STAY FAITHFUL, STAY
CONNECTED, STAY COMMUNITY!
MODERATOR’S MESSAGE
by Paul Murakami
In the interest of
transparency and increasing communication within the CCH Ohana, I am going to
make a genuine attempt to maintain a weekly Message as part of this
Newsletter. I apologize in advance to
our more literate sisters and brothers who may be reading this and cringing at
the prospect of having to read what I write, but you have my word that we are
going forward with at least the best of intentions.
First, if you’re not already
on Pastor Holly’s Facebook or Zoom gatherings on Wednesday and Sunday, and
Pastor Frances’ Bible Study on Zoom on Wednesdays, you are missing out on a
fabulous opportunity to connect in real time with your sisters and brothers
from CCH. I know many of us are shy or
technologically challenged or the like, but it won’t cost you anything to check
it out, and Zoom is a unique way to get to see other people’s living rooms from
the comfort of your own. It’s a great
way to say hello to each other, share news and bring each other up to
date. So please make it a point to try
it out either this Wednesday or Sunday. Every
week, the links to the service on YouTube and all the other Zoom and Facebook
events are sent to everyone via email.
Secondly, as announced on
this past Sunday’s Zoom, the Executive Committee is establishing a new e-mail
that anyone can use to address concerns, share thoughts, ask questions or just
simply establish a contact with the Ministries of CCH. Although being able to just go up to myself,
or Arnold, David, Rosita, Ryan or Gwen at Aloha Hour on a Sunday is the easiest
and best way of finding something out or giving feedback, we just don’t have
that for the moment.
Therefore, we are launching
the e-mail address CCHEnvisioning3@gmail.com for just that purpose. So, whenever you have a question, comment,
concern or a “beef”, please just drop us a line. We are particularly interested in what the
Congregation thinks about re-opening the Campus. I will read every submission, reply to the
best of my ability, or forward it to who I believe can. Looking forward to your submissions!!!
Thirdly, as noted in last
week’s Moderator’s Message, any CCH Member (or anyone wanting to be a Member)
is invited to take part in the next General Council Zoom Meeting on
Saturday, June 27, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
If you are interested in attending but not already on Council, please
send your e-mail or contact information to CCHEnvisioning3@gmail.com so we can
send you an invitation with the Zoom information so that you can connect in.
I continue to believe and hope that 2020 will be a
year of profound positive Change for CCH.
I once again thank you all for your Faith and Patience, secure in the
knowledge that we will together, as the Community Church of Honolulu, continue
to do God’s Work with His Help and His Guidance.
SHERYL QUON SUZUKI
SHERYL QUON SUZUKI recently passed away after a few years of illness. Sheryl was a friend of CCH. Her husband and daughter lovingly provided her home care. Sheryl was the daughter of long-time, hard-working members, Dottie and Richard Quon. Dottie recently passed after years of residence in a care home. You've all seen her work during Christmas at the Board of Water Supply where, for years, Sheryl designed the Christmas floats and the light installations!
CCH IPT WEDNESDAY (INTENTIONAL PRAYER TIME) by Kathy Young
The
Coronavirus has been "squelched" in our islands but is still a
threat. Hawaii carefully opens medium-contact businesses and will start
inter-island travel in two weeks. Other states are quickly lifting
restrictions, in spite of many positive cases and climbing death numbers,
trying to revive a weakened economy and save jobs.
The
horrific, inhumane, racially-motivated disrespect of human life filmed in
Minneapolis a few days ago has enraged our nation. Hawaii's protest has
been strong but peaceful...a role model for violent, destructive actions
elsewhere.
Some
churches are re-opening, following CDC guidelines to protect
their worshippers. Each church will make decisions based on the
fabric of its own faith community.
We
have much to pray for and about this week!!
Dear
God, we pray:
- that the unspeakable
murder of George Floyd marks the beginning of real change in the hearts of
Americans. The immediate protest against this horrible crime is
appropriate and warranted. However, the violent acts of some overshadow
the important expression of nationwide disgust and abhorrence over Mr.
Floyd's death, due to racial prejudice and police brutality.
Allow the vast majority to display their rage against racial bigotry
without destruction and violence, oh Lord. Remove hatred.
Allow respect and inclusivity to reign. Let each and every one of us
live and be examples of these truths.
- in remembrance of
over 100,000 Americans, who have died because of the Coronavirus.
Prayers were lifted this past weekend; wonderful words written by many
religious leaders were published in the CCH newsletter on Friday.
Inspire us to revisit the page [Table of Contents on the top right
corner--5/29/2020] and pray as we read.
- that our
leaders--state, national, worldwide--be infused with Your will, Your
wisdom, Your way. The supreme challenges that none expected have
tested their abilities and strength of character. Make those who
lack the heart and skills to lead as You would, listen to
and make way for those who can.
- for each person
reading this message and for the CCH 'ohana. Keep each one healthy and
safe, oh God. Bless those who keep in touch with Community Church
friends and family through emails, texts, and phone calls. All
expressions of love and caring exemplify "What Would Jesus
Do?"
- prayers of deep
gratitude and thanksgiving for the exceptional work done by Pastor Holly
Norwick, Pastor Frances Wong, Pastor Dean Fujii, Administrator Ardis
Gomes, Custodian Glenn Bolosan, and Music Director Hari Bayani. The
hours of heart- and faith-driven labor on behalf of Your church is
commendable and praiseworthy. Keep each one well and safe.
Bless each one in ways that only You can deliver, dear God.
- of support for our
CCH leaders. They continue to make important decisions about the
future of CCH--for the good of Your body of Christ. Will we continue
to worship via YouTube, fellowship/study via Zoom, and "Stay
Faithful/Connected/Community" through this amazing blog platform?
Thank you, Lord, for inspiring our leaders to move into virtual offerings
and for empowering those who have created them!! Those of us who
receive these blessings are supremely grateful.
- reaching out to those
who have lost loved ones, are sick or recovering from illness, in pain or
dealing with discomfort, struggle with anxiety or loneliness, facing
economic hardships, or dealing with anger and despair.
- of loving concern for
our CCH extended 'ohana, especially those who live far away. Please
keep them well and safe, oh Lord!!
- for all who need our
prayers and those in our hearts.
PASTORAL CARE
If you or someone you know would
like a visit from or a chat with a minister, please contact Ardis at the church
office. Phone: (808) 595-7541 or email: ardisg@cchonolulu.org
Pastor Frances and Pastor
Dean have been sharing these duties for the church. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
The
Christian Churches’ Response to Racism
An
African-American man, wearing a hoodie, is taking a run on a public sidewalk
when he is chased down and killed for being Black. An African-American woman is shot dead in her
bedroom by police officers executing a “no-knock” search warrant at the wrong
apartment. An African-American man
accused of passing a forged $20.00 is cuffed and taken down and then killed by
a police officer’s knee on his neck. The
killed man was calling out “Mama—I can’t breathe”; his mother has been dead for
two years.
In
a May 31, 2020 issue, the Rolling Stone wrote that: “In July 2014, a cellphone video
captured some of Eric Garner's final words as New York City police officers sat
on his head and pinned him to the ground on a sidewalk: "I can't
breathe." On May 25 of this year, the same words were spoken by George
Floyd, who pleaded for release as an officer knelt on his neck and pinned him
to the ground on a Minneapolis street.”
The
article listed many other examples, saying: “We wanted to learn more about each person's final moments
before the police ended their lives. Here's some of what we learned:
Eric
Garner
had just broken up a fight, according to witness testimony.
Ezell
Ford was
walking in his neighborhood.
Michelle
Cusseaux
was changing the lock on her home's door when police arrived to take her to a
mental health facility.
Tanisha
Anderson
was having a bad mental health episode, and her brother called 911.
Tamir
Rice was
playing in a park.
Natasha
McKenna
was having a schizophrenic episode when she was tazed in Fairfax, Va.
Walter
Scott was
going to an auto-parts store.
Bettie
Jones answered
the door to let Chicago police officers in to help her upstairs neighbor, who
had called 911 to resolve a domestic dispute.
Philando
Castile
was driving home from dinner with his girlfriend.
Botham
Jean was
eating ice cream in his living room in Dallas.
Atatiana
Jefferson
was babysitting her nephew at home in Fort Worth, Texas.
Eric
Reason
was pulling into a parking spot at a local chicken and fish shop.
Dominique
Clayton
was sleeping in her bed.
Breonna
Taylor
was also asleep in her bed.
And
George Floyd was at the grocery store.
President
Obama recently tweeted:
Please
take time to hear this powerful conversation between
Bishop
T.D. Jakes, Senior Pastor of The Potter’s House (a 30,000-member church in
Dallas) and Pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong East Coast in a YouTube premiered on May
31, 2020. It’s a long video but you will
learn, your horizons will be expanded, your faith will be increased, and your
heart will be broken then transformed.
We
end this week’s newsletter with a paraphrased portion of Bishop Jakes’ closing
prayer from the video.
Oh
God, we confess our sins. If we have
ever looked at somebody else's pain and turned our heads, please forgive our
silence. If we’ve been indifferent to
anybody’s suffering, forgive us; let us learn from the Good Samaritan that we
are all our neighbors’ keepers. I ask
you to give us courage to break our silence against injustice and to go against
the crowd and withstand the status quo and to have the courage to be a grown
man and a grown woman for God. In the
mighty name, the matchless name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Editor’s note on watching
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Click that arrow. Click on the
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By the way, if you want to, you can hard copy these pages by
highlighting what you want (including photos), click "copy", and then
paste in something like a Word document. You can save it as well as print
it.
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