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Join us for
HOLY EUCHARIST
December 8, 2024 7:00 & 9:00 am
Second Sunday in Advent
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,
"Prepare the way of the Lord." This Sunday, we light the candle of peace as we are reminded to prepare for what lies ahead.
Whether by carving a path through valleys and mountains or laying palm branches on the street, the anthem "prepare the way of the Lord" delivers clear instruction.
But clarity of instruction does not always mean ease of task. God asks us to ready our hearts. Following through with the request involves the type of introspection that can make us squirm as we examine what we hold inside: fear, anger, doubt, sorrow, and pain mixed with hope, peace, joy, and love.
As we travel through the mountains and valleys of our emotions, God offers help. During this preparatory season of Advent, our Creator invites us to be in prayer, to allow Spirit into our hearts.
Peace comes not through ignoring our hearts' needs but through attending to those needs with tender love, as one would care for a small child. Just as Christ embraced the smallest and meekest child, we are invited to hold ourselves and others.
Opening to Christ's presence, we can:
- allow emotions to flow into God's vast love.
- observe feelings without anxiety.
- learn valuable lessons from any darkness that lurks.
- release that which we no longer need to hold onto.
This is the way of peace -- a way to prepare our own hearts so we might radiate peace in the world. Let us light the candle of peace this Sunday as we prepare the way of the Lord!
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
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Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved
children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- Ephesians 5:1-2, NRSV
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We continue to give thanks for the abundance of this community! If you have yet to do so, please take a moment to complete your Time & Talents sheet and pledge card for 2025. If you would like paper copies to fill out, those are available in the church and in Walker Hall.
Mahalo for your gifts to the church that make it possible for us to grow in Spirit together, care for one another and those in our community, and share God's bountiful love with all!
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December 15 - Third Sunday of Advent
December 22 - Fourth Sunday of Advent with Canon Sandy
December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6:00 pm
December 25 - Christmas Day Service at 9:00 am (no 7:00 am service)
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 and providing flowers this week.
JD Morgan for serving as lay reader last week.
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: our country and its leaders; Carol Dicus; Pat Todd; Patty Ankrum; Cathy Morgan; Bruce Soll; all who are affected by the Israel/Hamas war and wars around the world; Nan Cornelius; Megan Jacoby; Neil Apana; Katie Buehner; the people of Maui and the Church of the Holy Innocent; Susan Acacio; Sabrina Lee; Jeannette Hensel; Erin Manuel; Arcadio & Filomena Badua; Guy Kaoo; Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello; Becky & Ludwig Simmet; Annecita Tamayo; Lynn Dicus. Thanksgiving for the lives of Karen Miller, Derek Higa, and Cole Cornelius.
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 - Join us each week for Sunday school with Youth Director, Kathy Matsuda. Godly Play - our Montessori-based Sunday school curriculum - is open to all keiki ages three to ten.
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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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Saturday, December 7 at 9:00 am - 11:00 am - Poinsettia plant pick-up day - Once again this year, St. Augustine's is selling poinsettia plants for the Advent and Christmas seasons. Please see Cindy about selling tickets or volunteering the day of plant pick-up. Plants will be delivered to Walker Hall on December 6, plants will be picked up the next day.
Sunday, December 8 at 5:00 pm, Sacred Heart Catholic Church - Ecumenical Christmas Celebration - Come join our sister churches for an evening of Christmas cheer! Please bring a dish to share. If you are interested in participating in St. Augustine's entertainment presentation, please see Kathy Matsuda or Vicar Jennifer.
Wednesday, December 11 at 6:00 pm - Carols & Crafts - Christmas carol singalong, plus an opportunity to bring any craft project you're working on - chat and sing while you create gifts!
Saturday, December 14 at 4:00 pm - String Quartet with members of the Kamuela Philharmonic playing holiday favorites.
Sunday, December 15 at 5:30 pm - Susan Pomeranze Richards, soprano - performing popular songs from the 1950s - 1990s.
Tuesday, December 24 at 6:00 pm - Christmas Eve Candlelight service with Holy Eucharist.
Wednesday, December 25 at 9:00 am - Christmas Day service with Holy Eucharist.
Sunday, January 12 at 5:30 pm - Woodwind Quintet (members of Kamuela Philharmonic) - offering a variety classical music for woodwind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, french horn, and bassoon).
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PICTURED ABOVE - Happy scenes of joyful gift giving! | |
PICTURED ABOVE - Making Jesse trees at the St. Nicholas celebration. | |
PICTURED ABOVE - Families enjoying a meal and listening to the story of St. Nicholas. | |
KEIKI EVENTS AT ST. AUGUSTINE'S
It's been wonderful to see Walker Hall abuzz with children from our community! Our annual Keiki Giving Spree was a huge success, with many families attending and scores of lovely gifts wrapped for Christmas.
Our annual St. Nicholas Celebration was well attended by over a dozen children who enjoyed a delicious meal while listening to the story of St. Nicholas. Afterward, each child make a Jesse tree depicting Bible stories leading up to the birth of the baby Jesus.
MAHALO to Kathy Matsuda for expertly organizing these wonderful events as always, to Ted Matsuda for cooking yummy soup, to all our volunteers who wrapped countless gifts during the Keiki Giving Spree, and to all our families who attended both events!
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PICTURED ABOVE - The wild pigs have been making quite a mess in our church yard. We are actively working to thin the herd to protect the cemetery. We are also looking for a grant to cover the costs of fencing. | |
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BOW HUNTERS THINNING PIG HERD on campus
Last week, a Kohala High School student, under the guidance of local hunter Mike Hawkins, culled a pig from the herd at St. Augustine's. The student is a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program. The pig was taken to the FFA's 'imu, and the meat was shared with local families for Thanksgiving.
Bow hunting will continue on campus after 9:00 pm most evenings. Please be aware that the gates may be closed at night for safety if bow hunters will be present. If you open the gates in the evening, please be sure to close them when you leave campus.
Mahalo to Brendan MacDougall for taking the initiative to contact local hunters, and mahalo to Mike Hawkins and our local FFA chapter!
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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. Please email Vicar Jennifer or our church administrator Regina DoDaro at 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 ABOVE - LEFT - A friendly wave from John Sakai to welcome shoppers. Our Wednesday sorting crew are expert merchandisers who always find the perfect way to display special items. | |
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CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT THE THRIFT SHOP
Our Thrift Shop elves have been busy! Stop in Wednesdays from noon until 6:00 pm and the first Saturday of each month from 8:00 am to 11:00 am.
The Thrift Shop is OPEN tomorrow morning, December 7, during the Poinsettia pick-up! Please come on over and shop!
Mahalo to all who have donated lovely holiday items, and mahalo to all our volunteers for creating beautiful displays for our Christmas shoppers!
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NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I
The latest issue of the Hawaiian Church (October 24, 2024) features information about Convention 56 (note Bishop Diana Akiyama in the convention photo above!), news from around our diocese, information on Creation Care, and more!
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MESSAGES FROM OUR BISHOP
& PRESIDING BISHOP
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