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Join us for
HOLY EUCHARIST
March 23, 2025 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
Third Sunday in Lent
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
Rabbit holes are everywhere. They may provide a temporary sense of safety, but it's easy to get stuck or endlessly distracted, exploring one after another. That's the cautionary tale (tail?) I hear in this week's scripture readings.
In Exodus
God: Tell the people I am here to help.
Moses: Okay, but what's your name?
In the letters between the Corinthians and Paul
Paul: Focus on your spiritual life.
Corinthians: We're important and busy with other things.
In the gospel according to Luke
Jesus: You can't control others, only yourself.
Crowd: But the Romans are murderers! What should we do about them?
Moses, the Corinthians, and the crowd are stuck. They've gone down a rabbit hole—a distraction from the point at hand. The example from Luke is particularly salient and tough for us to process. What ARE we to do when injustice and violence is happening in the world?
As he often does, Jesus answers with a parable. A landowner sees a barren fig tree and asks the grounds keeper to cut it down. The grounds keeper says wisely, "Give it some time. Nurture it. It will bear fruit." The landowner reluctantly agrees. He has gone down a rabbit hole and is stuck there, believing the tree will never produce.
The lesson is twofold. First, we are the fig tree. Are we bearing spiritual fruit? Forget the other fig trees — we must attend to our own growth. Second, God is patient. When wander or neglect our spiritual lives, God nurtures us and gives us time.
Have you gone down a rabbit hole lately? No judgment — it's part of life. The key is recognizing when it's time to refocus.
What we think we know, our status, and our titles—none of it matters as much as our spiritual life. Even good actions mean little without a deep, inner relationship with Spirit. This Lent, we are invited to focus on who we are becoming spiritually, no matter what’s happening in the world. This isn’t avoidance or insensitivity—it’s a sacred responsibility. Stepping outside the rabbit holes of finger-pointing and division allows us to tend the rich soil of our souls, the most meaningful way to bring the love and positive change the world needs.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
| | MAHALO FOR ALL THAT YOU GIVE! | | |
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 for 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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March 30 - Fourth Sunday in Lent at 7:00 & 9:00 am
April 6 - Fifth Sunday in Lent at 7:00 & 9:00 am
April 13 - Palm Sunday at 7:00 & 9:00 am
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
| | | THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO | | |
Kathy and George Webb for cleaning the church & providing flowers this week and last week.
Melanie Sahagun for serving as lay reader last Sunday.
Rebecca Bartholomy for her healing gifts 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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ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: Joseph & David; Ivan; Antonino Barraquiel; William Hoffman; Lonnie & Therese Dicus; Denny Green; Sheila Fujii; Patrick Tanaka; Rosie Pule & ‘ohana of Juana Mejia; Janis Peach; Kinohi Fukumitsu; Rita Masada; Brandon Weber; Kay Bradbury; Rick Jarboe; Suzie Cook; Heidi & Baye Cheikh Kébé; Caroline Doll; Craig Spencer; Koko Purdy; Leighton Purdy; Neal Holter; Linda Leonard Pell; Bruce Soll; all who are affected by wars around the world; Megan Jacoby; Katie Buehner; the people of Maui and the Church of the Holy Innocents; Susan Acacio; Sabrina Lee; Jeannette Hensel; Erin Manuel; Filomena Badua and MJ Sulliban; Guy Kaoo; Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello; Becky & Ludwig Simmet; Annecita Tamayo; Lynn Dicus.
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 - Lani and Vicar Jennifer will begin offering Godly Play at 3:30 pm on Wednesdays (during Thrift Shop hours) beginning April 2. We’ll invite keiki in our community to hear a Godly Play story, sing, and share a holy meal. Parents are always welcome to attend. Please help us spread the word!
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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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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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CELEBRATION OF LIFE - JUANA MEJIA
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
9:00 a.m. visitation
10:00 a.m. service with Holy Eucharist
11:00 a.m. burial at St. Augustine's followed by a reception in Walker Hall
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OUR NEXT FUNDRAISER
Calling all plant enthusiasts and cooks!
MamaJam (May 10) is a community gathering we hosted for the first time last year to celebrate mothers and motherhood. It's also a fundraiser for St. Augustine's, and we are excited to host this event again in 2025!
Please consider helping us make MamaJam a success. Here's how:
Grow some plants that can be sold as gifts. Small plants like succulents, herbs, and flowers are popular!
Cook your favorite food for us to sell. Our auntys make the BEST dishes, which are always at hit at our fundraisers! There is a sign-up sheet in Walker Hall.
Help us find local vendors who sell items mothers would appreciate. We would love to support small operations that benefit our community, like family-owned businesses or local organizations. The fee to be a vendor is only $25. Vendors bring their own 10x10 or 12x12 tent, table, and chairs. If you or someone you know would be interested, please email Kathy Matsuda at kathymaloha@gmail.com or call the church at (808) 889-5390 and leave a message.
Mahalo for helping us make this a sweet community event for all the mamas in Kohala!
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EASTER EGGS READY FOR FILLING
Please consider taking some eggs home to fill with goodies for our keiki to enjoy on Easter morning! As in past years, the empty eggs are available in Walker Hall. Please fill them with candy (no chocolate), toys, or money. Bring them back by Easter morning for the Easter Egg Hunt! Mahalo for adding to the festivities!
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NOTES FROM OUR BISHOP'S COMMITTEE
Last Sunday, our Bishop's Committee (BC) met for its monthly meeting. Highlights included our monthly financial report showing Thrift Shop revenue on target. We discussed fundraising for our College Student Fund, which will begin soon. Planning for MamaJam continues as we seek local vendors for the event. We're also looking for members who can bring food and plants to sell. The Buildings & Grounds team discussed ongoing electrical work and reported on ways to move forward with the fence around the property perimeter without blocking access to gravesites.
Please let us know if you have questions or feedback! Contact any member of the BC or sit in on our next meeting, which will be April 27 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 have news from two of our teams.
Spiritual Growth Team - Starting April 2, Lani and Vicar Jennifer are starting a new Godly Play offering on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm in the Sunday School room in Walker Hall! Keiki are welcomed to our Godly Play space to hear a story and share a holy meal (crackers and juice). Sessions last about 30 minutes and are designed for keiki ages 4-8. All are welcome and parents can observe our sessions, too. Please help us spread the word!
Community Events & Partnerships Team - building our Family & Community Network - Please spread the word about our Community Meal on March 28, which will be a sit-down gathering to enjoy one another's company.
Mahalo to all members of our Bishop's Committee and all members of our core teams: Buildings & Grounds, Spiritual Growth, Community Events & Partnerships, and Finance & Stewardship. 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
| | You never know what delights await in our Thrift Shop! Close you eyes for just a second, and more surprises appear. It might seem like magic, but it's actually the work of our many wonderful volunteers who sort and display the generous donations that come to our shop. | | |
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SHOPPING PLUS MUCH 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, April 5 from 8:00 am - 11:00 am.
Our 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 page 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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In a special announcement (March 5, 2025), the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i invites all to attend the 2025 Annual Chrism Mass and Education Day at the Cathedral of St. Andrew on Oahu. The day will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the Chrism Mass and Eucharist, which will include the Renewal of Clergy Vows and Baptismal Vows.
Spring Training will commence immediately following the Chrism Mass, hosted by the Diocese's new Huli team, a collaborative effort involving three Diocesan ministries: Kahuaola (formerly the Creation Care and Environmental Justice Task Force), the Racial Reconciliation Task Force, and the Native Hawaiian Ministry Committee. There will be two plenary sessions and an afternoon session with four different workshops to choose from.
To learn more about Huli or the four workshops, please visit tinyurl.com/tech-spring-2025
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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." | | | | | |
