HOLY EUCHARIST
June 8, 2025 at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
Pentecost Sunday
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
This Sunday, on Pentecost, we celebrate the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Breath of God opens our ears to hear, our hearts to feel, and our lives to love more deeply. The Spirit is always speaking: sometimes as a whisper within, sometimes through the words and presence of others. When we truly listen, we discover a deeper unity that fosters shared understanding, compassion, and love that transcends difference.
Spirit flows like water: soft but strong, shaping even the hardest places in us. Spirit radiates like fire: igniting wisdom and warming us into connection. When we move with this Spirit-flow, we can shift beyond fears or fixed answers. We become part of something larger, a sacred current drawing us toward healing and wholeness.
Jesus promises us this gift. He says, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”
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This Sunday, we'll be celebrating four of our youth who are continuing their education. As they emerge into a changing world, they need more than advice—they need a community that listens, encourages, and reminds them they are not alone. We support them best not by offering quick solutions, but by walking beside them with open hearts and curious spirits.
This can be our message as we promise to be on the journey with them: we don’t need all the answers. Instead, we are invited to:
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Ask questions — not to doubt, but to grow.
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Embrace wonder — to remember that mystery is holy.
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Be an observer — to stay curious and pay attention to the Spirit’s subtle nudges.
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Expand your heart — to make room for new wisdom, new connections, new ways to share Divine love.
Your life—your joys, struggles, and moments of stillness—is not just something to endure or solve. It’s a sacred classroom. Your experience is not an obstacle to learning; it is the way you learn. It is how you live.
Come, Holy Spirit. Teach us to flow.
Blessings,
Jennifer
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June 15 - First Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
June 22 - Second Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
June 29 - Third 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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Naly Nakamura for cleaning the church last week.
Maurine Gomes 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: Maile Napoleon Spencer; Carol Arilas; Nino Barraquiel; William Hoffman; Scottie Garlough; Billie Kaluza; Tom Gomes; Ian Hersey; Scottie Garlough; Hattie Perkielski; Oa Hind; Paz; Carol Dicus; Sheila Fujii; Patrick Tanaka; Janis Peach; Rita Masada; Brandon Weber; Suzie Cook; Heidi & Baye Cheikh Kébé; Caroline Doll; Craig Spencer; Leighton Purdy; Neal Holter; Linda Leonard Pell; 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. 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
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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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PICTURED ABOVE - A sample cake Michelle Simpson made for Jeannette to try before the big celebration. | | |
JEANNETTE TURNS 100!
June 14, noon to 4:00 pm - Come celebrate Jeannette’s special day with her ‘ohana and honor her many years of faithful service to our St. Augustine's congregation! We’ll enjoy lunch made by Michelle Simpson and lovely flowers arranged by Patsy Ching.
Mahalo to all who are making this a beautiful day for Jeannette and her 'ohana!
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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 - Top left and right- Bunny and Kathy check the water level in the canner before sealing it for processing. Middle left - Removing the jars after cooking. Bottom -The finished product! We made 24 jars of delicious glazed carrots. We sampled them the following day — they were cooked to perfection, with just a hint of the fresh orange juice we used to make the glaze. | | |
FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOP
St. Augustine's hosted the second in a series of six food canning workshops on May 31. This time, we made glazed carrots in the pressure canner. Students learned the science behind the process as well as all the steps to ensure the quality of the finished product.
We canned 24 pint jars. Each student took home a jar, and the rest were put aside to share with Kohala Cares food distribution. Five spots are still open for our September workshop, a two-day course scheduled for Saturday the 13th from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm and Sunday the 14th from 11:00 am- noon. If you are interested, please apply here or contact Kathy Matsuda.
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PLEASE HELP US WITH FOOD SAFETY
Aloha all who handle food in our kitchen! Starting this month, 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.
Leftovers can remain in our refrigerator for 7 days per the Hawaii Health Department. Store-bought food that is unopened can remain in fridge or freezer until the expiration date or ‘best when used by’ date.
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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THIS SUNDAY IS LITTLE FREE PANTRY DONATION DAY!
A note from Deacon Lani
Aloha St. Augustine's 'ohana,
For several years we have been diligent in stocking the "Little Free Pantry" (LFP) in Kapa‘au. This meets a crucial need for our houseless and underemployed 'ohana. The anonymous, no-questions-asked nature of the pantry sets it apart from other food programs. Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." He did not specify who to feed or how to assess whether they should qualify for assistance. It's important to love our neighbors by offering nourishment to all who may need it.
Please consider donating to the LFP so that St. Augustine's can continue to assist members of our community. We've set aside the second Sunday of each month as LFP donation day. We need nonperishables in the form of nourishing proteins such as tuna, sardines, peanut butter, peanuts, or other nuts and nut butters, Spam, Vienna Sausage, and cheese and cracker packets. Ready-made meals are also helpful, like packets of cooked lentils, ready-to-eat microwavable meals, packets of cereal, oatmeal, or non-perishable milk.
Imagine being in a situation where you have no food. What could keep you going until the next meal? That is what you can help provide!
In this world of uncertainty and chaos, let us take a moment to reflect on our abundance. We have so much love, grace, and care to offer our neighbors, who need the support of their Kohala 'ohana.
You can bring non-perishable food items to the 7:00 am or 9:00 am service or you can donate online at the link below. Mahalo for your kindness!
| | PICTURED ABOVE - Our College Award winners for 2025-26, clockwise from upper left: Jazelle Ariola, Yvanka Lum, Kiona Nakamura, and Jayline Salvador, | | |
MAHALO FOR SUPPORTING OUR YOUTH
For the 2025-26 academic year, four of our youth are receiving College Awards from St. Augustine's. CONGRATULATIONS to Jazelle Ariola, Yvanka Lum, Kiona Nakamura, and Jayline Salvador.
All are invited to join us at this Sunday's 9:00 am service to celebrate our youth at a special award ceremony!
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NOTES FROM OUR BISHOP'S COMMITTEE
Please let us know if you have questions or feedback! Contact any member of the BC or sit in on our next meeting on June 15 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. Here are this week's highlights:
Buildings & Grounds - Update on fencing our property: Surveyors completed their work and provided a map showing our property boundaries. The good news is that planned fence line along the gulch is well within our property. Electrical work on campus: Work on the Thrift Shop, Walker Hall, and the church is complete. Electrical work in the vicarage will be scheduled soon.
Finance - Fundraising for our Student Support Fund is drawing to a close, with the award ceremony scheduled for June 8 at our 9:00 am service. Mahalo to all who have contributed!
Community Events & Partnerships Team (building our Family & Community Network ) - The team is busy planning for our Annual Bazaar, to be held October 4. We'll host another Craft Night on June 18 at 6:30 pm. Our next food canning classes in June, July, and August are full, but there are still openings on September 13. Click here to register or contact Kathy Matsuda.
Spiritual Growth Team - Our team continues with Godly Play at 3:30 pm on Wednesdays during Thrift Shop hours. See poster above and help us spread the word! At Spirit School last Sunday, we discussed the sermon using the "listening questions" provided by our faculty mentors from Virginia Theological Seminary. It was a wonderful conversation! Mahalo to all who participated.
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. As always, we are also open the first Saturday of the month, so please join us Saturday, June 1 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am.
| | 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
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Saturday, June 14, 10:00 am -11:30 am
St. James' Church, 65-1237 Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela
Click HERE for the informational flier, and HERE to register.
The Rev. Dcn Bill Heran, PhD., a transitional deacon, brings the perfect combination of background, training, and teaching style to guide us in understanding and recognizing signs of addictive use disorders and how to support those affected. In-person workshops are taking place on each island, and the Big Island has just been added. If you have any questions, email Canon Sandy Graham HERE.
| | PICTURED ABOVE - This issue's header photo was taken in front of the Holy Innocent's columbarium in Lahaina, Maui, where the Rev. Hau'oli Tomoso led a blessing at their Hale Aloha Cemetery on May 15. Read more about the gathering under the Featured Stories section further below. Pictured from left: Erin (whose wife is interred in the columbarium), Adriana, James Crowe, the Rev. Amy Crowe with daughter Alice, the Rev. Hau'oli Tomoso, Ralph Yanagawa (in back), Susan Tomoso, Leanna Roberts (who has been leading the clean-up effort), Diane Delos Reyes, Elle Cochran (member of Waiola Church & State Representative for West Maui), and Tamalani Kaleleiki from Waiola Church. (Photo: Kalani Holokai) | | |
Huli ka lima i lalo (turning our minds, hearts, and hands to the 'āina is a year-long emphasis on creation care made possible by a
Creation Care grant from The Episcopal Church. It is a collaborative
effort of Hoʻimi Pono, the Native Hawaiian Ministry Committee, and
Kahuaola (formerly the Creation Care and Environmental Justice
Task Force). The Huli team is presenting a Virtual Summer Speaker Series. Please consider registering to attend these sessions. If you don't have Zoom, no worries! We will be hosting watch parties at Walker Hall for each session.
Reverend Rachel Taber-Hamilton, July 26, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Rev. Taber-Hamilton is a Shackan First Nation person and an Episcopal priest. She has served in the Diocese of Olympia for 23 years and was elected vice president of the House of Deputies at the 2022 General Convention.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, August 2, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
“What Does the Earth Ask of Us?”
Zoom pre-recorded talk with live Q & A
Robin Wall Kimmerer is a botanist and member of the
Potawatomi Nation. She is author of Braiding Sweetgrass:
Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings
of Plants.
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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." | | | | | |
