ANNUAL CHRISM MASS & SPRING TRAINING 2023

[Chronicle, March 9, 2023]  Over 80 people turned out for the Diocese's annual Chrism Mass and Spring Training event held at The Cathedral of St. Andrew on Saturday, March 4, 2023. 

​The day began with the Chrism Mass at 9:00 AM, and was followed by the Spring Training Plenary session presented by the Diocesan Listening Team.  After lunch, two afternoon sessions of workshops were offered.  

​Mark your calendars for next year's Chrism Mass & Spring Training taking place on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at The Cathedral of St. Andrew!​

CHRISM MASS

Chrism Mass included the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, and for clergy, the Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows.  Oils of Chrism were blessed by the Bishop and later bottled for clergy to take back to their churches.  

Folks attending this year's Chrism Mass were treated to the joyful sounds of the Hālau Wa'a band, led by the Rev. Mark Haworth.  Along with traditional hymns, contemporary Hawaiian arrangements were in the mix, including "Pili Pa'a" (We Stand Together), a song commisioned by the Diocese, written and and composed by Joe Camacho.  

PLENARY SESSION

The Listening Team Reports

About two years ago, in the midst of the pandemic, three members from Diocesan Council: Kim Arakawa, Tim Bostock, and Phyllis Miller, formed the Diocese's Listening Team. Their intent was to provide a grace-filled space to "listen" and discover emerging concerns and innovative ideas, as well as celebrate joyful successes around the Diocese.

From April 2021 through June 2022, they conducted 63 listening sessions across the Diocese. They spent time with 36 clergy and 177 lay participants who reflected and shared thoughts on seven open-ended questions centered on loss, call, support, spiritual food, identity, community, and joy.  In addition, the sessions offered participants the opportunity to wonder together – What is God Calling us to do? Who is God Calling us to be?   

The Listening Team then spent weeks analyzing and poring over the hundreds of pages of data – identifying areas of consensus on what respondents feel is working across our faith communities, where they see systemic stressors, what we, as a Diocese, may be missing or not affirming, and helpful “a-has.”  The report was made available to participants before Spring Training, to get a feel of what to expect.

With the data released, ​​Spring Training provided an opportunity for people to reflect, discuss, share and question, what our next steps will be?  Different exercises allowed participants to first talk in groups, then in smaller groups, and then one on one, and to think about questions such as:

• What will be your next faithful steps?
• How do you want to be in deeper relationship in your church/in your community?
• What does a BAD relationaship mean to you?
• What does a GOOD relationship mean to you?

​Bishop Bob also adressed the group, feeling reassured that we, as a Diocese, were doing well despite the many challenges of the last few years. Going forward, there will be further Zoom conversations with the leaders of our congregations to "discern God's mission for the Diocese."  He invites people to ask questions, share comments, and to take the Innovation Culture Index (ICI), a short ten to fifteen-minute survey, "to help us discern our collective willingness to take risks and to engage mission."  Stay tuned!

​In closing, participants formed a large circle and were asked to share one word that embodied how or what they were feeling.  One by one, beautiful words flowed through the room... joy... aloha... 'ohana... loved... hopeful...

A big mahalo to the Listening Team for all of their time, effort and commitment towards this project.

To view the final Listening Team Report, click HERE.
​To share your questions or concerns, complete this jotform HERE.

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AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

The Gospel Story from a Cultural Perspective with Deacon Bob Steele

Deacon Bob Steele from the Racial Reconciliation Task Force, showed works of art by African American artists that have rejected western interpretations of the telling of the Gospel story.  Drawing from his extensive collection of African American artists, Deacon Steele presented works by Henry O. Tanner, Alan Crite, and others.  He compared their art to a re-telling of the Gospel from the perspective of Sadao Watanabe, a Japanese artist and a deeply committed Christian, who uses white figures in his representation of the Gospel story.

Steele was recently featured in a HI Now Weekender segment for his donation to the Honolulu Museum of Art. Click HERE to view (beginning at 9:58). 

"​I really enjoyed the Saturday Training. I felt that it was very well organized, interesting and informative. I was happy to have the training and it was conveniently located at the Cathedral. The Vegetarian lunch was so ono, the best I have had in a long time. I attended the Racial [Reconciliation] workshop, and the Talk Story session. Thank you for the Training." - Sandra Shawhan 

The Portfolio and You: How the Diocesan Portfolio Works
&
​How to More Effectively Communicate Financial Information to a Non-Financial Audience" with Trip Lynch

Trip Lynch from the Commission on Investments, gave two presentations covering investments and the financial aspects of "church."

Creation Care: Climate Action Advocacy 

Students from 'Iolani ​talked about the Youth Climate Future Forum, their legislative priorities for 2023, and their experience lobbying at the Hawaiʻi legislature.  They showed how to advocate for certain bills, how to submit testimony, and how to take advantage of the Public Access Room.  Visit their Youth Climate Future Forum website HERE.

Walking Through the Liturgy: Why We Do What We Do with Bishop Bob

"Thank you for all the wonderful work you did before and today during all the events that flowed together so well.  I was inspired, encouraged, and have much hope for our churches and communities of love in our Diocese as we move ahead into new experiences of spiritual growth and faith living. Mahalo, Chaz" - Charles Hill

Q & A with the Diocesan Support Center (DSC)

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Sybil Nishioka, Editor
​Photos & Videos: Sybil Nishioka