Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou St., Honolulu, HI 96822; ELCA; 808-941-2566

LCH E-News—An occasional electronic newsletter for the LCH congregation

LCH E-News—January 10, 2008

From Pastor Jeff

Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!

A new year is always a mixed bag for me. In some ways, I look forward to January first with hope and anticipation. Fireworks and light displays, shouting and parties usher in the New Year as if to shed the dreariness and weight of the previous twelve months. A sliver of hope that the New Year will bring new opportunities lessens the sorrow of lost love and unrealized dreams. Or if we have had a good year, we look back with joy and wonder if the next year could possible match the richness of the previous year. As we put a check mark on the last day of 2007, we unwrap a fresh new calendar and stick on the wall. Whatever pretty picture resides above January 2008, there remain 31 empty boxes staring us in the face waiting to be filled with our lives.

So how will we fill the boxes? Will this year be like the last? What new and wonderful things will God bring us? How will the beauty of things we hold dear endure for another year in the face of a changing world? What does God have in store for our congregation and for our ministry in this wonderful place?

The prophet Isaiah reports Gods words of hope. “Behold, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43) We may not have all the answers about what the New Year will bring, but we can answer with certainty that God will be right in the middle of it with us. In that promise we have hope in the face of every adversity, and humility in the face of every success. God calls us to God’s “new thing”—a life in Jesus Christ.

May you be blessed by God’s presence in the world, and may you be a blessing for the world in this new and exciting year.

Pastor Jeff

New Member Class Begins this Sunday

Join Pastor Jeff for a New Member Inquiry Class Sunday afternoons, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, January 13th, 20th, and 27th. We will explore fundamentals of Lutheranism, liturgy, and faith. In addition, we will have chance to meet the leaders and committee chairs of the congregation.

Installation of Adam Burke

Adam Burke, our new OYEA Coordinator, will be installed at a ceremony conducted by Oahu youth on January 27th at 5:00 PM at Joy of Christ Lutheran Church in Pearl City. There will be a pupu potluck immediately following the service. Please support Adam’s ministry with Lutheran Youth on Oahu by attending his installation. A car pool will leave from Lutheran Church of Honolulu church at 4:00 pm.

Mahalo!

Many thanks to everyone who made Christmas and New Year such a wonderful worship experience. Members and friends spent many hours decorating, rehearsing, coordinating, and fussing with details. The result was fantastic worship and a powerful visual unfolding of the Christmas story. I want to add my personal thanks to Carl Crosier whose tireless work around this time of year makes the experience so unique. Many thanks to Kathy Crosier, the choirs, and our youth performers!

Lenten Book Study

What, Lent already? Since Easter is the second earliest it can possibly be this year, Lent will be upon us quicker than a seal on mackerel. Our midweek worship schedule will once again include a book study. Pastor Jeff will lead the study on Elie Wiesel’s Night. It is an autobiographical account of his years as child in Nazi Germany that is a powerful portrait of the human capacity for sin. This should be a great study and everyone is invited to attend. We have pre-ordered 10 copies of the book for purchase at $10 each.

Annual Meeting

Don’t forget to attend the second half of the annual meeting scheduled for January 27th, 9:15 am. We will be voting in the final budget for 2008!

Adult Study

Pastor Jeff is leading a book study on Kelly Fryer’s Reclaiming the “C” Word at 9:15 each Sunday morning in the Board room. Everyone is welcome to participate in the discussion!