The topic of homelessness in Hawai'i has been a mainstay in the headlines of local news for months, but with the highest rate per capita in the nation, the issue has become a crisis that hit the national airwaves on the CBS Evening News. 

Although many of our churches have taken great steps to help with the homeless and houseless, Fr. David Gierlach of St. Elizabeth's has dealt with it on a daily basis for years, in part because of the inner city location of the church. Pictured above, Fr. David talks about the problems facing the city and those struggling with trying to make ends meet during an interview on the CBS Evening News that aired on January 2. (To see the news feature in its entirety, click HERE.)

Fr. David has been involved in movements to provide medical assistance to Pacific Islanders, bringing a container home onsite to house the houseless, provide laundry assistance to the needy, and in this particular news piece, allows a family to park their van in the parking lot that they live out of. Church members and nearby Episcopal Churches work tirelessly to tend to the youth in the community, offering hot breakfasts before school, after school tutoring programs, sports opportunities and a number of other outreach activities. 

The Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center (PJRC) invites clergy and lay leaders to attend a special workshop on Friday, January 15, 2016, for an introduction and exposure to essential Hawaiian issues including hot button topics such as Sovereignty and governance of the TMT on Mauna Kea.Guest list includes former Governor John Waihee and Leon Siu with Coalition of Hawaiian Nationals.

The training will take place in Davies Hall at The Cathedral of St. Andrew in Honolulu, and will begin with a Lup Chong fried rice breakfast at 8:00 AM. Pre-registration is required. Cost is $100 for O'ahu residents and $50 for Neighbor Island participants, which goes towards the cost of bringing in guest speakers. Space is limited, so sign up early! For more information, download the informational flyer HERE, or contact Kahu Kaleo Patterson at 808-330-3769 (or e-mail him).

______________________________________ 

A Music Conference will be held on Friday, January 22, and Saturday, January 23, at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Aiea. Leading the conference is Dent Davidson, Associate for Arts and Liturgy on the bishop's staff in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.

Join Dent for a day of exploring our role as leaders, teachers, inviters, and transformers as we preach the Good News through God's gift of song.  If you play an instrument, please bring it with you.

A professional church musician since his teens, Davidson's primary work is to unite voices in song with joy and passion.  He travels frequently as a workshop clinician and consultant in music and worship, and also serves as Chaplain and Musician to the House of Bishops. Having earned a degree in Composition and Vocal Jazz, Dent enjoys widening the scope and variety of music sung and heard in worship, and spends much of his time composing and searching for new resources.  His goal:  To touch hearts by embracing the beauty of the Anglican Choral Tradition and expanding it. (In other words, a Church that swings!)

Trinity By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Kihei, will be hosting A Tasteful Benefit event on Saturday, January 30, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. It will be an evening of gourmet pupus followed by a full dinner and delicious beverage pairings in the church gardens. There will also be live music and a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit two great causes: A Cup of Cold Water (ACCW) and Trinity By-the-Sea.

Donation to attend is $100 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the event webpage HERE.

______________________________________ 

The Holy Nativity Chapter of the Daughters of the King (DOK), invites and welcomes all women in the Diocese to attend a special Quiet Day gathering on Saturday, February 6, 2016. The theme is "Three Gardens, a Girl, and the Gardener" led by guest speaker Mary Carson, who coordinates women's ministry at Glacier Valley Baptist Church in Juneau, Alaska.  

The event will take place at Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Aina Haina, located at 5286 Kalanianaole Highway, from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The cost is $15 and includes a workshop and catered lunch. For more information and to register, contact Holy Nativity Church at (808) 373-2131, or e-mail Denisse Kwan. Deadline to register is Thursday, January 28, 2016.

Jenny Wallace will be conducting a Godly Play Core Training from Saturday, February 13 through Monday, February 15, at the Church of the Epiphany in Honolulu.

Core Training is the essential training for all Godly Play teachers in the Godly Play room. You will learn the processes and Core stories of Godly Play as well as the theology behind these practices. This time of retreat will strengthen your understanding of children's spirituality and leave you spiritually refreshed!

For more information, download the event flyer HERE, or register online HERE.