Celebrate Earth Day • Sunday, April 19

Marlise and Liane swap some herbs on Earth Day Sunday.Marlise and Liane swap some herbs on Earth Day Sunday.

On April 19, we will celebrate Earth Day, and, as has become our custom at LCH, we will once again have tables set up for the sharing of “gifts from nature.” If you grow flowers, herbs, or any other type of plants, you could share those or some cuttings/seeds. If you have chickens, you could bring eggs. If you are crafty and have made something out of natural materials, you could share that. It’s also fine to pick up some fruits, nuts, etc. at the store if you live in an apartment and don’t grow anything.

At 9:00 am, Barbara Natale will lead the Adult Forum in the Boardroom. She holds a master’s degree from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). She is currently a senior associate/planner at Group 70 International (G70), a local planning and design firm that does consulting work in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere. She has contributed to land-use and community-based planning in Hawaiʻi for over 20 years. Her work involves ahupuaʻa and watershed management and the integration of traditional Hawaiian stewardship principles with contemporary planning and environmental analysis. She was recently selected by Pacific Business News (March 13–19, 2026, edition) as one of “40 women who mean business.”

Worship at 10:00 am, will use a special Earth Day liturgy.

Volunteers Needed for Punahou Carnival Fundraiser • Fri. and Sat., Feb. 6–7

Rudy Riingen and Billie Jean Ries happily volunteering at our annual Punahou Carnival youth fundraiser!Each year, the LCH youth request your help with their Punahou Carnival parking fundraiser. The carnival begins each year on the first Friday of February and lasts for two days. We need adult and youth volunteers for three-hour shifts during the carnival on both days.

Event coordinators provide snacks and drinks, flashlights, and safety vests, and you provide the fellowship!

Sign-up sheets are available in the Hörmann Courtyard after worship services. Volunteer shifts on both Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7, are: 10:30 am–1:30 pm, 1:30–4:30 pm, 4:30–7:30 pm, and 7:30–10:30 pm. Thank you!

New Members Class • Sat., Nov. 15, at 10:00 am

Whether you’re new or an old-timer, you may have wondered about things like:

  • What is our covenantal relationship with God through baptism?
  • Why are so many different protestant denominations even though Luther is supposed to be the one that started the Reformation?
  • Why does the Altar Guild has to change the paraments (altar coverings) so many different times during the year? (After all you might have a favorite color, and we take that away and put on another color.)
  • Why don’t we say Alleluia during Lent?
  • What we mean by the mystery of the Trinity?
  • Why do we talk about Lutherans being both/and people?
  • What is the difference between saying we believe that the Bible is the inerrant or inspired word of God?
  • What Jell-o salad should you bring to a mid-western Lutheran potluck?
  • Why should I be a member of LCH? How will it change how I presently am involved at LCH?
  • What is the Great Commission and how are you and LCH living it out?

These are just a few questions we will cover in our Introduction to Church Membership at LCH. The conversation will begin at 10:00 am and end by noon on November 15 in Isenberg Hall. Snacks will be provided (because we are good Lutherans after all!). If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Lesley at pr.lesley@LCHwelcome.org or call or text her at 443-683-4090.

If you choose to become a member (which allows you to vote at congregational meetings), you can also take a formal leadership role, such as serve on the Call Committee, vote to approve the upcoming Call Committee, and vote on the proposed pastoral candidate when one is named. As a friend of the congregation, we value your input and your participation; however, constitutionally, voting requires membership.

We will welcome into membership those who complete the class and wish to join during worship service on November 16.

LCH Celebrates Earth Day Sunday on April 27

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.

Youth Fundraiser—Punahou Carnival Parking

Happy parking volunteersEach year, the LCH youth raise money for travel to the continent with their Punahou Carnival parking fundraiser. This year the carnival is schedule for Friday and Saturday, February 7 and 8. If you are planning to visit the carnival, consider parking in the lot behind the church or in our Poki Lot, mauka of the church on Poki Street (behind the condo across Dominis Street from the church.)

Members and friends are encouraged to volunteer for a three-hour shifts during the carnival on either day. Event coordinators provide snacks and drinks, flashlights, and safety vests, and you provide the fellowship!

Return to In-person Worship Beginning February 13

Meeting together safely graphicAfter many months of online worship only, we are delighted to announce LCH will return to in-person worship beginning February 13th! Please join us in person and online at 10:00 am. Those worshiping in person will need to provide proof of vaccination or a negative covid test within 72 hours, wear a mask while on campus, and practice social distancing.

Adult Forum will remain online only for the moment. Godly Play will begin to transition to hybrid class over the next few weeks. Parents of Godly Play students will be contacted with more information. Parents wishing to enroll their children 5 years through 5th grade in Godly Play should contact the church office at 808-941-2566 or email lch@LCHwelcome.org.

We look forward to seeing you soon! There is no need to register with Evenbrite for Sunday morning worship.

Godly Play and Compline Return

Linda Miller telling a Godly Play storyThe beginning of the new school year marks the return of Godly Play, LCH’s Sunday School program for children from kindergarten though 5th grade.

What is Godly Play, you ask? Godly Play is more than a program or a curriculum. Godly Play is a way of learning that offers children (and adults) the opportunity to live into the sacred stories of the Bible and the church. Children will be welcomed and loved, and they will have opportunities to playfully and creatively learn about God in Jesus.

While we are are not meeting in person, Godly Play is gathering via Zoom Meeting for Godly Play stories and crafts. Godly Play is taught by Linda Miller. Contact the church office at lch@LCHwelcome.org to be added to the list.

e LCH Men’s ScholaSeptember also brings the return of Compline, or Prayer at the Close of the Day.

We warmly invite all people in all places of faith and life to Compline. Offered on the first and third Sundays of each month at 7:30 pm, this beautiful candle-lit service is a meditative experience of a cappella singing and chanting to commemorate the day’s end. Led by members of the LCH Men’s Schola, musical selections include Gregorian chant, Taizé chant, Renaissance polyphony, and more.

Compline will be livestreamed on our streaming page and the LCH Facebook page and then archived on the LCH Facebook page.

Earth Day Garden Gathering

LCH children and families gathered Saturday morning, April 24, in the church garden to celebrate and recognize Earth Day. Vicar Bree helped the children learn about caring for creation as they explored and tended the garden beds and all the creepy crawlers in them. They learned about the work of gardeners—seeding, weeding, watering, harvesting, and learning about soil and insects. It was a chance for everyone to get their hands dirty, to give back to creation that gives to us, and to mālama ‘āina.

The slideshow below gives you and idea of all the fun and learning that took place.

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

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.

Youth Fundraiser: Punahou Carnival Parking • Feb. 7–8

some of the volunteers who helped with the fundraiserEach year, the LCH youth (with help of others from the congregation) hold Punahou Carnival parking fundraiser. The carnival takes place this Friday and Saturday, February 7 and 8.

The youth and their leaders need adult and youth volunteers for three-hour shifts during the carnival on both days. Event coordinators provide snacks and drinks, flashlights and safety vests, and you provide the fellowship!

Funds raised will support youth activities throughout the year, including attendance at the Western Youth Gathering at California Lutheran University this coming summer.

If you’re going to the carnival, please park at LCH. We have the closest lots, and your donation support our youth throughout the year. Parking in $15 (no in-out privileges), and the lots are open from 10:45 am to 11:30 pm both days.