First United Methodist Church

1020 South Beretania Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96814-1492

(808) 522-9555 Fax (808) 528-3992

Email: Ofiice@Firstumchonolulu.org

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Church Leaders & Staff

Resident Bishop:

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

District Superintendent:

Rev. Dr. Thomas Choi

Co-pastors:

Rev. Amy C. Wake

Rev. Linita ‘U. Moa

Church Secretary/Office Mgr.

Paini Harris

Choir Directors:

Tupou Seini Kelemeni, Fololiena Maka

Pianist:

Petra Peršolja

Custodians:

Heamasi Koli, Pat Sheppard

Newsletter editor: Sandra Mactagone

HAPPY EASTER!

Please join us for Easter Sunday Worship

April 5, 2015

6 a.m. Tongan Prayer Service

8 a.m. Pancakes and Praise

10 a.m. Joint Worship Service

With Guest Preacher

Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño

11:30 a.m. Luncheon

And Easter Egg Hunt

Pastor’s Page...

‘Oku tau lolotonga fononga he fa’ahi ta’u ‘o e Leniti, pea ko e faka’amu ‘o e mahina ni, ke tau fakatomala mo sivisivi’I ‘etau mo’ui he ‘aho kotoa pe. Ko ia ai kapau te tau nofo he ‘aho kotoa pe ‘o fakalau-

lotoa ‘a e ‘ofa ‘a e ‘Otua kiate kitautolu ‘ia Sisu Kalaisi, te tau fakapapau’I ai ‘a ‘etau fononga fakataha mo Sisu, pea si’isi’I ai ‘etau fakafanongo ki he tevolo mo ‘ene o’i. Ko e mahina ni foki ‘oku tau faka’osi’osi ai ‘etau ngaahi Kulupu Visone, teuteu ki he ‘etau retreat ‘I ‘Epeleli 24 & 25, 2015 ‘I St. Antony’s Retreat Center. ‘Oku faka’amu pe ke tau ngaue fakataha he lotua mo e hufia ‘a e Visone koia ‘e fakaha mai ‘e he ‘Otua he’etau ngaahi ngaue fakakulupe pea ko ia ‘a ‘etau visione ki he’etau ngaue ‘I hono Siasi. ‘Oku ou talamonu atu ki he ngaahi Ku-lupu kotoa pe mo e ngaue lahi ‘oku tau lolo-tonga ngaue ai.

‘Ofa lahi atu We are in the midst of our Lenten journey and this month we allow ourselves “to ob-serve the Holy Lent through repentance and self awareness.” If we study and meditate daily, we will have the love of God with us through Jesus Christ, and be protected from temptations and sin. This month, we are also working together in our Visioning Group and expect to finish before our Visioning Retreat on April 24 & 25, 2015 at St. Anthony’s Retreat Center. Please continue praying for understanding to know what is God’s will in our Visioning process and to follow that will as we serve

“Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World”

1020 S. Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Volume XXXIX Issue 28 April 2015

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Him in Church. May God be with you all at this time in our Visioning process.

With God’s Love and Grace

Pastor Linita

Candidates for Ministry

Congratulations to Sione Finau, Po’ese Vatikani and Ana Hungalu, our church’s candidates for ministry, who were confirmed at our special charge conference last month! Sione is finishing up seminary in Atlanta this Spring and will work for a

year before going for his proba-tionary membership with the California Pacific Conference. Po’ese is enrolled full-time at St. Paul’s School of Theol-ogy and working part-time at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Independence, Mis-souri.

Ana is beginning the or-dination process and will be attending the University of Hawaii to complete her Bachelor’s degree before heading to seminary. We are very proud of our members who are pur-suing God’s call in their life. Our prayers and best wishes go with them!

HELP NEEDED

Every Sunday, we serve 180-200 people a free pancake breakfast. Pancakes and Praise has become a central part of our presence in the neighborhood. We need helpers to cook, serve, and clean up after Pancakes and Praise. You don’t need to be available every Sunday, but your presence will make a difference in the lives of our friends who live on the streets. Please contact Alex Teruya or Kueni Maka if you are interested or want more information.

Spread the word

DACA/DAPA workshop is coming to FUMC – Saturday, April 11, 2015, 10 a.m. to 12 pm. Parking, childcare and a light lunch will be provided. Immigration attorneys will talk about recent changes in regulations covering Deferred Action for Child Arrivals and their Parents. Im-migration attorneys will also be on hand for personal and private consultation and refer-ral. All talks and printed material will be trans-lated into Tongan. Come join members and friends of other churches who have also been invited to this free workshop.

Church and Society Committee

FUMC goes Pay Pal!

Now you can make donations to the church online through Pay Pal. Go to our web-site www.firstumchonolulu.org and click on the Donate Now page, or go to https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=i63ksrVPyuHsMMRnrtjrQokD0RK8uadp-UKGEmlN6-LWGf71e-BiV_PO7tmC&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8d96f000117187ac9edec8a65b311f447e. For every donation through our PayPal ac-count, we are charged the a non-profit fee of 2.2% + $0.30. For example, if you donate $100, a fee of $ 2.50 is deducted by PayPal ($100 x 2.2% = $2.20 + $0.30 =

$2.50). Please consider increasing your gift to cover the fee. Donations can be made toward your regular pledge, or for special gifts to one of our ministries… just put a note directing us where to put it. We are already receiving pledges and recently got a gift of $1000 for Pancakes and Praise through Pay Pal. Thank you to Treasurer Ongo Koli for putting this together.

Finance Committee

Thank you to…

Our regular volunteers: the Paongo family, Ray Dorsey Fehi Taufo’ou, Seini Tafuna for substituting in the office. Sean Vaziri for training our AV volunteers. Thanks to all who came to the WORK DAY on Saturday! Aloha Refreshments: Fijian Fellowship Altar Flowers: Constance Deming, given in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Manupule.

Farewell to...

Utu, Samiana and Noelle Langi as they now will be living in Tonga for awhile.

Sunday's blessing upon Utu Langi as we say farewell.

Mike Kansanback who is moving to Minnesota after Easter. Thanks for being a part of our church!

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In Our Prayers

Please pray for: Our shut-ins: Jackie Fifita, Momi Schneider, Katherine Minn, Shigeko Yamaguchi, Buster Donohue

Those with continuing concerns: ‘Ofa Latu, David Walter, Ma`u Ika-

hihifo, ‘Aunofo Koloamatangi, Wilma Wilson, Jo Toxvard & son, Richard Szumiel, Bette’s sister Marie, Johann Leverenz, Supi Palamo, Cleon Prestholt,

Those receiving treatment for cancer: Valerie Leverenz, Ben Timmerman’s sister, Nancy’s son Keith, Amy’s friend Gail, Roman’s sister-in-law Amanda and friend Gila, Ben Timmerman, Judy (Ben’s sister)

Our hearts and prayers are with: Ray Dorsey, hospitalized Janet Ness, Lenley’s sister Bette Takahashi Betty Sun Ann Bystrom Ray Snyder’s daughter, recovering from sur-

gery The children at Shriner’s Hospital, especially

Fatima, Alvirsh, Maira, Ana, Lepani, Nacani, Kristian, Sefraz, Avishah, Ariketh, Kavish, Am-idesh, Sanaya, Laisenia, Merewalesi and Edu-ate - all from Fiji. Mercy and Malaki from Sa-moa.

Confirmation Class

Confirmation Class will start on Sunday, April 12, taking children ages 12-18. Thank you to the SPROUTs leaders for taking on this project. The youth participating in this class are: Haloti Pakileata, Sephanaia Vulivalu, Valerie Hungalu, Lynette Lolohea, Kainoa Coarsey, Epalahame Takai, Alipeti Leha, Ahofitu Maka, Oloseti Haunga, Taniela Mateaki, Billy Masima,

Vili Fisi'iahi, Katokakala Leha, Vilisoni Takai. Parents and Mentors Confirmation class meeting will be Sunday, March 29 at 1 pm in the sanctu-ary with Pastor Linita.

Graduate Sunday...

Will be celebrated on June 7th at the joint wor-ship service. Please send into the office the names and pictures of those graduating from col-lege, high school, middle school, elementary school and preschool.

Congratulations to...

Lupe and Mo Manupule on their wedding. Natalie Wells and Sean Vaziri for their engage-ment. Mele Pepa and Heiteni Fifita on their engage-ment.

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This year's Confirmation Class youth meeting with Pastor Amy