Ka Leo Mekokiko. One Christian Spirituality THE VOICE OF UNITED METHODIST. Hawaii District January-February 2017 VOLUME 34 NUMBER 1

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1 Ka Leo Mekokiko Jan-Feb 2017 Ka Leo Mekokiko THE VOICE OF UNITED METHODIST Hawaii District January-February 2017 VOLUME 34 NUMBER 1 One Christian Spirituality WHAT: 2017 BRITT LECTURES with Dr. Loyd Allen WHEN: February 17-20, 2017 WHERE: First United Methodist Church 1020 South Beretania Street, free parking off Victoria Street Rev. Dr. Loyd Allen Dr. Allen is a Professor of Church History and Spiritual Formation at Mercer University s James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta, CA. He is a frequent faculty member for the Academy of Spiritual Formation and is also a spiritual director. Dr. Allen s lecture series will explore the unity of Christian spirituality in its diversity of historial and cultural expressions, with special attention to Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian spirituality. A SPECIAL THANK YOU!!!...Mahalo to ALL our churches AND their members that participated in the Christmas Gift Giving Program for the Micronesian Children on Dec. 19th at Calvary United Methodist Mission Church. Participation was heart-warming. Participants: Aiea UMC Calvary UMM Christ UMC Ewa Beach UMC Kailua UMC Kam Nam UMC Kapolei Korean Mission Trinity UMC DS Se Hee Han Pastor Tom Choi and his family Tracy Ing of Kailua UMC Pastor Amy Wake and her family Lecture Series Schedule Friday, February 17th at 7:00 p.m. Christian Spirituality in the Early Church: Our Common Roots Saturday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. Wesleyan Spirituality: Its Latin, Western, Protestant, Pietist Roots Sunday, February 19th at 7:00 p.m. Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Asian Spirituality: Wesleyan Spirituality in Fresh Forms Monday, February 20th at 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Spiritual Formation in Today s Congregations: Fresh Expressions of Ancient Disciplines for Tomorrows Church Lectures are free and open to the public. Child care and sign language interpretation are available upon request. For more information, call

2 Ka Leo Mekokiko Jan-Feb Ministry Musings from the District Superintendent ANNUAL CONFERENCE MISSION STATEMENT: Inspiring the World as Passionate Followers of Jesus Christ So All May Experience God s Life-Giving Love As many of you know there are 12 days of Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas lead us to the season of Epiphany. Epiphany, marks the end of the Christmas season, which comes from a Greek word that means to appear or to show oneself. As a religious term, and it means an invisible divine being appearing as a visible form. For example, the Bible tells us that God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. The Hawaii District sponsored it s first Christmas Gift Giving Program for children who needed our modest generosity and love. There were over 50 children who attended the Christmas party at Calvary Korean Mission Church on December 19th. It was a very special day for them, filled with happy moments as they waited in anticipation of the gifts they had been wishing for. The children live in the Mayor Wright s Housing complex and rarely have the opportunity to receive gifts from anyone including their own parents, who are struggling to adopt their new setting in the United States as many first immigrant families experience. I deeply appreciated those who participated in this program and who shared the spirit of Christmas extended to these children. This program also helped me to catch the spirit of Christmas this year when I went out to shop for my two adopted children. It was heartwarming to know that there are many people who seek to do something meaningful for others even though it requires them to sacrifice their own resources and time. It was an advanced Epiphany moment for us. This year, Epiphany Sunday falls on January 8, The majority of Christians in the world will celebrate Epiphany on January 8th. It is the third major event on the calendar of the early church, and it is also noted as a Christmas festival in the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. It commemorates the adoration of the infant Jesus by the three Wise Men who traveled from the East. I hope you find the Epiphany in your life during this season. For many of us, we go to church because somewhere/somehow we have lost something. Sometimes, we are not even sure what we have lost, but we are convinced that church is where the light is, and we are certain that this light will help us find whatever it is that we are searching for. Peace and Grace, Rev. Dr. Se Hee Han BISHOP S CONFIRMATION RETREAT September 22-24, 2017 Camp Mokuleia Our Youth will have an exciting opportunity to meet with Bishop Grant Hagiya and learn about the meaning of confirmation. I invite your church to prepare for this exciting spiritual journey for our youth. Date: Place: Who: September 22-24, 2017 (Friday thru Sunday) Camp Mokuleia Farrington Highway, Waialua, Hawaii Age 11 thru 16 or someone looking for confirmation

3 Ka Leo Mekokiko Jan-Feb MESSAGE FROM THE DISTRICT LAY LEADER Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ of the Hawaii District! Greetings of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace to you all! Soon, many of you will be attending Christmas Eve services at your churches and most churches will have a candlelight service. I fondly remember my dear mother, who died in June of last year, and loved Christmas Eve candlelight services. She began a tradition of having her own Advent wreath at home and would light each candle on the Sundays of Advent. On Christmas Eve, after lighting her candle during the church service, she would keep her candle lit to light a glass candle that she could take into the car and keep it lit until she drove home. Then she would light the candles of her Advent wreath with the same flame that lit the Christ candle at church. Although this tradition was potentially dangerous, its symbolism of bringing the Light of Christ into her home was so meaningful! Advent and Christmas are such a wonderful season to celebrate the birthday of our Savior, Jesus Christ. But we celebrate more than the birth of a baby in a manger; we celebrate and remember the impact of the life of the Christ Child for the world. It s the fulfillment of prophecy: For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He shall uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7). Brothers and Sisters of the Hawaii District United Methodist churches, let s together boldly proclaim the life of Christ by being the reflection of the Light of Christ to each other, to our friends and family, strangers and neighbors, to our communities, and to the ends of the earth. May this season of Hope, Love, Joy and the Peace of Christ, be with and in you throughout the coming year! Your Sister in Christ, Lynn Owan The 33rd Annual Session of the California-Pacific Conference June 14-17, 2017 at University of Redlands, CA It s that time again to start planning for the Annual Conference at Redlands University! Approved Itinerary: Tuesday, June 13, 2017: Leave Honolulu to LAX on United Airlines Flight #1221 at 12:00 (noon), arrive at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18, 2017: Leave LAX to Honolulu on United Airlines Flight #1224 at 10:00 a.m., arrive at 12:45 p.m. Approved Airfare Cost: $ Tickets are nonrefundable. $ Change or Reissue Fee, plus any fare difference. We will be ing you the airline and bus reservation form soon if you choose to fly with the group! And the forms will be posted on the Hawaii District website for your easy access also. Eligible (Reimbursed) Travelers are: Appointed Clergy Lay Delegates Approved by the Charge Conference Approved District Lay Delegates Approved District Youth and Young Adult Delegates We do hope you can attend! It is a very interesting event and bringing together all the UMW delegates nationally.

4 Ka Leo Mekokiko Jan-Feb SPRC and Charge Conferences - All Most Done! All Charge Conference forms must be submitted to the District Office for the DS to review prior to your Charge Conference. If not received prior, your Charge Conference will be cancelled. The DS would like to go over the accomplishments for the year, review his/her appointment request, and the goals for the next year. An assessment form for the clergy will be ed, and each clergyperson AND the SPRC need to complete it before meeting with the Superintendent. Here is the schedule of the Charge Conference or Annual meeting with the Superintendent. CHARGE CONFERENCE MEETINGS SCHEDULED CHURCH SPRC DATE & TIME CC DATE & TIME CHURCH SPRC DATE & TIME CC DATE & TIME Guam Korean TBA Lihue UC 1/7/17, 2:00 pm 1/7/17, 3:00 pm West Kauai 1/7/17, 10:00 am 1/7/17, 11:00 am Naalehu 1/22/17, After Svc 1/22/17, 11:00 am ***** LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES ***** The Lay Servant Committee would like to be more visible in our Hawaii District. We will be offering articles written by committee members each month. This month Dorinda Dunlap, a certified Lay Servant has written an article. Other members of the committee are Rev. Joseph Yun, Patrick Zukemura, Sulia Atualevao, and Pilimilose Sika. We are interested in having a Lay Servant event this year. Let these committee members know your ideas. Winnie Ching, District Director of Lay Servant Ministries Becoming a Lay Servant: I joined the United Methodist denomination in I was raised an American Baptist, which is congregational style in their administration. In other words, the individual church chooses its pastor rather than a bishop. At the time, all those many years ago, laity served as what was called deacons in addition to the standard committee chairs, members, and teachers. Being introduced to the laity programs of UMC was interesting and appealing to me because of the possibility of broadening individual ministry into areas that would have been reserved for the clergy in my former church. Over the years I observed the lay speakers in First Church and thought I might like to be part of that ministry, but wasn t really sure what was involved. Since then I ve taken the Basic and Polity courses taught by Winnie Ching, Lay Servant Ministries District Director. It s very interesting and I m looking forward to taking the Preaching course next month. (More information to come). We are given the blessing of time, if we choose, to take courses. The requirement is one advanced course every 3 years, though people can take them whenever they like as they are available online. I m not sure yet which way the Lord is leading me in this process, but trust that through prayer and the resources readily available through the UMC program I will learn and enjoy the journey. Mark 10:45 for even the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve Dorinda Dunlap Bits and Pieces Pray for: Winnie Ching of Kahaluu UMC., who recently had back surgery. We pray for a successful surgery and quick recovery! Pray for John Wise, husband of Debbie Wise of Immanuel UMC, Saipan, who had surgery Dec. 12. Please pray for his recovery. Pray for Pastor Piula Ala ilima and his family of Wesley UMC, whose uncle passed away. Pray for Pastor Jaemin Lim of Ala Lani UMC, who loss his mother recently. Pray for Pastor Suega Leui of Olive UMC, whose mother and sister passed away recently. Pastor Solomone Uluave & Pastor Linita Moa s brother-in-law passed away, Mr. Sione Tu'ifua, who was a spouse of Kalesita Tuifua. We would like to thank all those who attended the Advent Dinner on Dec. 5th and a big Mahalo to Aiea Korean UMC and their church members who cooked all the food! They did an incredible job and their hospitality was warmly appreciated!

5 Ka Leo Mekokiko Jan-Feb DISTRICT CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2017 Jan. 2 New Year s Day Observed District Ofc is Closed Jan. 21 Leadership Team Mtg, 10am-12pm District Office Jan. 4 Britt Lecture Committee Meeting, 10:30 am District Office Jan. 28 (UMW) Local Unit Officers Training Pending Agreement Jan. 15 Ho oku ikahi Day of Reconciliation & Remembrance Place TBA Feb. 2-4 Pacific Islander Convocation Aiea UMC Jan. 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed District Ofc is Closed Feb. 4 UMW District Team Meeting SWCC Jan. 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, 8:30 am Ala Moana Park, Magic Island Feb Britt Lectures First UMC Jan. 17 DPAS Meeting, 6:30 pm Hawaii District Office Feb. 18 UMW Conference Mid- Winter Event SWCC Jan. 18 Acts of Repentance, 10:30am Hawaii District Office Feb. 20 President s Day District Ofc is Closed Jan. 19 HCOM Meeting, 9:00 am Hawaii District Office Mar. 11 How To Workshop, 9:00 am-3:00 pm TBA If you would like us to promote your event or extend congratulations, or if you have a prayer request to lift up to our District churches, please Michele Kimura at mkimura@calpacumc.org by the third Monday of each month. Thank you! HAWAII UNITED METHODIST UNION 20 South Vineyard Boulevard Honolulu, HI Phone: (808) hawaiidistrict@calpacumc.org KA LEO MEKOKIKO Jan-Feb 2017 Micronesian Children Gift Giving Program p. 1 Britt Lectures....p. 1 Bishop s Confirmation Retreat..p. 2 33nd Annual Conference. p. 3 Charge Conference Schedule (Updated).. p. 4 Lay Servant Ministries. p. 4