Religion Briefs
Church work on Mekong to be topic of discussion
"New Life on the Mekong" is the title of United Methodist Mission Study sessions to be presented at 1 p.m. tomorrow and June 2 at Harris United Methodist Church.The Rev. Alex Vergara, pastor of Kapolei United Methodist Mission, will lead the study on current life and ministry in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
The sessions are open to the public. Participants may a bring lunch and share in fellowship after 12:15 p.m.
The Commission on Global Ministries and its women's organization are sponsors.
Living in community is theme of workshops
"Living in the Community" is the theme of courses and workshops being offered during the summer by the Bible Institute of Hawaii.Courses will be given at various Oahu churches during the quarter that begins June 5 and continues through July. Courses include Radical Living in a Tired World, Experiencing God and Preparing for Short-term Missions. Workshops include Life in the Early Church and Radical Discipleship in Community.
The registration cost before June 5 is $30 per course. Discounts are available for students, military members and groups of five or more. Call Mary at 943-0833 for information.
Charlie Wedemeyer to speak here next week
Charlie Wedemeyer, a former All-American football player and coach who became a motivational speaker after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease in 1977, has several Honolulu speaking appearances next week.Wedemeyer and his wife, Lucy, will speak at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Punahou School Dillingham Hall and at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Kamehameha School Bishop Memorial Chapel.
They will also speak at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the All-Star Sports and Therapy Center, 505 Kaaahi St. For information, call 537-4460.
All three appearances are open free to the public.
Kalihi Baptist Church to install new pastor
The congregation of Kalihi Baptist Church will install its new pastor in a 3:30 p.m. service tomorrow at the church at 1888 Owawa St.The Rev. John Vaughn was a chaplain in state prisons for the past 11 years. As state director of the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, he helped establish a monthly videoconference call system through which local families visit with inmates who have been sent to serve their terms in mainland prisons.
The Rev. Carl Kinoshita and state Rep. Dennis Arakaki (D, Kamehameha Heights-Kalihi Valley) will speak in the program, which will be followed by a reception.
Lantern-floating ritual to be performed Monday
Members of the Shinnyo-En Buddhist sect will release 1,000 lanterns into the ocean off Ala Moana Beach on Monday in a memorial service for the dead.This is the fourth year that the Japanese-based order has observed the ritual here. A spokesman said the lanterns symbolize a guide to lead souls to a world of spiritual peace. The group began the observance 50 years ago in Japan as a consolation to people who died at sea.
Kawaiahao Church luau is returning
Kawaiahao Church members will fire up the imu next month to resume their Kamehameha Day luau.The traditional feast, which was on hiatus for the past two years, along with a craft fair will be staged June 8 on the church grounds. All-day entertainment will be provided by Kapena, Kilinahi with Miss Aloha Hula Malia Peterson, Clyde Lono and Hawaiian Paradise and Leimomi Ho.
Seating for the 11 a.m. sit-down dinner is $12 per person. Takeout plates at $10 may be picked up from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tickets may be reserved by calling the church office, 522-1333.
Artists and handicrafters may reserve booths by calling the office.
The Women of Kawaiahao will sell furniture, appliances, baby items and other goods in a white-elephant sale which will support the group's community services.
Council of churches advises reconciliation
NEW YORK >> The National Council of Churches is asking its affiliated congregations to mark the anniversary of Sept. 11 by holding open houses and inviting Muslim neighbors to attend.The gesture will reverse what happened last September, when many U.S. mosques held open houses for non-Muslim neighbors to build understanding.
The board of the National Council, which has 140,000 affiliated U.S. Protestant and Orthodox congregations, approved the Open Doors Interfaith Hospitality Project at its May meeting.
The program was developed in consultation with U.S. Muslim organizations.
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