Visiting LCH

The church is located in Makiki, on the corner of Dominis and Punahou, across from Punahou School. Here is several choices for information about getting to the church:

Parking

There is limited parking for newcomers in the lot behind the church at the corner of Dominis and Poki.

If the lot behind the church is full, please turn mauka (toward the mountains) on Poki Street and park in the church lot there. It is located just beyond the apartment building on the corner.

LCH extends a warm welcome to those who are not Christian or who are not familiar with “Christian language.” To help our visitors understand unfamiliar words and phrases, we are adding explanations and definitions for those words to this and other pages.

If you see a word or phrase in green type with a dotted green underline, point your cursor to that word. The cursor will change to a ?, and the definition or explanation will appear in a small box near the word or phrase.

If you see a word or phrase with dashed green underline, it is a link to more detailed information on SpiritHome.Com, Wikipedia, or another website. Just click on the link to go to that site. You can also explore the subject index on <www.spirithome.com> to find out more about a wide variety of words, phrases, and concepts on this website.

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Getting around the LCH Campus

Punahou Entrance—The church building is set back a little from Punahou Street and among some mature trees. The steps and walkway to the left of the picture will take you into the courtyard. If steps are a problem, the other entrances are fully accessible.

Parking Lot Entrance—If you park in the small lot behind the church, you can enter the courtyard directly from the parking lot. The entrance is to the right of the red church sign, and there is a designated handicap parking spot in front of the sign and just to the left of the entrance. The white car in the picture is in one of three spots to the left of the entrance that are reserved for visitors on Sunday mornings.

The back of the church building showing the Dominis Street entrance

Dominis Entrance—If you park in the Poki Lot, just walk back to the corner of Poki and Dominis and cross the street. You can enter the campus through the gateway to the left of the red church sign. The walkway will take you past the church office and the restrooms, and to your left you’ll find a ramp down into the courtyard.

Hörmann Courtyard—The courtyard is our main social space. Our “regulars” will probably greet you and help you get settled in, and we have some official greeters as well. Between the two morning services and after the second service, feel free to get some coffee or other refreshments from the table and join in the conversation. Worship services take place in the Nave, through the open doors in the picture to the left.

What to Expect in Worship

Times and types of worship—During most of the year, we have two morning worship services and one evening worship service every Sunday. We celebrate Holy Communion at both morning services. Each service has its own distinctive character, and you can find out more by following the links below to our Worship page.

During the summer months (early June through mid or late August) we have one Sunday morning worship service at 9:15 AM. Summer worship styles alternate between the two morning styles.

As you enter Hörmann Courtyard, you will be welcomed by the “regulars,” but you will also usually see a greeter (with a special name tag). The greeter will give you a hand-made yarn or ribbon lei to welcome you and can answer any questions you have.

Inside the Nave an usher will hand you a bulletin (and perhaps a liturgy booklet) and help you find a seat. The bulletin lists the hymns, lessons, prayers, and special music that change from week to week. There are a couple of hymnals in the pews, and the pastor will identify the book we will use that day at the beginning of worship. We either follow one of the liturgies in the cranberry-colored Evangelical Lutheran Worship or a separate liturgy booklet for that Sunday or season. If you’re not familiar with Lutheran worship, the form is similar to that used in Catholic or Episcopal churches. But don’t worry if it’s all new to you; one of the people sitting near you will be happy to help you follow along.

We like to welcome our guests, so the pastor may ask if there are any visitors. Feel free to give your name and tell us where you are from, but if you’re shy, it’s OK to wait until you feel more comfortable. There are visitor cards in the pews and a guest book outside for you to sign if you’d like.

About the middle of the service, we receive our offering. You don’t have to put anything in the offering plate, though you are certainly welcome to if you would like. Our members and regular attenders freely give to support our ministries.

Children in worship—Nursery care is provided all morning, but LCH is also family friendly, so many parents bring both their older and younger children to worship. We know that God loves each of us the way we are, so we don’t mind a little crying or laughing from our young folks. There is a children’s conversation before the sermon, and some children go out to child care when the children’s conversation is over. Others stay through the whole service. One of the ushers will be happy to help you get to nursery care if you want.

What to Expect from People

People at LCH are very welcoming. Don’t be surprised if you are invited into their conversations.

Some people identify coffee hour as a sacred time for Lutherans, so don’t be surprised if there is a crowd around the coffee pot. Please feel free to get a cup or to have some of the other refreshments between morning services or after the second service.

A good way to meet people is by participating in Christian education at 9:10 AM. Visitors—both young and old—are welcome in Sunday School or the adult forum. Information about the Sunday School curriculum is available in the Children and Youth section. The adult forum covers a wide range of topics from our Lutheran heritage to social and political issues to studies of other religions. Adult forum topics are usually posted in the Adult Education and Small Groups section.

What if You can’t Visit Right Now...

Until then, please consider joining us for a special worship service—whether at Christmas, Easter, or another time of the year—or for a concert. These events are listed in advance on our online calendar and on the Home page a week or two in advance.

Also, please feel free to explore the website and find out more about us. The categories at the top of each web page will help you find your way around, or you can use our own Google search page to search the site.

If you have a spiritual question or concern, you are welcome to call the church at 941-2566 and ask to speak to the pastor, or you can email Pastor Jeff Lilley.

Information for Visitors to LCH

Getting to LCH

Parking

Getting around the LCH Campus

What to Expect in Worship

What to Expect from People

What if You can’t Visit Right Now...