the messenger -...
TRANSCRIPT
The MessengerThe Messenger
C H U R C H O F T H E H O L Y C R O S S
A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 8
A p r i l
U p c o m i n g D a t e s
22 J’s Mini Mart
22 Bread for the World Bake Sale & Letters
A p r i l
B o a r d M e e t i n g s
22 Deacons Meeting
29 Stewardship & Mission Meeting
Every year, Bread for the World invites churches across the country to take up an offering – not just of money, but also of letters to Con-gress on an issue important to hungry people. Because of pro-gress against hunger and poverty in recent decades we know it is possible to further reduce and perhaps virtually end hunger. The 2017 Offering of Letters was victorious in securing $1 billion in supplemental aid for near-famines in Soma-lia, Yemen, South Sudan, and northeastern Nige-ria. These additional funds provided relief in time of extreme need and crises. Congress did pass a 2017 budget that funded domestic anti-hunger programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) and job-training and anti-poverty programs. Finally, because of your advocacy, Congress was not successful in their effort to drastically cut Medicaid for millions of low-income Americans during the health care debate. Your letters make a difference! You can help end hunger by: 1. Writing a letter to
our Congressional members to renew federal programs for major child nutrition program.
2. Baking or creating home items for sale at our church’s Bread for the World Bake Sale.
3. Buying delicious food and homemade items on April 30th.
Letter writing materials will be available in the back of the Sanctuary on
Bread for the World For Such a Time as This
April 22, 2018
April 30th (bring your own address labels to save time). The Bake Sale (under Bev Dodo’s direction) will be on the lanai area follow-ing worship service. All proceeds will be sent to Bread for the World. Brought to you by the Board of Stewardship and Mission
A Little Note
Pastor Eric will be off island beginning Monday, April 23, and returning on Monday, May 7.
The Rev. Linda Petrucelli will preach and lead worship on April 29 and May 6. For pastoral emergencies during his absence, please call the Rev. Rae Lelili'o at (808) 785-6978.
P a g e 2
In the last Messenger, I wrote that with Easter Sunday past, this is no ordinary time. We do not go “back to normal.” The implication, of course, was that this is a time to be as active and busy as possible.
This time, I’d like to if not contradict myself, then at least clarify myself.
Mostly, I’d like to teach myself.
Five years ago, I attended a retreat for clergy fea-turing the Rev. Dr. Kirk Byron Jones, a long-time pastor and author of books on living the Chris-tian faith. He is best known for his advice to slow down, appreciate the gifts of God, and give thanks.
At this event, Dr. Jones, a Bible open before him, said, “Of course we all know that great Scrip-ture, ‘Be busy, and know that I am God!’” As the room full of pastors ex-ploded in laughter, he continued:
“Oh, I’m sorry. Psalm 46:10. But if I say it like that in some churches, I get an ‘Amen!’”
We laughed even harder. And, mostly, settled into slowing down (at least a
little) for the retreat.
Most of us. I did not. I was filming, recording, and photographing the event (which is how I can quote Dr. Jones to-day). I think I may have even facilitated some fun and games on the challenge course. I did not stay still.
My advice to you today is to ignore my example. Follow Dr. Jones’ advice, and the guidance of Psalm 46:
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
This is, I freely confess, a “Do as I say, and not as I do” moment from your pastor. Take your lead from the Psalmist, and not from what you see in me. Take time. Make time. Be still. Be blessed.
And perhaps, just perhaps, I’ll have the opportunity to learn how to do it from you.
Be still.
Be blessed.
With aloha,
Pastor Eric
Contact Pastor Eric
Office phone: 808-935-1283 Parsonage/cell phone: 808-464-4884
Email: [email protected] Instagram: esanderson_ucc Twitter: @esanderson
Facebook: facebook.com/rev.eric.anderson facebook.com/holycrosshilo
Bible Study With
Pastor Eric
We gather for:
Deep questions
Surprising wisdom
Unforgettable stories
Seeds of thought
Refreshment for the
spirit
Bible Study:
Genesis
Sundays 8:30 a.m.
J’s Cafe
Follow the Lectionary
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. or
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. in
The Pastor’s Study:
April 22
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
April 29 Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31 1 John 4:7-21 John 15:1-8
The Pastor’s Corner Rev. Eric S. Anderson
P a g e 3
Please join us on Monday, April 23rd, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, for a session on haku lei making. We will learn how to make liko lehua wrist bracelets to wear on May Day! If you have liko lehua in your yard, please bring them with you to share. We will try to pick some for those of us who don’t have a source. We will have the raffia available for your use, as well. If you have greens, etc., which you feel can be used to add to the lei, please bring them too along with a pair of scis-sors to use to cut your supplies. You need not be a regular attendee of
the Gathering Place meetings as anyone interested is welcome to join us in the Build-ing of Faith. If you have any questions, talk with Kay Kawachika; she will be on site to answer any questions you may have. Monday, April 30th, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, we will also have a pot-luck luncheon. Bring a dish to share with the group. We will also do our regular handwork, games and socializing and make plans for May. We have also restarted playing Pickle Ball for those who want a little
more physical activity and if the weather is nice, we try to get in a walk. We are trying to be healthy and active! Questions – see Anne Sadayasu. Generally, the first Mon-day of the month is our ukulele playing and singing activity, and we watch a movie on the second Monday of the month. If you don’t want to play the ukulele and sing, bring your handwork and socialize with the group. Let’s have a great time!
News from The Gathering Place
IYAA Fundraiser
Our IYAA members will be having a car wash on Saturday, April 28th from 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the upper parking lot of Church of the Holy Cross. Please assist our group as we fundraise to attend our retreat at Camp Mekokiko from June 7th through June 10th. Car wash by donations; we will wash your cars with a smile! Check us out!
P a g e 4
Sr. Ministry News
Senior Ministry will meet on Thursday, April 26th at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary for a special delight. We will be treated to a magical May Day Program performed by the tal-ented students of `E Maka`ala School.
Next, we will enjoy a wonderful lunch at 11 a.m. in the Building of Faith and invite every-one to join us for the May Day program and lunch.
Please accept this personal invitation to an experience of joy, smiles, cuteness and lunch!
Dear Friends, Please pardon me for using our church Messenger to reach out to you as my arm is beginning to bother me and I can barely lift my arm to write a thank-you card, but I would like to say “THANK YOU” for your kind prayers that are uplifting me. Also, thank you for coming to visit me and boosting my morale. The beautiful flowers brighten up my house and cheer me up… your baskets of fruits and goodies help me with my nausea. I am really thankful. Thank you for having me as a member of the church for many, many years. I have enjoyed especially being part of the choir many years ago, and then re-joining in my senior years, of which I have enjoyed eve-ry minute of it. I really appreciate your prayers and kindness. I also fondly remember going on visitations, and helping with the Blood Bank Canteen. Mahalo again and may God’s love and peace be with you.
Sincerely,
Millie Uchima
P.S. Mahalo to Pastor Eric for coming to pray and sing with me.
P a g e 5
01 Higashi, Mae
05 Tanouye, Lillian
09 Johnson, Tanya
16 Lum-Bellem, Carolyn
16 Ikeda, Marie
24 Yamauchi, Joe
26 Enomoto, Yasuo
27 Matayoshi, Mary
27 Ushijima, Joy
27 Yamane, Miyeko
M a y
01 Nakamoto, Joyce
05 Kawachika, Kay
06 Nakamoto, Henry
16 Yanagihara, Sachiko
16 Olcott, Rev. Tom
17 Chen, Nancy
17 Lum, Nick
18 Chu, Roberta
19 Kita, Jean
20 Shiroma, Toshiko
20 Tanouye, Jonathan
21 Niimi, Mildred
21 Thoma, JP
25 Wung, Gail
25 Robert, Suboru
27 Kusinski, Leigh
A p r i l
APRIL
VOLUNTEERS
U S H E R S
Moira Tanaka,
Newton & Roberta Chu
Sunday, April 22 Lay Reader
Ruth Niino-DuPonte
Chapel Decoration
Millie Daikawa
Sunday, April 29 Lay Reader
Mary Ann Katayama
Chapel Decoration
Malia Mattos
Sunday, May 6 Lay Reader
Stuart Mori
Chapel Decoration
Anita Mathews
Sunday, May 13 Lay Reader
Millie Daikawa
Chapel Decoration
Laura Ota
The Messenger The Messenger is a bimonthly newsletter distributed by the Church of the
Holy Cross in Hilo. If you have an article you would like to submit, please send it via email in Word format to [email protected] or via postal
service by April 27, 2018.
Thanks to all who helped create Easter fun for our keiki!
Sunday Worship Service begins at 10:00 am
Pastor: Rev. Eric S. Anderson
Weekly at the Church of the Holy Cross
Bible Study: Sundays, 8:30 am, Wednesdays, 9:30 am and 6:30 pm
A Gathering Place: Mondays 9:00 am, Building of Faith.
IYAA Bible Study: Wednesdays, 7:30 pm in the Lounge.
Ballroom Dance: Wednesdays , 6:30 pm, Building of Faith.
Ron Fujiyoshi, Ohana Ho’opakele: Thursdays at 9:00 am in the Lounge.
Qigong : Fridays, 9:00 to 10:30 am, Building of Faith.
Other Congregations Worshiping Here
The United Church of Christ, Pohnpei – Rev. Bensis Henry: 10 am to 1pm in
the Building of Faith Meeting Room.
Bedesta Church - Pastor Edmes Edwin: 1:30 to 3:30 pm, Building of Faith,
Meeting Room
Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa, Hilo [CCCAS] -
Rev. Ausage and Rev. Rae Lelili`o: 12 to 1 pm in Sanctuary.
Islamic Center of Hawaii: Fridays, 1 to 3 pm, Building of Faith Meeting Room.
Church of the Holy Cross—UCC 440 West Lanikaula Street
Hilo, HI 96720
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS
440 West Lanikaula Street
Hilo, HI 96720
Office Hours
Mon–Thurs 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Friday 8:30 am-12:00 pm
Ph. 808-935-1283
www.holycrosshilo.com