*In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be given to: Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi Clergy Continuing Education Fund; Shriners Hospital; Knights Templar Eye Foundation

Bishop Bob really welcomes questions. He recognizes and regrets that there is not time to talk story with everyone in the Diocese. So, to help, he invites your questions and he will try to answer them in a monthly online video response. Please send your questions to Ask the Bishop! JotForm HERE. In the “Requesting Information Box,” please note that this is for “Ask the Bishop!” and be sure to tell him the name of your congregation. He can’t promise to get to all the questions, but he will do his best.

He does want to answer the questions of God’s people as best he can. What kind of questions? Some fun ones: What is your favorite movie? Why do you wear that funny hat? Some more personal ones: Where did you grow up? How did you meet Bea? Perhaps ones about our Diocese or the Episcopal Church: What is the greatest challenge facing the Church? Do you have a recommendation for a Bible study?

Rather than writing out answers, he will respond with a video message. Ask your question. Someone else may be pondering the same thing.

Again, please send your questions to Ask the Bishop JotForm. In the “Requesting Information Box,” please note that this is for “Ask the Bishop!” and be sure to tell him the name of your congregation.

As a reminder, I have recommended the reading of Failure: What Jesus Said About Sin, Mistakes and Messing Stuff Up (The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book for 2023) by the Right Reverend Emma Ineson, the Bishop of Kensington in the Diocese of London, England. A reading plan for the book and accompanying videos with Bishop Ineson can be found at Big Church Read: Failure (The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book for 2023) website.

With my prayers and blessings for a continued holy Lent.

Over the past months, I have had the privilege of serving as part of the leadership team for the Presiding Bishop’s Delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) with people from around the church, including Ms. Lynnaia Main, the Episcopal UN Representative to the UN. This experience culminated in participation in the 67th session of UNCSW. The theme of this session was “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.” READ MORE

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, the Diocese hosted a webinar with StoryMakers, an educational curriculum for children and teens. Like Godly Play, StoryMakers offers a wide variety of creative resources for Sunday School programs, but doesn't require heavy training or certification. For churches with rotating volunteers, StoryMakers may be a great option.

The Diocese is covering the cost of a StoryMakers subscription for one year for all churches, beginning with the Easter Season. For more information and to view the recorded webinar and video presentation, visit the Diocesan website HERE. You can also visit the StoryMakers website HERE.

Registration is now open for the Diocese's 2023 Clergy Conference taking place on the Garden Island of Kaua'i, August 14-16, 2023. The theme is "A Splintered Vine Bears No Fruit: The fracturing of American Society and how the church can heal the breach" with guest speaker Jay Wittmeyer from the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center. Group rates have been secured at the Sheraton Kaua'i Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa'a. For more information and to register, click HERE.

Be sure to support the Diocese's youth delegation to the triennial Episcopal Youth Event (EYE23) in July, being held at the University of Maryland. The Hawai'i delegation will be staying a few extra days for community service in the Washington, DC area. This is a wonderful and oftentimes transformative experience for our high school youth! A portion of every sale goes directly to the EYE23 Youth fund, or make an online donation through the link. The shirts are available in four colors, sizes S to 4XL in most colors (there is an extra charge for extended sizes). A women's V-neck style in purple and red are also available.

The t-shirt campaign ends on March 29. Shirts will be mailed about two weeks after that date. To order your shirts, click on the button below. For those on O'ahu, or those who will be traveling to O'ahu, you may select the bulk shipping delivery option to save on shipping charges. Then make arrangements with the Diocesan Support Center to pick up your shirt(s) at the office. Shirts should be available after April 15. Canon Sandy has also offered to bring over shirts to churches on the neighbor islands if he is scheduled for a visit after mid-April, so please coordinate with him accordingly. Credit/Debit Card donations are also welcome through the t-shirt fundraising link, or on the Diocean website HERE.

BISHOP'S SCHOLARSHIPS FUNDS

The Diocese's Youth Prayer Hike is being held concurrently on three islands this Saturday, March 25! This year, family members are invited to join in, so get ready for a great day of hiking, prayer, fun and fellowship! Hikes begin at 9:00 AM and should be completed by 1:00 PM. ​​

For more information, visit the Diocesan Youth webpage HERE, or download the flyer including the Prayer Hike Guide HERE, then register HERE. Be sure to complete the Waiver/Release form HERE and bring it with you.

LOTS OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE including Outdoor Educator, Lifeguard, Site Staff, Summer Camp Counselors and more. For more information, click HERE.

This Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 5:00 PM, The Cathedral of St. Andrew's Choral Evensong celebrates the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary announcing that she was chosen to be the God-bearer for the world. By connecting with Family Promise, we extend our support and efforts to uplift their work, and we will be accepting monetary donations on their behalf. We will also dedicate a portion of our offering to this wonderful organization.

The Parish of St. Clement in Makiki is now receiving names for a full-time Priest-in-Charge (with the option of becoming Rector), through April 30, 2023. For more information and to view the church profile, visit the Diocesan website HERE.

As a result of the first Hālawa Prayer Vigil held on Ash Wednesday, led by the Rev. Kaleo Patterson (St. Stephen's), the Warden opened chapel programs. For Prayers and Community Re-entry they have designated the hillside overlooking Hālawa, a great prayer vigil overlook. With only two weeks left in our Season of Lent Prayer Vigil at Hālawa, Patterson is welcoming clergy and lay leaders to come and offer prayers for the remaining Tuesdays in Lent and on Good Friday at 8:30 AM. The Tuesday gatherings are being photo and video documented. It is a great opportunity for exposure and experience with prison ministries, and to learn more about the Hālawa Correctional Facility, the largest prison in Hawai'i. For more information or if you have questions, email Kahu Kaleo Patterson HERE or call (808) 330-3769. (Photo: St. Stephen's Facebook page)

Jenny Wallace leads a 3-part Core Training for Godly Play on O'ahu. This full training with three modules will take place on Saturdays beginning May 27, and ending on June 10. Each session will begin at 8:30 AM and end at 5:00 PM, at different churches around O'ahu. The Diocese will be subsidizing $200 of the cost for each participant so that your cost is only $100 for all three modules. For more information and to register, click HERE. Class size is limited to 12, so register early. Deadline is May 20 or when 12 registrants are reached.

With COVID protocols relaxed, churches around the Diocese have returned to almost pre-pandemic levels of activity and gatherings. Pictured at left, St. Mark's Lenten Study includes a soup lunch. (Photo: St. Mark's online news)

'Iolani School in Honolulu is seeking a full-time Chaplain Curate for a two-year period. Housing is provided. The full job description can be viewed HERE. Apply directly with the school through their online portal HERE.

It's happening! After years of planning, permitting, fundraising and tons of paperwork, Christ Memorial broke ground for a vicarage. This comes at a time when they are also nearing the end of their search process for a new vicar. In the photo, you can see the black construction barrier set up on what used to be a grassy parking area. (Photo: S. Nishioka)

On Monday, March 13, 2023, St. Columba's in Pa'auilo officially broke ground through a massive effort by members of the St. James' congregations, to aid in their mission and outreach efforts. Renovations will include construction of a certified kitchen, handicap accessible bathrooms, upgraded electrical, plumbing, and septic systems, a youth/fellowship room, sacristy, and office.

“We feel God leading us to reach out to those who are hungry in body and soul,” said the Rev. Linda Lundgren, who was called to lead the replanted congregation back in 2016. The congregation grew steadily, and along with her husband Bob, they became deeply imbedded in their community. During the height of the pandemic, St. Columba's started up a weekly feeding meal program serving 400+ meals every Wednesday, but without a certified kitchen, the meals had to be prepared at St. James' and trucked over.

Now, the dream for their own certified ktichen will soon be a reality. The project, spreadheaded by parishioner Tim Bostock, and seeded by an initial gift of $50,000, took off! More grants were secured and many fundraising campaigns held.

“This is truly a community effort! One that is clearly anointed by the Holy Spirit’s leading,” said the Rev. David Stout, Rector of St. James’ Parish Congregations, of which St. Columba’s in Pa’auilo, St. James’ in Waimea, and the Saturday Beach Mass in Kawaihae are all a part. “We are one ‘ohana seeking to share the unconditional love, mercy, and grace of God.” (Photo credits: Mel Pobre, Jeanne Savage)

[March 18, 2023] The Rt. Rev. Frank Tracy Griswold III, the 25th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, was remembered March 18 as a leader who “bathed us in the love of God.” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in his sermon described Griswold as “a praying brother” who constantly invoked the example of the contemplative and ascetical Desert Fathers and Mothers and who also acted with quiet and clear courage. READ MORE

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2023-2024 EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS - Applications are being accepted for a wide variety of educational scholarships from The Episcopal Church for the 2023-2024 academic year. The deadline to apply is April 12. All applicants must be Episcopalian. The maximum award is $10,000 per student. For more information, including the list of scholarship trust funds and online (only) application link, click HERE.

Required Safe Church Training - This is a reminder that Safe Church training is mandatory for all clergy, employees, vestry members, and most volunteers. Please read The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i Safeguarding Policy and the Diocesan Safe Church Training Webpage. This training needs to be renewed every three years. Contact your church's Safe Church Administator or priest for more information, or if you have questions, email Denise Esposito.