Malamalama

O Emanuela

DECEMBER 2013

Newsletter of

Emmanuel Episcopal

Church

It’s about time

This is the season of Advent. For the secular calendar it is the middle of December, and the entire culture is getting ready for Christmas…even those who do not profess to be Christian or go to any church. But inside our church we insist it is Advent, a different kind of season, one of preparation for the second coming of

Christ. John the Baptist is preaching repentance, and Matthew is writing about judgment. Christmas, we are taught, begins on December 25, and lasts for 12 days, ending with Epiphany on January 6th.

Who really thinks that? For years, I have resisted, and postponed my decorating. I have scorned those Christmas Carols that play in our stores and on our radios. It’s like swimming against the current, and I realized I’m not

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Christmas Eve Worship

7:30 p.m. Carols

8:00 p.m. Worship

Christmas Day

Worship

9:00 a.m.

Church Leadership

Priest in Charge Rev. Carol Arney

Bishop’s Committee

Carolyn Remedios Bishop’s Warden

Mike Emerson Junior Warden

Sara Ka‘imipono Banks

Peter Carson

Nancy Janczyk

Jessica McAlister Secretary

Rebecca Noell

Jane Tonokawa Treasurer

Rev. Carol’s Message 1

The Magic of Christmas 2

Outreach Update 3

Stewardship in Advent 4

Stewardship Profiles 5

Annual Meeting 5

Sweet Success 6

Kokua Basket 6

Fit for a King & Queen 7

Epiphany is January 5th 7

Important Dates 8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Christmas Worship at

Emmanuel

Christmas Families

This year, Emmanuel is again

partnering with Women in Need to help provide

three of their families with

Christmas gifts.

Visit the tree find out details on how you can bless these

families this holiday season.

Bring wrapped gifts no later than December 16th.

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being honest with myself. I actually LIKE this anticipation of Christmas. Every evening there is a new display of colored lights outlining a home on my driving route. Little lighted reindeer twinkle on Kailua Road, and our church has a Christmas tree. I feel the tingle of excitement as the congregation gathers on Sunday morning, and I hear the familiar Advent songs and Bev Katz’s preludes from Handel’s Messiah. I feel—happy!

Advent is a time of preparation, but it is more than that. It is a time for starting over. The New Year comes for us one month earlier than for the secular world. And we are given 24 days to focus on hope, joy, grace and love as we anticipate anew the coming of the reason for our faith, Jesus Christ. Advent is here to remind us that we have people we love and a life that brings with it gifts of charity and grace.

I am reminded of this by an author who has taught me a lot about this season; Dr. David Lose from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He said (paraphrased) “Repentance, after all, isn’t about feeling bad or saying, “I’m sorry.” Rather, it’s about a re-orientation, a change of perspective and direction, a commitment to turn and live differently. Look on this as being invited into the kinds of hopes, dreams, and even adventures that the God of the Bible promises all those who are willing to leave their familiar and well-trod paths and venture down another way. Each time we do so -- each time we hold up our acquired habits and practices and comparing them with our deepest hopes and dreams -- we experience the joy of Advent repentance, a time still marked by our preparation to receive and share the grace and glory of God represented in the babe of Bethlehem, the Word made flesh, our Emanuel.”

-Rev. Carol

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Calvary Episcopal Mission’s “The Magic of Christmas Music” on Saturday, December 14, 2013 is truly a complete Christmas experience. Patricia and I have been going to this presentation for many years. This program is put on by Louise Lar Emery of Kaneohe. Louise has been organizing this program along with a yearly summer program at the same location for many years. Louise is a member of Calvary Episcopal Mission and has a long history in music. She has been the Project Director for the Windward Arts Council (WAC) for 21 years. The WAC has sponsored her summer and winter programs for many years. Louise got her Bachelor of Music at the Chicago Musical College, her Masters of Arts in Music Education at Columbia University. She taught music in the New York City School System, and then taught music for 23 years for the Department of Education, State of Hawaii. She has been very involved in all aspects of music in Hawaii and because of this has many professional friends who share their talents twice a year putting on delightful and highly skilled performances for the Windward Community at Calvary. The programs are always a delight to one’s ears and eyes. You will not be disappointed if you attend. The program is full of local artists that you will know by name. Artists of instruments, dance, and voice. When we have taken friends for the first time the most common response is “I can’t believe what I have been missing all these years – I can’t believe how wonderful the program was!” If you love music, and dance, you will love the Christmas program at Calvary – I guarantee it. Plus it’s free.

-Donald Reynolds

When: Saturday, December 14, 2013 at 7:30 pm Where: Calvary Episcopal Church, 45-435 Aumoku Street, Kaneohe , HI 96744. Across from Windward City Shopping Center. Street and church parking available.

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Saturday Stewards

December 14, 2012

Many hands are needed to help get the church ready for Christmas. Come join us for a couple hours of fellowship as we gather together to perform this ministry.

E-mail our Junior Warden, Mike Emerson (emersonmike001@gmail.com) or Lisa in the church office (office@emmanuelkailua.com) if you see a job that needs to be done or want a job to do.

Altar Flowers

Altar Flowers can be given in memory of a

loved one or in thanksgiving for a special

occasion throughout the year. A donation of

$20 is suggested and helps to pay for our Altar

Guild expenses throughout the year. The 2014

flower chart is hanging in the narthex if you

wish to sign up. Donation for Christmas

flowers is also $20. Please complete the form

in your Sunday bulletin or call the church

office at 262-4548 by Thursday, December

19th to ensure your listing is included in the

Christmas bulletin. Please make checks

payable to Emmanuel Church (with “altar

flowers” on the memo line).

Emmanuel Reaches Out

We have much to be grateful for in our personal lives and in the faith community of Emmanuel. We have come to realize how blessed we are in so many ways and that what we have is not ours to keep. It is ours to share in the same way God shares with us, freely and unconditionally.

During the Fall of 2013 we supported the following outreach efforts:

$431 to the Bishop’s Fund from the collection taken when he visited on October 6 $110 to The Hawaiian Humane Society from the collection taken at Animal Blessing Service on 9/29 Thanksgiving Bags for the St. Matthew’s Food Ministry $578 to ERD for Philippine Typhoon Relief *$7,464 to Family Promise of Hawaii (from Chocolate Extravaganza proceeds) *$2,500 to Hale Kipa *$1,500 to National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) Hawaii *$1,000 to River of Life Mission *$1,000 to Windward Spouse Abuse Shelter *$2,090 in support of Virginia Theological Seminary and Sewanee: The University of the South (The Diocese encourages all churches to support seminaries at 1% of operating income)

The above amounts with an “*” denote amounts donated from our Emmanuel operating budget; in other words, from your pledges and contributions. The Bishop’s Committee has agreed to work toward the tithe in terms of striving give away 10% of our income to worthy organizations in our community and beyond. In 2013, we estimate that we are at the 7% mark. Thank you to all of you for allowing Emmanuel to make a difference!

Sign up with Safeway

Escrip program

Your participation can mean hundreds of dollars for Emmanuel!

Go to eScrip.com Click on “1-Sign Up” Enter your Club Card number Enter all your credit cards as well and

Emmanuel will benefit even more If you are already signed up, thank you!!

Mahalo to the Diocese of Hawaii’s Commission on Vibrant Christian Communities for a $3,000 grant supporting our Speaker Series

Ministry to the community of Kailua. Series will start up again in the Spring of 2014. Stay tuned!

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We put aside a day every year to give thanks and eat our fill during our Thanksgiving Day feast. Our culture has made this annual feast a threshold to the Christmas ritual of finding perfect gifts for our friends and family. For me, as part of the Christian community, Advent is a time for preparing for the birth of that special baby called Jesus. I find it interesting that God comes to live among us first as a baby. Emmanuel recently had a baby shower for Devynne Sue in which we came together as a community to support and celebrate the new family and to provide a newborn the things it may need. Advent could be seen as a prolonged baby shower where individuals come together as a community to prepare to give our gifts for the baby that is coming. I thought it would be interesting to look at advent as a preparation for the gifts the infant Jesus may need when we come together to celebrate his birth.

I reread the stories in Luke about Mary’s and Joseph’s trip to Bethlehem: no room at the Inn, the shepherds and the angels. I thought Joseph was clueless by taking a near-term pregnant woman on the road with no reservations at an Inn. The innkeeper was not informed, as others were, that he should be expecting special guests. The shepherds thought this was just another day at work until the Angels came as heralds to tell them of the wonders that were occurring. Only Mary seemed prepared, for she had the faith that God would provide what was needed and she brought the swaddling clothes. While most were not prepared, in the end, they all had gifts they could share to welcome the baby Jesus into the world. (The Magi were prepared, but their gifts were about what Jesus the Messiah needed but not what a baby would need.)

In Matthew 1:20 Joseph was told by an Angel not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife for she was to give birth to a special son. Joseph’s gift was to be courageous and obedient when he answered God’s call. The Inn could not house another person, but the innkeeper had the gift of compassion for the haggard looking couple that appeared at his door. His compassion for this couple provided a shelter from the elements which gave Mary, Joseph and Jesus comfort when the time came for the birth. The Shepherds, after the Angels had left them, left

Peter Carson Stewardship Chair

their sheep and hurried into town to see what had happened. Confirming that Jesus was real, just as the Angels had proclaimed, they gave the gift of excitement and wonder as they spread the word of all they had been told and had seen. Sharing this gift left people amazed when they heard the shepherd’s story and Mary had much to ponder.

As I go forward this Advent, I too will ponder on the gifts of courage, obedience, compassion, wonder and excitement as my gifts to God. I can prepare for the birth of Jesus by looking for opportunities in the coming weeks to practice and share these gifts with those I meet or just pass by. I believe we all have gifts to share this Advent and sharing gifts is what stewardship is all about.

Stewardship and Advent

Stewardship Celebration

The Stewardship Celebration was a great event filled with moving worship and testimony as well as delicious food and good company!

If you haven’t already done so, please consider pledging to Emmanuel in 2014. You may place your pledge card in the offering plate or mail it to the church office. The preparation of the 2014 budget is based on the pledges received. Thank you to all who have and will pledge to Emmanuel in 2014. If you did not receive a pledge card or a packet, please see Jane or Lisa in the office.

End of Year

Thank you for your gifts to Emmanuel Church! By law, only contributions received in a tax year can be used as income deductions in that same tax year. Therefore, all 2013 contributions must be received at Emmanuel (not postmarked) by Tuesday, December 31. If you need your updated pledge information, please contact Lisa. In addition, all receipts for any 2013 reimbursements need to be submitted by December 20th so that expenses for the year can be properly reflected. You will be paid within a week.

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Profiles in Stewardship

It seems that if anyone needs assistance the first hand raised is from Rebecca Noell. I was wondering how Rebecca found her way to Emmanuel and how she became such a faithful steward of the gifts God has bestowed upon her. Talking with Rebecca the recurrent theme in her life is “God puts me where he wants me

to be.” Rebecca grew up in Memphis, Tennessee in a family that valued service to others. Her mom was a nurse and her sister had cerebral palsy so the ability to help people with physical difficulties was nurtured within her own family. After graduating from the University of Memphis she made her way to Hawaii as it had been a long standing dream of hers.

Once here she found a job working at the YWCA, Sears and various other employers, when her boyfriend Andrew (now husband) decided to get out of the Coast Guard to go to back to school. He had signed up and paid for a course to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. Before he was to start school, Andrew was offered a well paying federal job so he suggested that she take the course as it was already paid for. Although Rebecca was working at the time, she believed God wanted her to be a CNA so she said ok. She graduated and started working at Home-in-Stead Senior Care who provided home care for those who needed a little extra assistance. The job was a good fit for Rebecca, who was comfortable helping people in need, and enjoyed the clients who needed her help. One of her clients was our own Jackie Wiggins who asked if someone would be able to take her to Church on Sunday but no one at the agency saw that as part of their responsibility. Rebecca raised her hand and said “Well I will take Jackie to her church on Sunday.” By helping Jackie, Rebecca found her way to the doors of Emmanuel.

It seemed that in the first 6 years Rebecca was in Hawaii she has been looking for a church home but had not found a church where she truly felt comfortable. Growing up in Memphis she attended church with her family regularly and was even a Sunday school teacher. In Hawaii she had tired of

looking for a church home until she began assisting Jackie and bringing her to Emmanuel every Sunday. At Emmanuel Rebecca found the church home she had been searching for these many years. God has put her where he wants her because she raised her hand and said here I am.

Rebecca says that coming to Emmanuel and helping people like Cynthia, Jackie, Julia, and numerous others has enriched her life. When she first started coming to church regularly, she was introduced to NAMI, by Joan Bring, where she gained insight in helping the mentally ill. Even though it seems that it is Rebecca’s hand that is always raised first when someone needs assistance or help, she believes that God blesses her with the strength, the knowledge and the compassion to be of service. These blessings enrich her life. Rebecca’s sharing of her blessings with others is the essence of stewardship and we are glad that God wants Rebecca to be part of our ‘Ohana.

Peter Carson Stewardship Chair

Annual Meeting

January 26th

following one worship service at 9am

Each year in January congregations meet for the Annual Meeting. Ours will be held on Sunday, January 26th, after a single worship service at 9:00 am.

At the annual meeting, we will do the business of the church: elect 3 Bishop’s Committee members (2 for 3 year terms, 1 for 1 year term), 1 Junior Warden, 3 lay delegates, 3 lay alternates to the Annual Meeting of the Diocese, report on the past year’s accomplishments, look at the 2014 budget, hear more about our Windward Shared Ministry, and of course, eat! We’ll have a “brunch-ish” potluck after the service and before the meeting. We will give thanks for all the ministries over the past year, especially the service of our wardens, treasurer, and outgoing Bishop’s Committee members Sara Banks, Nancy Janczyk and Jessica McAlister. Annual reports are due to the church office by December 31.

See you at the Meeting!

January 26th, after 9:00 Worship

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11th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza on November 9, 2013 was a Sweet Success!

The 11th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza is now history, but it was, once again, a rousing success, raising over $17,000 for Family Promise of Hawai`i and Emmanuel Church.

The sanctuary was transformed with beautiful floral arrangements and twinkling lights. Six dozen VIP guests were served our best decadent chocolate confections. God tested our flexibility that day when heavy rains came upon us an hour before the start. We quickly adjusted our plans and the rain never returned. The buffet was overflowing with wonderfully sweet chocolate desserts. The chocolate fountain was flowing warm dark chocolate for the guests to dip fruits, chips, and other sweets. The smiles and looks of sheer delight on the faces of our guests was a testament to the wonderful time that they were having. Many commented that it was the “best Chocolate Extravaganza event ever!”

Aside from the Family Promise and Emmanuel volunteers, we enlisted volunteers from the ‘Iolani Key Club and the Bank of Hawaii. We were very fortunate to have them that evening.

Thank you to all of our Episcopal community and beyond who supported our event in some way, whether it was by purchasing tickets, distributing flyers, promoting awareness of our event, or by donating to the auction or the buffet. Many in the Emmanuel ‘ohana worked tirelessly to make this happen, and it was wonderful to see the fellowship of our faith community working together to be a part of the solution to homelessness in Hawaii.

Thanksgiving Bags for Kokua

Food Basket at St. Matthew’s

Mahalo for your generous gifts of Thanksgiving Bags! In addition to our annual Thanksgiving offerings, Emmanuel donates to the Kokua Basket at St. Matthew’s on an ongoing basis. Donations of canned and dry goods can are accepted daily.

Special thanks to Denysse Sue for coordinating the Thanksgiving Bags and to the Sue Family for their assistance!

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Epiphany Celebration January 5, 2014 Save the date!

At the 10:00 am worship service we will welcome the arrival of the Kings and “chalk the door” to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. At 5:00 pm, we gather at the Remedios home to join in an Epiphany celebration. Please bring a dish to share. Soft drinks will be provided. Please sign up in the narthex. For more information please see Carolyn or call Lisa in the office.

Emmanuel Celebrates the Feast of the

Holy Sovereigns

We celebrated the contributions of Queen Emma and Kamehameha IV to the Episcopal Church in Hawaii in typical Emmanuel style.

We honored them with prayers in our celebration of the Eucharist.

We watched a video of their contributions to the Episcopal Church in Hawaii.

We honored them with the gift of hula. Thanks to Denysse Sue for introducing the hula and to Devynne Sue for her beautiful rendition of Ekolu Mea Nui.

We celebrated with Hawaiian food at the coffee hour following the service. Thanks to all of the coffee hour hosts who provided a wide assortment of ono food. It was a huge success judging from the wonderful comments that were in abundance as the food was enjoyed.

November 24, 2013

Junior Warden Mike Emerson has

been very busy working around the

church recently! He is a blessing!

Imogen explains the ways of the

Emmanuel ‘ohana to Rhyenne.

Decking the halls with Nancy, Tiny,

Jessica and Imogen!

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Emmanuel Episcopal Church 780 Keolu Drive Kailua, Hawaii 96734 (808) 262-4548 www.emmanuelkailua.com office@emmanuelkailua.com

Sunday Worship 7:30 & 10:00 a.m.

VISION

We seek to be a joyful, caring

community of all ages, growing closer

to God and each other, and serving

our neighbors in Christ’s name.

CORE VALUES

We are faith-centered in the

Episcopal tradition.

We welcome people wherever they are

on their journey of faith.

We are a loving community, caring for

one another and others through service

and outreach.

We support Christian fellowship: food,

fun and friendship.

12/14 Saturday Stewards 8-10 am

12/16 Bring Wrapped Packages for Families

12/16 Bishop’s Committee Meeting 6:30 pm

12/18 Advent Evensong 7:00 pm

12/24 Christmas Eve, 7:30 pm Carols,

8:00 pm Worship

12/25 Christmas Day, 9:00 am Worship

1/1 New Year’s Day Holiday

1/5 Epiphany, 7:30 am worship,

10:00 am King’s Procession,

5:00 pm Epiphany Party at Remedios home

Important Dates

Have you remembered Emmanuel in your estate plans??

Visit the Emmanuel website for

photos, calendars, news, special events and more!

emmanuelkailua.com

If you have recently joined our community, or if we have

unintentionally omitted your birthday or special day,

please send your name and birthday to Lisa in the church

office. Errors should also be reported to

office@emmanuelkailua.com.

Belated November Celebrations 1 Evelyn Tam

4 Alysha Nachtigall

6 Tiffany Kimbrell

11 Eleanore Akina (ordination anniversary ‘83)

11 Joe Janczyk

11 Doug Tonokawa

14 Debbie Monmaney

19 Deacon Pat Reynolds (ordination anniversary ‘95)

20 Sarah Medeiros

23 Susan Thornett

27 Olga Gilliland

28 Ralph and Dorothy Conway (anniversary)

December Celebrations 3 Dorothy Conway

5 Raymond deHay

6 Alvin Leong

10 Dylan “Koa” Thompson

14 Rose Maile

15 Nancy Janczyk

19 Keahi Hogan

19 Ellarene Sue

24 Julie Banks

24 First Service in “new” church 1975

26 Ian French

28 Guy Gilliland

29 Clarice Cornett