Volume 2018 Number 8
Kukui Lamalama
News From Our Partner Church
Caican, Negros Oriental, The Philippines. Last fall, two ministers from the UU Church of the Philippines, Arman Pedro and Elvie Sienes, visited our church, and told us about Unitarian Universalism in the Philippines and about the tiny church in Caican which has been our Partner Church since 2003. While Arman and Elvie were visiting, we asked the congregation to contribute toward financial support for the UU Church in Caican. The following is an edited version of reports from Ruth Charisse Quimada, a young woman living in Caican, and active in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Caican. Members of the Honolulu UU Women's Federation have provided financial support for Ruthchie as she has studied to become a teacher. Nan Kleiber Last January [2018], Rev. Tirsu Ponseca informed our congregation that we were to receive financial support from you, our Partner Church in Honolulu. That money was allocated for church repair and also financial support for the pupils and students in our congregation. Now I am happy to inform you that the roof, windows and walls inside of the church were fixed last February. We are all thankful that the church has been fixed. We are so thankful that you helped with financial support. In February, we received your financial support for students. In our congregation we have selected 21 students to receive support, although there are more than this number. Receiving support are ten elementary students, seven junior high students, two students in senior high, two in college, and one new graduate. We were very thankful for the financial support your congregation has shared with us because our Caican church is now beautiful, and we the students are also thankful because we can continue with our schooling. The Children's Ministry [religious education for children] continues at Caican, but I [Ruthchie] am no longer involved as I am preparing for my final exams to become a teacher. Now Anthonette Lacpao handles the children's program every Sunday morning before the service begins. I started my practice teaching in November [2017], and am very busy making lesson plans, visual aids and preparing activities for the class. Even though I was nervous about my final evaluation, I received a thumbs up, and graduated! Now I am preparing to go to Cebu City [on Cebu, not on Negros], for the License Examination for Teachers in September. My son is now in preschool, and loves going to school and all the activities. I am very thankful to you and all the people in Honolulu who supported my studies. Ruthchie [Ruth Charisse Quimada Ruth Charisse Quimada with her class mates, and with her family, graduating from teacher training. Congratulations, Rutchie! Spoiler Alert from Nan: In October, we will again be asking our congregation to share its resources with our Partner Church in Caican, via the Sunday morning offerings. Mahalo for your continuing generosity.
The Magazine of the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu August 2018
Articles (from members or other UU leaders) submitted to the church magazine will be selected on the basis of their informative and/or inspirational nature or value to the life and ministry of this congregation. The editor has the authority to make the decision to not include a submission. Print versions of the magazine will be limited to selected 4 (or 8 back to back) pages.
If you are ready to experience being listened to and connecting with others in a way you may yet to have experienced in your life, join a Chalice Circle. Groups of 5-12 people meet twice a month for two hours to explore preselected topics together. Each group is guided by a trained facilitator. For more information, contact Carla Allison, cbm@hawaii.rr.com, 396-1488. Locations, Dates & Times: Hawaii Kai: 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 6:30 - 8:30 pm Nu’uanu: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Kailua: 2nd & 4th Saturdays @ 3:00 - 5:00 pm Kaka’ako: 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 6:30 -- 8:30 pm Lower Manoa: 1st & 3rd Mondays @ 6:30 -- 8:30 pm
Pledge Drive
Index
Your stewardship team thanks all of our 65+ pledge units for their generous contributions to their church community. We have reached $137,872 so far. Our pledge drive for 2018/19 will end Sept 9. If you would like to pledge see one of us. Your support to reach our goal of $160,000 is appreciated. Caroline Eaton Junko Davis Nancy Schildt Catherine Graham TJ FitzGerald (not pictured)
News From Our Partner Church 1 Pledge Drive 3 Chalice Circles 3 Robinah's Party 4 A.D.O.R.E. 5 How Sweet It Is 5 Rev. T.J.'s Message 6 Gallery on the Pali 7
Editorial Policy
Chalice Circles
August 5, 2018 (photos courtesy of David Friedman)
"How Sweet the Sound"
Saturday night, August 11, thirty eight of us came together to eat Ugandan food that Robinah Gibola and Nancy Young made with the help of Lee Curran, Carla Allison, Mike Young, and Mauricio Underbrink. Robinah planned and directed the production of the food. She and Nancy searched out ingredients Friday and began cooking that evening. Preparation continued till the eating began. After supper Robinah told us a bit about her history and her family. Finally she taught us some of the dance that people in Uganda dance at different ages. The teenagers really zip around. Robinah does amazing moves led by her head and neck, which seems to lengthen as she dances. None of us could really dance Ugandan, but some of us danced something. She also gave out wonderful shouts with the music. If you didn’t attend, you may have a chance again. We’re thinking about doing another dinner dance next January to help with her spring semester. Robinah has finished the first year of her masters in the Leadership and Sustainable Development Masters at Hawaii Pacific University. Now she is working on her last year of the Program. She had four A’s and one B last year and intends to do even better this year. She’s a perfectionist! At the end of the year she will return to Uganda and work for the betterment of her country. Those of you who would like to help monthly, please send checks to the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu, Attn. Nancy S. Young, 3583-E Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819. Please write Robinah in the bottom left hand corner. We came up with $1829 for the dinner including people who gave checks, but did not attend. With her vigor and our help she will get her degree. Submitted by Nancy Young
On August 26, 2018, the A.D.O.R.E. group, which had a very large turnout of 36 people, discussed chapters 7-14 of "So you want to talk about race," by Ijeoma Oluo. (Chapters 1-6 had been discussed in July.) We had a very in depth conversation about chapters entitled, "How can I talk about affirmative action?", "What is the school-to-prison pipeline?", "Why can't I say the 'N' word?", "What is cultural appropriation?", "Why can't I touch your hair?", "What are micro aggressions?", "Why are our students so angry?", and, "What is the model minority myth?" Our discussions are becoming more and more honest and substantiative, which is an important goal of A.D.O.R.E. That is perhaps what it takes in order to feel the strength and confidence we all need to take action, to stand up for what is right with power and conviction. Our next A.D.O.R.E. meeting will be held on September 23, 2018. We will finish discussing the last three chapters of "So you want to talk about race," and will view/discuss the film, "Cracking the Codes" by Shakti Butler. Here are two descriptions of the film: "In the U.S., race-more than any other demographic factor- determines levels of individual educational achievement, health and life expectancy, possibility of incarceration, and wealth. This film reveals a self-perpetuating system of inequity in which internal factors play out in external structures: institutions, policy and law." - World Trust "Part story telling, part toolbox, "Cracking the Codes" deftly portrays the complex interplay between the personal, institutional and systemic. "Cracking the Codes" helps us pull the lens back so we can see the landscape of radicalization and how we as individuals are shaped by it." - Makani Themba-Nixon - submitted by Jill Rabinov
Robinah's Party - A Grand Success
A.D.O.R.E.
T.J.'s Message: The Story of A Hurricane
Since I’ve arrived back home I’ve been hearing some chatter about the hurricane churning off the southerly part of the big island. My friend assures me that the reports of hurricanes here are frequent but rarely come to much. “You’ll see,” he said. This may be true, but the winds around the coasts here are definitely strong. And the surf seems a little more wild than usual at the beaches. Even if the story of the hurricane is more than what comes to be, the reality of what I see so far is just fine with me. I am just back from Portland, Oregon. I was there to serve as the chaplain for the attendees of the annual meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Musician’s Network. This is like General Assembly for musicians. My days were spent mostly making sure the hearts and souls of those attending were cared for, but knowing Portland well, I also spent some time simply giving directions. What I didn’t fully appreciate in my planning was at which of the many worship services of the weekend I would be speaking. I was given a theme to think about, but it wasn’t until I arrived at the conference that I realized I would be speaking during the service of remembrance for those who passed on the past few years. And that the service would be held in a place where I had performed some difficult and painful memorials. And just in case this wasn’t enough…there was the moment I didn’t see coming. In the order of service I saw that the moment before I spoke would be used to list the names of those being remembered at the service. What I didn’t consider was that…these are musicians. So as those who planned to speak the names came to the microphones, as my friend sat at the piano, and as the background music started, I was taken by surprise when instead of reading the names, those speaking the names sang the names. Round and round, repeating the tender tonalities of a sacred remembering, the names swirled up and out of these gifted gentle singers, and seemed somehow to enter the chapel more free and unburdened than anyone could be in life. It was stunning. Friends, we can hold something in our own two hands like an order of service and think we know what’s coming, but we don’t. We can hold our phones in our hands, and think we know when the storm is coming, but we don’t. We can take another’s hand in ours and think we know that person’s story, but we don’t. “You’ll see.” My friend’s promise about hurricane stories is really a promise about so much more, about so much we want to know. In the end, no matter how much guessing and hoping and wondering we may do, about hurricanes, about one another, about what dreams may come in the end, the only part of the story we know will be true is this: “we’ll see.” And may it ever be so. Rev. T. J.
An artist's reception for Island Homes – Madagascar & Hawaii – Paintings by Esperance Rakotonirina was held on Saturday, July 28th. This exhibit remains on display through September 6th at the Gallery on the Pali. ABOUT THE EXHIBIT: Artist Esperance Rakotonirina was born in Madagascar and has lived in Hawai’i since 2010. He says he was “quickly taken by the natural beauty of the islands which resemble the landscapes of Madagascar”. While adjusting to his new home and completely different culture Esperance found great comfort in his art. For the first time he was able to experiment with acrylics, water colors, and professional grade oils. Esperance's preferred focus is nature and wildlife painting in the realistic style. Numerous hours of studying Hawai’i flora allows him to paint detailed depictions of local palm, fern, and flower species. Gallery Hours: (Closed Monday and Saturday) Tuesday through Friday 9 am – 2 pm Sundays 9 am to 1 pm.
Gallery on the Pali
First Unitarian Church of Honolulu A Welcoming Unitarian Universalist Church
Submission Deadline: The deadline for both hard and electronic copy for the Magazine is noon on the third Sunday of the month. Bring hard copy submissions to the church office; email electronic copy to: Magazine@unitariansofhi.org Section Word Limits: Please limit your copy to 100 - 200 words. N.B. The editors may edit any submission for content, length, and/or clarity. Mailing Policy: All members and friends with email addresses registered on our website will receive an email notification when the newsletter is uploaded and ready to view. If a member does not have an email address, paper copies of the Magazine are available at the church for Oahu-based members. The Magazine will be mailed to any member or friend upon request and following payment of the subscription fee. Mail Subscriptions: The Magazine subscription fee is $20.00 per year payable in advance . The subscription year runs January to December. New subscriptions will be prorated on a quarterly basis. Publisher: Nancy Schildt Editor and Composition: Jane Raissle Distribution: Suzette Tom
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