The father of Canon Sandy Graham, Alexander Graham III, died [October 19] in Delaware. Mr. Graham had been ill for some months and was in the hospital. Sandy was able to be with his mother at his father’s bedside at the time of death. Please keep the family (Sandy, Heather, Kate and Mrs. Graham) in your prayers.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

+Bob

Mr. Mila Polevia died unexpectedly [October 18] at his home on Hawaiʻi Island. He was the long-time musican at St. Augustine’s Church, Kapaʻau, and a frequent guest musican at Diocesan Conventions and programs. Mila was an important part of the Big Island entertainment community. He is survived by three children, his church ʻohana, friends and many fans.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

+Bob

During my Convention Address, I asked all Episcopalians in this Diocese to complete the Embracing Evangelism course.

Embracing Evangelism is a six-part digital course exploring our call to seek, name, and celebrate Jesus’ loving presence in the stories of all people – and then invite everyone to more. Each session features teachings on Episcopal evangelism, group discussion, and exercises to help Episcopalians understand the ministry and call to evangelism. The full Embracing Evangelism series consists of six video sessions, each under 45 minutes.

I urge you to sign up today. You will need to enter an email address as you begin the sessions to have access. I think this can be a most helpful program to help us practice sharing our stories of faith. You can urge and lead your vestry or bishop’s committee to complete the course. You can get a group going in your congregation.

Please engage the Embracing Evangelism course starting today. Let’s start Embracing Evangelism!

Yours faithfully,

Bishop Bob

On October 16, 2022, St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church in Honolulu celebrated its 120th anniversary of ministry in Palama. Among the honored guests were Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick and wife Bea, Fathers Brian Grieves, Franklin Chun, and Greg Johnson, along with many of the congregation who had not gathered in person since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pews were filled for the special Sunday service, and a potluck gathering in Shim Hall followed, where their newly installed history wall was on display. As reported in an earlier Chronicle, the magnificent wall was created by Stuart Ching and Allen Low design company. The wall recounts the marvelous, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural heritage of this inner city church located at the gateway for immigration into Hawai'i.  SEE FULL ARTICLE

Coming next week will be the Special Edition Education Day and Annual Meeting Chronicle with complete coverage of Convention 54. On October 21 and 22, 2022, the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i met in-person for this year's Education Day and 54th Annual Meeting of Convention held at 'Iolani School in Honolulu.

One word that comes to mind when describing this year's Annual Meeting is JOYOUS! Although Friday's Education Day was chock full of activity, learning, and celebration, there was something uniquely different about Saturday's gathering that departed from the "business as usual" vibe.

Of the past 12 Diocesan Conventions that this reporter has covered, the energy and spirit that flowed throughout was unlike previous years. There was a signifcant buzz of excitement as clergy and delegates arrived. Masks were required but folks still hugged, laughed, and socialized freely. It was a scene of fellowship... of cheer... of a family coming together... and perhaps, underlying it all, was the realization that we really really missed being with each other in person.

Do you have questions about what took place at the 80th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (GC80) held in Baltimore, Maryland? Would you like to learn more about the legislative process of the Episcopal Church and how you can be involved as we prepare for the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky?

As a follow-up to our deputation team’s Diocesan Convention presentation, you are invited to “All About GC,” an online forum, next Thursday, November 3, from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM, hosted by deputies from GC80 and Bishop Fitzpatrick.

There is no need to pre-register. This is a drop-in as you can/leave when you need to do so gathering. Bring your questions, curiosities, and wisdom. We look forward to a vibrant dialogue on all things governance.

All youth (grades 6-12) are invited to participate in our 2023 Diocesan Youth Ministry Retreat at Camp Mokulē'ia. The retreat will be taking place February 3-5, 2023, and is the first Diocesan youth retreat in years! Grab a friend and come on out for a weekend full of fun and games as we learn from special guest Easton Davis, how "Doing a New Thing With God" can change our hearts, minds, and friendships! Registration is now open HERE, or for more information, download the flyer HERE.

The Episcopal Church Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop invites all Episcopalians to participate in a survey. The responses will help the committee develop a profile of the skills, qualities, and gifts the church seeks in its next presiding bishop, considering what the church and world may look like in the next decade. For more information click HERE, and to take part in the survey, click HERE.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church is partnering with the Kailua Chamber of Commerce and its members to present a Merry Little Kailua Christmas for families in need on the Windward side on Saturday, December 17, 2022 from 5:00 PM-8:00 PM. There will be several activities for children. Families will be able to choose gifts and receive non-perishable food items to help brighten their holiday season courtesy of the Kailua community.

If you know of a family who would like to attend please encourage them to fill out this form (HERE), or call the church office at (808) 262-4548. Families will receive a special invitation to join the festivities. The only thing we ask is that families reside on the windward side of O'ahu. Please help us spread the word so everyone can experience some holiday magic!

On November 12 and 13, 2022, St. Michael and All Angels in Lihue will be holding their Fall Festival and a special Sunday Holy Sovereigns service to honor King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. Saturday's festival includes a craft fair and bake sale, free concert, auction, and refreshments. Sunday's Festival Worship begins at 10:00 AM and will feature Halau Hula Na Pua O Kamaile. For more information, download the flyer HERE, or contact the church office at (808) 245-3796. St. Michael's is located at 4364 Hardy Street in Lihue.

Christ Memorial Episcopal Church in Kilauea is now receiving names for a full-time Vicar, through December 31, 2022. They are currently building a vicarage on campus that should be completed by summer 2023. For more information and to view the church profile, visit the Diocesan website HERE.

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church will be having a Cupies Chow Fun Fundraiser from November 7-12, 2022. Chow fun tickets are being sold for $10 a quart and may be redeemed at Cupies Drive In, 134 W. Kamehameha Avenue in Kahului. Pick up times at Cupies Drive In:

On Tuesday, October 19, 2022, the Rev. David Stout celebrated 25 years of priesthood, with nearly half of that time spent at St. James' Episcopal Church, Kamuela. In an excerpt from their weekly online newsletter, Bobby Clement shared: “It has been my blessing to be a part of David’s ministry for the last 25 years. David introduced me to the Episcopal Tradition at St. Paul’s. From St. Paul’s in NC, to St. Bartholomew’s NYC, Trinity in Asbury Park and for the last 11 years here in our home of St. James’ in Hawai’i... Tears, joy and love fill me on this day as I see what God has done and is doing through David’s ministry.” Congratulations Father David!

[October 27, 2022] Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, in an Oct. 26 seminar at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., reiterated The Episcopal Church’s position that white Christian nationalism is a gross perversion of Christianity, and that Christians must refute such ideologies. READ MORE