First United Protestant Church, UCC

Serving Hilo since 1869 ~ Serving you today!

Recent Events

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They hold events that are important in our church life during the past years.

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Sunday, March 7

We Celebrate a Baptism...

This baptism was a special joy for our church family. The baby and his parents had traveled from their home in Arizona to share this important event with their extended family in Hilo, and with our church family.

...and Collect an Offering for the Children in Chile

last Sunday, after our tsunami scare, Tyler and her mom June talked to us about the tsunami and the earthquake in Chile which caused the tsunami, and asked us to get out the little baskets the children had made for us to collect for the children of Haiti, and fill them again - this time for the children of Chile. Today, our little ones eagerly came through the congregation to collect our offering.

It looked like their bags were quite heavy!

Sunday, February 28

Our Annual Party for New Babies and Their Parents

After worship, we gathered on the lanai for the party. Each of the babies got a quilt; the moms got to choose which one they wanted. Volunteers sewed a dedication label into each quilt, with the baby's name, and "With Aloha from the fellowship of First United Protestant Church, Hilo, Hawaii". We celebrated 7 new babies this year!

The Christian Service Committee and the women of the Kosraean fellowship had gone all out to create a festive setting on the lanai, and provided an abundant and delicious lunch for everybody.

A Healthy Heart For Church and Community

Hilo Heart Walk 2o10

FUPC Team Leader and Organizer Carlene Wolf assembled her walkers in a matter of a few days! All it took was a few phone calls - and a wager with her husband - to put it all together! She was still making calls as the Walk began.

One of the church banners was proudly carried along the way. FUPC was well recognized! Word has it that the banner won a prize! The most valuable prize was the fellowship shared along the way!

Church Moderator Bob Ahia lead the way as 27 members of the FUPC family participated in Heart Walk 2010. Young and Old shared in the beauty of the day!

Everyone wore the shirt designed by June DelaCruz		There was plenty of time to talk-story!
The Walk was a family event for the Quejas		For the little ones the walk was a ride!

Ash Wednesday Worship Begins our Lenten Season

The quiet, meditative services at noon and 6:pm were times of scriptural reflection and the sharing of Communion, the Oil of Anointing and the Ashes of faithful Penance. Rev. Walter began his Lenten Worship Theme of "Waypoints to Resurrection", the story of Lazarus as a guide to our Lenten Journey. We were reminded that the ashes were prepared in the traditional way - from the Palm branches of last year's Palm Sunday. The oil, from Bethany (the home of Lazarus), near Jerusalem, was the special gift of Pat and Jack Dutton whose Prayer Fellowship gathers in Sharon, Massachusetts.

Its A Mystery !

Rev. Walter's time with the children proved to be quite interesting to everyone present! He presented this small 'toy' as a representation of daily life. Sometimes the road is flat and smooth, sometimes there are mountains to climb and deep valleys to enter, and then there are always the road blocks! He said getting everything in balance is important. His attempts at balancing the 'toy' on his finger were not successful!

Then, using an ordinary belt as a symbol of the power of faith he showed how faith brings everything into balance! How faith makes it work! The children were then able to place the mystery onto their fingers! Of course, all the children, and some adults, took this lesson on faith home!

Focus on Mission

FUPC is an active "Mission" fellowship! Each year we participate in the five missions of the United Church of Christ that bring support and encouragement to God's people near and far. Responding to One Great Hour of Sharing, Neighbor's In Need, Our Church's Wider Mission, Strengthen the Church and the Christmas Fund for Veterans of the Cross brings recognition to FUPC as a "Five for Five" church. We are proud of that heritage and surpass it every year with substantial giving to additional local and international needs. As noted here on this Recent Events Page we were quite involved with sending relief to the Philippine Islands at the time of the major storms and flooding. This past week we were humbled as one of the newer mission voices of the fellowship spoke to us. Tyler DelaCruz, just five years old, stood before us to share her concern for the children of Haiti. She did this of her own volition!

Her simple words were heart warming and affirming of her faith. More than one response was heard from the assembled congregation,

"Out of the mouths of babes!"

The "Make a Change" baskets were collected that morning ...

$160 is now on its way to help the children of Haiti!

On January 17th we were challenged to "Make a Change" .... June DelaCruz invited us to save our pocket change for a week and make it an offering for mission. Everyone in worship was given a basket, made by the children, to collect the coins! June said "No dollars! Just change! Change to make a change!"

Christmas 2009 at FUPC

Our Candlelight Service shared the proclamations of the Prophets and of the Gospel in spoken word and magnificent music. Michael Russell, violin, and Michael Springer, piano and organ, took our breath away with their Prelude, Offertory, Prelude to Communion and Silent Night Recessional.

We broke bread at the Lord's Table and celebrated the many dimensions of this sacred night.

The children made their annual Shepherds visit to the Manger and then opened the remaining boxes of the Advent Calendar. Each week during Advent the calendar displayed more and more pieces of the puzzle. Once all the pieces were revealed the children then took the entire Calendar to reassemble and solve the puzzle. There were enough comments from the adults that there just might be an Advent Calendar Box for them next year!

First Week

Third Week

Final Revelation !

Given the opportunity - at the last minute - to share in the fun Margo and Michael stepped forward!

The gifts for our adopted family were gathered under the tree as the wonderful reminder of how we have been so blessed that we have been able to share the love of Christmas with others. The gifts were blessed on Christmas Sunday and then delivered by Joanne and Phoebe and Rev. Walter.

The last Sunday of December was graced by the Kosraean Gift of Christmas. This, too, is an annual event at FUPC. The music and festive display is marvelous to say the least!

The Advent Adventure Continues At FUPC

Third Sunday of Advent

The Christmas wreath is now adorned with lights and the poinsettias have arrived both inside the Sanctuary and outside the building – its amazing how these beautiful shrubs know just when to bloom!

The Narthex display continues to unfold with more stars being added each week. Many folks stopped by the craft table this morning to add their star to the collection. Ty and Phoebe were on had to assist! The Nativity hangs over Faye’s office door.

Seven more boxes were opened on the Advent Calendar with more puzzle pieces being revealed

Karena danced for us this morning. With the lovely Silent Night filling our ears she filled our hearts with love!

And let’s not forget it was candle making time again this week. Only one family was on hand for the special Faith Friday project … do you think they had a good time???

The Second Sunday of Advent

Margo, Jane, Sali and Murray set up the tree and carefully placed the Chrismons! We thank Harvey Hoffman for donating the tree from his home here in Hilo.

The children learned the symbolism of the Chrismons which now decorate the Sanctuary Tree and then they eagerly opened seven more boxes on the Advent Calendar. No one has yet guessed what the final puzzle will reveal!

Advent Season Begins !

The Narthex now displays the regal colors of this sacred season. The dark navy blue velvet central banner will carry the theme: In the darkness light has come and darkness cannot overcome it! The fellowship is being invited to make silver stars to be added to the side panels and throughout the Narthex. Each star will add light! Rev. Walter's new Advent stole, lovingly handmade by Gisela Robeck, is made from the same velvet of the central banner and carries the symbols of the theme.

The First Sunday of Advent brought the Candle Wreath into worship as we still embraced the joys of Thanksgiving and God's abundant gifts. Soon the First Candle was flickering before us!

The large wall wreath was in place and the children opened the first of the Advent Calendar boxes. A new puzzle will emerge as the weeks go by!

Thanksgiving Sunday At First United Protestant Church

The fellowship was greeted by the Altar Table adorned with the Cornucopia celebrating the many Harvest Gifts of God. We are grateful to Margo Aguiar for her beautiful arrangement!

Following worship Chef Bob Ahia served our traditional Thanksgiving Luncheon. Turkey and all the 'fixins' were in plentiful portions and were certainly ample to satisfy the many folks who filled the lanai.

Sunday, November 15: A Baptism

We had the joy of celebrating the baptism of

Hawai'i Wolf Kahuawailani Iokepa

Saturday, November 7: Our Annual Plant/Craft Sale

We had beautiful plants, crafts, and even a silent auction - and many happy customers and smiling volunteers!

Friday, November 6: Another Faith Friday

Another Friday when our schools were closed - and "Faith Friday" happened at FUPC to provide a program of activities for our keiki.

Sunday, November 1: Collecting Food for the Food Bank

Our children (and some of their moms) greeted us in their Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating for gifts to the Food Bank. We had princesses, butterflies, pirates, musketeers, flower fairies, and even Medusa (the one of the snake hair!)

Our choir, New Song, sure looked colorful this morning!

Saturday morning, October 31:

Halloween Work/Party Fun for our Keikis

Our children had a lot of fun giving the rocks that line our parking lot a new coat of paint. This was followed by games and lunch.

Monday, October 25:

Our Donations are on their Way to

Our Neighbors in Need in the Philippines

A group of volunteers finished packing the last of our boxes this morning, and now 10 large boxes are on their way to Northern Christian College (Lavag City, Philippines) which is the alma mater of some members of our congregation, and where one of our members taught. A medical team from Northern Christian College will distribute our donations in the Ilocos Norte communities Kais, Nueva Era, and La Paz, communities to which members of our church family have connections.

thanks to Rev. Walter for the pictures

Sunday, October 24:

Have you ever seen or heard a Shofar...

Elaine Lyons, a visitor from Boston, who had been in the group in Jerusalem with Rev. Walter, and had helped to put our children's prayer chords on the Wall in Jerusalem, had brought a Shofar with her. During Children's Time, Rev. Walter told the story of Joshua at Jericho, when the walls came tumbling down at the sound of the shofars and the people's shouting. Elaine, wearing a beautiful prayer shawl over her shoulders, explained that shofars are still used in worship, much as the sound of conches is used here in our islands; and sounded the shofar for us.

..... and Visitors from Honolulu

We were pleased and honored to have a large delegation from the Kosraean Fellowship in Honolulu worshipping with us, and sing for us during our worship.

October 23: Faith Friday

This was the first Friday when our schools are closed; and the first "Faith Friday" at FUPC. Faith Fridays provide a program of activities - supervised homework, games, outdoor play, stories, movies, and service activities - on those Fridays when the schools are closed.

thanks to Rev. Walter for the pi

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Page last updated: 3/8/2010