“Deep Roots, Open Branches”

A message from Rev. Jenn

The Wealth of Relationships and Reciprocity

This weekend we conclude our celebration of the Season of Creation when we join other churches worldwide to bring attention to the beautiful world that we humans call home. For us, in particular, the island of O’ahu and all the islands of Hawai’i are masterpieces. How fortunate we are to be surrounded by such beauty and bounty! Our ecosystem provides everything we need to grow: oxygen to breathe, water to drink, plants and animals to sustain our energy. When I stop to appreciate how amazing it is that we get to live surrounded by such gifts, I am all the more grateful for the creative intelligence that made this beautiful and interconnected place.

We are also blessed with this place where we worship. And yet, none of what we have at Holy Nativity is ours. Let me say that again. Nothing that we have here on our four-acre campus is ours - we are only stewards of this place, and we care for it for a time as best we can. God has given us this work to do - to take care of the buildings, the infrastructure, the grounds, and the community. All of it has been passed along to us by those who built the church, school, gym, kitchen, and thrift shop. As stewards, we have the honor to care for it, love it, and shape its future. 

In our recent book study of The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer, the author describes an alternative way of looking at the world. We can see the natural world around us as full of resources that are commodities, to be used and gathered for profit. Alternatively, we can choose to see all of the natural world as siblings and relatives who share their gifts with us and are appreciated with gratitude. When we understand ourselves to be related to the air, water, plants and animals that help us live, our perspective changes. Instead of seeing them as things to accumulate, we see their gifts to us as a reciprocal relationship and we respond with generosity. It’s like when you have too many mango or breadfruit ready on your tree and you can’t possibly use them all yourself. You share with your neighbors and they reciprocate by sharing with you. In this kind of system, wealth isn’t accumulated for ourselves. Rather, it is stored in relationships and the reciprocity of neighborliness.

It reminds me of the story of God providing the people in the wilderness with manna. The people are instructed to gather only what they need for the day. If they gather more than is needed, it will spoil before the next day. On the day before the Sabbath, they can gather twice as much as their daily need and the manna lasts through the Sabbath. This story is an affirmation that God’s gifts are meant to sustain us with enough, not for hoarding and accumulating. If no one takes more than is necessary there will be plenty for all.

After the Season of Creation we will be moving toward the Season of Stewardship, a time when we take stock of the gifts that God has given us, and see where we have more than we need. We are asked to pledge out of gratitude gifts of our time, talents, and treasure. We give because we recognize the abundance of what God has given us and, in thanks, we give to maintain and sustain this place for the next generation. In the next weeks I encourage you to prayerfully give thanks for all you have received, and also pray about how you might share it with the Holy Nativity Community in the year to come.

Jenn+

This photo was taken on September 16, 2026, Bishop-elect Libby Berman's first official day at the Diocesan Support Center and in her new (and very bare) office.

Bishop Bob, staff, and volunteers who were on island enjoyed lunch in the conference

room together.

Aloha and welcome Bishop-elect Libby!

To attend Rev. Libby's Ordination please RSVP, space is filling up.

Announcing

Mid-Week Service

starting Wednesday Oct. 7th

Wednesdays at 9:45a is our new Mid-Week Eucharist. Spoken (no music) in the Nave.



All are welcome; Come as you are!

Pet Blessing in Honor of

St. Francis

(In the Garden)

THIS Friday, October 2nd from

7:15a to 8:00a

Rev. Jenn will bless pets whose families would like a special blessing for them in honor of

St. Francis Day.

This year's Hawai'i midterm ballot will feature 20 City Charter Amendments! 

Be an Informed Voter!



This booklet HERE outlines all the proposed City Charter amendments that will appear on the November 3, 2026

General Election ballot.



This booklet will show you how the amendment will look on your ballot, and help you to understand the present situation and what it will mean if a proposal passes.



Mahalo to Willis Moore for sharing this useful booklet!

October is Pride Month

Join the good folks at St. Clement for two events Oct 11th & 13th.

~Click on poster to Enlarge~

Called to the Islands

At St. Peter's Church in Kaimuki

St. Peter's, St. Elizabeth's, and St. Mary's were all founded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by those who emigrated from China. As the flyer below states, there will be a unique presentation portraying the mission and ministry of a missionary to Chinese immigrants in Hawaii during that era performed by actor Eden Lee Murray.

Following the presentation, we will have a time of food and fellowship, as well as conversation surrounding what our faithful response to immigrants is today. A free-will offering will be collected, and all proceeds will be sent to "We Are Oceania," an organization that supports recent immigrants to Hawaii. 

Please click on poster below

to Enlarge

~REMINDERS~

Are you Looking for a

Bible Study?

Starting Sunday 9/27 we will meet on Sunday mornings at 8 a.m. to talk about the readings for the week using the

Reading Between the Lines guide.

Contact Rev Jenn for my info.

revjenn.hnc@gmail.com

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Our Holy Nativity Church book study for the Season of Creation is

The Serviceberry

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

After church and coffee hour

Oct. 4

There are plenty of copies in the library system or you can order it at the local

Da Shop in Kaimuki.

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Oct. 9 + 10, 2026

St. Clement Speaker Series

 "Embracing Grace: A Spirituality of Aging"

Please Click HERE to see the full agenda,

and to get tickets.

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There is the Camp Fundraiser coming up Sunday Oct 11th Camp Mokulēʻia

Splash & Dash Biathlon.

More info & registration HERE

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GREAT PUMPKIN Festival HNS

Oct 17th

For more information & tickets HERE

NEW HNC Member Directory is in the Making!

If you have new contact info or if you wish to change your listing in anyway, please contact the office by phone or email.

(808) 373-2131 or hncparish@gmail.com

Save the Dates!

For more info click HERE