In this issue:
- Holy Week and Easter Worship
- Easter Sunday Potluck Brunch
- Join Us for Our First Mondays Concert: Between Light and Shadows
- From Pastor Lesley
- Triduum: The Three Days
- Call Committee Update
- Welcome and Safety Task Force Update
- New LCH Mural
- Recycle…Renew…Refill with Hope
- Help Feed Our Neighbors!
- LCH Office Hours
- Stewardship Corner
- Committee/Interest Group Chairs
- Game Day
- Book of Faith Bible Study
- VIA Social Justice Ministry
- Restorative Yoga
- Godly Play Sunday School
- Adult Forum
- Leadership Roundtable
- Mary Magdalene Society Potluck and Game Night
- Important Welcoming and Safety Conversation
- Community Town Hall and Q&A
- IHS Sandwich Making
- Food for Thought
- Earth Day Sunday Adult Forum
- Compline
- Writers’ Workshop
- Seeking Volunteers & Donations for One Pot, One Hope
- Origami Cranes for Easter!
- Raising Funds for Our New Pastor’s Recruitment and Relocation
- First Quarter Giving Statements
- Angel Network In-Gathering
- Regular Offerings
- HeartBeat Deadline
- Electronic Funds Transfers for February
- Attendance and Offerings for March
- Prayer Requests
- April Birthdays
- Calendar: April 2026
Holy Week and Easter Worship at LCH
Maundy Thursday—April 2 at 7:00 pm
We remember Jesus’ command to “love one another” as we wash feet and share communion.
Good Friday—April 3 at 7:00 pm
This powerful service recalls the bitter suffering and death of Jesus that leads to new life.
Easter Vigil—April 4 at 7:00 pm
Following the service of readings and the kindling of the new fire, we move from darkness into the light of resurrection.
Easter Sunday—April 5 at 10:00 am
Christ is risen! Join us for our 10:00 am festival choral service. The LCH Choir will share anthems of Easter joy and jubilation.
Easter Sunday Potluck Brunch
Sunday, April 5 • 8:30–9:30 am
Join in the fellowship and celebration of Easter at our potluck brunch before the 10:00 worship service. The early start time is to allow the choir to eat before their pre-service rehearsal. Please understand that we will end the buffet at 9:30 so cleanup can be done before worship.
We welcome your favorite breakfast casserole, salad, fruit, or baked goods to the buffet table. We greatly appreciate it if you’d bring your items ready to serve—pre-cooked hot dishes as well as pre-cut fruit, breads, baked goods, or any other item that needs to be cut.
Come celebrate, as we say, “Christ is Risen. Christ is Risen indeed. Alleluia.”
Join Us for Our First Mondays Concert: Between Light and Shadows
Monday, April 13 • 7:00 pm
Enter a sound world poised between light and shadows in this rich chamber music program featuring Antonín Dvořák’s Terzetto and Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. Performed by an ensemble of distinguished local artists, including Helen Liu and Michelle Kim (violins), Alex Peña (viola), Sung Chan Chang (cello), and Jonathon Korth (piano), this concert explores the expressive breadth of the Romantic chamber tradition, from lyrical delicacy to dramatic intensity.
All are welcome to gather for pūpū and conversation in the Hörmann Courtyard at 6:15 pm. First Mondays Concerts are free, with a suggested donation of $20.
Mahalo to the LCH ‘ohana for your continued support. This month’s calabash offerings will benefit the LGBTQ+ Center at UH Mānoa, supporting vital community resources and advocacy.
From Pastor Lesley
“Trust the journey.” This statement really jumped out at me as I watched a movie about people walking the Camino de Santiago while the upcoming Holy Week was also in the forefront of my mind. During the movie, one of the pilgrims was really struggling and the guide often said, “Trust the journey.” Those words really resonated with me as words of advice that I would offer to you, friends and members of Lutheran Church of Honolulu as you travel this life as followers of Jesus and as participants in this faith community.
As we all know, LCH has certainly experienced important parts of its faith/life journey these past 18 months. Many things have happened during this part of your journey. You have celebrated the earthly and church triumphant life of Pr. Jeff. You have celebrated the 125th Anniversary of LCH. You raised over $150,000 for the organ renewal and mission. You wrote a book and created a video. You have said goodbye to friends and staff. You have entered the call process. Believe it or not, this is only a short list of the events of the past 18 months of the journey.
This Holy Week, LCH continues the journey. On Palm Sunday, we will gather to celebrate the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem, and within a matter of moments, we will hear the story of Holy Week. With the celebration and joy of Palm Sunday fresh in our minds and hearts, we will join the disciples in the upper room and remember their Last Supper and Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourself. We will journey with Jesus and his mother and others to Golgotha and remember our Lord’s sacrifice for our life eternal. On Saturday, together, we will wait at the tomb, and then, on Easter Sunday, we will gather to shout together, “Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed.”
Some of us might find Holy Week challenging. On Palm Sunday, we enter into the Nave, waving our palms, shouting Hosanna, experiencing the emotion of joy, and then a few moments into the service, our emotions change to sadness, to lament, to acknowledgement of the cost of our sins for which Christ paid. Then we are asked to patiently sit and wait in anticipation and of course on Easter Sunday the emotion of celebration and joy is experienced once again. I have said that Holy Week is like a roller coaster ride. One moment you are up, the next moment you’re down, and then in a few seconds, you are up again hanging in the air, not knowing what is next. Perhaps, one might say, our emotions are on a roller coaster ride during Holy Week. To that roller coaster ride of Holy Week, I hear the words of the pilgrim’s guide, “Trust the journey.”
Within the Holy Week journey and also the journey of the past 18 months, I hope you have and will experience God in new ways. I hope you have seen the promises of a steadfast, merciful, and loving God kept. I hope you have learned some new things about yourself and perhaps even the world around you. I hope you have new insights and wisdom and a deeper relationship with God that you can bring with you on the rest of the journey called life.
My prayer for all of us, this Holy Week and Easter season, as you await in anticipation for God’s victory over death, “Trust the journey.” Please remember, you do not take this journey alone. You are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. You are accompanied by your church ʻohana. My prayer is also that, through life’s journey, God will reveal God’s self to you. Just open your heart to hear and respond.
Easter blessings,
Pastor Lesley
Triduum: The Three Days
Maundy Thursday through Easter Sunday
The 40-days of Lent ends on Maundy Thursday, as we begin the Triduum or the Three Days. Beginning with the Lord’s Supper on Thursday night and continuing through to Easter Sunday, these three days form very important days of our Church year. Why are these days so significant?
The Triduum is important because our faith in Jesus, dead and risen, comes together in these three days. We immerse ourselves in the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. We take three days to celebrate the great foundation of our faith. Think about it: these three days draw us into the heart of God’s love. In the upper room, we remember that Christ gives himself for us. At the cross, we see unconditional love poured out. And at the empty tomb, we discover that nothing, not even death, has the final word over God. The darkness will never overcome the light, our Lord and Savior.
Even though we take three days, it is still one mystery we celebrate. The purpose of the Triduum is not to experience a historical re-enactment of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, for we know that the Lord is risen and will never die again. It is the risen Christ who calls us together to remember all he did to save us so that, by remembering the Passover of the Lord ,we might encounter again the saving grace of these sacred events.
As we begin our Triduum celebration on Thursday night at 7:00, we are reminded that Jesus is the one who will lead us out of the darkness and bondage of sin to the promised land of the kingdom.
In the Gospel, we find Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, which was much more than just a deed of kindness. In humility, Jesus demonstrated the outpouring of his life for the redemption of the world. The washing of feet is a preview of what Jesus will do at Calvary.
On Thursday night, as we celebrate the Last Supper, we remember that the Eucharist is seen within the Old Testament story of Passover. The Eucharist is given to us at a great price, the very life of Jesus. When Jesus says, “Do this in memory of me,” he asks us not only to celebrate this ritual again and again, but to pour out our own lives in sacrifice for others as he did.
We are to be Eucharist for each other. We must act out what we celebrate. We experience this when members of our own community wash each other’s feet. We strip the altar to prepare us for Good Friday, Jesus’ death and sacrifice.
On Good Friday, we turn to the cross and the passion of Christ. We see the cross not as a sign of defeat and hopelessness, but as a sign of victory over sin and death. The cross of Jesus is our sign of hope, the constant reminder of the price of love Jesus willingly accepted. The heart of the Good Friday service is the proclamation of the Passion from John’s Gospel. John’s Passion contains a powerful paradox: that while Jesus is mocked and spat upon, he is still king and victor.
Also, during the service, we adore the cross, which is a sober reminder of the price of our redemption. This same cross is also a sign of life and hope for us. No Christian can look upon the cross this day without hearing the invitation to take up our own cross and follow Jesus.
On Holy Saturday, the church waits at the Lord’s tomb during the Easter Vigil, reflecting on his suffering and death. This vigil expresses our passage from death to life, darkness to light, suffering to glory. It is on this night that we discover our identity as God’s people, led by the light of Christ, baptized into his death and resurrection, and sharing with one another in Eucharist his presence and future glory. We begin the vigil in the dark courtyard to remind us of the horrible darkness of life without Christ. At this point, a new fire is ignited and blessed. In this fire we see Christ, who casts out the darkness of sin and death. From this fire we light the new Paschal candle.
In the vigil, we have Scripture readings that cover the salvation history. We hear what has led up to this night, how God from age to age has willed the salvation of all humankind, a promise fulfilled in the person of Jesus. It recounts the story of who we are as Christians. We welcome newly baptized into God’s family. We leave the Nave in joy and anticipation of Easter.
On Easter Sunday, we gather together to shout, “Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed!” We remember that God keeps God’s promises and death does not have the final say. God is the victor over death, and we are free to live as children of a resurrected God. Alleluia.
These three days, the Triduum, invite us to fully experience the depth and breadth of God’s love. It proclaims hope grounded in the resurrected Christ. It reminds us that the darkness will never win. Love is the victor, and new life is given through Christ our Savior.
I pray that you will choose to give yourself the gift of the journey of these three days, so you fully experience our God, the God of mercy, grace, love and salvation.
Peace and prayer,
Pastor Lesley
Call Committee Update
The LCH Call Committee has interviewed two pastoral candidates and will be interviewing another two on Palm Sunday. One of the first two candidates received another call, and the committee elected not to move the second pastor forward. Given the lack of ELCA pastors available for call, we feel fortunate to have two strong candidates still under consideration.
The congregation partakes in delicious Lenten Soup and Salad.Welcome and Safety Task Force Update
The Welcome and Safety Task Force is continuing their work to develop a plan for LCH’s exterior property. Just as a reminder:
- Task Force Focus—The work of the task force is guided by the answers to these two main questions: What is God’s mission to the community through LCH? How does the property’s exterior, including the building’s exterior and the grounds fronting Punahou Street, embody the mission?
- Task Force Goal—Create an action plan that will enable the congregation to better communicate/embody this mission. Thank you to all who participated in the prayer times during our Mid-week Lenten gatherings. The information gathered will help the team as they prepare for April 12 Congregational Conversation.
Please make sure you join on Sunday, April 12th ,after worship for the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis. This exercise will be led by Pr. Margrethe, using information you gathered in prayer, asking you to think about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats connected to the resources of our properties.
Thank you for your help in using our exterior to continue to be about God’s work, with our hands.
New LCH Mural
Visual Storytelling at Its Best
How would you describe Lutheran Church of Honolulu—its community, its mission and ministry—through images? What colors do you see when you think of LCH? How do we communicate God’s mission and ministry at LCH on an outside church wall in pictures? What does a passersby see/feel when they look at the outside mural? Will they be able to get a glimpse of who we truly are as they look at the mural? These are all important questions that we will consider as we begin the visioning process for the creation of the LCH Mural by Estria Miyashiro of the Estria Foundation (estria.org). In this mural, we become visual storytellers, expressing our heritage and mission to the community.
In preparation for the wall mural painting, there will be a workday on Saturday, April 18, to prepare the wall facing Punahou Street for the mural. Here are a few things that need to be done:
- Bushes will come out
- New lights will be installed beforehand
- Church name letters will be removed
- Wall will be pressure-washed (1–2 days before priming) to remove mold, dirt, and oils. This will probably happen on Monday, April 27, during the day (pending appropriate weather)
- Priming on Tuesday or Wednesday, April 28 or 29
Work day volunteers hard at work!Visioning Process for the Mural Design—We hope everyone who wishes will come and participate in the visioning process for the design of the mural. The visioning process is guided by our belief that “God works in mysterious ways.” Experience has shown that the same idea will come out on different days, in different settings, and with different people; so we will have multiple sessions, and all are welcome to come to any and all visioning sessions. New ideas will come out at each session, and then be woven together in the final design. In these sessions, participants are encouraged to:
- Lead through meditation and prayer
- Connect with the Divine
- Talk through the exploration of our ideas
- Leave space for silence and thought
- Write ideas on a large paper, taking notes
- Connect the right and left sides of the brain
- Recognize the significance when two or more people receive the same picture, message, or thought
There will be three different visioning sessions of 30–45 minutes:
- Blessing and Session #1—Sunday, April 26, around 11:10 am
- Session #2—Monday, April 27 at 6:00 pm
- Session #3 – Tuesday, April 28 at 10:00 am
Sketch Approval—On May 3, the congregation will be presented with the mural design during regular 10:00 am worship and be able to see how it visually articulates our faith community to our neighbors. The presentation will take place during the sermon time (approximately 10:30). and tThe Council will meet briefly after the service (approximately 11:10) to approve the design. The congregation is welcome to share their thoughts with council members before the council’s meeting after worship.
Painting—After the sketch approval, Estria will be begin outlining the mural at 6:00 in the evening on Monday, May 4. Everyone, including youth, are invited to join in the painting. There will be sign-up sheets for 2-hour blocks. Each block will accommodate a maximum on 20 volunteer painters and 4–6 helper volunteers. Painting is scheduled for:
- Tuesday, May 5, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Wednesday, May 6, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Blessing and Unveiling will take place during worship on Sunday, May 10 at about 11:30 am.
As you can see by all of the details described above, this is a very important piece of the legacy of Lutheran Church of Honolulu as we share with the community the story of God’s work, with our hands at LCH. We hope you will participate in telling our story to the community and beyond. If you have any questions about this project, please reach out to Keane Ishii at 808-352-5135. Mahalo.
Blessings and prayers,
Pastor Lesley
Recycle…Renew…Refill with Hope
From now until April 26, we are collecting clean, unlabeled amber plastic pill containers with regular or child-proof caps. They will be forwarded to medical mercy missions to help breakdown bulk supplies to appropriate quantities for patients.
You will find a bag on the table outside the kitchen to deposit them. Thank you!
Sarah Lambert Connelly and Leslie Goldman share their musical journeys at our First Mondays concert.Help Feed Our Neighbors!
Join an IHS Sandwich-Making Team
Every month a team of LCH members and friends meets on the third Thursday of the month to feed our neighbors. Gathering at noon, we apply our energies to the task of preparing and delivering 375 sandwich lunch sacks for the Institute for Human Services (IHS). The task from start to finish takes about 1.5 hours. It’s a time for enjoyable fellowship and fast action as we prepare and pack up the sack lunches. At the end, a couple of us load up our cars and take all the lunch bags to IHS in Iwilei, and the rest of the LCH crew cleans up the kitchen and takes the trash to the dumpster.
Please consider this invitation to join the ministry of feeding the houseless in Honolulu. IHS faces the demanding task of providing meals for hundreds of people each day. They depend on LCH, and other churches, to provide meals like sack lunches. The lunches not only feed people, but they also provide a breather for the kitchen staff at IHS. There are two teams, so the commitment is only for a few hours every other month. During the rest of this year, Team A meets on May 21, July 16, September 17, and November 19; and Team B meets on April 16, June 18, August 20, October 15, and December 17. Both teams could use new members.
If your schedule won’t accommodate a monthly commitment, please consider being an on-call backup. We would also like to train 3–4 people in how to properly—and safely—use and clean the meat slicer, which is essential to sandwich production.
Please let the LCH office know of your interest, or contact Carol Langner or any of the team members you may know. Sincere thanks to all.
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
We recommend calling the office (808-941-2566) before dropping in to see the pastor 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 |
| Concert: | Barry Wenger |
| Communications: | Carol Langner |
| Council: | Olivia Castro |
| Hospitality: | Jeanne Castello |
| Finance: | Roy Helms |
| Financial Review: | Dori Palcovich |
| Food for Thought: | Marlise Tellander |
| Lay Ministers: | Carolyn Koehler |
| Learning Ministry: | Fred Benco |
| Mary Magdalene: | Bill Potter Roy Helms |
| Process Theology: | Carol Langner |
| Property: | Richard Mundell |
| Scholarship: | Fred Benco |
| Social Ministry: | Mary Fastenau |
| Stewardship: | Phyllis Hörmann Willow Chang |
| Website: | Bill Potter |
| Worship & Music: | Randy Castello |
| Writers’ Workshop: | Peter Flachsbart |
Creation Care
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.— Romans 1:20, NIV
As we move into spring, the Stewardship Team’s calendar turns toward Creation Care, this time under the umbrella of this year’s theme—perceiving the new things that God is doing among us. For me, this awareness of God’s active presence in the world becomes clearest when I ponder the natural world. In fact, Romans 1:20 tells us that in Creation, our invisible God becomes visible so that we might believe. Think about it. We can all sit under a tree and study its intricate design, ponder the immensity of a mountain, the vastness of the ocean, or the stark beauty of a desert. In nature we see the signature of a loving Creator, and we have faith that God exists.
Pondering the natural world also gives us some insight into God’s qualities. Perhaps the term “the nature of God” is not an accident! In Creation, we see a God who awakens the dormant and makes fertile what lies fallow, a God who creates new land from molten lava and life from death. Ours is a God of newness, of limitless possibilities and futures, of hope and abundance.
However, in 2026, this rosy picture of the natural world is not always what we see. Our Earth suffers because we have not fulfilled our role as loving caretakers, and the harm we have caused is at times irreparable. And yet, following God’s design, nature is persistent and resilient. It forges ahead, sending shoots through cracks in the cement and blooming flowers in what had been a barren, sandy land. In God’s design, there are always new possibilities for renewal, transformation, and rebirth—for our planet and for us.
In the next two months, please join me in celebrating this sacred gift of Creation by participating in the following activities. Of particular note is the free Tour de Trash excursion on Friday, May 15. Sponsored by the Department of Environmental Services, this is a rare opportunity to see how our island cares for Creation through the transformation of waste into new life and energy when we visit the H-Power facility (where refuse becomes electricity), RRR (Oahu’s recycling plant), and the island’s landfill in Kapolei. Find out if the rumors are true that Hawai‘i only pretends to recycle its cans and bottles!
- Now until April 19—Prescription bottle recycling (thanks to Linda Muller)
- Sunday, April 19—Earth Day Celebration (thanks to the Earth Day Team for this day of events)
- 9:00 am—Adult Forum Earth Day speaker
- 10:00 am—Earth Day Worship
- after church—Sharing tables in the courtyard
- April and May—How to be good stewards in a “use and toss” world (see blurbs in the eNews during April and May)
- Friday, May 15—Tour de Trash (9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Finally, you may enjoy this video, about the ecological miracle unfolding on Ted Turner’s ranch. When I watch it, I see God’s promise: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19). May our planet and our hearts be watered by the Spirit so that we might be made new.
Cindy Scheinert for the Stewardship Team
Willow Chang, Phyllis Hormann, Barb Poole-Street, Bill Potter, Mark Russell, Cindy Scheinert
Liane, Nan, and Hunter clean together in the kitchen.Game Day
Wednesday, April 1, at 1:00 pm in Isenberg Hall
Please join Paula Wheeler for Game Day on Wednesday, April 1, from 1:00 to 3:00 in Isenberg Hall. We will meet for lively conversation and some fun games. If you have any questions or suggestions call Paula at 808-542-2843.
Book of Faith Bible Study
Thursdays, 10:00 am • In-person and Via Zoom Meeting
The Book of Faith Bible Study meets on Thursday mornings in-person or via Zoom meeting. All are welcome to join this lively discussion of the Biblical texts, relevant current events, and historical foundations. Please contact Cathy Baptista at cathynt@gmail.com to receive an invitation to the next Zoom Bible study discussion.
Join us as we begin our journey through the Book of Acts, which tells the story of the early church.
VIA Social Justice Ministry
Thursdays at 6:00 pm • In-person, online link available by request
Values In Action (VIA) was formed to create space for meaningful connection, thoughtful engagement, and tangible service. As part of our church’s broader mission, VIA is dedicated to identifying unmet needs in our community and organizing ways to respond through outreach, education, and partnership.
Our early focus has been on civic engagement as a form of community care. Ensuring that people have access to information, opportunities to participate, and a voice in the systems that shape our lives is paramount to living fully and authentically in this world.
So far, we have: held a postcard-making event encouraging people in communities facing voter suppression to vote, created and distributed voter registration materials across our communities, organized a voter registration drive on UH Mānoa’s campus, and planned a town hall public forum to connect community members with local state representatives.
VIA is open to anyone who feels called to connect, serve, or learn. You can get involved by:
- Signing up for the email list, which sends out weekly meeting notes, and includes optional “group action items” for small asynchronous ways you can help
- Contributing ideas for future projects and initiatives
- Helping with outreach, including distributing flyers or sharing information online
- Attending larger community events, such as letter-writing campaigns or community support projects
- Volunteering at events, such as voter registration drives or community forums
- Attending weekly meetings, online or in-person, to help direct the planning and organization of future events
Whether you have a few hours to give or simply a desire to stay informed, there is a place for you in this work. If you’ve been looking for a way to get involved, to meet others, or to put your values into practice, we invite you to join us.
We meet Thursdays at 6:00 pm in the Boardroom, or virtually by request. Please contact LJ Friedman at ljfried@hawaii.edu with any questions.
Pastor Lesley leads the Children’s Conversation on the Third Sunday in Lent.Restorative Yoga
Thursdays, April 9, 16, 23, and 30, at 6:30 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 by sharing aspects of yoga, from pranayama (breathing exercises) and yogic philosophy (ahimsa), to poses, referred to as asanas.
Join for one, two, or all 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 Sunday School
Sundays at 9:00 am • Godly Play Room
Godly Play is a Sunday school curriculum for children from kindergarten through 5th grade. We meet each Sunday in the Godly Play Room at 9:00 am for a story, discussion, and creative response using the form and techniques of Godly Play. All children are welcome!
Sunday School topics for April:
- 4/5 Easter breakfast brunch
- 4/12 Jesus and the Twelve
- 4/19 The Synagogue and the Upper Room
- 4/26 The Good Shepherd and World Communion
Adult Forum
Sundays at 9:00 am • In-person in the Boardroom
Adult Forum will not meet on Easter Sunday because of the potluck brunch, and on April 19 we will have a special Earth Day Sunday presentation. We will wrap up our discussion of the issue of forgiveness in the 2026 United States under the Trump administration April 12 and begin a new topic on April 26.
After you get your coffee and cookies, please join us at 9:00 am each Sunday in the Boardroom for this intriguing discussion.
Reuben and John with soup in the Hörmann Courtyard.Leadership Roundtable
Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Committee chairs and team leaders, please plan to gather for this opportunity for us to sit down together and share information on what is happening with all the ministries at LCH Each month’s meeting takes place on the Zoom online meeting platform. Please refer to your email for the Zoom login details. If you are a committee or team leader, you will receive an email with login information. Please be prepared to share a little information on your activities with the group. Mahalo!
Mary Magdalene Society Potluck and Game Night
Saturday, April 11, at 6:00 pm • Isenberg Hall
Mary Magdalene Society will meet in-person for our potluck and game night in the Isenberg Hall. We invite LGBTQI members and friends of LCH to prepare their favorite potluck dish and join in the festivities. As part of our commitment to mutual care, participants should RSVP in advance and be fully-vaccinated
An email will be sent on April 5 to those who are already on the Mary Magdalene mailing list, detailing the RSVP procedure. 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.
Important Welcoming and Safety Conversation
Sunday, April 12, after Worship
The Welcome and Safety Task Force needs your help to develop plans for LCH’s exterior property that will enable us to better communicate/embody our mission. On Sunday, April 12, Pr. Margrethe will lead a 1-hour exercise after worship where all can contribute their thoughts and observations in a SWOT analysis, identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing LCH. Your input will improve the usefulness of the resulting plan and will be greatly appreciated, so plan to join us in this conversation.
Community Town Hall and Q&A
Wednesday, April 15, at 7:00 pm in the Nave
One of VIA’s first major events will be a community Q&A with local legislators, taking place on April 15 in the Nave. This event will offer an opportunity for members of the congregation and the broader community to hear directly from elected officials about election integrity, voting rights, civil and human rights, government transparency, and resident rights and due process in immigration enforcement. The evening will begin with a time of informal gathering in the courtyard, with light refreshments, followed by the Q&A session.
This event reflects VIA’s commitment not only to service but also to education, dialogue, and democratic participation.
IHS Sandwich Making
Thursday, April 16, 12:00–2:00 pm • Isenberg Hall
LCHers will again convene to prepare sandwiches and pack sack lunches for distribution at Institution for Human Services (IHS). This continues a tradition stretching back decades. We meet monthly and could use a few new, dependable volunteers to join our dedicated group. Please join us. Mahalo!
If you would like to participate in this action-packed, fun activity, please let the church office know at lch@LCHwelcome.org. She will pass your contact info on to event organizers.
Food for Thought
Saturday, April 18, at 5:30 pm • Dave Hörmann’s Home
Food for Thought meets at the home of David Hörmann, who will provide the main dish, while others are asked to bring side dishes or dessert to complete the potluck. If you would like to participate virtually, please contact Peter Flachsbart at pflachsbart@gmail.com to receive an invitation for the next Zoom meeting. If you wish to come in person, please RSVP, contact Marlise Tellander at marlisetellander@hotmail.com. Those who plan to come in person should be vaccinated.
Rev. Phyllis and Rich re-tiling the kitchen on a work day.Earth Day Sunday Adult Forum
Sunday, April 19, 9:00–10:00 am in the Boardroom
Barbara Natale will lead the Adult Forum on Earth Day Sunday, April 19. She holds a master’s degree from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She is currently a senior associate/planner at Group 70 International (G70), a local planning and design firm that does consulting work in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere. She has contributed to land-use and community-based planning in Hawaiʻi for over 20 years. Her work involves ahupuaʻa and watershed management and the integration of traditional Hawaiian stewardship principles with contemporary planning and environmental analysis. She was recently selected by Pacific Business News (March 13–19, 2026, edition) as one of “40 women who mean business.” Please join the Adult Forum on April 19.
Compline
Sunday, April 19, at 7:00 pm • In-person and Via Livestream Broadcast
We warmly invite all people in all places of faith and life to Compline. This beautiful candle-lit service is a meditative experience of a cappella singing and chanting to commemorate the day’s end. Led by members of the LCH Men’s Schola, musical selections include Gregorian chant, Taizé chant, Renaissance polyphony, and more.
Compline is sung on the third Sunday of the month from September through May. For those not attending in person, Compline will be livestreamed on our LCH Facebook page.
Writers’ Workshop
Monday, April 20, at 4:30 pm • Via Zoom Meeting
Writers’ Workshop will continue to meet via Zoom meeting. All are welcome! If you are new to our group and would like more information on how to participate, please contact Peter Flachsbart at pflachsbart@gmail.com. He will send you a Zoom link if you prefer to participate remotely. Mahalo!
Seeking Volunteers & Donations for One Pot, One Hope
Saturday, April 25, at 9:00 am • Maluhia Lutheran Church in Wai‘anae
The One Pot, One Hope ministry continues each month at Maluhia Lutheran Church in Wai‘anae. Please consider participating by joining the volunteers at the next meet-up.
You can also contribute by donating 5-lb. cans of chili, cartons of granola bars, or large jars of peanut butter or jelly; or you can support this outreach with funds either by check or via the LCH Donate page. (Be sure to designate donation for One Pot, One Hope.) Food items may be dropped off during coffee hour on Sundays or left at the office during open hours. Contact Billie Jean Reis with any questions. Mahalo for assisting with this mission to provide meals to our neighbors.
Origami Cranes for Easter!
LCH will add a special touch to our Easter orchid display. Sprays of origami cranes will fly forth from the orchids, adding a splash of color to the white flowers. The cranes were especially folded for LCH as a thank you by Sayuri Tomita, a friend of the congregation who often shared her gentle spirit with us at work days, First Mondays Concerts and at Food for Thought gatherings. Sayuri’s visa status changed in January, and she had to return to Japan. She is currently working at the spa of the prestigious new Imperial Hotel, Kyoto.
Sayuri mailed the cranes to LCH, and enclosed a note to the congregation.
To my beloved LCH family,
Being warmly welcomed by all of you through volunteering and concerts was truly moving for me. My heart felt gently lit with a warm and comforting light. I looked forward to seeing everyone each time, and going together with Mike made it even more special—I was always so excited.
I deeply regret that I wasn’t able to say goodbye to you all before returning to Japan. I’m truly sorry that I couldn’t say farewell in person.
I folded paper cranes while praying for everyone’s happiness and good health, and wishing for peace in the world. Thank you for the abundance of love you shared with me. I hope we can meet again someday.
With love,
Sayuri
As a surprise, Sayuri’s cranes may turn up in other places during the Easter celebration. If you look for Easter eggs, you might discover a special treat. Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Raising Funds for Our New Pastor’s Recruitment and Relocation
The congregation voted at the annual meeting to raise $30,000 to pay for the recruitment and relocation of our new pastor. The Call Committee continues to do its important job of interviewing candidates, so now it is our turn to make it happen.
To raise the funds, we are going to solicit donations from members and friends for a total of $20,000 and hold a silent auction and ice cream social on June 13 to raise the remaining $10,000. The funds will be used to:
- Bring the selected candidate out for a visit and interview
- Cover the relocation costs for the person who will be selected to lead LCH as our pastor
How can you donate?
- Online—Go to www.lchwelcome.org/donate/, click on the yellow Donate button on the top righthand side of the page, and choose “Pastoral Search and Relocation” from the dropdown menu.
- By check—Make your payable to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, put “Pastoral Search and Relocation” in the memo line, and put it in the offering or mail to LCH at 1730 Punahou St., Honolulu, HI 96822.
How can you participate in the silent auction on June 13?
We are soliciting donations from congregation members and friends to help create a night of fellowship and fun on June 13. The event will begin at 4:00 pm, so there will be time to view the elements in the auction in the daylight.
Items need to have a minimum value of $20 retail. We are asking for donations of services, artwork, or new or very-gently-used items. We love the idea of handmade items. Here are some examples:
- Artwork of any sort.
- Handmade items, such as stained glass, quilts, woodwork, photographs (mounted), artwork, crocheted items
- Food items to can be delivered at a date determined by the provider and the purchaser, such as beef stew, bread baked on a schedule, desserts for a party
- Services coordinated between provider and purchaser, such as technology services, car detailing, or music provided for a special occasion.
- Travel opportunities. Do you know someone with a vacation home or timeshare who would donate it for a week? Or can you check with your airline carrier to see how you can give miles to someone else?
More details will continue to be provided, but we wanted to get you thinking. Please talk to Mary Fastenau, mfastenau@gmail.com, for additional questions. Items for the silent auction will be stored at church in the Ramp Room. Other committee members are Roy Helms, Nicki Mundell, Bill Potter, and Paula Wheeler.
The brass quartet poses before our Palm Sunday procession.First Quarter Giving Statements
Giving statements for the first quarter of 2026 will be distributed this Friday, April 3, via email to anyone who has given $25 or more this calendar year. The statements are generated by the church’s accounting software and sent as PDF attachments to emails from statements@LCHwelcome.org. (If the church does not have your email address, the statement will be mailed to your address in the accounting software.) If you have given $25 or more and do not receive a statement by the end of the day on Friday, please check your spam/junk folder first, and if it is not there, please let me know at fin-sec@LCHwelcome.org, and I will make sure you get a statement.
Giving statements for all of 2025 were distributed on January 26 via email and mail. If you need another copy for your taxes, just email me at fin-sec@LCHwelcome.org. Please do not wait until the last minute to request a replacement since I may not be available at 11:30 pm on April 15.
The counters and I strive to record all donations correctly, but sometimes one of us makes a mistake. Please review your giving statement to make sure that the amount and allocation of each donation have been recorded properly and that the amount, frequency, and allocation of your pledge are listed correctly. If you find an error, please email fin-sec@LCHwelcome.org (not the address on the email) or leave a message with the church office (808-941-2566) so corrections can be made.
With thanks for your support of our ministry,
Bill Potter, financial secretary
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.
Regular Offerings
If you are not attending church 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!
HeartBeat Deadline
Tuesday, April 21, 9:00 am
Alan G., Alex M., Amanda L., Betty H., the family and friends of Bob H., Dave B., Don J., Elaine, George T., Greg G., Harold W., Jane H., Jason M., Jean L. and her family, John B., John S., Kristin H., LaVerne R., Margaret H., Michael, Miriam and Miles S., Nancy B., Nan W., Peggy A., Kathy M., Salina R., Tony P., Yvonne and Andy M.
Please help us to keep the Prayer Requests list relevant. If you have a friend or loved one who should remain on the list, we are glad to keep them in prayer. Please email the office to let us know when a name may be removed from the list.
