Aloha mai kakou! Sunday, I stood on an overlook at Big Sur with my son Max and daughter, Gwendolyn, viewing the Mc Way waterfall. This is the only West Coast U.S. waterfall that descends directly into the ocean. The phrase “waterfall descends directly into the ocean” does not sound that impressive – until you actually […]
Aloha mai kakou! NYC access to Culture I saw “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” – a new, moving feature-length documentary. It follows her journey from a lonely, often difficult childhood to becoming a Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winning poet, highlighting her decades of walking the ponds and forests of Cape […]
From our Music Director, Noe Baladad, who has been at the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM) Annual Conference & Songleaders Convergence with our beloved Beth Beyers! Beth has done so much to support us all, and to guide Noe in music at our church. We send mahalo nui loa to Beth, and to […]
Aloha from a perch above the Hudson River! Traveling – expanding views! After time with NY family, museums, shows, and seeing the magnificent dance of one great-niece and the great comedy of another– I am off to California on Friday. These young people give me hope and joy! (If you like, click the links for […]
Hi all! I am writing to you on behalf of Team Hope! The Team has been meeting this summer to plan the continuation of our work together from last year. If you were not part of last years group but wish to join, please let Rev Deborah know. This year will be a series of […]
In our Discovering Hawai’i Soul project. reaching the faith community to support civic kuleana— getting out the vote and raising awareness, our church is partnered with TIAH (The Interfaith Alliance of Hawai’i) and HCAN (Hawai’i Childrens Action Network). Rev. Dr. Cynthia Lynch, president of TIAH and member of our church has won a $5,000 grant […]
Aloha mai kākou, Communications! It has been wonderful to have our communications consultant (who is assembling this very newsletter), Andrew Laros (and his wonderful girlfriend Megan), with us over the last week. Andrew shared his “Between Screen and Soul” message along with me last Sunday. We ran long; I apologize! There was too much to […]
Aloha mai kākou, “Free Lunch” on Sunday, July 19th, will be our first after-service communal meal in a while. Free Lunch will recur on the 3rd Sunday of each month, hosted by committees in our church. The Social Justice Team is hosting our first. (Donations welcome, but NOT required.) The Social Justice Team has been […]
Aloha mai kākou, I’d like to share some “Firsts” — No sermon – The clock said 11 am on Sunday morning, and the “Courage- the Uprising Heart” service had been so rich and heartfelt that the sermon and meditation still lay ahead. I looked at our bright and loving congregants and thought— we have all […]
Aloha mai kākou, What a beautiful day in Hawai‘i. I am writing with over-the-top gratitude today. Mahalo nui loa to you all, to my beloveds beyond, and to our precious place. It is my birthday today (yesterday, as you read this). And on our birthdays, we likely all reflect on life. For me, it was […]
Aloha mai kākou, You have a team working with Rediscovering Hawai‘i’s Soul now! A few months ago, I began speaking with the leaders of Hawai‘i Soul about our church participating in learning, workshops, and activities to explore, sustain, and protect what is precious about our home, ‘aina, people, and values. They seek teams from organizations […]
Aloha mai kākou, “To Err is Human, to Forgive, Divine.” William S said it, but that’s how I feel about my invitation to you all to join me at my house this Saturday at 2 pm to watch the Rt. Rev. Marian Budde deliver our UUA annual Ware Lecture. Carla Allison kindly warned me that […]
Aloha mai kākou, June is a very big month for us, it is Pride Month, and much is happening- highlights: 6/14 – Sunday service by Pastor Keola “Come Home: A Pride Sermon on the Body as Holy Ground.” 6/19 – Juneteenth – some of us are chatting about an honoring on Friday, as well as […]
Aloha mai kākou, Seeing more sunlight? It’s June! And with this June brightness, we have more opportunities to honor, celebrate, study, and support together! “What’s Laughter Got to Do With It” – This Sunday, we are looking at how humor lifts our spirits and our lives, and considering how religions have employed it from Jesus to […]
Aloha mai kākou, The buzz in our sanctuary last Sunday was palpable! It was delightful to see and hear congregants chatting about concepts of the divine before the service began, listening to the wonderful, unique statements from 14, continuing in the Gallery, and with some of us in a Talk Story after. If you missed […]
Aloha mai kākou, Congregant initiatives are growing! Social Justice Learning Circles In June, new member John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas will begin a series of monthly Zoom Social Justice sessions featuring informative presentations and conversations. Stay tuned for more info on these weekday evening events. Email SocialJustice@unitariansofhi.org if you want to brainstorm topics or be involved. Lay Pastoral […]
Aloha mai kākou, Sunday, we enjoyed a moving, personal, impassioned, rousing service by Zac Fraser – you can see it, and any of our services, on our website or in our YouTube channel. By the way, it would be great if you would go to our UUHonolulu YouTube channel and click “subscribe.” We have 109 […]
Aloha mai kākou, Our Talk Story after our “Mind, Heart, & Soul Continuum – from Youth to Elder” service was lively and productive! Here are 5 ideas that came from about 20 of us gathered in the Study, talking about opportunities and acknowledgment we might offer across the age continuum. In Talk Story: 1) Restoring […]
Aloha mai kākou, Just landed last night from Sacramento and environs! It was an honor, a pleasure, and an opportunity to represent our congregation at the UU Pacific West Regional Assembly “Rising Resilient.” I wanted to connect with other congregations, meet folks for ideas and mutual support, and especially to learn how they are handling […]
Aloha mai kākou, On the heels of these damaging floods, this past week, our church has been active together and in our larger world in many ways. Spring is here, and we have a spring in our step as we encounter challenges and blessings and seek to care for our church community and beyond. On […]
