Donations sought for kids’ gift sale

A church program for children is the perfect place to recycle last year's Christmas gifts that were tucked away unwanted and unused.

This is the 20th year of the Penny Sale sponsored by St. Patrick Church Outreach, in cooperation with the Honolulu Community Action Program.

The program, which gives Palolo children from low-income families the opportunity to choose gifts for their parents and families, is seeking donations of gifts that are new or in good condition.

Gift suggestions include household items such as flatware, dishes, cookware, small appliances and bath towels, or personal gifts such as tool kits, shaving sets, watches, wallets, fishing supplies or toiletry kits. They may be dropped off at the St. Patrick Outreach center at 2117 Palolo Ave. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday next week. For information, call director Pat Kaslausky at 735-0117.

Next Saturday is shopping day for youngsters chosen through social service agencies. They will pay a penny for each gift they will choose to give their families.

Chorales perform Christmas songs

The Christmas season begins with the return of a musical tradition and the first appearance by a new chorale.

» A chorus of 150 people will perform portions of Handel's “;Messiah”; at Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St., at 7 p.m. next Saturday. The free concert has been a tradition for 61 years. Music Minister Timothy Carney will direct the massed choir singing the Christmas portion and other favorite sections of the composition, accompanied by orchestra musicians.

» The 50-voice Windward Choral Society will present Christmas, gospel, Hawaiian and international songs in a Dec. 12 concert. The 7 p.m. musical gala will be at Windward United Church of Christ, 38 Kaneohe Bay Drive.

The choral group, which is sponsored by the Windward Arts Council, is directed by Susan Duprey, who founded the Hawaii Pacific University International Chorale and Vocal Ensemble.

A voluntary offering will be taken to offset costs.

Learn meditation using labyrinth

St. Andrew's Cathedral will provide a refuge from the hectic pace of life next week with an introduction to using the labyrinth, a medieval mode of moving meditation.

The Rev. Lauren Artress, a leader of the Labyrinth Movement and author of books on the spiritual practice, will lead activities that explore the labyrinth as a tool for meditation, reflection and prayer.

The floor pattern of loops that provide a path into silent prayer is based on labyrinths built into many European cathedrals. It will be set up in Davies Hall for several events, including the following:

» The labyrinth will be open for people to walk from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday during the World AIDS Day observance. The day's program will include a 12:15 p.m. Eucharist.

» Artress will co-host “;Tea and Labyrinth”; at 4 p.m. Friday, along with Marcie Uehara Herring of the Kai Wellness Center.

» She will lead a workshop from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. next Saturday. Participants will learn to use the labyrinth as a way to pray, meditate and center oneself in a busy world. Call 524-2822, ext. 214, for reservations to the free workshop. Participants should bring a journal and a brown-bag lunch or buy lunch for $7.

» A labyrinth walk will be open to anyone interested between 2 and 5 p.m. Dec. 7, with guidance on the spiritual practice by Artress.

Artress, an Episcopal priest at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, founded Veriditas, an nonprofit organization to promote a return to using the ancient prayer method. She is the author of two books on the subject.

She is the guest speaker in the Peggy Kai lecture series at the Honolulu cathedral. The program was established and endowed by Ernest K. Kai in 1986 as a memorial to his wife.

Course teaches nursing ministry

A three-month course on parish nursing ministry will be taught at Castle Medical Center by the Health Ministries Association of Hawaii.

The classes will be held on Wednesday evenings beginning Jan. 14.

The Health Ministry and Faith Community Nurse Training program is designed for licensed registered nurses, who will earn 35 credit units. The course is open to other health professionals and lay volunteers interested in developing health ministry in faith congregations.

The cost is $100 per person, with a special $200 rate for a three-person team.

For registration information, contact Sue Pignataro, faith community nurse coordinator, at 247-2828 or at spignataro@ hawaii.rr.com.