Join us in Worship on site both on the lawn or in the air-conditioned sanctuary.
Aloha/Casual Wear is WELCOME
Or via Zoom at 9 am HST.
Please contact us for the Zoom link.
Come to
Your Church by the Ocean
in Beautiful Puako.
Bible Readings
Click the links below to read the Revised Common Lectionary readings for this Sunday., November 27, 2022
Kahu Nani’s Mana`o
There is an eschatological tone of the Matthew 24:36-44 gospel reading for this Sunday. The focus is on the living that must continue on during the in-between time. In Christian terms, that in-between time is the time between the Resurrection and the Parousia. During this time, we are reminded of the need to be attentive to what is taking place around us and inside of us. We hear God’s word inviting us to be mindful and awake so as not to miss Jesus’ arrival. We also hear a warning that we will miss out if we are not being attentive. In some ways, it reminds me of what it takes for us to be good gardeners of the magnificent garden we have inherited at Hokuloa. Attentiveness, mindfulness and care are important characteristics of great gardeners. We will move through the life of this garden we have inherited with a series of “little advents” of God’s self-disclosures at each step of the way. With each tilling, with each clearing of the soil, we have the choice of sowing and growing our garden in anticipation or dread, hopefulness or despair, joy or indifference.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
No - You didn't overdose on Thanksgiving turkey and nap for a month. But, Advent starts this Sunday and it marks the beginning of a new church year.
Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity.
The name was adopted from Latin adventus "coming; arrival", translating Greek parousia. In the New Testament, this is the term used for the Second Coming of Christ. Thus, the season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the "coming of Christ" from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem, the reception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming.
Practices associated with Advent include Advent calendars, lighting an Advent wreath, praying an Advent daily devotional, and erecting a Christmas tree
Prayer
An excellent Daily Devotional is available as a email from the United Church of Christ. Check out this link: https://www.ucc.org/daily-devotional
Our mission efforts demonstrate our commitment To Be Like Jesus on the Big Island
You are warmly encouraged to join our ongoing Prayer Support Group (PSG), our active partnership in prayer. We are a communication link between those with the need for prayer support and those with the compassion to pray for others. Those who participate in prayer support receive an email at least weekly with the prayer requests. Email Marjorie Mrasek to be added to the PSG.
We pray for traveling mercies for Marjorie, our Prayer Support Group leader:
O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: preserve those who travel; surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger; and bring them in safety to their journey's end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Karen Anderson will be sending the prayer request emails in Margorie's absence. Email the church office if you would like to be added to the Prayer Support Group.
"People will reside again in God's shade; they will plant and harvest grain in abundance. They will blossom like a vine, and God's fame will be like the wine from Lebanon." Hosea 14:7