STAY FAITHFUL, STAY
CONNECTED, STAY COMMUNITY!
HAPPY ROOSEVELT GRADUATION ADAM!
MAY 20, 2020!
CLICK BELOW TO CELEBRATE ADAM!
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CCH
IPT WEDNESDAY (INTENTIONAL PRAYER TIME)
by Kathy Young
Hawaii's COVID-19 positive cases have been at "0" for two days in a row!! HALLELUJAH...PRAISE THE LORD!!
As the state returns to
slow-and-cautious increased activity, we are still urged to stay at home to
truly be safe. Like you, I wonder what our "new normal" will be
like. I've actually spoken to some of you, and everyone says the same
thing: "I MISS EVERYBODY AT COMMUNITY CHURCH AND HOPE WE CAN WORSHIP
TOGETHER REAL SOON!"
We Intentionally
PRAY:
· for continued
safety and peace. May we use this precious time--provided by YOU, oh
God--to ask how we can use our lives to better shine your
light and share your love.
· that we always
remember to be grateful, focusing on what YOU have provided, each moment and
each day.
· about the future of
our graduates and all of our youth. Help them use this time to reflect on
their lives. YOU have placed your hands on their shoulders and guided
each one. Let them know that your presence, your love, and your blessings
are the "lamp to their feet, the light on their path". Continue
to show them the way, dear Lord, so they will dedicate their lives to serving
others as "good and faithful servants".
· about the health
and vibrancy of the Community Church of Honolulu, oh God. Guide many
worshipers to Reverend Norwick's virtual Sunday services. Expand our
community of faith to include all who seek and want to know
YOU!! Help us build relationships, offering our body of Christ as a safe
and friendly family of faith.
· prayers of support
and sustenance to Reverend Norwick, Pastor Frances, Ardis, Hari, Glenn, Nate,
and our CCH leaders. Each one has shown--by example--that YOU
help them be resilient, demonstrating their faith that is so strong.
Your Spirit has helped us Stay Faithful, Stay Connected, and BE a
Community. We praise YOU!!
· that you protect
all who put themselves at risk to ensure that we are well, fed, and safe.
· in support of those
in our community whose businesses and livelihood are at a crossroads.
Show them the way to a better path or future, oh Lord.
· for those who mourn
the loss of loved ones, especially the families of Sau Chun Wong Chun, Alice
Urabe, Clifford Chong, Kee Fun Lee, and Suelyn Tune.
· about those who are
ill, dealing with pain or suffering, wrought with anxiety and worry, feeling
lonely or isolated, and for all those who need our prayers.
A
YOUTHFUL VOICE
AMY TABA’S GREAT USE OF SHELTERING-AT-HOME TIME!
(Editor’s
note: I asked Amy to share her reflections about this time and, as expected,
she brought her usual zest and creativity to bear. Enjoy her two forms of reflections! Pastor Frances)
Unlike
my usual busy schedule, I have had a lot of time to improve and explore my more
creative side as an artist, rather than a performer. Between school, sports,
and clubs, it is hard to find the time to create new things. This quarantine
has been an amazing time for me to step out of my comfort zone. This is one of
my first mashups, a mix between How Great is our God, and What a
Wonderful World. I chose these two songs because this time has reminded me
of what a wonderful world God has created for us, and we must keep him close to
our hearts. I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment
on the video! Click the link to view.
(Editor's tip: You start playing any of the videos in these newsletters by clicking anywhere on the picture with an arrow in the middle. Once you open it, you can enlarge the video by hovering your cursor on the bottom of the video and then clicking on the broken square that appears on the bottom right hand side of the screen. When the video is playing, you can get rid of pop up message ads by carefully clicking on the "X" on the upper right hand side of the ad.)
GRAD SUNDAY
(Editor’s note: CCH
traditionally celebrates graduates on the Sunday of the last day of church
school—spotlighting the students who will be joining the Youth Group and the
high school seniors. This year, Pastor Holly will be celebrating Grad Sunday
this Sunday, May 24th. And,
while we usually do not spotlight our college graduates, we made an exception
this year because of the cancelled commencement exercises. Pastor Frances)
LAUREN CHEN
Comments during worship from
Auntie Bobbi, Lauren’s Sunday School teacher:
[We] celebrate with you as
you move up to middle school and the youth group `ohana. . . . We all hope to
hear you play piano soon. Your talents and your passion for the piano are
evident when you play; it brings joy to everyone. We want to send you off with your own special
Bible and a little prayer—Lauren, we thank God that you were with us in class
this year. May God's word continue to be
a lamp for your feet and a light for your path.
May you grow in wisdom and faith and trust in the Lord with all your
heart. May you have many joyful times in
Youth Group and we look forward to hearing about them. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
And part of Lauren’s
response:
Auntie Bobbi, thank you for
the Bible. The color and pattern and
texture are very unique and thank you for the prayer. I really enjoyed being in your class last year
and for third grade and fourth grade.
ADAM TABA
Comments during worship from
Auntie Pat, Youth Group director:
Adam [will] attend the
University of Oregon to pursue a degree in information technology leading to
his further goals of becoming a cyber security analyst. You might recall him in the back of the
church on Sundays with Ryan Urabe, honing his skills. Adam has always fully participated in the Youth
Group fundraising efforts and never needed a reminder of why you were there
putting in the time. He knew the purpose
as he had participated in a previous mission trip and knew how it can change
someone's perspective on life. I along
with our entire congregation are so proud of you, Adam, and we cover you in
prayer as you succeed in your future endeavors.
Lastly, when asked his favorite biblical character, he replied, “Well .
. . ADAM, of course!” As you go into the
world, stay centered on your faith, the love of your family, and return the
love you have received to those who enter your life. Go with the blessings of God in all that you
do. Aloha!
And part of Adam’s response:
Thank you to Auntie Pat and the entire congregation for being there my
entire life. I've been going to church for as long as I can remember. And, leaving Hawaii is the next big step in
my journey. Thank you to Auntie Pat because
she was my youth group leader for these last few years but also thank you Auntie
Bobbi and Auntie Arlene for all those Sunday school lessons and the entire
congregation because they’ve just been so heartwarming and welcoming. Thank you!
EVAN UYENO
MAGNA. CUM. LAUDE.
Evan graduated Magna Cum Laude on May 8th from the Aerospace and
Mechanical Engineering school in the Gallogly College of Engineering at the
University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, with a Bachelor of Science in
Mechanical Engineering. Evan already has
a good job in a management development program of a major company! He plans to be home this summer so, if you want to send a card, please send it to his home address
in Honolulu. CONGRATULATIONS, EVAN!! Your church family is so very proud of you. Imua.
As a treat for us, here is a
video of Evan singing “The Summer Wind” with the Punahou Jazz Band.
Since Evan could not have a
graduation at the campus, here are some photos of the campus so we can have a
bit of U.O. here in Honolulu.
 |
| South Lawn |
 |
| Fall |
 |
| Felgar Hall Engineering Quad |
 |
| Winter |
 |
| Spring |
TO THE GRADUATES: COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA
President Barack Obama delivered
a virtual commencement address Saturday to every HBCU (Historically Black
Colleges and Universities) at once to more than 27,000 HBCU students from 78
schools, including UNCF’s (United Negro College Fund) 37 member
institutions.
The President offered three
pieces of advice that apply to all graduates.
“First, make sure you ground
yourself in actual communities with real people — working whenever you can at
the grass-roots level. The fight for equality and justice begins with
awareness, empathy, passion, even righteous anger. Don’t just activate yourself
online. Change requires strategy, action, organizing, marching, and voting in
the real world like never before.”
“Second, you can’t do it
alone. Meaningful change requires allies in common cause. As African Americans,
we are particularly attuned to injustice, inequality, and struggle. But that
also should make us more alive to the experiences of others who’ve been left
out and discriminated against. . . . As Fannie Lou Hamer once said, ‘nobody’s
free until everybody’s free.’”
“And finally, as H.B.C.U.
graduates, you have to remember that you are inheritors of one of America’s
proudest traditions. . . . [You hold] the power to shine brightly for justice,
and for equality, and for joy. You’ve earned your degree. And it’s up to you to
use it. So many of us believe in you. I’m so proud of you. And as you set out
to change the world, we’ll be the wind at your back.”
“Congratulations Class of
2020, and God bless all of you.”
WE END THIS PAGE WITH AN APT COMMENCEMENT ANTHEM
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