Help Make Your Church Accessible to All
As part of the denomination's goal to further Accessibility to All (A2A) throughout all of the United Church of Christ, the UCC Disabilities Ministries Board makes available resources and networking tools.

These resources are meant to help churches, associations, and conferences as they seek to be accessible to all.

Several useful resources are highlighted below:

 Any Body, Everybody, Christ’s Body: A Congregational Guide for Becoming Accessible to ALL. Click HERE to read the guide. 

 Connecticut Conference Disabilities Inclusion Association (DIA) Jacky Schonfield has created a blog that details the development of a Disabilities Ministries Team for the Conference. Click HERE to read the blog.

 Click HERE for resources for Access Sunday, which is the second Sunday in October each year.

 Article: What is Normal? This article raises an important question. It is not designed to give “The” answer, but to encourage discussion around a very real and growing issue in society today. Click HERE to read the article.

 Click HERE to learn more about and view an American sign language commercial that appeared during the Super Bowl.

 The UCC Disabilities Ministry website can be found by clicking HERE. 


O'ahu Association 'Aha Mokupuni: A Time of Celebration
An ecclesiastical council and the recognition of two new United Church of Christ congregations highlighted the spring 'Aha Mokupuni for the O'ahu Association on May 10 at Makiki Christian Church.

The business agenda, which included approval of the 2008-09 budget and the election of new officers and board members, was taken care of quickly and then delegates focused their attention on the Ecclesiastical Council for Geoffrey White. Geoffrey, a graduate of Eden Seminary in St. Louis, shared his faith journey and then delegates broke into groups to discuss sections of his ordination paper. Groups then re-gathered to make comments and ask questions in regard to the paper. Geoffrey White was unaniomously approved for ordination pending a call. Delegates found the small group process helpful and voiced their support of using this same process for future ecclesiastical councils.

The Mokupuni concluded with a worship service that officially recognized Chuukese Christian Church and First Chuukese Christian Church as the newest churches in the United Church of Christ. The Association board members and officers were also installed by Conference Minister Charles Buck. Communion followed and the service ended with a gift of music presented by the members of both Chuukese churches.

The atmosphere of celebration continued through lunch as most of the delegates remained for a delicious lunch provided by host Makiki Christian Church.

HCUCC Pastors Participate in Pacific Health Ministry Mortgage Burning Service

Hawai'i Conference pastors and members participated in the Mortgage Burning Service for Pacific Health Ministry (PHM) on Sunday, April 27. PHM, which provides spiritual care and education to hospitals and the community on Oahu and Maui, moved into its present location on Young Street in Honolulu 7 years ago.

Participants in the Mortgage Burning Service included Central Union Member William (Bill) Paty, who chaired the fundraising effort to pay off the mortgage, and Conference Council Chair David Hirano, who offered the prayer of thanksgiving. The Rev. Hirano shared that PHM was founded through the vision of clergy such as himself and the late Rev. Frank Chong.

Recognized during the Service were all the PHM chaplains, including HCUCC members Pearl Misa Lau, JP Sabbithi, and Nathan Kohashi. Pearl is the Chaplain at Kuakini Hospital; JP serves as Chaplain at Kaiser Hospital; and Nathan is Chaplain at Straub Hospital.

Pictures from the service can be found below. 

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National Park Service Prepares for Cemetery Restoration Project

A blessing service on April 20 marked the beginning of a restoration project for cemeteries at Kalaupapa. The U.S. National Park Service, which is responsible for the administration and care of the lands and structures on the peninsula, will restore gravestones and stone walls for 15 designated cemetery areas. The project is especially significant as workers learn from the construction practices of the mid-1800s when the cemetery was originally built and use those techniques to restore aging walls and markers.

The cemetery restoration project is being undertaken for safety reasons as the structures have become unsafe. However, the Parks Service recognizes the importance of these markers and promises to take extra care in the restoration process in order to preserve the memorials to loved ones.

HCUCC Conference Minister Charles Buck's presence at the blessing ceremony is a testimony to the commitment of the Conference to support the residents of Kalaupapa and the Names Project, which seeks to research and record the names of the first 5,300 people sent to the settlement, beginning in 1866. The ultimate goal is to record the names and the history of every person who lived and died in the community.

Click HERE to read more about the Names Project.

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Hawai'i Island Churches Gather for 'Aha Mokupuni

It was a time of celebration at the Hawai'i Island Association's 'Aha Mokupuni on April 26 as a new church was welcomed and two pastors were licensed for ministry.

Kona Lokahi is the newest United Church of Christ congregation as it was received into the Hawai'i Island Association during its spring gathering held at Kalahikiola Congregational Church in Kapa’au. A second important action by the Association was the licensing of two Association pastors. Johnson Jetton was licensed for ministry at Hilo Marshallese, and Tom Fernandez was licensed for ministry at Kalahikiola Church.

Many of the delegates from around the island were able to see firsthand the damage from the earthquake in October 2006. George Baybrook, interim minister of Kalahikiola, as part of his sharing during the opening worship, noted that another earthquake struck the area 35 years ago on the very day of the Aha, April 26. He recalled how on October 15 he arrived at the church, saw the damage, and cried. Later in worship, he laid aside his prepared sermon for that day and read from Psalm 46, which inspire the congregation to this day.

As part of Association business, delegates passed amendments to the bylaws which will allow Association of Hawaiian Evangelical Churches on the island to be associate members of the Association. This change, which is similar to action taken by the Tri-Isle Association last year, grants these churches full participation in the Hawai'i Island Association, including voice and vote at meetings and holding of elective offices.

Officers elected for the next year were Michael Warren, President; Tom Fernandez, Vice-President; John Kelly, Secretary; James Yoshiama, Treasurer; Sugalu Timoteo, Eastside Representative; and Tom Hestor, Westside Representative.

See below for pictures from the day's events.

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Lumana'i Awards Recognize 25 High School Seniors
High school seniors from the Samoan community were honored April 24 at the Lumana’i Awards Banquet, sponsored by the O’ahu Association’s Nu’u Ministries. Members of HCUCC churches as well as the wider community gathered for the event held at Central Union Church.

The Lumana’i Scholarship committee received 35 applications, among which 25 youth were selected to receive the award and a $500 scholarship. Awards were made based on accomplishments, academic achievement, and applicants’ personal essays. A fundraising event at Farrington High School in March raised over $20,000 for the scholarships. (Click HERE to read more about that event.)

Farrington High School Principal Catherine Payne was the keynote speaker for the awards banquet. She encouraged the youth to do their best; stay connected with friends, faith and culture; and to always keep their word. Reminding the youth that kindness is contagious, she invited them to add to the balance of goodness around them.
“You never know the ultimate impact what you do will have on others,” she said.

Catherine then gave each youth an envelope with their name on it.

“I put a little thing in each envelope that you can use to help someone else,” she said, inviting the youth to put into practice the idea of “paying it forward.”

Caryn Kunz, a 2002 Kahuku High School graduate, also spoke to the awardees. Caryn, who graduated from Stanford University in 2006 and now works for the Honolulu Advertiser, was one of nine recipients of the Lumana’i Scholarship when it was first introduced in 2002.

She told the youth to always have fun and encouraged the future college students to teach others on campus what it means to be Samoan.

“No matter where you go and what you do, don’t forget where you came from,” was a second piece of advice Caryn offered.

Awards were presented by community leaders in areas such as academic achievement, business, education, health care, leadership/community service, mathematics, performing arts, scholar athlete, and science. HCUCC Pastor To’o Pagofie presented the Tausa’afia Award to Jerrica Tafiti from Kahuku High School. Tausa’afia in the Samoan language encompasses the meaning of good behavior, values, and faith. The award was established last year in memory of Letofia Fale, wife of Cup of Freedom UCC Pastor Iopu Fale, who passed away in 2006. A Samoan-language Bible from the Fale family was also gifted to Jerrica in recognition of her achievements.

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New Pastors Gather at Conference Office

Pastors new to the United Church of Christ in Hawai'i spent the day at the Conference office on April 10 and went home with plenty of information to help them understand the church in Hawai'i.

Twelve pastors and spouses from eight churches were able to share together and with staff members. The diversity of the churches that make up the Hawai'i Conference, available resources, and the communications ministry were just some of the topics talked about. Staff members were available during the meeting and at lunch to answer questions about issues such as health insurance, state licensing for marriages, living in Hawai'i, the 'Aha Pae'aina, and who to call when they have more questions.

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‘Aha O Na Mokupuni ‘O Maui, Moloka‘i a me Lana‘i
More than half the churches in the Tri-Isle Association—also known as the ‘Aha O Na Mokupuni ‘O Maui, Moloka‘i a me Lana‘i—gathered on April 11-12 for worship, meals, business, and an Ecclesiastical Council.

Fa’anu Ma’o, a licensed minister of Wailuku Union Church, was approved for ordination by an Ecclesiastical Council that included discussion of the intersection of culture and religion. Fa’anu said he had attended seminary for 10 years in Samoa, Fuji, and Texas. An ordination service is planned for Sunday, May 25, 3 p.m., at Wailuku Union Church.

A Friday night necrology “Feast of Tears” service, updates on Conference and Association news, singing, good food, and sharing were other highlights of the two-day mokupuni held at Pa'ia Hawaiian Protestant Church. 

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Kawaiaha'o Church Members Reach Out to Watanabe Family
Members of Kawaiaha’o Church joined with city officials and community organizations to reach out to the family of Masumi Watanabe, a Japanese national who went missing a year ago and is now known to have died.

The April 12 service at the church marked the one year anniversary of Masumi’s disappearance.

Bob Inuma of the United Japanese Society of Hawai'i approached Kawaiaha'o Church to ask for its help.

"He chose Kawaiaha'o Church because he had read that our past Ali'i attended Kawaiaha'o during the early years and thought it was befitting to have Masumi's memorial service at our church, being that Masumi is a princess to her family," said church member Patti Igawa.

Masumi's parents and two brothers, who were in Hawai'i for the trial of their daughter's accused murderer, attended the memorial service.

Kawaiaha'o Church Kahu Curt Kekuna led the service, which included the Lord's Prayer sung in Hawaiian, as requested by the family, and a musical offering by the Kami Serenaders.

Kahu Kekuna reminded those gathered that the service was meant to be a celebration of life. In addition to the musical tributes from church members, community groups also shared music, dance and poetry to honor Masumi’s life. Mayor Mufi Hannemann offered condolences and prayers to the family. Letters from other city officials who were not able to be in attendance were also read.

Kahu Kekuna offered a meditation about forgiveness.

“That’s a hard message for parents who have lost their daughter, but it’s a right message,” he said. “I ask that you forgive, if not for Masumi’s sake, then for yours—for your health and well-being.”

The family offered words of appreciation for the warmth and love shown to them by members of the church and the community.

“Today as we meet with the warm and thoughtful people of Hawai’i like Rev. Kekuna and everyone here, surrounded by beautiful flowers of Hawai’i, I am certain that Masumi rests in peace with God now,” said Hideichi Watanabe, Masumi’s father. 

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