HOLY EUCHARIST
August 10, 2025 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Laying on of hands with Rebecca Bartholomy
Food Pantry donation Sunday
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
Keep your lamps lit, keep flowing with the stream.
“Be ready. Keep your lamps lit.” Jesus’ words in Luke’s gospel are both urgent and full of promise. The Spirit is always moving, drawing near, inviting us to join the flow of God’s love.
Perhaps this story in Luke refers to Christ’s second coming, which some imagine as the arrival of a Divine entity here on earth. But what if Christ is coming again through us, right now? How is Spirit calling us to embody Christ consciousness? To surrender to the Divine within, which our Creator knit into our being?
Every moment we open ourselves to God’s love, with every choice we make in alignment with the Spirit’s flow, Christ comes into the world anew. Are we open to it? Are our lamps lit to show our readiness? Such readiness requires inner work: releasing the clutter, resentment, and fear that block the light of our lamp and slow the stream of love.
I cherish the opportunity to learn about Hawaiian culture, in which the value of aloha calls us to respond to conflict with kindness, humility, and respect — a culture in which ho‘oponopono restores relationships through honest conversation, forgiveness, and prayer. These practices clear us so we can flow again, like living water that's fresh, life-giving, connected to the vastness of sacred creation.
Outside of that flow, we risk losing connection with our Divine compass. We risk losing our way. Out of the flow, we risk standing still, settling into complacency or stale routines. A stagnant pond grows murky; a healthy stream moves fresh and clear. And so it is with our spirits! When we flow, life is fresh and alive, and we ready for whatever comes next.
The opportunities to embody Christ consciousness can come at any time: in a challenge that calls for mercy, an opportunity to speak truth, or a quiet chance to let go of irritation. Will the lamp be ready? Will the flame be steady? Keep the lamp lit. Keep the stream flowing. Christ’s coming — through us — may be as near as our next breath.
Blessings this day,
Vicar Jennifer
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DIOCESAN ELECTIONS
See the following links on The Episcopal Church of Hawai'i web site:
Nominations are due by September 10, 2025.
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August 17 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
August 24 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
August 31 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 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 our most 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! | | |
Mary Jo Osorio for cleaning the church & providing flowers last week.
Virginia Fortner 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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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 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: Jennifer Evangelista; Cesar Cadabes; Brendan McDougall; Jane Evangelista; Josie Reyes; Karen Thorson; Eddie; Richard Russell; Stephen Hoffman; 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. Thanksgiving for the life of Betty VanDuyne.
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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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.
Thursdays
Keiki from 9:00 to 11:00 am
Teens from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Fridays
Adults from 7:00 to 9:00 pm
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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 usual, we'll offer plants, crafts, and food along with our boutique and silent auction. Here are a few requests:
- Please start growing and transplanting plants.
- Please start your crafting.
- Please plan what you are going to cook or bake.
- Please start cleaning out your house, cleaning out your closet, but don't bring items to church until we ask for them.
- Keep your eyes out for people moving. They may have some great items for silent auction!
Our planning team will meet briefly this Sunday at 10:30 am for a half hour. Join us if you'd like to be part of our planning process!
| | PICTURED ABOVE - Gathering for music and fun at our TINY CHURCH CONCERT SERIES. Wendy Hindley, Jennifer Masada, and Kirk Corey performed a mix of music on August 1, 2025. | | |
TINY CHURCH CONCERT
One of our missions is to offer events for our local community. The idea is to gather, celebrate the arts, and bring people together for fun and conversation. Last week, we invited folks to hear some tunes for two flutes and piano, including Piazolla's Oblivion & Libertango. If you missed seeing the concert in person, you can hear a replay on St. Augustine's YouTube channel (bit.ly/45nppKS).
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PLEASE HELP US WITH FOOD SAFETY
Aloha all who handle food in our kitchen! A gentle reminder that we require all food placed in the refrigerators and freezer to be labeled with our food safety labels. These labels and attached pen can be found next to each appliance.
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Leftovers can remain in our refrigerator for 7 days per the Hawai‘i Health Department. Store-bought food that is unopened can remain in fridge or freezer until the expiration date or ‘best when used by’ date.
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We are strongly recommending all food handlers take the online free training to become certified in food safety. It’s only 2 hours and ensures that we all provide safe food for our community.
If your volunteer time at St. Augustine's involves food, please sign up for online training via the DOH's Food Safety Education program. The contact for that program is Kyla Arruda at (808)825-1774 kyla.arruda@doh.hawaii.gov. You can also contact Kim Lambrecht for more info at 406-599-3152. Mahalo!
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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 we balance our inner "Martha" (doing) and inner "Mary" (being). We discussed the pressures we feel to be productive and the need to slow down in a hectic world. We acknowledged that we are all wired differently: some of us are natural "doers" while others among us feel more comfortable in quiet reflection. Each of us finds balance in a unique way, and our diversity within the group adds to our strength as a team.
Meeting highlights - discussions included the following:
- Brunch & Bingo event was a success with many requests to offer similar events on a regular basis
- Ongoing analysis of our volunteer and staff bandwidth
- Ho'imi Pono training scheduled in September
- Church finances
- Campus electrical updates are complete
- Perimeter fence planning continues
Please let us know if you have questions or feedback! Contact any member of the BC or sit in on our next meeting on August 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 (co-chairs Kathy Matsuda & Lani Bowman, Melanie Sahagun, and Michelle Simpson). This hardworking team has accomplished the following 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, Community Events & Partnerships, 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 this past Sunday during the Bishop's Visitation with Halau Wa'a Episcopal Church in Kapolei, serving West O'ahu. This jolly group is led by the Rev. Mark Haworth, whose talented family (and friends) provide joyful music and hula during their worship services each week. (Contributed photo) | |
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." | | | | | |
