On Sunday, June 1st, Aiea UMC will be honoring our 2014 Graduating Seniors. This year, three active members of our con-gregation are graduates: Tui Iofi (Waipahu High School), Alanna Vance (Punahou School), and Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea (Claremont School of Theology). Congratulations also to Laura Shimabukuro’s son, Eric, who

graduated from the University of Hawaii with an Environmental Science degree. For our high school graduates, a family member or friend has written a little paragraph to help Aiea UMC get to know these graduates better.

TUI CLARA IOFI (Subm itted by friend, Tara Yasuda)

I can remember vividly the first day I met Tui. She was the shy, timid, and the most innocent little girl I had ever met. She would always be hiding behind her late grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Iofi, as I would try and approach her asking her to play. The first couple years past and I started to understand why it was so hard for her to initially warm up to me. Being an only child, moving away from her homelands of Samoa and still so young in age, adjusting to a new environment was easier said then done. It has been amazing, being able to have seen Tui blossomed into the independent, young woman she is today. Knowing Tui now for over seven years, it’s crazy how close we’ve become, we’re practically sisters. Constantly nagging each other, talking stories, but most importantly sharing a bond of sisterly love founded in Christ. She will forever be my sister in Christ and I thank the Lord for her. As Tui approaches the end of this chapter of her life and prepares for the next, I know Tui will do many great things. She has dedicated herself to her sports, her academics, her culture, and most importantly her faith in Christ. She has persevered through the temptations and tribulations that have come her way, and that only adds to the person she has become today. Congratulations & Best Wishes for a Bright Future that lies ahead of you!

SUMMER (JUNE/JULY) 2014 Volume 20, Issue 6

SUNDAY SCHEDULE

8:00am WORSHIP 9:30am WORSHIP 11:00am YOUTH GROUP 2:00pm SAMOAN WORSHIP 4:00pm SAMOAN YOUTH

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Pastor Jim’s Message…………..……3

Pastor Peter’s Message……………...5

Healing Prayer...……….………………6

Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea…...……..7

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST

June/July Sermon Series (page 2)

Committee Meeting Schedule (page 4)

Passion Group Schedule (page 4)

Feeding Ministry Schedule (page 5)

HONORING OUR GRADUATES

CONT. PAGE 2

Tui Iofi pictured with her parents, Moira & Phillip

99-101 Laulima Street ● 808-488-5340 ● email: aumc@hawaiiantel.net ●www.aieaumc.com

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SUMMER SERMON SERIES

June 29 - Conversion

July 6 - Jerusalem Council

July 13 - Corinth

July 20 - Arrested

July 27 - Special Guest Preachers Rev. Wesley & Jerusha Neal

August 3 - Sailing Away

June 1 - Spiritual Vitality: Past

June 8 - Spiritual Vitality: Present

June 15 - Spiritual Vitality: Future

June 22- Pastor Peter Preaching

ALANNA VANCE (Subm itted m y her m other , W endy Vance)

Alanna is a wonderful, talented, amazing human being who loves her family, friends, and church very much. She is graduating with honors from Punahou School on May 31. She starts work on June 2nd as a Punahou TA. Later she will shadow a gastroenter-ologist to further her learning.

In August, she will attend her cousin's wedding in Florida before starting at Creighton University (on that note, if you have any tips on how to survive in places colder than 80 degrees, please let her know).

She is considering a major in biochemistry with the intention of attending medical school, but she is also interested in experi-mental pathology, psychology, engineering, or history or bioethics. She would like to continue with a choir, as well as with her volunteer work. She's very excited about heading to college in

the fall, but will miss everyone, and intends on enjoying the summer with her friends and family and mak-ing more memories before she goes off to Creighton.

Alanna pictured with her parents, Blake and

Wendy Vance

CONT. PAGE 7

Aiea UMC will be awarded for our missionary giving at the California-Pacific Annual Conference in June. We will be receiving the award for “2013 Highest Missionary Supporting Churches and Per Member Giving in the Hawaii District”. We supported our 6 individual missionaries ($8840) and 2 projects ($3240). Congratulations and much appreciation to our entire congregation in making this global missionary outreach possible. Submitted by: Debra Bradshaw

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“Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children,

because they are no more.”

(Jeremiah 31:15)

In 1996, Jacquelyn Mitchard wrote a book entitled, The Deep End of the Ocean. It’s a harrowing account of a woman whose son goes missing while checking in to her high school reunion. Despite the frantic searching, he’s nowhere to be found. Police investigation & searching turn up no clues whatsoever. Little Ben seems to have just disappeared. It’s the stuff of nightmares for anyone who’s ever been a parent.

A month or so ago, it’s believed that the jihadist terror group Boko Haram, under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, abducted over 300 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria. Shekau vowed (via video) to sell the girls into slavery & prostitution. Some 50 girls later escaped, but the group is believed to be holding at least 276. According to a Fox News report, the terror group is believed to consist of as many as a few thousand fighters, and thought to be hiding in rural areas, mountain caves and the dense Sambisa forest bordering Cameroon. The US State Department has said there is no evidence the girls, some 130 or so who appeared on a video released the week of May 12th, have been split up or moved out of the country. In that video, terrified girls were shown huddled together, dressed in gray Islamic veils as they sang verses from the Koran.

The prophet Jeremiah knows something about abducted children. “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation & bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children… because they are no more” (31:15). Rachel was the “favored wife” of Jacob, the figurative mother of Israel. Her sons were Benjamin & Joseph. Joseph’s sons were Ephraim & Manasseh. Ephraim came to be the synonymous name for “Israel.” Thus,

Rachel was Israel’s “grandmother.” She died while giving birth to Benjamin.

Jeremiah wrote during the time of the Babylonian exile. Babylon, the “superpower” of the Ancient Near East back then, had come into Israel… destroyed the Temple… burned down the city of Jerusalem… and taken many of the “best and brightest” away into captivity. Thus, Jeremiah mentions Rachel’s weeping for her children who are no more.

The UMC General Board of Church & Society released the following prayer in response to the Nigerian girls’ plight:

“Loving God, you created each of us in your image — girls and boys. You gave us eyes to see the beauty in each other and in all of creation. You gave us ears to hear the stories of our elders. You gave us minds to create and heal. You gave us arms to embrace and comfort each other. You gave us legs to play, dance and explore new and familiar places. You gave us imagination to see what others cannot see. You grieve the violence and deprivation facing the missing girls in Nigeria and around the world. Comfort them in their fear, having been torn away from their school and families. Sustain the families who grieve the loss of their daughters. Transform the hearts of those who dishonor your beloved children. God of hope, give us strength to be vessels of peace and hope. Give us courage to end hate and free the oppressed. Give us wisdom to nurture the sacred worth of girls in all that we do. In the name of Jesus the Liberator, Amen.”

As we continue to watch and pray for these girls to be returned safely, may we also endeavor to protect ALL of our children, in whatever ways we can. Jesus calls us to do nothing less. AMEN.

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COMMITTEE MEETING DATES

6.3.14 TRUSTEE, 6:30 PM

CHAIR: RICK GOODWIN

6.10.14 FINANCE, 6:30 PM

CHAIR: DOUG RINEHART

6.10.14 SPRC, 6:30 PM

CHAIR: AL BLAKENSHIP

6.21.14 FOUNDATION, 9:00 AM

CHAIR: AL BLAKENSHIP

7.8.14 FINANCE, 6:30 PM

CHAIR: DOUG RINEHART

7.15.14 SPRC, 6:30 PM

CHAIR: AL BLAKENSHIP

7.20.14 MISSIONS, 9:05 AM

CHAIR: DEBRA BRADSHAW

7.29.14 AD COUNCIL, 6:30 PM

CHAIR: DELL EPPERSON

BASKETBALL: Meets weekly for “pick up ball” Wednesday’s @ 6:30PM

at Halsey Terrace Courts. For more info, contact Pastor Jim

(whitehome@hawaiiantel.net)

GAMES FELLOWSHIP: Meets every Wednesday from 12-2:30 to play

cards & board games in the double classroom.

HULA: Meets every Monday @ 9AM in the double classroom to practice

and learn the art of Hula.

MOVIE: Will be meeting Sunday 15th, 1pm @ Ward Theaters to watch “Alone Yet Not Alone” (www.aloneyetnotalone.com)

“ALONE YET NOT ALONE” tells the inspiring story of Barbara and Regina Leininger and their journey of faith and survival during the French & Indian war in 1755. Captured by the Allegheny Indians in a raid on their home and transported over 300 miles of wilderness to Ohio, the sisters are sustained only by their abiding trust in God, and their hope of escape against all odds to be reunited with their family.

QUILTING: This group will continue to meet during the summer: 6/14, 6/28, 7/12 and 7/26 from 9am-noon in the children’s room to quilt.

SUMMER

SCHEDULE

AUMC

PASSION

GROUPS

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Jaron Sagapolutele and Jirah Simeta receiving their Bible

during Promotion Sunday (May 25th) from Pastor Joe

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Jericho Mendiola is an active member of Life Communities participating in both the Hallelujah Praise Band and PMA (homeless) group. He was recently baptized at Ko’Olina beach by Pastor Jim and Pastor Peter. To help Aiea UMC mem-

bers get to know Jericho better, Pastor Peter had a Q&A session with him. Q: W here were you born? A: Guam in 1991

Q: W hat do you like to do when you are free? A: Surfing/Learning som ething new

Q: W hat is your favorite food? A: Haw aiian Local food like Loco m oco & mixed local food plate

Q: What has been your biggest challenge? A: There have been m any up and dow ns but getting into the Marines was a challenge because the process was long and not easy!

Q: W hat is your biggest success up until now? A: Joining the Marines

Q: W hat is your plan for the future? A: I am excited about being a m ilitary and having new experiences. I also want to have my own family.

Q: How do you feel after your baptism ? A: I feel m ore free and confident spir itually. I was afraid of joining military but now I know that He has a plan for me and God is with me and He will be with me. I can’t wait to have a journey with Him in the future. I feel that I am getting closer to him. I am trying to become a better person in faith.

Q: Anything else you would like to share with Aiea UMC? A: Thanks for supporting m e and giving m e many opportunities and connections including: work opportunities, Life Communities’ activities, friend-ship, gifts cards with encouraging words, love and prayers. I am very happy that I am baptized. Many times I have felt loved by Aiea UMC. Thank you all for coming along with my spiritual journey.

GOD IS WITH ME!

Submitted by: Pastor Peter Lee

YOUTH GROUP

SUNDAY 6/15

SUNDAY 7/6

*proceeds to support youth group’s

July Camp Mekokiko work retreat

SUNDAY SCHOOL

PARENT/

VOLUNTEER

MEETING

Sunday, July 20th

11:00 am

Following on the heels of the April 6th Healing Prayer service at Aiea UMC, the Worship Committee has decided to have a monthly time of healing prayer following worship. Begin-ning on Sunday, June 29th… and running on the last Sunday of every subsequent month, people in need of healing prayer will be invited to stay after either service (8am & 9:30am). Instead of greeting people on the way out of worship, Pastor Jim & Pastor Peter, along with members of the Aiea UMC prayer team, will be stationed down by the communion table to receive those needing prayer. We hope this becomes a meaningful part of every month’s worship, and people will start bringing friends & relatives who may also need special prayers of healing. For more details, please talk with Pastor Jim or Pastor Peter.

And as a reminder, Pastor Peter is leading a weekly prayer meeting every Saturday morning at 8:30am in the Sanctuary. This is an opportunity to pray for friends, family, our church, the world, and other emerging needs in our community. One of the powerful gifts that the church has is the practice of prayer! Join us as we utilize this privilege that God has given us to make a difference in our church & larger world.

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This Father’s Day, Give the Gift of Life!

90% of those who die from malaria are pregnant women and children under 5.

A $10 donation purchases a

treated mosquito net to

protect an entire family.

Make your donation at

www.imaginenomalaria.org

HEALING PRAYER AT AIEA UMC

Submitted by: Pastor Jim White

Thursday, 6/12/14

I.H.S Meal

Preparation & Service

Tuesday, 6/17/14, 9-10am

St. Elizabeth Church

Food Bag Preparation

Friday, 6/20/14, 8:30-12pm

Please drop off (AUMC office)

individually wrapped cookies

for evening Food Pantry.

Friday, 6/20/14, 4:30-6pm

St. Elizabeth Church

Food Bag Distribution

Thursday, 7/10/14

I.H.S Meal

Preparation & Service

Tuesday, 7/15/14, 9-10am

St. Elizabeth Church

Food Bag Preparation

Friday, 7/18/14, 8:30-12pm

Please drop off (AUMC office)

individually wrapped cookies

for evening Food Pantry.

Friday, 7/18/14, 4:30-6pm

St. Elizabeth Church

Food Bag Distribution

The women of AUMC serving in the community!!!

UPDATE

Digital copies of your family’s pictorial directory images have been emailed. If you haven’t received your copy, please verify your email address with Sarah: aumcpa@hawaiiantel.net

Prints are available upon request. Additional pictures are

still being accepted for the directory (deadline June 15th). The target for completion of the pictorial directory is mid– July. We’ll let you know when they’re ready!

June 1– Betty Hashamoto

June 2– Apelu Tigilau

Olivia Lawrence

June 5– Dana Kuntz

Nats Chagami

June 6– Moira Iofi

June 7– Dixson Lauofu

June 8- Daniel Kikumota

Ella Kikuta

June 9– Marianne Hertel

June 10– Stephanie Mueller

June 13– Greg Nacnac

June 14– Abdon Nabua

June 15– Kalena Yoshida

June 19– Patsy Sekigawa

June 20– Nathan Ogata

Malcolm Kikuta

Samanu Gaopoa

Lyric Gaopoa

June 21– Judy Lee

June 22– Brister Thomas

Elijah Leaupepe

Vivian Rinehart

Saialala Gaopoa

June 23– Shigeru Sakuma

Alberta Juan

Sumiko Manriki

June 25– Daniel Nacnac

Lorrain Shimabukuro-

Scanlon

Willie Tiamalu

Kerry Yoshida

June 26– Brooklyn Minshall

June 27– JuChan Lee

Malae Gaopoa

June 28– Gabriel Leaupepe

June 29– Bob Durrett

John Sagapolutele

June 30– Abe Tigilau

Amy Chagami

July 1– Lee Skoda

July 2– Joseph Beebe

July 4– Junior Semeta

Marva Ringling

Stuart Rinehart

July 6– Matt Staggs

July 7– Fumiko Sugai

July 10– Allysen Kikumoto

July 11– Prestina Tiumalu

July 13– Larry Suita

July 16– Ron Upton

July 17—Paul Takamiya

July 18– Helene Holt

July 20– Lindy Maika-Suita

Pati Leaupepe

July 25- Dyani Misiluti

Faresa Tali

Danny Villarreal

July 26– Elaine Misiluti

Lois Takata

Faapaia Fualema

July 28– Katie Rinehart

July 29– Peter Lee

July 30– Wayne Phillips

Alan Uyehara

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MONALISA SIOFELE– LOLOHEA, CLAREMONT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” O le aso lenei ua faia e Ieova, tatou te olioli ma fiafia ai.

(Psalm/Salamo 118:24)

Talofa, Malo e Lelei, Aloha & Greetings Aiea Church Ohana! Yes! This is truly a time to rejoice and give

thanks to God for all he has done for me, especially during my time at Claremont School of Theology. It has

been three years since leaving my beloved home on O’ahu, my parents and family, and church family at

Aiea UMC. The journey has been long with trials and triumphs along the way nevertheless, God’s grace,

comfort, strength, and guidance upon my life has never ceased.

It is because of your prayers, cards, emails, and constant encouragement that I have been covered and

able to ‘finish the race.’ Together with the sacrifice and love of my parents, Pastor Joseph and Su’e Siofele

and Pastor Taike and Faiana Lolohea, along with my supportive husband, Langi, my brothers and sisters

and their families; and most importantly God’s wisdom and strength, I have completed the first step

towards my ordination as an elder in the UMC. On May 20th I was blessed to receive my Master of Divinity

and look forward to pastoring in my first appointment at West Kauai UMC in the coming weeks.

All of this would not have been possible without each and every one of you! Thank you for your prayers

and financial support through the Aiea UMC scholarship program and especially your faithful giving to

God’s ministry. Because of you, I completed my degree on time and focused on my studies rather than

financial obligations. Thank you!

Yes! I rejoice and give thanks to Pastors Jim, Joe, and Peter (and especially their wives—Jody, Su’e, and

Judy) for your leadership, strength, and faithfulness in serving our God. Through your guidance, I have

and continue to be inspired to help others in anyway I can. I rejoice for all of my “aunties and uncles” who

prayed for and encouraged me through this journey to never give up, hope always, and pursue God’s calling

upon my life with fervor and humility. I rejoice for Aiea UMC and your constant support of education

through the scholarship fund that has and will prayerfully continue to help many more young people in

their pursuit of higher education. Thank you! Fa’afetai tele lava! Malo ‘Aupito! Mahalo nui loa!

May God bless you all in the works you do to live out God’s love and hope as the “hands and feet of

Christ” in Aiea—to share the Gospel with all people, in all places, at all times.

Submitted by: Monalisa Siofele-Lolohea

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage

Paid

Aiea, Hawaii

Permit No.1

AIEA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

99-101 Laulima Street

Aiea, Hawaii 96701

Return Service Requested

Our Purpose: Knowing, Loving and Serving God

Our Journey: Building a life-changing community that follows Jesus through worship, relationships, spiritual growth and service.

CHURCH STAFF

Bishop: Rev. Minerva Carcaño

District Superintendent:

Rev. Dr. Tom Choi

Senior Pastor: James A. White

Associate Pastor: Joseph Siofele

Associate Pastor: Peter Lee

Director of Christian Education/

Pastoral Assistant: Sarah Beebe

Administrative Assistant:

Debra Bradshaw

Rainbow Choir Director: Peter Lee

Handbell Choir Director:

Karen Carlisle

Organist: Malia Poyer

Samoan Choir Director:

Soteria Moli

Accompanist: Laura Shimabukuro