O’ahu Association Receives New Church
On August 19, the O’ahu Association Board of Directors granted standing to the Chuukese Congregational Church of Christ, making it the newest church in the Hawai'i Conference. The church, which began the process of becoming a UCC congregation in 2008, began worshipping at Kailua Christian Church on August 1, where it continues to hold Sunday services. The church will be officially welcomed into membership by the Oah'u Association when it gathers for the ‘Aha Mokupuni on October 9 at Windward UCC.

Pakistan Flood Update
The magnitude of the devastation in Pakistan has worsened since previous updates. For more on this story and to donate to recovery efforts, click HERE. To view recent photos, click HERE.

UCAN Seeks Board Members
The United Church of Christ HIV & AIDS Network, or UCAN Inc., is currently seeking applicants for its Board of Directors. Applicants must have membership in a UCC congregation or be authorized for ministry in the UCC. For more information click on the links below:
 Board of Directors Application Process 
 Board of Directors Application

Additional information about UCAN is available at: www.ucaninc.org

 UCC Lends Momentum to First Lady's 'Let’s Move!' Effort
The United Church of Christ has announced its support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign to engage parents, families, schools and communities in eradicating childhood obesity and ensuring access to affordable and healthy food. "The faith community was specifically invited to the table as key players in this effort because they are in a unique position to initiate and/or coordinate activities in their communities," says Barbara T. Baylor, UCC's Minister for Health Care Justice. For more on this story, click HERE.

 Stewards Program for Young Adults
Young Christians from around the world are invited to apply to the World Council of Churches (WCC) Stewards Program for one of two hands-on learning experiences at major ecumenical meetings in 2011. The first meeting is the WCC Central Committee on February 8-24, and the second is the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation on May 12-26. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years of age. Click HERE for more information.

 Important Tax Law Change
Effective July 1, a new Hawaii State tax law, Act 155, requires all businesses and nonprofits, whether or not they currently pay the General Excise Tax (G.E.T.), to register with the state and file timely tax returns. Businesses, including churches, that pass on the general excise tax for sales of goods or services, including rental income, should be aware that the law also places personal liability on officers or other responsible persons for failure to file returns or pay taxes. To read more about this new law, click HERE.

Share a Video, Earn $500
What does it mean to invest responsibly in uncertain times? This is the theme of a video contest sponsored by United Church Funds (UCF) this fall. UCF is looking for submissions from individuals, youth groups, or churches explaining what "Investing Responsibly in Uncertain Times” means to them. Submissions must not exceed three minutes. The deadline is September 6. The winner will receive $500, and selected videos will be highlighted at the first National Investor Conference, October 22 and 23, in Chicago. The registration fee is $195 and includes all conference materials, one night lodging, and all meals. For more information, click HERE.

 Aha Mokupuni Dates Announced
Mark your calendars for these important Association gatherings. 
 Hawai’i Island Association: October 23, Kona, location TBA.
 O’ahu Association: October 9, Windward UCC.
 Kaua’i Association: November 21 at Hanapepe UCC.
 Tri-Isle Association: October 16 at Pookela Church beginning at 10:30 a.m.
 AHEC: October 29-30, Kalihi and Moanalua Church 

 Immigrant Justice Worship Resource
Jeanette Zaragoza, a UCC minister, has written a bilingual (English and Spanish) service of worship for immigrant justice related to recent events in Arizona. The service touches on scriptural themes of welcoming the alien, foreigner and stranger, as well as the early Church's Pentecost experience of empowerment and understanding across cultural boundaries. Click HERE to download the worship service.


 Disaster Relief Recognition Day
Members of Florida's one hundred UCC churches will gather for a beach-side worship Sunday, August 22, at 7 p.m. (EDT) to celebrate and reflect how individuals can play—and are playing—a role in protecting the Gulf of Mexico devastated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Florida churches encourage UCC congregations across the country to join in prayerful solidarity on the same day. To read more, click HERE.

  Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa General Assembly
UCC General Minister and President Geoffrey Black and Hawai‘i Conference Minister Charles Buck were among UCC representatives who traveled to American Samoa for the General Assembly of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS). Their visit marked the tenth anniversary of the Partnership between the UCC and CCCAS.

  Fall Youth Camp
This year’s Fall Youth Camp for youth in grades 6 to 12 will be held October 3-6, 2010, at Camp Homelani on the island of O’ahu. The cost is $225 per person. The deadline to register is Friday, August 27, 2010. Camp materials and registration forms have been mailed to churches and are also available through the links below. For more information, call Sachi Fujita at 791-5636 or from neighbor islands 1-800-734-7610 ext. 636. 

 Flyer
 Camp Cover Letter
 Registration Information
 Registration Form 

 New UCC Web Site on Gulf Oil Spill
The Gulf Coast Team of Justice and Witness Ministries and National Disaster Ministries of Wider Church Ministries are working together to provide updated information and resources for local churches on the Gulf Oil spill. You can find all of these on a new web page at the UCC website. Click HERE to view the page. 

New Pension Board Annuitant Visitors
The Pension Board has appointed Tom Fujita and Dean Fujii as annuitant visitors in the Hawai'i Conference. As the Pension Board’s local contacts, they visit with retirees and consult those about to retire. Ted Robinson, who held this responsibility most recently, moved to California last December and will be an annuitant visitor for Northern California. You can reach the Rev. Fujita at (808) 285-3611, and the Rev. Fujii by email or by calling (808) 387-6703.

Dean Fujii Retires
Dean Fujii retired June 30 after 43 years of active ministry in the Hawai'i Conference, the last four as an Associate Conference Minister and Papa Makua. A celebration of the Rev. Fujii’s ministry took place at the `Aha Iki during the `Aha Pae`aina earlier this month. Click HERE for photos from the event.

 Conference Youth at Regional Youth Event.
Fifteen youth and five adults from the Hawai'i Conference attended at the Western Regional Youth Event in Billings, Montana. They then visited Yellowstone before returning to Hawai'i on July 14. Click HERE  to see photos of the event.

15 Craigside On Track for February Opening
Construction on 15 Craigside, the continuing care retirement community going up at the site of the former Hawai‘i Conference Office, is on schedule and on budget. The building will be "topped-off" in mid-July, substantial completion will be in mid-February 2011, and the first residents will move in late February 2011. Almost 80% of apartments are already reserved. For more information, go to 15 craigside.org, or call Jan Kaeo, Marketing Director, at (808) 285-5178.

Pastoral Transitions
Ewa Community Church called retired UCC minister and chaplain John DeSaegher to be Interim Pastor. He began a six-month term on July 1. The Rev. DeSaegher is the spouse of Waipahu UCC Pastor Norma DeSaegher.

Lili'uokalani Protestant Church called Neal MacPherson to be Interim Pastor. Neal began his ministry there on July 9. Neal is also the Director of the Henry Opukaha'ia Center.

Urgent Request for Missionaries
Global Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) needs to fill missionary positions in Haiti immediately. These positions provide a modest salary, health care, pension, housing, and additional benefits. To view these positions, click HERE. If you are interested, contact Julia Brown Karimu by email, jkarimu@dom.disciples.org, or by calling (317) 713-2566.

 Conference Youth Head to Montana
On the Fourth of July, 15 youth and 5 adults will leave Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i, Lana‘i, and Maui and join one youth from Oahu to begin ten days of fun, fellowship, and learning. After a night at Nu‘uanu Congregational Church in Honolulu, the group will head off to Montana for the Western Regional Youth Event (WRYE) and on to Yellowstone National Park.

Because Jack Belsom, the director of the trip and pastor of Iao Congregational Church on Maui, is leader, there’s the promise of lots of singing. The adult advisors all have served in that capacity for the Conference in the past: Youlida Yoruw from Iao Congregational, Ben and Marie Caberto from Lana‘i Union, and Dorothy Lester, Associate Conference Minister.

Youth are: Connor Asato, United Church of Christ-Judd Street, Honolulu; Anuhea and Ku‘uleinani Breen from Hanapepe Hawaiian Church, Kauai; Kristi Caberto and Kasey Sabin from Lana‘i Union Church on Lana‘i; Vida Falan, Samantha Hill, Molly Murai, Corey Tanaka, Carissa and Francis Yinmed, and Javis Yoruw from Iao Congregational Church; Keanu Hill from Po‘okela Church on Maui; and Makaiwa and Welina Tong from Ola‘a Congregational Church on the Island of Hawai‘i.

The group arrives in Billings, Montana, for WRYE on Tuesday, where they will meet Geoffrey Black, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ; hear Amy Roloff, the mom in the reality show, “Little People Big World” on the Discovery Channel; and hear bicycling musicians in the group “Lost and Found.” The days will be filled with worship, community building, and workshops, which include issues facing youth, music, and improvisational theatre.

On Wednesday, July 7, service projects will take youth to parks, the zoo, and senior centers in Billings, and to the UCC Montana-Northern Wyoming Church camp.

On Friday, the Hawaii Conference group will go to Little Bighorn Battlefield. This area memorializes the U.S. Army's 7th Cavalry and the Sioux and Cheyenne in one of the Indians last armed efforts to preserve their way of life. Here on June 25, 1876, 263 soldiers and attached personnel of the U.S. Army, including Lt. Col. George A. Custer, died fighting several thousand Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. The number of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors who lost their lives during this battle is unknown. For more information see: www.nps.gov/libi/index.htm.

On Saturday, the group will set off on a bus trip to Yellowstone National Park. They will stop along the way near Big Sky, Montana, for lunch and whitewater rafting.

Sunday is the first day to view geysers, animals, and the other magnificent wonders of Yellowstone. They plan to see Old Faithful geyser and join in a worship service that is part of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks.

Yellowstone sightseeing ends on Tuesday, when the group returns to Billings for an early morning flight back home on Wednesday, July 14. 

 Pastoral Changes
Fortunato Zamora resigned as Pastor of Filipino UCC. His last Sunday was May 30, and he has moved to Texas to join his family there.

 Medical/Dental Annual Open Enrollment
June is open enrollment month for eligible HCUCC church employees. Notice and forms will be sent to the churches this week. During open enrollment, you can make changes to your coverage, transfer from one health plan to another, or join a group plan if you did not join when you were first eligible. Changes will be effective July 1, 2010. For more information, please contact Ann Osalvo at 791-5627 or from neighbor islands at 1-800-734-7610 ext. 627.

  Clergy Gathering at `Aha Pae`aina
All ministers attending the `Aha Pae`aina will gather on Thursday afternoon, June 10, 1-4 p.m., in the Sanctuary of Lihu'e United Church. In addition to worship and updates, Amosa Amosa, `Aha Youth Event keynote speaker and head football coach at Campbell High School, will share his experiences and insights working with youth in school, at church, and on the football field. There will also be boundary training (which will satisfy the annual boundary training requirement), using a new on-line resource. 

 Clergy Women's Retreat in October
The Hawai'i Conference Women's Clergy Retreat will be held October 18-20 at Camp Mokule'ia on the North Shore of O'ahu. Special guest for the event will be Alice Hunt, President of Chicago Theological Seminary. All women clergy with standing in the Hawai'i Conference are invited to attend. Cost of room and board is $225 for a single room, $150 for a double. Airfare reimbursement for women attending from Neighbor Islands is available if reservation and payment are received by June 15. Click HERE to view a flier and a registration form. Questions? E-mail Diane Weible at dweible@hcucc.org.

Ad in Arizona Newspaper in Response to Stringent Immigration Law
The UCC's national setting, in partnership with the Southwest Conference (which includes Arizona), is hoping to place the ad as part of its public response to Arizona's stringent immigration law that, according to racial justice advocates and church leaders, encourages racial profiling of Hispanics. The United Church of Christ has already raised nearly $19,000 from more than 370 contributors nationally for the purpose of placing a full-page ad in the statewide Arizona Republic newspaper on Saturday, May 29, the day when 500,000 protesters are expected to march in Phoenix. An additional $4,000 is still need to cover the cost of the ad before the space is purchased. Click HERE to read more. 

  Add Sparkle to Florida Sun at General Synod 28
The UCC has unveiled its theme and logo for General Synod 28 in Tampa, Florida. The theme for the biennial meeting, to be held July 1-5, 2011, is “Imagine what's possible. God is still speaking.” The theme of Synod reflects the hope that the UCC will begin to emphasize the possibilities that exist for local churches. For more on this story, click HERE