Holy Week is just a couple weeks away, and it will be filled with opportunities for worship and reflection. Be sure to check out the schedule by clicking on the flyer above for a downloadable pdf version.

 

Are you and/or child interested in serving as an acolyte? Does your child and/or you currently serve as an acolyte? If the answer is "YES" to either of these questions, Fr. Ryan would like you to attend a training/refresher course on Sunday, March 22, from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM.

 

The primary purpose of the acolyte is to serve the Altar and the Priests. Duties include processing the Cross, processing the Gospel, and assisting in setting the Altar for the Eucharist. The commitment involves some initial training, some on-the-job training, and serving approximately once a month at the 9:30AM service. The Acolyte Ministry is open to all parishioners ages 8 and up (including adults),  and is a vital component to the worship experience of our 'Ohana. We invite you to serve as an acolyte and attend this class. 

On Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 11:00 AM, All Saints' will host the Regional Confirmation Service for Kaua'i. Fr. Ryan will be offering separate multi-session gatherings for both youth confirmands and adults seeking confirmation, reception and reaffirmation. If you or your child would like to participate in the program, please contact Fr. Ryan ASAP at (808) 822-4267, or by e-mail.  Fr. Ryan would like to schedule the gatherings around the participants' schedule.

In our last installment we learned about the basic beliefs and practices of Judaism, the first recorded monotheistic faith.  Jews, like Christians and Muslims trace their roots to the patriarch Abraham, therefore all three religions have certain beliefs and practices in common.  

 

I think many Christians are familiar with Jewish beliefs and history since The Hebrew Bible is virtually the same as the Old Testament included in Christian Bibles.  A core teaching of Judaism is that the Jews are God's Chosen People.  Jews do not focus as much on heaven or the afterlife as Christians and Muslims. They are more concerned with how to live life according to God's laws today, in this world.  First and foremost, it is the desire and duty of God's chosen people to worship of the one true God.

 

As we noted earlier in this series, the understanding of the nature of God and the practices of each of the Abrahamic religions have taken on their own distinct identities over time.  Having reviewed Christianity and Judaism, it is time to turn our attention to the other great monotheistic religion, Islam.  I invite you to join me in reading and reflecting on the essay entitled What Is Islam? by Norton Herbst HERE.

Youth member Braden and his mom Dianne Tabura, are off to California with the Kapa'a Middle School Choir and Ukulele Band, to participate in the annual Heritage Music Festival. For the last 15 years, teacher Mary Lardizabal has taken the group to this event, wowing the judges and capturing gold in nearly all divisions each year! Other youth members, Grace, and Braden's older brother Mason, have also been a part of this winning troop!  Please keep the group in your prayers as they travel and share their aloha across the ocean. Pictured above is Braden in the back row with the ukulele. 

Congratulations to Karla and Danny Bernal, who welcomed their precious baby girl, Luna Kathleen, on Saturday, February 28!  Weighing in at a healthy 8 lbs. 2 oz., Luna joins the family with older brothers Killian and Riley! God bless you all and hope to see you soon! 

The Ke Akua Youth Group and ECW are teaming up again to raise funds for the American Cancer Society, and participating in this year's Relay for Life at Hanapepe on April 25-26. Last year, they set a personal team record raising over $4,000! We are once again asking for your support to help raise funds in a variety of ways:

Purchase a luminaria! Luminarias will be on sale after Sunday services for $5.00 each. You can choose to decorate your own bag with the name of a loved one that has battled or is battling cancer, or the youth will decorate one for you. 

Make an online donation! Visit the Relay for Life website HERE and be sure to donate to the All Saints Angels team!  

Visit our fundraising booth! We will have a booth at the next two Saturday Markets on March 14 and April 11. We will have luminarias and a variety of theme items for sale.

The second All Saints' Futsal Tournament will be held on Saturday, March 28, from 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM. The tournament is free and open to all interested youth and adults. Last year's tournament rallied players from Waimea to Hanalei, and the sport is gaining popularity thoughout Hawai'i. 

Similar to indoor soccer, futsal requires technical ball handling skills and speed.  For more information and to register, visit the webpage HERE. To view a large version of the flyer and to share, check under What's Happening in Our Diocese & Community below. 

The Bishop's Scholarship Funds are now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year, as well as the 1% Diocesan Council Grants.

The Bishop's Scholarship Fund is for baptized members entering an Episcopal Church-related school in the Diocese of Hawai'i for the first time, limited to kindergarten to grade 12.  The Chang Clergy Children's Scholarship Fund is for children of clergy under the age of 24. To view the complete eligibility criteria, application process and form, click HERE. Deadline to apply is March 26. 

Information and the application on the Diocesan Council Grants can be downloaded HERE. Funding is designated primarily in support of new projects, although consideration will be given to existing projects that have shown continued growth and impact on their communities. Grant requests are reviewed quarterly. Deadlines are the 20th of the month in February, May, August and October.

Dont' forget to ask for a headset or large-print service bulletin! Both items are available through our ushers who will be more than happy to set you up!

The nursery has also been hooked up so that the service can be heard through a speaker in that room. Parents with very young children can now sit and relax with them while they play, and are also able to hear the service.