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Join us for
HOLY EUCHARIST
March 10, 2024 at 7:00 am & 9:00 am
Fourth Sunday in Lent
To attend online, join our Facebook LIVESTREAM*
Download this week's ORDER OF WORSHIP
Missed a service? Watch on YouTube any time.
* NEW * Join us for fellowship hour on Zoom!
10:30 am every Sunday after the 9:00 am service.
*Note: If you have difficulty connecting to the livestream, try reloading your page.
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March 17 - Fifth Sunday in Lent - 7:00 am & 9:00 am
March 24 - Palm Sunday - 9:00 am only (no 7:00 am service)
Holy Week Services: March 28 - Maundy Thursday; March 29 - Good Friday; March 30 - Easter Vigil (all services during Holy Week are at 5:30 pm)
March 31 - Easter Sunday (9:00 am only) followed by egg hunt & Easter brunch
Find scripture readings for upcoming Sundays and learn about the liturgical seasons in the Episcopal Church here.
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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
Snakes often get a bad rap. I grew up in the midwest, where there were lots of them. My dad taught me that snakes are not bad, they are part of creation. Like all creatures, snakes have a place and a role.
In this way, my dad helped me learn to replace irrational fear with respect—respect all nature's creatures by understanding the lessons we can learn from them.
This week's gospel lesson refers to a story from the book of Numbers in the Hebrew Bible. "And the Lord said to Moses, 'Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.' So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live."
For me, this story is about self examination. Looking at a snake on a pole can help us see our lives more clearly. In confronting the serpent, we confront our missteps that have caused hurt; we see the ways in which we have lost our way. The lesson of the serpent reminds us that only by examining our hearts can we transform, change, and heal.
The serpent is not evil; its presence brings us to greater awareness of our ways. And when we wander, when we get lost in the wilderness of life, when we are hurt, or when we suffer, the serpent is there to remind us to stop, reflect inward, and return to God to be healed.
Perhaps this is the potent symbolism Jesus speaks of when he says,
"Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
Jesus is lifted up to remind us that we are part of the goodness of God's creation. Believing in Jesus means believing in our goodness by confronting our mistakes while remembering, in faith, the goodness God knit into our souls. Jesus is lifted up renew our faith and bring us back to right relationship with God.
May our Lenten journey bring us face to face with the serpent, which teaches us to heal our hearts with keen self-awareness. May we accept the grace Jesus offers as he is lifted us for us to see. May our renewed faith bring us back to the goodness of our soul and return us to the path of God's pure love.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
P.S., Resource for Lent: The 2024 Lenten Meditations (from Episcopal Relief & Development) offers daily meditations. Sign up here to receive a daily email.
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THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO | |
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Jennifer Colson for cleaning the church this week.
Michelle Simpson for serving as lay reader last Sunday.
St. Augustine's members who pray for others each week.
The many members of St. Augustine's and the community who help sort donations and operate the Thrift Shop.
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S PRAYER CHAIN
Please pray for healing, guidance, strength, peace of mind, and comfort for: All who are affected by the Israel/Hamas war and wars around the world, Patsy Ching, Kim & Johnny, Bob & Mary Jakielski, Rose Queckel, the Fuertes 'ohana, Richard, Virginia and Perie Daniels, June Potochnik, Rachel and Hoku Lancaster, Motaz Aziz, Jeannette Hensel, Anne Medve, Sabrina Lee, Tom Leonard, Linda Leonard Powell, David Peter Franco, Erin Manuel, all the people of Maui, Church of the Holy Innocents in Maui and Vicar Bruce & Sylvia DeGooyer, Arcadio & Filomena Badua, Lisa Andrews, Guy Kaoo, Tula Brickel, Becky & Ludwig Simmet, Reni Aʻi aʻi Bello, Kaikoa-Aina Brown, Marlene & Harry Ching, Annecita Tamayo, Lynn Dicus, and Juana Mejia.
PRAYER CHAIN VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer to be part of St. Augustine's prayer chain! Contact Patsy Ching or Vicar Jennifer if you would like to:
- Pray for those who have requested prayers
- Be part of the phone tree that helps us know about prayer requests or emergencies
REQUEST PRAYERS
If you or someone you know would like to be added to our prayer list, please email Patsy Ching or Vicar Jennifer. You can request prayers for yourself, your 'ohana, or anyone in our community or beyond.
During our Sunday services, you can write prayer requests on a piece of paper. Prayers will be read aloud or silently (per your request) during the Prayers of the People.
ONLINE FORM
You can also send us prayer requests through our online form.
Mahalo for your care and prayers!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL - For children ages 3-10, every Sunday morning at 9:00 am with Youth Director Kathy Matsuda.
FELLOWSHIP HOUR - Every Sunday after our 9:00 am service. We gather to enjoy conversation, coffee, and treats in Walker Hall. Please bring some savory or sweet treats to share if you like! Mahalo to all who have been providing delicious food and to Jeannette Hensel for bringing coffee.
TEEN GATHERINGS - Stay tuned for the next event coming soon!
CHOIR - Join us Wednesday, March 13th at 5:00 pm to sing through the hymns for the following Sunday. All are welcome!
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Monday March 11, 10:00 am - Neighborhood Watch Meeting Join community members in Walker Hall to learn about a Kapa'au Neighborhood Watch program. More details in flyer below.
Friday, March 15, 2:00 pm - Learning about our faith Please join us for a four-week course focused on the theology, beliefs, and traditions of the Episcopal Church. Taught by Vicar Jennifer, this course is for anyone curious to explore and deepen their faith while learning more about the Episcopal Church. If you would like to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church or renew your baptismal vows when Bishop Bob is here on April 14, please join us! Please let Vicar Jennifer know if you are interested. If you can't attend Fridays at 2:00 pm, we can change the day/time.
Sunday, March 17, 11:00 am - Bishop's Committee Meeting
Monthly meeting of Bishop's Committee members. All members welcome to attend.
Saturday, March 23, 9:00 am - Folding Palm Crosses
All are invited to join us for folding palm crosses in Walker Hall.
Sunday March 24, 5:30 pm - Mini Music Concert - Stacey Mastrian
Join us for an evening of vocal music performed by soprano Stacey Mastrian, accompanied by pianist Kirk Corey. See poster below for more details!
Saturday, March 30, 9:00 am - Easter Egg Coloring
All are invited to join us for dyeing Easter Eggs in Walker Hall.
Sunday, March 31, after 9:00 am service - Easter Egg Hunt & Brunch
Requesting people to fill plastic eggs for our Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Empty plastic eggs will be available in Walker Hall. Please fill with money, candy (no chocolate please), little toys. Bring filled eggs Easter morning before church starts and leave in Walker Hall. Thank you for making this a fun event for our keiki!
Sunday, April 14, 9:00 am - Bishop Bob visits St. Augustine's! We're looking forward to welcoming Bishop Bob to Kohala once again. While he's here, he will lead our 9:00 am service, preach, and confirm or receive members into the Episcopal Church. We'll host a lunch after the 9:00 am service, after which he will meet with the Bishop's Committee. Please let Kathy Webb or Vicar Jennifer know if you would like to help with the food or in the kitchen for Fellowship Hour.
Friday, May 10, 11:00 am - Celebration of Life and Holy Eucharist for Rose Rosimo, followed by a reception in Walker Hall.
Saturday, May 11, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm - Mama Jam
A celebration of Mothers! We are starting to plan our Mother's Day themed mini-bazaar in May. We will have tables for church members to provide baked, cooked items. Profit goes to church. Thrift store will be open. We are looking for vendors that provide items people can buy for moms. Table space $25. We are also looking for cut flowers, potted plants for gifts. We are looking for volunteers to make flower arrangements. If you are interested in donating items or time please contact Kathy Matsuda. See poster below and please share with your Kohala friends!
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KOHALA HIGH SCHOOL HONOR ROLL - CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to St. Augustine's teens Jered Ariola, Yvanka Lum, Kiona Nakamura, and Jayline Salvador for making the Q2 Honor Roll! Your St. Augustine's 'ohana is so proud of your accomplishments. Keep up the great work!
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THIS SUNDAY! LITTLE FREE PANTRY FOOD DONATIONS
For the last 6 years, St. Augustine's has been a major supporter for the Little Free Pantry in Kapa'au. During that time, we have spent over $5,000 to stock the pantry. The pantry stayed open during COVID thanks to constant sanitizing and stocking by a few volunteers.
The Little Free Pantry allows those in need to access food any time of day or night with no questions asked or credentials required. Jesus reminds us to, “feed my sheep." He did not say which ones or how much. He said, “feed my sheep!” This is what the pantry does!
The church would like to provide a greater variety of quality, non-perishable foods. We are asking for kokua from our St. Augustine's 'ohana and the community. Starting March 10, the second Sunday of each month will be designated for “Little Free Pantry” donations. Donations can be in the form of food or money.
Please bring your food donations to church this Sunday March 10. Items will be brought into the church by our volunteer team and blessed during the 9:00 am service.
Monetary donations are welcome March 10 or at any weekly service at St. Augustine's. On the offering envelope or check, please note "Little Free Pantry" as the designated recipient. You may also pledge online here.
For food items, we are looking for high quality proteins and snacks. Deacon Lani has compiled a list of items on Amazon to give you an idea of the pantry's greatest needs:
- $39.00 66 Nature Valley snack bars
- $12.00 12 Chef Boyardee Raviolli
- $20. 48 Ritz cheese and cracker packs
- $14.00 Ritz Peanut butter and cracker snack
- $15.00 Keebler cheese and cracker snacks
- $17.00 12 tuna and cracker kits
- $12.00 tuna pouches
- $7.00 Maruchan Ramen Pack of 24
- $6.00 Ritz Crackers 16 sleeves
- $20.00 Quaker Instant oatmeal 48 packets
- $5.00 Chef Boyardee Ravioli 4 pack
- $11.00 SpaghettiOs Canned Pasta with Meatballs pack of 12
- $18 Tasty Bites Organic Madras Lentils
- $22 Fillo's Walking Tamales pack of 7
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PICTURED ABOVE - Delicious food packed and shelf-stable for up to one year: sweet pickles, chicken stew, seasoned ground beef. | |
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LEARNING ABOUT FOOD PRESERVATION
Last Saturday, Vicar Jennifer attended a food preservation workshop in Kona taught by Keala Kahuanui. It was a full day of learning how to transform our local bounty into shelf stable meals!
Using water bath preserving, we turned cucumbers into sweet pickles. Using pressure cookers, we preserved chicken stew -- a meal ready to go! We also pressure cooked seasoned ground beef (a base to use for just about anything) and fresh salmon.
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PICTURED ABOVE - Salmon, chicken stew, seasoned ground beef. | |
In February, members of our Bishop's Committee were treated to a preview of Keala's workshop, including a taste of a preserved meal of local smoked beef and kalo. It was so ono! It made me dream of teaching families to create meals like this and perhaps even stocking our Little Free Pantry with such delicious and nourishing food.
April 26, 27 and 28, St. Augustine's will partner with the North Kohala Resilience Hub to host Keala's food preservation workshop in our own kitchen. The idea is to teach people who are passionate enough about food security to learn these vital skills and, eventually, become trainers themselves.
If you are interested in making a real commitment to food security in Kohala, please contact Vicar Jennifer and we'll add your name to a list of potential attendees for this 3-day workshop! You can also come to our booth at the upcoming 'Ohana Fun Day (see poster below) to learn more.
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VOLUNTEER TO HELP ON CAMPUS
Mahalo to folks who have volunteered to take the lead on some campus projects! If you can help out with any of these efforts, please contact the people listed below:
- Clean the walls in Walker Hall - Kathy Webb & Vicar Jennifer
- Organize the kitchen in Walker Hall - Ginger Gohier
- Remove weeds and invasive plants from the cemetery - Ginger Gohier & John Sakai
- Weed and prune terraced gardens (Biblical healing plants) - Kim Lambrecht
- Wash windows and screens in Thrift Shop and Walker Hall - George Webb
- Polish brass and silver in the church - Maurine Gomes
St. Augustine's still needs volunteers for these projects we'd like to complete before Easter:
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Power wash and repaint parking lines and steps on campus
We won't be scheduling a work day. Instead, folks can come when it's convenient for them. We'll miss the fellowship time of working together, but we've found it is much easier for people to help out on their own schedules. Working together can still happen! Consider making it a fun gathering by working in pairs. Scheduling is still easy and you get the bonus of having a work buddy!
If you would like to help, contact Kathy Webb at admin@staugustineskohala.com and let her know which project you plan to work on. We'll make sure you have the supplies you need when you arrive. Mahalo for helping with these efforts to make our campus look amazing!
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ST. AUGUSTINE'S THRIFT SHOP
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THRIFT SHOP HOURS
The Thrift Shop is open Wednesdays from noon - 6:00 pm and also on the first Saturday of the month from 8:00 am - 11:00 am.
DONATIONS
St. Augustine's is grateful to the community for the many items generously donated to our Thrift Shop! We accept donations when the Thrift Store is staffed by our volunteers.
Please bring your items during these times:
Wednesdays 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Thursdays 8:00 am - 11:00 am
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NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF HAWAI'I
Stay up to date with our brothers and sisters across the diocese! The latest issue of the Hawaiian Church Chronicle (Feb. 8 2024) features important news, events, and information, including:
Annual Chrism Mass & ChurchBiz Event. Our diocese's annual Chrism Mass & ChurchBiz (formerly Spring Training) Event will be Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Cathedral of St. Andrew. The theme for this event is "Lessons Learned" as we take a look at the impact recent catastrophies have had on our churches in the Diocese. Both COVID and the Maui wildfires have presented many challenges that we continue to learn from. Church members of St. Augustine's are invited to attend. Registration is now open HERE!
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If you have information to share, please let us know! This is a space to help us stay in touch in a variety of ways, such as news, offers of assistance, or garden bounty (fruits, veggies) you would like to share. Please email Vicar Jennifer or Kathy Webb: VicarJennifer@staugustineskohala.com or admin@staugustineskohala.com Submissions due by Thursday morning for Friday's newsletter. | | |
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GO GREEN - PODCAST STYLE
Tune into the Green Lectionary podcast each week of Lent for engaging conversations on scripture with a creation justice lens.
This week's episode for the fourth Sunday in Lent, features Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of biblical studies at Duke Divinity School, Dr. Jerusha Neal, professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School, and Dr. Mark Biddle, dean of faculty at Sophia Seminary.
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS | |
MESSAGES FROM OUR BISHOP
& PRESIDING BISHOP
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