Honolulu Star-Bulletin Features

First Chinese to install new pastor

There will be a confluence of clergy at First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawaii next weekend for a ceremony to install the head pastor.

The installation of the Rev. Samuel S.E. Ling will feature the laying of hands by several ministers of the United Church of Christ denomination including clergymen with a history as members or former pastors at the church.

The service at 3 p.m. Sept. 12 at 1054 S. King St. is part of the congregation's celebration of the 125th anniversary of the church, which was established to serve the first agricultural laborers from China. Its congregation now includes descendants of those members and new immigrants from China.

Ling has been Chinese-language and administrative pastor for two years. He was formerly pastor of Mandarin Baptist Church in Los Angeles and has taught at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Asian Buddhists show their cultural heritage

Buddhists from several Asian countries will present music and dance that express their cultural heritage and religious history at the annual Harvest Moon Festival Friday.

The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Park. It is free and open to the public. Vegetarian bento dinners will be sold for $5.

The program will include:

» A musician from the Thailand Department of National Arts presenting classical Thai music on the xylophone.
» A Tibetan lama offering a rarely performed chant and dance.
» Dancers performing cultural expressions from Thailand, Korea and China.
» Buddhists from several denominations joining in a brief ritual of Sutra chanting.
» A speech by a representative of the Muslim community.

The Dharmacakra festival marks an event more than 2,500 years ago when Buddha first began to teach, establishing the religion. In his first sermon, he taught that a person's egocentric view renders life unsatisfactory. He taught followers to avoid the extremes of asceticism and hedonism and choose the "eightfold path" of moderation, the steps of which are basic precepts of Buddhism, said the Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani.

The event is sponsored by the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists.

Churches remember the 9/11 terror attacks

The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks will be remembered in prayer and reflection at two Windward church events next week. Both are open to the public.

» A Wednesday night "Service of Prayer for World Peace" will be sponsored by the 13 congregations in the Windward Coalition of Churches. Several pastors will speak at the 7 p.m. service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 160 Mookua St., Kailua.
» A candlelight Taize service of prayer, chants and meditation around a cross will be held at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Christ Church Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians, 1300 Kailua Road, Kailua.

Christian men will confer next Saturday

The third annual Honolulu Men's Christian Conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. next Saturday at the Japanese Cultural Center, 2454 S. Beretania St.

Lt. Gov. James Aiona will speak at the event, which has the theme "Rising from the Ashes." The conference will focus on people who rose above difficulties in their personal lives with the help of Jesus, said spokesman Mike Wing.

The $40 cost includes lunch, conference materials and a T-shirt. Reservations may be made by calling Wing at 834-0982 or writing to dwing@hawaii.rr.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Other speakers include the Revs. Elwin Ahu and Roy Yamamoto, New Hope Christian Fellowship pastors; the Rev. Dennis Sallas, Hope Chapel South Shore pastor; Navy SEAL Dan Jesse; and Christian magician Michael Wong of Grace Bible Church.

Buddhist course helps fight stress

A course on mindfulness, a Buddhist meditation technique that can reduce stress, will be given at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

Dr. Thanh Huynh will guide students in applying the meditation in daily activities, including mindful walking and mindful eating.

Participants are advised to bring a hat or umbrella for the walk.

Huynh, a Honolulu physician, has studied mindfulness for 20 years and has taught the technique for the last 12 years, including classes at Oahu prisons.

For reservations call 535-7000, ext. 1. The class is free, but donations will be accepted for a charity of choice.

Church and state separation is topic

The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii will sponsor a panel discussion on "Separation of Church and State: Relevance in Society Today" next Saturday.

The free forum will explore the question of whether there is a role for religion in secular politics. It will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at Chaminade University Ching Conference Center.

Speakers will include religion professors David Anderson of Chaminade and George Tanabe of the University of Hawaii, and the Rev. Kaleo Patterson, a activist and mediator in justice and peace issues.

The Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani will be moderator.

Religion Calendar

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Religion Briefs First Chinese to install new pastor There will be a confluence of clergy at First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawaii next weekend for a ceremony to install the head pastor. The installation of the Rev. Samuel S.E. Ling will feature the laying of hands by several ministers of the United Church of Christ denomination including clergymen with a history as members or former pastors at the church. The service at 3 p.m. Sept. 12 at 1054 S. King St. is part of the congregation's celebration of the 125th anniversary of the church, which was established to serve the first agricultural laborers from China. Its congregation now includes descendants of those members and new immigrants from China. Ling has been Chinese-language and administrative pastor for two years. He was formerly pastor of Mandarin Baptist Church in Los Angeles and has taught at Hong Kong Baptist University. Asian Buddhists show their cultural heritage Buddhists from several Asian countries will present music and dance that express their cultural heritage and religious history at the annual Harvest Moon Festival Friday. The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Park. It is free and open to the public. Vegetarian bento dinners will be sold for $5. The program will include: » A musician from the Thailand Department of National Arts presenting classical Thai music on the xylophone. » A Tibetan lama offering a rarely performed chant and dance. » Dancers performing cultural expressions from Thailand, Korea and China. » Buddhists from several denominations joining in a brief ritual of Sutra chanting. » A speech by a representative of the Muslim community. The Dharmacakra festival marks an event more than 2,500 years ago when Buddha first began to teach, establishing the religion. In his first sermon, he taught that a person's egocentric view renders life unsatisfactory. He taught followers to avoid the extremes of asceticism and hedonism and choose the "eightfold path" of moderation, the steps of which are basic precepts of Buddhism, said the Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani. The event is sponsored by the Hawaii Association of International Buddhists. Churches remember the 9/11 terror attacks The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks will be remembered in prayer and reflection at two Windward church events next week. Both are open to the public. » A Wednesday night "Service of Prayer for World Peace" will be sponsored by the 13 congregations in the Windward Coalition of Churches. Several pastors will speak at the 7 p.m. service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 160 Mookua St., Kailua. » A candlelight Taize service of prayer, chants and meditation around a cross will be held at 7 p.m. next Saturday at Christ Church Uniting Disciples and Presbyterians, 1300 Kailua Road, Kailua. Christian men will confer next Saturday The third annual Honolulu Men's Christian Conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. next Saturday at the Japanese Cultural Center, 2454 S. Beretania St. Lt. Gov. James Aiona will speak at the event, which has the theme "Rising from the Ashes." The conference will focus on people who rose above difficulties in their personal lives with the help of Jesus, said spokesman Mike Wing. The $40 cost includes lunch, conference materials and a T-shirt. Reservations may be made by calling Wing at 834-0982 or writing to dwing@hawaii.rr.com. Tickets will also be available at the door. Other speakers include the Revs. Elwin Ahu and Roy Yamamoto, New Hope Christian Fellowship pastors; the Rev. Dennis Sallas, Hope Chapel South Shore pastor; Navy SEAL Dan Jesse; and Christian magician Michael Wong of Grace Bible Church. Buddhist course helps fight stress A course on mindfulness, a Buddhist meditation technique that can reduce stress, will be given at 1 p.m. next Saturday at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children. Dr. Thanh Huynh will guide students in applying the meditation in daily activities, including mindful walking and mindful eating. Participants are advised to bring a hat or umbrella for the walk. Huynh, a Honolulu physician, has studied mindfulness for 20 years and has taught the technique for the last 12 years, including classes at Oahu prisons. For reservations call 535-7000, ext. 1. The class is free, but donations will be accepted for a charity of choice. Church and state separation is topic The Interfaith Alliance Hawaii will sponsor a panel discussion on "Separation of Church and State: Relevance in Society Today" next Saturday. The free forum will explore the question of whether there is a role for religion in secular politics. It will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at Chaminade University Ching Conference Center. Speakers will include religion professors David Anderson of Chaminade and George Tanabe of the University of Hawaii, and the Rev. Kaleo Patterson, a activist and mediator in justice and peace issues. The Rev. Yoshiaki Fujitani will be moderator. Religion Calendar	— ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS —