Congregational Life at LCH—October, November, and December 2007

Lessons & Carols, Potluck Bring 2007 to a Close

The Sunday after Christmas is often called “Low Sunday,” but it was nothing of the sort this year at LCH. The LCH Choir presented a joyous service of “lessons & carols” during the one worship service at 9:15. Then everyone gathered in the Hörmann Courtyard for a bountiful potluck (right).

A Joyous Christmas Celebration

The rainy weather was not able to dampen the joyous Christmas celebration this year at LCH. Members came early on December 24 to decorate the Nave and courtyard for services Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

At left, Pastor Jeff Lilley brought the children at the Family Candlelight Worship up to the crèche to talk about the excitement of Christmas.

Follow this link for more pictures from our Christmas celebration.

Baby Steil Baptized

We welcomed another child into the family of God through the sacrament of baptism on Sunday, December 23. John and Marybeth Steil brought their daughter (who was born in July) to be baptized, and Laura Steil was her sponsor. At right, Pastor Lilley baptizes baby Steil.

Preschool Christmas Pageant

Our Redeemer Preschool welcomed parents and friends for their annual Christmas pageant on Wednesday December 19, in the Nave at LCH. “Happy Birthday Jesus” cast the preschool children as angels, shepherds, kings, and sheep telling the story of Jesus’ birthday. Parents and grandparents were appropriately proud!

At left, Mary and Joseph with the Baby Jesus.

Read more about the preschool’s Christmas pageant in the December 19 issues of “LCH E-News.”

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Dinner and Trolley Ride

Also on December 16, a group of 19 LCH adults and children enjoyed a wonderful evening of fellowship and food. Meeting at Kincaid’s restaurant at Ward Center in the late afternoon for an “early bird” three course dinner. Entre choices included spare ribs, chicken dijon, Kobe meat loaf, and pork loin; and everyone enjoyed ice cream sundaes for dessert.

Following dinner, the group boarded a trolley for a tour of the holiday light displays in downtown Honolulu.

At right, Paul Fujii, Brian Weis, Peggy Anderson, and Jeanette Hansen in friendly conversation as they wait for their dinners.

Joint Confirmation Event at LCH

Youth from Hukilau congregations gathered at LCH on Sunday, December 16, for the monthly joint confirmation event and Christmas party. Delicious food from Chef Steven Schmidt and a variety of games made for an afternoon of fun and fellowship.

At left, youth prepare for a round of “electricity” in the Nave.

Follow this link for more pictures from this event.

Moving Advent Procession Surrounded by AIDS Quilts

LCH always celebrates the first Sunday of Advent with an evening Advent Procession, but this year’s calendar in which Advent Sunday (December 2) followed right after the commemoration of World AIDS Day (December 1) lead to an especially meaningful service. The walls of the Nave had been hung with panels of the AIDS Quilt for World AIDS Day, and the quilts remained up through the day on Sunday.

In the picture at the right, the LCH Choir assembled around the altar to sing their last carol, “All in the Morning” prior to the exit procession to “Veni, veni Emmanuel.” The acolytes held back to the panel hung over the altar to make room for the choir. In the lower left corner of the panel, you can see the quilt made by LCHers for former member Walter Williams.

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Jesse Tree, Jesse Tree, Sign of God’s Fidelity....

This familiar refrain returned again as the children of LCH present the Jesse Tree liturgy to focus our attention on God’s promises during the Advent season. The children have spent several weeks preparing their songs and stories of our ancestors in faith “who waited for the coming of Emmanuel.” At left, they all join together singing the chorus.

The Jesse Tree liturgy continues between morning worship services (9:15 AM) on December 9, 16, and 23.

Find out more about the Jesse Tree and see pictures from previous years’ devotions on this page.

World AIDS Day at LCH

LCH and NAMES Project Foundation, Hawaii Islands Chapter, joined forces to host a display of panels of the AIDS Quilt in observance of World AIDS Day, Saturday, December 1. Quits covered the walls of the Nave, while members of In Stitches made red ribbon lei and worked on our own quilt panel in Isenberg and the Hörmann Courtyard. The day began with a Hawaiian chant and was punctuated by a number of musical performances. At right, Georgine Stark sings “Ave Maria.”

A crew from KHNL visited during the day, and the story was broadcast that evening. View the video on their website.

Thanksgiving Eve Worship and Pie Potluck

LCH hosted our good neighbors from St. Clement’s Episcopal Church for Thanksgiving Eve worship. The liturgy was organized by LCH using Holden Evening Prayer, and the Rev. Liz Zivanov, rector of St. Clement’s, was the preacher. The special offering that evening went to support St. Clement’s food pantry.

Following worship, everyone enjoyed a bountiful pie potluck. With all the delicious pies shown in the picture to the left, you’ll definitely want to make plans to attend next year.

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Volunteers Pitch in to Renovate Board Room, Sacristy, and Counting Room

Looking at the photo to the right, one might be tempted to ask, “How many Lutherans does it take to move a filing cabinet?” but what it really shows is how many LCHers will stay after church to begin the renovations of the Board Room, Sacristy, and Counting Room.

Follow this link for more pictures and information about the renovations.

Fun, Food, Fellowship, and Frivolity at Lutherfest

This year’s Lutherfest was a great success with lots of good food and drink, a silent auction, a visit from “Martin Luther,” and more. In the picture to the left, we see “Martin” getting help from his therapist and assistant. The silent auction raised over $1,800 towards paving the back parking lot.

Follow this link for more pictures from Lutherfest.

LCH to Host AIDS Quilt for World AIDS Day 2007

Again this year, LCH will be displaying sections of the AIDS Quilt in observance of World AIDS Day, December 1, 2007. LCH members Ray Herradura and Peggy Anderson are busy planning for Honolulu’s observance, which will take place in the LCH Nave and Courtyard. In addition to the quilt display, Peggy and Ray have already scheduled a Hawaiian chant and blessing, devotions led by Pastor Jeff, quilt and ribbon making with In Stitches, and a number of musical performances. There will also be a candle lighting vigil at sunset, followed by the reading of names of those who have died from AIDS. Follow this link for a schedule of the day’s activities and more information.

The picture at the right shows portions of the AIDS quilt from a previous display at LCH.

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Pastor Jeff Attends Big Island Liturgical Conference

Pastor Jeff Lilley and several pastors and lay leaders of Hukilau Conference congregations recently attended the 4th annual Big Island Liturgical Conference on the Island of Hawai‘i, November 1–3 . The keynote speaker was Mr. Tupua Tamasese, king of Samoa, and artists in residence included David Haas and Marty Haugen, noted composers of sacred music.

The photo at left shows a hula performance by Joe Camacho at the edge of Kilauea Crater. Another photo with the recent Enews shows conference participants with the King of Samoa. See if you recognize others in the photo.

Operation Backpack Helps O‘ahu Needy

Several LCH youth helped to ensure the success of the recent ingathering for Operation Backpack. Operation Backpack—a joint project of the Hukilau Conference of the ELCA and Episcopal churches on O‘ahu— collects towels, food, personal care items, detergent, and other items to benefit those in need on this island. The items are distributed through the Angel Network, The Weinberg Center, and other organizations in need.

The items collected at LCH were transported to Calvary by the Sea, where they were combined with donations from other congregations, and our youth and youth from other churches helped to sort and prepare the bounty for distribution. Can you spot the LCH youth (adults!) hard at work in the picture to the right? Another picture of some of our hard-working youth was also sent with the recent Enews.

Recent efforts on behalf of Operation Backpack by Lutheran and Episcopal congregations did not go unnoticed. The October 29 edition of the Star-Bulletin described the origins of Operation Backpack and told how members from 12 different congregation prepared their donations for distribution. The article even featured a quote from our own Peggy Anderson. Follow this link to read the entire article.

Congratulations to Crescent on her Confirmation

A highlight of Reformation Sunday this year was the confirmation of Crescent C. (shown here with her mother and sister) at the 8:00 AM service. In preparation for this important day, she completed her studies last spring and spent the fall semester working on a Credo paper. The paper was an opportunity for her to express how her faith has developed and matured, as well as how she hopes to live out that faith in the future.

Following worship, everyone shared in cake to celebrate this milestone in Crescent’s life.

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Harpsichords and Violins Galore

This week’s Abendmusiken Concert offers a feast of Baroque concertos with harpsichords and violins galore. The program includes J.S. Bach’s concertos for one, two, three, and four harpsichords and for three violins, as well as Vivaldi’s concerto for four violins. (Follow these links for details of the program and performers and a PDF of the concert poster.)

In this picture, the Bach Chamber Orchestra rehearses Bach’s concerto for three harpsichords with Evelyn Zuckerman on the Cammack Harpsichord (center with her back to the camera), Grant Mack on the Phillip Tyre Harpsichord (to the right of Ms. Zuckerman), and Carl Crosier on the Mark Russell Harpsichord (on the far right, facing the camera).

Of course, the concert would not be possible without four outstanding instruments:

• The Cammack Harpsichord (c. 1985) was built from a Hubbard kit by the late Floyd Cammack, a long-time local builder of keyboard instruments. It is modeled after an eighteenth century French double. The Lutheran Church of Honolulu acquired this instrument from Mr. Cammack’s estate in 2002.
• The Mark Russell Harpsichord (1999) was constructed by Mark Russell from a Zuckermann kit obtained from Marc Ducornet at The Paris Workshop in Montreuil, France. The transposable Flemish-style harpsichord features double keyboards. Thanks to Mr. Russell for allowing us to use this instrument.
• The Philip Tyre Harpsichord (1997) was built for Kamehameha Schools by Philip Tyre of Clearwater, Florida. It is modeled after an eighteenth century German double. We wish to thank Robert Hamilton and Kamehameha Schools for the use of the instrument.
• The Robert Goble & Sons Harpsichord (1974) was built in Oxford, England, and is modeled after a Flemish single with three choirs. Evelyn Lance has generously made it available for this occasion.

Read a story about the upcoming concert in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Read Karl Bachman’s review of the concert for “The Pipeline,” the newsletter of the Honolulu chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Why They Serve (Dinner)

You might think they do it to feel good or to help their fellow human beings.But that’s not what brings many of the dedicated crew back month after month to serve dinner at IHS. It’s all about the meatloaf. They keeping coming so they can get some of it for dinner.

At right, members of the LCH crew didn’t even bother to take off their hair nets and aprons before sitting down to enjoy their meatloaf in the “dining room” at the Institute for Human Services.

LCH serves dinner at IHS the third Friday of each month. Volunteers are welcomed to help with cooking at 1:00 PM or serving at 5:30 PM and to stay for the meatloaf.

Music and Stories for Children’s Sabbath

Our yearly celebration of Children’s Sabbath was especially festive this year as we welcomed an accomplished storyteller and enjoyed music provided by the talented children of the congregation.

Storyteller Thelma Ruffin Thomas (left) from New York captivated the congregation with a sermon of story and song. LCH children offered music at the 10:30 service—beginning with music before worship and ending with the closing organ voluntary. Three of the young performers are shown below.

Follow this link for additional pictures of the young musicians, information about Thelma Ruffin Thomas (along with a link to her website), and a link to the the audio of her sermon.

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