Volume 1, Issue 30
September 2, 2016
In This Issue
'Ohana Retreat and Hurricane Lester
Discernment
Work Day Recap
This Week in Sunday School
Photo of the Week
In Brief
This Sunday
Readings for Sept. 4
Proper 18(C)

7:00AM
Will be offered if Kauai is not under a hurricane warning.

9:30AM
Will be offered if Kauai is not under a hurricane warning.
Upcoming Dates
Every Wednesday
McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
6:00PM -  Church

Every Thursday
Choir Practice
6:00PM - Choir Room

September 3-5
'Ohana Retreat
Camp Sloggett
POSTPONED

Wednesday, September 7
Laundry Love (Team B)
5:30 - 8:30PM
Kapaa Laundromat

Thursday, September 8
Daughters of the King
7:00PM
Memorial Hall

Saturday, September 10
Saturday Market 
and Swap Meet
9:00AM - 2:00PM
Church Campus

Thursday, September 15
Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
7:00PM
Memorial Hall

Wednesday, Sept. 21
Laundry Love (Team C)
5:30 - 8:30PM
Kapaa Laundromat

Thursday, September 22
Daughters of the King
7:00PM
Memorial Hall  
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Latest Sermons
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SPECIAL NOTICE
'Ohana Retreat Postponed. Sunday Services to be Held if Kauai is not Under a "Hurricane Warning"
 
Aloha All Saints' 'Ohana,

We have been watching very carefully Hurricane Lester's potential path. The good news for Kauai and the other islands is that the storm continues to track north. Hopefully, the Hawaiian Islands have been spared a direct hit. 

However, forecasts still have Kauai potentially receiving large amounts of rain and significant winds this weekend. The Central Hurricane Center writes, "Although the forecast track currently keeps the strongest winds and heaviest rains offshore, the local weather will be highly dependent on the exact track that Lester takes as it passes by. Only a small error on the left side of the forecast track would bring a significantly higher threat of damaging winds and flooding rains to the islands."

Yesterday, we polled the 'Ohana Retreat participants and many expressed reservations about the impact of rain and high winds on the overall retreat experience. Also, some participants had concerns about being isolated in a remote area of the island without communications as the storm passes the island. If it does storm significantly, the retreat group will be confined to a small indoor area all weekend. We want the retreat to be a fun and memorable experience--an indoor retreat at Camp Sloggett is not very appealing. 

Given the expected stormy conditions and the continued threat of a hurricane, and based on the feedback participants shared, we feel it is in the best interest to POSTPONE this weekend's 'Ohana Retreat.

As long as Kauai is not under a "hurricane warning" Sunday morning, All Saints' will then offer two very simple said Eucharist services on Sunday at 7:00AM and 9:30AM. There will be no music and a very brief homily. If you elect to attend Church on Sunday, please stay tuned to local news for up-to-date weather and local road conditions before traveling into Kapaa on Sunday. Please check Sunday morning the All Saints' website to confirm services will be held.

We pray for everyone who might be impacted by the storm. We pray especially for first responders who will be risking their safety for the well being and safety of others.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. Mahalo nui loa.

In Christ,
ryan+
DIOCESE OF HAWAII CLERGY RETREAT
Discernment: Being Called by God

This past week, the clergy of the Diocese gathered at Camp Mokuleia for their annual retreat. The theme of the retreat centered around "discernment." Fr. Ryan takes a moment to reflect about the retreat's focus and the impact on All Saints'.

By the time someone is ordained to the Deaconate or Priesthood, they have had to tell "their call story" at least fifty times. Throughout the discernment process, individuals and groups are eager to learn "how" someone has been called by God to serve in a particular ministry.

Every call story is unique. For some, a call is sudden and swift; and, for many others, a call is gradual and subtle. It is not only members of the clergy who are called by God--all of us are called by God in our lives.

"God speaks to us through the language of everyday events. Each new moment of life, each new situation, the present condition of a person or community, of events, time, place, people, and circumstances--all hold clues to God's call." (Listening Hearts)

After attending the Clergy Retreat, I reflected about "discernment" in the context of All Saints'. I began to wonder if we are doing enough at All Saints' to support "discernment" in our community of faith-specifically supporting those who may be discerning a call to ordained ministry and cultivating a culture of discernment among the laity to serve in and/or lead particular ministries.

Have you ever thought about being a deacon or priest in God's Church? Have you ever pondered starting a new ministry at All Saints'? Have you ever wrestled with the idea of joining an existing ministry in the Church?

Do you feel that God might be calling you to serve . . . but you are unclear about the exact nature of that call or are you fighting a call?

"Discernment helps a person understand the source of a call, to whom it is directed, its content, and what response is appropriate. Discernment also involves learning if one is dodging a call, is deaf to a call, or is rejecting a call. Discernment is a gift from God. But it also includes an intentional attempt on our part to hear God's call in our life." (Listening Hearts)

In the coming months, I would like our congregation to explore the idea of forming a "discernment group." The exact configuration and life of the group will be largely guided by the needs of the individuals who elect to participate. At the core, I would hope a group of people would gather regularly for conversation, study, and prayer specifically around each other's call. The fundamental question could be: "How can we listen for our vocation, for God's calling in our lives, and listen for it in community, in the Body of Christ?"

If you might be interested in this endeavor, please either email me or schedule a time for us to meet.

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20

Faithfully in Christ,
ryan+
SATURDAY WORK DAY RECAP
Work Day Mahalo

Mahalo nui loa to all those who turned out for our recent work day on Saturday, August 27th. It was a very productive day and we were blessed with beautiful weather - mahalo ke Akua!

CeCe Caldwell, Robin Putman and I were finally able to stain and waterproof the deck.

David and Linda Crocker installed a temporary roof, over the temporary sink outside the new temporary sacristy! This was all done just in time as the rain came down with a vengeance during the 9:30 a.m. service the next day. 

Fr. Ryan and Bill Brown tiled the backsplash in the Rectory cottage which is now "home" for our first Ministry Intern, Sierra Gore. Aloha Sierra! Fr. Ryan was still hanging curtain rods when the work day ended at noon.

Special mahalo to Nora Takenouchi and Linda who tackled the most daunting job of the day - cleaning and tidying the gym kitchen! Anyone who looked in the gym kitchen during the last few weeks will understand how much work that required. Perhaps we should rename it the "grim" kitchen! Nora also cleaned the church windows.

Many thanks for your time and hard work.

David - for the Buildings and Grounds Ministry.
THIS WEEK IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
Each week, The Epistle will highlight the upcoming Sunday School lesson from "Weaving God's Promises."

September 4th: No Sunday School
Originally, due to the 'Ohana Retreat, there was no Sunday School scheduled. If we offer services on Sunday, it will be a "Family Worship Sunday" and Sunday School will not be offered. Mahalo for understanding.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
All Saints' Ministry Intern, Sierra Gore, arrived on Kauai this Wednesday. One of her first stops; the beach! Aloha Sierra!
IN BRIEF . . .
These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"

Hale Ho'omalu September Collection
This month's special collection for Hale Ho'omalu,  a family services center located a half-block away from the church,  is disposable diapers. The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will be preparing Pregnant Mothers Gift Packages that will contain the collected diapers and items donated by the ECW including baby lotion, shampoo, wash cloths, baby wipes, and baby wash.  Hale Ho'omalu also needs and appreciates monetary donations as well as gift-in-kind items.  Every Sunday, all gift-in-kind items can be left in the red wagon at the Church's entrance.

Offering a Helping Hand
In mid-August, parts of the US Gulf Coast experienced historic levels of flooding, with at least seven dead, and tens of thousands unable to return to their homes.  Episcopal Relief & Development   is supporting the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana's emergency response efforts in the wake of widespread flooding that has  affected more than 40,000 homes  across the state.  With support from Episcopal Relief & Development, the  Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana  is responding to immediate needs such as food, emergency housing and storage, gasoline and replacement of lost items by distributing gift cards at churches and shelters.  To enable Episcopal Relief & Development to respond to the current Gulf Coast flooding and support emergency preparedness and long-term recovery efforts in the United States,  please donate to the  US Disaster Response Fund .
"The Epistle" is published weekly by Friday.
Submissions for consideration are due by Wednesday at noon and can be sent to ryan@allsaintskauai.org.