HOLY EUCHARIST
September 19, 2025 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Continuing the Season of Creation
and
Keiki Sunday
Bishop's Committee meeting at 10:45 am, Sunday School Room
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To attend online, join our Facebook LIVESTREAM*
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Missed a service? Watch on YouTube any time.
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER
- Creation care - explanation of Huli ka lima i lalo
- Upcoming services & events through December 2025
- Why St. Augustine's is here: how are we living our mission
- Pray for others and send us your prayer requests
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
In this week’s gospel reading, Jesus shares this parable:
A rich man learns that his manager is mishandling money. The rich man calls a meeting with the manager, demanding to see the account records. At the meeting, he fires the manager on the spot.
The manager scrambles to salvage the situation. To convince merchants to pay up, he settles accounts with just half the amount owed. The merchants gladly take the deal.
As a result, the rich man loses a substantial sum. But rather than responding with anger or demanding the rest of what he's owed, the rich man expresses delight at the manager's cleverness!
Despite the manager's failings, everyone ends up happy. So what's the moral of the story?
I hear Jesus reminding us of our call to be faithful stewards of everything God provides: the riches of creation, opportunities to share Divine love through our wealth of time and talents and treasure.
By forgiving debts and sharing his wealth with the community, the rich man is a faithful steward of the abundance God gives. Rather than focusing on his personal wealth, he sees the richness that flows when wealth passes through his hands to others.
This tale, like Jesus' other parables, offers multiple layers of wisdom, prompting questions such as:
- What forms of wealth exist in the world?
- How does wealth flow in our community?
- What do our actions reveal about our beliefs around abundance or scarcity?
- How does wealth shape our relationships with others, creation, and God?
We know that wealth exists in many forms, yet we most often equate it with money. Our relationship with money is complex. In itself, money is neither good nor bad—it is simply a tool. Used wisely, it can serve the good of the whole. But when misused, it can corrupt our hearts and distort our values.
We use money to buy food, shelter, possessions, and services—things we need and want. Money is transactional, an exchange system created by humans. When we give money, we expect something in return. It's also good to remember that money is temporary. Eventually, everything we own will belong to someone else or will be used up.
In contrast, Divine love is relational. Every opportunity to share it offers a chance to foster meaningful connection. Divine love invites us into unity with God, others, and creation. Divine love is eternal. It grows over time with no expiration date. It flows freely without expectation.
Jesus says, “You cannot serve God and wealth.” He's reminding us that sometimes we confuse money and Divine love, like a parent who buys their child a toy in place of spending time together. Sometimes we treat love as a transaction, giving love with expectations to receive it in return.
Our calling is to prioritize the currency of Divine love—to give without strings attached, to serve as Christ’s hands and heart in the world, to be faithful stewards of God's love by caring for creation and sharing our presence, time, and talents.
God loves us unconditionally. We are invited to let that love flow through us, freely and abundantly.
Blessings this day,
Vicar Jennifer
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THE SEASON OF CREATION
We are currently focused on the Season of Creation, a time set aside across the Episcopal Church to re-commit ourselves as mindful stewards of God’s earth. Although we are called to care for creation every day, the Season of Creation invites us to deepen that commitment by listening to the cries of the earth and the creatures around us and by celebrating the beautiful mystery of this world that God has entrusted to our care.
During this season, you'll notice changes in our liturgy to help us focus on creation care. In addition, we are offering a series of events and reflections.
This week's Season of Creation reflection
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai‘i endeavors to prioritize creation care. This year, our ʻŌlelo Noʻeau* is Huli ka lima i lalo. The Rev. Jazzy Bostock says, "This is the explanation for Huli ka lima i lalo, the ʻŌlelo Noʻeau* that I found and loved."
Huli ka lima i lalo means to turn the hand down. When our hands are turned down, they are working, they are productive, and they are stewarding that which is in front of them. This ‘ōlelo noʻeau invokes the image of hands planted in the lepo (dirt, earth) as they care for ʻāina. These hands are not just turned up waiting for something to happen or waiting for others to step in. They are taking initiative, they are planting and connecting, serving, helping, and stewarding well the kuleana (responsibility, privilege) they are given. They are caring well for ʻāina as well as for other kanaka, and it is from that place of both connection and action, that there is ola (life and health). . .
From a Hawaiian perspective, the health and wellbeing of both ʻāina and kanaka are tied and kanaka has a kuleana to mālama (care for) this relationship. When ʻāina is sick, we become sick, and when it is thriving, we also thrive; and vice versa. We see this in the cultivation of kalo. Kalo needs to be planted and tended to in order to thrive. While it can grow on its own, it responds best to the care of kanaka. This relationship, in and of itself, is lifegiving to both people and ʻāina, and, when cultivated well, the result is good, healthy, healing ʻai (food, taro) that nourishes us in mind, body, and spirit.
* 'Ōlelo no'eau are proverbs or poetical sayings that are commonly used when speaking Hawaiian.
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September 28 - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 & 9:00 am
October 5 - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 & 9:00 am
October 12 - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 & 9:00 am
Find scripture readings for upcoming services and learn about the liturgical seasons in the Episcopal Church here.
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Join our YouTube Channel
to view past services!
youtube.com/@staugustineskohala
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Sermons now available online.
During a recent Spirit School session, members asked whether sermons could be made available to read online. Beginning with the season of Pentecost 2025, sermons will be posted on our web site. Please feel free to share the links!
| | At a recent Spirit School session, we practiced the "listening process" our PCi team has been using to reflect on sermons. Deacon Lani suggested we share the listening process with everyone at St. Augustine's — a great idea! Copies of the listening questions are now in our pews (and linked below). Our PCi group has found the questions engaging and helpful, and we hope they enrich your spiritual life, as well! | | |
Patsy Ching for cleaning the church & providing flowers last week in memory of John Ching.
Maurine Gomes for serving as lay reader last Sunday and serving as Altar Guild.
St. Augustine's members who pray for others each week.
Members of St. Augustine's and the community who help sort donations and operate the Thrift Shop.
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Many thanks for all that you do to show your support for St. Augustine's! Your gifts of time, talent, and funds allow us to be the love of God in our community.
WHY WE ARE HERE
We serve North Kohala by:
- Providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming spiritual home.
- Addressing the high cost of living by offering low-cost goods in our Thrift Shop.
- Addressing food insecurity through food preservation education; alleviating hunger by sponsoring the Little Free Pantry and partnerships to assist Kohala Cares and the Kohala Food Hub.
- Serving as a gathering place to foster a peaceful and collaborative community (music, arts, food, fellowship).
All gifts, no matter the size, make an incredible difference in our community! Mahalo for your support!
Visit the link below to access our secure giving site.
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: Alberta & Dave; Ashley Morris Sasaki & family; Joe Chang; Sue Ellen, Diane & Tom; Sean; Mark Odom; Randy Cruz; Eupolodo Rivera; Raeanne Tolentino; Brendan McDougall; Richard Russell; Catalina; Richard Elliot; Maile Napoleon Spencer; Hattie Perkielski; Carol Dicus; Sheila Fujii; Patrick Tanaka; Janis Peach; Rita Masada; Brandon Weber; Suzie Cook; Heidi & Baye Cheikh Kébé and their twin babies due in October; Caroline Doll; Leighton Purdy; Bruce Soll; Susan Acacio; Sabrina Lee; Jeannette Hensel; Erin Manuel; Guy Kaoo; Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello; Becky & Ludwig Simmet; Annecita Tamayo; Lynn Dicus.
REQUEST PRAYERS
If you or someone you know would like to be added to our prayer list, please email Patsy Ching or Vicar Jennifer. You can request prayers for yourself, your 'ohana, and anyone in our community or beyond.
During our Sunday services, you can write prayer requests on a piece of paper. Prayers will be read aloud or silently (per your request) during the Prayers of the People. You can also send us prayer requests through our online form. Mahalo for your care and prayers!
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WEEKLY
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FELLOWSHIP HOUR - Every Sunday after our 9:00 am service. We gather to enjoy conversation, coffee, and treats in Walker Hall. Please bring some savory or sweet treats to share! Mahalo to all who have been providing delicious food and to Jeannette Hensel for bringing coffee.
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CHOIR - Join us Wednesdays at 5:00 pm to sing through the hymns for the following Sunday. All are welcome! Can't make it to choir this week? You can take a peek at the music in the order of worship for this coming Sunday (link is at the top of this newsletter).
MONTHLY
First Sunday
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SPIRIT SCHOOL - Sunday school for adults - Join us for Spirit School, a short session for adults on a topic to enrich our spiritual life. Please let Vicar Jennifer know if there's a topic you're interested in or if you would like to present a Spirit School session.
Second Sunday
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LAYING ON OF HANDS - Receive healing prayers for yourself or another at our 7:00 am & 9:00 am services. Mahalo to Rebecca Bartholomy for offering this important ministry!
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FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS - Please bring shelf-stable, nutritious foods for the Kapa'au Little Free Pantry or donate funds for food to be purchased. Mahalo for your help with this ministry!
Third Sunday
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KEIKI SUNDAY - All keiki (and their 'ohanas) are invited to join us for this once-a-month special service when Vicar Jennifer shares a Godly Play story and keiki can participate at the altar as we share our holy meal together.
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BISHOP'S COMMITTEE MEETING - All members are welcome to join the Bishop's Committee meeting, held in the Sunday School classroom at 10:45 am after fellowship hour. As always, we welcome your questions about our planning and budgeting processes!
Fourth Sunday
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PREACHING CONGREGATIONS INITIATIVE- This program teaches us how to listen to one another and how to speak with others about the love of God. Curious about what is being learned? Ask St. Augustine's lay cohort, Kathy Webb, Kirk Corey, Maurine Gomes, Laura La Gassa, Kim Lambrecht, and John Sakai during fellowship hour or when you see them out and about!
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LOOKING AHEAD
Here's a quick reference list. Please see below for details or check out our online calendar.
September 23 - Ho'imi Pono session #2 - Crossing Divides - 5:30 pm
September 28 - Mahalo brunch for Thrift Shop volunteers - 10:30 am
September 30 - Ho'imi Pono session #3 - Navigating Disagreement - 5:30 pm
October 1 - Stewardship season begins
October 4 - Annual Bazaar - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
October 7 - Ho'imi Pono session #4 - Practicing Forgiveness - 5:30 pm
October 14 - Ho'imi Pono session #5 - Risking Hope - 5:30 pm
October 24 & 25 - Diocesan Education Day & Annual Meeting on O'ahu
November 2 - All Saints Sunday & ingathering of ministry gifts
November 16 - Sunday services celebrating Queen Lili'uokalani
November 23 - Sunday services celebrating the Holy Sovereigns Queen Emma & King Kamehameha
November 27 - Thanksgiving Day
November 30 - Season of Advent begins
November 30 - Keiki Giving Spree in our Thrift Shop - 11:00 to noon
December 7 - Presentation by author Carl McColman: Read the Bible Like a Mystic - 10:30 am
December 24 - Christmas Eve service - 6:00 pm with potluck after
December 25 - Christmas Day service - 9:00 am
| | Many thanks to Kathy Matsuda (NKCRC & Kohala Resilience Hub) and Sandra Tran (Kapanaia Farms) for their hard work on our Food Preservation Workshop program! | | |
FOOD PRESERVATION PARTNERS
Our hui now has a name!
You've seen us working in Walker Hall, busy teaching canning techniques to members of our community. Our group now has a name!
The Kohala Ono Food Hui is a partnership with Kapanaia Farms, the North Kohala Community Resource Center & Kohala Resilience Hub, and St. Augustine's. We'll be selling our delicious canned goods at future Night Markets and at St. Augustine's Annual Bazaar. All proceeds will go toward funding more food preservation workshops in 2025.
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SEWING WITH AUNTIE ANNIE
All are welcome to come learn to sew with Aunty Annie, who is a wonderful and patient teacher. Beginners and experienced sewers alike can attend. Adult sewing on Fridays from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.
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MAHALO BRUNCH FOR OUR THRIFT SHOP VOLUNTEERS
Please join us September 28 at 10:30 am for a special brunch to say mahalo nui loa to our wonderful Thrift Shop volunteers! We'll host a delicious salad bar brunch in their honor.
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ANNUAL BAZAAR IS OCTOBER 4
Please mark your calendars: St. Augustine's Annual Bazaar is set for Saturday, October 4, 9:00 am-1:00 pm.
As the day approaches, here are some things you can do to help:
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Sign up to bake or cook items we'll sell at the Bazaar. The sign-up sheet is in Walker Hall. If you can, please pack, label & price your items in advance. Let Kathy know if you need containers by Sunday, Sept. 21.
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Keep your eyes out for people moving. They may have some great items for silent auction!
When to bring items:
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Bring your crafts, silent auction, and boutique items starting Sunday, Sept. 28, and after that contact Jeanne.
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Bring higher-end Thrift Shop items on Sunday, Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 in the morning.
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Bring food by 8:00am on Bazaar day. If you can, please pack, label & price in advance.
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Bring plants, flowers, vegetables on Bazaar day at 8:00 am to the plants tent. If you can, please label with names of plants and price in advance.
Requests for help:
- Need help putting up tents Friday, Oct. 3 at 4:00 pm. Let Kathy know if you can help.
- Need help breaking down tents Bazaar day at 1:30 pm. Let Kathy know if you can help.
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WAIWAI: WATER & THE FUTURE OF HAWAI'I
We had a wonderful turnout for the video presentation by Dr. Kamana Beamer (prerecorded on May 24, 2025 for HULI - the Creation Care program for the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i) to kick off St. Augustine's Season of Creation in September/October.
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Mahalo to Lani Bowman for this excellent idea and for facilitating the meeting! We had 42 adults and six keiki from the wider community join us for the event.
Dr. Beamer provided an insightful systems view of the economy of water alongside a view of our society's current economic system that sees water as a mere commodity. Dr. Beamer proposes a circular economy that would support a sustainable and sacred approach to water stewardship.
Mahalo to Dr. Beamer and HULI members for offering this opportunity to learn! We also extend big mahalos to Kumu Leia Lawrence and members of Hula Hālau Kukui Aloha O Kohala for the oli and hula asking for rain in drought-stricken North Kohala.
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CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE to view the oli and hula offered by Kumu Leia Lawrence and members of Hula Hālau Kukui Aloha O Kohala: Leah , Erika Kuhr, Jennifer Masada, Magaly Durflinger, Anuhea Sills. Mahalo to Jeanne Cooper for the video. | PICTURED ABOVE - 42 adults and 6 keiki attended the event on September 7, 2025 at St. Augustine's. Photo: Jeanne Cooper. | | PICTURED ABOVE - Last Wednesday's Craft Night was lively with 10 people joining us for making rugs! Mahalo to all who participated! | | |
UPCYCLING T-SHIRTS AT CRAFT NIGHT!
Back by popular demand, our rug-making class welcomed 10 people to learn how to upcycle T-shirts into beautiful braided rugs. Kathy Matsuda led the group, and you can see by the smiling faces how much fun they had! What better way to use the surplus from our Thrift Shop? We often have more T-shirts than we can sell, and when shirt arrive that have holes or stains, we don't throw them away. We keep them out of the landfill by creating something useful and lovely. We're planning to offer this class again, so please stay tuned for dates.
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DO YOU LOVE OUR BEAUTIFUL CHURCH?
We are looking for a few people to volunteer to clean our sanctuary! Please contact Kathy Matsuda if you can help out on these dates (cleaning happens the Saturday before Sunday services):
September 20, 27
November 8
December 6, 13
Mahalo nui to all who work hard to keep our church looking lovely!
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NOTES FROM OUR BISHOP'S COMMITTEE
Our July meeting began with a prayer and an appreciative inquiry discussion (based on the sermon) on how the Holy Spirit's fire is present in our lives. Responses included: in our family or children; in the need for patience; in serving others.
August Meeting highlights - discussions included the following:
- St. Augustine's responses to the Diocesan Bishop Search Committee questionnaire, based on congregation discussions
- Thrift Shop strategic planning
- Ho'imi Pono training scheduled as a weekly one-hour series beginning September 16
- Church finances & stewardship campaign planning
- Community partnerships and upcoming Annual Bazaar
- Placement of the perimeter fence
Please let us know if you have questions or feedback! Contact any member of the BC or sit in on our next meeting this Sunday, September 17 at 10:45 am in the Sunday School Room.
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S TEAMS IN ACTION
Our four core teams are hard at work! We're sharing updates each week as our progress unfolds. This week, we're highlighting our Family & Community Network team that works with community events and partnerships (co-chairs Kathy Matsuda & Lani Bowman, Melanie Sahagun, and Michelle Simpson). This hardworking team has accomplished the following so far in 2025:
- Led a successful MamaJam event for Mother's Day in May.
- Continuing to guide the operations of our Thrift Shop.
- Stocking the Little Free Panty every week.
- Offering Craft Night workshops, Food Preservation Workshops, Movie Night, and Tiny Church Concerts.
- Fostering partnerships with community organizations.
- Began tracking data on our outreach efforts for reports to the national Episcopal Church and for future grant applications.
Future projects include organizing the upcoming Annual Bazaar.
Mahalo to all members of our Bishop's Committee and all members of our core teams: Buildings & Grounds, Family & Community Network, Finance & Stewardship, and Spiritual Growth. If you are interested in being on a core team or helping with a specific project, please reach out to Vicar Jennifer or any member of the BC.
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If you have information to share, please let us know! This newsletter helps us stay in touch in a variety of ways, such as news, requests for prayers, offers of assistance, or information on garden bounty (fruits, veggies) you would like to share. VicarJennifer@staugustineskohala.com or admin@staugustineskohala.com Submissions due by Thursday morning for Friday's newsletter. | |
ST. AUGUSTINE'S THRIFT SHOP
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SHOPPING & MORE!
Every Wednesday from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm, our Thrift Shop offers great deals on wonderful treasures, but people come for more than that. We are also open the first Saturday of the month.
| | Our Thrift Shop is a place to see friends, catch up, enjoy a snack, and feel the warm kinship of others. Come gather, talk story, and connect with members of our community! Follow us on Facebook for news about recent Thrift Shop finds and upcoming events! | | | | |
INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING?
Join the fun and serve our community by volunteering at our Thrift Shop. Please spread the word! Folks can contact admin@staugustineskohala.com
| | This issue's header photo was taken on Saturday, August 30, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Andrew, where Bishop Fitzpatrick ordained the Diocese of Hawai'i's newest priest, the Rev. William "Bill" Heran. He is pictured kneeling as the Bishop prays with the laying on of hands, surrounded by colleagues and the Very Rev. Heather Patton-Graham, Dean of the Cathedral, at his left. Read more about this special event under the Feature Stories section. (Photo: Gabe Lau) | |
MESSAGES FROM OUR BISHOP
& PRESIDING BISHOP
| | | | At St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, all are welcome. ALL means ALL, without exception. This is how we live into our mission to "BE the love of God and to FEEL the love of God." | | | | | |
