The congregation welcomed Anne Sing as our new parish administrator during morning worship on Sunday, August 17. Anne has be training with Sarah Roseberg,our veteran administrator for the last two weeks
Anne lives with her husband and two children in East Honolulu. Learn more about her background on our Leadership page.
At right, Pastor Angela introduces Anne Sing to the congregation during worship.
The new Godly Play room at LCH is up and running! The Sunday school leaders have been preparing for the new program starting the first week of September. Curious about what Godly Play is and what LCH is up to with the children’s ministry? You can always read Nana Linda’s blog!
Summer Day Camp begins on Monday, June 30, and the congregation was happy to welcome the young camp leaders to join us for Sunday worship. To get everyone in the mood for camp, the leaders taught a camp song during the children’s conversation, and they even got the whole congregation to stand and join in with the song and motions.
Again this year the leaders come from Lutheran Retreats, Camps, and Conferences (LRCC), headquartered in Southern California. They have prepared an exciting program using the theme ”POWER up,” which invites the children to experience the POWER of God’s dynamic love and grace.
Camp begins on Monday morning, with registration at 8:30 am. All children ages 5 through sixth grade are invited, even if they did not register in advance. Bring your friends for this powerful week experiencing the POWER of God.
Everyone is also invited to the closing worship on Friday at 11:00 am.
At right, the leaders teach the words and motions for a favorite camp song.
It seems like summer has just begun, but already folks in our Sunday School are getting ready for the new school year in September. Earlier this year, they decided to switch their curriculum and adopt Godly Play for the LCH Sunday School, so the leadership is busy getting everything ready.
Linda Miller first introduced the Godly Play to the congregation back in January, and one of the Sunday School rooms has been outfitted for the curriculum, so now the teachers are beginning their training to use the curriculum effectively. At right, Linda (left), discusses Godly Play with Jim Niermann, Marjan Lynch, Laurie Leach, and Stepha Luuloa.
To help get the word out about Godly Play, Linda has resurrected her blog, Notes from Nana Linda, with a recent post explaining Godly Play. Check it out, and stay tuned for more news about this exciting curriculum.
The first summer Sunday with one worship service saw a joyful celebration of the ministry of LCH as we gathered to formally install The Rev. Angela Freeman as co-pastor. Even though Angela has been working among us for almost two years, her initial call was for a term of two years, so after the congregation voted to extend a regular call, she had to be installed again.
The service of installation featured special music from several children in the congregation, elements from the traditional “10:30 style” (the LCH Choir singing the psalm and special music by Sir Ralph Vaughan Williams), and the Alleluia Mass regularly sung for contemporary worship.
Following worship, everyone enjoyed a summer barbecue and fellowship inn the Hörmann Courtyard and Isenberg Hall.
At right, members of the congregation crowd around to lay hands on Pr. Angela during the installation.
Children in the LCH Sunday School enjoyed a morning of fun and games on their last day together until the fall. The Sunday School teachers had prepared a variety of games to appeal to individual interests and different ages. Others from the congregation pitched in to prepare hot dogs and other snacks for the children.
At right, children reach into the mystery box for prizes.
The summer worship schedule begins on June 1, with one morning worship service at 9:15 am. Regular Sunday School Classes will resume with the first Sunday in September, but nursery classes will be provided during worship.
Twelve folks from LCH teamed up to participate in the Honolulu AIDS Walk 2014 to benefit the Life Foundation on Saturday, May 24. It was a rainy morning, but nothing could dampen team spirits as nine members gathered on the grounds of Honolulu Hale prior to the walk. (The other three had work obligations, so they couldn’t walk.) With everyone wearing the goldenrod shirts from the 25th anniversary of the ELCA, the group certainly stood out.
The nine walkers were right up front when the walk began at 9:30 am, but a misstep by one of the members about half way through the walk resulted in an injury. Everyone gathered around to offer support and comfort until the ambulance arrived and transported the member to the hospital. As a result, Team LCH was one of the last to cross the finish line.
In the end, Team LCH raise almost $3,000 for the Life Foundation to help fight HIV/AIDS in Hawai‘i and help those living with the disease.
At right, team members pose for a photograph before they stepped off on the Walk.
Summer is fast approaching, and with it opportunities for our young people to enjoy Day Camp on the LCH campus June 30 through July 4. Again this year, leaders will come from Southern California Lutheran Outdoor Ministry.
To get everyone excited about Day Camp, youth from the congregation provided special music and spoke about how much last year’s experience meant to them at both morning worship services on May 18.
Between services parents and friends held a FUNraiser bake sale to raise funds for the camp.
At right, one of the girls gives her testimony while her brother shows the shirt he made for camp.
Below, one of the boys plays the courante from the Sonata in G minor by Henry Eccles (1670–1742).
Anyone wanting more information or interested in registering for Day Camp should contact Pastor Angela Freeman at pr.angela@lchwelcome.org.
In addition to Day Camp, LCH will be joining with other ELCA churches on O‘ahu and the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i for summer camp. There are three sessions between June 21 and July 3. For more information and a link to register, see the May issue of The HeartBeat.
The people of LCH welcomed a new member, the daughter of Janelle and Jon into the family of faith through the sacrament of Holy Baptism during the 8:00 am worship on Sunday, May 11, 2014.
Jordyn’s baptismal sponsors are Parker W.K. Hanson and Kristina Hanson.
“We rejoice with you in the life of baptism. Together we will give thanks and praise to God and proclaim the good news to all the world.” (ELW rite of Holy Baptism—affirmation from the congregation)
Members and clergy from LCH played key roles in the annual Pacific Synod Assembly held in Waikiki, May 1–3. The Assembly brought together pastors and lay delegates from across the Pacifica Synod, which includes all of Hawai‘i and parts of Southern California.
Pastor Jeff Lilley, in his capacity as dean of our Hukilau Conference of Hawai‘i congregations, took the lead in making local arrangements, and Pastors Angela Freeman and Phyllis Hormann coordinated the myriad of local volunteers during the assembly. Our two pastors also coordinated the opening and closing worship services.
At right, Pastor Angela presides at communion during the opening worship service, with Mary Fastenau of LCH and Pastor Keith Waltor of Christ Lutheran in Mililani serving as assisting ministers. The service took place at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, right across the street from the Waikiki Beach Marriott which hosted the assembly.
The assembly was particularly pleased to welcome newly-elected Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to join in the fellowship. Bishop Eaton spoke during the business meetings and preached at the closing worship service on Saturday, May 3. Also participating in the closing worship were the LCH Choir and brass from the Bach Chamber Orchestra.
The congregations of the Hukilau and everyone at LCH were pleased to host the assembly this year, and we look forward to welcoming them back again in the future.
Listen to Presiding Bishop Eaton’s sermon at the closing worship.
Huliklau clergy with Presding Bishop Eaton (center, with a head lei and wearing the LCH cope), Pacifica Synod Bishop Murray Finck (wearing a maile lei) following the closing worship service.