JUNE 2010 CONNECTION NEWSLETTER

 

The Connection

 

A monthly publication of the Waimea United Church of Christ
 

 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

            Recently I have been deluged by punctuation questions from my wife. Upon the third query in one day, I asked her why she had found this sudden and unexpected interest in punctuation. As I was to learn, she had been asked to proofread a manuscript for a book; hence, she needed some reassurance in the markings she was assigning to the text.

            Punctuation may be a mystery to some. For me, however, punctuation became part of my maintenance during undergraduate studies. On the recommendation of my university advisor, I became a proofreader for English 101 coursework. I would proofread as many as 1,200 papers a week.  After two semesters of proofreading, I was asked to tutor English in the business school of the university. At the time over 70% of the future MBA’s were flunking the English requirement needed to graduate. Not long thereafter, I was asked to teach two English as a Second Language courses at the nearby community college.  Yes, I was only a junior undergrad at the time. Yes, I did have a concurrent job as a seafood chef because teaching did not pay that well. Yes, I stank like fish in the classroom!

            When my wife and I applied to be missionaries overseas, I was offered the opportunity to fill the position of English Supervisor for the twenty-eight secondary schools under the Church of Christ in Thailand. Apparently the mission board had been waiting many years for an applicant with a background in English studies. As you may know, the Thai language employs no punctuation. All the little dots, dashes, and double dots were a profound mystery to those who were learning English out of the Thai context.

            Let me solve the great mystery of punctuation: Punctuation is chiefly concerned with expectation. In English we expect a certain word order or pattern of thought. First we name the subject of our thoughts. Next we explain what happens to the subject. For example, a subject may be “a puppy dog named Nikos.” What happens to Nikos?  He eats homework. Accordingly the complete sentence is, “My puppy dog Nikos ate my homework.” The sentence is in an expected word order that makes it complete and clear to the reader. It is marked properly with a period.

            When a sentence is not in an expected word order, then the break in what is expected is marked with a comma. Check this out: “After eating my slippers and a quart of ice cream, my puppy dog Nikos ate my homework.” This very simple idea is the basis of English punctuation and is truly no great mystery.

            Now, let me solve the mystery of the universe with basic punctuation rules. God has an expectation of how we are to live our lives. When we break God’s expected order, we will need to clarify our thinking back to God. We should not live fragmented lives with a dash hastily interjected followed with an exclamatory. We need to keep it simple and follow God’s expected order. Otherwise, God might just pass a sentence back down to us! Can we afford to have a punctuation error in the Book of Life?

Aloha ke Akua, Pastor Olaf                 

 

 

Scripture & Sermon Titles

 

 

June 6th     Daniel 8:9-14
“Trampled Truth”

June 13th  Daniel 9:1-6, 21-22

“Triple Confirmations”

June 20th     Daniel 10:18-21

 “The Strength of Angels”

June 27th     Daniel 11:36-39

“Paying Respect”

May 30th    Daniel 12:1-4

“Awaken to Everlasting Life”

 

 

 

The Tuesday morning Bible Study Group meets in Baird Hall at 9 a.m. This group studies the upcoming Sunday’s scripture and sermon topic and gives input for the sermon.  All are welcome to share in the lively discussion and prayer.

 

 

 

 

EVENING BIBLE STUDY

 

The Evening Bible Study and fellowship meets every 2nd and 4th Sundays at 6 pm.  We are studying the Book of Revelation.  Listen to announcements for the location each time.

 

 


CALLING ALL BOOK READERS!

 

The Book Club will meet on Sunday. June 20th, 3 pm at the home of Graceleanor Baird. We will have a discussion on a special project.

 

 

 

SPRING AHA MOKUPUNI

 

            The aroma of kalua pork wafted through the sanctuary and lanai at the Hanapepe Hawaiian church on Friday, May 14th.  The approximately 200 people who had gathered there for the beginning of the Spring Mokupuni, preparing to participate in the Aha Mele, were treated first to a wonderful Hawaiian meal prepared by the women of the church.

At 6 p.m. the Mele began and the Waimea UCC choir was up first, singing “Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus),” with Lee Miller as soloist.  This was the start of a glorious evening filled with inspirational music, sung by the faithful members of the Kauai UCC churches.  Even the visitors to Hanapepe’s Friday Art Night were drawn to the church as the voices singing in Hawaiian, Marshallese, and English carried through the pleasant evening air.

This year’s Mokupuni was themed “Kuleana.”  As the program continued on Saturday, the participants were reminded of what it means to have kuleana, as youth, as laity, as ministers, and as an Association.  We listened to the wisdom of Rev. Jim Fung of the Lihue Christian Church, and several laity as they shared their experiences and thoughts on personal and communal kuleana.  We broke up into small groups and carried on the discussions in depth and then shared these with the larger entity.  We learned so much from each other in this time.                                          

To crown the Mokupuni, we welcomed newly-elected officers of the Association:  Aletha Kaohi (President), Pastor Glenn Frazier (Vice-President), Helen Hoeckmann-Percival (Secretary), Joanne Nakashima (Continuing as Treasurer), and Pastors Olaf Hoeckmann-Percival and Bemry Bunglik (Koloa Marshallese Ministry) as Chaplains.  We joyously welcomed into the Association family the Koloa Marshallese Ministry and heard their amazing faith journey.  We sadly said goodbye to Pastors Chris and Rachel Schwab, and their son Noah, after they served their last communion for the KAUCC.  We wish them God’s blessings as they make their way back to Michigan and family.

The Spring Mokupuni was more than just an annual event.  It was a time for the Kauai UCC churches to once again gather together as a family and share the many blessings and gifts God has bestowed.  The ministries carried out by the individual congregations and the collective association, are a testament to the strength of faith, purpose, and kuleana. 

Thank you to the Hanapepe Hawaiian Church for organizing an amazing two days, filled with good people, good food, good activities, and good outcomes.  We look forward to the next opportunity to gather again.

 

188th AHA PAE’AINA

TUESDAY, JUNE 8TH-SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH

LIHUE UNITED CHURCH

 

THEME: “MALAMA”

 

Sunday, June 6th-Saturday, June 12th   YOUTH GATHERING

Tuesday, June 8th              AHA IKI—Gathering of the State Council of

to Thursday, June 10th    Hawaiian Churches at Koolau Hui’ia church

                                                                        in Anahola

 

Thursday, June 10th

1:00 pm                 -               AHA MAKUA Registration (Parish Hall)

1:00 pm-4:00pm  -               Clergy Gathering (Sanctuary)

5:30 pm                 -               Dinner (Courtyard)

7:00 pm                 -               Opening Worship

 

Friday, June 11th 

7:00 am                  -               Morning Worship (Sanctuary)

8:30 am                  -               Breakfast

9:00 am                  -               PLENARY SESSSION

10:00am                -               Break

10:30 am               -               PLEANARY SESSION Continues

12:00 noon           -               LUNCH

1:00 pm                 -               WORKSHOPS

5:30 pm                 -               DINNER: KAUAI COOKS*

7:00 pm                 -               AHA MELE

 

Saturday, June 12th

7:00 am                  -               Morning Worship

8:00 am                  -               Breakfast

9:00 am                  -               Worship

                                                PLENARY

10:00 am               -               Business Meeting

                                                Thanks

                                                Invitation to 189th Aha Pae’Aina

                                                Installation Service

12:00 noon           -               CONCLUSION

 

*Everyone is welcome to join in the Kauai Cooks event, featuring foods of the diverse ethnic groups on Kauai.  Stay and enjoy the music of the Aha Mele afterwards.

 

DAY PASSES ARE AVAILABLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME EVENTS.  PASSES FOR FRIDAY AND

The next time you feel like GOD can’t use YOU, just remember:

Samson had long hair and was a womanizer; Rahab was a prostitute; Jeremiah and Timothy were too young; Noah was a drunk; Abraham was too old; Isaac was a daydreamer; Jacob was a liar; Leah was ugly; Joseph was abused; Moses had a stuttering problem; Gideon was afraid; David had an affair, and was a murderer; Elijah was suicidal; Jonah ran from God; Naomi was a widow; Job went bankrupt; John the Baptist ate bugs; Peter denied Christ; the disciples fell asleep while praying; Martha worried about everything; Zacchaeus was too small; Paul was too zealous; and Lazarus was dead!  No more excuses now!

 

Our Prayers

 

Our graduates, Kalani Hillstrom, Lynn (Susie Somers’ sister), Robbie (Nora’s son-in-law), Marina Galiza, Ruth Cassel, Gladys Okada, Catherine Wilson, Nancy Jones, Jane Matsukawa, Gayle Mizukami, Sue Metivier, Jim Kimoto, Nelson Keller, Elmo Douglass, Frank Watanabe, the youth in Waimea High School, Nora Vidinha, Loddy, Michael, Lance; Michael Nizo, Veronica Botelho, Sosei Chinen, Selden Burtch, Verna Kauahi, Desiree Kamai-Santos, the Lanai project, the Community Garden project, our local, state and national leaders and our troops overseas.

Text Box: FATHER’S DAY CHICKEN HEKKA LUNCH Sunday, June 20th After Worship All men are invited to this special lunch to honor fathers. Ladies, if you would like to help, please talk to Kathy Uyeda.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


]THANK YOU to Pastor Olaf who spent  many hours in the church office backing up the old computer, setting up the hardware and software for the new computer, and transferring data. The new church computer was purchased with a grant from WECA, whom we also heartily thank.

 

]THANK YOU to the Choir for your music ministry, and especially to our Director, Bill Woodall, and our musicians, Ruth Cassel and Lee Miller.

 

]THANK YOU to the Sunday school teachers and helpers for faithfully telling the stories of faith to the children this past year.

 

]THANK YOU to those who continue to serve the church in all its ministries: cleaning, Aloha hour, Communion, lay leading, flower arrangements, offering collection and counting, greeting, et al.

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to our Graduates: Melissa Kagawa, Shalani Kawahalau, Alana Kanahele (Waimea High School), Kevin Aquilar (KCC), Dorian Demerais (GED), and Grant Kagawa, Simon Sakai, Drew Ueno (Sheila’s grandson) from college.  May God bless your future, in continuing education or new jobs.

 

NEWS FLASH: There will not be a newsletter out for August.  The Editor will be away for most of July, on vacation with her family.  If there are any important news items for July or August, to be included in the July newsletter, please get them in by June 20th.

 

You know that summer is here when: the Choir stops singing, the Sunday school stops meeting, and the Pastor actually takes a vacation off island!  Please note that Pastor Olaf and his family will be off island from July 5th-23rd.  Pastor Ed Terui will be the guest preacher for Sunday, July 11th and Sunday, July 19th.  For pastoral care, please contact Pastor James Merritt at 338-1227.

 

The Music and Worship Ministry is asking for volunteers to provide special music on Sunday.  If you have a talent you can share to enhance the worship service, please talk to Sally Molander or sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex.