WAIPAHU UNITED CHURCH

OF CHRIST

THE OUTLOOK Lawrence H. Roller, Interim Minister

In This Issue Moderator’s Story

Historian

Helen Barcelona

Announcements and Photos throughout the pages

WUCC Newsletter FEBRUARY 2016

1961-2016

Mike Minakawa

Moderator’s Story “$ $ $” With all the hype about the $1.5 billion jackpot for the Powerball lottery,

a lot of editorials in our daily paper, ask the question “How come Hawaii doesn’t participate in the lottery?”

Sure a lot of people say winning the lottery will solve all their prob-lems...able to pay their bills...buy what they want...have millions in their name. Facts are many that win the lottery don’t wind up any happier. All the vultures and scam artists will be after them, and they will have relatives that they never have known at the door.

Surely having money is great but the respect and value of money comes from earning it, saving it and a wise plan of using it. Doing it this way will make your life a whole lot easier. Don’t ever count on money to bring you happiness. Real happiness comes from doing things you love, spend time with the people you love and care for. After all, money is just paper, and as it comes from God, it belongs to God. We come with nothing...we will leave with nothing.

At Christmas time, you always see the Salvation Army’s Red Kettles at strategic locations. One day a young boy got a handful of coins from his mother to put in to the kettle. The boy rushed up and deposited the coins, except for one, which he waved and said “I’m keeping this one”. The mother called him over and whispered in his ear after which the young boy rushed happily back and dropped the last coin into the kettle. What did the mother tell her son?

Could it have been the story about the widow that gave all the money she had to the treasury (Mark 12:41-44), or was it about the young rich ruler that preferred his treasure so much that he couldn’t see that God was more important. He wanted to follow Jesus but his love of money caused him to walk away sorrowfully. (Mark 10:17-23) There’s the answer, a message over 2000 years old and still needed in our present generation, “The love of money is the root of all evil”. So, go out and earn your money but don’t for-get God.

I saw this story about another young boy whose mother gave him his weekend allowance of two quarters which he has to share at church in Sun-day school. On the way to church, he was tossing the two coins in the air and catching them. On one of the tosses, he missed a coin and it rolled into the ditch with muddy water. “OOPS! he says, there’s goes God’s money”.

Remember whatever you give, will be returned tenfold. Mike Minakawa, Moderrator

Waipahu United Church of Christ

94-330 Mokuola Street

Waipahu, HI 96797

Ph#: 808-677-3317

Email: wucc@hawaii.rr.com

Website: www.waipahuucc.org

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Historian

Looking for old copies of Waipahu UCC Outlook and

Annual Report

We are trying to collect copies of old Outlook and Annual Report for our Waipahu UCC Historical Li-brary. When the container, which housed many church records, leaked many years ago, records were destroyed. We are trying to find copies of the Out-look and Annual Report to complete our collection in order to preserve the history of the church. If you have copies of the Outlook and Annual Report be-fore 2006, and would like to donate them to the Wai-pahu UCC Historical Library, please bring them to the church office. Jane Liu donated copies of the Outlook from 1988 to 2000, though some issues are missing. We will take whatever you have to com-plete our collections. Though the Outlook and Annu-al Report has been written and filed electronically from 2006, we will collect and store all copies you donate.

Judith Hayashida, Historian

Pastor Lawrence

SPECIAL CONGRE-GATION MEETING Sunday, February 28th after Sunday worship, is to discuss our Interim Pas-tor’s contract.

Stewardship Update

Thank you to all who have turned in your pledge cards. As of this printing, 32 pledges have been received for a total pledge of $66,138. Mahalo!

WUCC GET TOGETHER

Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at Sunset Lanai, Camp Smith. The buffet is base on the weight of the food you eat, Mon-golian BBQ night. Please call the office if you are interested and if you need a ride.

Next Workday is Saturday, February 20, 2016 starting at 8:00 am. Projects include trimming of all shrubs and recently planted Hong Kong Orchid tree branches, misc. pick up of rub-bish on the entire grounds and clean out of drain-age ditch in the back near parking lot.

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Choir Director Helen Barcelona Retires After 55 Years

Helen Duhaylongsod Barcelona is retiring after 55 years as Chancel Choir Director of Waipahu UCC. Below is Helen’s story, a reprint of an article (with some update), which was put together by Paul and Marlene Yasuda and published in the 1997 Outlook. It begins…. The clear soprano voice, as the Chancel Choir marched in singing the processional hymn, could only belong to Helen Duhaylongsod Barcelona. Helen is truly one of the great treasures of our church. The following is the story of Helen in her own words…. I was born on February 27, 1927 in Camp 9 in Wai-

pahu, above the present Au-gust Ahrens School. I mar-ried Jose (Sonny) Barcelona, who passed away in 2010. We have two lovely daugh-ters, four grandchildren and

one great grandchild. Marcella, our eldest daughter, is married to Dr. Alan Tamashiro; they have two chil-dren, Ryan and Kristen (Bobby) Smallman. Melissa has two children, Justin and Tiffany, all residing in California. Justin and his wife Jessica have a son, Cal-vin, my great grandson. My mom, Alejandra, (1897–1992) married Cayetano Duhaylongsod. They had five children, Mercedes, Doris, Helen, Henry, and Joseph. Papa Duhaylongsod died in 1933. Left with five children and no means of financial support, Mama worked as a house-maid for Mr. and Mrs. Travis. Mrs. Travis was the Oahu Sugar Plantation camp nurse. Mama married for the second time in 1935 to Tomas Ramos. He and Mama had four children, twins, Alejandra (Alyse) and Tomas (Tom), Jr., Joshua and Roger. I thank God and am so grateful to Papa Ramos for marrying Mama with her five young children. Pa-

pa passed away in 1959. Togeth-er, the family all went to the Wai-pahu Evangelical Church every Sunday. Our social life revolved around the Christian celebrations throughout the year. We cele-brated Rizal Day and other cul-tural events observed at the old plantation club house in the Span-

ish Camp, built and maintained by Oahu Sugar Planta-tion Company. Although majority of the Filipino

community were Catholic, we were brought up as Protestants by my family. Being Protestant didn’t make any difference in strengthening or weakening our identity as Filipinos during the early plantation days. Our family’s faith is rooted in my mother, Alejandra, who arrived in Hawai`i with her husband Cayetano in 1919. They first settled on the sugar plantation in Pa-pa`i-ko on the island of Hawai`i. They then relocated to Oahu in 1925 and settled in Waipahu and my dad worked for Oahu Sugar Plantation. Actually, my mother was a Catholic in the Philippines but after settling in Waipahu, she joined the Waipahu Evangelical Church, where Rev. Flaviano Santa Ana, Norman’s father was serving as pastor. I was baptized a Christian. In those days no baptismal records were kept so I am not sure when I was bap-tized. I attended August Ahrens School and graduated from Waipahu High School in 1944. When bombs fell on December 7, 1941, many students left school to help Uncle Sam on defense projects. Despite all the disturbances, school resumed under the war-time con-ditions. While at Waipahu High School, I was so fortunate to have had a music teacher, Mrs. Emma (Meurlott) Holt, who believed I had some musical talents. She paid my tuition for piano lessons at St. Andrew’s Pri-ory for one year. Consuelo Barcelona, who later be-

came my sister in-law, encour-aged and nurtured me with classi-cal voice training when I was in high school. Later I continued voice lessons with Mr. Carlos Se-bastian. We were often invited to the home of Mr. Hans L’Orange, the manager of Oahu Sugar Plan-tation to entertain his guests.

After high school, Gerri Mark Yee and my sister, Doris and I were delegates to the Christian En-deavor Convention in San Francisco. Doris re-turned home, but Gerri and I went on to New York City and lived with Consuelo and her hus-band, Dr. Ted Casey. I was given a one year scholarship from 1947–1948 in voice at The Mannes Music School in New York, established in 1916 by David and Clara Mannes. Profession-als and amateurs enjoyed the privileges of study-ing under a faculty composed of outstanding men and women, many of whom were artists of the first rank. Gerri remained in New York City and I returned home in 1948.

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I took on the role of leading the choir when the direc-tor at Waipahu Evangelical Church left for the main-land. I started out teaching the choir their soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts. The majority of the choir members at that time were my sisters, brothers, and close friends. Eventually the responsibilities expand-ed and I directed the Junior Choir as well. In 1961, when Waipahu Evangelical Church merged with Waipahu Community Church, I became the director for both the Chancel and Junior Choirs for Waipahu United Church of Christ.

Music played an important role in my life. I’d rather sing than speak to a group of people in public. I can express myself better singing than talking. Singing makes me feel good; I think of good things--my mom, my family. It makes me feel very close to God. All my talents come from God and by volunteering my services; it’s my gift to God. I find peace when I’m singing. It brings me great joy, when I am able to reach out to the congregation through the ministry of music.

The most enjoyable experience as Choir Director was rehearsing for special performances, like the Christ-mas Cantata and Easter services. We performed the Christmas Cantata annually with Pearl City Commu-nity Church from 1992–2009 under the directorship of Estrella Larioza.

Directing the choir over all these years has given me so much joy. I have known a handful of members for more than 50 years and I consider them all my ex-tended family. Recently, a choir member personally thanked me for sharing my time and talents and for bringing music into her life as she was never exposed to music growing up. That statement sums up my feeling of what the experience of directing has meant to me. Going forward I will continue doing what I love--singing in the choir, not directing, but proudly singing side by side with them.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the church through the music ministry for over 50 years.

Vocation: Receptionist at Aiea South Shore Hospital, 1945–1947; Receptionist for Dr. Ted Casey, 1949–1953; and Accounting Technician at Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, 1953–1983; retired 1983 from Federal Civil Service.

NOTEWORTHY RECOGNITIONS Recipient of Pride in Waipahu Award 2002

In Recognition of Outstanding Work in the Waipahu Community House of Representatives Resolution 2002

Congratulations for Award Senate Resolution 2002

Congratulations for Award Filipino Digital Archives & History Center of Hawai`i

Unheard Voices Project: Helen Barcelona

The oriiginal story was put together by Paul and Marlene Yasuda in the 1997 Outlook; and updated and edited by Marcella Tama-shiro, Melissa Fraser and Judith Hayashida in January 2016.

Memories….

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Officer, Board, and Committee Members

2016

OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL Moderator: Mike Minakawa

Vice Moderator: Mase Suaava Clerk: Etta Minakawa

Financial Secretary: Elmer Pagaragan Treasurer: Felisa Chang

Historian: Judith Hayashida BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Felisa Chang (ex-officio) Mark Felmet (5 yrs) Ray Goya (5 yrs) Mitchell Neth (6 yrs) Elmer Pagaragan (6 yrs - ex-officio) Mase Suaava (1 yr) Dannette Yoshimura (4 yrs)

BOARD OF DEACONS George Chinen (6 yrs) Mary Ann Chinen (6 yrs) Ruth Oshiro (2 yrs) Leang Smith (1 yr) Lipua Suaava (11 yrs) Mase Suaava (11 yrs) __________________

BOARD OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Joyce Felmet (Interim Youth Director) Sachi Fujita (4 yrs) Leonora Gantala (10 yrs) Jacquelin Kojima (2 yrs) Heidi Pagaragan (10 yrs) Leatrice Sakuma (12 yrs)

SOCIAL ACTION COMMITTEE Joyce Felmet Sachi Fujita Clara Kajiwara Elsie Kihano Emi Kitashiro Clarence Nishihara Irene Nomura Amy Sakuma

PASTORAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE Sachi Fujita Yolanda Hernandez Irene Nomura Eddie Uemori Marlene Yasuda

MISSION AND STEWARDSHIP COMM. Sachi Fujita Tom Fujita Wayne Oshiro Leang Smith

PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE

Felisa Chang (Chair) Renee Chung Mark Felmet

NOMINATING COMMITTEE Wayne Oshiro (chairperson-from council) Eddie Uemori (from council) Irene Nomura Ruth Oshiro

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January Memories

Pastor Alo, Cheri & Pastor Chris, Pastor Lawrence & Suzanne, and Debbie & Conrad

Men’s Chorus on Jan. 10

Communion Sunday

Jackie and Pastor John, duet on Jan. 10

The Reception of New Member, Leang Smith on Jan. 10

Jackie Kojima on Jan. 17

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January Memories

Leona, Jane and Irene

Church Council being installed on Jan. 28 Annual Congregational Meeting

Chancel Choir on Jan. 3

Fellowship after Sunday service

Dennis, Joyce and Pastor Lawrence

Mary Ann Chinen on Jan. 24

Waipahu United Church of Christ

94-330 Mokuola Street

Waipahu, HI 96797

Non-Profit Org

U.S. Postage

PAID

Permit #8

Waipahu, HI

DATES TO REMEMBER

Every Sunday is: 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 9:45 a.m. Sunday School First Sunday is: 9:30 a.m. Communion Sunday 11:00 a.m. Board of Christian Education Meeting Monday, Feb. 15 ~ President’s Day * Office Closed ~ Tuesday, Feb. 16 5:30 p.m. Board of Trustees Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 17 10:00 a.m. Pule Ohana - Prayer Ministry Thursday, Feb. 18 4:00 p.m. Church Council Meeting Saturday, Feb. 20 8:00 a.m. Church Work Day Sunday, Feb. 28 10:30 a.m. Special Congregation Meeting 11:00 a.m. Helen Barcelona Retirement Celebration