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Mahalo to all the adults and students who helped and served at our chapel this month! May the season of Lent be a time that we all reflect and build stronger pilina with our Creator, our Heavenly Father, and may we come into His presence with a humble heart of thankfulness!

The “God Squad” recently did a “Quick Card” assignment that asked them to draw a picture on one side of an index card of what God has done for them and write about it on the other side of the card. The purpose was to get into the practice of recognizing how God has blessed us. It also helps us to be thankful for all we have. It is a way to shine the light especially when we share it with others! It teaches us to complain less and to praise more.

In the video above, are some of the statements the students shared.

How often do you observe and appreciate what God has created?  This morning I looked up to the sky and saw these awesome cloud formations.  I believe these particular clouds are called Stratocumulus clouds.  They are low, puffy, line up in rows and often have blue sky between them.  They are also lower in the sky than other types of clouds.  When I think about how clouds are formed and why some are white, while others are grey or dark, I am amazed at all that takes place to make them.  We don’t often see how they are formed, but we do get to see them when they are in this stage of the water cycle.  These definitely captured my attention this morning and I told God how beautiful they were, and thanked Him for allowing me to see them.  They reminded me of His great blessings and promises.  They reminded me of how faithful God is and how He is always present.  Have you seen anything lately in our natural world that reminded you of God?

Psalm 19:1 The heavens tell about the glory of God.
    The skies show that his hands created them.

Our Elementary Ministry gave canned goods to be donated to Haili Christian Church who will distribute them to needy kupuna and ‘Ohana in our own Hilo community.  Pictured above is our own Bobby C. who is also a deacon for Haili Church. He was kind enough to take the canned goods to church for us. Mahalo, Uncle Bobby and the Elementary Ministry for giving! Aloha Kalikimaka!

Thank You Lord! from Shonnie Calina on Vimeo.

On Monday we had our Thanksgiving chapel service.  It was another blessed time of giving thanks to the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth!  All the speakers did a great job.  Mahalo to Micah, Carlos, Kaili, and Kaupena.  The Praise and Worship team offered a song entitled, “Thank You, Lord!”.  Kahu Ruth shared the story of the Ten Lepers who were healed by Jesus, but only one stopped, returned and thanked Him for his healing.  It was a great reminder for all of us to also stop in our very busy lives to give thanks to God for all He blesses us with.  I pray that all of you have a very blessed Thanksgiving full of God’s peace, joy, and love!

Hau’oli Lā Ho’omaika’i!

Recently, the students learned the story of the first Thanksgiving and how the Pilgrims had very difficult first winter when they arrived in America.  It was by the grace of God and the kindness and wisdom of the Wampanoag that helped the Pilgrims to survive and thrive. During that harsh winter, all the Pilgrims had was only five tiny kernels of corn to eat each day. Can you imagine only having five kernels to last you all day?  Can you think of five things to thank God for today?

1 Chronicles 16:34 “Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good.
    His faithful love continues forever.”

The 4th graders are learning about the Church Seasons this year, and one of the celebratory days in the Christmas Season is Epiphany. It is a time when we celebrate and remember that Jesus’ birth was for all people, when God’s promises became a reality! The haumāna read the story in Matthew 2, and later had the opportunity to experience the gifts the wisemen gave to Jesus. They gave gold, frankincense, and myrrh. All very valuable gifts at that time. Gold is still very valuable today. They also learned that giving their best gift to Jesus isn’t material, but rather it is love. They shared that their love for Jesus can be shown through loving others, being respectful, following God’s commands, and doing the right thing. ‘Ae, so I encourage us all to give our best gift of aloha, genuine aloha!

The Praise and Worship Team presented the song. “I Love You, Lord”

Please click on the link below to view the Praise and Worship Team.

https://vimeo.com/76076291

Our Chapel for the month of September was blessed! Kahu Ruth’s message about love and loving others was very important for our keiki to hear.  It was about doing things for others that may take a little more sacrifice than a simple greeting in the morning.  A challenge was given to our haumāna to show love and to do loving things for others!  It was a message of Aloha and Kahiau!

Second graders recently learned the story of when the angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her that she would have a child.  That child was Jesus!  Students also remembered that when God makes a promise, He keeps it, and that all things are possible with God.  They also realized that although Mary had a very large kuleana, she was willing to accept it because of her love for God and God’s love for her.  Students drew what they thought it may have looked like when the angel visited Mary.  They also had awesome “I wonder…” statements/questions about the story too like, “I wonder why God chose Mary.” “I wonder why the angel left her.”, and “I wonder what the angel looked like.”  All great ways to imagine and think deeply and critically.

Students look at their reflections as they ponder the question, “Do you think others see what you see?”

The first lesson of the year for 3rd grade was learning that we are all made in the image of God. How awesome is that? That the God who created the universe would choose to make us like Him? The haumana learned that although we may not look like God, He did create us to have a heart like His, or actions that would be full of aloha and pono. This year the 3rd graders will be spending time with God and learning His ways, so that we too can express the Fruit of the Spirit.

Genesis 1:27 Then God said, “Let us make people in our own image, to be like ourselves…”