LCH E-News—March 2, 2011

From Pastor Jeff

Living the Light

The readings for the season of Epiphany have been filled with images of light and the beginnings of Jesus’ ministry. Most of the Gospel texts have been taken from Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mountain, where we have been challenged to repent, to care for the poor, to take the commandments to a deeper level, and to care deeply for God and one another. We have been called by the prophets to be anchored in God’s presence and to choose life.

Epiphany draws us from the giddy joy of Christmas into a rhythm of daily living where our journey in Christ defines our daily walk. Each Sunday we receive the gentle scriptural nudge that God is abiding with us and calling us to live—and live well in God.

This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday of the Epiphany Cycle. Jesus will encounter the prophets on the mountaintop, and we will begin a new journey marked not by light but by reflection, service, and the disciplines of Lent. This year we will make that journey together focusing on the Lenten discipline of prayer.

During this Lenten season you are encouraged to join us for worship each Wednesday (see the schedule below) and stay for the book study following worship.

A great resource for all of us this Lent is found right on our website! We have an opportunity to pray the daily offices, an ancient practice of reading scripture, psalms, and praying—a wonderful way to shape your day around worship.

You are also invited to share your gifts by donating $1 for each day of Lent to the Heifer Project, through the benefit concert organized by our young people. If all of us commit to a $40 donation, we can easily reach our goal of $5,000 to buy an ark.

Blessing as we begin our journey together!

Aloha,
Pr. Jeff

IHS Presentation and Meal this Friday

An Evening with IHS

LCH Social Ministries is sponsoring a night with IHS this Friday, March 4. The evening will start at 5:30 PM with a presentation by Kate Record, IHS Community Relations Director, in the Nave. Kate will describe the services IHS offers and how they have expanded services to Honolulu’s homeless over the years. After the presentation you are invited to feast on LCH’s famous IHS meal, just as we prepare it for our friends at IHS! There will be meatloaf, coleslaw, canned vegetables, and fruit. A free-will offering will be collected that will benefit the programs at IHS. We will also introduce the group who started our feeding program and ask for volunteers interested in providing a second monthly meal at IHS.

Please join us for an educational evening with a delicious meal and good fellowship. You can contact Jean Lilley or Mary Fastenau through the Church Office (941-2566) for more information or to RSVP for the event. We also need volunteers to help set up on Friday afternoon and clean up after the meal. We look forward to seeing you there!

Lenten Worship Schedule

Our Lenten midweek services for 2011 will center around prayer, not only as a way to speak with God but also as a model for living that draws us into deeper relationship with God and with one another. Through prayers of David, Moses, Hosea, Paul, and Jesus we share God’s love and hope in this season of repentance and renewal.

Lenten Mid Week Worship

Fill the Ark Concert March 12!

The seventh annual “Fill the Ark” Benefit Concert for Heifer International will be Saturday, March 12 at 4:00 PM. The children and youth are busy preparing their performances with hopes that they will raise another $5,000 to buy an “Ark of Animals” through Heifer International to be distributed to needy families around the world.

The concert is free, but please come prepared to make a pledge or donation of at least $1 day during the lenten season ($40 total). If 100 families or individuals make this commitment the children will meet their goal! A pledge sheet will be available on Sundays in the courtyard.

Please come on March 12 to hear and see our youth perform with song, instruments, recitations and dance. May this Lutheran Church of Honolulu tradition continue for the seventh year! For more information, please see Reid or Anna Womack.

Calling All Youth Performers

If you have not done so yet, please turn in your Fill the Ark VII Benefit Concert performance forms to Teresa McCreary as soon as possible. We are trying to keep the concert to one hour and are asking our talented youth to limit their total selections to 4 minutes so that everyone can participate. Every child and youth can be a part of the concert with any talent! If you would like more information about how you can participate in the concert, please contact Anna Womack or Teresa McCreary. Forms will be available on Sundays.

UPDATES!

Cantor Call Committee

The Cantor Call Committee has received several applications and is in the process of interviewing top candidates. The final candidates will be interviewed by an expanded committee later this month. We are right on target for this process

Staffing Taskforce

Pastor Jeff presented a sample financing plan describing how LCH might be able to finance a two-year term call for an associate pastor to the finance committee at their last meeting. The committee recommended forwarding the document to the Congregational Council. The Council will consider it along with other priorities at their retreat March 7.

Kitchen Update

A commercial dishwasher has been ordered and is on its way. Updates to the electrical system in the kitchen will be completed at the same time the dishwasher is installed. This is being financed through the Jeanette Hanson Memorial and other donations.

A new range is being researched to replace the failing unit in the kitchen. This should be installed mid-March. This is being financed through the Annabelle Beck Memorial

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