The HeartBeat

A Message from Pastor Jeff

Just for the Joy of It

About the time you are reading this, our congregation will be getting ready for annual “LutherFest” (based loosely on the annual fall Oktoberfest celebration held in Munich, Germany). The Munich celebration is touted as “the world’s biggest street fair,” hosting over five million attendees over a seventeen-day period. While in Germany a couple of Julys ago, I visited the Oktoberfest grounds outside Munich. The morning was cool and wet, and the gigantic field was empty except for a few fit young people playing frisbee. I tried to imagine it filled with beer tents and polka music, but it just seemed empty.

Later, I asked Jean’s German cousin about Oktoberfest. After waxing eloquently about the beer and sausage, he noted that the real fun of the event was the people who came from every walk of life. People young and old, fat and thin, of every race and nationality converge on this place once a year to forget their troubles and enjoy life in food, drink, music and fellowship. Wild costumes, ordinary street dress, and traditional German lederhosen mix in a press of humanity gathered for no other purpose than sheer fun. It is an event “for the joy of it.”

Sometimes, we in the church world forget to have fun and enjoy the very life that God gave us. Being good Protestants, we want all things to have purpose and meaning and move us toward a predetermined goal. Every potluck becomes a fundraiser, every meeting a matter of life and death, and every person a potential committee member or “table-setter-upper.” We sometimes forget to appreciate each other and love each other for who we are rather than what we can do. When the Pharisees chastised Jesus and the disciples for picking grain as he walked through the field on the Sabbath, he asked them, “Is man made for the Sabbath, or is the Sabbath made for man?” Jesus made it clear that life is a gift and that the hunger of a person trumps the finer points of the law. In the same way, God’s ministry among us is not about committees, tasks, strategic plans, or lists of accomplishments. It is not about budgets, recruiting, building projects, or taskforces. God’s ministry is about people. Without people in the picture our ministry is a big, damp, open field waiting for a celebration; it is the Oktoberfest grounds in July.

But Jesus takes us a step further. Ministry is not just about people, it is also about love. God calls God’s people to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Therein lies the heart of our ministry—to live out love for God and each other with every breath; to live love in stewardship with all of God’s creation in care for earth, flora and fauna; and to seek wholeness and healing for the brokenness of others and our broken selves. Our ministry connects people with love in new and exciting ways so that the celebration of life can come to full fruit.

Sometimes we become so focused on the tasks of ministry that we lose sight of our real purpose—to love each other and the world. So do something concrete. Take a moment to share with someone why you feel loved by them or how you feel God’s love through them. Set aside time to truly enjoy another person free from expectations or agenda. Make room for the love God has given you and then give it away—“just for the joy of it.”

Aloha,
Pastor Jeff Lilley
pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org

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October Council Highlights

Council met Tuesday, October 18. Here are some of the highlights of the meeting:

• Hörmann Courtyard taskforce to be created upon Pastor Jeff’s return from conference.
• Call Committee meeting with Bishop went well. Several candidate names were presented. Call Committee to meet again October 24.
• Parking Lot Taskforce update: initial blacktop bid has been received from Diamond Parking for $27,500, pending additional meeting to clarify scope of work included in bid.
• Giving for month of September low, but expenses have remained low. As of September 30, income is still about $2,000 ahead of year-to-date expenses.
• Since the PV installation, system has avoided 45,024.50 of CO₂, with a total yield of 64,320.72 kWh.
• Plan for 2012 Budget: baseline increase of 3%, with special cases for certain committee and budget line needs. Worship & Music committee still discussing budget needs.
• Approval of insect/pest control quarterly maintenance from Environ.
• Administrator’s Report: in process of hiring new groundskeeper. Ten Punahou parking stalls remain un-rented for fall.
• Mission Campaign update: team is doing fantastic work. Will need to work on recruiting additional team members.

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In Stitches

In Stitches, the LCH craft group, meets on the second and fourth Saturday of each month in the Rainbow Room from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. This month we will be meeting November 12 and 26.

Learn ribbon lei making or pillow needlepoint, or bring your own craft and join the fellowship.

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Food for Thought

Food for Thought is planning to meet next on Saturday, November 12, at 6:30 PM at the home of Irmgard Hörmann, for potluck supper and discussion.

All are welcome. For information, please contact Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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Adult Forum—Where Does Our Bible Come From?

As we approach the holiday season, Adult Forum will seek answers to the question “Where did our Bible come from?” Please feel free to attend this learning (and sometimes humorous) discussion.

Also, beginning January 8, Dr. Steve Miller will begin an informative study, “Living The Good Life—Levels of Morality in Children and Adults.”

Please join us each Sunday at 9:20 AM in the Boardroom, and bring your coffee and refreshments.

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Writers’ Workshop

Writers’ Workshop will hold its last meeting of 2011 on November 28 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Boardroom at LCH.

All are welcome. For information, please contact Kathryn Klingebiel through the Church Office (941-2566).

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Interfaith Service

Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE)
Monday, November 7 • 6:30–8:00 PM

On November 7, we have invited clergy and leaders of many faith congregations to take part in this interfaith service being held at the St. Augustine by the Sea Catholic Church. This service is being held to give voice to our hope that members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will work for justice and equity for all people of the Asia-Pacific region.

Parking may be at a premium so shuttle service is now being considered. Contact FACE-O‘ahu Office at 522-1304 for more information.

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Sacred Fudge—Process Forum

Try this recipe for Sacred Fudge—at least try reading it. If you simply google “sacred fudge” you should end up on a page of the website “Jesus, Jazz and Buddhism”—an excellent website!

When you get the website, click on “Table of Contents,” then on “Reflecting on Big Questions,” and finally on #3, “What Do Process Thinkers Believe? Twenty Key Ideas.” In the next column the “Sacred Fudge” article will be under “Food Culture”, item # 7.

We will discuss both articles and a poem at the next Process Forum, Saturday, November 12, from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the LCH Boardroom. A repeat session will be held on Sunday, November 13 at 12:00 noon.

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We all are one in mission, we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all.

By now everyone should have your information packet for our 2012 Stewardship Campaign. We are excited about our theme “We All Are One in Mission” focuses our attention on upholding our traditions and growing our ministry at LCH.

If you did not get your letters and pledge card, please pick up a packet at church on Sundays or contact Sarah in the church office.

When it comes down to it, Stewardship is about a couple of big questions: What are you passionate about at LCH? How will you share your gifts?

Do you enjoy our wonderful music? Are you able to take part as we feed the hungry? Can you help out with some of the “behind the scenes” jobs it takes to make our worship services happen? Would you visit our kupuna (elders) or those that cannot otherwise attend church? Will you welcome our visitors to worship? Will you make a financial commitment to further our ministries and improve our campus?

We encourage you to contemplate your passion for mission and ministry at LCH and pray about the ways to pledge your support for 2012 and beyond.

There will be a drop box in the Nave where you may submit your pledges beginning on October 30, Reformation Sunday. Our website will also have helpful information regarding our regular stewardship drive and our mssion campaign. We will dedicate our pledges to God on Sunday, November 13, during both morning worship services.

If you have any questions about pledging, please contact any of the Stewardship Team members.

Mahalo for your prayers and pledges to continue proclaiming God’s love to the world!

Your Stewardship Team,
Pam Buckley, Karen Fay, Bill Potter, and April Smith

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Dear LCH Ohana...

Thank you so much for your on-going encouragement and support throughout my year of Clinical Pastoral Education Residency and now as I begin a new journey as Chaplain of Hawai‘i State Hospital. The installation was a great celebration and LCH was very well represented. Thanks to all for your presence whether in person or in spirit. Thank you too, for the beautiful lei. I ask for your on-going prayers as I begin this new adventure, one on which I would never have imagined myself embarking.

Mahalo nui loa,
Phyllis/Fifi Hormann

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Give Aloha Mahalo!

Thank you again for participating in Foodland’s Give Aloha program. This year, customer donations to all participating organizations statewide totaled $1,538,496.56. With Western Union’s matching gift of $50,000 and Foodland’s matching gift of $250,000, together we raised a grand total of $1,838,496.56 for the community.

Our customer donations for Lutheran Church of Honolulu totaled $4,807. Combined with the matching Western Union and Foodland donations, we raised $5,773.64 for LCH! Mahalo for all your participation and support!

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Fun, Food, Football

November 19, 2011 ¥ Aloha Stadium Parking Lot

Come watch the UH vs. Fresno State football game with OYEA. Tailgate begins at 3:00 PM at the Aloha Stadium parking lot. Game starts at 6:00 PM.

Befriend us on OYEA Facebook for our special group rate offer of $20 per ticket!

RSVP to Pastor Dave 623-9229 or <office@clcmililani.org>. To locate the party once in the parking lot, call Pastor Dave at 294-1887. See ya there!

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What’s New on the LCH Website?

Bill Potter, Webmaster

The month of October saw additions of several articles to the Congregation Life page. New stories included The Mozart Konzert, the reception of new members, Phyllis Hörmann’s installation as chaplain at the Hawai‘i State Hospital, and our annual celebration of Children’s Sabbath. Additional photos are posted on the LCH Facebook page for the Mozart Konzert and Children’s Sabbath. Also, since October was the beginning of a new quarter, stories from July, August, and September were moved to their own page in the Congregational Life archive.

A new section was created for the 2012 Stewardship Campaign with copies of stewardship materials, texts from several Temple Talks, and calculators to help you figure out your pledge. If you have misplaced your pledge card (PDF) or need a copy of the Simply Giving form (PDF), just look for the link to the 2012 Stewardship Campaign link on the Congregational Life page.

Also during October, we added several new pages to the Music section where our new director of music and liturgy, Dr. Miguel Felipe can share a variety of resources with members of our three choirs. I am pleased that Miguel has created these pages and maintains them himself. Ordinarily, I would provide a URL so that others in the congregation can take a look, but these pages contain are password protected so that they are only available to choir members.

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*Includes $5,773.64 received in donations and matching funds through Foodland’s Give Aloha Campaign.

Attendance and Offerings for Sunday, October 30, 2011, were not available at time of publication.

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Prayer Requests

Barbie	Judy	Ruth
Carl	Karen	Sally
Cindy	Kristin	Stephen
Debbie	Maggie	Susan
Gene	Pat	Ulrike

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November Birthdays

Date	Name
11/01	Beverly Kaeo
11/01	Amy Purtzer
11/06	Pam Buckley
11/06	Stephen Schmidt
11/08	Jonathan K.
11/10	Nathanael W.
11/11	Paul Fujii
11/12	Niell G.
11/12	Edward Ichikawa
11/13	Pamela Hethcote
11/14	Mary Fastenau
11/17	Joshua Graber
11/17	Scott Schweigert
11/18	Stephen Crosier
11/21	Justin K.
11/22	Brysen K.
11/22	Kainani Iara N.
11/23	Rev. Fritz Fritschel
11/30	Brandon Yeh

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HeartBeat Deadline

Next HeartBeat Deadline is Tuesday, November 15!

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