More than 700 United Methodist Church members from Korea and the mainland will join local church members at a centennial celebration next week marking the 1903 arrival of the first Korean immigrants to America. United Methodists to
celebrate Korean centennialStar-Bulletin staff
"Remember the Past, Celebrate the Present, Envision the Future" is the theme of the three-day conference that will open Thursday night at the Hawaii Convention Center. Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of the California Pacific Conference and Bishop Hae Jong Kim of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Korean American, will speak at the 7:30 p.m. opening worship service. The massed choir of Hawaii Korean Methodist Churches will present music.
Other speakers during the conference will be Bishop Jinho Kim of the Korean Methodist Church; the Rev. Barbara Ripple, Hawaii district superintendent; the Rev. Randy Day, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries; and Hawaii Chief Justice Ronald Moon, a Korean American. The choirs of Naeri Methodist Church and Ewha Women's High School in Incheon, Korea, will present music.
The 7:30 p.m. worship services on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are public. Registration is required for the daytime schedule of plenary sessions and workshops. All sessions will be in English and Korean.
Christ United Methodist Church, 1639 Keeaumoku St., will be the setting for a 2 p.m. centennial service April 27. The Makiki church has its roots in the Waialua church organized by the first Korean immigrants, many of whom were Christians. It is considered the oldest existing Korean Methodist church outside of Korea.
Click for online
calendars and events.
