Volume 1, Issue 43
December 9, 2016
In This Issue
Caroling at Mahelona
Holiday Giving Project
Youth Group Christmas Party
December Saturday Market
Japanese Dance
Mahalo!
In-Choiring Minds
Christmas Services
Christmas Eve at the Rectory
Prep for Christmas
2017 Altar Flowers
Baptism Class & Service
This Week in Sunday School
National Church News
Wednesday Services
Note from the Editors
Upcoming Concert
Article Headline
In Brief
This Sunday
December 11, 2016

3rd Sunday of Advent
Upcoming Dates
Every Wednesday
McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
6:00PM -  Church

Every Thursday
Choir Practice
6:00PM - Choir Room

Saturday, December 10
Saturday Market and
Swap Meet
9:00AM - 2:00PM
Church Lawn

Sunday, December 11
Christmas Caroling
at Mahelona
5:45PM

Youth Group Christmas Party
7:15PM
Rectory

Sunday, December 18
Episcopal Church Women
11:00AM
Memorial Hall

Baptism Preparation Class
11:00AM
Church

Wednesday, December 21
Laundry Love - Team "C"
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapaa Laundromat

Preschool Christmas Program
6:30PM
All Saints' Gym

Thursday, December 22
Daughters of the King
7:00PM
Memorial Hall

Friday, December 23
Christmas Prep for Church
8:00AM
Church

Saturday, December 24
Christmas Eve

Keiki Service
3:30PM

Festive Christmas Mass
5:30PM

Christmas Open House at the Rectory
7:00PM - 10:15PM

Carol Prelude and Festive Christmas Mass
10:30PM

Sunday, December 25
Christmas Day

Holy Eucharist
9:30AM

Sunday, January 1
Service Times
7:00AM & 9:30PM
(No Sunday School)

Wednesday, January 4
Laundry Love - Team "A"
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapaa Laundromat

Thursday, January 12
Daughters of the King
7:00PM
Memorial Hall

Tuesday, January 17
Vestry Meeting
6:00PM Eucharist
6:30PM Meeting
Rectory

Wednesday, January 18
Laundry Love - Team "B"
5:30PM - 8:30PM
Kapaa Laundromat

Thursday, January 19
Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
7:00PM
Memorial Hall

Thursday, January 26
Daughters of the King
7:00PM
Memorial Hall

Sunday, January 29
Annual Parish Meeting
Time TBD
Church
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CHRISTMAS CAROLING
Come and Offer the Joy of Christmas
 
We invite everyone this Sunday, December 11th to come and sing in the halls of Mahelona's Long-term Care Unit for All Saints' Annual Christmas Caroling. This service outreach opportunity is open to all ages, all abilities (even those voices not in the Choir of Angels).

We will gather on Sunday, December 11th at 5:45PM in the main parking lot of Mahelona. Caroling begins promptly at 6:00 PM and typically lasts about a half-hour.  Be sure to dress in some bright holiday colors like red or green. Santa hats and reindeer antlers are always welcome, and so are any musical instruments to enhance the overall experience. This is a wonderful family-friendly event and service opportunity.
REJOICE! REJOICE!

Support All Saints' Holiday Giving Project
 
This year's Holiday Giving Project for Hale Ho'omalu is focusing on providing a Christmas meal for their case management families. The staff of Hale Ho'omalu decided that this year they will buy some turkey and ham for these families to have for Christmas. 

This Sunday, December 11th, we will designate our free-will offering to the ECW's Hale Ho'omalu Christmas Project. To support the project, you are invited to write a check. P lease note on the check that it is for "Hale Ho'omalu" and drop it in the offering plate before or  on December 11th.  A gift to Hale Ho'omalu on December 11th will allow others to REJOICE during the season of Christmas. 
YOUTH GROUP CHRISTMAS PARTY
Youth Christmas Party December 11th at the Rectory
 
Immediately following the Mahelona Christmas Caroling, the youth will head back to the Church Rectory for their annual Christmas potluck party!  Parents/guardians are welcome to stay for dinner. After dinner, the youth will have their secret-Santa gift exchange along with fun and games. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Sierra Gore.
DECEMBER SATURDAY MARKET
JAPANESE DANCE
Japanese Dance Returns
 

The Japanese Class, under the direction of Carolyn Morinishi, will perform twice in December at All Saints'.

  • Wednesday, December 14, 7:00PM in the All Saints Gymnasium. The dancers will perform the stage dances that they have learned in the Fall session. The dances will finish by 7:30PM. Refreshments will be served following the performance. Admission is free! Are all welcome.
     
  • Sunday, December 18, the Japanese Dance group will offer a liturgical dance piece during the 9:30AM service. Twelve dancers will perform "Still Still Still" during the Offertory.
MAHALO!


On behalf of the Ke Akua Youth Group, I would like to extend a huge mahalo to everyone who helped make this year's Holiday Craft Fair a success. It was a privilege to see our All Saints' 'Ohana come together to support the youth and future of the Church. Everyone showed that they care about the formation of our youth group by putting up tents, bringing tables, flipping burgers, baking treats, directing parking, supporting the vendors, and so much more. The hard work that our community put in helped this event generate over $5500 for our youth and outreach work.  

Mahalo nui loa,
 
Sierra Gore
Ministry Intern

A NEW FEATURE ADDED TO THE EPISTLE
All Saints' is truly blessed to have a growing number of choir members who dedicate themselves to leading the congregation each week in jubilant song. We have been told to "shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-shout for joy before the Lord, the King." (Psalm 98)

All Saints' has yet to incorporate a ram's horn into its weekly musical offerings (who knows, it may happen!), but trumpet, harp and other instruments have on occasion accompanied the All Saints' Choir. Musical offerings range from traditional hymns to anthems that can be classical, contemporary, jazz or pop. Most hymns and anthems are arranged by All Saints' Director of Music Ministries, Hank Curtis.
 
All Saints' sometimes has a musical surprise for those in attendance. This past week, All Saints' was honored to have world-renowned tenor, Darron James Flagg, participate in choir practice and sing with the choir on December 4th. Thank you Darron for being here and for sharing your beautiful gift of music.
 
The All Saints' Choir extends a warm welcome to new members, amateur and professional, alike. We are in particular need of additional tenor and bass voices. 

Practice occurs each Thursday at 6:00PM in the Music Room (south entrance of the All Saints' Gym). Sunday call times are generally 8:55AM. If you would like to "in-choir" about the All Saints' Choir, please contact Hank Curtis. All Saints' welcomes you!

In-Choiring Minds is a feature column that will be published periodically highlighting the happenings of the Music Ministry at All Saints', especially the All Saints' Choir.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Click to enlarge.
CHRISTMAS EVE
Christmas Eve at the Rectory
 
The Reverend Ryan and Dr. Erin Newman invite you on Christmas Eve to the Rectory for the annual Christmas Open House and Potluck. The open house will begin at 7:00PM (after the 5:30PM service) and will run until about 10:15PM. 

We are asking members of our Church 'Ohana to bring a favorite family dish to share at the event.

This is a wonderful evening that celebrates family, fellowship, and the birth of our Savior. All are welcome at the open house including guests and visitors to All Saints'. Come enjoy great food, drinks, and the spirit of the holidays.  
GETTING THE CHURCH READY FOR CHRISTMAS
Volunteers Needed for Christmas Preparation
 
Christmas preparation of the Church will take place on Friday, December 23rd at 8:00AM.

Volunteers will be straightening, cleaning, and decorating the Church for our very festive Christmas services. 

Many hands make light work-please join us!
SUNDAY ALTAR FLOWER OFFERING
2017 Flower Offering Sign Up Available
 
Each Sunday, the beautiful altar flowers are given generously by members of the All Saints' 'Ohana and sometimes by friends of All Saints'. Flowers beautify the sacred spaces of our church, and are a gift to God and to those who attend our worship services.

The sign-up sheet to offer Altar Flowers in 2017 is available and located on the table at the church entrance. 

Donors have the option of providing the flowers themselves or ordering the flowers from the Tanaka Family or JC Flowers. The cost for order flowers is $40 and payment should be handled directly by the donor. 

Starting this year, flowers donors will be able to designate their flowering offering in memory of and/or in thanksgiving.
THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
Upcoming Baptism Class and Service
 
The next date for Baptisms will be Sunday, January 8th (Feast of our Lord's Baptism) at 9:30AM. 

Parents/Guardians who are interested in their child being baptized or adults seeking baptism are asked to attend a Baptism Preparation Class on Sunday, December 18th at 11:00AM - 12:00PM in the Church.The class allows parents and guardians an opportunity to reflect on their own faith journey and their hopes for their child's life of faith. For older keiki and adults seeking baptism, the class invites participants into a deep conversation about the significance of being baptized into the Body of Christ. 

For more information or to register for baptism, please contact Father Ryan.
THIS WEEK IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
Each week, The Epistle will highlight the upcoming Sunday School lesson from "Weaving God's Promises."
 
December 11th Lesson: John the Baptist
 
More than two hundred years after the end of the Exile, Israel is under Roman rule, with limited sovereignty. The Romans agree essentially to leave the Jews alone to practice their religion if they don't make trouble politically. Has the Exile taught the people any lessons? John the Baptist thinks not. John may have come from a sect near the Dead Sea that separates itself from the rest of the society to retain their purity of righteousness. But John emerges from this community in order to put the people through a baptism of repentance. He comes to "prepare the way of the Lord" by urging people to make themselves right with God before the coming of the kingdom.
 
John's message closely resembles Jesus' later apocalyptic warnings in Matthew 24-26: "Be prepared, for you do not know when the master is coming." Matthew's focus is on the kingdom of heaven, and how Jesus comes as a fulfillment of the law and of the prophets. During Advent, we are preparing for Jesus just as John the Baptist calls for us to do.

Please note there is no Sunday School on December 25th and January 1st.

School School Teachers for December 11th: Team "D."
NATIONAL CHURCH NEWS
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on news from Standing Rock
 
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry has issued the following statement on the news concerning the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation:

This morning, the sun ascended over the Great Plains of our nation, and hope truly dawned anew.

After months of courageously and peacefully working to prevent the laying of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which posed potential danger to the water supply of the people of the Sioux Nation and transgressed their sacred burial grounds, the water protectors on Standing Rock have won a notable victory. Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced their decision to deny an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline's construction across the sacred land and water of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and this long-awaited announcement is cause for joyful celebration and thanks.

Continue reading the Presiding Bishop's Statement, click here.
Photos Credit: Episcopal Digital Network
WEDNESDAY MORNING EUCHARIST
Upcoming Wednesday Morning Service Schedule
 
There will be no Wednesday Eucharist and Healing Service December 28th and January 4th. The service will resume Wednesday, January 11th at 8:00AM. All are welcome!
NOTE FROM THE EPISTLE EDITORS
The next edition of the Epistle will be published on Wednesday, December 21 (Christmas Edition). Then, the editors will take a holiday break and the first issue of 2017 will be published on Friday, January 6th. Mahalo nui loa.
UPCOMING CONCERT

HALE LANI CLOSEOUT SALE
IN BRIEF . . .
These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"

2017 Pledge Cards
If you have not yet had a chance to complete a pledge card, it's not too late. Pledge cards are available at the Church entrance and in the Church Office. Please return your pledge card ASAP. The Vestry and the Stewardship Committee have set a goal of receiving 100% of pledge commitments from our All Saints' 'Ohana.  If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to Bill Caldwell or Fr. Ryan.

Offering a Gift to "Green" the Church for Christmas
Would you like to make an offering for Christmas poinsettias?   This is a wonderful way to make the church look festive for Christmas and to make a dedication in thanksgiving or in memory of someone. Pick up a form at the entrance of the Church or download an online form Please make checks payable to All Saints' Church with "Christmas flowers" on the memo line.  To be included in the Christmas program listing, please submit your donation by Friday, December 16th.

9:30AM Service Available Online
All Saints' is currently beta testing a live stream feed to Facebook Live and the All Saints' website.  The goal is to be fully operational by Christmas Eve. In the meantime, visit  All Saints' Facebook  page and test out the Sunday Service Livestream experience--the service is available 24/7. If you have any feedback or would like to assist with this new ministry opportunity (no prior technology experience required), please email  Fr. Ryan .
"The Epistle" is published weekly by Friday.
Submissions for consideration are due by Wednesday at noon and can be sent to ryan@allsaintskauai.org.