Religion

Local Religion / In Brief

John Tomoso will be ordained as a priest

John Hau’ouli Tomoso, who is in his 39th year as a professional social worker on Maui, will be ordained at 2 p.m. July 30 as an Episcopal priest at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Wailuku.

Born and raised on Maui, Tomoso currently serves as transitional deacon at Trinity-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Kihei.

Hawaii Diocesan Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick will preside over the service.

Tomoso completed a three-year local formation program of the Episcopal Church in Hawaii called Waiolahui’ia, “coming to the living waters.” All four candidates in this first local formation program are of Native Hawaiian heritage and ethnicity. All four will be ordained this year as “bi-vocational” priests, continuing their work in the world as well as their calling as priests in the Episcopal Church.

This ordination service and celebration is the inaugural event of Good Shepherd’s yearlong celebration of its sesquicentennial year on Maui and in Wailuku.

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Special service set at Makawao church

Makawao Union Church will have a special worship service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the closing and demolition of the church building that previously stood on the site.

This event marks the start of a yearlong 100th anniversary celebration of the current church, built in memory of Henry Perrine Baldwin.

The final worship service in the white frame church building was held June 25, 1916. Demolition of that structure began the next day, preparing the way for the laying of the cornerstone of the new church that August and its dedication in September 1917.

This special worship service is open to the public.

Makawao Union Church is an interdenominational community church. It is located at 1445 Baldwin Ave., 2.5 miles mauka of the Hana Highway. For more information, call 579-9261.

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Kihei Lutheran to offer Bible school

Kihei Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School will be from 3 to 6 p.m. July 11-15 at 220 Moi Place. The daily program is for children ages 5 to 12.

To sign up, visit www.kiheilutheran.org or call 879-7979. There is no cost for the program and a free logo T-shirt will be provided.

Theme-based Bible stories, games, crafts, snacks and music are all part of the SonSpark Labs curriculum. Space is limited to 50 keiki.

Religion

Local Religion / In Brief

Bible school to begin June 27

Emmanuel Lutheran Church invites keiki, age 4 through those who have completed 4th grade, to participate in Surf Shack Vacation Bible School. The school will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 27-July 1.

Each night will start off with an opening assembly where students will hear from Snappy the Crab and the crew at the Surf Central Factory. After opening, each surf group will rotate to Bible story, science and crafts. Each night will end with a closing assembly where participants will sing God’s praise and talk about what they learned.

For more information or to register, visit 2016.cokesburyvbs.com/emmanuelmaui.

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Orthodox liturgy set in West Maui

A First Christian Orthodox Church liturgy will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Church, 500 Office Road in Kapalua (behind Honolua Store).

The Rev. Saraphim El Sourian of St. Mark’s Church in Honolulu will lead the service. The public is invited.

For more information, call Samir Malek at 495-6147 or Svetla Doncheva at 276-4885.

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88 temples ceremony June 26

Shofukuji Mission will present a unique ceremony June 26 at 10 a.m. that mirrors visiting and praying at 88 temples on the island of Shikoku in Japan.

Each year hundreds of pilgrims attempt this famous journey in Japan. Eighty-eight “temple scrolls” will be set up at the Shofukuji Mission and particpants will stand on small bags of sand from the corresponding temple.

Shofukuji Mission is at 119 Puanani Place in Kula (intersects Kekaulike Highway), 50 yards beyond the Haleakala Crater turnoff. Orange umbrellas will serve as pointers. Lunch will be served.

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Last enrollment set for pilgrimage

The Hawaiian Holy Land Pilgrimage scheduled for Nov. 2-17 is holding its last enrollment and informational meeting at 9 a.m. June 25 at the Faith In Jesus Church in Wailuku.

This is a specially tailored 16-day tour of Israel for those who want to make a pilgrimage to the most important holy sites, according to an announcement.

The all-inclusive price from Maui begins at $4,850. Price goes down as more people sign up, the announcement states. This includes all airfare, hotel, food, tours in air-conditioned buses with a guide. All taxes, tips and entrance fees are included.

For more information, call 276-1005.

Religion

Local Religion / In Brief

Convention to begin July 1 at the MACC

Maui and Lanai Jehovah’s Witnesses will hold their annual convention at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center from July 1 to 3.

The event is open to the public.

The theme of this year’s program is “Remain Loyal to Jehovah!” Clifford Mukai, a convention spokesman said, “Jehovah’s Witnesses strongly believe that loyalty is an essential part of any healthy relationship. This year’s convention features 49 presentations and 35 video segments that will help people develop stronger bonds with friends, family and, above all, God.”

The three-day event will begin at 9:20 a.m. July 1. A complete program schedule and a video about the conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses is available at www.jw.org.

There is no admission fee to attend the event. Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses are supported entirely by voluntary donations.

Worldwide, there are over 8,200,000 Witnesses in more than 118,000 congregations in 240 lands. The website jw.org offers information in 815 languages.

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Enrollment for Bible School underway

Enrollment for Kihei Lutheran Church Vacation Bible School is underway at 220 Moi Place.

The program will run from 3 to 6 p.m. July 11 to 15.

There is no cost and a free logo T-shirt is provided.

Register at kiheilutheran.org or call 879-7979. Space is limited to 50 keiki ages 5-12. The program consists of Bible stories, games, snacks, crafts and music.

Religion

Local Religion / In Brief

Youth service set at Lahaina church

The Apostolic Faith Maui Branch Church in Lahaina will conduct its biannual youth service at 10 a.m. Sunday. Pastor Kenneth Alverio invites the public to attend.

Misty Griffiths will be the morning preacher. Her sermon title is “When We All Get to Heaven.”

The youth announcer will be 12-year-old Nakoa Pierson. He is a 6th-grader at Iao Intermediate School. His parents are Miley Mansker and William Pierson.

The program will consist of songs by the Youth Choir, selections by the Youth Orchestra and instrumentals performed by the youth of the church. Cindy Makimoto is directing the program.

The evening Lord Supper service will begin at 7 and will be conducted by the adult members of the church. Alverio will preach a spirit-inspired and spirit-directed sermon.

The church is at 1211 Front St. (Mala Wharf) and is recognizable by the large neon sign “Jesus Coming Soon” atop its roof.