Mele Kalikimaka Christ Is Born
Mele Kalikimaka! Christ Is Born!
By Barbara Hiura, Photos by Its Yokota
By Barbara Hiura, Photos by Its Yokota
Christ is born! In celebration, Wesley held a Hawaiian-themed Happy Birthday party for Jesus on Dec. 24, with music and talk-stories for all in attendance to hear. What a marvelous way to welcome our Savior Jesus, into our lives. The stage was full with the chancel choir, Wesley Ukulele Band and the Praise Band. The Sanctuary was packed with over 200 in attendance to hear once again the nativity story in song and scripture.
Rev. Jon and Mika Visitacion and their kids opened with the lighting of the Advent wreath, the candle of Joy and then the Christ Candle. The wreath burned brightly and warmed us all as we embraced the Christ child and remember his miraculous birth.
Our liturgists, Roger Miller, Karen Miller, and Wayne and Yumi Haraguchi brought us the nativity story in Scripture. And Rev. John Oda brought us into Jesus's light that burns brightly within each and every one of us as we remember who we are as reflections of that light to others.
Interspersed in the telling were familiar songs for all to sing as well as special music. The WUB brought in that Hawaiian touch with their rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka.” The choir sang “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” with Mark Teagle leading and accompanied by the WUB. The WUB then played and sang the very soulful “Halleluia” with Hawaiian words, with Margaret Hironaka dancing a very beautiful hula that captured everyone’s attention, and Mark Teagle added the sounds of his cello to this song that reverberated throughout the sanctuary.
The evening service ended with bringing the light of Jesus into our lives with each person lighting their candle as witness to his birth and the light now shining within each of us while singing “Silent Night.” What a beautiful sight seeing the multitude of lit candles shining through the darkness.
Rev. Jon and Mika Visitacion and their kids opened with the lighting of the Advent wreath, the candle of Joy and then the Christ Candle. The wreath burned brightly and warmed us all as we embraced the Christ child and remember his miraculous birth.
Our liturgists, Roger Miller, Karen Miller, and Wayne and Yumi Haraguchi brought us the nativity story in Scripture. And Rev. John Oda brought us into Jesus's light that burns brightly within each and every one of us as we remember who we are as reflections of that light to others.
Interspersed in the telling were familiar songs for all to sing as well as special music. The WUB brought in that Hawaiian touch with their rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka.” The choir sang “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” with Mark Teagle leading and accompanied by the WUB. The WUB then played and sang the very soulful “Halleluia” with Hawaiian words, with Margaret Hironaka dancing a very beautiful hula that captured everyone’s attention, and Mark Teagle added the sounds of his cello to this song that reverberated throughout the sanctuary.
The evening service ended with bringing the light of Jesus into our lives with each person lighting their candle as witness to his birth and the light now shining within each of us while singing “Silent Night.” What a beautiful sight seeing the multitude of lit candles shining through the darkness.
The chancel choir and the Wesley Ukulele Band performing "Mary Had A Baby Boy."
Margaret Hironaka dances the Hula to "Haleluia"
Passing the light of Christ with from left: Oliver To, Rev. John Oda and Roger Miller
Speakers telling the nativity story were Kären Miller, Wayne Haraguchi, and Yumi Haraguchi.
Posted in Newsletter 2025-01-23