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Join us for
HOLY EUCHARIST
March 9, 2025 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
First Sunday in Lent
To attend online, join our Facebook LIVESTREAM*
Download this week's ORDER OF WORSHIP
Missed a service? Watch on YouTube any time.
*Note: If you have difficulty connecting to the livestream, try reloading your page.
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
This Sunday, we'll hear the story of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Much has been written about his trials as he wrestles with the whispers of evil. However, his desert time is not solely a battle against temptation, but a journey toward clarity and purpose. The story challenges us to go beyond surface-level faith and into the deep and often uncomfortable work of transformation. We tell the story of Jesus' isolation, his suffering, the tests he endured. But Lent is not just about remembering his journey—it is about stepping into our own.
Will we engage at the soul level, or will we remain on the surface? In this season of Lent, will we simply give up something for the sake of ritual, or will we take on the responsibility of shaping our lives to reflect the goodness we claim to follow?
Among church folks, I often hear the phrase, “Let us observe a Holy Lent.” Though said with sincerity, it rings hollow to me. Lent is not merely a time to observe but to transform. Yes, this season does call us to look inward, but also to act—to embody the goodness we seek and to live with intention.
Through the stories we hear in Lent, and through the very times we are living, God invites us to take what we learn in solitude and bring it into community—to heal, to reconcile, to be part of something greater than ourselves.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
P.S., During this Lenten season, let's gather in community (both inside and outside the church) to build a Family & Community Network in North Kohala. On our website, we've started to outline our work of partnership, service, and radical inclusion. Please take a peek and be in touch with your ideas and inspirations!
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MAHALO FOR ALL THAT YOU GIVE! | |
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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
Through our Family & Community Network, 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 for 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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March 16 - Second Sunday in Lent at 7:00 & 9:00 am
March 23 - Third Sunday in Lent at 7:00 & 9:00 am
March 30 - Fourth Sunday in Lent at 7:00 & 9:00 am
Find scripture readings for upcoming Sundays 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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THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO | |
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Lani Bowman for cleaning the church & providing flowers this week and last week.
JD Morgan for serving as lay reader last Sunday.
St. Augustine's members who pray for others each week.
The many members of St. Augustine's and the community who help sort donations and operate the Thrift Shop.
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: Brandon Weber; Rita Masada; Kay Bradbury; Rick Jarboe; Heidi & Baye Cheikh Kébé; Tolentino 'Ohana; Michelle, Debra, Laura, Edna; Caroline Doll; Mayra Ruano; Craig Spencer; Koko Purdy; Alan Reeder; Leighton Purdy; Neal Holter; Linda Leonard Pell; Bruce Soll; all who are affected by wars around the world; Megan Jacoby; Katie Buehner; the people of Maui and the Church of the Holy Innocents; Susan Acacio; Sabrina Lee; Jeannette Hensel; Erin Manuel; Filomena Badua and MJ Sulliban; Guy Kaoo; Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello; Becky & Ludwig Simmet; Annecita Tamayo; Lynn Dicus. Thanksgiving for the life of Neil Withers.
PRAYER CHAIN VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer to be part of St. Augustine's prayer chain! Contact Patsy Ching or Vicar Jennifer if you would like to:
- Pray for those who have requested prayers
- Be part of the phone tree that helps us know about prayer requests or emergencies
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, or 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.
ONLINE FORM
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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SUNDAY SCHOOL - Update on Godly Play - We're re-envisioning our Godly Play offerings. Our plan is to host Godly Play sessions on Wednesdays during Thrift Shop hours, inviting keiki in our community to hear a story, share a snack, and engage in "Godly Play" by exploring the stories through crafts and singing. We'll share more about this soon, so please stay tuned!
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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 if you like! 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 of each month
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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. We host two sessions: after the 7:00 am service and after the 9:00 am service. 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 of each month
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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 of each month
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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 10:30 am after fellowship hour. As always, we welcome your questions about our planning and budgeting processes!
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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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A NEW COMMUNITY MEAL - SERVED IN WALKER HALL
Tuesday, March 28, 2025 at 5:30 pm
Kohala Cares and St. Augustine’s are excited to announce our next joint venture! Together, we're hosting a community meal on March 28 at 5:30 PM (until pau) at Walker Hall. Enjoy a buffet-style, sit-down dinner featuring vegetarian lasagna, salad, and garlic bread, prepared by Peter Pomeranze and volunteers.
Please bring a non-alcoholic drink and join us in celebrating our amazing community. We hope to make this a monthly gathering to foster inclusivity and aloha during these challenging times.
To help us prepare enough food, kindly RSVP with your first name and number of guests at alohapeter@yahoo.com or sign up in Walker Hall. This isn’t a commitment—just a headcount for planning.
We look forward to sharing a meal with you!
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MAHALO FOR FEASTING WITH US!
Our thanks to all who attended our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper! We celebrated in fine style with rich food and wonderful conversation. Special thanks to Michelle Simpson, Kirk Corey, Kathy & Kaya Webb, Patsy Ching, Maurine Gomes, Lani Bowman, and Joël Tan for a joyful time in the kitchen as we prepared the meal and cleaned up afterward. Your good cheer made the food taste even better!
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TOP PHOTO - Kathy Webb, Maurine Gomes, Patsy Ching, Lani Bowman, Michelle Simpson, and Kirk Corey made a merry band of chefs! MIDDLE - Kaya Webb creating beautiful drawings to make our meal all the more festive.
BOTTOM - Lani Bowman, Michelle Simpson, Maurine Gomes, and Vicar Jennifer having fun during clean-up.
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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 have news from two of our teams.
Christian Education - St. Augustine's members are participating in the Ho'imi Pono training offered by the Diocese. Members of the diocesan task group (Joseph Eppink, Mary Carpenter, and Laura La Gassa) are leading a train-the-trainer session on Saturday, March 7. We look forward to sharing more after this initial session!
Community Events & Partnerships - building our Family & Community Network - The team is looking for your help with MamaJam (coming up on May 10). Please see the article below.
Mahalo to all members of our Bishop's Committee and all members of our core teams: Buildings & Grounds, Christian Education, Community Events & Partnerships, and Finance & Stewardship. If you are interested in being on a core team, please reach out to Vicar Jennifer.
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OUR NEXT FUNDRAISER
Calling all plant enthusiasts and cooks!
MamaJam (May 10) is a community gathering we hosted for the first time last year to celebrate mothers and motherhood. It's also a fundraiser for St. Augustine's, and we are excited to host this event again in 2025!
Please consider helping us make MamaJam a success. Here's how:
Grow some plants that can be sold as gifts. Small plants like succulents, herbs, and flowers are popular!
Cook your favorite food for us to sell. Our auntys make the BEST dishes, which are always at hit at our fundraisers! There is a sign-up sheet in Walker Hall.
Mahalo for helping us make this a sweet community event for all the mamas in Kohala!
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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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PICTURED TO THE LEFT - Our wonderful Deacon-in-training and Thrift Shop organizer extraordinaire, Jeanne Cooper, who helps foster a sense of joy and community at the shop every week. Mahalo for all you do, Jeanne!
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SHOPPING PLUS MUCH 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. As always, we are also open the first Saturday of the month, so please join us Saturday, April 5 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am.
Our 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!
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Follow us on Facebook page for news about recent Thrift Shop finds and upcoming events! | | |
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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
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This edition of the Hawaiian Church Chronicle (February 13, 2025) includes a photo from the Diocesan Clergy Pilgrimage plus important messages our Bishop Bob shares from our national church.
This issue also includes a special announcement introducing a new diocesan project called Huli: ka lima i lalo, turning our hands to the 'āina. This is a joint effort of our diocesan Creation Care and Environmental Justice Group, Racial Reconciliation Task Force, and Native Hawaiian Ministry Committee. Mahalo Lani Bowman and Laura La Gassa, for your active efforts as members of this combined group!
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MESSAGES FROM OUR BISHOP
& PRESIDING BISHOP
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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." | | | | | |
