February 23, 2021
This issue's header photo taken by Anne Kasin from Trinity By-the-Sea on Maui, shows the "packaged ashes" with a prayer card distributed at their Ash Wednesday service.
Second Sunday in Lent
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
From the Bishop:
In case you missed it...
During Lent, the Bishop's Monday messages will be about praying the words of hymns by Charles Wesley. To view the first video message in the series on Hymn #657, click on the image above, or to view the email with the words to the hymn, click HERE.
Be sure to stay informed with the Bishop's latest messages by clicking on the button above left, and his new series of Bible Study videos on the right. All video messages also appear on the Dioceseʻs YouTube Channel and Facebook page.
Presiding Bishop’s PSA for the COVID-19 Vaccine & Toolkit
[February 22, 2021] The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has developed a toolkit for individuals, congregations, and ministries to facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States. This toolkit promotes the ongoing work that parishes and dioceses have already been doing, shares best practices, and offers ideas for ways that communities can help U.S. READ MORE
Chronicle Follow-up Story:
Gift from the Diocese: Bishop Akiyama's Cross
In the last issue of the Chronicle, the cross featured in the header was a gift from the Diocese presented to Bishop Diana Akiyama at her consecration in the Diocese of Oregon. The following is a message from Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick about the cross:
I promised to share news about the gift of the Diocese of the pectoral cross to Diana Akiyama at her ordination as Bishop (of Oregon). I also told Diocesan Council that I would invite donations to off-set the cost of the cross. Now, the cross has been in the works for well over three months, but it literally was completed the day of the ordination (January 30, 2021) arriving at the Cathedral in Portland at 11:00 AM for the 2:00 PM service.

Jan Gordon, a Portland artist who designed and fabricated the pectoral cross shared the following with me on Saturday: The waters of baptism and Christ as the Vine are emphasized in the design. Inspired by a Japanese stencil design of ocean waves, and the Lilikoi vine, it depicts ocean waves across the horizontal cross of the arm and a climbing vine on the vertical arm. The ocean waves resonate with the waters of baptism; the Lilikoi vine reflects Jesus likening himself as the “Vine.” An amethyst is set at the center of the cross, and Oregon-mined sun-stones are set at the ends of the cross. The intricate design includes carefully placed depictions of ocean spray droplets on the top edges of the horizontal arms of the cross.
Diana asked me to share: “I'd love for the folks in my Hawai'i 'ohana to know how central you and they have been in my vocational journey. The symbols in the pectoral cross are inspired by my time in the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i. When you told me that you wanted to gift the pectoral cross to me, I was deeply moved because it means that whenever I wear it (which is daily) I will have the Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i near my heart. Words fall short in describing how life-changing my ministry in Hawai'i has been. I am and will be forever grateful for the ways in which the Holy Spirit brings abundant life in Hawai'i.”

Should you wish to make a donation to offset the cost of the cross, please send it to me (with checks made out to “The Episcopal Church in Hawaiʻi” noting “Akiyama cross” in the memo). I apologize for not sharing sooner. I had hoped to share what the cross would look like in the design phase and its meaning. The artist could not be rushed. I am just thankful that it made it to the Cathedral in time for the ordination. (Mail to: Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick, 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813)
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DIOCESE
Visit the Diocese's Calendar page HERE for Diocesan events & activities.
Register Now!
Spring Training 2021 Offers Diverse Workshops
The Diocese's annual Spring Training event will be held online, Saturday, March 13, 2021. Fifteen workshops are being offered that cover a variety of topics including grant writing, Safe Church, youth ministry, investments, communication tools, and much more! Participants can sign up for three sessions. For more information and to register for this FREE offering, visit the event webpage HERE.
Applications being accepted now!
Bishop's Scholarship Funds
Applications are now being accepted for two Diocesan Scholarship funds that are available to students for the 2021-2022 school year.

  1. Bishop's Scholarship Fund - Students entering kindergarten to grade 12 entering an Episcopal Church-related school in the Diocese of Hawai'i for the first time
  2. The Chang Clergy Children's Scholarship Fund - Children (under the age of 24) of clergy who are canonically resident and domiciled in the Diocese of Hawai'i

The submission deadline is Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at 4:00 PM. For more information, eligibility requirements and to download the application packet, click HERE . Should you have any questions, please e-mail Denise Esposito.
St. Andrew's Schools: Spring Adventure Camp
St. Andrew's Schools will be offering a Spring Adventure Camp for students in grades K-8, March 15-25, 2021, from 7:00 AM-4:00 PM. Curriculum includes STEAM along with fun themes and experiences. For more information and to register, visit their website HERE.
Seabury Calls New Chaplain: The Rev. Chris Golding Returns to Hawai'i
Returning to the islands is the Rev. Chris Golding who will be serving as Seabury Hall's Chaplain beginning in August. Originally from Australia, Fr. Golding served in the Diocese as the Associate Rector at St. Clement's and Vicar at Emmanuel, before moving to New Orleans, where he has been the Associate Priest at St. Luke's in Baton Rouge.
Our Schools
The Priory Earns Nationwide Computer Science Female Diversity Award
[February 10, 2021] A startling report released in September 2020 by Accenture and Girls Who Code revealed that the number of women in tech has been decreasing over the years, despite what people may think about their presence in the industry. However, the young women at St. Andrew’s Schools, also known as The Priory, have something to say – and do – about that.
 
Women have almost caught up to men in the fields of technology, engineering and mathematics, right? You might assume so—but they have actually fallen further behind at the very moment when tech roles are surging and vital to the U.S. economy and its continued leadership around the globe. Unbelievably, the proportion of women to men in tech roles has declined over the past 35 years. And half of young women who go into tech drop out by the age of 35 (Executive summary, “Resetting Tech Culture” – report by Accenture and Girls Who Code). READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Oʻahu Happenings
Visit the Diocese's Community Calendar page HERE for ongoing activities in your neighborhood.
The Cathedral of St. Andrew Ash Wednesday Service
Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick joined the Revs. Keleawe Hee and Heather Patton-Graham for Ash Wednesday services. Click on the image to view the service in its entirety on the Cathedral Facebook page.
Coming Up: I Support the Girls Drive-by Donation Collection at Emmanuel, Saturday, March 6
Emmanuel Episcopal in Kailua will be holding a drive-by collection for I Support the Girls, on Saturday, March 6, 2021, from 9:00 AM-1:00 PM. They will be collecting donations of new and gently used bras, new underwear, and individually sealed tampons and maxi pads for distribution to girls and women experiencing homelessness across the U.S. and globally. Bras are considered a luxury and wearing the same bra for years causes health problems. Many times living on the streets means having to decide between buying a hot meal or a box of tampons. No one should have to make that choice! I Support the Girls has donated 3.5 million products in 2020 alone, and over 11 million products in 5 years! (Emmanuel is located at 780 Keolu Drive in Kailua.)
St. Elizabeth's: Shot in the Arm
St. Elizabeth's Shim Hall in Honolulu was transformed into a mass vaccination site aimed at reducing COVID among Pacific Islanders who have been hard hit. Many thanks to We Are Oceania and the Kalihi Palama Health Center for making this happen. Even KITV News showed up! (From the St. Elizabeth's Vine and Branches newsletter)
Holy Nativity: Thrift Store Grants to Community Organizations
At Holy Nativity's Fall Festival last November, business was brisk! Though staff and volunteers were unsure if they should even hold the annual event, given COVID, they went ahead and achieved wonderful - and unexpected - success! As is the tradition, Thrift Store volunteers give away 100% of the proceeds from that event to local organizations in the community. Pictured above, on Thursday, February 11, they delivered the first two checks in the amount of $3,800 each, to the Institute for Human Services, and Lima Kokua. (From Holy Nativity's The Banyan Tree newsletter)
Kauaʻi Happenings
Visit the Diocese's Community Calendar page HERE for ongoing activities in your neighborhood.
Maui Happenings
Visit the Diocese's Community Calendar page HERE for ongoing activities in your neighborhood.
Finding Creative Ways to Observe Ash Wednesday & Lent
Churches have had to get creative during this time of COVID-19, and Maui churches have done just that. Pictured above, Trinity- By-the-Sea packaged ashes to go along with a prayer postcard, and Good Shepherd created mini Lent Gardens for distribution.
The Big Island Happenings
Visit the Diocese's Community Calendar page HERE for ongoing activities in your neighborhood.
St. James' Evening Ash Wednesday Service
St. James' evening Ash Wednesday service took place at a parishioner's home next to a fire pit that made for a powerful and moving experience. Click on the image to view the service on YouTube. (From the St. James' Facebook page)
LAY POSITION AVAILABLE
Part-time Interim Youth Ministry Coordinator- St. James'
Visit the Diocesan website for more info HERE
The Episcopal Church & Beyond
National Cathedral tolls bell for 500,000 who died of COVID-19 in United States
[February 23, 2021] Washington National Cathedral on Feb. 22 tolled its bell 500 times, once for every 1,000 people who have died from COVID-19 in the United States. As the cathedral marks the death toll topping a half million this week, millions of people are receiving vaccinations against the coronavirus. READ MORE
Through poetry and art, Queens church aims for a lively Lent after a mournful year
[February 19, 2021] St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in the New York City borough of Queens has had more than its fair share of death and suffering over the past year. The prospect of another penitential, somber Lent seemed like too much to bear. READ MORE
Texas churches assist communities responding to cold-weather crisis sweeping South
[February 18, 2021] A combination of low temperatures and rare snowstorms have created a winter weather emergency across the South, with Texas facing some of the region’s direst conditions, from widespread power outages to a deadly traffic pile-up. READ MORE
More Headline Links:
PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED REMINDERS:
COVID VACCINATION INFORMATION: Stay informed with the latest about COVID vaccination schedules. Visit the State COVID-19 webpage HERE for more info, and click HERE to learn how to register for a vaccination.
2021 SPRING FAMILY STAY-CAY WEEKENDS - Camp Mokule'ia will be offering more Stay-Cay weekends this Spring: March 26-28, and April 16-18. For more information and to make your reservation, visit the Camp website HERE.

2021 SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM - REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! Camp Mokuleʻia has set their summer camp program dates for 2021. Click HERE to learn more about the summer camps dates!

SCHOLARSHIPS - Camp Mokuleʻia is once again offering scholarship funds in 2021. All congregations are eligible to receive up to $1,000 to help their children and youth attend camp.

SUMMER STAFF - The Campʻs goal this summer is to hire the majority of summer staff locally. If you have college students in your congregation that you think would make good counselors, please provide them with the following link HERE.
DIOCESE'S COFFEE HOUR MOVES TO THURSDAYS - The Diocese's Coffee Hour, an informational gathering of church administrators and wardens, has moved to Thursdays and will still be held at 9:00 AM. To take part in Coffee Hours with the Diocesan Support Team, contact Rae Costa HERE. For more information about Coffee Hours, visit the Diocesan website HERE.
CHATS: MONTHLY COMMUNICATIONS MEETINGS - Beginning in March, the Diocese's Communications Design Team will be hosting monthly online gatherings that will be open to all in the Diocese. If you are interested in participating, please register HERE to get on the list and receive online instructions.
PUBLICATION FEATURE - Coming to the Diocesan website and Chronicle will be a new publication feature that will share books and other publications by authors and collaborators from our Diocese! If you would like to share a particular book for inclusion, please submit it through the online form HERE.
YOUTH WEEKLY COMPLINE SERVICE: Fr. Jar Pasalo, the Diocese's Youth and Young Adult Missioner, has launched a weekly LIVE Compline on the Episcopal Youth of Hawaii Facebook Group page. All are invited to join in every Thursday at 8:00 PM. All sessions are available for viewing on the page if you miss it. If you are interested in assisting/leading Compline, contact Fr. Jar HERE.
PALAKA FACE MASKS FOR SALE: Don't forget to order your palaka face mask from the Good Shepherd Women in Ministry for only $5 each plus postage. All sales benefit their outreach ministries. Place your order via contact form HERE, and mail your check to 2140 Main St., Wailuku, HI 96793.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM OUR CHANCELLOR: LICENSE REQUIRED FOR LIVE STREAMING MUSIC: As you may know, U.S. copyright laws do not apply for the performance or display of copyrighted works during on-site religious services. However, this religious service exemption does NOT apply to livestreaming or retransmission of the service over the Internet. Churches using copyrighted music in a live streamed service must either obtain specific written permission or a streaming license. Please contact me if you have any questions or call (808) 282-6088.

PROPER LICENSING NEEDED FOR MEDIA SHARING: Like the music industry, movies and books require permission to be shared publicly. For churches interested in showing movies, public performance rights can be obtained from two companies (representing different studios): Swank Motion Pictures (includes Disney and faith-based films) and Criterion. For reading books online, permission should be obtained from the author (or copyright holder).
Quick Links: Catch up on articles you may have missed
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Contact Information
Sybil Nishioka, Editor & Communications Contractor
The Episcopal Diocese of Hawai'i
229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 536-7776
Contact HERE