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Duruflé Requiem: A concert in memory of Carl Crosier (Nov. 1)

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Concert graphic

The Lutheran Church of Honolulu Choir will join with the Hawai‘i Vocal Arts Ensemble to remember long-time church musician, Carl Crosier, featuring Maurice Duruflé’s beloved Requiem and the world premiere of Frank Ferko’s Missa O Magne Pater based on medieval Hildegard chants.

Timothy Carney and Scott Fikse will conduct the combined choirs with members of the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra, internationally-renowned organist Jonathan Dimmock, and soloists Laurie Rubin, mezzo-soprano and Leslie “Buz” Tennent, baritone. Mr. Ferko will be in attendance for the premiere of his Mass.

Duruflé’s Requiem, while composed on the Gregorian chants of the Mass for the Dead, allows the listener to focus on life rather than on death, while receiving comfort in the face of the unknown. Ferko’s Missa O Magne Pater was commissioned on the suggestion of Crosier, and is patterned after Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G minor for unaccompanied double chorus. These Masses, with their mystical feeling, have brought the beauty of the Latin Mass into modern times.

The concert is free, and all are welcome.

Sunday, November 1 · 7:00 pm
Lutheran Church of Honolulu · 1730 Punahou Street

Driving Directions / Bus Information

Barbershop Quartet for the Last Summer Sunday

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August 30, the last summer Sunday with only one worship service, Scott Fikse, our new director of music and liturgy, brought along the other members of his Barbershop Quartet to provide music for worship. Pastor Jeff joked that the roof might cave in because LCH is not used to this kind of music, but God was cool with it all, and the roof is still intact.

Society Dues, which includes Scott and three friends, is beginning their second year of competing within the Barbershop Harmony Society, so when Scott moved to Honolulu this summer to join the staff at LCH, they decided to rehearse here for the upcoming Evergreen District competition in October. (The sacrifices one makes for the sake of music!) Everyone at LCH was glad to welcome them to worship on Sunday and to hear their uplifting renditions of spiritual songs.

Outdoor Worship and Picnic July 5

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Worship

God’s People gather for worship

The LCH ‘ohana worshipped outdoors on Sunday as we dedicated the new eco-shade covering for the Hörmann Courtyard. The ensemble choir lead the congregation in worship as we heard God’s word and shared God’s supper. Following worship, everyone enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn.

Grillers

Grillmasters Craig and Walter at work

 

Hamburgers, hotdogs, watermelon, and a variety of side dishes made for a festive meal.

The congregation also had a chance for some friendly competition of Cornhole and Lawn Darts
We give thanks to everyone who helped make the Hørmann Courtyard Eco-shade covering possible. The courtyard is now usable in all weather conditions allowing us to better serve our community.IMG_1541

Beckerath Organ Celebration · May 24 · 5:00 PM

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organ rededication graphicForty years ago, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu sought to revitalize its music program, beginning with the purchase of a mechanical action organ, altogether unique and unprecedented in Hawaii, in a classic design made by one of the leading master organbuilders, Rudolf von Beckerath of Hamburg, Germany. It turned out to be the last organ he personally voiced and supervised in the United States.

Organist Joey Fala, who was intrigued by the sound of a pipe organ in a Honolulu preschool, returns to perform music by Bach, Reger, Wammis and Demessieux. He began lessons on the Beckerath organ with Katherine Crosier in the fifth grade and continued through his high school years. At Iolani School’s graduation, he won the Bishop’s Award and was proclaimed “the best organist in the state” by then-Headmaster Val Iwashita.

While concurrently pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture, Fala has given many recitals and won prizes for his organ playing. A recipient of the American Guild of Organist Hawaii Chapter and Eastern New York Chapter scholarships, the Robert T. Anderson Award, and the Pogorzelski-Yankee Memorial Scholarship, he has also received first prize in the NYC chapter AGO/Quimby Competition for Young Organists and most recently performed as a finalist in the Arthur Poister Organ Competition. This summer, Fala will present a recital as a featured artist at the Organ Historical Society’s national convention in Springfield, MA. In August, he will begin the Master of Music program in organ at Yale University under full scholarship, studying with Thomas Murray and Martin Jean.

Tours of the organ chamber will be given after the program, and a reception will follow in the courtyard.

A Joyful Easter Celebration

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Members and friends gather for a joyful celebration Easter Sunday morning. Between two festive worship services at 8:00 and 10:30 am, the younger children enjoyed a puppet show and then headed out to hunt for Easter eggs that the older children had hidden, and everyone enjoyed a bountiful potluck brunch.

Children’s conversation on Easter morningThe younger children enjoy a puppet show while the older children hide the Easter eggsHunting for Easter eggsA girl with her basket of Easter eggsA young baby with her grandmotherA family with their children and cousinsTwo children decked out for EasterThe bountiful Easter potluck

Easter Triduum—Easter Vigil

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The last part of the Great Three Days (Triduum) began with the congregation gathered in the Hörmann Courtyard for the kindling of the new fire and the lighting of the Pascal Candle.

Once inside the Nave, members of the congregation lit their candles the flame passed from the Pascal Candle and listened to the Exsultet

The service continued with the retelling of salvation history through lessons from the Hebrew Scriptures, the renewal of baptismal vows, the joyous Easter proclamation, and holy communion.

Following worship, the congregation returned to the Courtyard to break their Lenten fast with a sweet feast of champagne, strawberries, and cookies.

The Vigil began with the lighting of a new fire in the courtyard, and then the Paschal candle was lit from the fire.The congregation processed into the Nave and candles were lit during the singing of the Exulted.The first part of the Vigil centered around lessons from the Hebrew scriptures and recounting salvation history, beginning with the creation.Following the Litany of the Saints, the ministers returned in their Easter vestments to lead the Easter proclamation: Christ is risen! Alleluia!The Vigil concluded with the celebration of communion amid the beautiful array of Easter lilies.

Easter Triduum—Good Friday

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The observance of the Great Three Days (Triduum) continued with the Good Friday Liturgy. Members gathered to hear the Passion Gospel and venerate the cross.

“The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John” was sung in a setting by Zachary Wadsworth. Jeremy Wong sang the part of the Evangelist, Simon Crookall sang Jesus, and Tommy Trotter sang other parts; the choir took the part of the crowd.

The Passion was followed by the Solemn Collects and the the Adoration of the Crucified.

The Triduum concludes with the Easter Vigil Saturday evening at 7:30 pm.

The Passion according to Saint John in a setting by Zachary Wadsworth was sung by the choir and soloists.The minsters led the congregation in the Solemn Collects.The Taizé Cross was used for the Adoration of the Cricified.Members of the congregation knelt in prayer before the cross as they left worship.

Easter Triduum—Maundy Thursday

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Our observance of the Great Three Days (Triduum) of Easter began with the Maundy Thursday Liturgy. Members gathered to hear again the story of the Last Supper, when Jesus met with his disciples in the Upper Room before being handed over to suffer and die for us.

The Gospel of John recounts how after supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and gave them a new commandment (Latin, mandatum, from which we get the word “Maundy”): ”Love one another.” In response, members of the congregation washed each other’s feet in the Maundy ritual.

The Maundy was followed by Holy Communion, in remembrance that Jesus instituted the sacrament in the Last Supper.

The liturgy concluded with the stripping of the altar, as Jesus was stripped before being crucified.

The Triduum continues with the Good Friday Liturgy and Easter Vigil on Saturday, both at 7:30 pm.

The ministers entered the Nave to begin the service as the choir chanted the introit for the day.Following Jesus’ example at the Last Supper, members washed each other’s feet.The elements of communion were distributed at the rail in remembrance of the institution of the sacrament.Following communion, the elements of the eucharist were removed from the Nave, and then the altar was stripped bare.The congregation contemplated the bare altar and left in silence.

Holy Week Begins with Palm Sunday

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Our observance of Holy Week began with the Palm Sunday liturgy on March 29. Worshipers gathered in the courtyard to listen to the Palm Sunday Gospel, followed by the blessing and distribution of palms and procession around the church.

Once the congregation was inside the Nave, the focus turned to the dramatic reading of the Passion Gospel according to Mark.

Holy Week observances culminate with the Great Three Days, or Tiduum, at 7:30 pm on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Easter Sunday morning we will have festive celebration at both morning worship services, with a potluck brunch and Easter egg hunt at 9:15 am.

The Palm Sunday liturgy began in the courtyard with the reading of Mark’s account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and then the blessing and distribution of palms.The procession circled the church building, with everyone singing “All glory, laud, and honor.”The procession retuned to the courtyard and then entered the Nave.Everyone—both adults and children—participated in the procession.Once inside the Nave, the service focussed on the Passion Gospel from Mark, read by five members of the choir.

Children’s Benefit Concert a Great Success

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Members and friends of the congregation gathered for the 9th (mostly) annual Children”s Benefit Concert on Saturday afternoon, March 7

In keeping with tradition, the concert began with “Hittite Hints,” an original poem by Pr. Fritz Fritschel, read by Peggy Brandt because Pr. Fritz was out of town. Following the poem, more than a dozen children presented their musical talent. They performed on the trumpet, guitar, piano, violin, drum, and organ; one sang a solo, and all the children joined together to sing the finale.

The first Children”s Benefit Concert took place during Lent 2006, and except for last year, has taken place every Lent. Each year the children challenge members of the congregation to pledge $1 a day for the 40 days of Lent to be used to help families in need around the world. At the early years, donations were made through Heifer International, but in 2013 and again this year, donation will go the ELCA”s Good Gifts program.

Pastor Jeff welcomed the audience to the 9th Children’s Benefit ConcertPeggy Brant read “Hittite Hints,” a new poem by Pr. Fritz Fritschel written for the event.A boy played Jeremiah Clarke’s “Trumpet Voluntary.”A boy played a guitar arrangement of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”A girl played “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” on the violin.A girl played “What Can I Share” by Palmer, Manus, and Lethco on the piano.A boy played “Hip Little Sixteen” by Murray Hollif on the snare drum.A boy played Beethoven’ “Für Elise” on the piano.A boy played “Toccotina” by David Schaap on the organ.A girl played “Vivace” by Ferdinando Carulli and “Minuet in G minor” by J.S. Bach on the piano.A girl sand “New York, New York” by Kander and Ebb.A boy played “Sicilienne and Rigaudon” by Fritz Kreisler on the violin.A girl played “Morning Vista” by Melody Bober on the piano.A boy played the second movement of Diitri Shostokovich’s “Sonata in D minor” on the cello.A boy played “Toccata” form Suite Gothique on the organ.The concert ended with the F.R.O.G.S. Choir singing “Elijah Rock!”