In this issue:
- A Message from Pastor Jeff
- Ordination and Installation of Pastor Brianna Lloyd
- LCH Office Hours
- Stewardship Corner
- Committee/Interest Group Chairs
- Angel Network In-Gathering
- Leadership Roundtable
- Confirmation Preparation Classes
- Book of Faith Bible Study
- Restorative Yoga
- Godly Play at LCH
- Adult Forum
- Virtual Coffee Talk with Pastor Jeff
- Compline
- First Mondays: Perfectly Palestrina
- Mary Magdalene Society Virtual Happy Hour
- Writers’ Workshop
- IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep
- Food for Thought
- LCH Office Closed in observance of Presidents Day
- LCH Women’s Book Club
- Bach and Prayer
- One Pot, One Hope Planning Meeting
- LCH Council Elects New Officers
- Regular Offerings
- An Easy Way to Donate
- Edward Shipwright Memorial Piano Fund
- HeartBeat Deadline
- Electronic Funds Transfers for December
- Attendance and Offerings for January
- Prayer Requests
- February Birthdays
- Calendar: February 2022
From Pastor Jeff
A Remnant People
In that day, says the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted. The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore.—Micah 4:6–7
As part of my personal devotions, I have begun reading the minor prophets. I don’t know what I hoped to find in those readings this time around—perhaps a word of hope, a glimmer of inspiration, a listening ear for a longing soul? As I read Micah this morning the prophet laid bare the soul of his people, and indeed all the known world. His images of world being unmade rung true to me this morning as I read of yet another shooting in a school, the Supreme Court moving to undo affirmative action, and the growth of so-called ghost guns responsible for hundreds of deaths because some Americans hold the right to bear arms more holy than life itself. This morning we stand on the brink of war as Vladimir Putin seeks to regain everything lost in the fall of the Soviet Union, and children go hungry in Tonga as aid trickles in. This morning a huge cruise ship bound for Miami suddenly changed course and docked outside U.S. jurisdiction upon finding that the ship was the subject of an arrest warrant for falling to pay for its fuel. Perhaps the cruise company felt it was more important to resume normal operations under a new norm where fuel is free. Who knows? It seems as if the norms of decency, reason, kindness, and common sense are slipping away in favor of obscene profits for some and obscene poverty for others. The rights of each individual are paramount no matter how they violate the rights of another individual, or whole race, or class, or future.
As I am sure was true in Micah’s time, the dismal picture I saw this morning was not even a partial truth; it is just a slice of a very complicated world. There is good, and hope, and kindness everywhere; it just seldom makes the news. In the book of Micah, many of the nations stream to the mountain of the Lord where God sorts it all out. The strong are brought low, weapons are pounded into farm implements, those who are left become a remnant people. It is not a dystopian vision of survival of the fittest or most worthy but a sign of God’s abiding presence and love for God’s people. Note in the quote above that God makes the remnant people from the broken and the lame, not the strong survivors. In that sense God turns our expectations of normalcy upside down and inside out. The ones least valued in society become society itself. Those who cry for alms in the street and who have been cast down, stream away from the mountain as God’s favored people.
This, I think, is how God works. It looks so different from what we are used to that we think wage disparity, misogyny, and nation building are the norm. We think the rich, strong, powerful, and ego-driven are to be looked up to as paragons of virtue. And then we see the cross of Jesus, Micah’s mountain, the woman caught in adultery in John 8, the lame man healed, and the leper made clean, and we remember that God’s world is this world. God abides deeply and fully in this world, even if our eyes are drawn away from God’s world in favor of shiny, powerful objects, hopes and dreams.
I found comfort this morning in Micah, as I remembered that God is, that our brokenness will not have the last word, and that hope lies near at hand in Christ.
Blessings,
Pastor Jeff
Ordination and Installation of Pastor Brianna Lloyd
Sunday, February 20, at 5:00 pm • Via Livestream Broadcast with Limited In-person Attendance
Brianna Lloyd will be ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament and installed as associate pastor at Lutheran Church of Honolulu on Sunday, February 20, at 5:00 pm. Bishop Andy Taylor of the Pacifica Synod will preside, and Sister Joan Mitchell, a sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ), whose community supported and funded Bree’s divinity schooling, will preach.
Offerings will go to the CSJ community to support women’s theological education and to support the Pacifica Synod’s first-call theological education.
Limited in-person seating is available by reserving a seat through our Eventbrite page. Proof of vaccination or a negative covid-19 test taken within the past 72 hours is required for entry; masks are required throughout the performance. Those not attending in-person can tune in on our streaming page and the LCH Facebook page.
LCH Office Hours
- Monday—Closed
- Tuesday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Wednesday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Thursday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Friday—9:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Saturday–Sunday—Closed
The LCH office and church campus are generally closed to in-person meetings and gatherings as a precaution in accordance with the CDC, Hawai‘i State Governor’s Office, and Honolulu City and County Office of the Mayor’s recommendations regarding covid-19 virus safety. We require masks for in-person interactions and recommend calling the office (808-941-2566) before dropping in to see Pastor Jeff or the administrator, as schedules may vary with appointments, other work commitments, and lunch breaks.
Please visit the LCH website at www.lchwelcome.org for more information about weekly events and ministries, and to access the public LCH Facebook page for online worship services.
Committee/Interest Group Chairs
| Committee/Group | Leader |
|---|---|
| Archive: | Jim Cartwright |
| Aloha: | Bruce Holmberg |
| Concert: | Scott Fikse |
| Communications: | Carol Langner |
| Community Life: | Larry Anderson |
| Council: | Pam Buckley |
| Fellowship: | Mary-Jo Estes |
| Finance: | Steve Miller |
| Financial Review: | Dori Palcovich |
| Food for Thought: | Marlise Tellander |
| Lay Ministers: | Carolyn Koehler |
| Learning Ministry: | Fred Benco |
| Mary Magdalene Society: | Bill Potter and Roy Helms |
| Process Theology: | Carol Langner |
| Property: | Richard Mundell and Pastor Jeff Lilley |
| Scholarship: | Fred Benco |
| Social Ministry: | Jean Lilley and Miles Sato |
| Stewardship: | Phyllis Hörmann and Willow Chang |
| Sunday School: | Laurie Leach |
| Website: | Bill Potter |
| Worship & Music: | Roy Helms and Randy Castello |
| Writers’ Workshop: | Peter Flachsbart |
| Youth: | Pastor Jeff Lilley |
What Gifts Can I Bring? What Gifts Do I Bring?
We continue in the month of February to consider the gifts and talents with which God has blessed each of us as individuals and all of us together as a congregation. This month we have an opportunity to go a little deeper and become more aware of the gifts each of us has, become more intentional in growing our gifts, and ultimately be generous in the use of these gifts for the good of others. God is with us in this process, blessing us with the Holy Spirit in baptism and uniting us in the body of Christ. The lectionary provides us in January with wonderful texts from 1 Corinthians on the gifts of the spirit. Here is part of the reading for January 23:
But as it is, God has arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
It seems an ideal time for each of us to take a look at what gifts we bring, especially considering the 1 Corinthian reading. The reality is that we are interdependent. No one person/group can do it all. No one person/group can provide for every need. Together we can do what we can’t do alone or singlehandedly. One gets a sense of that interdependence from the 1 Corinthians passage above.
Every person has something to contribute. Luke Bobo, director of strategic partnerships for the organization Made to Flourish, is quoted in the resource Gifted for More saying, “A church’s most significant assets are the people who sit in the pews. Every (congregant) has what Dr. Amy Sherman calls ‘vocational power.’” Gifted for More (which has the subtitle A New Framework for Equipping Christians to Share Their Abilities and Skills in Everyday Life) is a publication of a joint research project of the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries.
The vision of The Barna Group and the Lutheran Hour Ministries project is to supply “what is lacking in the lives of those around us,” as well as, imagine “possibilities that deepen the health and well-being of our neighbors and the places where we live, work and play.” Their research involved exploring vocation, calling and career, and how they overlap. The project identifies twelve gift areas: technical, intercultural, entrepreneurial, management, financial, critical thinking, artistic, civic, interpersonal, communication, leadership, and teamwork.
So, this month we invite you to, delve deeper, to take an inward look at the many and diverse gifts you have. We hope that if you are not already aware of your gifts participating in an inventory might help you become more aware as well as help you discover your “vocational power” both individually and collectively.
I will facilitate the Adult Forum during February. We will talk about spiritual gifts. Some information from the Barna/Lutheran Hour Ministries research will be shared. Participants will have an opportunity to complete a Gifts Inventory. The goal is to help you become more aware of your gifts. Having become more aware of those gifts, you might identify certain one which you have worked to grow and develop in an intentional way. Once aware and intentional, the next step is coming to believe that one’s gifts are intended to benefit others and using those gifts generously in the context of your lives, wherever that takes you. This includes using your gifts to help others grow and develop theirs.
It will be exciting to see how the Holy Spirit works through all of this. Should you not be able to participate in the Adult Forum but are interested in giving the Gift Inventory a try, go to the Lutheran Hour Ministries website at lhm.org, click on the “Barna + LHM” heading and choose “Gifted for More.” Then scroll to the bottom of the page where you can click on a box that takes you to EveryGift Inventory.
There’s no time like the present to begin unwrapping and generously sharing our gifts for the sake of the world. “God’s work our hands,” not just one day a year but every day, wherever our lives take us as we live out our faith in the One who comes to be with us in the person of Jesus.
Phyllis Hörmann for the Stewardship Team
Peggy Anderson, Pam Buckley, Willow Chang, Phyllis Hörmann, Barbara Poole-Street, Bill Potter
Angel Network In-Gathering
LCH is not collecting donations for Angel Network Charities until further notice. However, Angel Network is accepting donations at the Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church location in east O‘ahu: 5339 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Honolulu 96821.
For those who are able and interested in donating, they accept donations on Thursdays and Fridays, from 8:30 am to noon. They will only accept packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g. cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned goods.
Angel Network requires that donating drivers identify themselves and remain in their vehicle. Volunteers will offload donation items from your vehicle with protective gloves. Over 2,500 individuals are served monthly through this program. Mahalo for your generosity and support.
Leadership Roundtable
Tuesday, February 1, 6:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Committee chairs and team leaders, please plan to gather for a short (45 minute) meeting. This month’s meeting will be conducted via the Zoom online meeting platform. Please refer to your email for the Zoom meeting details. This is an opportunity for us to sit down together and share information on what is happening with all the ministries at LCH. If you are a committee or team leader, you will receive an email from Pastor Jeff, via Zoom Meeting, regarding login information. Please be prepared to share a little information on your activities with the group. Mahalo!
Confirmation Preparation Classes
February 2 (6:30 pm) and 23 (4:00 pm) • Via Zoom Meeting
Confirmation is voluntary for youth, grades 6 and up, who would like to confirm their faith. At baptism we promise to “place in (your child’s) hands the Holy Scripture and provide for their education in the Christian Faith.” In confirmation class we study scripture, the Reformation, and Christian history, but we are more interested in helping young people develop as persons of faith. For more information, please contact Pastor Jeff at pr.jeff@LCHwelcome.org.
Book of Faith Bible Study
Thursdays, 10:00–11:45 am • Via Zoom Meeting
The Book of Faith Bible Study meets on Thursday mornings via the Zoom online meeting platform for the duration of the pandemic. All are welcome to join this lively discussion of the Biblical texts, relevant current events, and historical foundations. Please contact Pastor Jeff at pr.jeff@LCHwelcome.org to receive an invitation to the next Zoom Bible study discussion.
Restorative Yoga
Thursdays, February 3, 10, 17, and 24, at 6:00 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Explore the restorative and ancient practice of yoga, led by LCH member Willow Chang. As a yoga practitioner for over 30 years, Willow shares the joy, wonder, and enthusiasm of a beginner. She emphasizes the origins, cultural context, and safe practice of yoga for all. In this 4-week session, she’ll share various aspects of yoga, from pranayama (breathing exercises) and yogic philosophy (ahimsa), to poses, referred to as asanas.
Join for one, two, or all four sessions from the safety of your own shelter-in-place. These unique classes also provide an opportunity to answer your questions about yoga practice and form. You don’t need yoga pants, previous experience, youth, flexibility, or any real-life experience in India to learn about yoga. Bring your amazing self to be in wonder of your abilities! Please contact Willow Chang (willowchang@hotmail.com) to be included in the weekly Zoom meeting invitation. Let’s learn and find a new center, together!
Godly Play
Sundays at 9:00 am • Hybrid Vitual/In-person Meeting
When LCH services are in-person, we will be starting a hybrid virtual/in-person version of Godly Play. This will take place in Isenberg Hall at 9:00 and will follow the same guidelines as LCH in-person worship. When LCH services are live streaming only, we will have Sunday school via a Zoom meeting before service at 9:00.
This class is geared for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. A story is followed by a craft which we can make together. Each Saturday the link for the meeting will be sent to all who want to join. Contact the LCH office if you wish to be added to the invitation list. All are welcome!
Below is the schedule of Godly Play stories for February:
- 2/6—Parable of the Pearl
- 2/13—St. Valentine object box
- 2/20—Parable of the Mustard Seed
- 2/27—Prayer
Adult Forum
Sundays at 9:00 am • Via Zoom Meeting
During the Sundays of February, Pastor Phyllis Hörmann lead the Adult Forum in talking about spiritual gifts.
The sessions will begin by considering information about spiritual gifts, including research from the Barna Group and Lutheran Hour Ministries about how 21st-century Christians from a variety of backgrounds view spiritual gifts and their importance to individual Christians and development of congregations.
Later in the month, participants will have an opportunity to complete a Gifts Inventory. The goal is to help each of us become more aware of our gifts. Having become more aware of those gifts, you might identify particular gifts which you have worked to grow and develop in an intentional way. Once aware and intentional, the next step is coming to believe that one’s gifts are intended to benefit others and using those gifts generously in the context of your lives, wherever that takes you. This includes using your gifts to help others grow and develop their own gifts.
All are welcome to join the Adult Forum Zoom meetings, live on Sunday mornings. Participation in Adult Forum via Zoom works best if you download the free Zoom app beforehand. You may need to enable your microphone and video capabilities. If you are not already on the list for the Adult Forum, please contact Stan Baptista at stan.baptista@gmail.com to receive an invitation to join the next Zoom Adult Forum discussion.
Virtual Coffee Talk with Pastor Jeff
Online Coffee Talk, Sundays, 11:15 am • Via Zoom Meeting
You are invited to join with your LCH ‘ohana on Sundays for a virtual coffee talk following online worship. Discussion is conducted via the Zoom Meeting platform, and runs for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
In order to avoid “Zoom bombing” (surprise visits from unsavory folks), you will need to contact Pastor Jeff, via email at pr.jeff@LCHwelcome.org, for a meeting number and password to log into the meeting. While these are not ideal gathering circumstances, we can at least enjoy a chance to commune together briefly.
Compline
Sunday, February 6, 7:30 pm • Livestreaming
We warmly invite all people in all places of faith and life to Compline. Offered on the first and third Sunday of most months, this beautiful candle-lit service is a meditative experience. Join us for a 30-minute meditative time of prayer and reflection by candlelight. A cappella singing and chanting are led by the LCH Men’s Schola with John Bickel presiding.
Compline will not be sung February 20 because of the ordination and installation of Pastor Bree.
Compline will be livestreamed on our streaming page and the LCH Facebook page and then archived on the LCH Facebook page.
First Mondays: Perfectly Palestrina
Monday, February 7 @ 7:00 pm • Hybrid Livestream and In-person • RSVP on Eventbrite
The First Mondays Concert Series continues with a program of Renaissance Polyphony by the Italian master Palestrina and his student Allegri. Scott Fikse conducts a chamber choir composed of members of the LCH Choir and guests as they perform motets, madrigals, and Palestrina’s heavenly Missa Aeterna Christi Munera.
The choir features sopranos Sienna Achong, Aubrey Aikens, and Marie Lickwar; altos Olivia Arnold and Anna Young; tenors Brian Minnick, Tomás Ramos, and Benjamin Sobel; and basses Scott Fikse, Keane Ishii, and David Webb.
Limited in-person seating is available by reserving a seat through our Eventbrite page. Proof of vaccination or a negative covid-19 test taken within the past 72 hours is required for entry; masks are required throughout the performance.
Those not attending in-person can tune in on our Worship Services page or the LCH Facebook page.
Free admission, suggested donation of $20 supports our concert ministry.
Mary Magdalene Society Virtual Happy Hour
Saturday, February 12, at 5:00 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
With continued high levels of covid-19 in Honolulu, Mary Magdalene Society be having virtual happy hours until conditions improve. We invite LGBTQI members and friends of LCH to prepare their favorite beverage and pupu and join in the virtual festivities.
For those who are already on the Mary Magdalene mailing list, an email with the Zoom link and our discussion topic will be sent out on Wednesday, February 9. If you don’t receive your invitation, have questions, or want to be added to the mailing list, please contact Bill Potter, group facilitator, at bill.potter808@gmail.com.
Writers’ Workshop
Tuesday, February 15, 4:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Writers’ Workshop will meet via Zoom since restrictions on group meetings at LCH are still in effect. All are welcome! If you would like to participate, please contact Peter Flachsbart at pflachsbart@gmail.com for information on how to connect remotely.
IHS Brown Bag Meal Prep
LCH continues our commitment to IHS to assist with feeding the homeless during these difficult times. Although stay-at-home orders may have relaxed a bit, we anticipate that all the requirements of social distancing, masks, sanitizing, etc. will still be in force. Therefore, only a small group will be asked to make sandwiches, and those individuals will be contacted directly by phone or email. We will keep you updated about when we can be back to our regular group. Thank you for your patience as we navigate our way through the uncertainty.
Food for Thought
Saturday, February 19, at 5:00 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Food for Thought will meet on Saturday, February 19. In light of continuing covid cases, we will again be meeting virtually. An invitation will be sent out to ongoing members of the group. Anyone who is interested in joining the group should contact the office at lch@LCHhwelcome.org and provide an email address to be contacted.
LCH OFFICE CLOSED Monday, February 21
In Observance of Presidents Day
LCH Women’s Book Club
Monday, February 21, at 10:00 am • Via Zoom Meeting
LCH Women’s Book Club will meet via Zoom online meeting. The group will discuss The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker. Come join us for fun and new insights.
Connecting to Zoom meeting works best if you download the free Zoom app beforehand. You may need to enable your microphone and video capabilities. If you are not already on the Book Club list, please contact Juditha Murashige at jcmurashige@earthlink.net to receive an invitation to join the next Zoom online Book Club meeting. All are welcome.
Bach and Prayer
Wednesday, February 23, at 7:00 pm • Hybrid Livestream and In-person
All are welcome to participate in our monthly Bach and Prayer. Join us on the fourth Wednesday of each month for this quiet prayer service. Bach and Prayer offers a time for silent prayer and meditation interspersed with contemplative organ works by J. S. Bach and his family.
Those wishing to attend in person should contact the church office to reserve a seat. Others can tune in for the livestream broadcast on our Worship Services page or the LCH Facebook page.
One Pot, One Hope Planning Meeting
One Pot, One Hope is a volunteer-led food and outreach ministry hosted by Maluhia Lutheran Church in Waiʻanae. It has been an ongoing ministry for nearly 10 years. The facilitator has recently stepped down from the position, and leaders are needed to keep this important feeding ministry going. If you are interested in joining folks at LCH who have been involved in this ministry over the years to talk about and plan for LCHʻs involvement and support of this ministry in the future, let Pastor Bree know (pr.bree@lchwelcome.org). We will schedule a One Pot, One Hope planning meeting in February. This may be an opportunity for the ministry to be co-led by members of different churches in the Hukilau Conference, including LCH.
LCH Council Elects New Officers
The congregational council elected its new officers at the January 25th council meeting. The following officers were elected, Dan Denninson, president, Carol Langner as vice-president, Cathy Baptista as secretary, and Dr. Steve Miller will remain as treasurer.
Regular Offerings
While we are not able to meet in person, you are encouraged to mail your offering check directly to the church: Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu HI 96822. If you would like to set up regular electronic funds transfer from your checking or savings account, forms are available at www.lchwelcome.org/support or can be requested by email to LCH@LCHwelcome.org. If you prefer to make a one time contribution or ongoing pledge by credit card, there is a link in the bottom right corner of each page of the church website or you can go directly to www.lchwelcome.org/donate. Thank you!
An Easy Way to Donate
Did you know you can donate to Lutheran Church of Honolulu while shopping without spending any extra money? Shop at smile.amazon.com and increase donations to Lutheran Church of Honolulu! Any Amazon purchase can be made through LCH’s unique charity-link, which will take you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of LCH. Just type this URL in your browser and start shopping: smile.amazon.com/ch/99-0079975.
Edward Shipwright Memorial Piano Fund
The church has an ongoing need for maintenance of our current piano, which is on generous loan from Mark Wong. We also need to plan for eventual purchase of an excellent, permanent piano for LCH.
Therefore, we have established the Edward Shipwright Memorial Piano Fund. Dr. Shipwright was the head of the piano division of the Music Department at UH Mānoa. Many people associated with LCH were students or friends of Ed. The fund will be a fitting memorial to his 50 years of teaching and playing.
HeartBeat Deadline
Tuesday, February 15, 9:00 am
Anita B. and Malissa
T., Bill, friends and family of Billy S., Bruce H., Carole A., Chuck H. and Nan W., Chuck P., Colleen K., Dean A., Ilse L., Judy M., Karen and Richard E., Kathy M., Kawai S., Keahi, Kendra K., Lori W., Luka, Michael, Miles S., Patricia, Pomai S., Resi, Samantha C., Steve, Ted R., Tom P., Tom R., and William
