2024 ANNUAL CHRISM MASS & CHURCHBIZ:
GATHERING OF THE FAITHFUL

[March 28, 2024]  The Diocese of Hawai'i's Annual Chrism Mass and ChurchBiz Conference (formerly Spring Training) took place at The Cathedral of St. Andrew on Saturday, March 23, 2024.  Over 80 participated in the daylong event that began with the Chrism Mass, followed by the ChurchBiz Conference that offered a variety of topics to choose from.  

Diocesan gatherings are a joyful time, especially when those from neighbor islands are able to attend.  Not only is it a time for worship and learning, but fellowship; a time to catch up with others in the Diocese or to make new connections.  Several clergy recently moved from the mainland to the islands, and this was the first Diocesan-wide event for them to experience. 

"Wonderful experience - looking forward to next year!" ~ Anonymous survey response

"So glad to connect and reconnect with others." ~ Anonymous survey response

​"It was nice being in the bead workshop where there was opportunity to chat with attendees from other congregations; always good and not so easy here with being on different islands." ~ Anonymous survey response

​"It was an anointed and blessed day for me." ~ Anonymous survey response

CHRISM MASS 2024

The annual Chrism Mass is an important service in the life of the Diocese. The Bishop consecrates and blesses the oils that will be used in churches throughout the year for baptisms and confirmations (Chrism), exorcism (oil of catechumens), and healing (oil for the sick). The service is a solemn one, usually occurring during Lent or Holy Week. This year, the Feast of Cuthbert (March 20) was observed during this service. Saint Cuthbert was the Bishop of Lindisfarne during the seventh century, and the subject of the Bishop Fitzpatrick's sermon. He is known for his preaching, the spread of Chrisitianity in the North of England, and miracles. 

Providing the excellent prelude music and service hymns was the Cathedral's organist Mark Wong.  Verger Roth Puahala and acolytes Matt Brown and Quincy Barefoot led the procession of clergy as Anna Young, a volunteer member of the Cathedral Choir, recited a beautifully chanted Litany for the Mission of the Church. With a voice like an angel, it was no surprise to learn that Anna is active in community theatre, and had just wrapped up her run as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady at Diamond Head Theatre.  ​Despite no formal choir present, the powerful voices of those seated in the pews and especially the clergy, filled the Cathedral, truly lifting their voices to the glory of God.

"Always enjoy hearing the large group of clergy raising their voices in response and hymns." ~ Joanne Mahuka

Kalani Holokai was the lector for the First Reading which was read in Hawaiian, and the Diocese's Archdeacon, Steve Costa, read the Gospel. The service also included the Renewal of Baptimal Vows for all in attendance, and Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows by the clergy. 

The Maui clergy present were called to administer the sacraments for Holy Communion, a poignant moment to recognize the challenges they are facing on Maui.

After the service, the oils were carefully portioned out into small travel-size bottles for distribution to all churches. Altar Guild members Joyce Kato and Judy Masuda tackled the laborious job of filling up dozens of those tiny bottles!

Many thanks to the Rev. Canon Heather Patton-Graham, the Cathedral staff, ushers Mary Jo Kamano and Barbara Service, and all who made this a special service. 

(Photos: Sybil Nishioka)

Watch the Chrism Mass in its entirety above. Processional begins at approximately 8:45.

"I look forward to the Chrism Mass every year to renew my vows and be in the company of my fellow ordinands!" ~ The Rev. Keleawe Hee

"Moving …to be in community reaffirming our vows." ~ Anonymous survey response

"Always a deep breath of calm to be in worship at the Cathedral." ~ Anonymous survey response

CHURCHBIZ: Lessons Learned

Last August, the Diocese held its first ChurchBiz conference, focusing on topics that dealt with the "business" side of church.  This year, ChurchBiz took the place of Spring Training, with workshops that dealt with the "lessons learned" from the devastating Maui wildfires.  Topics such as church insurance and preserving church records were balanced out with a few activities to feed the spirit, such as Discovering the Labyrinth and Praying in Color.  

Shown below are the different workshops and activities that took place along with linked information and handouts from the sessions that may be helpful to you.

CHURCH INSURANCE
Jack Rutledge, Vice President of Church Pension Group, joined  via Zoom, and was able to answer questions about all things insurance, and what churches need to know about their properties and its contents.  

• Church Inventory Spreadsheet
• Building Inspection Report

​"Church insurance was very helpful, especially to anyone new to church leadership." ~ Anonymous survey response

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PRESERVING CHURCH RECORDS & DSC FORUM
​​​Stuart Ching, Diocesan Archivist, led off the session by discussing the importance of properly preserving church records, especially in light of the fires on Maui. He provided some helpful tools for churches to organize and properly store their documents and records. 

The staff from the Diocesan Support Center (DSC) followed, fielding questions on forms, administative processes, and reports.  The DSC staff, who has learned how difficult it can be to access church accounts when passwords and other vital information are destroyed and/or not updated, are in the process of setting up procedures and records for all our churches - "lessons learned."

Folks were also able to set up private 20-minute one-on-one meetings with staff thoughout the day.

"Stuart Ching (Archives) was EXCELLENT!" ~ The Rev. Gregory Johnson

"Especially liked learning about the preservation of records. I'm sharing my notes with others at St Tim's." ~ Joanne Mahuka

​"Workshop on preservation of records had a lot of good details; it was obviously carefully prepared." ~ Anonymous survey response

Preserving Church Records handouts:​

• ​​Emergency Flip Chart-Sample          
• Pocket Plan-Sample
• Archival Resources                                       
• Preserving Church Records slides

Diocesan Support Center handouts:

• Dos and Don'ts of Leasing                         
• Easements, Licenses, Leases
• License Agreement Summary

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LIFE-CYCLE OF A DISASTER
The Rev. Canon Sandy Graham shared a portion of the Episcopal Relief & Development's presentation, "Life-cycle of a Disaster" that was given on Maui in the aftermath of the Lahaina fires.  

• The Emotional Life Cycle of a Disaster Explained

"Life-cycle of a Disaster might have been better titled 'Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Church Response' - but it also met my expectations on how my existing experience and skills could be applied to the church." ~ Anonymous survey response

" The Disaster Preparedness was very good, but a little short." ~ Anonymous survey response

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DISCOVERING THE LABYRINTH
During the first session of ChurchBiz, certified Labyrinth Facilitator Kristin Keyes provided some history and showed participants how walking the labyrinth can offer a space to become quiet and encounter God. She also shared how people are using ​labyrinths to guide healing, deepen self-knowledge, find clarity, and empower creativity. Socks were provided for folks to be able to walk on the canvas labyrinth.  In sessions 2 and 3, the labyrinth was left open for self-guided walking. Handouts: 
​

• Walking the Labyrinth
• Classical Labyrinth 
• Chartres Labyrinth
• Lord's Prayer Labyrinth with Scriptures 
• How to draw a Labyrinth

​"The labyrinth was wonderful. We look forward to having one at our site and look forward to future opportunities to walk the one at the Cathedral." ~ Anonymous survey response

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THE SPIRIT AND ART OF PRAYER BEADS
Kim Garner shared the creative process of making prayer beads to an enthusiastic group. Folks quickly grabbed a seat and their materials, awaiting Kim's instructions. Although these prayer beads are not a Rosary (Catholic), they can be used in much the same way. A larger bead can be used for invocation (asking for a prayer to be heard) the smaller beads are for more specific prayers. Larger beads are also for asking forgiveness – and the last bead is for giving thanks. Praying your beads can also be used meditatively with gentle breath control. The goal is for the user to derive meaningful value from the experience. 
​

• ​Anglican Prayer Beads Handout

​"I attended the prayer beads class to understand how to use them in prayer. Doing a hands-on activity in a large group was fun and we all could take home what we made. I plan to use them as a tactile aspect of my prayer life.

I also attended Praying in Color. The funny thing is I have the same book but didn't know how to implement it. Having someone take us through the process gave us a visual aspect to our prayer.

Both of these aspects will broaden how I pray!" ~ The Rev. Keleawe Hee

PRAYING IN COLOR
After leading the labyrinth workshop in the Cathedral, Kristin Keyes headed over to the Von Holt Room to lead this workshop that focuses on using colors (pens, crayons, markers) and paper to make our prayers to God. Why would one want to “draw” prayers?

1. You want to pray but words escape you; 
2. You have trouble sitting still and staying focused; 
3. Your body wants to be part of your prayer; 
4. You want to just spend time with God but don’t know how;   
5. You want to be a listener in prayer but your mind wanders and your body complains;
6. You want a visual, concrete way to pray;
7. You want a NEW way to pray.  

Participants could be seen deep in thought before putting pen (or crayon) to paper, creating all sorts of colorful images.​

• ​Praying in Color handout

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BELL TOWER TOURS WITH StARS
​Three members of the St. Andrew's Ringing Society (StARS) offered tours of the Cathedral's bell tower, taking folks up the winding stone staircase, to discover their world of bell ringing!  Participants received a history lesson about the bells and were impressed to learn that no other American church west of the Mississippi has change-ringing bells like the Cathedral's!  After a quick lesson on ringing, folks were able to attempt to ring a couple of the bells, and learned that being a bell ringer is no easy feat.  Numbers are dwindling, and StARS is actively recruiting. 

For more information about the Mackintosh Bell Tower and its bells, or if you are interested in joining StARS, visit the Cathedral of St. Andrew's website HERE.

"The bell tower was a delight! Many thanks to Richard, Patrick, and John Paul. I have rung handbells for years knowing they were initially practice for tower ringers without all the work-- Sooooo true!" ~ Anonymous survey response

"​ I loved the Bell Tower tour - if I lived on O'ahu I would love to be a bell ringer!." ~ Anonymous survey response

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Reporting: Sybil Nishioka
All photos by Sybil Nishioka unless otherwise noted