As we look forward to another exciting and busy year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on 2016 and offer a few heartfelt mahalos:

• First and foremost to our whole All Saints' 'ohana, on island, in Hawaii, on the mainland or other locations worldwide, we are so grateful for your continued support.
   
• To all the volunteers who keep our church and our outreach programs running. Just think about how much we do with purely volunteer support. Not only the high profile events like the Thanksgiving lunch, Dodgeball, Movie Nights and Laundry Love but every service and every event - Altar Guild, Acolytes, Eucharist Ministers, Ushers, ECW, Buildings and Grounds, Hospitality, church work days, Saturday Markets and so much more. If you volunteer, give yourself a pat on the back!
   
• To our Director of Music Ministries, Hank, and the choir for making a joyful noise and helping us to sing to the Lord.  You are awesome! Each Sunday we are treated to such a wide variety of music and song from Prelude to Postlude via hymns, anthems and other service related pieces - with occasional guest vocalists and guest musicians. Every Sunday is a concert.
   
• To our Sunday school volunteers. Who would have thought that we would get 19 - yes nineteen! - people to volunteer to support the Sunday school program! You share with our keiki a passion for God and the curiosity to ask questions and search out answers.
   
• To our Ministry Intern, Sierra Gore. What a gem! Sierra was thrown in at the deep end when she accepted this internship!  The future of the Episcopal Church is in good hands if we have more people of this caliber coming into the priesthood. I hope Sierra's search leads her to ministry. She's a natural.
   
• To all those involved in the organ project especially Morris Wise, Byron Barth, Bill Caldwell, David Crocker and Manuel Rosales and his team. This is a major project which will have an impact on the church for generations to come. I cannot wait to hear the new organ played for the first time in our church. The original gift of Mrs. S. W. Wilcox is the gift that is going to keep on giving!
   
• To the Ke Akua Youth Group. A great group of young men and women. You are a blessing to the church and a credit to your families. Sierra, as our Ministry Intern, took the lead with the Youth Group program in 2016 continuing to build on the solid foundation laid by Sybil Nishioka and other volunteers. Other interns will be taking on this responsibility in future years.
   
• To our Church and Preschool administrator! What would we do without Chris?!

Is that it? No! Just one final BIG MAHALO to Fr. Ryan and Dr. Erin. Thank you for all that you both do for our church and the wider community. We are truly blessed to have you here with us.

So . . . on to 2017!

Ke Akua pu me 'oukou.

David Murray

Senior Warden

This year's Annual Meeting of the Parish will be held between the two services on  Sunday, January 29th from 8:00AM - 9:15AM. There will be a breakfast  potluck. A potluck sign-up will be located at the entrance of the Church  the next three Sundays.

 

The Annual Meeting of the Parish is important to the mission and ministries of All Saints'. During the annual meeting, we will be electing new Vestry members and delegates to the Diocese's Convention.

 

Please plan to attend this important meeting of the Church.

• Three "at-large" members of Vestry; three-year term
• A youth representative to Vestry; one-year term
• A Junior Warden; one-year term.

At the Annual Meeting (Sunday, January 29, 2017), All Saints' will elect five delegates (and alternates) to attend the  Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii's Annual Convention October 20 and 21, 2017 at 'Iolani School, Honolulu. 

Candidates and/or a person nominating a candidate are required to complete and submit a nomination form.  Nomination forms must be submitted no later than Tuesday, January 24 at 8:00PM. 

The Epistle will publish the Nomination Packet in January 27th issue and the nomination packet will be made available on the day of the Annual Parish Meeting.

The Diocesan Convention is the primary representative governing body of the diocese. It convenes annually in October to conduct diocesan business, including election of various leadership bodies; approval of a budget for the upcoming year; setting mission strategy; and establishing diocesan policy and procedure by considering and voting on resolutions and approving changes to the diocesan constitution and canons. It is also an occasion for communication and teaching from the Bishop. The Convention allows delegates to connect with other Church leaders, share ministry ideas, and to gather for a celebration of the Holy Eucharist together as a diocesan community.