Category Archives: Fellowship

LutherFest! • Saturday, October 27

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beer garden graphicCome celebrate our Lutheran heritage at our annual LutherFest, where we eat, drink, laugh, and have fun in the Hörmann Courtyard. Festivities will begin at 5:30 pm with light pupus and non-alcoholic punch provided. Beer and wine are available for a donation. A German themed potluck follows at 6:00 pm. Brats will be provided, but please bring a German dish, if possible. To help ensure a balanced table, we suggest the following guidelines:

  • A thru H—salad or side dish
  • I thru Q—dessert
  • R thru Z—main dish

You can look online for suggested German dishes like sausages and sauerkraut, sauerbraten, roast chicken, potato salad, potato dumplings, spätzle, and many other options.

Following dinner, we will enjoy a rousing game of Lutheran Jeopardy! (You Betcha). Brush up your knowledge of the Bible, Martin Luther, favorite hymns, and all things Lutheran so that you’re ready to compete.

Donations for beer and wine will be by LutherBucks, so bring a check or cash to exchange for your LutherBucks. And don’t worry about purchasing too many LutherBucks since all donations will go to the Waikīkī’s Youth Outreach (YO), which serves as a safe haven for homeless youths. YO offers medical care, social services and non-judgmental support along with food, hot showers, and clothing.

More details will be forthcoming in future Sunday announcements. Danke sehr and hope to see you there!

LCH Bids Farewell to Vicar Andy

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Saturday evening party in honor of Vicar AndyLCH bid farewell to Vicar Andy Flatt-Kuntze over the weekend of July 13 and 14. The congregation celebrated with Vicar Andy and his husband Justin on the completion of his year as pastoral intern with the congregation. The internship was the last part of his studies at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in preparation for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The festivities began on Saturday evening with a catered dinner in Hörmann Courtyard. In typical LCH style, the delicious food was accompanied by LCH-labeled wine and cold beer. Following dinner, members of the vicar’s lay committee, on behalf of the congregation, presented gift, including a red Hawaiian-style clergy shirt, LCH T-shirts, and a hand-made cross. The photo on the right shows Josie Bidgood, president of the church council, presenting the cross, which was made by former pastor Don Johnson. (Click on the photo, and others not this page, to see a larger version.)

God speed for Andy and JustinFollowing Sunday morning worship, the congregation made their final farewells with a service of ”God speed” (shown in the photo at left), lei for both Andy and Justin, and more gifts. Andy was given a green Hawaiian-style clergy shirt (since the red season is so short) and a distinctive Hawai‘i-themed stole that is reserved for clergy associated with LCH (shown in the photo below). Andy told the congregation that he will wear the stole for his ordination.

Saturday evening party in honor of Vicar Andy

Lenten Suppers and Worship (Wednesdays through April 10)

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The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.

Each Wednesday evening during the season of Lent, members and friends of LCH will gather for table fellowship and worship.

The evenings begin with a light supper of soup, salad, and bread beginning at 6:00 pm. The meal is provided by volunteers, and all are welcome to join in fellowship and conversation around the table. If you feel moved to contribute to the meal, please sign up in the courtyard on Sunday morning.

Worship follows the meal at 7:00 pm using the music and prayerful song from Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.

Our Lenten theme for 2019 is “Love Unspoken.” As Karoline Lewis writes in her essay for Sundays and Seasons, we tend to let the word “grace” do a lot of the the theological heavy lifting in our proclamation. Her thought is that we find a way to highlight grace in the world without actually having to use the word. We might then look to explore “grace” expressed through actions, relationships, and moments. Grace is God’s love unleashed. Our hope is proclaim God’s love through image, story, experience, art and worship in a way that opens our eyes and hearts to God’s grace unleashed in the world.

The primary text for the entire midweek Lenten cycle will be I Corinthians 13:4–13, which will be read each week as a kind of lectio divina. Verses 4–7 will be incorporated into our opening litany. Writer’s Writers Workshop will be asked to focus on a different verse or verses each Wednesday. Our hope is that the reflection will be artistic and engaging. Poetry, prose or reflective meditation are all possibilities.

As we all move forward on our Lenten journey and prepare for Easter joy in the resurrection, all are invited to come together at the table, to be fed and nourished in body and soul, and to worship together as a faith community.

The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.

Lent Begins with Ash Wednesday (March 6)

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Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.

LCH begins the observance of Lent on March 6 with the traditional Ash Wednesday Liturgy with imposition of ashes.

Throughout the Lent, members and friends will gather on Wednesday evenings for table fellowship and worship. Beginning on March 6 and continuing through April 10, members and friends will gather at 6:00 pm for a light supper of soup and salad, followed by worship at 7:00. This year’s worship will focus on the theme “Love Unspoken.” The liturgy used during worship will incorporate the music and prayerful song from Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.

As our congregations prepares for our Easter joy in the resurrection, all are invited to come together at the table, to be fed and nourished in body and soul, and to feast together as a faith community.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with LCH • Nov. 21 & 22

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pie graphicThanksgiving Eve Joint Worship

Wednesday, November 21, 7:00 pm • St. Clement Church

St. Clement Church is hosting the Thanksgiving Eve worship this year. Pastor Jeff Lilley is scheduled to preach.

The annual pie reception will follow immediately after worship. Sign-up sheets for the pie reception will be made available starting Sunday, November 4.

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at LCH

Thursday, November 23, 3:30 pm • Isenberg Hall and Hörmann Courtyard

turkey dinner graphicAll are welcome to join the LCH ‘ohana for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the courtyard. This is a potluck meal for anyone who would like to attend. Please bring your friends, neighbors, college and university students, and folks who would like some fellowship and food. Pastor Jeff and Jean will prepare the turkeys and bring fresh-baked rolls. A donation of ham would be appreciated. Please plan to bring your favorite dish in quantities to feed at least six persons. Pupu, side dishes, casseroles, desserts, or any other dish is very welcome! Please sign up in the courtyard beginning November 6 so we can plan accordingly.

Annual LutherFest—Food, Fun, and Frivolity • Sat., Oct. 27

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beer garden graphicCome celebrate our Lutheran heritage at our annual LutherFest, where we eat, drink, laugh, and have fun in the Hörmann Courtyard. Festivities will begin Saturday, October 27,at 5:30 pm with light pupus and non-alcoholic punch provided. Beer and wine are available for a donation. A German themed potluck follows at 6:00 pm. Brats will be provided, but please bring a German dish, if possible. To help ensure a balanced table, we suggest the following guidelines:

  • A thru H—dessert
  • I thru Q—main dish
  • R thru Z—salad or side dish

You can look online for suggested German dishes like sausages and sauerkraut, sauerbraten, roast chicken, potato salad, potato dumplings, spätzle, and many other options. As a special treat, Avelina will prepare apple strudel and apple kuchen to round out the desserts.

Following dinner, our own Bill Fay (who has a secret life outside LCH as a caller for contra dances) will be leading us in line dances and other folk dances in Isenberg Hall. Bill will teach us each step so all of us—adults and children of all ages—can all participate in the fun. This intergenerational event is sure to be a time or laughter and good exercise, so bring along your dancing shoes.

Donations for beer and wine will be by LutherBucks, so bring a check or cash to exchange for your LutherBucks. And don’t worry about purchasing too many LutherBucks since all donations will go to Waikīkī Health’s Youth Outreach program.

More details will be forthcoming in future Sunday announcements. Danke sehr and hope to see you there!

Youth Event at Wet ’n’ Wild • Sept. 30

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Wet'n'Wild graphicJoin the youth of LCH at Wet ’n’ Wild Water Park on Sunday, September 30, after the early morning service. Youth and adults will leave LCH following the 8:00 am service and carpool to the park at 400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei. The event will end at 4:00 pm.

The event is free for youth and $20 per person for adults. Youth must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Registration is open in the courtyard Sunday mornings. Questions may be directed to Georgine Stark or Vicar Andy.

Potluck and Silent Auction This Saturday!

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Saturday, April 28, Beginning at 5:30 pm

auction graphicJoin the Lutheran Church of Honolulu ‘ohana for Potluck and Silent Auction to raise funds for the new pew chairs that have replaced the 60-year-old pews in the LCH Nave.

Cold beer and LCH wine will be available for donations while you browse and bid on auction items during the social hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Items for auction include:

  • Dinner for four at Chef Sophia’s home in Kaka‘ako
  • Handmade woodwork by Don Johnson, Jeff Lilley, and Larry Nitz made from the old LCH pews
  • One-of-a kind jewelry items
  • Winemaking experience from Oeno Winemaking
  • Fine photography
  • ‘Ono baked goods from our outstanding bakers
  • Sunset sail for four on Jeff and Jean’s Lilley’s boat Orca
  • Private lessons is bread baking, voice, and knitting
  • Gift certificates to restaurants
  • Seats at a concert given by Mark Russell with pupus by Rudy Riingen
  • Original works of art, including a limited edition Dali print

Potluck dinner begins at 6:30, and as anyone who has experienced an LCH potluck will tell you, it is not to be missed.

Bidding in the Silent Auction will end at 7:30.

For more information on this fun evening, email auction@lchwelcome.org.

Lenten Suppers and Worship (Wednesdays through March 21)

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The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.The serving line for Wednesday evening soup and salad suppers.

Each Wednesday evening during the season of Lent, members and friends of LCH will gather for table fellowship and worship.

The evenings begin with a light supper of soup, salad, and bread beginning at 6:00 pm. The meal is provided by volunteers, and all are welcome to join in fellowship and conversation around the table. If you feel moved to contribute to the meal, please sign up in the courtyard on Sunday morning.

Worship follows the meal at 7:00 pm using the music and prayerful song from Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer. This year’s worship will focus on the theme “Made Whole: Remembering our Baptism.”

As we all move forward on our Lenten journey and prepare for Easter joy in the resurrection, all are invited to come together at the table, to be fed and nourished in body and soul, and to worship together as a faith community.

The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.The cantors place the lighted candle at the beginning of worship.

Lent Begins with Ash Wednesday (Feb. 14)

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Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.Pastor Jeff Lilley marks the foreheads of members of the congregation with ashes during the Ash Wednesday Liturgy.

LCH begins the observance of Lent on February 14 with the traditional Ash Wednesday Liturgy with imposition of ashes.

Throughout the Lent, members and friends will gather on Wednesday evenings for table fellowship and worship. This year’s worship will focus on the theme “Made Whole: Remembering our Baptism.”

As our congregations prepares for our Easter joy in the resurrection, all are invited to come together at the table, to be fed and nourished in body and soul, and to feast together as a faith community. The liturgy used during Wednesday worship will incorporate the music and prayerful song from Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer.