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THIS SUNDAY
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December 10, 2017
Advent 2B
Cami Pascua (EM)
Bob Terao (U)
Diane Sato (AG)
9:30AM
Mario Antonio (EM)
Mary Margaret Smith (R)
Chris Kostka (R)
Linda Crocker (U)
David Crocker (U)
Jan Hashizume (AG)
Braden & Paxton (A)
Mabel Antonio (OSL)
Flora Rubio (OSL)
Sunday School Team "B"
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Upcoming Dates
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McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
6:00PM - Church
Every Thursday
Choir Practice
6:00PM - Choir Room
Christmas Craft Fair
9:00AM - 2:00PM
All Saints' Gym
Sunday, December 10
Christmas Caroling
5:45PM
Mahelona Hospital
Youth Group Christmas Party
7:30PM
Rectory
Wednesday, December 20
Laundry Love (Team C)
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapa'a Laundromat
Friday, December 22
Preschool Christmas Program
6:30PM
All Saints' Gym
Saturday, December 23
Advent 4 Evening
Taize Service
5:00PM - 6:00PM
Church
Sunday, December 24
No Morning Services
Greening of the Church
Christmas Preparation
8:00AM
Church
Sunday, December 24
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES
Keiki Christmas Service
3:30PM
Festive Christmas Eucharist
5:30PM
Christmas at the Rectory
7:00PM - 10:15PM
Carol Prelude
Festive Christmas Eucharist
10:30PM
Monday, December 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
Eucharist with Music
9:30AM
Saturday, January 6
Feast of the Epiphany
5:30PM
Church
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Quick Links
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ALL SAINTS'
Sermon Archive
DIOCESE OF HAWAII
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Get the All Saints' Epistle
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| FOCUS ON OUR 'OHANA |
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Le
t Us Shine
BY WILLIAM BROWN
Let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Frequently, I ask myself, "How do we let our light shine at All Saints'?" How do we connect with and engage others so that we can spread the Good News and make disciples of people? Recently, I have heard from others in our community that All Saints' presence in the community is becoming more prominent. We are shining and we are getting brighter.
All Saints' is a "welcoming" church; at least that is the opinion expressed by many visitors who introduce themselves during announcements at Sunday service. We thank them for being here and we engage them during refreshments. We let people see who we are and what we do.
We welcome other organizations and people who use our facilities to conduct their own ministries, programs, arts, etc. Al-Anon holds meetings; the Tongan church conducts services; Kauai Island Singers Showcase perform concerts; Youth play basketball.
We reach out to the community to build relationships and to serve people in need. Twice each month we wash clothes for people in need. We provide Thanksgiving lunch for 1200 people. We sing Christmas carols at Mahelona.
The ways in which All Saints' welcomes people into the church and reaches out to others is varied and extensive. So, I decided to make a list of the programs, ministries, and events All Saints' performed in 2017 to invite people in, to reach out to the community, and otherwise let our light shine. I doubt my list is complete, but I want to share what I have with you. This list does not even cover the activities of the various ministries that All Saints' performs in support of the church and its members-that's a whole different list.
Every activity on this list required people to serve in some capacity, through planning, coordinating, participating or funding. I invite and encourage everyone at All Saints' to serve. If there is something you think All Saints' should be doing, do not hesitate to use the Thought Box at the bottom of The Epistle to make a suggestion and indicate how you might be able to use your Time, Talent or Treasure to serve.
Worship:
Holy Sovereigns service, Queen Lili'oukilani's service,
labyrinth,
Stations of the Cross at Kealia, Kapa'a Interfaith Association Thanksgiving Service, and Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i Clergy Retreat.
Education:
Educational spiritual development series (Crazy Christians), Sister BJ-Developing Your Spiritual
Senses
; All Saints' Preschool.
Outreach:
Clean Feet/Cold Water, Ashes to Go,
distribution of toiletries to homeless, providing a safe environment where houseless/homeless individuals can rest, ministering to the houseless/homeless community, Laundry Love, Episcopal Church Women (ECW) outreach efforts, Hale Ho'omalu ingatherings, caroling at Mahelona, and Thanksgiving
luncheon
.
Arts:
Kaua'i Island Singer Showcase (KISS) concerts, McMasters slack key concerts, movie nights on the Lawn, and Japanese dance performances.
Providing a venue for others
: Al-Anon, Narcotics Anonymous, Sea Scouts, Cub Scouts, Child and Family Services, car washes for students, market place for craftspeople, annual Holiday Craft Fair, food vendors,
youth basketball in the gym, pickle ball, aerobic classes, 7th Day Adventist family nights in the gym, hosted County meetings, KKCR public radio board meetings, and weekly Tongan church services.
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| COMMUNITY EVENT |
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Annual Holiday Craft Fair - This Saturday, December 9th
We invite you to one of Kauai's largest and most popular holiday crafts fairs Saturday, December 9th, 9:00AM to 2:00PM at All Saints'.
There will be over 50 booths featuring the island's best crafted products. All Saints' Holiday Craft Fair is a great place to do your Christmas shopping. For more information, please visit the Holiday Craft Fair website.
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| STEWARDSHIP |
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2018 Stewardship Campaign
All that we are and all that we have are because of the grace of God.
There are many things we have in our lives that we should be thankful for every day. We have our families, our church
'
Ohana, our friends, our health, our faith, jobs, homes, food on the table, and clothes to wear. As faithful followers of Christ, we recognize God created and owns it ALL. Everything we have is a gift from God. For those gifts, we are grateful; and, out of our gratitude, we are generous. Our generosity is one of our gifts back to God.
Stewardship is not just an annual event which we focus on once a year. Stewardship is also not just about money and our pledge. It is our Journey; a way of life for all of us to share together. In order for our All Saints' community to grow and prosper for generations to come, we need to embrace Stewardship - giving a portion of our Time, Talent, and Treasure to those around us - as a way of life. If we embrace Stewardship at its core, together we can conquer challenges and build a stronger Christian foundation for our keiki (children), our mo
'
opuna (grandchildren) and ia makou (us/ourselves).
Stewardship is more than just money and pledging; however, financial stewardship enables our
'
Ohana to serve God and God's people. Here are some numbers to consider as you think about your pledge for 2018**:
- In 2016, our pledge/plate income totaled $246,580 - $675 per day.
- In 2016, our expenses totaled $316,102 - $866 per day.
- The "funding gap" (pledge/plate income vs. expenses) is $191 per day.
This year we also had to replace the church's roof due to rot, general wear and tear, and termite damage
. The roof replacement project cost $80,000 that we had to fund ourselves. Fortunately, we were able to "borrow" the money from one of our own reserve funds. The Vestry has set a goal to repay this loan over a period of
8-10 years. That will not be an easy task.
Anyone who has studied our annual budget will know that we are not extravagant with our spending. As you prayerfully consider your pledge to the Church for 2018, and being aware of the existing funding gap, we are seeking your generous support of All Saints' annual operating budget that empowers us to serve our
'
Ohana and the people of Kaua
'
i.
The Spirit that brought people together and built this church over 90 years ago continues to draw new parishioners to our
'
Ohana, it enriches our worship and ministries, and it enables us to serve our community as we strive to make a positive and meaningful impact in the lives of the working poor, the homeless, and others in need.
"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40)
Mahalo nui loa for your generous donations of Time, Talent, and Treasure in the past. I hope we are able to rely on your generosity once again as we continue our journey together in support of our church, our
'
Ohana and our community.
The "Ingathering and Blessing" of pledges will take place on December 17th during both services.
THE VESTRY OF ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH & PRESCHOOL
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The 2018 pledge packets including pledge cards were mailed last week. The "Ingathering and Blessing of Pledges" will be held at both services on Sunday, December 17th.
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| FINANCIAL UPDATE |
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As of October 31, 2017
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| MUSIC MINISTRY |
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A call to sing
The All Saints' Choir extends a warm welcome to new members, amateur and professional, alike. Even if you are just visiting Kaua'i and would like to sing with the choir during your stay, you are more than welcome. We frequently have visitors join us during their stay.
Please consider singing with us this Christmas season, or any time, if you are able. We are in particular need of additional tenor and bass voices
Practice occurs each Thursday at 6:00PM in the Music Room (south entrance of the All Saints' Gym). Sunday call times are generally 8:45AM. If you would like to "in-choir" about the All Saints' Choir, please contact Hank Curtis.
All Saints' welcomes you!
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| OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY |
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Sounds of the Season
We invite the All Saints' 'Ohana on Sunday, December 10th to come and sing in the halls of Mahelona's Long-term Care Unit for All Saints' Annual Christmas Caroling. This service outreach opportunity is open to all ages, all abilities (even those voices not in the Choir of Angels).
We will gather on Sunday, December 10th at 5:45PM in the main parking lot of Mahelona. Caroling begins promptly at 6:00 PM and typically lasts about a half-hour.
Be sure to dress in some bright holiday colors like red or green. Santa hats and reindeer antlers are always welcome, and so are any musical instruments to enhance the overall experience. This is a wonderful family-friendly event and service opportunity.
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| YOUTH GROUP NEWS |
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| WORSHIP NEWS |
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CHRISTMAS AT ALL SAINTS'
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2017 | CHRISTMAS EVE
Keiki Service
3:30PM - 4:15PM
Festive Christmas Mass with Choir and Special Music
5:30PM - 7:00PM
Christmas Open House at the Rectory
Please bring a dish to share
7:00PM - 10:15PM
Carol Prelude and Festive Midnight Christmas Mass
with Choir and Special Music
10:30PM - 12:00AM
MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2017 | CHRISTMAS DAY
Holy Eucharist with music
9:00AM - 10:00AM
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| THIS WEEK IN SUNDAY SCHOOL |
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Each week, The Epistle will highlight the upcoming Sunday School lesson from "Weaving God's Promises."
December 10th: John the Baptist
Luke 3:2-18. John the Baptist preaches and baptizes at the Jordan River. He calls the people to repent and to prepare the way of the Lord. People come to be baptized and to ask John how to live a repentant and righteous life that will prepare for the Messiah to come. When asked whether he himself is the Messiah who is to come, John tells of one "who is more powerful than I," of someone "who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
The charisma of John the Baptist draws hundreds of people, who flock to the water to hear him, even though he calls them a "brood of vipers" and calls them to a more disciplined life than they have ever tried before. By his simple clothing and his relentless preaching, his integrity is unquestioned. Neither is his courage. He is not afraid to speak up against lazy spirituality and complacent living. He is not afraid to call the leaders to account, including Herod, who later beheads him.
But John's main mission is to proclaim the coming of the Lord, "whose sandals I am unworthy to untie." He understands that when the Messiah does come, John's own mission will be fulfilled: "He must increase, and I must decrease." His recognition of his own submission before the Messiah leads him to wonder why Jesus wants to be baptized by him. How can he, a mere mortal and a mere messenger, baptize the Son of God?
So we await the coming of the Messiah, just as the followers of John awaited the coming of the Messiah. John's message is just as true now as it was then-prepare the way of the Lord!
Sunday School Teachers this Sunday, "Team B."
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| CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS |
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KISS Christmas Concert
Last Saturday, December 2nd, Kaua'i Island Singers Showcase (KISS) hosted a Christmas themed concert. It was the first concert in the renovated Church sanctuary. The sanctuary and lanais were packed with concertgoers. Many people commented on how beautiful the church looked inside and outside. Also, the new acoustics of the space received rave reviews by both concertgoers and musicians.
To view a clip from the concert of "Mary Did You Know" performed by Mary Ellen
Kopitzke, click on the image above.
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IN BRIEF . . .
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These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle."
Hale Ho'omalu December Collection
This month's special collection for Hale Ho'omalu, a family service center located 1/2 block away from All Saints', is gift cards for families.Hale Ho'omalu also needs and appreciates monetary donations as well as gifts-in-kind items. Every Sunday, all gift-in-kind donations can be left in the red wagon at the Church's entrance.
All Saints' Thought Box
Do you ever have a suggestion, an idea, some feedback, or comment you want to pass along to the Vestry? Now you can share that thought with the Vestry anytime and virtually anywhere.
All Saints' Vestry is happy to introduce the
All Saints' Thought Box!
In keeping with their communication goals, the Vestry wanted to create a way that parishioners can freely and anonymously communicate directly with the Vestry. Users can access the Thought Box through the All Saints' Website (look for the light bulb logo) and there will be a link in each issue of the Epistle. Comments are NOT screened and go directly to everyone on the Vestry.
Advent 4 Service
This year, Christmas Eve, December 24th, falls on a Sunday. Sunday morning is Advent 4 and Sunday evening is Christmas Eve services. For clergy this creates a significant dilemma-or crisis. At All Saints' we are going to do a slightly different approach. Hopefully, it will allow us to experience the beauty of Advent 4 and the joy of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
There will be no services on the morning of Sunday, December 24th. However, we will celebrate Advent 4 at a special Taizé Eucharist on Saturday evening, December 23rd at 5:30PM.
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