I have been welcomed and introduced to the people and groups of the church in various ways this week. My part-time Visiting Associate resposibilities include participating in the 3 Bible study groups, attend meetings, special functions, and visit the parishioners. This first week there were 3 special events with big meals. (I really am going to gain weight at this rate because they also send plates of food home with us.) We also went to one of the Rotary meetings as a guest of the senior minister, Tom Olcott.
The Church of the Holy Cross (UCC) is largely a Japanese congregation, along with Hawaiians, and people from the Micronesian islands, primarily from Pohnpei and Chuuk -- two places I had never heard of before. Two of the events this week were celebrations -- one a wedding reception of a Chuuk couple, so it was beautifully decorated. Another was a celebration of the first year's anniversary of the Ponpei worshiping congregation who are an extension of our church. One of the meals had a whole roasted pig and lots of other meats; two of the three meals had raw fish and fish heads, poi and various other foods that we weren't familiar with. Lots of desserts. Lots of music and entertainment, including hula dancing. Tom & Lois Olcott and John and I were presented with shell or woven yarn leis. At another meeting of the Senior Ministry I was presented with a gorgeous intricate floral lei -- I didn't get a close up, but I am wearing it in the picture with the Pearsons (below.)
I've also attended a Trustees meeting -- they are very careful in all the details they manage. And John and I both went to the Sunday School class where they are reading William Sloan Coffin's book, Credo. Short, but great discussion.