HOLY EUCHARIST
September 7, 2025 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Celebration of the Season of Creation
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
This Sunday we begin several weeks of focus on the Season of Creation, a time set aside across the Episcopal Church to re-commit ourselves as mindful stewards of God’s earth. Although we are called to care for creation every day, the Season of Creation invites us to deepen that commitment by listening to the cries of the earth and the creatures around us and by celebrating the beautiful mystery of this world that God has entrusted to our care.
This is also a time to reflect on how to live in harmony with creation by surrendering to its power to shape and transform us.
The scriptures we'll hear tomorrow (read them here) share a common thread: sacred surrender. Jeremiah says we are clay in the potter’s hands. The psalmist says we are knit together in the womb of God’s creation. Jesus says, “Let go of all you possess.” In other words, there is a cost we must pay to be in unity with God (and God's creation).
To surrender is to release control. Parents know this when they let a child take those first wobbly steps. It is not weakness but love that makes space for growth. To surrender is to live with open hands by discerning what is within our control and what is not. What are you holding so tightly that God cannot reshape you? Where in creation do you feel the hand of the Creator pressing upon you, guiding you and transforming you?
To surrender is to join the flow of living water, recognizing that we are one strand in the vast web of life — from microbes to whales, from seal to scorpion, from forest to coral reef. Because we are not separate from creation, we bear responsibility for it. Aloha 'āina is our kuleana, a sacred calling. All of creation is God’s body. The care we give to creation is care we give ourselves. All of creation is God’s gift; we are part of it and stewards of it. This is what it means to live in peaceful unity.
Are we willing to pay the cost of unity? Emptying our small ego selves and releasing control for the good of the whole may seem too steep a price. Stopping our wasteful ways and living lighter on the planet may seem too difficult. But the good news is this: sacred surrender is not about losing ourselves or giving up a good life. It is about emptying ourselves into God's infinite love. We become more than we would be on our own by choosing to live into our unity with God. Sacred surrender is about becoming who we were created to be — disciples who walk lightly on the earth, serving God by serving creation and loving all that God has made.
When we are sent out on Sunday with the words “Go in peace to love and serve God’s Creation,” may we go with courage, humility, and joy, ready to surrender to the Spirit shaping us and shaping this wondrous world.
Blessings this day,
Vicar Jennifer
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THE SEASON OF CREATION
Although we tend to creation every day, the months of September and October are set aside as the "Season of Creation" in the Episcopal Church—a time to rededicate ourselves to creation care.
Beginning this Sunday, you'll notice changes in our liturgy to help us focus on creation care. To open this year's Season of Creation, our Spirit School session will be a video presentation. "Waiwai - The Future of Water in Hawai'i" is a lecture given by Dr. Kamanamaikalani Beamer (see poster below or head to our Facebook page). The video will be shown at 11:00 am and the public is invited. Please join us and invite your neighbors and friends to learn about and discuss this important topic that affects us all.
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September 14 - Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 & 9:00 am
September 28 - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 & 9:00 am
October 5 - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 7:00 & 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 a 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! | | |
Juliet Ramos for cleaning the church & providing flowers last week.
Laura La Gassa 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
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: Eupolodo Rivera; Vincent Crane; Jennifer Austin; Taylor Vandy; Clarity, Kasen, & Jude; all orphans & widows; Raeanne Tolentino; Alan Lundberg; Jennifer Evangelista; Cesar Cadabes; Brendan McDougall; 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.
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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| Many thanks to Kathy Matsuda (NKCRC & Kohala Resilience Hub) and Sandra Tran (Kapanaia Farms) for their hard work on our Food Preservation Workshop program! | | |
FOOD PRESERVATION PARTNERS
Our hui now has a name!
You've seen us working in Walker Hall, busy teaching canning techniques to members of our community. Our group now has a name!
The Kohala Ono Food Hui is a partnership with Kapanaia Farms, the North Kohala Community Resource Center & Kohala Resilience Hub, and St. Augustine's. We'll be selling our delicious canned goods at future Night Markets and at St. Augustine's Annual Bazaar. All proceeds will go toward funding more food preservation workshops in 2025.
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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. Adult sewing on Fridays 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!
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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 the Holy Spirit's fire is present in our lives. Responses included: in our family or children; in the need for patience; in serving others.
Meeting highlights - discussions included the following:
- St. Augustine's responses to the Diocesan Bishop Search Committee questionnaire, based on congregation discussions
- Thrift Shop strategic planning
- Ho'imi Pono training scheduled as a weekly one-hour series starting in September
- Church finances & stewardship campaign planning
- Community partnerships and upcoming Annual Bazaar
- Placement of the perimeter fence
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, September 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 that works with community events and partnerships (co-chairs Kathy Matsuda & Lani Bowman, Melanie Sahagun, and Michelle Simpson). This hardworking team has accomplished the following so far 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, Family & Community Network, 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 at the annual Clergy Conference held this week, August 25-27, 2025, in Hilo. Nearly three dozen clergy gathered together featuring guest speaker the Rev. Canon C. K. Robertson, Ph.D. Look for a follow-up article in an upcoming Chronicle. (Photo contributed by Canon Sandy Graham) | |
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." | | | | | |
