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The Rev. Heather Patton-Graham, Vicar for Formation
Chaplain, St. Andrew's Schools |
What have you missed the most?
I have deeply deeply missed singing -- congregational singing, the singing of the service, children singing... deeply deeply missed it. What has been the best change? What a blessing to have the time to really reevaluate and reexamine “life” -- and ask the question “why?” -- because if there is an answer, a real answer to “why” something needs to happen, then the blessings of figuring out the “how” it will now happen in a new way follows! The reflection, the opportunities for change and new (because we *had* to)...new approaches, new challenges, new discoveries. Something you did that you probably would never have done if not for the lockdown? We would not have had the opportunity to live as family of three again without the lockdown. Our daughter was a senior in college, ready to graduate in May 2020, and ended up coming home for spring break just in time before airplanes stopped and the world screeched to a halt. She has been home with us here in Hawaiʻi since then, graduated from college in our Waikiki condo, found a job over this time, and applied for and was accepted to graduate school. She will “move out” [again] in the next month or two and start her grown-up life in Virginia...having this time together has been deeply deeply transformational in our relationships with one another. I will always treasure this unique and hard season for this unanticipated joy of being a ‘party of three’ again. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: The fullness of Incarnation -- God is truly, deeply, thoroughly with us in this -- and we have seen that over and over in our frontline health care workers, our grocery store workers and food service / restaurant workers, our first responders, our scientists, our educators (oh boy! Let me tell you about our incredible teachers and our phenomenal students! Flexibility, mutual compassion and respect. Patience…), as well as our resilience, our grief and pain, our breaths of relief with vaccinations, our hope for the hugs that will come...and the bread we will break together again...and the songs we will sing together! What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? Travel to the continent and hug my parents! |
The Rev. Keleawe Hee, Vicar for Pastoral Care
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What have you missed the most?
Seeing our members in person when we were in lock down. What has made the biggest impact in your life this past year? Being in contact with them virtually has made us closer because it has given us time to get to know each other. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: I can no longer wear shirts with stripes or plaid as they do not work well in zoom and there is no need for long pants. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? I would like to go to a restaurant again! |
Theone Vredenburg
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I imagine the lockdowns and extent of self-denial required of us by this pandemic might be somewhat like entering a monastery or convent. It pretty much removed me from the people and “world” in which I previously lived, and it gave me much self-examining time WITH GOD! With the activities “out there” that filled my days in the past, I rarely looked at the endless, eternal expanse of the skies and “saw” God, or felt His presence so keenly for the almost-constant presence of people in that past. I do now.
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The Jackson Family (Julia, Andrew and Emily)
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What have you missed the most?
The thing that I have missed the most is just being able to gather with others in communal places. Whether that be the library, a coffee shop, restaurant, bar, or just on a park bench. It's what we have done our whole lives up to this point, and I miss it. I also miss seeing family. What has made the biggest impact in your life this past year? The thing that has made the biggest impact on my life this past year is teaching 9th-grade students how to prepare for high-school, college, and career - but doing so in the distance-learning environment. I have learned so much about their challenges because we have class via Google Meet for 70 minutes each day, and the focus has been on having them connect with each other through class discussions on a wide variety of important topics. Are there changes that will be permanent? Yes, so much of the technology I use in the distance-learning environment can be used in the physical classroom. I use a platform called Pear Deck that displays student responses on a shared screen in real time. This is excellent for facilitating class discussions whether in person or online. Also, we got by spending less on the luxuries, and that may stick also! Important realizations that have affected you deeply: I realize that having a roof over your head, food in your stomach, love in your heart, and your health well in hand are the most important things in life. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? Attend a concert, packed right down at the front of the stage, along with several thousand other sweaty, ecstatic fans! Also travelling to visit family whom we have not seen since pre pandemic. |
Jill Coryell
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What have you missed the most?
What I've missed the most is being able to spend in-person time with family, especially grandchildren, as well as giving and receiving hugs. I will never take family or hugs for granted again! What has been the best change? One of the best changes as the result of the pandemic is not a change at all but an innovative adaption. For many years I've loved being part of my St. Andrew's family. I'm so very grateful that so many people have come together to enable online worship. Life would have been MUCH more difficult if there had not been the continuity of church, albeit in a far different form. Online worship has been a huge gift! Some of the first things I will do once the pandemic is under control, is deemed safe, and I've completed my COVID vaccines plus 2 weeks are (1) return to in-person church (YEA!), and I hope we will continue our online worship services so I can have the best of both worlds; and (2) resume my daily walks. Throughout the pandemic there have been many people in my neighborhood who are out on the streets with no masks and no social distancing, so in order to stay safe I have not felt good about going for walks for a year now. I can't wait! |
The Rev. Diane Martinson, Rector
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During this year of the pandemic, I have missed the hum of activity of the congregation's participation in outreach ministries, connection with our elders in care homes, and the presence of our children and teens. It's been hard to have people die in isolation and for the bereaved not to be able to be supported by a community gathered to honor a loved one's life.
On the flip side, the congregation has made an amazing shift to worship participation online and new folks have become regular participants. We have learned a LOT about video production and technology over the year, and that will continue to broaden our ministry going forward. When the pandemic is under control and it is deemed safe, I especially look forward to planning two congregational events--a celebratory party that is just for fun and a service of remembrance for those who have died during this time of diaspora. Sharing eucharist at the altar rail again will be a moving experience. |
Velma Lee, Senior Warden
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(From the Senior Warden’s perspective)
In 2020, I really missed being in church, worshiping, singing, exchanging the peace with everyone. A good substitute were the daily morning services with Rev. Jazzy and “A Moment with Music” by Joseph Eppink on Facebook. I was disheartened when Pastor Diane had to cancel her sabbatical because she deserved this leave and had meticulously and diligently planned out her educational journey. In 2021 we can respond during the in-person services, but we can’t sing…yet. People are getting vaccinated, but we still should wear our masks, wash our hands, and maintain our social distance until we hit the herd community level. We have proven to be resilient and we will survive this pandemic! (On a personal note) What has been the most difficult change? Allowing more time to wait in line for almost everything What has been the best change? Cleaner beaches, renewed sea life in Hanauma Bay Important realizations that have affected you deeply: This is the new normal. Daily life will not revert to what it was like before the pandemic. Overall perspective: When the COVID first appeared, the CDC declared the “elderly” were age 65+, a high risk group. Although I’m retired and in good health, I’ve never thought of myself as being elderly. At St. Peter’s, there are three centenarians and 12 nonagenarians, whom we honored at a special service in October 2020. We haven’t officially counted those who are in their 80’s, 70’s, and 60’s. Some people in the 60-70 range are still working FT or PT. Therefore, those in the 80-100+ range are really the elderly and they also have underlying health conditions. In about 15 years, God willing, I might be that elite group. |
Ashlyn Kim, Senior at St. Andrew’s Schools
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What have you missed the most?
What I miss most is facial expressions. Behind my mask, I do smile, it is just that people can’t see. What has made the biggest impact in your life this past year? The biggest impact was getting my first college acceptance letter. It really opened my eyes to how far I have come, and what lies ahead in the future. I had to face that I was growing up which is scary but also exciting. What has been the most difficult change? I would say that the most difficult change was not having to be somewhere. Especially when the first shutdown happened, I stayed home with my family and was completing my junior year and the first quarter of my senior year over all of the distractions that were happening inside of the house. The other hard thing was not being able to play sports, go shopping, or going out in general. What has been the best change? The best change would probably be that my family and I grew closer because we did spend a lot of time together in the house. Also waking up later on weekdays and weekends was a plus. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: It was the realization that the changes in my life were not as bad as some other families out in my community or even in the nation. My parents still had their jobs and were still able to provide for everything we needed. I also realized that I had a responsibility to my community. To keep everyone safe by not going out and if so, following the safety protocols. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? Go to a movie! |
The Rev. Cn. Randolph Albano
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What have you missed the most?
Listening to people’s stories, laughing and praying with them through FELLOWSHIP and gatherings in Church, homes, parties and in the Community. What has been the most difficult change? When churches are closed while people desperately long to go to church. When we cannot visit the sick in homes, Nursing & Care Homes and hospitals, and cannot be with them during sadness and bereavement. What has been the best change? Everybody has been given significant opportunity to slow down from works. More time to develop a deeper relationship with him. The pandemic has brought us closer to him and made us more religious! Important Realizations that have affected you deeply: Pandemics or anything else can never separate us from the love of God through his Son Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:37-39). Be still and know that the Lord is God. Obedience to God’s law with patience and love manifests our obedience to the CDC and Diocesan Rules, hence protecting and maintaining the health of the people of God. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? VISITATION! To welcome people back to Church offering their Thanksgiving and Alleluias to God. Station of the Cross will be added to our services in Thanksgiving to God and to remind us that the difficulties/sufferings during pandemic are but nothing compared with the sufferings of Christ for all believers. Finally, to encourage everyone to continue praying, to continue in the CDC and Diocesan Rules and get vaccinated, ASAP! |
Marcelo Acopan Jr.
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What have you missed the most?
The thing I miss the most is the family get together. Last year we couldn’t go to the mainland for our annual Christmas vacation. Also in March my son would come down to visit. That also didn’t happen. Once it is deemed safe, we will be traveling to the mainland. |
Solah Palaroan
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What have you missed the most?
What I have missed the most is fellowshipping after the service and Christmas caroling at church members home. The biggest impact in my life this past year has been social distancing, no gatherings, and distance learning with my grandson for school. The most difficult change and what has affected me deeply has been not able to physically see our hospitalized ailing father in the Philippines who later passed away. Due to the lockdown, we were not able to attend my father’s funeral. What has been the best change? One of the best changes is our ability to view mass live worldwide. I have learned change will always happen whether for the worst or the best. I also learned that the pandemic and mask wearing has happened in the past. During the pandemic, my husband and I took on a planter project which is flourishing. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? One of the first things we will do is travel to the Philippines and visit our dad’s eternal resting place. |
Phyllis Miller
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The first thing I will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe, is travel. I’m not sure yet where but I just need to go somewhere off this island. The second thing is to return to in-person boot camp.
I am saddened by the fact this pandemic has had a major impact in human cost: an increase in suicides, depression, unemployment, abuse and poverty. The pandemic has been a double-edge sword. Not being able to gather in person for services at one point forced us to use and learn technology we otherwise would not have touched such as Zoom for on-line services and virtually meetings. The decrease in attendance and our limited ability to fund-raise has impacted the church financially and I am fearful that we may not recover from this blow for sometime. |
Julie Dureg
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Covid-19 has affected many lives. Businesses shut down, people are unemployed therefore It created stress because of financial hardships. Because of Covid-19, we were not allowed to attend social gatherings with friends and families and there were no church services.
During the pandemic I have learned not to be extravagant. Save for the rainy days. I had to slow down working so I can be with my family. I have also learned: Simplicity- Be contented and be grateful with what I have. Remain humble and pray more. And Yes, life is fragile and it should not be taken for granted. Thank you for the lessons and values this pandemic have taught me. I pray that it will be over soon so that we can start to live our new normal life and so that we can see each other’s beautiful smile again. |
Lolita Peralta
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What have you missed the most?
What I missed the most is attending regular Sunday services. The biggest impact of the pandemic has been the abnormalities of life. The most difficult changes include financial and social changes. This has been a great opportunity to return to God…more time reading His words and pondering upon them. If not for the pandemic, I would have not learned new things such as zooming and participating in virtual meetings. Once it is safe and the pandemic is under control I will visit families and friends. |
Maribel Duldulao
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What have you missed the most?
What I missed most is going to work every day. I missed the socialization with family and relatives.....and mostly our church fellowships. This past year there has been a major decline of attendees, and therefore our church finances were impacted. As Eucharistic Minister, we can't even attend/help our Vicar during funeral services. We were not able to accomplish our fundraising activities......like the church anniversary celebration. One of the positives during the lockdown, there is having more time to spend with my family, more time praying.....talking to God, for his guidance and protection for our family and for the whole world. I don't think there are such thing as permanent changes.....everything will change. The only thing that will remain permanent is our Faith in God. During the pandemic I enhanced my technology skills -- we were able to attend meetings thru zoom. Our yearly Christmas caroling fundraising was done thru zoom and our weekly mass services were done virtually. Before the pandemic everything was all in a "hurry" or everyone are on a "rush" move. I learned that we should "take time in a smooth process, be thankful for what we have today....life will be done better and it will improve in due time.....don't give up. Have faith in God and always pray. During the pandemic I am able to serve my family without rushing, cooking breakfast, and prep lunch for my son and husband. Clean the house regularly, and more time in the garden. Learn how to sew a mask for my family and relatives. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? Once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe I plan to GO SHOPPING, GO TO THE BEACH, and of course GO TO CHURCH!!!!!!! |
Fay De Jesus
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What have you missed the most?
What have I missed the most is seeing everyone attend church, fellowship after mass, and celebrations. What has made the biggest impact in your life this past year? The biggest impact in our lives this past year is having a lot of time to spend with family, doing things we haven’t had the chance to do together in awhile. However, financially, we also struggled as my daughter could not work. What has been the best change? The best change was following rules as it has encouraged us to be more obedient in which then implemented the rules within our home. I have learned how to be mindful of others and vigilant in protecting myself and others. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: I have come to the realization that this pandemic is real and it can affect anyone anytime. During the lock down I started a three layer vegetable and banana garden and did pretty good with it. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? The first thing I will do once it is safe is visit friends and relatives and revive church celebrations. |
Marci Yardley
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What have you missed the most?
Although the twinkle of eyes will have to do for the time being, what I miss most is seeing full-face smiles. What has been the best change? The best change is being home after work and on weekends to spend time with my husband and addressing the many projects that we let slide. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: Knowing that I have been so blessed while so many continue to struggle • not taking life for granted What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? Take off my mask • visit my family in Oregon and Oahu • give loving hugs I do look forward to one day, when it’s safe, to worship inside our church. Until such time, our clergy at St. James’ Episcopal Church offers multiple options for all to attend church regularly and so I have not missed a beat in receiving the spiritual food for spiritual sustenance needed. |
Jane Tonokawa
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What have you missed the most?
I have missed being with the entire Emmanuel family on a regular basis and also miss being with my YMCA friends. I have gotten used to zooming my exercise classes and participating from the comforts of home. I have also missed hugging friends and family. What has been the most difficult change? Most difficult for me has been watching my 89-year-old mother deteriorate as a result of her Parkinson’s disease (a neurological disease). For Parkinson’s patients, regular exercise and socialization plays a key role in slowing the progression. As a result, putting her in a private care home has been pushed up in the timeline unfortunately. However, I am very grateful for the love and care she is receiving there. What has been the best change? I got involved with a new nonprofit organization that was formed due to this pandemic. Help Is On The Way helps kupuna with food insecurity. I have participated in its food distributions and watched the demand grow in numbers. Twice weekly I answer calls and requests for help. This help may entail delivering a food bag to an elderly, immune-compromised person, or dispatching a volunteer to pick up and deliver medications, a Foodland online order, or essential toiletries. Once, I drove out to Laie with a family’s Safeway order due to them being quarantined. Are there changes that will be permanent? Happily due to the pandemic, my son has moved back home from S.F.! New things you have learned: Emmanuel has learned to pivot in 2020, especially when it comes to our Chocolate Extravaganza event. This year, we honored front line workers and first responders by delivering chocolate decadence and thanking them for their bravery and for keeping us safe. In addition, we patronized long-time Extravaganza supporting businesses and $5,200 in donations were collected and passed on to Family Promise of Hawai'i. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: Respecting and loving each other is the only answer. We need to live, breathe, and share love with everyone. |
Dr. James Lumeng
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What have you missed the most?
I have missed singing and having music in the church, travel to see my relatives, playing golf in Las Vegas, and visiting many of my old friends. I also missed the coffee hour after church services, but fortunately, Rev. Annalise was able to provide us with the Sunday Coffee Hour via Zoom. That program is outstanding. It allows us to know each other, the church, and especially the guidance by Rev. Annalise that enriches our spiritual life. What has been the most difficult change? The use of telemedicine to see my patients and communicate with each other. Are there changes that will be permanent? The use of technology to communicate with each other will stay for sure; More take out instead of going to restaurants; More shopping online; and the availability of more vaccines to protect us from virulent viruses. New things you have learned? The use of computer to communicate; and the decrease in traveling by air. |
Ernelle Leong
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What have you missed the most?
While attending church, missed singing hymns, going to the altar rail to receive communion, sharing food and fellowship during coffee hour What has been the most difficult change? Not being able to just pick up and go out, thinking dine in or take out, not being able to attend potlucks with friends and family to celebrate occasions New things you have learned: How easily infections can be spread, how fragile life is, attending church virtually and experiencing how others have their services, the total dependence we are on technology Important realizations that have affected you deeply: Life and health is so precious |
Paul Nachtigall
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What have you missed the most?
I have missed my grandchildren and going to church in person to worship and listen to sermons and interact with others. I have also missed traveling for fun and to teach and give lectures. What has made the biggest impact in your life this past year? Spending more time at home with my family. We have done more together. What has been the most difficult change The most difficult thing is not being able to go into my office as much as normal. Working from home is not the same. My reference sources are not available and the quiet of my office for working and writing is just not the same at home. What has been the best change? Perhaps the best change is the use of Zoom for our Sunday after church coffee hour. While it started as a social function it turned into much more. Those of us, particularly that have not been attending services, longed for more, and it turned into a combination of a little social and a lot of meaningful spiritual interaction. That hour became a very important part of my week. I got to know my fellow participants much better and developed a greater appreciation for each of them. The interaction is a valuable part of my life and missing it became very difficult. New things you have learned: How to adjust lights so that I can be seen on the computer, how to use Zoom, how to mute myself when the dogs bark, how to listen more to others, realizing old recipes and the time to cook dinners are valuable for the family, sharing cooking among all of us is a good thing to do, how to set up a new wifi system because communication with others now depends more on wifi, the church and its communication is much more than just Sundays and after church social hours, that TV is changing and it costs more and I don’t understand all the streaming and paying and I am likely missing out on a lot of it, that driving and sharing fruit from my yard with other church members is fun and worthwhile, that people that have differing views have great value. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: That health is precious and must be valued. That health and politics can influence each other in important ways. Something you did that you probably would never have done if not for the lockdown/pandemic: We have a condo on the North Shore that is primarily there to aid us for income during our retirement. We were not allowed to rent it out during the lockdown so we spent time staying there. It was a wonderful place to get away to. The quiet and the surf and the beautiful beach for swimming was something we simply do not normally experience. It was financially difficult but it was very special and worthwhile and we would not have done it without the lockdown. What is the first thing you will do once the pandemic is under control and is deemed safe? We will go back to Church services! |
Evelyn Tam
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If it wasn't for the pandemic, we would have never reached out to the community as we did. Emmanuel did a wonderful job of the Christmas Party along with the food drive, the most recent I Support the Girls & the many numerous support for the community. Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the Rev. Annalise Pasalo is here for the community in Kailua!!!
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The Rev. David Gierlach, Rector
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A year without hugs and kisses. A year without home visits to kupuna. A year without the wonderful give and take of weekly Bible Study. A year without singing! The "withouts" all listed might very well circle the globe!
But it's also been a year of "withs." As with the virtual services that surprisingly draw triple the folks who used to show up in person; many living far away, but through the wonders of ZOOM, can "be with" us in worship. Our pantry, that used to hand out maybe 700 bags of groceries a month, usually to folks who are houseless, cranked up to over 5000 bags per month, now largely going to previously employed service workers experiencing dependency for the first time in a very long while. The "withs" continue in the smiling faces of volunteers from our sister parishes, who transferred sandwich ministries and volunteer hours and Foodbank credits in the thousands of dollars, so that needs in Palama and beyond can be met. A farm in Makaha and a young woman with a green thumb decides to grow every veggie imaginable, and deliver them washed and bagged every Friday for free distribution. Saturday breakfasts that used to see 20-30 volunteers from all over the place and feed 100+ in a sit down eatery, continued with a skeleton crew managing takeout, serving maybe 60-80 with bacon, eggs and rice and a nice cup of joe. As church became less about gathering in a building and more about gathering in the spirit, there was time to paint the interior of the church, a first since the 1960s. And the iron lady herself, Shim Hall, is receiving a major facelift after many years with new windows, doors, flooring, lighting, split air and a fresh gob of paint so that when we return we shall do so with a more welcoming space. I suppose my take on this year is this: God is faithful in good times and bad. And the gospel can be preached, sometimes with words, no matter where or in what hot mess we find ourselves. And for that, one can only say, Thanks be to God! |
barbara bennett, Wallyhouse Franciscan Catholic Worker
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What have you missed the most?
What have you missed the most Smiles and shared meals, be it the Holy Eucharist or a gathering of friends and colleagues. What has made the biggest impact in your life this past year? The huge influx of guests at our Wallyhouse of Hospitality. There are too many hungry people, especially folks who were regular members of the workforce, now laid off. They have had no option other than come to us to help feed their families. What has been the most difficult change? Not being able to travel to visit my 91 year old mom and play with my grandchildren. What has been the best change? The incredible team of volunteers that have stepped up to help pack food bags or distribute food at the door. What an amazing group of people! I am blessed to know and work with them. New things you have learned: Eucharist comes in many forms. I used to be insistent about receiving weekly communion but by force the pandemic broke me of this obsession. But it wasn’t a break that caused sadness or longing. Instead it taught me that Eucharist is feeding the hungry, especially the Tuesday hot lunch. Christ is present in the daily food offered by many, such as the St. Andrew’s sandwich ministry folks, that we are then able to distribute and bring nurturance to so many hungry people. Important realizations that have affected you deeply: I can let go and all shall be well. |
Caren Esaki
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I miss being able to travel. The pandemic certainly threw curveballs into 3 planned trips. The most painful of the cancellations is the one to Tokyo, Japan for the Olympic Games! Crossing that off my bucket list will have to wait a little while longer.
The one bright spot of the pandemic is being able to attend church virtually, sometimes in my pajamas and uncombed hair. I’m thankful that I can still connect to God and hear my Pastor’s message even when I’m not sitting on the right side of the church, in the 4th pew from the front. I’ve learned that people care in so many different ways and it’s the memories you create that make your life so special. My family brings me great joy! I count my abundance of blessings and I am happy to enjoy each new day as the sun rises. |
Dawn Morais
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I think of the ritual of going to church as being called to communion. The pandemic robbed us of communion in its simplest sense: that of gathering and praying together. I have missed that. I have missed the affectionate greeting of people made more familiar with each Sunday's attendance. I have missed the joyous abandon with which the parishioners at St. Elizabeth’s share the sign of peace. I have missed the communal prayer and singing, not just in English but also in Hawaiian, Ilokano, Chuukese, Tongan and Cantonese. Thanks to ZOOM, we were able to still enjoy Fr. David’s wonderful sermons—but I am sooo ZOOMED-out! Vaccinations and continuing precautions—masks and distancing—have now given us the confidence to return and be in that sacred space on Sunday morning. I pinch myself.
COVID19 has not been an equal opportunity disease. Pacific Islanders who make up only 4% of the population account for more than 30% of the hospitalizations. Friends in We Are Oceania (WAO) based at St. Elizabeth’s tell me Micronesians have felt the impact of this unforgiving disease more than most. So the sight of WAO handing out fresh fruits and vegetables to this hard-hit community every Friday at St. Elizabeth’s does more than fill bellies: it helps ease my guilt at not feeling the hunger that so many have experienced in these tough times. This dissident Catholic is grateful to have been welcomed by the wonderful community at St. Elizabeth’s. It is good to hear the Gospel preached, often without words. The day when we can hug and gather friends once again around our dinner table for home-cooked food and beyond-COVID conversation cannot come too soon. Dawn Morais Webster Ph.D. |
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