the herald - st michael & all angels episcopal churchstmichaels-kauai.org/documents/newsletter...

The Herald

December 2016volume 13 number 3

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Kaua`i

Christmas EveSaturday, December 24, 2016

Candlelight Services6:00 and 9:00 pm

Christmas DaySunday, December 25, 2016

10:00 AM

Join us Christmas EvePlease plan to join us for one of our two candlight services Christmas Eve.Services will be held at 6:00 and 9:00 pm. There will be a holiday reception with light refreshments in between. Both services will feature Alan Van Zee along with a brass trio and the St. Michael’s choir. The Holy Eucharist at 6:00 pm remains our family-oriented service, involving

many of the children and youth of St. Michael’s. Our Holy Eucharist at 9:00pm will include Sacred Music, an extended prelude with hymns, carols and music. This year Christmas falls on a Sunday, so unlike other years, we will have a service that day. Please join us for our Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am on Christmas Day, December 25th.

December Highlights

December 4, 11, 18 Adult Formation, Goodale Center8:30 AM

December 5, 12, 19, 26Adult Study Group, Goodale Center5:00 - 6:30 PM

December 6, 13, 20, 27Centering Prayer, ReSource Room8:00 AM

December 6, 13, 20, 27Ladies Bible Study, Goodale Center11:00 AM

December 7, 14, 21, 28 Loaves and Fishes, Parish Hall9:15 - 10:30 AM

December 7Staff Meeting, Goodale Center3:30 PM

December13Holy Listening, ReSource Room4:30 - 6:30 pm

December 14Finance Committee, Goodale CenterNoon

December 14Vestry Meeting , Goodale Center4:30 PM

December 21Property Meeting, Classroom3:30 PM

December 24Holy Eucharist6:00 PM, 9:00 PM

December 25Holy Eucharist 10:00 AM

www.stmichaels-kauai.org The Herald December 2016 page 2

By Lindsay Kamm, stewardship Chair

Thanks be to God for the financial support pledged by 56 parishioners/households. The total pledge amount as of mid-November is $215,905, which represents about two-thirds of the base amount needed for St. Michael’s to carry out its ministries. The median pledge is $2,400, meaning half of the pledges are higher and half are lower. If you have not made a pledge and are able to, please fill out a pledge card and mail it to church or place it in the offering plate before the end of the year. It is our hope that everyone who worships regularly will make a pledge. Pledge cards are available on the church website, in the office and at the back of the church. A new list will be published in The Herald in January. Many thanks to each person who is named below!William and Rebecca Allen

Marilyn AllenDeb BaumungPaul BaumungDana and Dorothy BekeartCarylee “Tolly” BoydEvie BradbergColette BuisSusan and Richard BurrissStephanie CastilloKim ChowDennis ClaussenJoy CorpolongoSusan Davis and Geoff WallTeodora Dela CruzMichael and Stephanie EllisGary and Cher ElwoodMarvin GehriDeborah and Ben GillikinMelissa GregoryBarbara GusmanJulie HagensenPat HillegondsMadeleine Hiraga-Nuccio and Maureen Nuccio-HiragaLindsay Kamm

Charlie and Mary Bea KingSandra (Sally) R. LangeMichael and Constance LawLisa Law-PattersonJoan and Paul LoizeauxLawrence D. McCreeryPhyllis A. MeighenRev. Andrew and Renate McMullenPreston and Sandy MotesRichard and Barbara ReynoldsKatherine RichardsonElizabeth RingorWendy RusawPaula SchultzBill and Maria SkeltonAlita SmithJoan A. SmithKeith and Gail SmithWillie and Marj StanphillRuth StirlingGlen and Karen TakenouchiAlan Van ZeeCathy Winter and John EthertonJoanne R. Seki WoltmonRobert and Esther Yamamoto

Thanks be to God!

One Act of KindnessBy pat hiLLegonds, direCtor of outreaCh

I’ve been remembering a story that took place last year around this time. Rev. Mary had challenged us to get a ten-dollar certificate to a local eating establishment, and give the gift certificate away to a homeless person. The intent of the challenge was fairly clear: to increase our awareness of those less fortunate than us, and to get us to take the next step and actually do something about it. A short time after this challenge was issued, I was having lunch with one of my good friends from church when she rather abruptly said she’d be right back, and left the building. Several minutes later, she returned, with a huge smile

on her face and looking very happy. I asked what had happened, and where she had gone. She told me she had spotted what she assumed was a homeless man, walking past our window. He was dressed in tattered and dirty clothes, his hair was disheveled, and he reeked of a boozy cigarette smell. My friend told me she had given him her $15 gift certificate to Subway. At first, the man had seemed confused and skeptical; he didn’t seem to understand what she was doing, and wondered if there was a catch. She told him, no, there was no catch. He asked her if she was a church lady, and she responded, “Well, yes, I am.” They parted ways with him offering his thanks and saying, “God bless you!” To say that my friend was transformed by this experience may be a bit of an over-statement. But

the experience had clearly had a powerful effect on her. She radiated something akin to joy. But the story doesn’t end there. A few weeks later, I was meeting with a couple of friends from the Hanama’ulu Beach Park homeless community, Pua and Doug. I was telling them the story of Rev. Mary’s challenge, and my friend’s experience of meeting that challenge. Pua stopped what she was doing and stared at me. “I heard about that,” she told me.“What?” I asked. “How?” “I know that man,” she said. “He’s been telling everybody about that church lady that got him food for three days. He ate for three days on that gift certificate. THREE DAYS! It made a huge impression on him.” Two people, one act of kindness, two lives changed.


What’s Up With Advent?By the rev. andrew mCmuLLen

In a culture dominated by Christmas, it is very easy to overlook this season in our parish life. And as I have said before, that is a problem, because Advent is linked to Christmas in a way that the full meaning of Christmas is missed without Advent. If Christmas is a time when the gift of divine love is bestowed upon the world, then Advent is the time of watching, waiting and searching. It is a time of hopeful expectation, of living into the mystery of the divine’s presence in the world, of preparing ourselves to allow the gift of love to fully rest in our hearts and souls. If Christmas is a feast, and it is, then it is best to show up hungry. Advent makes us hungry. Advent is derived from the Latin Adventus, “coming,” and commonly refers to the coming of Christ. The ecclesial season of Advent developed differently in the Western and Eastern Churches. For example, Advent in the East begins in mid-November, while in the West, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest the Feast of St. Andrew (which falls on November 30) and lasts for the following three Sundays. The first reference to the observance of a specific season in anticipation of Christmas is found in the latter half of the 6th century. And since that time, the devotional practices of Advent mirrored Lent (also a time of waiting, watching and searching – a preparation for the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ). Both seasons place emphasis upon self-sacrifice, penitence, prayer and reflection. For Advent, these practices allow the faithful to have a time of preparation and expectation for the coming of Christ, the love of God, into the world. As time passed, the Western Church became less strict in the required

devotions during Advent as compared to Lent. For example, fasting is no longer required. However, it is interesting to note that the Church mandates to “discourage festivities” and observe the season with “solemn character” are still in place! Liturgically, the season has been traditionally marked with the color purple, the same as used for Lent. It is unclear how the color purple was first selected to represent Lent and its emphasis upon self-denial and repentance, but it soon also become associated with Advent as well. There is one exception to the use of purple during Advent. On the third Sunday, the Church may use rose or pink vestments. This represents a “break” from the restrictive obligations of the season, and allows congregations to fully celebrate. The Anglican tradition during Advent follows these Roman roots of the West. However, during the reign of Henry VIII and throughout the English Reformation, it became a common practice to use blue as the color for Advent. This change allowed for a way to distinguish Advent from Lent as well as served as a symbol of the English Church’s break with Rome. Many Episcopal Churches, including St. Michael and All Angels, follow this English tradition. Advent is a time when the “counter-cultural” presence of the Church is, and

should be, emphasized. Most Orthodox Churches (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox) follow the custom of not allowing any Christmas decorations or adornments in the church space until after the Fourth Sunday of Advent. We will likewise follow this tradition. There is one exception, however, that many churches allow – an Advent wreath. The tradition of a wreath of greenery, with an assortment of candles, likely started in Northern Europe as a pagan, household practice to mark the fading light of the shorter winter days. As time passed, Christians adopted this symbol to mark the weeks of Advent with five candles – three purple (or blue), one rose and one white, center candle that was lit on Christmas Eve. So what changes can you expect during our worship? Plenty! On the First Sunday in Advent, we say The Great Litany and use Rite I for our Eucharistic Prayers. Through the remaining Sundays, the Collects, Propers and Readings emphasize the dual nature of Advent – the coming incarnation of God in Christ that we celebrate on Christmas and also the second coming of Christ on the Last Day. Our Eucharistic Prayers, Prayers of the People and other worship formats change to reflect the season. The point of all this is to offer the invitation to live into this time of watching, expectation and hope, to realign our hearts to be open to the mysterious and miraculous presence of God and love in the world. Amidst all the coming holiday activity and chaos that our culture will bring us in the coming weeks, it is an invitation that I hope we will all embrace. So that in our quiet reflection and prayer, we will be watchful for the love of God. And in our watching, we will find it, and in finding it, live it.

The Rev. Andrew McMullen

A beautiful way to honor loved ones during Christmas is with a poinsettia at St.

Michael’s. Please use the envelopes provided on the Information Table in the back of the church. Poinsettia donations

are $25 for each plant. Your loved one’s name and dedication will be included in our Christmas Eve service bulletin. The deadline is Thursday, December 17th.

Honor a loved one during Christmas

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday1 2 3

Jazz VespersPrelude:5:15-5:30 PMEucharist5:30-6:15 PMChurch Work Day9:00 AM

4Adult Formation8:30 amGoodale CenterHoly Eucharist 7:30 & 9:45 AMChild Care, Sunday School and Youth Group 9:45 AM

Sing Along with Harps 4:00 PM

5Adult Study Group Goodale Center 5:00-6:30 PM

6Centering Prayer ReSource Center 8:00 AMLadies Bible Study 11:00 AMGoodale Center

7Loaves and Fishes 9:15-10:30 AMParish Hall

Staff Meeting in Goodale Center 3:30 pm

8 9 10Jazz Vespers with Alan Van Zee and Peggy LakePrelude:5:15-5:30 PMEucharist5:30-6:15 PM

They Who Wait9:00 AM - 3:00 PMReSource Room

Classical Concert7:00 pmSanctuary

11Adult Formation 8:30AMHoly Eucharist 7:30 & 9:45 AM9:45 AM EucharistChild Care, Sunday School and Youth Group 9:45 AM

Classical Concert5:00 pmSanctuary


13Centering Prayer ReSource Room 8:00 AMLadies Bible Study 11:00 AMGoodale CenterHoly ListeningReSource Room4:30 - 6:30 pm


Finance CommitteeNoonGoodale Center

Vestry Meeting4:30 pm, Goodale Center

15 16 17Jazz VespersPrelude:5:15-5:30 PMEucharist5:30-6:15 PM

18Adult Formation 8:30AMHoly Eucharist 7:30 & 9:45 AMChild Care, Sunday School and Youth Group 9:45 AM


20Centering Prayer ReSource Room 8:00 AMLadies Bible Study 11:00 AM


Property Committee Meeting3:30 pm, Classroom

22 23Parish Office Closed

24Christmas Eve Services:6:00 and 9:00 PM

25Holy Eucharist 10:00 AM


Parish Office Closed

27Centering Prayer ReSource Room8:00 AMLadies Bible Study 11:00 AM

Parish Office Closed


29 30 31No services


December 2016 Parish Calendar

Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now!Tickets are now available for the All Angels Jazz Festival on the church website at Early Bird discount-ed prices! If you plan to attend, or you know someone who plans to attend, why not buy your tickets now and save money! You can save up to 25% buy getting your tickets now. What a great Christmas gift for a friend or relative!Remember, these Early Bird pric-es are only available through December 15 at www.

stmichaels-kauai.org.

Service/ veStryperSon euchariStic MiniSter GreeterS altar Guild

December 3 5:30 PM Wai Cordeiro Yvette Rapozo The Null FamilyDecember 4 7:30 AM Geoff Wall Barbara Gusman Wendi RusawDecember 4 9:45 AMMarilyn Allen

Cher Ellwood Wendi Rusaw

December 10 5:30 PM Joan Loizeaux Evie Bradberg Wendi RusawDecember 11 7:30 AM Clarita Medeiros Joanne Woltmon Wai CordeiroDecember 11 9:45 AMMadeleine Hiraga-Nuccio

Bill Skelton Wai Cordeiro

December17 5:30 PM Koahe Cordeiro Wendi Rusaw Wai Cordeiro

December 18 7:30 AM Glen Takenouchi Barbara Gusman Wai CordeiroDecember 18 9:45 AMRick Reynolds

Leslie Simmons Wai Cordeiro

December 24 6:00 PMAmy Null

To Be Announced To Be Announced Maureen Nuccio-Hiraga

December 24 9:00 PMSue Burriss

To Be Announced To Be Announced Maureen Nuccio-Hiraga

December 25 10:00 AM To Be Announced To Be Announced

December 2016 Worship Ministries

volume 13 number 3 www.stmichaels-kauai.org page 5

Looking for Vestry Minutes?The most current approved Vestry Minutes are posted on the bulleting board in the church office. Please stop by and take a look. If you would like your own copy please contact Beth at Beth@stmichaels-kauai. org or 245-3796.

Paul Loizeaux December 23Marilyn Allen December 24Naomi Almodova December 27James Gilleran December 30Yuri Montgomery December 30Ron Rawls December 30

Lisa Sullivan December 3Mary Bea King December 4Mike Law December 4Kristen Yee December 4Derek Iha December 6Winston Antalan December 8Amy Null December 8Robert Burnz December 9Barbara Gusman December 10Connie Law December 10Mary Mahoney December 10Hikaru (Pika) Hayashi December 13Amiyo Anja December 14Betty Baldwin December 15Lindy Beer December 17Helena Hazelton December 17Roberta Johnson December 18

Sue Macklin December 19

Jeff Bell December 23

Winston & Irene Antalan December 18

andLida Martin & Greg Maciulski

December 31


Report on the 48th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii

By pat hiLLigonds

I’m one of those people who loves going to Convention every year. Some years, the featured speakers for Education Day are more inspiring and engaging than other years. But I love connecting with people from other churches and finding out what they’re doing, catching up with old friends, making new ones, and feeling a sense of unity with others who share a common faith. Some of the things that were highlights for me this year:* “On the Threshold: Baptismal Life in the 21st Century” was the topic of the keynote address for Education Day, delivered by the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies. Most memorable for me about her address was her description of the Episcopal Church as elastic; it is able to stretch and to adapt and to find new ways to express beliefs in worship and liturgy and ministry. She also used the Hawaiian value of ho’omau, or the characteristics of perseverance and persistence. When we practice ho’omau, we become more tenacious, and thus more resilient.* In the afternoon session, we heard from Dr. Kim Payton, an organizational psychologist who has been hired to help us develop a new strategic plan for the Diocese and a Mutual Ministry Review of the Bishop. With the continuing theme of change, we broke into groups to discuss several questions that more closely examined what churches and the Bishop are doing well, as well as areas where improvement is needed in order to keep us moving in a forward direction.* The opening Eucharist featured students from St. Andrew’s Priory in the form of a hula halau and a women’s vocal ensemble. With readings in English, Ilokano, Hawaiian, Tongan, and Kewapi, it was a beautiful reminder of the diversity of ethnicities and cultures that are represented in our Diocese. The pomp

and ceremony always leave me choked up, and the congregational singing to the accompaniment of the cathedral organ was particularly robust and exuberant this year.* The following day’s business meeting was interspersed with the opening address of Bishop Fitzpatrick, as well as several special orders of business. In years past, the Bishop has often relied on movie clips or “celebrity appearances” when delivering his message. This year, he reflected on his ten years as Bishop, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to the many who have helped him, including his mentors, staff, family, and those who have served in various leadership and volunteer positions over the years. One of the things he said that particularly struck me was, “We are a church with no outcasts.”* Much of the business meeting was taken up with elections: elections of General Convention Delegates; elections of Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, Cathedral Chapter; and others. Several ballots were required for many of these positions. Father Andrew was elected for a three-year term to Diocesan Council. * Last year, Convention passed a resolution encouraging all congregations and the Diocese to make the issue of homelessness a priority in its ministries. One of the special orders of business was a follow-up to discuss the ongoing nature of the resolution, and to learn what some churches around the Diocese are doing. The four Episcopal churches on Maui continue their thriving Cup of Cold Water ministry, in which an equipped van with a group of volunteers

goes to various locations around Maui several times every week, bringing food, water, toiletries, simple clothing items, and love. The ministry has expanded to include volunteers from Catholic, several Protestant, and Buddhist churches. Holy Apostles Church on the Big Island has begun Pop-up Eucharists at a local park where many homeless people congregate. Besides bringing a church service to where the people are, they bring food and personal items. St. Elizabeth’s Church in Honolulu has a container house on their property, housing a four-member family. They also allow homeless people to sleep on church property and use church restrooms. All Saints Church on Kauai started Laundry Love, in which they take over the Kapaa Laundromat on alternate Wednesdays and wash, dry, and fold people’s laundry. Many of those they serve are homeless. These are just some of the many things that churches across the Diocese are doing to respond to human needs. The 48th Annual Convention of the

Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii concluded with the singing of the Queen’s Prayer. It was two days filled with new challenges, new inspirations, and for me, a deep sense of gratitude that this is my church.

Convention photo courtest of Sybil Nishioka.

volume 13 number 3 www.stmichaels-kauai.org page 7

Jazz Festival Update! How You Can Help Now!

Capital Campaign Pau!By BiLL sKeLton, Chair, CapitaL projeCts Committee

Most of you recall that we initiated our Capital Campaign in 2013 as part of our 50th Anniversary celebration. With leadership from the Episcopal Church Foundation and after much discussion among ourselves, we set a fund-raising goal of $550,000 with a ‘challenge’ goal of $750,000. There were 11 ‘projects’ that were part of the overall campaign including such things as replacing our air conditioning system in the administrative building, replacing the chairs and carpet in the sanctuary plus adding sound and lighting systems, improvements to the Goodale Center, paving our parking lot, adding parking lot lighting, providing ADA compliant access to the parish hall, and providing improvements including AV equipment to our parish hall. We received total pledges and

commitments of $668,600 plus special gifts of $8,000. As of November 5, we have received $648,521, or 97% of the pledged amount. Our Episcopal Church Foundation adviser told us to expect ‘pledge attrition’ of 5-8% which means we shouldn’t expect more than 92-95% of the goal. As usual, our St Michael’s ohana significantly exceeded expectations by paying 97%! At this writing, there are two ‘punch-list’ items still pending which will hopefully be closed in the next few weeks. $10,000 has been retained for them. On completion, it looks like there will be approximately $3,000 left over. Use of any remaining funds when the punch list items are completed will be left to the discretion of the vestry. There were 156 pledges to the Capital Campaign. Of that number, 122 were paid in full. Four partially paid pledges were cancelled due to moves or changes

in economic circumstances. There were 6 pledges for which no payments were ever made. For everyone who made an effort to support our community, regardless of amount, we give thanks! At the end of December, the Capital Campaign will close and contributions will no longer be tracked. Any Capital Campaign offerings or contributions made in 2017 will be credited to our regular offerings.I would like to especially thank Marj Stanphill who has been faithfully tracking (on a separate system) all the Capital Campaign contributions for the last three years. I would also like to thank a committee of St Michael’s members who served as the Capital Projects Committee to oversee the various projects. Members were Dana Bekeart, Madeleine Hiraga-Nuccio, Lindsay Kamm, Charlie King, Curtis Law, Brian Pearson, and Ron Rawls.

By aLan van Zee

direCtor of musiC ministry

The Eleventh Annual All Angels Jazz Festival is fast approaching, running February 3-5. There are several ways you can help us now! First, we need donations of inter-island tickets on Hawaiian Airlines. Can you spare the miles for one or two tickets? We also need vehicles for visiting artists’ use during the festival. Do you have one to lend us? We may need accommodation for a few artists

as well. Do you have a place? In any of these cases, please contact Alan Van Zee, festival director. Email [email protected] or call the church office. During the festival we will need many volunteers in many areas. Can you help us? Let Amy Null know, or call the church office, and we’ll be sure you’re added to the list of volunteers. Finally, did you know you can buy tickets for the festival NOW on the church website? In fact, if you buy them before December 15th you’ll get a special Early Bird discount. What are you waiting

for? Don’t forget, a ticket could be the perfect Christmas gift for someone! Visit www.stmichaels-kauai.org for tickets and more information.

St. Michael’s ChoirBy aLan van Zee, direCtor of musiC ministry

Every Sunday attendees at the 9:45 service enjoy the beautiful music provided

by St. Michael’s Choir. Have you ever thought about joining the choir? It’s open to everyone who enjoys singing and who can rehearse at 8:45 on Sunday mornings. Advent

and Christmas season is the perfect time to join! Interested? Speak to a current choir member or Alan Van Zee, Music Director. We would love to have you!

The HeraldMonthly Newsletter of

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church4364 Hardy Street

Lihuè, Kauaì, Hawaiì 96766(808) 245-3796

www.stmichaels-kauai.org

Priest-in-Charge: The Rev. Andrew McMullenSr. Warden: Madeleine Hiraga-NuccioJr. Warden: Dana BekeartParish Administrator: Beth DebreyFinancial Administrator/Event Manager: Melissa GregoryDirector of ReSource for Christian Spirituality : The Rev. Dr. Phyllis MeighenDirector of Outreach Ministries: Pat HillegondsDirector of Music: Alan Van ZeeDirector of Children’s Ministries: Sue Macklin Webservant: Bill Skelton Newsletter Editor: Beth Debrey

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 4364 Hardy StreetLihuè, Kauaì, HI 96766

volume 13 number 3 www.stmichaels-kauai.org

Children’s Ministry - Sunday Mornings

Advent Sundays - Getting Ready for JesusCome let us Walk in the Light

Our Ordinary Time lessons were closely tied to the cross of Jesus which reminded us of the Trinity.Some Questions and Discov-eries:What is the cost of being a disciple of Jesus? It’s not always the easiest route but we discover Jesus loves all of us! Do we ignore what God wants is to do? We need to choose what God wants us to do!What is beyond what we see, feel, touch that God calls us to believe in? It’s beyond the places here and now! It is the holy mystery of a new heaven and earth. The spirit pours out its vision!

The Trinity is always an interesting subject for our Keiki to explore and talk about all year round.

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