Welcoming Sunday • January 29

Welcoming Sunday graphicWe invite everyone to join us for worship on “Welcoming Sunday,” January 29.

In 1993 our congregation made the bold and prayerful decisions to be public and affirming in our welcome of all people, including gay, lesbian, transgendered, and questioning folks, who seldom found welcome in Christian churches. Two decades later we rejoice that churches around the world are beginning to share that same welcome. But there is much work to do, and our witness of Christ’s welcoming love is more important than ever.

Join us for worship and in welcoming our LGBTQI friends on Sunday, January 29, at 8:00 and 10:30 am.

More information about the process by which LCH became a “Reconciling in Christ” or welcoming congregation, is available on our RIC page.

Renewing Creation Hike (Oct. 22)

backpack graphicJoin us for a hike along the Mokulē‘ia Trail on Saturday, October 22. David Anderson will guide us on this work project to weed invasive species such as strawberry guava and Christmas berry and out plant native species. This trail is an easier hike, and there is a short off trail that leads to Mākua Valley overlook.

We will meet at Pearl City at 10:30 at the top of Waimano Home Road. The road ends at the Pearl City Department of Public Health compound, and there is area to park off the road on the left. David has reserved three trucks for the day, so if we have two volunteers to drive a four wheel drive vehicle, we will be able to take 14 people; if we don’t have volunteers to drive, we will be able to take twelve people. Please sign up on the table in the courtyard so we have an accurate head count.

Please bring a lunch, drinking water, and gloves and wear comfortable clothing including sturdy shoes. Depending on the weather and road conditions, we may need to hike ½ mile to the trail head. All participants will need to sign a liability waiver and a photo use waiver.

IHS Dinner (Friday, April 15)

Volunteers slice meatloaf and prepare to serve the guests at IHSFor over 25 years, LCH has shopped for, prepared, and served a special dinner on the third Friday of each month for over 300 of Honolulu’s homeless. The cost is underwritten by the LCH budget and by a grant from the German Benevolent Society of Hawaii.

Shoppers, cooks, and servers are needed each month, and all are welcome to join in this joyful ministry. To be apart of our team, speak to Jimmy Castro or call the Church Office (808-941-2566).

In this picture, volunteers slice the meatloaf and prepare to serve the guests at IHS.

To learn more about the Institute for Human Services, visit their website at .

Christmas Worship at LCH

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 24

5:00 pm Family Service
with joyful music by our keiki and a special skit
 
10:30 pm Music for Christmastide
with choral music by Egil Hovland and Gustav Holst
11:00 pm Choral Eucharist
with special music by the LCH Choir

 

Christmas Day
Friday, December 25

10:30 am Choral Eucharist
featuring the men of the LCH Choir
 

Lessons & Carols for the
First Sunday of Christmas

Sunday, December 27

8:00 am Holy Communion
with the Eight O’Clock Ensemble
 
10:30 am Choral Eucharist
with the LCH Choir and organist Mark D. Wong

 
 

New Year’s Day
Friday, January 1

4:00 pm German Vespers
featuring J.S. Bach’s Cantata 16
with the LCH Choir, Bach Chamber Orchestra, and soloists

 

Giving Thanks in Worship and at Table (Nov. 25 & 26)

Thanksgiving Eve Joint Worship

pies graphicWednesday, November 25, 7:00 pm at LCH

Lutheran Church of Honolulu is hosting the annual Thanksgiving Eve joint worship with our neighbors, the Parish of St. Clement (Episcopal), this year. Pastor Christopher Golding of St. Clement’s is scheduled to preach. LCH lay ministry will be assigned to assist during this Holden Evening Prayer service.

Our annual pie reception will follow immediately after worship in Isenberg Hall and the Hörmann Courtyard. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the pies as our guests, and members of LCH are encouraged to sign-up for the pie reception starting November 8.

turkey dinner graphic2015 Annual Thanksgiving Meal

Thursday, November 26, 2:30 pm in the LCH Hörmann Courtyard

All are invited to Join Pastor Jeff and Jean Lilley for a traditional Thanksgiving meal/potluck at Lutheran Church of Honolulu. We will gather first at 2:30 pm for pupus and final setup. Dinner will be at 3:00.

Pastor and Jean will provide a large turkey and fresh-baked rolls. If you would like to share in this meal, please take a moment to rsvp by email to pr.jeff@lchwelcome.org or sign-up on the sign-up sheet in the courtyard. Please indicate the number of people in your party and the dish you intend to bring. Keep in mind, we generally have about 40 people at this meal, so plan your portions accordingly.

LCH Welcomes a New Parish Administrator

The congregation welcomed Anne Sing as our new parish administrator during morning worship on Sunday, August 17. Anne has be training with Sarah Roseberg,our veteran administrator for the last two weeks

Anne lives with her husband and two children in East Honolulu. Learn more about her background on our Leadership page.

At right, Pastor Angela introduces Anne Sing to the congregation during worship.

Godly Play Blog Update

The new Godly Play room at LCH is up and running! The Sunday school leaders have been preparing for the new program starting the first week of September. Curious about what Godly Play is and what LCH is up to with the children’s ministry? You can always read Nana Linda’s blog! 

Godly Play 2

Angela Freeman Installed as Co-Pastor

Members of the congregation gather around to lay on hands as part of the InstallationThe first summer Sunday with one worship service saw a joyful celebration of the ministry of LCH as we gathered to formally install The Rev. Angela Freeman as co-pastor. Even though Angela has been working among us for almost two years, her initial call was for a term of two years, so after the congregation voted to extend a regular call, she had to be installed again.

The service of installation featured special music from several children in the congregation, elements from the traditional “10:30 style” (the LCH Choir singing the psalm and special music by Sir Ralph Vaughan Williams), and the Alleluia Mass regularly sung for contemporary worship.

Following worship, everyone enjoyed a summer barbecue and fellowship inn the Hörmann Courtyard and Isenberg Hall.

At right, members of the congregation crowd around to lay hands on Pr. Angela during the installation.

The Great Three Days: Good Friday

Pastor jeff Lilley and Deacon Mary Fastenau carrying the cross during the Procession of the Cross.The Triduum continued on Good Friday evening, focussing first on the Passion according to John and then on the Adoration of the Crucified.

Again this year the choir and soloists sang the dramatic setting of the Passion Gospel from John by Zachary Wadsworth (2009).

Following the passion and the Solemn Intercessions, the Taizé Cross was carried around the Nave as the congregation sang “Ah, Holy Jesus.” At right, the presider and deacon paused between verses and lifted up the cross to chants of “Behold, the life-giving cross on which was hung the salvation of the world. / Oh, come let us worship him.”

The cross was then placed in the altar area and sounded with candles as the choir sang and individuals came forward to kneel at the rail and pray.

The Triduum concludes with Easter Vigil on Saturday, also at 7:30 pm. Easter morning worship services are at 8:00 and 10:30 am, with a potluck and Easter egg hunt between services. Bach cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, will be presented at the 10:30 service. See the Holy Week and Easter Worship page for details.

The Holy Week and Easter slideshow below includes addition photos from Good Friday (beginning with the eighteenth slide), the rest of Holy Week, and Easter.

The Great Three Days: Maundy Thursday

Two sisters wash each other’s feet as part of the Maundy Footwashing

The Triduum, or Three Great Days, celebrates Jesus’s passover from death to life. It begins with Maundy Thursday, which focuses on the Last Supper, when Jesus washed his disciples’s feet and instituted the Eucharist, or Holy Communion.

Again this year there, members of the congregation participated in the Maundy Footwashing by washing the feet of another, having their feet washed, or doing both. With the large number of volunteers. the choir was able to chant all four appointed antiphons. At right, two sisters wash each other’s feet.

Following the footwashing, the service continued with Holy Communion and concluded with the stripping of the altar, a final anthem, and members of the congregation departing in silence.

The Triduum continues with the Good Friday Liturgy at 7:30 pm on Friday and concludes with Easter Vigil on Saturday, also at 7:30 pm. Easter morning worship services are at 8:00 and 10:30 am, with a potluck and Easter egg hunt between services. Bach cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, will be presented at the 10:30 service. See the Holy Week and Easter Worship page for details.

The Holy Week and Easter slideshow below includes addition photos from Maundy Thursday (beginning with the ninth slide).