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.
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 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!
Next year’s pilgrimage to Germany as part of our 125th anniversary celebration is all set! Dr. Barry Wenger, our director of music and liturgy, Jean Lilley, and Pr. Phyllis Hormann will be leading a group of members and friends of LCH, walking in the footsteps of Martin Luther, revisiting our heritage, and renewing our spirits.
Participants will depart the US on May 24, 2026, and return on June 5. The trip itself starts in Berlin and ends in Prague. In between we will have time in Wittenberg, Torgau, Leipzig, Eisleben, Erfurt, Eisenach, and Dresden. It will be a pilgrimage filled with 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 by Dr. Barry and possibly other organists. We may also hear a choir. All the details are in the tour brochure (PDF).The cost is $2,800 per person (double occupancy), based on a group of 30 participants and not including air fare. A $1,000 deposit will be required by January 15, 2026, with full payment by March 15. Payments are to be made to Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and the church will send in a check for the initial deposits and as well as the final payment check. The brochure includes details about what we are doing in each place, where we will stay, what is and is not included in the cost, payment and cancellation, terms and conditions, and other recommendations.
Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Randy Christensen, a member of LCH who is also a travel agent, has kindly offered to help with flight searches and bookings should you want/need it. He will not charge for help finding flights, but if you want him to book your flight, there is a charge of $25.00. Contact Randy by phone at 808-371-7025 or by email at christensenctc1@gmail.com.
Registration forms may be sent by email to barryjwenger@gmail.com or by post to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822. Payments should be sent to the Church at the above address “Attention Dr. Barry Wenger.” Payments may also be made using the PayPal link to the right; however, if you choose to pay online, you must cover the applicable PayPal fees.
The 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.
Also, 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.
Lei 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.
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.
This 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.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. The service begins in the courtyard as a brass quartet leads worshippers in a procession with palm leaves around the church, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The service then moves inside for a reading of the Passion Gospel and Holy Communion.
We remember Jesus’ command to “love one another” as we wash feet and share communion. Music includes Ola Gjello’s Ubi caritas and Ave verum corpus by Jessica French.
This powerful service recalls the bitter suffering and death of Jesus that leads to new life. The story of Passion will be told through the William Byrd setting of The Passion according to St. John sung by the LCH Choir.
Following the service of readings and the kindling of the new fire, we move from darkness into the light of resurrection. The resurrection will be welcomed with Will Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis, with full jazz combo, traditional Easter hymns, and the first Eucharist of Easter.
Christ is risen! Join us for our 10:00 am festival choral service, featuring a brass quintet to add to the celebratory nature of this worship service. The LCH Choir will share anthems of Easter joy by Howard Helvey and Elaine Hagenberg.
Join us for an evening of exquisite music featuring the captivating clarinetist Adam Ebert, accompanied by the harmonious sounds of Steve Flanter on viola, Sung Chan Chang on cello, and Megumi Pulido on piano. The program of Brahms and Mozart trios will take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of classical and romantic music, highlighting the beauty and versatility of each instrument.
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.
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.
