Category Archives: Congregational Life

LCH Free Store • Sat., Aug. 15, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

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2025 free storeOn Saturday, August 15, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, we will be offering donated goods at our Free Store. You can be a part of outreach to the community by donating gently-used items and signing up to help with various aspects of the Free Store.

Donations will be accepted at church on Sundays, August 2 and 9, from 8:30 to 10:00 and after church until 12:30. All donations must be clean, in working order, and small enough to be carried by one person. See the Stewardship Corner for ideas about what you might donate.

We are also looking for volunteers to sort the items as they are donated on August 2 and 9, set up the free store beginning at 7:30 am on August 15, provide a friendly face and assistance to purchasers while the store is open, and clean up after the store closes. Shifts will be two hours, but we can certainly accommodate those who can only help for a lesser amount of time. Sign-up sheets will be available on the courtyard table through August 9.

See Barbara Poole-Street if you have questions about the Free Store or want to volunteer.

Hawaiian Language Class Tuition

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Pay your tuition for Hawaiian language classes beginning September 12 using the button to the right. (Please check the box to cover the PayPal fee along with your tuition.)

Register for Hawaiian Language Classes for Beginners

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Amanda McGlynn Called as Next LCH Pastor

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Amanda McGlynn and familyFollowing a unanimous vote of LCH members during a special congregational meeting, Amanda McGlynn was called and has accepted that call to become the next pastor of Lutheran Church of Honolulu.

Pastor Amanda is currently at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Oceanside, CA, where she has been serving for five years.

During a visit this month, many LCH members and attendees discovered her close ties to Hawaiʻi and familiarity with our church. Amanda was born and raised in Honolulu. She grew up as an active member of Calvary by the Sea Lutheran Church. She is a Kalani High School graduate and has family on Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. From an early age, she recognized that many of her gifts and passions were similar to her pastor. She’s felt called to pastoral ministry since age 14. LCH’s late Pastor Jeff Lilley was one of her confirmation teachers.

Pursuing her calling, Amanda attended California Lutheran University, double majored in theology and Christian Leadership and global sudies, with a music and worship minor. In her time there, she sang in all three university choirs, played in the wind ensemble, and served as a musician for many worship services on campus. She studied abroad at Oxford University, and graduated summa cum laude with university honors. In her summers, she worked at three Lutheran bible camps in Wisconsin and Texas, serving as a counselor, worship leader, ropes course director, and high school ministry coordinator.

Pastor Amanda met her husband, Cole, in college. He is also a Lutheran pastor currently serving at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School in San Clemente, CA. He also serves as an IMA reserve chaplain in the Air Force at Joint Base Charleston. Pastor Cole is attending Officer Training School this summer, which means the McGlynns won’t be moving to Hawai‘i until September. Following OTS, Cole is taking a position as Chaplain at Pohai Nani in Kāneʻohe.

The McGlynns have two children, Rowan and Nora, whom many of us had the joy of meeting during their visit last month. They also have two rescue dogs—an Australian Shepherd named Banjo and a Great Pyrenees mix named Cricket.

Deepest thanks to the members of the LCH call committee for their hard work in identifying a pastoral candidate who we believe is an excellent fit for LCH. A huge mahalo to the members of our congregation, who demonstrated the LCH welcome so wonderfully. Also, thanks to everyone who helped organize, donate, prepare food, and clean up for the meet and greet, pūpū, ice cream social, and silent auction. The spirit of the Lord was certainly present throughout this entire process.

Please Complete the Silver Tsunami Survey by July 31st

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We are glad to report that 28 people have completed the Silver Tsunami Survey. Sixteen people completed the online version, and 12 people submitted the paper version. We especially want to thank 21 people who gave us their contact information and said they are willing to support this project as volunteers. So far, three people identified programs that appear to offer seminars or workshops of interest to senior citizens. They are:

Peter Flachsbart and Lily Zheng are in the process of merging data from the online and paper versions of the survey. They will then tabulate the data and report the results. Using the LCH directory, Peter estimated that between 30 and 40 people did not participate in the survey even though they would appear to be eligible, either as kūpuna (age 65 and over) or near kūpuna (ages 50 to 64). Consequently, we have decided to keep the survey open throughout the month of July.

  • Everyone is eligible to take the survey, even if they are not a senior citizen or a member of LCH. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to answer the eight questions of the survey. You may pick up a paper copy on the table near the Aloha Cart in the Hörmann Courtyard or at the bottom of this page.

    The survey is very important because the results will help us plan a series of workshops in the coming months. The Church Council has given us a small budget to invite and reimburse qualified speakers for these seminars and workshops, which hopefully will respond to the needs and concerns of our kūpuna as determined by the survey. Please look at the survey to see if the questions are relevant to you. If so, this is your opportunity to make your voice heard.

    Peter Flachsbart on behalf of the Silver Tsunami Committee

    • Silent Auction and Ice Cream Social • Sat., Jun. 13, at 4:00 pm

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    All are invited to an evening of fun and fellowship Saturday evening, June 13, beginning at 4:00 pm. We begin with an opportunity to meet our pastoral candidate and their family while enjoying a fest of savory pūpū and browsing more than 100 items offered at our silent auction. Later, our Hospitality Committee will host an ice cream social

    Below are several of the wonderful items being offered at the silent auction. Proceeds from the auction will support the visit by our candidate and their relocation.

    glass plateGreen bowl

    Stunning square glass bowl made by John Watt.
    Value: $60. Opening bid: $30.
    So many uses for this piece.

    glass plate Glass ship on the ocean

    Stunning square plate made by John Watt.
    Value: $95. Opening bid: $40.
    Think of the people in your life who love boats.

    collageDavid Hormann original collage artwork

    The process is to take colorful postcards and create landscapes.
    It is amazing in a photo but even more interesting in person.
    David says the value is $60. We think it is much more.

    Trader Joe bagTrader Joe’s bag of goodies

    The value of the treats is more than $100. Starting bid: $50.
    We know in Hawai‘i that the value skyrockets as we all need a Trader Joe’s fix.

    pasta makerPhillips Electric Pasta Maker (Never been used)

    You could always have the most popular dish at the potluck
    with this machine helping you.
    Value: $300. Starting bid: $100.

    Madge Tennent printPlenty Hawaiians (1965) by Madge Tennent

    One hundred copies were made for the Hawaii Watercolor & Serigraph Society.
    This is print number 50 and comes in a koa frame.
    The value is priceless, but we’re going to start the bidding at $125.

    stained glassGorgeous stained glass art made by Randy Castello

    It features Manu o Kū, the beautiful white terns that often visit the church
    and are featured on our new mural.
    Minimum bid for this incredible work will be $600.

    wood carving Wood flower carving

    Check out this beautiful wood carving donated by Marlise Tellander.
    Value: $200. Starting bid: $100.

    koa plateKoa wood serving board created by Barry Wheeler

    Note the differences in the color of the grain in the wood.
    Value: $100. Starting bid: $45.

    Don Johnson sculptureWooden artwork made by Pastor Don Johnson

    This enchanting sculpture was made by the pastor
    who shepherded LCH for 30+ years.
    Value: $200. Starting bid: $100.

    air fryerNinja Air Fryer

    Here’s your chance to join the air fryer craze.
    Value $70. Starting bid: $35

    Welcoming Our LCH Call Candidate

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    Please mark your calendars for a series of welcome events for the LCH call candidate and their family.

    On Sunday, June 7, the Call Committee will have hard copies of the candidate’s bio available in the courtyard. The candidate requests that this document not be shared in any fashion beyond LCH’s walls (social media, via email, etc.) to maintain confidentiality.

    In addition, on Friday, June 12, the candidate will engage in a series of in-person and online (Zoom) small group meetings. Sign-up sheets are in the courtyard at each Sunday service and please plan to pick your meeting by June 7. In-person sessions will be held at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 1:15, 1:45, 2:15, 3:00, and 3:30; and a Zoom session will take place at 12:30. The next day, Saturday, June 13, we’ll have another opportunity to welcome the candidate and their family at 4:00 pm during the pūpū prior to the auction.

    LCH members will vote on extending a call to the candidate on Sunday, June 14 in a congregational meeting following Sunday worship at a special time, beginning at 9:00 am.

    Call Committee Recommends Candidate for Our Next Pastor

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    After careful consideration, the Call Committee has identified a candidate that they believe has the God-given gifts needed to partner and lead with LCH as together we grow into God’s preferred and promised future.

    Members of the congregation will have opportunities to meet and greet the pastoral candidate on during their visit beginning Thursday, June 11. During the day on Friday, June 12, groups of 5–10 will meet with the candidate, and on Saturday, June 13, a larger community session will be held beginning at 4:00 pm. At 5:00 pm that day, we will held a silent auction to raise funds to relocate our new pastor, and there will be plenty of time for informal socializing with savory pūpū and an ice cream social.

    Sunday morning. June 14, after worship, there will be a congregational meeting to vote on issuing a call to the candidate.

    These are exciting times in the life of Lutheran Church of Honolulu as we look forward to preparing to call our 12th congregationally-called pastor in 125 years.

    Please say mahalo nui loa to the LCH Call Committee. They have been an exemplary team that has done their prayerful work with diligence and discernment.