HeartBeat—August 2026

Our Free Store Is Back!

Saturday, August 15, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

On Saturday, August 15, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, we will be offering donated goods at our Free Store. You can be a part of outreach to the community by donating gently-used items and signing up to help with various aspects of the Free Store.

Donations will be accepted at church on Sundays, August 2 and 9, from 8:30 to 10:00 and after church until 12:30. All donations must be clean, in working order, and small enough to be carried by one person. See the Stewardship Corner for ideas about what you might donate.

We are also looking for volunteers to sort the items as they are donated on August 2 and 9, set up the free store beginning at 7:30 am on August 15, provide a friendly face and assistance to purchasers while the store is open, and clean up after the store closes. Shifts will be two hours, but we can certainly accommodate those who can only help for a lesser amount of time. Sign-up sheets will be available on the courtyard table through August 9.

See Barbara Poole-Street if you have questions about the Free Store or want to volunteer.

Summer Jazz: Jewel in the Lotus

Monday, August 17, at 7:00 pm in the Nave

Our Summer Jazz Journey concludes with acclaimed saxophonist Allen Won and friends in a program they are calling “Jewel in the Lotus.” Joining Allen will be Tommy James on piano, Noel Okimoto on the drums, and Dean Taba on bass.

Enjoy the creations of our pūpū chefs’ creations with pūpū and conversation at 6:15 pm, with the concert beginning at 7:00 pm.

Hawaiian Language Classes for Beginners

Saturdays, beginning September 19, at 10:00 am • Isenberg Hall

David Del Rocco, LCH choir member, author, and long-time member of the LCH ‘ohana, will offer beginning Hawaiian language classes for our congregation and the community starting September 19 and running through November 6. The eight one-hour classes, which meet in-person only, are designed for beginners, and no experience with the language is necessary. Students will learn some important vocabulary and gain an understanding of the complexities of the language, and by the end of the eight-week course, they will be able to introduce themselves and construct simple sentences in Hawaiian. Participants should come to class with a willingness to try something new and bring a notebook and pen or pencil for taking notes.

The cost of the course is $80 for the eight one-hour lessons. This is a fundraiser for LCH, with half of your tuition money going to the church. Please register and pay by September 9. Registration forms are available at church, or follow this link for instructions for registering by mail or electronically.

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 administrator, as schedules may vary with appointments, other work commitments, and lunch breaks.

The administrator will be out of town from July 7 to July 20. You can still reach her by email at lch@lchwelcome.org or at the office phone beginning July 13.

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.

Mahalo! $30,000 Goal Reached

For Pastor Amanda McGlynn Relocation

The Lutheran Church of Honolulu congregation and friends have raised more than $30,000 to pay for the relocation of Pastor Amanda McGlynn. Thank you to all for your generosity and faith that helped us exceed our goal.

A special thanks to the committee members Jeanne Castello, Roy Helms, Nicki Mundell, Bill Potter, and Paula Wheeler. We also want to thank everyone who made the silent auction a wonderful event: Rudy Riingen and the great pūpū makers, Jeanne Castello and the ice cream social team, and the set up and cleanup crews. We appreciate the people who made monetary donations, donated items for the silent auction, helped with the event, and showed the spirit of hospitality to our new pastor and her family.

As of July 26, we have raised $30,205.93 in donations and auction proceeds. Thanks to everyone for your generosity. It is exciting to think about what is next for LCH.

Mary Fastenau
Committee for Pastor Relocation Fundraising

Acts of Service

Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.—Isaiah 55:1

For the past several years the Stewardship Committee has had a summertime focus on service to our community. This service can take many forms, including holding a Free Store offering gently used goods, donated by church members, at no cost to the neighbors from near and far who come to “shop” for free, echoing the verse from Isaiah above.

This year’s Free Store on August 15, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, gives us an opportunity to make a difference to our neighbors. Your participation—by donating goods, staffing the store, or just coming to browse and offering a friendly welcome—will help our neighbors meet some needs while also experiencing God’s love that sustains us all.

In order for this to be successful, we need your help in both donating goods for the sale and volunteering to help at the store.

Donations—We will welcome donations like those listed below. All donations must be clean, in working order, and small enough to be carried by one person.

• Clothing
• Toys
• Books
• Kitchen items (small appliances, cooking utensils, cups, plates, etc.)
• Sporting goods
• Bedding
• Luggage, bags, purses, etc.
• Records, CDs, DVDs, etc.

Donations will be accepted at LCH on Sundays, August 2 and 9, from 8:30 to 10:00 and after church until 12:30.

Staffing—Volunteers will be needed to sort the items as they are donated on August 2 and 9, set up the free store beginning at 7:30 am on August 15, provide a friendly face and assistance to purchasers while the store is open, and clean up after the store closes. Shifts will be two hours, but we can certainly accommodate those who can only help for a lesser amount of time. Sign-up sheets will be available on the courtyard table through August 9.

Our Free Store creates many benefits for us and our neighbors:

1. Shoppers obtain goods they might otherwise struggle to afford,
2. Donors of goods are relieved of having to store items they no longer use,
3. The items sold do not end up in the landfill, reducing environmental impacts,
4. Our neighbors meet us and learn a bit about LCH and God’s love, and
5. We enjoy fellowship as we get to know our neighbors.

We thank you for your assistance with this worthy service project.

Barbara Poole-Street for the Stewardship Team
Barbara Poole-Street, Bill Potter, Cindy Scheinert, Mark Russell, Phyllis Hormann, Willow Chang

Godly Play Sunday School

Godly Play is a Sunday school curriculum for children from kindergarten through 5th grade.

Most of the year we meet each Sunday in the Godly Play Room at 9:00 for a story, discussion and creative response using the form and techniques of Godly Play. All children kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome!

Godly Play takes a break for the summer and will not meet in July or August. We will start again on September 6. See you then!!

Adult Forum

Sundays at 9:00 am in the Boardroom

In August, Adult Forum will begin our comparison of Christianity and Buddhism on August 2, take a break on August 9 and 16 to hear from Carol Langner about our courtyard bulletin boards, and return to the comparison of Christianity and Buddhism on August 23 and 30. In September, Dr. Stephen Miller will lead us in a comparison of Christianity and Hinduism. Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:00 am in the Boardroom.

Leadership Roundtable

Tuesday, August 4, 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!

Game Day

Wednesday, August 5, at 1:00 pm in Isenberg Hall

Please join Paula Wheeler for Game Day on Wednesday, August 5, 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 continue 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.

Restorative Yoga

Thursdays 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!

Writers’ Workshop

Monday, July 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!

Food for Thought

Saturday, August 22, at 5:30 pm • Dave Hörmann’s Home

Food for Thought, a gathering of LCH friends, meets at the home of David Hörmann on Saturday, August 22, at 5:30 for conversation and a potluck dinner. David provides the main dish while the guests provide side dishes

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.

The following date for Food for Thought will be Saturday 26 September.

Seeking Volunteers & Donations for One Pot, One Hope

Saturday, August 29, 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.

Mary Magdalene Society Potluck and Game Night

Saturday, August 29, at 6:00 pm • Isenberg Hall

Mary Magdalene Society will meet 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 August 23 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.

Help Feed Our Neighbors!

Join an IHS Sandwich-Making Team

Every month a team of LCH members and friends meets to prepare and deliver 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 serve our neighbors.

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.

If your schedule won’t accommodate a monthly commitment, please consider being an on-call backup. 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.

In My Opinion

As a resident of Georgia, I had the privilege of voting at age 18 several years before the 26th Amendment was ratified in 1971 and all registered voters in the US could begin casting their votes at age 18.

One of the first things I did when I moved to Hawai‘i in 1973 was register to vote, and I have done so in every election since then so long as I was residing in the country.

One of the many early pleasant surprises of living in Hawai‘i was the very strong voter turnouts for elections.

Sadly, that early enthusiasm has diminished over the years. One source says voter turnout for the 2024 Primary was around 24%. That means that three out of four voters could not be bothered to fill out their mail in ballots in the comfort of their homes and drop them in a mailbox.

Let’s do our part to turn the current trend. Voting is a privilege.

Josie Bidgood

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.

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Electronic Funds Transfers for June

Offering Fund	Amount	Offering Fund	Amount
Offerings	$6,257	Memorials-Pr. Jeff-H3RC	$75
Pastor Relocation	$475	Family Promise	$50
Music Fund	$375	Music in Mission	$50
One Pot, One Hope	$125	H3RC AIDS Walk	$26
Concert Fund	$90	Capital Improvements	$25
IHS Meals	$75

Attendance and Offerings for July

Date	Worship Service	Attendance	Offering Fund	Amount
July 5	Hybrid Worship	57 + 195 views	Offerings	$10,965
			Music in Mission	$1,583
			Social Ministries	$750
July 12	Hybrid Worship	58 + 242 views	Concert Sponsorship	$400
			Music Fund	$350
			Pastor Relocation	$250
July 19	Hybrid Worship	58 + 189 views	Family Promise	$50
			One Pot, One Hope	$20
July 26	Hybrid Worship	65 + 115 views	Offerings	$5,636
			Music in Mission	$929
			Pastor Relocation	$530
			Angel Network	$20

HeartBeat Deadline

Tuesday, August 18, 9:00 am

Alan G., Alex M., Amanda L., Betty H., Bob H., Bob K., Carrie S., Christiane E., Chuck P. and Josie B., Connie P., Dave B., David D., Don J., Earl S., Elaine, Geneva J. and family, George T., Greg G., Harold W., Jane H., Jason M., Jean L. and her family, John B., John S., Joseph L., Kathy M., Kristin H., LaVerne R., Liz Z., Margaret H., Miriam and Miles S., Nancy B., Nan W., Peggy A., Rachel L. and family, the family
and friends of Ruth S., Salina R., Tom 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.

August Birthdays

08/03	Elizabeth Pearson
08/05	Nedra Walker
08/13	Alexa Sueda
08/19	Maseeh Ganjali
08/24	Amanda Lippert
08/26	Marsha Schweitzer
08/29	Kristin S.

Calendar: August 2026

Day	Date	Event and Time
Sunday	August 2	9:00 am, Adult Forum, Boardroom 10:00 am, In-person/Streaming Worship Service
Tuesday	August 4	6:30 pm, Leadership Roundtable, Zoom
Wednesday	August 5	1:00 pm, Game Day, Isenberg Hall
Thursday	August 6	10:00 am, Bible Study, Boardroom/Zoom 6:00 pm, VIA Social Justice Ministry, Boardroom 6:30 pm, Restorative Yoga, Zoom
Sunday	August 9	9:00 am, Adult Forum, Boardroom 10:00 am, In-person/Streaming Worship Service
Monday	August 10	4:30 pm, Writers’ Workshop, Zoom 6:30 pm, Worship and Music Committee Meeting, Zoom
Thursday	August 13	10:00 am, Bible Study, Boardroom/Zoom 6:00 pm, VIA Social Justice Ministry, Boardroom 6:30 pm, Restorative Yoga, Zoom
Saturday	August 15	10:00 am, Free Store at LCH
Sunday	August 16	9:00 am, Adult Forum, Boardroom 10:00 am, In-person/Streaming Worship Service
Monday	August 17	6:15 pm, Pūpū and Conversation, Hörmann Courtyard 7:00 pm, Summer Jazz Journey: Jewel in the Lotus
Tuesday	August 18	HeartBeat Submission Deadline 5:30 pm, Finance Committee Meeting, Zoom
Thursday	August 20	10:00 am, Bible Study, Boardroom/Zoom noon, IHS Sandwich Making, Isenberg Hall 6:00 pm, VIA Social Justice Ministry, Boardroom 6:30 pm, Restorative Yoga, Zoom 7:00 pm, LCH Choir rehearsal, Nave
Friday	August 21	Office Closed—Hawai‘i Statehood Day
Saturday	August 22	5:30 pm, Food for Thought, David Hörmann’s Home
Sunday	August 23	9:00 am, Adult Forum, Boardroom 10:00 am, In-person/Streaming Worship Service 1:00 pm, O.Y.E.A. Messy Olympics, Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church
Monday	August 24	6:00 pm, Executive Council Meeting 6:30 pm, LCH Council Meeting, Boardroom
Thursday	August 26	10:00 am, Bible Study, Boardroom/Zoom 6:00 pm, VIA Social Justice Ministry, Boardroom 6:30 pm, Restorative Yoga, Zoom 7:00 pm, LCH Choir rehearsal, Nave
Saturday	August 29	9:00 am, One Pot, One Hope, Maluhia Lutheran Church 6:00 pm, Mary Magdalene Society, Isenberg Hall
Sunday	August 30	9:00 am, Adult Forum, Boardroom 10:00 am, In-person/Streaming Worship Service