Category Archives: Congregational Life

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

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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.

Remembering Our Baptism and Pastor Jeff • Mon., Oct, 13, in Kapi‘olani Park

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BBQ at Kaimana BeachService Project, Remember our Baptism, and Bratwurst!

Monday, October 13, is the one-year anniversary of Pr. Jeff’s passing, and we will gather as a group to remember and to give back to the community in our work and in our shared time of joy. Please bring sunscreen, a hat, a trash bag, a chair, and pūpū sides to share. Please meet near the Natatorium beside Kaimana Beach. There is a circle drive with parking. It is also a state holiday, so please consider carpooling if possible.

  • 4:00 pm—Service Project Cleaning up Queen Kapiʻolani Park. Bring a trash bag, wear a hat, and clean up the park.
  • 5:30 pm—Affirm our Baptism.
  • 6:00 pm—BBQ. Brats will be provided, share pūpū sides. Enjoy picnic fun!

Remembering Pastor Jeff Lilley • Sun., Oct. 12, during and after worship

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Pastor Jeff with RubyOn Sunday, October 12, we will give thanks to God for Pr. Jeff and his legacy as we remember the first anniversary of Pr. Jeff joining the church triumphant.

Our worship service will include some of his favorite hymns and music, and after worship, we will go outside to plant a tree to remind us of the hope and the new life we have in God.

As a community, we will add dirt and water to the hole in which the trees will be planted. Water and dirt are things that are needed for growth. In providing the tree with elements needed for growth, we give thanks and remember that Pr. Jeff’s life was dedicated to the growth of faith and the growth of the proclamation of the Gospel for all people.

After the tree planting, we will have a pet blessing for those attending worship. You are invited to bring your pet to worship that Sunday, and we will have an area that is pet-free for those that have allergies or other reasons to need those accommodations. You will be invited to bring your pet outside with you as we plant the trees in Pr. Jeff’s memory, and then we will bless your pets immediately after the tree planting.

After the tree planting and pet blessing, you are invited into the courtyard for human treats (donuts, one of Pr. Jeff’s foods) and pet treats.

We hope you will join us in thanksgiving for Pr. Jeff’s life and ministry.

125th Anniversary Book: Legacies and Blessings

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anniversary book coverLegacies and Blessings: Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu begins where For Beer and The Bible ended, the year 2000. It focuses on the people and the community of faith that is so vital to the fabric of LCH. The book is full of stories about servant leaders of our congregation and the God-given gifts they brought and shared with this community and the greater community. It illustrates how their gifts blessed others and contributed to the God’s mission and ministry. Using both narrative and picture, the book tells the story of LCH with the knowledge that our story and “our song goes on in endless praise.”

Click one one of the links below to download a digital copies in PDF (for viewing on your computer) or EPUB (for many e-readers) formats




There is no cost for the book. The cost of publication has been covered by generous donors. If you wish to give a donation for the book, that donation should go to the Mission Fund so we may continue to build that fund to accomplish its goals. Donations are welcome in-person at church or using the PayPal button on the right.

Thank you to all who made this book possible. Once you have your copy of the book, check out the last page and please say mahalo to all.

First Mondays Concert: Royal Hawaiian Band • Mon., Sept. 8, at 7:00 pm

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Royal Hawaiian BandJoin us on the eve of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu’s 125th anniversary! The Royal Hawaiian Band will kick off our celebration, honoring Bandmaster Henry Berger (1871–1915), who was also the first organist and a charter member of LCH.

All are invited to gather for pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard and 6:15 pm.

First Mondays Concerts are free and supported by the generous sponsorship of the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation and other donors in the LCH ‘ohana. More information about sponsorship is available on our First Mondays Chamber Concerts page, or by contacting Dr. Barry Wenger, our director of music and liturgy and organist, at barryjwenger@gmail.com or by phone at 808-941-2566.

The September First Mondays Concert launches our “Music in Mission” model. With the cost of concerts covered by our generous sponsors, all donations by those attending each month’s concert will go to a non-profit organization on O‘ahu. This concert will benefit Angel Network Charities, a ministry located at Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church in ‘Āina Haina that provides food and services to those in need. In addition to your suggested donation of $20, please bring packaged, unopened dry goods (e.g., cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, etc.) and canned food donations for their foodbank, which serves the elderly, families, children, and other individuals who struggle financially to make ends.

If you wish to make a donation to benefit this month’s non-profit, please go to this page.

Celebrating LCH’s 125th Anniversary • September 7–14

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125th Anniversary banner

Over the past 125 years, God has richly blessed the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and you are one of our many blessings. So, we are inviting members, friends, and former members to bless us once again with your presence at our Legacies and Blessings celebration events. Please join us, as together we will give thanks to God,
remember the past and look forward to the future. Together let’s rejoice and give thanks for God’s abundant blessings!

September 7—Worship with Eucharist at 10:00 am

  • The Rev. Dave Barber (pastor, 2000–2006) preaching and presiding.
    Fellowship time following the worship service.

September 8—First Mondays pūpū and concert featuring the Royal Hawaiian Band

  • 6:15 pm—All are invited to gather for pūpū the Hörmann Courtyard.
  • 7:00 pm—Royal Hawaiian Band concert

September 12—Remembering the Past at 6:00 pm

  • Inaugural viewing of the video LCH’s Legacies and Blessings—People, Places and Stories
  • Lecture For Beer and the Bible—One Hundred Years at Lutheran Church of Honolulu
    Author Dr. Sandra Wagner-Wright will share an evening of stories of her journey researching and writing this book. Refreshments served.

September 13—Legacies and Blessings Banquet

  • 5:30 pm—All are invited to gather for pūpū in the Hörmann Courtyard.
  • 6:30 pm—Banquet dinner and entertainment.
     
    Reservations required. Reservations closed on August 15th.

September 14—Legacies and Blessings Festival Worship at 4:00 pm

  • Bishop of the Pacifica Synod, The Rev. David Nagler, preaching
    We will be débuting a new Festival Legacies and Blessings liturgy, arranged by Dr. Barry J. Wenger, which will feature the melodies of favorite hymns from previous LCH pastors. Reception following the worship service.

125th Anniversary Book—Legacies and Blessings

Read the stories of legacy-making people and programs that have blessed LCH. The book will be available digitally and in print copies. (For print copies, the suggested donation is $10 to benefit the Mission Fund.)

Print copies may be reserved by emailing the parish administrator at lch@lchwelcome.org with your name, address, and contact information. Donations to the Mission Fund for the book may be made in-person at church or using this link.. We will mail the book to you when it is published. The book will also be in digital format following worship on September 7 on the 125th Anniversary Book page. (Please note that the webpage will not be available until September 7.)

LCH 125th Anniversary Book Reservations and Donations

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Anniversary Book Reservations




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.

Support LCH’s 125th Anniversary Mission Fund

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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 50 & Beyond!—A Birthday Celebration • June 6 and 8

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Organ Concert by Dr. Barry J. Wenger • Friday, June 6, 7:00 pm
Choral Pentecost Service with LCH Choir • Sunday, June 8, 5:00 pm

Organ birthday graphicBeckerath 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!