Author Archive: admin

Celebrating LCH’s 125th Anniversary • September 7–14

Posted on by

125th Anniversary banner

Over the past 125 years, God has richly blessed the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and you are one of our many blessings. So, we are inviting members, friends, and former members to bless us once again with your presence at our Legacies and Blessings celebration events. Please join us, as together we will give thanks to God,
remember the past and look forward to the future. Together let’s rejoice and give thanks for God’s abundant blessings!

September 7—Worship with Eucharist at 10:00 am

  • The Rev. Dave Barber (pastor, 2000–2006) preaching and presiding.
    Fellowship time following the worship service.

September 8—First Mondays pūpū and concert featuring the Royal Hawaiian Band

  • 6:15 pm—All are invited to gather for pūpū the Hörmann Courtyard.
  • 7:00 pm—Royal Hawaiian Band concert

September 12—Remembering the Past at 6:00 pm

  • Inaugural viewing of the video LCH’s Legacies and Blessings—People, Places and Stories
  • Lecture For Beer and the Bible—One Hundred Years at Lutheran Church of Honolulu
    Author Dr. Sandra Wagner-Wright will share an evening of stories of her journey researching and writing this book. Refreshments served.

September 13—Legacies and Blessings Banquet

  • 5:30 pm—All are invited to gather for pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard.
  • 6:30 pm—Banquet dinner and entertainment.
     
    Reservations required. Please reserve your spot(s) by August 15th using one of the links below.

September 14—Legacies and Blessings Festival Worship at 4:00 pm

  • Bishop of the Pacifica Synod, The Rev. David Nagler, preaching
    We will be débuting a new Festival Legacies and Blessings liturgy, arranged by Dr. Barry J. Wenger, which will feature the melodies of favorite hymns from previous LCH pastors. Reception following the worship service.

125th Anniversary Book—Legacies and Blessings

Read the stories of legacy-making people and programs that have blessed LCH. Print copies may be reserved using one of the links below. We will mail the book to you when it is published. The book will also be in digital format, with instructions for downloading available in the near future. (For print copies, the suggested donation is $10 to benefit the Mission Fund.)

Reserve your spot for the Anniversary Banquet or a print copy of the Anniversary Book using one of these links. Donations for the banquet or the book are appreciated but not required. Use the first link to make your reservation without making a donation. Use the second link to make your reservation and make a donation to support the banquet and/or the production of the book.

LCH 125th Anniversary Banquet and Book Reservations and Donations

Posted on by

Reservations for the 125th Anniversary Banquet on Saturday, September 13 (Reservation deadline August 15)




Your voluntary donations help to support the banquet.

Please use the PayPal button to the right and include the names of those who will be attending the banquet.

Anniversary Book Reservations




Donation for the anniversary book will benefit the Mission Fund.

Please PayPal using the button to the right and include the number of copies desired. PayPal will ask for your mailing address so the book can be mailed to you.

Support LCH’s 125th Anniversary Mission Fund

Posted on by

As part of this year’s 125th anniversary of the founding on the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, the congregation committed to raising $125,000 to support the mission of this congregation. We have already raised $65,000 for enhancements to the Rudolph von Beckerath organ and more than $20,000 towards the other mission goals of the congregation. We ask for your support in completing this goal.

The Mission Fund will further the Welcoming and Safe Environment and Silver Tsunami (Caring for our Kūpuna) priorities identified in our ‘ohana group meetings held in 2024. We intend to set aside $50,000 for much-needed improvements to our campus to create a welcoming and safe environment, and $4,000 will be used as seed money for programming for our kūpuna. As is our practice, we will set aside a tenth of what we raise ($6,000) as a tithe to the synod.

More information about the priorities to be supported by the Mission Fund is available in our earlier post about the 125th Anniversary Mission Fund Plans.




Donations may be made by check (made out to Lutheran Church of Honolulu with “Mission Fund” in the memo line and mailed to 1730 Punahou St., Honolulu, HI 96822) and sent to the church (1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96822) or via PayPal using the button to the right.

Beckerath 50 & Beyond!—A Birthday Celebration • June 6 and 8

Posted on by

Organ Concert by Dr. Barry J. Wenger • Friday, June 6, 7:00 pm
Choral Pentecost Service with LCH Choir • Sunday, June 8, 5:00 pm

Organ birthday graphicBeckerath organs are renowned for their craftsmanship and historical significance. The Beckerath company, founded by Rudolf von Beckerath in Hamburg, Germany, has been creating exquisite pipe organs for over 75 years, influencing both the soundscape of sacred and secular spaces and the evolution of organ building. Hans Erbslöh and the Beckerath Organ Company continue to innovate while respecting traditional organ-building techniques. This future-oriented perspective might include the integration of new technologies, expanding the musical repertoire of their instruments, and maintaining their commitment to quality and artistic excellence. Whether through restoring historic organs or designing new ones, the Beckerath Organ Company remains a beacon of musical craftsmanship, resonating well into the future.

Our Beckerath Organ is currently being cleaned and renovated. Through the generous donations of members and friends of LCH, we have reached our $65,000 fundraising goal! All of us at LCH are both grateful and overjoyed in your generosity to both this congregation and the organ. This is your instrument, and it leads beautifully in services week after week and year after year.

The new Salicional 8′ stop has been added to the Swell division of the organ. A new Trompete 8′ stop has replaced the TrichterSchalmei 4′ in the Pedal division. These two enhancements help the Beckerath Organ to be more complete in both voices; it did not have a string sound, nor a fundamental unison-pitched sound in the pedal. Even J.S. Bach requested a string stop be placed in his organ at Weimar. The trumpet stop in the pedal will help in Bach chorales, which require an assertive sound for the cantus firmus, and also to develop the plenum of sound in the full pedal with the Fagott 16′.

Please join us for a celebratory weekend on Friday, June 6, at 7:00 pm for Dr. Barry Wenger’s recital featuring the new sounds of the organ and then again on Sunday, June 8, at 5:00 pm for a choral Pentecost service featuring the LCH Choir and organ. Be ready to sing with the new sounds of the organ in a service of fire and joy. Don’t forget to wear red to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit in wind and fire!

Beer and the Bible 2.0: Pilgrimage to Lutherland: May 24 through June 5, 2026

Posted on by

There’s a trip afoot; another event to include as part of our 125th anniversary celebration. Dr. Barry Wenger, our director of music, Jean Lilley, and Pr. Phyllis Hörmann are planning a pilgrimage to Germany, where we will walk in the footsteps of Martin Luther and revisit our heritage as well as renew our spirits. We are working with Christian Tours Europe based in Wittenberg.

The target departure date for this trip is May 24,, 2026, and the return date is June 5. It will start in Berlin and end in Prague. Travel will be by private motor coach. Between Berlin and Prague, we will spend time in Wittenberg, Torgau, Leipzig, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, and Dresden. It will be a pilgrimage filled with interesting stories and history from a couple of pastors as well as local guides. Besides walking in Luther’s footsteps, we will visit other significant religious and historical sites, museums, churches, and castles and see some beautiful countryside. We will hear organ concerts compliments of Dr. Barry and possibly other organists or a choir. Details and registration information will be available in the next few weeks, as we continue our planning with the tour company.

Space is limited! Our current plans are for a group of 30 participants. Once registration is open, we will operate on a first come, first served basis. LCH ‘ohana members will have priority, but we will open the tour up to others should we have room. Cost is based on the number of participants and for 30 is $2800/person for double occupancy. Included in the cost is ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and most meals, entrance fees, and tips. It does not include air fare to and from Europe. A non-refundable $1,000 deposit will be required upon submission of the registration form. Deadline is still to be determined. Full payment is due 10 weeks prior to departure. Payments are to be made to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu.

Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Europe. Randy Christensen has kindly offered to help with flight arrangements for those who wish it and will book a desired flight for $25. Should you choose to book a flight he finds, there is no charge.

A couple of notes up front: Participants may consider purchasing trip insurance to cover health, including medical transportation, if necessary, trip cancellation, and loss of baggage. You will need a passport (check your expiration date now). Also, please note that there will be a certain amount of walking involved as we tour the small towns of Luther. Some hotel accommodations may not have elevators and steps may be involved as well.

Organ Renovation Project Underway

Posted on by

organ pipes removed for cleaningThe Organ Renovation Project began in earnest on May 12 and will continue through the first week of June. This work comes has been made possible by fundraising leading up to LCH’s 125th anniversary celebration in September. The congregation commited to raising $125,000 in time for the celebration, $65,000 for the organ renovations and $60,000 for the Mission Fund to carry out congregational mission priories.

With funds already pledged or donated for the organ renovation, technicians from Germany are giving the organ a thorough cleaning to remove any dust and debris that have accumulated over the years. The Great division, located at the top of the organ, has had all of its pipes removed and has been cleaned.

new zymbelsternAlso, a new zymbelstern was installed as the old one was not very reliable. This one has six bells and will usher in the holy spirit whenever it is on!

Work continues on the Swell division, located above the organist behind the shades. The holes are being drilled from a template for the new Salicional 8′ pipes to be installed. These 56 new holes will allow air to flow into the pipes when the key is depressed. They will sing a new string sound into the Nave and help support choral and congregational singing in a new and fitting way.

In the Pedal division, the Schalmei 4′ pipes have been removed, and soon new rack boards will be installed. These rack boards will hold the new Trumpet 8′ pipes in place. Both the pedal and swell divisions will be cleaned before any pipes go back in place.

Once the work is done, everyone is invited to a enjoy the restored and enhanced with an organ recital on Friday evening, June 6, by Dr. Barry Wenger, our director of music and liturgy and organist.

First Mondays Concert: May Day Is Lei Day • Mon., May 5, at 7:00 pm

Posted on by

concert graphicLei Day embodies the spirit of aloha, with each lei representing the heartfelt connection between giver and receiver. The creation of a lei—through the gathering of materials, preparation, and weaving—is infused with the mana, or spirit, of its maker. Honoring this celebration through music, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu welcomes vocalist Starr Kalahiki, who will lead us on a musical adventure that will warm your soul and uplift your spirit!

All are invited to gather for pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard and 6:15 pm. The concert is free, with a suggested donation $20. In addition, we will continue to collect packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g., cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned food donations for the Angel Network at each concert.

Through the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation and support from other individual supporters, this concert is free. Additional donations to support this concert and the entire series are gladly accepted online (details below) or at the concert.

First Mondays 2024–2025 Concert Series




Help Make “First Mondays” a Success by Becoming a Sponsor

Your tax-deductible donations make it possible for us to offer these free concerts to the community. Please consider a donation by sending a check (payable to “Lutheran Church of Honolulu”) to the church at 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu HI 96822 or using the button to the right to make a secure donation via PayPal. Mahalo for your support.

LCH Celebrates Earth Day Sunday on April 27

Posted on by

The bounty of our Earth Day celebration 2024This year LCH will celebrate Earth Day with a special service at 10:00 am on Sunday, April 27. The worship service will use a special liturgy centered around creation care.

Before worship, the Adult Form will welcome Dr. Jonathan Scheurer to speak on water rights at 9:00 am in the Boardroom. Dr. Scheurer has twenty five years experience in public policy and land management in the public, non profit, and private sectors, in the Native Hawaiian and broader communities. He works with clients to develop strategies designed to avoid, manage, and/or resolve deep and complex conflicts over the control and management of natural resources.

In addition, sharing tables will be set up in the Hörmann Courtyard for members and friends to share nature’s bounty (plants, flowers vegetables, fruits, nuts, and crafts made of natural materials). The photo at the right shows one of the sharing tables from last year’s celebration.

Read about the history Earth Day, forms of climate activism, ways to get involved, and LCH’s commitment to creation care in the April HeartBeat.