First Sunday of Christmas

PCi Capstone project - Co-written Sermon
Kirk Corey, Maurine Gomes, Laura La Gassa,
Kim Lambrecht, John Sakai, and Kathy Webb
​28 December, 2025 - First Sunday of Christmas, Year A  
Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7; John 1:1-18; Psalm 147:13-21

​Kirk Corey - Introduction
For the past year, some members of St. Augustine’s have participated in the Preaching Congregation Initiative, a program of renewal and formation for preachers and congregations.  We have met once a month to discuss the sermon of the day, and to reflect on and learn about the skills of preaching.  Today’s sermon is our capstone project for this program.

Our gospel reading today comes from the beginning of John, where we hear that the true light, which enlightens everyone, is coming into the world.  We sometimes talk about how, as a congregation, we are called to serve as God’s hands and feet in the world.  Today, as we consider John’s telling of the story, we will look at how we help to spread the light of Christ throughout our community.  First, we will hear how we work to provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming home for those who come to our church campus.  Next, we’ll consider the work of our Thrift Shop, which provides economic relief as well as an opportunity for us to gather with our neighbors in community.  We’ll hear about how we work to address the need for food security in our Kohala home.  And finally, we’ll hear about how we help to share our gifts of music with our neighbors through our Tiny Church Concert series.  Taken together, these activities represent our collective effort to bring light into the darkness.

John Sakai - Safe and inclusive space
St Augustines' provides a safe and welcoming spiritual home for all people.    We renew this invitation before each service as we ring the church bell to remind the community that we are here to help whenever needed.

We accept everyone  as they are, regardless of political leaning, sexual or gender orientation or racial heritage.  We all have the right to feel safe and welcomed when welcome here.  During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, we renew our commitment to spread God’s light and love throughout the community and the world beyond our church grounds. 

Recently, there has been great deal of uncertainty about the direction of our country and the world .  Violence is increasing in our communities and between nations with no sign of relief.  The cost of life’s necessities seem to be outpacing many families’ income, making it ever harder for people to feed, clothe and house their families.  It is not surprising that lots of people are upset and anxious about their lives and the future.

We remain vigilant to prevent conflict from spilling over onto our church grounds. During these difficult times, we provide Aloha, safety, and welcome to our community.  Our campus is a safe and secure space for people to worship, meet their friends,  receive meals and food, and shop for clothing and household items. The Advent Candles shine brightly representing Hope, Peace, Joy and Love; all reflecting God’s never ending unconditional love for us all.

Kim Lambrecht - Thrift Shop alleviating economic stress
We had our last thrift shop opening of 2025 a week and a half ago. I was volunteering as part of the ‘ tidy’ crew, picking up the store as people shop. The store was packed with kids, parents, tourists and some folks just looking for something to do.  
Soon a small boy with a string of Christmas lights approached me. ‘Can you tell me if these work’. He asked.  He looked concerned so  I motioned him over to an outlet and plugged them in for him. The lights lit up.  I turned to boy to ask him if he wanted them. 

The boy stood still staring at the lights, his face was filled with joy.. His smile, twinkling eyes and look of relief on his face was just like a Norman Rockwell painting. 

I looked back at the lights, the shoppers, the decorations, the items for sale so lovingly donated by the community, sorted and displayed by volunteers. I wondered if I was reflecting that same light as the little boy?

Today, we are asked to reflect on how the divine light of Jesus illuminates the world through our acts of aloha.  In the Gospel of John, we are introduced to this  truth: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

This light is not meant to be hidden.  Jesus himself tells us in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life”.   Plus we know that Jesus told us not to hide our light under a basket but put it on a lampstand for all to share. 

By our service to the community thru the thrift store, our light shines brightest not in theological debate, but in the practical expression of giving and compassion. 
Consider the simple, profound act of providing physical resources—clothing for those in need or household goods for a family starting over. And it doesn’t have to be a physical resource - even starting a conversation can brighten and provide a light to someone’s day. 

Think about how Jesus served the disciples by washing their feet before his crucifixion.  He tells them, “If I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you” 

Our  thrift store is our foot-washing basin for the community. It is where we roll up our sleeves and touch the real, physical needs of our neighbors.  We are not just performing a civic duty; we are performing a divine service. We are allowing the light of Christ to change the way we live. 

We are showing people that they are seen, valued, and loved. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. When you put money in the plate, when you volunteer, when you help your neighbor, you are giving out His light.  Let it be so in our church and in Kohala for many years to come.  

Laura La Gassa - Addressing food insecurity
The Psalm today sings praises to God, who protects, heals, and provides. It proclaims, “He provides food for flocks and herds….” There, it literally refers to sheep and cattle, but as we are of Jesus’ flock it also applies to us. This song of what God does for us is also a reminder for us to be protectors, healers, and providers for each other and for all our neighbors.

St. Augustine’s Food Security initiatives are one way of doing as God does for us. We are a light illuminating God’s work in our community, providing direct food aid and also teaching people about strengthening their food security. During the height of the covid pandemic, we shared thousands of hot meals and bags of fresh produce through our grab-and-go Community Meals. More recently, we joined in supporting Kohala Cares, providing supplemental basics to our community as food prices climbed higher. We packed and distributed produce with Vibrant Hawai’i, sharing food with local families, which was particularly needed during the recent Government shutdown. Preservation workshops held in Walker Hall teach people to save fresh food that grows abundantly in one season for less abundant times. This work is about more than just bagging groceries and sharing them: it’s also about the person-to-person aloha we exchange during these activities, building pilina (connection) with each other and with all of Kohala.

We are about to take communion together, a holy meal of consecrated bread and wine. This is central to our weekly worship. Afterwards, we will enjoy a meal together in Walker Hall. Food, and sharing it in community, is clearly a foundation of our faith. All of our works spring from our faith, from God’s example to us, and from our weekly practice of sharing the eucharistic and fellowship meals.

As the Apostle John said in the Gospel today, “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Let us continue this sharing, as God has shared with us, both receiving and giving grace in our community.

Maurine Gomes - Gathering to share music and the arts
In John's poetic and eloquent writing style, we hear him say that Jesus has brought us the gifts of Grace and Truth.  John is saying that through Jesus' love for us and the life He lived, each one of us is able to connect to something much higher and brighter in our own lives.  We now have the gifts of Grace and Truth to help us rise above our petty concerns and worries. The worries that distract us from our true nature and purpose here.  I believe our true purpose is to live in Love and Peace, and to share all of this with our neighbors.  We have been given so much beauty and joy in our lives, sharing is only natural.

A wonderful example of the many gifts we have been given,  is the Tiny Church Concert series.  These are welcoming and sharing events held here to express our love and joy with our community. The talent is outstanding and varied, from hula dancing by the Hula Halau O Kukui Aloha O Kohala, the large group of the Penn State University chorus from Pennsylvania,  the brass musicians, string musicians, singer-pianist, and a few piano-flute ensemble concerts.   There were more, but I can't name them now.  Each one was unique and awesome.  Through the past few years, we've hosted many of these fabulous events and everyone has left here feeling transformed by God's special Grace.

My final thought is that these concerts in our little St. Augustine's Church, have been an invitation to each person attending to have "One Heart-One Love".  As Bob Marley sings, "Sayin', Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel alright.   Sayin', Let's get together and feel alright."  

Kathy Webb - conclusion
Each of the people on this stage (including Jennifer!) went into this program unclear on what we were getting into. It was a pilot program, so the people running it didn't really know what we were getting into either! (wait for roars of laughter) 
Throughout the year we met monthly and learned to listen and share.  

We learned to listen to sermons and share what moved us.  We learned to listen and share how the sermon might grow.  We learned to listen and share where the sermon is strengthening us to take the next step in the adventure of faith.

We learned to listen to each other and share honestly about our questions around the sermon and scripture, laughed together in our joys and sometimes even cried as we shared ways that our faith helped us through difficult moments. 

We learned to listen to our individual hearts and share from them.  As a group we unanimously chose to do the "heart centered" sermon as our capstone project.  This sharing from the heart comes from a year of practice, trust and, well.. courage to stand in front of you all.

When we listen from the heart we invite our minds to take a backseat and allow our souls to hear the medicine of the words being spoken, the light woven within the syllables.    

When we share from the heart, while sometimes not easy or eloquent or practiced, we have an opportunity to connect deeper to our faith, each other and our community...and isn't the point of all of this? To be that Christ light in the darkness for each other, to empathize in the imperfection of our shared humanity, and to come together to raise each other up as we walk this journey together on Earth.  

We thank you for witnessing our hearts and invite you to share a piece of yours as you go out into the world today.  

Mahalo nui to the Virginia Theological Seminary team for the invitation to walk this path together.  We didn't really know where we were going on this journey but ended with greater understanding of each other, encouraged kinship and nourished hearts.  Mahalo nui to the St. Augustine's PCi cohort for taking the leap of faith and may this light we shared today continue to grow throughout the new year. Amen.

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