Archive for category: Minister Message

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 share. I’ll find other solutions so it doesn’t run long again. But I was glad to hear, despite the length, that many of you felt this service was valuable to you.

Suzette, Marshall, Irina, and I met with Andrew in a communications workshop on Friday! We hope that some of you will join us in a communications team! Please email me if interested in helping us to spread our messages via Newsletter, social media, videos, pictures, PR, etc!

Community and Food!
Kudos to Paul Davis for originating, Marie Anne for orchestrating hospitality and lunch without debacle, and the Social Justice Team for laying out a delicious spread for “Free Lunch” last Sunday. It was delightful to be with joyful, congenial folks in a relaxed setting with a truly delicious lunch. I know it is an awesome task for the Board to be the next host of “Sunday Three/Free Lunch” (third Sunday) on August 16th. I hope to see you there!

Music and Pain!
We are all wincing with Peg Neva at her broken hand. The accident came while running – seems to me anyone who runs should only be rewarded, not punished by pain. This brings her guitar playing to a halt for a while– and so our music will be limited on Sundays for the next few weeks. Noe will be back August 16th.

Our OMG (Oh My God!) gang gathered for our second time Tuesday at 4 pm. Scheduling in-person with disparate schedules is tough, so we are a smallish group. Since I will be traveling, our next in-person Study meeting will be Tuesday, August 18th at 4 pm. We have a shared website with resources we are gathering theological, philosophical, and religious notes, links, and videos on concepts and thinkers. We will meet on Zoom next Tuesday at 3 pm to make sure all can navigate and add to our shared site. If you would like to join our group, you may join the Zoom with this link on July 28th  at 3 pm, or you may join us in person on Tuesday, 8/18, at 4 pm in the study.

My time away
I leave Thursday 7/23 to see my great-niece dance with the American Ballet Theater and visit with my extended family in NY. Then I will be in CA with my family there and will conduct a memorial for a dear friend and civil rights heroine, returning 8/15. Look forward to seeing you all 8/16!

I will be managing Sunday services and emergencies while on the road. So, go ahead and email me as needed – minister@unitariansofhi.org.

Mahalo for all you do!
Rev. Deborah

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 gained enough, from Gabe’s moving and dynamic story of the courage and valor of Queen Liliuokalani, from the beautiful music delivered by our choir with Peg on guitar, from the representative of the Pacific Gateway Center, our share-the-plate beneficiary this month. So I put my sermon aside for another day, canceled the meditation, and we moved to hearing Eddie Vedder sing “Hawai‘i 78” as a prayer, and to sing our own closing song. A new kind of leadership for me, to NOT DO when enough has been done.

“SocialJustice@Heart” had its first monthly Zoom meeting last night. John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas presented historical context and current repercussions of Anti-DEI. This was his PhD topic, and we all benefited from his clear and layered understanding. Throughout the discussion, participants raised questions and penetrating insights. This was a valuable evening. You can find the video on the Justice tab of our website. Next month, on the first Tuesday, August 4th, John-Paul is assembling a panel of experts on Immigration. Register at that same tab.

“OMG” (Oh My God!), the discussion group will meet for the first time on Tuesday, 7/14 at 4pm. This group grew out of our service last month. Congregants shared their views and beliefs. Many of us were captivated by the depth we saw in each other. We will be sharing with each other, and I will offer optional videos and books for us to peruse. Based on group interest, current themes in the spiritual/social/psychological sphere we may explore are Collective Trauma, the Great Turning, trauma-informed education and counseling, the “SBNR” (spiritual but not religious) movement, Quantum Convergence, as well as UU history and theology. More people identify with UU beliefs, yet UU church membership is down nationally. We may find ways the church can enrich life in ways that spur membership.

“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.)

Mahalo for all you do!
Rev. Deborah

P.S. Some crazy emails are reaching some of you, purporting to be from me, and asking for things I would never ask. Please, if you get an email that seems like it is from me, your minister, click on the email address of the sender– if it is anything but “Minister@UnitariansofHI.org” – it is NOT me! I regret we all have to deal with these fraudulent emails and phishing schemes!!!

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 here to work together for our common good.

Jim Wood, Catherine Graham, Gabe Tiogangco, John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, and I are a team, and we have been reading their website and brochures, watching videos, and participating in an introductory Zoom session. Thursday and Friday, we will be in face-to-face workshops in Honolulu. We will be reporting back to you on what we learn. One of their bywords that I love is “Relationships are not the tool, they are the point.” I know the five of us feel the relationships we are already gaining are valuable. I will paste a graphic of their concept here.

I am reminded of a church service I led about 10 years ago that aligned the HI DOE Hawaiian basis for learning, Na Hapeno A‘o, with our UU 7 principles. Now we have eight, and they still relate!

We will be reporting to you on what we learn!

Don’t forget the Saturday, June 27, Aids Walk, “a short walk around Kapiolani Park.” The event hub and gathering area are at the bandstand in Kapiʻolani Park. Walk from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. Honolulu AIDS Walk

Later Saturday at 5 pm, join us for the “How to Help Trans Teens Survive Hate and Find Joy” panel in our sanctuary – Nico Lang, the author of “American Teenager – How Trans Teens Are Surviving Hate and Finding Joy,” will serve on the panel with Kim Coco Iwamoto our friend in the Hawai‘i legislature, Sandra Harjo-Livingston, Chair, LBGTQ+ Commission, and Mika Inoue, LBGTQ+ Advocate and Mental Health Professional, and Randy Soriano, Executive Director of the Hawai‘i LBGTQ+ Legacy Foundation. We are honored to host such an impressive panel!

Before our Sunday service, led by Nico Lang and Gabe Tiogangco, Keif Arriola will open the study at 9:30 am for meditation. I hope you may join him, and this may be a regular happening!

Mahalo,
Rev. Deborah

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 at the beginning of our Sunday GA service. Let me know if you are interested.

6/21 UUA GA Sunday service – we will watch together in the Sanctuary, we will honor fathers, and Juneteenth.

6/27 – “How Can Trans Kids Survive Hate and Find Joy” Panel with Nico Lang, Kim Coco Iwamoto, Sandra 

6/28 – Sunday Service – Nico Lang, LGBTQ+ journalist and author of “American Teenagers- How Trans Kids Survive Hate and Find Joy”.

Last laugh… Sunday, we looked at how religions use humor “on us” (to communicate with us). For the last bit of my message, I shared how we can use humor on religion, in other words, I told jokes. You can get right to the jokes by clicking here to be on our YouTube channel at that Sunday service. Scroll to 46  minutes in to just listen to the jokes. Hope you enjoy them!

Mahalo for all you do!

Rev. Deborah

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 “Oh, My God” on Sunday, you can watch it on our YouTube Channel.
You can find this service by clicking that link above, or find any service or any of our “reels” (short outtakes from Sunday services and other events) by going to YouTube and typing “UUHonolulu”  or “First Unitarian Church of Honolulu” into the search box.
(You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube in that way.)

Please visit our YouTube channel and click “subscribe.”
It will help us to get more YouTube reach.
We have grown to 115 subscribers in the past few months.
If we can hit 500, a whole host of new communications tools will become available to us.
Below are the specific minutes and seconds for specific members’ statements.
When you get to the “Oh, My God” video, move the scrolling red ball below the video to the minute for the part you want to see. The screenshot shows Jim Wood at 59:12 :)

Call to Worship – 6:30 – 18:46 = 12 min 10 sec
Message Intro – 31:30 – 32:36
Marie – 32:30 – 36:19 = 4 min 11 sec
Catherine – 36:22 – 40:05 = 3 min 43 sec
Rev. Dr. Thomas – 040:18 – 47:27 = 7 min 9 sec
Abby – 47:45 – 51:29
Janice – 51:48 – 56:46
Dan – 56:58 – 59:01
Jim – 59:12 – 1:03:50
Kathryn – 1:04 – 1:08:22
Beth – 1:09:10 – 1:10:52 (video sideways! – sorry!)
Melany – 1:11 – 1:13:10
Francine – 1:13:35 – 1:15:40
Sue – 1:15:25 – 1:19
Zac – 1:19 – 1:21:20
Nancy – 1:21:28 – 1:21: 48
Prayer – 1:22:00 – 1:25:10

Looking forward to seeing you for our new member, John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas’ worship service this Sunday!
Rev. Deborah

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 subscribers so far.  Please help us expand our reach by subscribing!!

Community Talk Story – We invited leaders of organizations working to help others in critical areas to come and share their organization’s mission, progress, and strategy. Over 30 joined for a lively and highly informative Talk Story – and all the bento boxes were eaten!

Rev. Dr. Cynthia Lynch, president of The Interfaith Alliance of Hawai‘i board, is also a member of our church as are her fellow board members, Rev. Dr. Thomas Lynch, Marie Anne, and me. TIAH leads and supports interfaith events across the state with the support of the Interfaith Alliance national organization, which “educates Americans about the threat of authoritarian theocracy, building interfaith communities who are showing up, and equipping them with the tools to defend our constitutionally-protected freedoms.” See their “Choose Love Not Ice” video here. Contact TIAH here.

Gaye Chan, conceptual artist and community leader introduced us to Oahu Rapid Response Coalition. ORRC educates the public about our rights, operates a hotline to intake and verify ICE sighting, dispatches Rapid Response volunteers to observe and document ICE activities, distributes community alerts and refers victims to support. Gaye gave us a mini demonstration of how to video ICE actions and Gaye will come here to do a 1 hour workshop on easy quick ways for us to use our phones to support due process- email me if you are interested.

Zac Fraser represented the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL Hawaii) and the Democratic Socialists of O’ahu (DSO Insta), and ANSWER which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism. This umbrella group consists of many anti-war and civil rights organizations. Follow the links or speak with Zac about how you may join or support these groups.

John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas is the new executive director of Hawai‘i Childrens Action Network. For 30 years, HCAN has led Hawai‘i efforts to support children and families. Their focus now is how to make Hawai‘i the best place in the world for children. And for 30 years John-Paul has led education and civil rights programs across the country and in Latin America. We are so lucky to have him here. Talk to John-Paul or check out HCAN.

I (Rev. Deb, as Catherine likes to call me) spoke for Parents for Public Schools of Hawai‘i which I co-founded 16 years ago. Today I met with parents at Nanakuli Elementary school on the benefits of our Hawai‘i HĀ program which creates a framework for life in our schools Belonging, Responsibility, Excellence, Aloha, Total Wellbeing and Hawai’i and Social Emotional Learning. PPS-Hawaii advocates for families and schools and delivers family engagement programs across the state. To join (it’s free) or donate just go to ppshi.org.

Francine Less spoke for our UUHonolulu/First Unitarian Honolulu Social Justice Team, chaired by Marie Anne. For years Marie and Francine have led continuous food distribution and support for non-profits serving the houseless and others. John-Paul, Paul Davis, Zac Fraser, Keif Arriola, and I are on the team to expand our policy and partnership efforts. We expect to launch “Social Justice Learning Circles” facilitated by John-Paul very soon. Talk to Francine or Marie or any of us.

There are others who wanted to join us but were booked. We will organize another Social Justice Talk Story soon. Let us know if there are groups you want to hear from. We will have representatives from ACLU and, CAP, Cat Brady’s Community Alliance on Prisons here again soon as we have partnered with both for years.

It is a joy to work with you, mahalo for all you do!

Rev. Deborah
minister@unitariansofhi.org
808-367-0710
office hours: Wednesday 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm schedule a meeting

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 the challenges we face — with resilience! I wanted to feel together with other UUs in our region. All this came true. And I got to stop to see my granddaughter on the way!

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday to explore the richness of living and appreciating the ages —  infancy, youth, adult, and elder.

Rev. Deborah

z

Aloha kākou, beloveds in this time of heavy rains,

Many of us are dealing with flooding, damage, power loss, and disruption, and one family, the Cranfords, has had to leave their flooded home. Our hearts are with everyone impacted, and we’re grateful that all appear to be safe and that so much care is being shared within and beyond our congregation. This Sunday, our Share the Plate will go to our Emergency Fund; please give as you are able so we can respond where help is needed.

Because of dangerous conditions, we postponed Friday’s Hope for Us session, but thanks to Sof Ma’arav canceling their Saturday service, we were able to gather earlier and make good use of the time. Revs. Samantha and Sarah led a powerful exploration of our 73-year history, our roots, and the patterns that have shaped us, with early memories shared by Molly Rowland. Others who have been here since our second and third ministers shared their recollections. I will schedule a Zoom to share more with those who signed up as SUPPORTERS; if you’d like to be included, please sign up and I will send you the invitation.

This work with our history has also deepened our appreciation for our Unitarian Universalist Association and the dedication of Rev. Sarah over seven years and Rev. Samantha since Hope for Us began here. I am now considering attending the UUA Pacific Western Region conference in Sacramento in two weeks. In these troubled times, our church is called both to care for our members and to reach out to protect people and preserve rights, and our wider world needs that same witness at regional and national levels. Our denomination is needed to stand up for our values nationally, and we know those values of justice, pluralism, interdependence, equity, generosity, and transformation, all centered in love, carry greater power when we stand together.

Mahalo for all you do,
Rev. Deborah

Aloha mai kakou!
Early tomorrow morning, I leave for a week in California for time with my family. Preparing for this brief trip, I am reflecting on all that First Unitarian Church of Honolulu members are doing to sustain and grow our church and to reach out and engage with our larger community!

We are active in the larger community!
On Tuesday, our new member, John-Paul Chaisson-Cardenas, the new Executive Director of HCAN (Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network), was introduced at a HE‘E (Hui for Excellence in Education) meeting to non-profit member groups. I was there to hear more of his impressive and wide-ranging background and to see the ways he will amplify our engagement with Hawai‘i needs and hopes.

From that meeting, I entered the monthly TIAH meetings (The Interfaith Alliance of Hawai‘i). We UU’s are more than represented on the board– Cynthia Lynch is the president, Marie Anne is the secretary, and Tom Lynch and I are board members! A major focus now is – how can we (FUCH and TIAH) actively engage in the No Dictators march and demonstration on 3/28? Share your ideas, and please join us in the interfaith march starting at 9:30 am. Please let Marie or me know if you will participate in sign-making, marching, and/or demonstrating.

Within our church, it is also bustling!
More Hope convenes Friday 3/19 and we are working to prepare.
More Hope is a path to a deepening experience of each other and the church, expanding our capacity for peaceful, fruitful community. You can still join “More Hope” at this “Invitation to Restorative History Circle” link – but you need to be swift, registration is closing soon!

Here are some notes on what is happening with just a few elements of our church:

Membership – Theresa Mooleghan, Leanne MacIntire, and I are working on membership growth, and we are delighted by a 14% increase over the past few months. More to come! :)
Worship Team– Our music team has been delivering a wide variety of beautiful music, including the interfaith hymns of last month, and working on choral pieces for the upcoming month. Beth Beyers will be leaving for her beloved Bellingham at the end of the month- her generosity and skill are much appreciated and will be missed until she returns.
Pledge Dinner – Irina Martikainen, Mary MacKay, Catherine Graham, Sue Yamane-Carpenter, and I have been abuzz with ideas and deliverables. Irina is an event-planning pro and has devoted her genius to creating this event. Mary’s critical eye and mind make sure all is cooking up a wonderful, fun evening, complete with a UU Magician (scroll down to read more). Catherine is, of course, a planning maestro showing how it will all work and how folks will be fed! Sue and I are along for the ride, LOL.

May you have a marvelous week. I look forward to seeing you after my return March 19th!

Aloha,
Rev. Deborah

Aloha members and friends!

Growing up, my mother told us, “The one true evil is divisiveness.”

Already a good questioning 12-year-old Unitarian (this was before we merged with Universalism), I questioned- how could divisiveness be the ONE true evil?  There are so many evils! But then, like a good 13-year-old Unitarian, I thought about it.

Every evil I could see, once more deeply considered,  boiled down to divisiveness.

And we merged with the Universalists. And this further strengthened the goodness and truth of our unity in faith. We are one.

Now here we are, with divisiveness rampant, it is ever more important that we be united in our love, our empathy, our compassion, and our kuleana for a safe and healthy community.

This morning, the InterFaith Alliance national office reached out to ask me to endorse this statement called the “Love Notice”:  “ICE cruelty is threatening our religious calling to love our neighbors — in our houses of worship and in our communities. As faithful Americans, as an expression of our values, we demand that the federal government stop the attacks on our neighbors and we call on our political and religious leaders to stand in solidarity against their cruelty.”

You can click here to join me and people of faith across the country as we stand for the dignity and worth of each person.

“ICE cruelty is threatening our religious calling to love our neighbors — in our houses of worship and in our communities. As faithful Americans, as an expression of our values, we demand that the federal government stop the attacks on our neighbors, and we call on our political and religious leaders to stand in solidarity against their cruelty.”

Now a question– are you a friend who wishes to join us as a member?

Or, are you a member who has not yet been welcomed in an InGathering?

If so, please email me minister@unitariansofhi.org so we may “gather you in” formally, in celebration, even if long after joining.

Mahalo to each of you for all you do!

Rev. Deborah