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HOLY EUCHARIST

October 11, 2024 7:00 & 9:00 am

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

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MESSAGE FROM THE VICAR

Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,

Our weekly newsletter comes to you a few days early as I prepare to leave for Diocesan Convention and training workshops on O'ahu.

Please pray for all clergy and delegates as we consider 2025 plans for our diocese. It will be a full three days, beginning tomorrow with an all-day training session for the Preaching Congregations Initiative (see description below) for the clergy participating in this pilot course (seven clergy from five congregations across the diocese).

I look forward to greeting Bishop Diana on behalf of all of us at St. Augustine's and to returning this Sunday with updates from our brothers and sisters across the islands.

Blessings,

Vicar Jennifer

2024 STEWARDSHIP

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

Last Sunday, we gathered after both the 7:00 am and 9:00 am services for Spirit School. Our topic was stewardship. As we enjoyed cake and coffee, we had lovely conversations about how we called to be good stewards of God's creation, caring for one another in our church and wider community, as well as the land and buildings we are fortunate to call our church home.

We explored our Time & Talents form and discussed pledging. Most important, we talked about the ways in which we care for one another, contributing our talents to help others. Please take a moment to fill out the St. Augustine's Time and Talents form.

Some of our members have been pleasantly surprised by the opportunities to offer time at St. Augustine's! There are many ways to help, such as praying, writing a thoughtful message to a member in need of care, or sending a card to a member celebrating their birthday or anniversary. Similarly, pledging any amount, no matter how large or small, makes a huge difference. Small gestures of love make a big impact!

Please consider completing the Time & Talents form and pledge card online. Or you can fill out a paper copy and send to Vicar Jennifer before November 3.

During stewardship season, we talk about how we take care of our church 'ohana, our campus, and our community. The time, talents, and funds we share with the church are all crucial to our mission of caring.

Q: How does St. Augustine's benefit from your gifts of time, talent, and funds? Over the past two weeks, we've talked about how our church and community benefit from our care of our campus and Thrift Shop. However, our most important mission is caring for one another.

Ours is a loving congregation with close ties to our community. Behind the scenes, all of us attend to one another with phone calls, prayers, and one-on-one conversations. This quiet, spirit filled work is the lifeblood of our church. We are One Body in Christ.

Your generous offerings of volunteer time and talents make all the difference, and the funds we gather during our season of stewardship enable us to pay salaries for our vicar and Christian education director, as well as fund outreach ministries that benefit our members and wider community.

Mahalo for your gifts to the church that make it possible for us to care for one another!

UPCOMING SERVICES

October 20 - Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

October 27 - Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

November 3 - Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

November 10 - Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Find scripture readings for upcoming Sundays and learn about the liturgical seasons in the Episcopal Church here.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO

Analisa Marcom for cleaning the church and providing flowers this week.

Maurine Gomes 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.

CARING FOR EACH OTHER

ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN

Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: all who are affected by the Israel/Hamas war and wars around the world; Sharon Sakai; Amina, Siezza, Marika & Kaliah; June Potochnik; Pat Todd; Stacey Mastrian; Megan Jacoby; Neil Apana; Mark, Ashton, Hunter & baby Millet; Derek Higa; Katie Buehner; Susan Acacio; Jeannette Hensel; Sabrina Lee; Erin Manuel; the people of Maui and the Church of the Holy Innocents; Arcadio & Filomena Badua; Guy Kaoo; Becky & Ludwig Simmet; Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello; Annecita Tamayo; and 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!

WEEKLY

• 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 3 to 10.
• 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.
• CHOIR - Join us Wednesdays at 5:00 pm to sing through the hymns for the following Sunday. All are welcome! 

MONTHLY

First Sunday of each month

• 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

• 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

• KEIKI SUNDAY - All keiki (and their 'ohana) 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.
• 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!

UPCOMING CHURCH EVENTS

Saturday, October 12 - Annual Diocesan Convention - Please pray for your clergy (Vicar Jennifer & Deacon Lani) and your elected delegates (Laura La Gassa & Eileen Hartwings) as they travel to O'ahu to gather with our diocesan brothers and sisters in fellowship and in prayerful discernment about the coming year's plans for our diocese.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of women being ordained in The Episcopal Church, and is part of the reason for this year's Convention theme. Women have long played a key role in the life of the church whether lay or ordained, and we commemorate all women for their contribution, service, and dedication. This year's logo represents women of faith in the islands, and the pink rose, which is one of Queen Emma's favorite flowers, is also the official flower of Maui, as we continue to keep those affected in our prayers. The color green is incorporated to represent our commitment to care for the environment and Mother Earth.

We are so excited to be joined by our beloved former vicar, Bishop Diana Akiyama, who will be serving as Chaplain for convention! Bishop Akiyama's presence at this year's Convention is especially meaningful as we celebrate women in ministry. She was the first Japanese-American woman ordained to the priesthood in The Episcopal Church in 1989, and again made history as the first Japanese-American woman Bishop.

You can view the full agenda and other details about Convention 56 on the Diocesan website.

THIS SUNDAY! October 13 - Food Pantry donations - Please bring food donations for the Kapa'au Little Free Pantry. You may bring items or donations to either the 7:00 am or 9:00 am service, where they will be blessed before they are placed in the pantry for those in need.

Saturday, October 19 - Hawai'i Island Diocesan Youth Day - All youth grades 5-12 are invited to this special day at St. Columba Episcopal Church! Cost is only $5 and transportation will be provided. Register online here and complete the permission form. If you have questions, please contact Kathy Matsuda. See poster below.

Sunday, October 27 - 4:30 pm - Tiny Church Concert featuring Wendy Hindley (flute), Jennifer Masada (flute), Kirk Corey (piano). Join us for music by J.S. Bach, Handel, Telemann, and Gariboldi. All are welcome!

ST. AUGUSTINE'S NEWS

BAZAAR SUCCESS THANKS TO COMMUNITY GENEROSITY!

Local individuals and organizations donated wonderful items for our Silent Auction. Mahalo to Jeanne Cooper and Eileen Hartwings, who worked hard to organize the Silent Auction and ask local businesses to contribute, and to Cindy Sakai for her work afterward processing bid sheets and payments.

Mahalo nui to all who contributed items and funds for our silent auction:

Amy O'Meara (Hula Hālau O Kukui Aloha O Kohala) - feather lei

Arakaki - Floral arrangements

Bamboo Restaurant - gift card

Big Island Massage - gift card

Bonnie Stevenson - craniosacral massage gift card

Catalina Morales - cash donation

Elements - cash donation

Emil Bader - cash donation

The Fish and the Hog - gift card

Gary Hisaoka - cash donation

Gill's Lanai & Kohala Coffee Co. - gift card

Hamakua Kohala Health Center - event parking

Dr. Hana Roberts - naturopathic consultation

Hap & Maddy Hiester - cash donation

Hawai'i Com. Federal Credit Union (student credit union) - volunteers

Hilton Waikoloa Village - pool passes and Two-night stay

Honeykissed Brows - gift card

Jean Kanehailua - cash donation

Jeanette Hensel - cash donation

Jeanne Cooper & Ian Hersey - cash and silent auction item donations

Kat Bellici - clairvoyant reading

Kat's Kuts - gift card

Kathy Matsuda - Melaleuca gift baskets

KO Pizza - gift card

Kohala Grown - gift card

L. Zeidman Gallery - vases

Loretta Lee - cash donation

Mahina Mea Freeze Dried Goods - gift bag and gift cards

Martina Manuel - cash donation

Mauna Kea Beach Resort - golf passes

Maurine Gomes - lomi lomi massage gift card

Melanie Diego - financial advising

Mi Ranchito - gift card

Motek Bakery - gift card

North Kohala Tool Library - free memberships

Pacita Acacio - cash donation

Paniolo BBQ Dinner - gift cards

Paradise Postal - cash donation

Pomaika'i Cafe - gift card and gift bag

Raise Your Vibration - gift card

Rebecca Bartholomy - massage

Rising Tide Poke - gift card

Sunshine Hardware - Adirondack chairs

Takata Store - cash donation

Virginia Fortner - ukulele lessons

Westin Hapuna - 1-night stay

Gifts of many beautiful items from Thrift Shop donors

MAHALO NUI LOA!

THE PREACHING CONGREGATIONS INITIATIVE (PCi)

St. Augustine's is invited to participate and pilot this program

In addition to attending Diocesan Convention next week, Vicar Jennifer and Maurine Gomes will attend training to begin St. Augustine's participation in the Preaching Congregations Initiative (PCi)–a year-long program to learn about preaching, engaged listening, and giving sermon feedback, with an option for lay participants to become a licensed lay preacher.

Our St. Augustine's cohort will be: Kirk Corey, Maurine Gomes, Eileen Hartwings, Laura La Gassa, Kim Lambrecht, John Sakai, Kathy Webb, and Vicar Jennifer.

The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i is the first diocese to pilot this training, which will be taught by faculty from the Virginia Theological Seminary. Bishop Bob invited St. Augustine's as one of five congregations to participate in this initiative, which is made possible by a grant from the Lily Foundation. PCi will serve as a model for a future training program in our diocese. Stay tuned for more information as our program of study unfolds!

Pics of good merchandise this week

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I

The latest issue of the Hawaiian Church Chronicle (September 26, 2024) features The Bishop in Taiwan, UTO grants available, Camp Mokulē'ia's theme stay cays, and more!

If you have information to share, please let us know! This is a space to help us stay in touch in a variety of ways, such as news, offers of assistance, or garden bounty (fruits, veggies) you would like to share. Please email Vicar Jennifer or Kathy Webb: VicarJennifer@staugustineskohala.com or admin@staugustineskohala.com Submissions due by Thursday morning for Friday's newsletter.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & INFO

KNOW OF AN UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENT that would be of interest to our members? Please let Vicar Jennifer know by sending information to vicarjennifer@staugustineskohala.com

• View Bishop Fitzpatrick's Monday message & Wednesday lesson.

• Listen to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's podcasts on "The Way of Love."

• Read Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's message "Habits of Grace."

www.staugustineskohala.com

808-889-5390