8/26/2020 Newsletter

STAY FAITHFUL,

STAY CONNECTED,

STAY COMMUNITY!

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

THE WEEKEND EVENTS AT CCH HAVE BEEN CANCELLED.  

The FOODBANK and FAMILY PROMISE collections and drive through CELEBRATION FOR PASTOR FRANCES are postponed in response to the just-announced two week lockdown.

DUE TO THE CHANGING SITUATION OF THE PANDEMIC, NEW DATES WILL BE DETERMINED LATER.

Meanwhile, remember . . . 

keep laughing just for the joy of it . . . 

and Pastor Frances sends you a good bye hug!!

PASTOR HOLLY’S OFFICE HOURS

Virtual Pastor's Office Hours August  23^rd -29^th
I look forward to learning more about each of you and sharing my life and my stories with you also. The following are the virtual office hours for Aug 19^th– Aug 22^nd.Please email me or call me using the contact information below and claim your spot! If none of these time slots fits into your schedule, please let me know and I will find a time that works for you!

Wednesday August 26th  12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm
Thursday, August 27th    12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm
Friday, August 28th         12:00pm, 12:30pm, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:00pm, 2:30pm
Saturday, Aug 29th          8:00am, 8:30am, 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 10:30am

If you have any questions about the worship or fellowship, please reach to:
Call or Text: 808-371-4701 -OR- Email:hollynorwick@gmail.com

CCH IPT WEDNESDAY

(INTENTIONAL PRAYER TIME)

by Kathy Young

ORDINATION - May 5, 2019: Ardis Gomes, Reverend Frances Wong,
Ann Miller, & Judith Hughes

The Honorable Reverend Frances Q.F. Wong leaves CCH on August 31, 2020.  This is her last newsletter! 

For three challenging, heartbreaking, and critical years--and during the unspeakable 5-month (so far) pandemic--Pastor Frances has served God and the Community Church of Honolulu with fervor, creativity, conviction, compassion, and love.  She has worked harder than all of us, dedicating more than full-time energy for her part-time Associate Pastor of Christian Education position.  She has loved us, taught us, and enhanced our faith journeys.

We know that God is pleased with this "good and faithful servant".  Our prayers go with the Reverend Frances Wong as she continues her journey.  Ministers are CALLED to serve.  Frances III [as she's affectionately named, because we have two other Francises in our midst] truly "LIVED her Calling".  Reverend Wong has touched and changed us forever.  We will miss her tremendously!

Dear Lord, we pray:

• "Our Father, which art in heaven; Hallowed be thy name.  Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done.  On earth as it is in heaven..." [Matthew 6:9-10] KJV 

• "...Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors..." [Matthew 6:12] KJV 

• deep prayers of thanksgiving for the Reverend Frances QF Wong.  We pause to thank you for the many ways she touched us, serving as a shining example of how your love is generously shared through one person.  We ask that you continue to walk with, guide, and embrace her as she continues her journey of faith and service.  Protect her from harm; keep her safe and well.  Fill her heart with our sincere messages of affection and appreciation; a piece of each of our hearts goes with her.  Frances III will forever be a part of our CCH 'ohana. 

• prayers of gratitude for our hard-working staff:  Pastor Holly, Ardis, Glenn, Hari, and Nate.  They continue to face and conquer huge challenges while fulfilling their duties, due to the ongoing COVID crisis. 

• to support our Executive Committee, Council, Search Committee, and hard-working Facilities/CIP group.  A recent Council meeting revealed a myriad of issues they face, made more complex and challenging by the ongoing shutdown.  We offer intercessory prayers for each member and each team.  Provide wisdom, energy, great problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills to all, oh Lord. 

• asking that you heal and give comfort to those who are sick or recovering from injuries and medical procedures.  Special prayers for Clara Richards, her husband Bob, and others who need our prayers. 

• our support to those who have lost loved ones.  Special love and prayers to Thelma Nip and her family, Noni Bienfang and her family, and all those who have lost loved ones.  They continue to be in our prayers. 

• for every person in our CCH 'ohana.  Keep each safe and well, and provide protection for loved ones near and far. 

• that our Hawaii leaders work together effectively to stop the frightening COVID-19 spread.  Help each of us wear masks, refrain from touching our face, stay away from others, wash our hands, and follow all community restrictions. 

• asking you to bless all educators, administrators, school personnel and families, first responders, medical teams, and all those who face unprecedented hardships when doing their jobs!! 

• about those facing economic, emotional, physical, or mental challenges made worse by this unprecedented months-long pandemic.  Encourage each of us to call, text, email, FaceTime, or Zoom, touching those who are within or even outside our usual "Circles of Care". 

• for Pastor Frances, Pastor Dean, Pastor Holly, and all our ministers past and present who have cared for us.

• prayers for those in our hearts.

CONNECTIONS

GIVE ALOHA AT FOODLAND AND SACK N SAVE!

It’s that time of the year again!  You know the drill.  Use your Maika’i card and donate up to $249 to Community Church of Honolulu, code number 78480.

How It Works

From September 1-30, customers are invited to make donations of up to $249 to participating Hawaii non-profit organizations at checkout.  Donations are accepted at any Foodland, Sack N Save or Foodland Farms checkout.  Foodland and the Western Union Foundation will match a portion of each donation.  Individuals must use their own Maika'i number to make a donation.  Donations made without a Maika'i number will not be matched.

How to Donate

At checkout, present your Maika'i card (or provide your number) and inform the cashier that you would like to make a donation to Community Church of Honolulu, code number 78480.  If you do not have a Maika'i card/number, you may request to establish one.  Your donation will be added to your grocery purchase total.  You may donate up to $249 per organization; any portion exceeding $249 will not be matched.  The amount you donate and the name of our organization will appear on your receipt.  Donations must be payable to Foodland or Sack N Save.

TITHES, PLEDGES, AND DONATIONS

Remember to send in your tithes, pledges, and donations!  If you already pay bills regularly through your bank, credit union, or credit card, please consider adding Community Church of Honolulu to your list of automatic payments.

Or, old school (!), please send in your checks made out to Community Church of Honolulu to the church office:

2345 Nuuanu Ave.

Honolulu, HI  96817

Remember to write out the full name of the church or our bank cannot honor the check. 

THANK YOU FOR GIVING FROM A WILLING HEART AND WITH A GENEROUS SPIRIT!!

Frances Q. F. Wong

Services of Ordination and Installation

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Charge Given to the Ordinand by Kathy Young

In 2017, our beloved pastor, Reverend Ronald Williams, called the now Reverend Frances Wong to work with him on her ordination process while serving as CCH's part-time Christian Education Director.  Ten months later, Pastor Ron died suddenly, and Frances put aside her ordination/installation plans to help all of us--first Pastor Ron's beloved wife Ku'ulei, then also the entire Community Church family.  I believe that Frances Wong is an angel sent by God.

While many of you have enjoyed decades-long friendships with her, I've had the privilege of knowing retired judge, the Honorable Reverend Frances Wong for only two years.  During that time, I've been astounded at how much she can accomplish at any given time.  Smart, creative, no-nonsense, self-sacrificing, nurturing, grounded in her faith in and love of God, Frances has embraced our Community Church 'ohana and--when she eventually moves on to another ministry--she will leave shoes impossible to fill.

How can I "give a charge" to such a woman?  She is educated, trained, and talented in so many arenas.  Not only that, Frances has a heart of gold.  You know, she may even "walk on water"!!  When I think that she must be overloaded with too many things to juggle, she plans a water play day with a sleepover for our little kids.  Or she decides--without being asked--to teach a 6-week class on "Embracing the Bible", where she displays artifacts from the Honolulu Art Academy and encourages us to approach God's word from a variety of perspectives.  Or she writes her own Christmas pageant, highlighting the personalities and talents of each individual child while relaying a local version of the Christmas story.

I've been to many women's retreats, but when Frances joined us, we belly danced!!  During last year's Family Camp, she encouraged a mix of families and generations to perform skits based on Jesus' parables.  We sang, we laughed, we prayed, we learned!  We will always remember that time together.

Frances, I think God sent you to not only help the people of Community Church appreciate and love each other as God's people, but also to direct us toward deeper Faith Formation and Discovery.  I humbly ask that you:

1.  Continue to love and nurture us all, especially our children, youth, college students, and young families.

2.  Bless the 2020 Youth Mission Trip with your special Frances Wong inspiration and energy.  You will help make it an experience of a lifetime for all participants.

3.  Keep nurturing adult co-facilitators on faith-building study opportunities.  Encourage us to be "spark plugs" when studying the Bible or exploring ways to broaden our faith.

Pastor Ron has been gone for almost a year.  During all this time, you've been working more than full time for us when--because you still work for the judiciary--you initially declared that you could only manage part-time work.  Part of my "charge" is to urge you to take more time for yourself.  Play that cello, pound that Taiko drum, practice your belly dance.  Explore your wide range of interests.  You celebrate God and life through each of these.  They make you happy, as does the love and support of all those present in this sanctuary.  I believe you deserve every bit of happiness God can provide, Frances!!  We all are blessed to be part of your spiritual journey and witness God's plan unfold for you. 

Pastor Frances’ Specific Acknowledgments

There are so many of you who contributed to my ministry as well as my personal and spiritual growth.  I have tried to express my thanks to as many of you as I can, which is a bit tough with us distanced from each other.  You know how something nice happens to you but there are so many people to thank that you don’t want to single out anyone because you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings?  This is how I am feeling right now.  But I have to make an exception to cover the specific period of time that began with the lockdown in March.

Right after lockdown, I needed to put in place as many effective systems of connection as possible for CCH.  It was bad enough that we were all in shock about how Covid-19 was so virulent and contagious.  Then, overnight, we also found ourselves isolated from our very support systems we rely on in crisis, including seeing each other every Sunday to worship and then enjoy fellowship.

I want to acknowledge the three people I have leaned on and who were indispensable to everything I was able to do for CCH in response to this pandemic:  Ardis Gomes, Kathy Young, and Gwen Murakami. 

Ardis, with the support of the Executive Committee and Building and Maintenance, turned the church office into a safety bubble that allowed Ardis to work as if she were home and isolated.  This proved to be key to the continued administration of CCH operations in the midst of uncertainty and continually shifting federal, state, and city requirements.  Ardis and I quickly discovered that our communication technology needed a serious upgrade.  The first few newsletters took Ardis hours to distribute over the internet.  We had to keep at it because “snail mail” would not get information out to you all quickly enough and the cost would have been prohibitive.  On top of all her expertise, Ardis performs her work with great faith and a big heart.  She is a remarkable person to work with and learn from and, as icing on the cake, we make each other laugh.

Kathy, someone who already powered the Prayer Warriors and was already drafting a weekly “Intentional Prayer Time”, was the person I had immediately turned to for help constructing communications bridges for the whole congregation and circles of care to surround some of the church members who might be in more need during these traumatic times.  Kathy quickly became my sounding board on practically every important decision that I approached.  She is wise and has deep institutional memory, which informed many aspects of the newsletter, including writing sensitive remembrances of members and friends of CCH who had passed on.  We also make each other laugh.

Gwen and I have been friends because Paul and I have been and are friends and colleagues (but, it’s hard for Paul to be a girlfriend).  Gwen’s sensibilities also informed my decisions.  Although she and I are alike in many ways, Gwen is a nicer person.  This doesn’t quite correctly define the difference that I rely on (it’s not like I’m a mean person or anything like that, and, besides, she’s not that nice!) but it approaches the reason why I would run questions and decisions by her.  She provides me with a balancing point of view.  We also make each other laugh.

Both Gwen and Kathy served as the editorial board for this Stay Community! Newsletter.  They spent hours each week helping to massage the version that was sent out Wednesday morning.  I would often send them random emails at weird hours throughout the week asking whether it would be OK for me to use a quote or a YouTube video.  Every Tuesday night was their time to pore over the final draft to find the tiniest typos.  They were the best sounding board for what I had to do for both church matters as well as the newsletter.  And, yes, we made each other laugh, a lot and really hard.

GOOD BYE AND GODSPEED

From Pastor Frances

This Sunday’s worship service will include the following “Ending an Authorized Ministry” litany.  My thanks to Pastor Holly (who had to wake up in the middle of the night to tape this), the Rev. Richard Kamanu, Associate Conference Minister of the Hawaii Conference, members of the Executive Committee, and past and present leadership of the Christian Education Committee.

Litany from the UCC Book of Worship for Ending an Authorized Ministry

GREETING

Bobbi: 

Our church family is constantly changing.  It is important and right that we recognize these times of passages.  Today we share a time of farewell with Pastor Frances who is leaving CCH.

RECOGNITION OF THE END

Holly:

In 2017, Community Church of Honolulu hired Frances Wong as Christian Education Director and in 2019 to serve as Associate Minister for Christian Education.

Frances:

I thank Community Church of Honolulu, its members and friends, for the love, kindness, and support shown me these last three years. I ask forgiveness for the mistakes I have made. I am grateful for the ways my leadership has been accepted. As I leave, I carry with me all that I have learned here.

Paul: 

We receive your thankfulness, offer forgiveness, and accept that you now leave to return to your home church.

Ryan:

We express our gratitude for your time among us. We ask your forgiveness for our mistakes.

Arnold:

Your influence on our faith and faithfulness will not leave us at your departure.

Frances:

I forgive you and accept your gratitude, trusting that our time together and our parting are pleasing to God.

VOWS OF RELEASE

Holly: 

Do you, Marti, as Christian Education Chair and representing the members and friends of Community Church of Honolulu, release Frances from the duties of her position as Associate Minister for Christian Education?

Marti: 

We do, with the help of God.

Holly: 

Do you offer your encouragement for her ministry as it unfolds in new ways?

Marti: 

We do with the help of God.

Richard: 

Do you, Frances, release this local church from turning to you and depending on you?

Frances: 

I do, with the help of God.

Richard: 

Do you offer your encouragement for the continued ministry here and on the relationship with another who will come to serve?

Frances:

I do, with the help of God.

Richard: 

On behalf of the Oahu Association, the Hawaii Conference, and the United Church of Christ, I witness to the words spoken: words of thankfulness, forgiveness, and release. The member churches of our association and conference hold each of you in prayer. We pledge our support in the transitions signified in the service.

Marti: 

Thanks be to God.

David Taba: 

Let us pray.  God, whose everlasting love for all is trustworthy, help each of us to trust the future which rests in your care.

Rosita: 

The time we were together in your name saw our laughter and tears, our hopes and disappointments.

Gwen: 

Guide us as we hold these cherished memories but move in new directions, until that time to come when we are completely one with you and with each other, in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

BENEDICTION

Maria: 

Go now, Frances, surrounded by our love and led by the promises of God, the presence of Jesus Christ, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

LAST ALOHA FROM FRANCES

Sisters and brothers of Community Church.  I leave having received much more from you than what I have given.  You are special people and a special congregation.  I am so grateful to God for allowing me to serve you.  I will miss you.

ALOHA OE

ENJOY

This is one of favorite secular singer/songwriter who happens to be Christian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOcVER0WqU

Owl City - My Everything (Official Video)

Writer: Adam Young

BENEDICTION SING ALONG

You Are Called to Tell the Story by Ruth Duck, New Century Hymnal No. 357

1. You are called to tell the story,

passing words of life along,

Then to blend your voice with others

as you sing the sacred song.

Christ be known in all our singing,

filling all with songs of love.

2. You are called to teach the rhythm

of the dance that never ends,

Then to move within the circle,

hand in hand with strangers, friends.

Christ be known in all our dancing,

touching all with hands of love.

3. You are called to set the table,

blessing bread as Jesus blessed,

Then to come with thirst and hunger,

needing care like all the rest.

Christ be known in all our sharing,

feeding all with signs of love.

4. May the One whose love is broader

than the measure of all space

Give us words to sing the story,

move among us in this place.

Christ be known in all our living,

filling all with gifts of love.

  

Sing this song to the tune Regent Square, which is also the tune for Angels from the Realm of Glory, just ignore the words on this video (until Christmas!).

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4CPa_H0GEk

Angels from the Realms of Glory - Christmas piano instrumental with lyrics

Kaleb Brasee

  

And, once you are comfortable with this simple tune, you can enjoy it with a less familiar tune (this is really beautiful just to listen to).

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u3d01QpDzk

St Swithin's Church, Bath-You Are Called to Tell The Story

My friends at Community Church of Honolulu,

thank you for your nurture these past 3 years.

May the One whose love is broader

than the measure of all space

Give us words to sing the story,

move among us in this place.

Christ be known in all our living,

filling all with gifts of love.

 Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into instant flame by an encounter with another human being.
Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Editor’s note by Pastor Frances: This is my last Stay Community! Newsletter.  However, you will be able to access this site using this URL.

https://cchstaycommunity.blogspot.com

You can copy and paste this URL or just click on this sentence to get to the homepage.

From that site, you can access all previous newsletters.  They are listed in the right-hand column under “Table of Contents.”  You can also access many of the photos I have taken during my time at CCH.  These photos are organized by year.  Look at the bottom of the “Table of Contents”, click on the year you are interested in.  You can download or copy any of my photos for your own use.