Religion Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff &
Associated Press
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Ministers' service to be lauded
Three United Church of Christ ministers whose service totals more than 100 years will be honored next Saturday by the Pu'a Foundation as living examples of reconciling culture, spirituality and faith.
The Rev. William Kaina was pastor of Kawaiahao Church, Kaumakapili Church and other congregations and was coordinator of Christian ministry for 48 Hawaiian churches statewide. He has been interim pastor of Manoa Valley Church for the past year.
The Rev. David Kaupu was chaplain at Kamehameha Schools for 31 years and pastor of Kaumakapili Church. He is still active in the church choir, Sunday school and ministry to the sick.
The Rev. James "Kimo" Merseberg was pastor of Pearl City Community Church and served congregations on Maui, and former Papa Makua of the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches. He is now interim minister at Liliuokalani Church in Haleiwa.
Tickets to the Saturday honors luncheon are $35. The program at the Japanese Cultural Center will begin at 10 a.m. with a silent auction and entertainment. For information call 945-3570 or write to puafoundation@hawaii.rr.com.
The Pu'a Foundation was established in 1996 to implement a reconciliation process between the United Church of Christ and the Hawaiian people. It was founded after the national denomination issued an apology for church members' role in the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. The foundation administered $4 million given by the national denomination to benefit 60 churches in the Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches.
Workshop is for those who grieve
A Holiday Grief Workshop for people mourning the death of a relative or friend will be presented Oct. 20 by agencies providing support in bereavement.
Friday is the early registration deadline for the workshop, which will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Koolau Golf Club, 45-550 Kionaole Road, Kaneohe.
The speakers will include Felicia Marquez-Wong, bereavement coordinator at St. Francis Hospice; the Rev. J.P. Sabithi, Kaiser Foundation Hospital chaplain; Kauila Clark, a traditional Hawaiian practitioner; and Michael Wall, a percussionist presenting "Rhythm to Restore the Soul."
The cost is $50 until Friday, $60 if registering later. It will include lunch, refreshments and course materials. For information call Sandy Pohl, 521-1812, Felicia Marquez-Wong, 547-6508, or the Rev. J.P. Sabithi, 432-8698.
Churches to hold blessing of pets
It's that time of year to bring Spot and Fluffy to church.
Some Oahu churches plan a pet blessing service to mark St. Francis of Assisi feast day, Oct. 4 on the liturgical calendar.
Leeward residents may bring their pets to Our Lady of Keaau, 83-300 Farrington Highway, Waianae, Thursday for a 1 p.m. blessing. The Rev. Sebastian Chako of Sacred Hearts Parish in Waianae will bless animals on the great lawn of the Franciscan retreat center.
A Friday evening Blessing of the Animals is planned at St. Andrew's Cathedral at Queen Emma Square timed to coincide with the monthly First Friday festivities in downtown Honolulu. Children are invited to the 5:30 p.m. event and may bring stuffed animals if their live pets don't travel well. People may also bring photographs instead of the real thing. Parking is available. The cathedral choir will sing, and the story of St. Francis and the wolf will be read.
Pets will be blessed at the 10:15 a.m. Oct. 7 service at St. Clement's Episcopal Church, 1515 Wilder Ave. Children are invited to bring stuffed animals. The service will be followed by a bake sale of treats for animals as well as humans.
The tradition is held in remembrance of St. Francis' love for God's creation. The monk, who preached poverty and simplicity, was the founder of the Franciscan religious orders of priests and nuns. He died Oct. 4, 1226.
Celebrate nonviolence on Tuesday
A candlelight ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Waikiki will celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence established this year by the United Nations General Assembly.
The Royal Hawaiian Band will play peace songs during the celebration at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the entrance to Honolulu Zoo. Mayor Mufi Hannemann will speak.
Hannemann followed the U.N. action by declaring Gandhi's Oct. 2 birthday, Tuesday, Non-Violence and Peace Day in Honolulu.
The celebration will continue next Saturday with a World Peace Walk beginning at 8 a.m. at Magic Island. The march will end at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand where a program will feature an interfaith discussion of peace and nonviolence and cultural music and dance. Organizer Raj Kumar suggests that participants wear white.
Gandhi's nonviolent demonstration against the British occupation of India was the inspiration for the civil rights movement in America and similar initiatives around the world.