HOLY EUCHARIST
August 17, 2025 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Keiki Sunday
Bishop's search discussion at 8:00 am & 10:00 am
Bishop's Committee meeting at 10:45 am
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To attend online, join our Facebook LIVESTREAM*
Download the ORDER OF WORSHIP
Missed a service? Watch on YouTube any time.
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SEEKING YOUR INPUT ON BISHOP SEARCH
The Diocese is embarking on a search for a new Bishop. The Bishop Search Committee has asked each church to meet to review, discuss, and come up with the answers to some questions that can help the committee's discernment process as they search for our next bishop.
St. Augustine's will hold special discussions this Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:00 am (after the 7:00 am and 9:00 am services).
Please click HERE to read the Search Committee’s letter.
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
It's been dry in North Kohala. When we hear the word “fire,” our first thought might be destruction — houses burned, land scorched, and danger to life. Maui is in our hearts, too, as people there continue the long journey of recovery and healing from the fires there.
That's why emotions run high when we hear stories that mention fire, even knowing that, in the language of scripture, fire is often a sign of God’s presence. Think of Moses before the burning bush, the pillar of fire leading Israel through the wilderness, the tongues of flame resting on the disciples at Pentecost.
In this week's gospel story, Jesus says, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
The fire Jesus speaks of is a refining fire — the fire of transformation. This Spirit-fire burns away what is false, stagnant, or harmful so that what is true can shine. It awakens what has gone dormant in us. It clears the ground for something new to grow.
We know what it means when lava flows from deep within the earth. It is fierce, yes — powerful enough to consume all in its path — yet over the long arc of time, it creates new land and rich soil where life can take root and flourish. The fire of Christ is like that: both unsettling and life-giving. It transforms the terrain of our hearts and communities.
We see fires of change burning in our world — movements for justice, voices calling for healing, truth-tellers refusing to be silenced. We see communities finding new ways to care for one another. We also see division and fear.
Will we step into this moment with Spirit’s fire kindled in us? Will we allow the flame of Divine love to refine our hearts, burn away complacency, and awaken courage?
Maybe the fire we need in our lives right now is the fire of clarity — to see where Spirit might be calling us. Maybe we need the fire of compassion — to warm hearts that have grown cold. Perhaps we seek the fire of courage — to speak truth to power or to enter a difficult conversation of reconciliation.
Whatever it is, the Spirit’s flame is ready. The present time — this moment — is sacred. It is a moment of decision, alignment, and courage. In this moment, we have the opportunity to allow Christ's fire to set our hearts ablaze with love. We have the opportunity to be transformed.
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 24 - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 am & 9:00 am
August 31 - Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 am & 9:00 am
September 7 - Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 am & 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! | | |
Acacio 'ohana for cleaning the church & providing flowers 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: 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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SEWING WITH AUNTIE ANNIE
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. Fridays Adult sewing from 6:00 to 8:00 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!
| | PICTURED ABOVE - Ten people enjoyed our Craft Night on rug making this week. | | |
MAKING RUGS AT CRAFT NIGHT
We had a nice crowd for our first of two classes on upcycling used t-shirts to make rugs. First, we learned to make yarn from t-shirts using nearly every part of each shirt. Next, we began braiding, attaching the braid as we rotated outward from the center knot. Participants left with yarn and instructions, and we'll gather again next month to finish our rugs!
Keep an eye out for more upcycling workshops — in the future, we'll teach folks to use denim jeans to make bags. Hope you'll join us!
| | PICTURED ABOVE - Ten people gathered for our Food Preservation Workshop at Walker Hall on August 8 and 9. | | |
FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOP
One of our missions is to work toward local food security and sovereignty by teaching members of the community how to preserve food. Last week, we held our fifth workshop and taught participants to pressure can salsa! Our students get to take a jar home, and the remainder are distributed through Kohala Cares. Our Food Preservation Workshops were made possible by a grant, and we plan to reapply for next year to continue this important work in our community.
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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 this Sunday, 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 on Maui, where folks from Holy Innocents share a "Maui Strong" shaka in remembrance of the second anniversary of the wildfires and loss of their church building in Lahaina. They have been temporarily worshiping at the Honolua United Methodist Church in Napili for nearly two years rent free! Read more about the second anniversary on Maui in the Feature Stories section further below. (Photo: S. Nishioka) | |
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." | | | | | |
