In our parish, we pray for: Dorie & Agenhart, Frank Y., Ron M., Wayne, Heather, Erwin, John, Todd, Terry, Elaine, Tom, Sue, Kate, Sandee, Michael T., Nancy Y., Susan K., Katy & Eric, Sandy T.A., Larry T, Raj, Renu, Peggy, and Stanley Yon & Family, Eleu O & Ohana, TR, J Rohr, G. Livingston Jr., Jeff L, Schwegmann Family, Margot, Neil Jr., Mac, J Ingham, Masamitsu Ohana, John Alexander.
AND all who struggle with illness and/or hardship.
Please contact the HNC office with any additional prayer requests
I am new to the Episcopalian church, so I’m still learning the code words. This time of year, the word is stewardship. Money, I thought: How much goes into the calabash? I looked up the term. A steward is charged with taking care of another’s affairs. God’s affair is, of course, everything. Every one. Every thing. Every circumstance. We are asked, in those parables about widow’s mites and servants burying talents, to look after the Creator’s interests in all things that touch on our lives.
Money, being so conveniently countable, is perhaps the easiest stewardship role to understand. Years ago, I belonged to a church that preached tithing — gently, but firmly and often. I thought I’d be broke by Christmas but I gulped and started writing checks for the equivalent of a wild weekend at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua. And here’s what happened: I didn’t feel a thing. Money was air and I had exhaled. God breathed into me a little happiness, a slightly more generous spirit, a bit less eagerness to count my costs more diligently than yours.
Years ago, too, I joined an organization that taught service to others — loosening our desperate grasp on ego and pride, and inviting the heart of God to inform our daily choices. Service begins with just showing up: declaring your support by your presence. It extends to more practical acts: volunteering for various tasks and offices, learning to listen to and reason with others, practicing restraint of tongue and pen. And, yes, throwing a buck in the basket.
After my tithing success, I thought, I got this. But serving on committees with difficult people? Listening when I yearn to direct? Reaching out when I can’t find God’s strength for myself? I didn’t got those. God did, though, and drew close whenever I remembered the central premise — that my life, every bit of it, is God’s work to direct. Checks are important. But they're just the start of what God wants us to learn from stewardship.
— Maui-born writer Wanda Adams was received into the Episcopalian church a bit more than a year ago.
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This Weekend!!
Don't miss it!
THRIFT STORE FALL FESTIVAL AND
CHRISTMAS SALE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12
9am-2pm -- Holy Nativity -- Mauka Campus
NOTE: THRIFT SHOP CLOSED Wed. Nov 9th & Fri. Nov. 11th -- in preparation for the Fall Festival and Christmas Sale!
Please no donations during this week, thanks!
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A Few Thoughts from Diocesan Convention 54 Delegate,
Kathy Otani
The theme of this year’s Diocesan Education Day was Peace and Reconciliation and focused
on both our relationship with Planet Earth and our relationship with each other.
In regards to caring for our environment, I noticed the use of paper cups and large water
dispensers to keep us hydrated during the convention. To further emphasize this theme of
reconciliation and sustainability, we were each given a stainless steel travel mug and a
compostable paper name tag embedded with flower seeds (to be planted later).
Learning about Queen Liliuokalani’s grace and dignity during and after the overthrow of her
kingdom, listening to Archdeacon Steve Costa’s heartfelt account about growing up in Kalihi
and being ostracized by his neighbors, attending guest speaker Jonathan Kuttab’s talk about
his proposed solution to the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict all helped me further
understand the need for respect, right relations and some creativity before peace and
reconciliation can be achieved.
In conclusion, I was inspired by the message of Education Day and plan to do my part, with
God’s help, in creating a cleaner and kinder world.