HOLY EUCHARIST
June 22, 2025 at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
Second Sunday after Pentecost
| |
To attend online, join our Facebook LIVESTREAM*
Download the ORDER OF WORSHIP
Missed a service? Watch on YouTube any time.
*Note: If you have difficulty connecting to the livestream, try reloading your page.
| | |
Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
This week’s scriptures invite us to explore pathways to unity through the inner healing of Christ's divine light. At first glance, the stories in Psalm 42 and Luke 8 can feel distant—one is ancient poetry about a soul thirsting for God, the other is a dramatic tale of demons and deliverance. How do these passages speak to our ordinary, modern lives?
The psalmist reminds us that our soul longs for us to connect with the Divine within. Through the wild tale in Luke 8 about a man possessed, we are shown that we can be inhabited by a legion of voices. In our increasingly chaotic world, systems of politics, money, and social status wield power and distract us from our soul's identity and purpose. Today, just as in Jesus' time, loud and relentless voices try to name us, shape us, and scatter our sense of self.
Read the rest of the message for practical suggestions on how we can step away from the noise and into a sacred practice of clearing and healing.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
| | |
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM THE BISHOP
Aloha my dear siblings in Christ Jesus!
Na ke aloha o ke Akua ma loko o Iesu Kristo, e aloha iā ʻoukou ā pau!
I wrote the following reflection before the military was deployed onto the streets of Los Angeles, before the start of the conflict between Israel and Iran, before the “No King” protests and Army’s anniversary parade, and before the horrific assassinations and attempted murders of elected State legislators and their spouses in Minnesota. Like so much in recent times, the changes around us are profound and disheartening.
I share this rumination as one way to reflect on our response to such times...
| | |
June 29 - Third Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
July 6 - Fourth Sunday after Pentecost at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
July 13 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost at 9:00 am only (followed by Brunch & Bingo - see invitation below)
Find scripture readings for upcoming services and learn about the liturgical seasons in the Episcopal Church here.
| | | | |
Join our YouTube Channel
to view past services!
youtube.com/@staugustineskohala
| | | |
NEW! 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!
| | |
Michelle White for cleaning the church 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.
| | |
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.
| | |
|
ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: Georgia Klein; Betty; Maile Napoleon Spencer; Catalina; Scottie Garlough; Inge Weymouth; 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!
| | |
WEEKLY
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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!
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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!
|
| |
|
BISHOP'S COMMITTEE MEETING THIS SUNDAY
All members are welcome to join us Sunday, June 22 at 11:00 am in the Sunday School room for our monthly meeting (rescheduled from last week). Learn about our planning processes and the ways each of our teams work together to serve St. Augustine's and our community. Your ideas are welcome!
| | |
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 HERE - Above left - Ginny Bader with Patsy Ching. Above right - Rona Lee prepares to serenade Jeannette. Left - Lani Bowman and Jeannette grinning from ear to ear.
| | |
Right - Gorgeous flowers arranged by Patsy Ching. Far right - Michelle Simpson created a delicious and bountiful spread with the help of Eileen Hartwings.
| | | | |
HAPPY 100th BIRTHDAY, JEANNETTE!
It was a truly splendid party today for Jeannette Hensel, thanks to all who came to celebrate! Mahalo nui to friends who traveled from near and far and to all who worked so hard to make it a special day. Just look at her face! That tells the whole story right there.
A poem, composed for the occasion by Stephen Timothy Brooks (David Brooks' brother), added a special touch and warmed the hearts of all.
Gentle Jeannette,
How could you know that through faith
you would live to 100 years old,
coming to this island so many years ago
to share your love of life with those you came to know.
Small in stature but larger than life,
you became the rock for those who struggle with strife.
Quiet, unspoken wisdom displayed by your action
kept many off the path that led to distraction.
Gentle Jeannette,
steadfast and true, as God has blessed us all
with someone as special as you.
We met you as a stranger, we hope we become friends.
We pray we meet in heaven, where friendship never ends.
MAHALO NUI to all who attended! Special thanks to all who assisted with the event: Michelle Simpson, Patsy Ching, Eileen Hartwings, Isabel Ebrahim, Maurine Gomes, and Kathy Matsuda.
| | |
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!
| | |
ABOUT THE LITTLE FREE PANTRY 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 in need.
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!
| | |
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 22 at 11:00 am in the Sunday School Room.
|
|
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 - Electrical work in the vicarage: Inspection happened last Monday; making progress!
Finance - Working on our mid-year budget. We'll present an overview at our Brunch & Bingo gathering on July 13.
Community Events & Partnerships Team (building our Family & Community Network ) - The team is busy planning for our Annual Bazaar, to be held October 4.
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!
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.
| | |
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
| | |
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
| |
In this special edition of the Hawaiian Church Chronicle (June 5, 2025), read special updates from around the diocese, including information about a request for a special offering for Camp Mokulē'ia
on Trinity Sunday.
| | |
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.
| |
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." | | | | | |
