel.net

PeopleAll the Good Things by Marcia Wright

What's the buzz with First Prez people

Member Jerry Coffee as a guest in PBS' Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox

Continued on page 7

FIRST PRESS | OCTOBER 2014 7

PRAYERLINES

OUT & ABOUT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

October Is Clergy Appreciation Monthby Patti Marshall

of the building was supported through generous funding from the Hawaii State Legislature’s tax on cigarette sales.

You will have the chance to check out the UH Cancer Center when you join us, Out and About, on our tour of the Center on Thursday morning, October 30th. The tour will require walking and standing, but the Center is designed for handicap access. After our tour, we will dine at the modern food service facility at the center, where prices range from $5 to $9.

Parking is available in the adjacent parking lot for the Kaka’ako Park, but a permit is required for those going to the Center. We will furnish the permits, so please meet at the parking lot by 10 a.m.

The tour is free, but the Center requires a headcount. Sign up at the Out & About Ministry table in the Fellowship Hall on Sundays, Oct. 19 and 26 after the 8 and 9:30 am services.

Although clergy appreciation is emphasized in October, we must celebrate, honor, and affirm Pastors Dan, Sim, Drew, and Tim all year long. They need encouragement and support in their faith, help with shouldering their burdens and strengthening their families, and applaud from us for their efforts.

How are the pastors’ needs and circumstances different from those of other jobs?• God has entrusted pastors with a precious

assignment––the spiritual well-being of His people. When pastors become weary, the souls of the church are endangered.

• Personal and/or congregational expectations can be hazardous to their health and the health of their families. As pastors try to please God while also trying to meet the expectations of the congregation, the result is dangerous stress.

• Recognizing the cost of living in Hawaii, First Prez is very attentive to fair and adequate salaries and compensation and retirement benefits for our pastors. However, there are pastors who struggle with financial need.

Let’s not confine our aloha for our pastors to only the month of October, but show our respect for their divine calling with these long-term, ongoing care ideas:• Participate in a pastoral care team

(PCT). The First Prez prayer ministry is developing a PCT that will be charged with overseeing the spiritual protection and welfare of our pastors and their

families. Please consider joining the PCT to serve either early Sunday morning before worship services, during the services, or outside of Sundays.

• Encourage time for professional development. Encourage pastors to continually grow and challenge themselves.

• Encourage time off for rest, relaxation, and restoration. They need time alone with their families and with God.

• Give them freedom to dream and permission to lead. They have access to resources and new concepts, so be open. Keep them dreaming. Follow their leadership. Let the Holy Spirit work through them.

• Support them with regular prayer, love, and encouragement. It’s difficult to pray for someone and be critical at the same time. Love and support them.

• Create an atmosphere that minimizes ministry stress and unrealistic expectations. Come alongside them. Avoid grumbling or a negative spirit.

• Care for their families. Encourage them to make their families a priority (even above ministry).

Our pastors are God’s gifts to us. As it says in 1 Timothy 5:17, they are worthy of double honor. “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” -1 Timothy 5:17. NIV

Adapted from Focus on the Family/Pastoral/pdf/Clergy Appreciation Guide. 2012

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WORSHIP SERVICESSundays at 8 am, 9:30 am, 11:11 amVisit our website at www.fpchawaii.org

First Press can be viewed online at www.fpchawaii.org/?page_id=19 Submit articles by Oct. 15 for the November 2014 issue to: rosella@fpchawaii.org. We reserve the right to edit articles submitted. Editor • Rosella Shishido; Art director • Shayna Kusumoto; Copy editors • Patty Kamahele, Julie Lockyer, Sarah Williams

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Upcoming EventsOctober 2 Caregiver Support GroupOctober 4 Small Group Leaders Mahalo DinnerOctober 17 Upper Elementary OvernighterOctober 18 40-Day Fast BeginsOctober 24 Men's DinnerOctober 25 Military Mom's Night Out, PGA Golf OutingOctober 28 Celebrate Recovery StartsOctober 30 Out & About EventOctober 31 Singles' Ohana Annual Costume Dinner

Recurring EventsSundays Worship Services at 8, 9:30 and 11:11, Life Training ClassesMondays MONDAYS: College-Age Bible Study and FellowshipTuesdays Mighty Moms, DivorceCareWednesdays The Alpha Course, Old TownThursdays Men's SPARTAN Group, Choir, Dance MinistryFridays First Prez Crafters, The Zoo (Jr. High), 5th Quarter, Gathering (High School)Saturdays GriefShare