Happening @ Hokuloa

All times listed are Hawaii Standard Time (HST) - adjust for your local time.​​​​​​​​​​​

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• September 27 – November 15, 2026: All-Church Read. We come together for study, reflection, and community. We journey alongside Valarie Kaur through her transformative book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. Small Groups will meet once a week for 7 weeks in Puakō, Waikoloa Village, and online. Watch for more details.

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• October is Clergy Appreciation Month -- The United Church of Christ recognizes the second Sunday in October as Pastor Appreciation Day. This is a time to celebrate the contributions of our pastor to the Hokuloa ʻohana!  Please take this opportunity to express your appreciation and celebrate the many gifts Pastor Eric brings to Hokuloa Church. 

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• Sundays, October 4-25, 2026: Neighbors in Need Offering (NIN). Neighbors in Need is a Special Mission Offering of the national United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States. One-third of the offering is given to the Council for American Indian Ministries and the remaining two-thirds support UCC justice ministries for social change, equality, and human dignity. Please mark your special gift, “NIN.”

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• Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1 pm: Book Reading with Linda Petrucelli, author of Mother Tongue: A Memoir of Taiwan. We welcome Rev. Petrucelli to celebrate the release of her debut memoir, Mother Tongue: A Memoir of Taiwan. This interactive event will include readings from her new book, questions and answers, and writing prompts. Books will be available for purchase at the event. This event is also available on Zoom.

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THURSDAY OPEN HOUSE

• Hokuloa Church welcomes visitors to tour the chapel and grounds every Thursday from 10-2. Talk with the volunteers. Meditate in the chapel. Have a picnic lunch on the grounds. The volunteers are on hand to clean, prune, print the order of service, and most importantly gather for lunch and conversation. Please join us for the fun and fellowship on Thursdays at the church.

Talk Story Online

October 6, 2026

 

TOPIC:  Faith and Politics

 

Mark your calendar. Join us for Hokuloa Church’s Talk Story Gathering (TSG), on Tuesday October 6th 2026, at 2pm HST on Zoom (5pm West Coast and 8pm East Coast). Please join us for a time of fellowship and fun.

 

With mid-term elections only four weeks from the date of the October TSG, our theme will be faith and politics. Questions one might consider: How does your faith interact/intersect with the state of the nation/world?  Please share your memories of what you were taught or remember about past elections? Please avoid making it a partisan discussion and we encourage you to use “I” statements.

 

Productive political conversations focus on shared values, personal experiences, and curiosity rather than winning an argument.

 

Communication Rules

•Respectful: How can we make sure we both feel heard and respected during this chat?

•Speak one at a time: Do not interrupt. Give every person a full, uninterrupted turn to share their perspective. Leave time for others to speak.

•Use "I" statements: Share how a situation affected you (e.g., "I felt overwhelmed when...") rather than blaming others with "You always..." statements. 

•Assume positive intent: Give others the benefit of the doubt and remember that people often see the same situation differently 

•Practice active listening: Listen to understand, not just to reply. Ask clarifying questions instead of making assumptions.

•Focus on an Issue: Tackle the problem, not the person. Avoid name-calling, yelling, insults, or degrading language.

•Manage our emotions: Stay as calm as possible. If tempers flare, call for a short, pause before continuing.

•Agree to disagree: Accept that you may not see eye-to-eye on everything, but still commit to a workable path forward

 

Exploring Personal Roots and Values

•What is an issue you care about deeply, and what personal experiences led you to care about it? (This helps us understand the human story behind a viewpoint.)

•What do you think your beliefs might be if you had been born into a different family, class, or community? (This builds empathy and perspective-taking.)

•What principles or core values do you believe are key for our society to uphold?

 

 Encouraging Open Curiosity

•What kind of political discussions or arguments do you find helpful or frustrating?

•Is there any part of a topic where you feel uncertain, or where you see a genuine gray area?

•What specific facts or experiences, if proven true, would cause you to look at an issue differently?

•What is something you feel the opposing side gets right, or at least understandable?

 

Seeking Common Ground

•Are there any areas or goals regarding a current issue where you think people from different political sides agree?

•What is an ideal outcome that Americans might be able to live with? 

•Do you have your own plan to vote?

•What do you think our shared hopes should be for our Hokuloa community or country over the next few years?

•What was helpful about this discussion? What would you like folks to hear about this topic on Sunday morning?

 Hope you can join us.

John and Christie