from Pastor Dwight—

Waiting. I hate to wait.

When I am in heavy traffic, I get cranky and Mary wishes that she were the one driving because she is more tolerant. When I am in line at the bank, I get impatient when the teller has a social conversation with another customer about their dog groomer. Some of you may share my other areas of impatience: Waiting for rice to cook, waiting for malasadas, and waiting for the next Sherlock Holmes season with Benedict Cumberbatch.

But I feel foolish that I am impatient about such insignificant things when compared to others. Iranians must now endure another 7 months of international sanctions and economic despair because their government will not cooperate with other countries regarding their nuclear programs. Young protesters in Hong Kong are still waiting to negotiate for free elections of their government. Mexican parents await word about the fate of the 43 students abducted from the Teachers’ College at gunpoint. Black Americans wait for justice and common sense to end the killing of their young men at the hands of police. Unknown numbers of women wait for justice to catch up with Bill Cosby. The wait for all these people is far more significant than my whining.

During Advent, we await the coming of the Christ child. Our longings for justice and peace marry with our anticipation of the Prince of Peace. Our hope in God’s peace and our faith in God’s providence come together in this season. It is our unfilled voids that yearn for God’s shalom that leads to wholeness. Advent is a time for us to reveal ourselves even as God is revealed in the birth of small child, for it is in our humility that we gain the perspective, courage, and strength to wait.

The pastor-theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, described this beautifully:

“Advent can be celebrated only by those whose souls give them no peace, who know that they are poor and incomplete, and who sense something of the greatness that is supposed to come, before which they can only bow in humble timidity, waiting until he inclines himself toward us – the Holy One himself, God in the child in the manger. “God is coming. Rejoice, O Christendom!”

Please plan to celebrate the waiting with others and join us for Sunday services during Advent and for the Christmas Eve service at 6:30 PM.

December 2014 “The Messenger of Love” Vol. 8 Issue 12 Ka Elele Aloha Christ Church, Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians Worship—Sundays 10 am 1300 Kailua Rd., Kailua, HI 96734 Phone: (808) 262-6911 Rev. Dwight Morita, Interim Pastor Website—www.ccukailua.org Email—ccu@hawaii.rr.com

H o p e

P e a c e

J o y

L o v e

Page 2

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, O Adult Study 10 am, S Worship & Aloha Fellowship Wednesdays: 6:30pm Chancel Ringers (bells) rehearsal 7:30pm Chancel Choir rehearsal 12/6, 8:00 am Men’s Monthly Breakfast Honey’s Restaurant @ Ko’olau Golf 12/7, 8:30 am Hi5 collection in CCU parking lot 12/7, 11:15 am Mtg of Congregation, after worship &

Aloha Fellowship 12/7 - 12/14 CCU hosts Family Promise 12/13, 9:00 am M & O Commission Mtg (O) 12/13, 10:30 am Women’s Fellowship Brunch 12/16, 6:30pm Stated Council Meeting (O) 12/23, 10am Jan. newsletter information deadline 12/24, 6:30pm Christmas Eve Service 12/25 Christmas Day - Office closed 12/26 Church Office closed 1/1/15 New Year’s Day - Church Office closed 1/2/15 Church Office closed

Christmas Eve Service 6:30 pm

Invite your family & friends to celebrate Christmas Eve at CCU. The sanctuary will be filled with carols, candlelight and beautiful music from the choir. There will be a Children’s Moment & nursery care will be available.

Sunday, Dec 7th, 8:30-11:30 pm

HI-5 CONTAINER PICK-UP DAY at CCU.

No 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!

Family Promise at CCU December 7 - 14, 2014

Help Needed:

Overnight hosts are needed.

Volunteers to help set up the rooms on Dec 6th @ 8:30am

Contact Marian Heidel at 261-4585 or 358-6345 or email her at mheidel808@icloud.com

Mission and Outreach Commission Meeting

Saturday, December 13th at 9:00 am

Everyone is welcome to attend

Meeting will be in the Ohana room

Page 3

Greening Your Holidays by Char Hosenfeld

of CCU Green Team

(Revised from the December 2006 CCU Thinks Green column) Christmas has become synonymous with consumption. Buying gifts,

cards, wrapping paper, lights, and all the other accouterments of the holidays has become an expected part of the season.

Between Thanksgiving and the New Year an estimated 25 million tons of garbage are generated in the U.S.; this is an extra million tons of waste each week. 38,000 miles of ribbon alone are thrown out each year – enough to tie a bow around the Earth. As consumers, we (often needlessly) contribute to pollution, global warming, poverty of our global neighbors, and the pain of the planet. We can do better.

What better time than the holiday season to Think Green? Even one small change makes a difference. To address both the spiritual aspects of the season and the environmental impact of our actions, I offer some suggestions:

Be a conscious consumer – consider what you buy, where it came from, and its future impact on the planet

Give handmade gifts

Buy locally made items

Avoid excessive packaging

Give gift certificates for your time & talents (cook dinner or play music for a friend, haul away recyclables, provide childcare)

Help kids make gifts

Send cards made of 100% recycled paper, or send tree-free cards (or e-cards)

Wrap in recycled paper (such as old sheet music/maps, wallpaper samples, comic pages)

Help kids make wrapping by coloring or stamping old paper

Make and wrap gifts in reusable fabric bags that you can use to trade gifts with friends and family for decades

Wrap gifts in cloth napkins, kitchen towels, or handkerchiefs so the wrapping becomes part of the present

Tie packages with reusable ribbon, fabric, raffia, or yarn

Use natural package decorations (e.g., flowers, shells, driftwood, herbs)

Pack gifts to send to the Mainland in popcorn instead of Styrofoam

Give solar-powered radios, flashlights, or device chargers

Use cloth napkins at meals

Buy organic

Make gift tags from last year’s cards

Decorate your tree with memorabilia and vacation souvenirs

Create a family recipe book to give to relatives

Give gifts that are durable and will be long-lasting

Use your CCU Thinks Green (and other) reusable bags for all your shopping

Give tickets to a play, a concert, a movie

Create family traditions focused on helping others less fortunate

Have family and dinner guests write the things they are grateful for or their prayers for others, then take turns reading them aloud after dinner

Light beeswax, (GMO-free) soy or other vegetable wax candles instead of petroleum based ones

Recycle your tree to be made into mulch

Continued to the next page

Page 4

Adult Study Advent Series . . . Dec. 7, 14, 21 8:30 am, Ohana Room As announced earlier, Advent began the last Sunday of November; an exploration of the Christmas themes found in some short stories. Here is the schedule and you are welcome to join us: Nov. 30 - “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry Dec. 7 - “Where Love Is, God Is” by Leo Tolstoy Dec. 14 - “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus” Dec. 21 - “Why the Chimes Rang” by R. M. Alden We meet in the Ohana Room at 8:30 on Sunday mornings.

Continued from page three

Give a gift membership or donations of time or money to a local, national or global social or earth justice organization such as:

FACE

Family Promise

Institute for Human Services (IHS)

The Hawaii Sierra Club (www.sierraclubhawaii.com)

The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org/hawaii)

Green America( www.greenamerica.org)

Make (& implement) green resolutions for the New Year.

Every action matters…..

Merry Christmas!

JANUARY CLASS FOR ADULTS

Beginning on January 11, 2015 there will be a four-session class exploring a variety of questions related to health care and end-of-life choices. The material being presented and the discussions that follow will be focused on extending our quality of living; as contrasted with a more formidable consideration of the reality of death (our cup is half-full not half-empty!!) Every person, no matter their age or current healthfulness, needs to be aware of the options facing us in regard to aging, illness and tragic accidents. For example, we will learn about the difference between life-prolonging care, limited medical care and comfort care. HMSA will provide a series of videos and other educational aides along with a representative to answer our questions. Documents for Advanced Directives and Durable Power of Attorney will also be provided. In addition, they are offering a book , “The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of-Life Care” by Angelo E. Volandes, M.D. for each member of the class. Please let John Heidel know if you are interested in attending by Dec. 15 so we’ll know how many books to order (261-4585 or jheidel808@icloud.com).

Page 5

A Beautiful flower

arrangement provided

by the P. M. Tchou

family in loving memory

of Gregory K. H.

Tchou.

November 23rd

Memories... by Rosemary Allen

How man of you readers have cold-weather memories at this time of the year?! Somehow, a snowy Wisconsin childhood Christmas brings me wonderful such memories.

Somehow, as a child it never “bothered” me that all the stories & pictures of Jesus & his followers depicted “warm weather” scenes with sandy roads and grassy banks of green for his story-telling times. Of course going to my study school in those winters involved snow suits and boots! (mittens, too).

Do you have a variety of locales for your

Christmas memories? Perhaps we could gather them up to share some time -- a world-wide variety, I expect!

Some of our travelers have already been

“there and back” before the holidays. Jean &

Tom Tsuji have been to Michigan & back while Marian Heidel was on the west coast (John joined her just before Thanksgiving). I “heard” that our twin babies are going to the east coast

(yes, parents Scott & Kathleen Freeman are going along!). Probably more holiday news will be coming up -- perhaps in the New Year!

By the time you read this the CCU sanctuary

will have some touches of Christmas decorations and symbols of this special season including out beautiful Christmas angel shining on high. Many CCU members through the years have created the beautiful hangings, wreaths, banners, and other artistry for these special

days of Advent and Christmas itself. On Christmas eve the manger scene and baby Jesus will be with us one and all!

Page 6

More Memories... by Rosemary Allen

Several years ago we did a series of articles about many of CCU’s furnishings -- many of them memorial gifts. From time to time I’d like again to tell of some -- back to early days & some more recent.

Our eyes are so often drawn to the stained glass window, a wonderful depiction of Jesus and the children and a memorial to Maile Leilani Gilbert (granddaughter of Bruce & Pat),

dedicated in 1987. Jesus is seen in a Hawaiian setting, surrounded by a circular rainbow and holding a group of children of Hawaii’s diverse cultures, wo are bringing leis in love to Him.

Just below the memorial window and

at either side of the double-door “front” entry are the Christian and American flags given by June Grantham in memory of her brother, Carl Hess. Nearby is the organ, instrument of so much inspiring music, a memorial to Donald Almy (husband of our late choir director Camille).

A three-octave set of handbells is another part of our musical heritage. These bells were given in 1983 as a memorial to Gregory Tchou (son of Peter & Cynthia), Carolyn Rex (former member and teacher), and Christine Smith (mother of Pat Gilbert). Beautiful banners, changing according to the liturgical

seasons, have been created and given by many people over the years. In recent times, Mary Ann Wyman and Jan Stiles have been among those talented artists. Mary Ann also created the colorful woven butterfly which flies above us each Eastertime.

A most unusual part of the CCU sanctuary is the

giant half-clam shell which is our baptismal font, given to us--as Christ Presbyterian Church. Organized as a church in 1963--by the Kaneohe Ministers Association. Of course, the other vital part of the sacrament of baptism is this merged church family is the large immersion pool concealed behind the handsome rail and altar-top under our central cross. The cross used in worship at Windward Christian church is now hanging in the pastor’s study in this building.

Even the pew seating we enjoy now comes

partly from memorial giving--as indeed does the church building itself. (Did you know that for many

years we had only rows of folding chairs?) There are long lists of people who contributed to these funds -- people from near and far, many who now live elsewhere and many who still right here! Their loving gifts have enriched all of us as we worship together -- and we say MAHALO!

Page 7

CCU 4th Annual Craft Fair Saturday, November 29th

Page 8

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 12/7 Dwight Morita Minister Susan & Loren Wilson Ushers/Greeters Susie Jannuzzi Liturgist Susie Jannuzzi Scripture Reader Aly Miles Keiki Sermon Marian Heidel T Prayer/Serve Comm./Bldg Lock-up

Miles Family Advent Candle lighting 12/14 Dwight Morita Minister Paul & Dottie Brennan Ushers/Greeters Claire Schrader Liturgist Claire Schrader Scripture Reader Beth Davidann Keiki Sermon Susie Jannuzzi T Prayer/Serve Comm./Bldg Lock-up Krieger Family Advent Candle lighting 12/21 Dwight Morita Minister Paul Haring Ushers/Greeters Melissa Belanger Ushers/Greeters Courtney Nichols Liturgist Courtney Nichols Scripture Reader Kathy Summers Keiki Sermon Aly Miles T Prayer/Serve Comm./Bldg Lock-up Stiles Family Advent Candle lighting 12/24 Dwight Morita Minister Richard Smith & Elayne Cho Ushers/Greeters Claire Schrader Liturgist Claire Schrader Scripture Reader Brian McCreanor Keiki Sermon Jon Davidann T Prayer/Serve Comm./Bldg Lock-up McCreanor Family Advent Candle lighting 12/28 Paul Brennan Minister Clancy & Cathy Lyman Ushers/Greeters Beth Davidann Liturgist

Beth Davidann Scripture Reader Dianne Brookins Keiki Sermon Marian Heidel T Prayer/Serve Comm./Bldg Lock-up

Birthdays December

Melissa Belanger ......................... 2 George Wyman .......................... 3 Jill Bartow ..................................... 7 Beth Davidann ............................. 8 Cheryl Renfroe............................. 9 Pat Gilbert.................................. 17 Kalia Buck Medeiros ................. 22 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

December Tellers: Loren Wilson and Clancy Lyman

December

Flower Calendar 12/7 Open 12/14 & 21 *Everyone: Poinsettias 12/28 Open

Everyone: Please bring a poinsettia plant to church with you on 12/14 &

21 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.

Page 9

CC

U D

ecem

ber C

alen

da

r

ww

w.ccu

kailu

a.org

/ccu-m

onth

ly-calen

dar/