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Compline Livestreams November 1 & 15 at 7:30 pm

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prayer graphicWe warmly invite all people in all places of faith and life to Compline. Offered on the first and third Sundays of each month, this beautiful candle-lit service is a meditative experience of a cappella singing and chanting to commemorate the day’s end. This month, November 1 will feature Women’s Compline. November 15 compline will be led by members of the LCH Men’s Schola. Musical selections include Gregorian chant, Taizé chant, Renaissance polyphony, and more.

Access to the LCH public Facebook page at facebook.com/LCHwelcome or by using the link on the bottom of any page on the LCH website.

Virtual LutherFest 2020 • October 31 at 6:00 pm via Zoom Meeting

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LutherFest graphicFor 2020, LutherFest will be a virtual event via Zoom on Saturday, October 31, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Join us online to enjoy some great company and entertainment from the comfort of your own home.

LutherFest wouldn’t be the same without traditional bratwurst. Paradise Brats has agreed to supply us with their very German bratwurst. The brats will be packaged into 5 per package and must be pre-ordered between October 20 and 29 (or until we sell out). Place your order by emailing Vicar Bree at vicar.bree@lchwelcome.org. We will have a drive through Bratwurst pick up at church on Friday, October 30, 4:00 to 6:30 pm. If you are unable to pick them up at this time, we will do our best to make alternative arrangements. You will have to cook them yourself, but it will be worth it!

We will have live entertainment broadcast from the courtyard featuring a surprise musician and music from our own community (subject to quarantine rules). This will be a live event through Zoom, and we will send out a Zoom link a week or so before the event.



Even though we will not be having a contest or pouring LCH wine, in keeping with tradition, we welcome your generous donations, which will benefit organization Waikīkī Health Center Youth Outreach. Donations may be made in person during brat distribution, via PayPal using the link to the right, or mailed to the church office.

Danke sehr and hope to see you there!

In Luther’s Words: A Reformation Concert • Thurs., Oct. 29, 7:00 pm

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Luther graphicMartin Luther believed that music holds a special place in our lives by connecting us to the Divine in profound ways. His own hymn texts and compositions have inspired composers for generations whose works are now inescapably connected to our rich Lutheran heritage.

We invite you to tune in for a special livestream concert featuring music of the Reformation. Martina Bingham (soprano), Sarah Lambert Connelly (mezzo-soprano), Tomás Romas (tenor), and Scott Fikse (bass-baritone) will perform works by composers who set some of Luther’s most famous texts to music. The cornerstone piece of the evening will be Mendelssohn’s rarely heard setting of Aus Tiefer Not Schrei’ ich zu dir (Out of the depths I cry to you), a choral motet organized into 5 beautifully unique movements. The quartet is joined by virtuoso keyboardist Maika‘i Nash, who will play what he describes as two of his “bucketlist” piano works—transcriptions of notable gems of the instrumental repertoire by J. S. Bach.

The concert will livestream on the LCH Facebook page at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 29. Download the concert program booklet.



A suggested donation of $10 may be made by mail (Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahu Street, Honolulu, HI 96822) or via PayPal using the link to the right.

Program

  1. Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist: Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)
  2. Partita for Violin No. 3 in E major, bwv 1006: J. S. Bach (1685–1750), arr. Rachmaninov
  3. Aus tiefer Not schrei’ ich zu dir, Op. 23: Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
  4. Organ Sonata No. 4, bwv 528, II. Andante: Bach, transc. Stradal
  5. Ein Feste Burg: Johann Walter (1496–1570)

Welcome Intern Pastor Brianna Llyod

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Intern Pastor Brianna Lloyd

On September 1, Lutheran Church of Honolulu welcomed Intern Pastor Brianna Llyod for a one-year, full-time internship. Vicar Bree is a “terminal year intern,” meaning that at the end of her internship she will be eligible for call to a congregation. During her year at LCH, she will have the opportunity to experience the full range of pastoral duties, including worship leadership, pastoral care, teaching, youth ministry, administration, stewardship, and finance. In addition, she will undertake an internship project of her own choice. This internship will be somewhat unique given the pandemic. Many of your interactions with Vicar Bree will be via phone, Zoom, or other technology. Pastoral care, committee meetings, and even personal interactions will require some intentionality and care to make this the best experience possible. LCH is a great community in which to learn and develop pastoral skills and a healthy pastoral identity. Please remember, Vicar Bree is a student who is learning all the time. At the same time, we will learn a great deal from her as she brings her unique gifts to bear on God’s ministry through LCH. I pray you will welcome Vicar Bree with your customary enthusiasm and joy!

Vicar Bree has a lay committee with whom she will meet monthly. The initial committee members include Mary Fastenau, Bobby Broyles, Hunter Nishimura, and Olivia Arnold. Vicar Bree will have the opportunity to add one or more other members over the next several weeks as she gets to know our community. The lay committee serves as a sounding board for the vicar, but does not have a supervisory role.

Vecar Bree was formally installed during online worship on Sunday, September 6

Midweek Vespers • August 13 & 27

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Midweek Vespers in Honor of Nurses

Thursday, August 13, 7:00 pm • live-stream on the LCH Facebook page

prayer graphicOn this day, the church remembers two self-sacrificing nurses, Florence Nightingale and Clara Maass, renewers of society. At a time when our medical professionals are giving of themselves at the front lines of a pandemic, we offer this service of thanksgiving for the work of nurses everywhere. A solo quartet featuring Naomi Barrett (soprano), Sarah Connelly (alto), Scott Fikse (bass), and Tomas Ramos (tenor) will offer music by beloved British composers Ralph Vaughan Williams, Charles Wood, and Derek Healey.

St. Bartholomew graphicVespers for the Feast of St. Bartholomew

Thursday, August 27, 7:00 pm • live-stream on the LCH Facebook page

Bartholomew (who many believe is referred to as “Nathanael” in John’s Gospel) was one of the first disciples called to “come and see,” and he is present on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius when the risen Christ invites his friends to “come and have breakfast” (John 21:12). Join us for a special vespers in honor of St. Bartholomew, featuring music of the great British composers Charles Wood, Robert Ramsey, and Herbert Howells. Organist Mark Wong and Director of Music and Liturgy Scott Fikse are joined by Sarah Connelly (alto), Tomás Ramos (tenor), and Naomi Barrett (soprano).

Gospel of Mark • Sundays, August 2–23 • 6:30 pm

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St. Mark graphicPerformed by one actor who speaks directly to the audience as if delivering the “good news” for the first time, this theatrical presentation brings to life the words, deeds, and story of Jesus directly from the Bible. This multi-year collaboration between Maseeh Ganjali (director) and Mark Branner (actor) was to have been performed at LCH during the Feast of Saint Mark, in April 2020. Now, the entire Gospel of Mark will be presented over four weeks, live-streaming on the LCH Facebook page during the first four Sundays in August.

Midweek Vespers • July 9 & 23

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Our weekday vespers continue in July with two special services. Join us on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in services featuring guest musicians from our local choral and orchestral community.

Assurance in God’s Presence

Thursday, July 9 • 7:00 pm

This evening’s service focuses on the comforting text of Psalm 63 and the promise of God’s love and eternal changelessness. As we navigate the day-to-day changes of our current world, the church stands ready to grow and adapt to whatever the future holds through God’s grace. Music will be provided by Naomi Barrett (soprano), Carrie Staiger (alto), Benjamin Sobel (tenor), and Scott Fikse (bass) accompanied by Mark Wong and guest violinist Duane Padilla.

Vespers for the Feast of Mary Magdalene

Thursday, July 23 • 7:00 pm

“She, while Apostles shrank, could dangers brave, / Last at His cross and earliest at His grave.”—E. S. Barrett (1786–1820)

There are few figures in the Bible with as much legend and lore surrounding them as Mary Magdalene, but it’s clear from the Gospels that she was one of the most devoted followers of Jesus. Join us for a special vespers with a reflection by Pastor Jeff Lilley. Music will include selections by French composers Gounod and Massanet offered by Georgine Stark (soprano), Sarah Connelly (alto), Tomás Ramos (tenor), and Scott Fikse (bass) accompanied by organist Mark Wong and violinist Darel Stark.

COVID-19 Update

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Like many organizations throughout Hawai‘i, LCH continues to operate on a modified schedule in response to the covid-19 pandemic. Our primary concern is the safety and health of everyone using the campus. While groups are being allowed to return to campus, they are required to follow CDC, state, and local guidelines for social distancing and sanitization, as well as holding LCH harmless for any covid-19 related illness or injury. Here are some updates on recent developments at LCH:

  1. Worship
    1. The congregational council has directed that in-person Sunday worship be delayed until after August 31, 2020. Online streaming worship will continue.
    2. Limited in-person worship at midweek vespers may commence beginning in July. These services will be held in the courtyard observing all current recommendations for physical distancing and mask use.
    3. The worship committee has appointed a working group to develop a plan for return to in-person worship which will include policies and procedures.
  2. Office Hours—Staff continue to work from home with limited presence at the church office. Anne Sing monitors email daily from home and checks phone messages in the LCH office during twice weekly visits for necessary administrative tasks and supervision of contractors. We do continue to ask for your patience as some inquiries and requests may take longer to respond than usual. Carolyn Koehler keeps us up to date on billing and drafts check payments weekly. Pastor Jeff is in the office almost every day to assure campus security and maintenance. Scott Fikse is working mostly from home.
  3. Community Groups/Tenants: Some community groups have requested permission to begin meeting on the LCH Campus. The council is allowing some groups to return with very stringent guidelines.
    1. Western Presbyterian Church of Hawai‘i (WPCH) has begun in-person worship on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. They are a very small group and are diligently following the guidelines set forth by the congregational council.
    2. Alcoholics Anonymous—one group initially asked to resume meeting at LCH, but due to leadership adjustments has had to postpone the resumption of meetings. They are cleared to begin as soon as they are ready.
    3. Habitat for Humanity has resumed limited use of their office.
    4. Christiansen Educators tutoring has resumed limited use of the campus.
    5. Organ lessons will be allowed to resume on a limited basis.