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from Pastor Liz —
Dear People of CCU, By the time you read this, your Thanksgiving celebrations will be coming to a close. Turkey sandwiches will be on the menu. And it will be time to turn our attention to the season of Advent. Advent is truly one of my favorite seasons in the church. The themes that come our way in Advent are so rich: preparing the way, light coming into the darkness, God doing a new thing. I appreciate the ways that the Advent season juxtaposes with the broader culture, helping us practice the disciplines of patience and expectation. While Christmas songs begin playing in early November, when Santa arrives in early December, when all around we hear "Merry Christmas," the church is quietly whispering "Wait, wait. Not yet." and that is music to my ears. Perhaps it is because patience is not foremost among my spiritual gifts or perhaps the idea that Christmas is still on the horizon and not upon us yet is comforting somehow as a minister. Whatever the case, I always feel grateful when Advent arrives with its opportunities to practice holy waiting. I don't know about you, but I don't often think of waiting as a particularly holy exercise. Mostly I experience it as an inconvenience, an impediment between myself and my appointed task. But during Advent, I try to greet any occasion of waiting as an opportunity for spiritual growth. I stand in line at the post office with as much equanimity as I can muster. I breathe deeply while stuck in
traffic. I give thanks for the multitude of seekers who join me in that hallowed quest to find parking at the mall...rejoicing when they encounter the holy grail of an empty spot. I say prayers for those whose carts I must dodge in the grocery store aisles, recognizing them as fellow pilgrims and asking that they be blessed. I do all this (or at least attempt to) because I have found that there can be great blessing in waiting. As for the musician who can sense the exact amount of time to hold a note and make our hearts stop, so for us our season of waiting in Advent can bear good fruit. It is a spiritual season which asks us to recognize that the eaves of our roofs and the space under our trees are not the only places in need of preparation for the coming of Christmas; there is work to be done in our hearts and souls, questions to be asked about how we will receive the one that God is sending into the world. As we move through our journey to Christmas this year, I want to encourage you to find some small way to practice Advent waiting, to show patience and live in hope of what is to come. Let us not move too quickly, but rather, let our preparations, our patience, our prayers draw us toward the manger slowly, with intention, so that we arrive exactly at the right moment. I think we will find the wonder of that moment magnified by the preparations we have made for it. I think we will find its joy magnified by the hope with which we waited for it.
With blessings for a holy Advent, Liz
December 2015 “The Messenger of Love” Vol. 9 Issue 12
Ka Elele Aloha
Christ Church, Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians 1300 Kailua Rd., Kailua, HI 96734
Rev. Liz Leavitt Worship—Sunday at 10 am
Church: (808) 262.6911 Email—[email protected] Website—www.ccukailua.org Facebook - www.facebook.com/ChristChurchUniting
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December CCU Event Schedule Key: K = Kitchen L = Lanai O=Ohana Rm PS = Pastor’s Study S = Sanctuary B3=upstairs classroom Sundays: 8:30 am, S Adult Education 10 am, S Worship & Aloha Fellowship Thursdays: 7:30pm Chancel Choir rehearsal 12/1, 6:30pm Stated Council Meeting 12/5, 8:00 am Men’s Monthly Breakfast Honey’s Restaurant @ Ko’olau Golf 12/6, 8:30 am Hi5 collection in CCU parking lot 12/6, 11:15 am Mtg of Congregation, after worship &
Aloha Fellowship 12/21, 10am Jan. newsletter information deadline 12/24, 7pm Christmas Eve Service 12/25 Christmas Day - Office closed 12/28 Church Office closed 1/1/16 New Year’s Day - Church Office closed 1/4/16 Church Office closed
Sunday, Dec 6th, 8:30-11:30 am
HI-5 CONTAINER PICK-UP DAY at CCU.
No glass bottles, please.
Please put containers in Heidels’ white pick-up truck,
which will be parked in the CCU parking.
CCU has chosen to give all recycling collections to the Institute for Human Services . . .
~ an expression of compassion ~ ~ a practice of eco-justice ~
Mahalo!
Congregational Meeting
Sunday, Dec. 6th
After worship service
to elect officers & approve
the 2016 budget
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December in Paris by Char Hosenfeld
of CCU Green Team
Despite the recent tragedies, the long planned United Nations Climate Conference will have convened in Paris by the time
you read this. Each year for the past 21 years, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change treaty signatories have met for a “Conference of Parties” (COP). The 21st COP runs until December 11. Leaders from 195 countries are working to complete “a new international agreement on the climate, applicable to all countries, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2o C”. Past meetings have produced way less than stellar results, and global carbon emissions have skyrocketed. Over the past 2 decades, intra-country and inter-country drama has ensued, including the U.S. Senate refusing to ratify or abide by an important protocol (U.S., 2001); last minute brokering of agreements; governments refusing to make meaningful commitments; and governments making then
breaking agreements — all with the fate of the planet and all its inhabitants hanging in the balance. In 2009 an eleventh hour COP document identified a temperature rise of 2o C as the danger point. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere however keep rising. And even if CO 2 levels stopped climbing today, the planet would still continue to warm. To hold CO2 levels to the 2o C goal, keeping fossil fuels in the ground is vital. The Paris Climate Conference is where the years of struggles need to culminate in real action to save God’s green and blue creation. For an interesting and informative article about the Paris Conference and the history of the climate talks, go to The New Yorker magazine website www.newyorker.com, click the search icon on the right near the top, then enter “The Weight of the World”. For faith-based information on the Paris COP, see Interfaith Power & Light’s “Paris Pledge” at www.parispledge.org and take the pledge.
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Memories... by Rosemary Allen
Christmas comes again! Every few years I like to reprint my favorite Christmas poem for you. It was written by the late Dave Steele when he was a chaplain at Punahou School -- and I feel it is a timeless Christmas gift for all of us!
Christmas 1977 We place the precious Christmas manger Upon the mantel...out of danger. Hand-painted Kings from Hummel lands Are putty in young, chubby hands; And glass-blown sheep are so exquisite, Too fragile for a child to visit. So, while we like them very much, We ask the kids to look...Don’t Touch! But, once, I saw on a low table Mary, Joseph, star and stable. The Babe, some sheep, and several kings… Heavy, sturdy, rough-hewn things.
Here children dawdled -- took their ease, Read the sign: “Come, touch us please.” And every child produced a fresh Arrangement of that Christmas Creche. While donkeys watched the Baby sleep, Angels petted wooly sheep. And Mary rested from the noise As Joseph chatted with the boys. Each child knew to some degree Just how that scene was meant to be. I watched with a quite a little mirth Them orchestrate the Holy Birth. So God, for him who understands Entrusts His coming to our hands. He urges us now to begin To place ourselves, our kith and kin, And choose, among the many choices Where best we’ll hear those angel voices. So...friends, with bright and shiny faces, The King is coming! Take your places! Dave Steele, 1977
A Beautiful flower
arrangement
provided by the P. M.
Tchou family in
loving memory of
Gregory K. H. Tchou.
November 22rd
The November 15th
flowers are
from Paul & Dottie
Brennan, and was
dedicated to Paul’s
brother who is in
Ohio, and having
medical challenges.
Keiki moment on November 15th
with Beth Davidann
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Awesome job, CCU!!
A total of 8 boxes were filled and donated. Next
month we hope to report where the boxes went. Mahalo to
Beth, Laurie, Fallon, Pat, Peggy & Jan
January Adult Study Class
The Adult Study class beginning on January 10 and continuing through January 31 will be a study and reflection on the life, times and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and its relevance for our contemporary times and issues. The class leaders are Rev. Liz Leavitt and
Paul Haring. The class will include a documentary film viewing and class discussion of challenging questions and issues confronted by Bonhoeffer and many of us today. Although no book will be provided for class attendees, for those of you planning to attend the class or are interested in Bonhoeffer, the following book is highly recommended for prior reading to class attendance: “Bonhoeffer Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Eric Metaxas. Available from Amazon.com in paperback ($11.52) or in a Kindle edition($9.99)
Mahalo CCU for hosting the 2015
Handel’s Messiah. Over 85 people
attended & participated in this years Sing-A-Long.
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1st day of Advent with the McCreanor family!
Saturday, November 28th
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Lay & Elder Worship Assignments
for December
If you are not able to fill your assignment, please try trading with someone and/or notify the church office. * T Prayer = Prayer of Thanksgiving
Date Name Duty 6-Dec Liz Leavitt Minister Clancy & Cathy Lyman Usher / Greeter John Heidel Liturgist Jan Stiles Keiki Sermon Aly Miles T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
13-Dec Liz Leavitt Minister Rollo Scheurenbrand & Charlene Hosenfeld Usher / Greeter Courtney Nichols Liturgist Beth Davidann Keiki Sermon Susie Jannuzzi T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
20-Dec Liz Leavitt Minister George Wyman & Paul Haring Usher / Greeter Marian Heidel Liturgist Liz Leavitt Keiki Sermon Dianne Brookins T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
24-Dec Liz Leavitt Minister Marian & John Heidel Usher / Greeter Courtney Nichols Scripture Reader Jon Davidann T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
27-Dec Liz Leavitt Minister Laurie Seaver & Dottie Brennan Usher / Greeter Paul Brennan Liturgist Beth Davidann Keiki Sermon Bill Muench T Prayer / Serve Comm. / Bldg Lockup
Birthdays December
Melissa Belanger ......................... 2 George Wyman .......................... 3 Jill Bartow ..................................... 7 Beth Davidann .............................. 8 Cheryl Renfroe ............................. 9 Pat Gilbert ................................. 17 Krissie Kellogg .......................... 22 Carol Hanlin............................... 26 Laura Keirn-McCreanor .......... 31
Anniversaries December
Peggy & Keith Zeilinger ......... 27 Cynthia & Peter Tchou ............. 28
Please let us know
if we have missed anyone. We usually celebrate birthdays
and/or anniversaries the last Sunday of the month
during the worship hour.
December
Flower Calendar 12/6 Seaver 12/13 & 20 *Everyone: 12/24 & 27 Poinsettias
Everyone: Please bring a poinsettia plant to church with you on 12/13, 20, 24, 27 and place on the baptistery. Label it with your name if you like; either leave it in the sanctuary (it will be watered) or take it home with you each week, bringing it back the following Sunday.
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