HOLY EUCHARIST
May 4, 2025 at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
Third Sunday of Easter
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
Easter isn’t over. It never was just a single morning of fragrant plumerias and joyful alleluias—it’s a transformation still unfolding.
This Sunday, we’ll reflect on the story of Christ appearing to the disciples on the shore, preparing breakfast, and asking Peter a simple but soul-piercing question: Do you love me?
Through this quiet moment, we’re reminded that the power of Easter lives in how we see the world differently. We learn that Divine love is not distant or abstract—it shows up in the ordinary. It bears burdens and teaches us. It transforms our daily routines into a thousand holy moments.
Easter invites us into a new way of being:
- To love more deeply, even when we’re unsure.
- To trust again, even when our nets have come up empty.
- To carry both our sorrows and our joys, knowing we do not walk alone.
We are becoming. Still becoming. And Love is still calling.
Join us this Sunday as we listen, reflect, and walk together on this path of transformation.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
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May 11 - Fourth Sunday of Easter at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
May 18 - Fifth Sunday of Easter at 7:00 am and 9:00 am
May 25 - Sixth Sunday of Easter 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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Join our YouTube Channel
to view past services!
youtube.com/@staugustineskohala
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Ginger Gohier for cleaning the church.
Melanie Sahagun 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 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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ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: Scottie Garlough; Lopaka Decker; Elli Masada; Hattie Perkielski; Oa Hind; Paz; Carol Dicus; Sandy Hom; Ivan; 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; all who are affected by wars around the world; Megan Jacoby; Katie Buehner; 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 10:30 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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FOOD PRESERVATION WORKSHOPS
Learn to preserve local meats and vegetables, complete meals you can store on a shelf! Class limited to 10. Please contact admin or sign up here to register for one of the remaining two-session workshops. The first day of each workshop will be from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. The second day is only an hour from 11:00 am - noon. Here are the dates for upcoming workshops: June 13 & 14, July 11 & 12, August 8 & 9, or September 13 & 14.
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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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SUPPORT OUR YOUTH
Help us continue our tradition of supporting our youth! Please consider giving to the St. Augustine’s College Fund. Whether you are a local Kohala resident or a friend of St. Augustine’s from elsewhere in the US, your help will allow our students to thrive.
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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, 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. All four of our teams met this week, and we share these updates:
Buildings & Grounds - The new oven/range is here! We're making progress on plans for fencing our property. Next steps include communicating with families about what we're doing to ensure gravesites are located inside the fence, surveying the property line to ensure fencing will be on our campus, getting bids to install the fence, and making plans to raise funds. The team has installed a new lock on the Thrift Shop door and changed the codes for the Walker Hall door and sacristy.
Finance - Team members established a new budgeting calendar, allowing us to develop next year's budget further in advance. The team is working hard on fundraising for our Student Support Fund and creating processes to track finances for special projects related to campus maintenance, outreach, and other projects outside our normal operating budget.
Community Events & Partnerships Team (building our Family & Community Network ) - The team is working on MamaJam, which will be May 10 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Please see Vicar Jennifer or Kathy Matsuda if you can volunteer to help that day.
Spiritual Growth Team - Conversations in our group that meets for the Preaching Congregations Initiative (PCi) have been fulfilling and rich; ask any PCi team member about our discussions! Plans for Godly Play during Thrift Shop hours continue. Our upcoming Spirit School presentations will center around our liturgical traditions.
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
| | PICTURED ABOVE - Jeanne Cooper and Ginger Gohier find wearable treasures from the domain of Spongebob! | | |
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, May 3 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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BISHOP TRANSITION IN 2026
From the Diocesan Standing Commiittee:
"Last Friday, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, announced his plans to “resign due to advanced age” in late 2026. The resignation terminology is specific, as Bishop Bob points out, because one never stops being a bishop. That’s just the beginning of the intricate bishop transition process we will pursue together as a Diocese in the coming 18 months."
READ THE ENTIRE LETTER from the Standing Committee, including an invitation to attend a virtual gathering May 3 at noon to hear the details about the transition process.
This is an important time in the life of our church; please attend if you can. The session will be recorded, and we'll share the link as soon as it's available.
| | PICTURED ABOVE - This issue's header photo was taken at The Cathedral of St. Andrew, Saturday evening, April 19, just before the start of the Great Easter Vigil srevice. (Photo from the Cathedral Facebook page) | | In this issue of the Hawaiian Church Chronicle (April 24, 2025), catch up on news from around our diocese, including Bishop Bob's Easter message, photos from Holy Week, and feature stories about the Diocesan Youth Retreat and new life at Holy Innocents, Maui. | |
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." | | | | | |
