Religion Briefs
2 Mormon wards dedicate new chapel
The new Keolu Hills Chapel, gathering place for two Kailua wards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be dedicated at 6 p.m. tomorrow.The Keolu Drive building includes a sanctuary with seating for 220 people, a baptismal pool, classrooms, offices, a library and a small cultural hall for social uses. Besides worship services, it will be used for cultural activities and community service projects, such as Boy Scout meetings, according to a news release.
The two congregations, with a total of about 800 members, met there for the first time last Sunday, and will hold their individual services tomorrow at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. They formerly met at the Kailua Chapel, which will continue to serve two wards.
The architecture of the church, which stands out in the mostly residential neighborhood, differs from the familiar low-rise silhouette of Mormon chapels in Hawaii. It was built to a blueprint commonly used by the denomination on the mainland, said spokesman John Connelly. The church complied with neighborhood concerns by increasing the capacity of its parking lot, he said.
1-man play focuses on life of St. Paul
A one-man play about St. Paul, author of several of the New Testament epistles, will be presented in two locations next week."A Chosen Vessel," starring actor Alan Shore, depicts Paul beginning as a Jewish believer and ending as the Christian apostle. Shore is co-founder of a community theater in Washington state and a member of Chosen People Ministries.
It will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday at Ewa Community Church, 91-1258 Renton Road, and at 10:30 a.m. next Saturday at Waikiki Community Center, at the Shabbat service of Kahilat haMelech, a Messianic Jewish congregation.
Both shows are open to the public. A voluntary donation will be requested.
Episcopal delegates gather for convention
About 300 delegates from Episcopal churches around the state will gather next weekend for their 34th annual convention.Episcopal Bishop Richard S.O. Chang will speak on "The Mission of the Church" when the annual meeting convenes at 2:30 p.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Cathedral following a 1 p.m. Eucharist service.
The convention will continue all day next Saturday at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, where registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The business of the day will include election of members of the Diocesan Council, Standing Committee and Ecclesiastical Trial Court. The events are open to the public. Observers are required to register at the door.
Women from different faiths speak on peace
Women of the Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths will speak at the annual Church Women United World Community Day.The Nov. 1 gathering will begin at 5 p.m. at Church of the Crossroads, 1212 University Ave. The speakers are Rose Nakamura of Moiliili Hongwanji Mission, Marilyn Lichton from Temple Emanu-El, Saba Usman of the Muslim Association of Hawaii and Kikue Takiagi from Church of the Crossroads. It is open to the public.
"Daughters of Abraham, Called to Peace" is the theme of celebrations, which will be held nationwide. Church Women United is a national ecumenical movement of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox Christian women.
Annual church bazaar offers crafts and food
Oahu churches will get a head start on the Christmas season craft fair with events next Saturday in Makiki and Aiea.Quilts and other handcrafted items are specialties at Aiea United Methodist Church's annual Mission Bazaar. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 99-101 Laulima St. Fresh produce, plants, baked goods and a variety of food also are available.
The Makiki Christian Church Fall Bazaar is famous for its members' stitchery items, including house slippers and crocheted rugs. The midway of booths at 829 Pensacola St. will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Homemade sushi and other Asian food treats will be sold.
Methodist panel sponsors Islam lecture
The Harris United Methodist Church Commission on Church and Society will sponsor a lecture about Islam for non-Muslims at 2 p.m. Oct. 27.The speaker will be Saleem Ahmed, who recently published a book, "Beyond Veil and Holy War: Islamic Teachings and Muslim Practices with Biblical Comparisons." The Honolulu businessman was educated in Pakistan and was on the East-West Center research faculty for several years.
The talk at the church hall, 20 S. Vineyard Blvd., is free and open to the public.
Foundation awards $282,000 to scholars
The Augustine Educational Foundation has awarded $282,000 in scholarships to 365 students in Hawaii Catholic schools this year.The nonprofit organization also awarded $31,000 in curriculum development grants to 12 schools. The Sacred Hearts Academy Economic Summit for Girls and Leeward Catholic Schools workshops on special-needs students are among programs supported by the grants intended to improve the level of classroom instruction and train teachers.
Tuition grants are awarded annually based on students' financial need. High school students receive $1,000 grants, and $750 scholarships are provided for youngsters in kindergarten through eighth grade.
More than $2 million has been provided to 3,716 students since the foundation was established. Information on the foundation is available by calling director Susan Ferandin at 230-2440.
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