Holy Nativity’s 75th Anniversary Campaign Ends with Success!

To the Holy Nativity community:

We are pleased to report that, with cash, bequests, and pledges, we have raised well over $400,000 for our 75th anniversary campaign! We were able to achieve goals in three major areas: 

The Holy Nativity Children and Youth Initiative was fully supported. This effort emerged as one of our highest priorities among donors. These funds support our Associate Rector in her role as chaplain to Holy Nativity School, as a leader of spiritual formation and co-leader of the parish’s family service.

Our goal to secure funds for need-based scholarships and support for our HNS Summer Scholars was also fully funded. Our school’s having recently received a 7-year reaccreditation is the latest evidence of its excellence. We are fortunate to be able to provide additional scholarships, so keiki from all backgrounds can have greater access to our school.

Finally, we have been able to fund several significant improvements to our physical plant, including:

• The exterior painting of all of our building on campus.
• The first stage of a four-stage landscaping plan developed by an alumnus of Holy Nativity School and undertaken by volunteers from our “Green Team.”
•  Railings in the nave, upgrades to the sacristy and to our organ’s electrical system.
•  New air-conditioning units in the Thrift Store, (with gifts from their volunteers).
•   The purchase of a new mower, (shown in the photo below)!

Mahalo to everyone who participated in our campaign. It was a major undertaking. Its success shows that we perceive God’s spirit of abundance all around us. We are blessed!

In Christ,

The Rev. Bob Steele, Chair, 75th Fundraising Campaign and the Rev. Libby Berman, Rector

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The House of Deputies concurs with the House of Bishops to add Queen Liliʻuokalani to the calendar of saints.

Note: The vertical banner for Hawai'i is topped with a portrait of the Queen.

General Convention Update



Last Saturday I returned to Honolulu from Louisville, Kentucky, the site of the 81st General Convention

of the Episcopal Church.

The six days of legislative meetings were full of parliamentary procedure, impassioned testimony, and robust debate. The House of Deputies, where I was a clergy deputy for our diocese, consists of about 800 deputies, half lay and half clergy. Representatives from Episcopal dioceses across the world, including Europe, the Caribbean, and Taiwan gather every three years to consider the mission of the church. Iʻd like to highlight three of the resolutions that our deputation brought to the General Convention from Hawaiʻi which were adopted by both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops.

Since 2014 the Hawaiʻi deputation has urged the Episcopal Church to recognize Queen Liliʻuokalani in the calendar of saints. A resolution to celebrate Liliʻuokalani passed its first reading (it takes two readings for a day of recognition to be added) on the last day of Convention. Once the resolution passes its second reading at the next General Convention in 2027, the whole Episcopal Church will recognize the Queen on January 29th every year.

A second resolution affecting our island home was a resolution that I authored, with the help of our deputation and the Oʻahu Water Protectors, asking The Episcopal Church to support efforts toward a permanent and transparent closing of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility and restoration of the land it occupies. The resolution instructs the Office of Government Relations to advocate on behalf of the community that has been affected by the fuel leak and poisoning of drinking water on Oʻahu. It was adopted by both houses with overwhelming support.

Finally, the Bishop of Hawaiʻi brought forward a resolution that was adopted at our own Annual Meeting last October, asking that the boundaries of the Diocese of Hawaiʻi be expanded to include Guam and Saipan, which was formerly known as the Convocation of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia. Previously, the Bishop of Hawaiʻi was designated as the Bishop-in-Charge of the Episcopal Church in Micronesia by the Presiding Bishop. With the adoption of this resolution, we are now united with our brothers and sisters in Guam and Saipan (which consists of one church, one school, and one preaching station) and Bishop Bob is their diocesan bishop. 

In the coming weeks, I'll share more about the General Convention in Louisville and highlight some other resolutions that were adopted which are notable for our life together as church. 

-- Rev. Jenn+

In the coming weeks, Banyan Tree will be covering other resolutions that impact Hawai'i.

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Holy Nativity, Next Generation!

Two of Rich & Kim Miller's children

(both HNS graduates and long time HNC acolytes) were recently promoted within their respective branches of the armed forces.

CDR Jessica Miller Nunnally (pictured below), USN, is a Doctor of Nursing Practice stationed at the San Diego Naval Hospital.

Major Geoffrey Miller (pictured above) USMC, is an infantry officer attached to the 11th Marine Expedition Unit, Camp Pendleton, and recently returned from deployment to East Asia.

We thank them (for their service) and bless them!

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Memorial Service for Maxine Angell

We remember and say aloha to our friend and fellow parishioner, Maxine Angell.

A memorial service will be held on

Saturday, July 13th at 10:00am,

 in the nave, with reception to follow.

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REMINDERS

5-Week Book Study "The Screwtape Letters"

Beginning on Sunday, July 14 at 10:45a or

Monday, July 15 at 11:00a

w/ Rev. Libby

Copies of The Screwtape Letters available for $10.00. Contact the HNC office.

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Thrift shop bargains the month of July:

all items with Green Tags will be 50% off.

New hours for JULY, Wednesday & Saturday

9a-12p -- CLOSED FRIDAYS

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