Sunday Service with Holy Communion and Music - 7:30 and 9:00 am
Thursday Healing Service with Holy Communion - 8 am
Thursday Healing Service with Holy Communion - 8 am
Aloha e komo mai!
Welcome!
Holy Innocents' is an open minded, open hearted and fully inclusive congregation who virtually worship outdoors thanks to the nave's side walls of sliding windows.
Although modest, the building is handsomely appointed with pictures by Delos Blackmar of New York, painted during a 1940 visit, that adorn the rear wall, pulpit and altar, and depict Hawaiian birds and flora, as well as a Hawaiian Madonna and child. The triptych stained glass windows over the altar came from the parish's church of 1872 which once stood across street. Pews are of kamani and the chancel is finished in koa.
Welcome!
Holy Innocents' is an open minded, open hearted and fully inclusive congregation who virtually worship outdoors thanks to the nave's side walls of sliding windows.
Although modest, the building is handsomely appointed with pictures by Delos Blackmar of New York, painted during a 1940 visit, that adorn the rear wall, pulpit and altar, and depict Hawaiian birds and flora, as well as a Hawaiian Madonna and child. The triptych stained glass windows over the altar came from the parish's church of 1872 which once stood across street. Pews are of kamani and the chancel is finished in koa.
Saturday, January 24th Holy Innocents officially welcomes the Rev. Amy Crowe as our new minister. A Renewal of Ministry will be held at the church at 10:00 am. Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick is flying over from Honolulu to perform the service. Everyone is welcome to join us for this very special day. A potluck will be held on the oceanfront lawn after the service.
Father Bill retires after ten years as priest in charge
LAHAINA NEWS December 25th, 2014
All retirees know the dilemma. There are great expectations, and there is heartache. Add leaving Maui to the equation, and it is understandable how difficult saying goodbye will be for Father Bill Albinger after ten years as priest in charge of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Lahaina.
For Father Bill, retiring means farewell to his beloved congregation, preschool, friends and, in fact, to the whole Maui community. His last official service at Holy Innocents will be Sunday, Dec. 28.
"I found my job at Holy Innocents when I came to Maui to do supply work, on the Sunday after Easter, 2005," said Father Bill, noting how the people embraced him and his spouse, Mark, with so much aloha.Shortly thereafter, he was invited to become the priest at Holy Innocents."Being a parish priest encompasses unforgettable moments," Father Bill said. "You get to see and share God's presence in people's lives at their most joyful and painful times."
Reminiscing about his experiences, Father Bill said he found God most present when people are especially open to receive Him. For example: blessing a baby shortly after birth, baptizing people into the Body of Christ, presiding at marriages, visiting the sick, comforting the dying and commending them to God's care at a funeral.
With sincerity and integrity, Father Bill invited "everyone" into his church. The doors of Holy Innocents are open at the front and sides of the building, welcoming guests and island trade winds.
"Here at Holy Innocents, we don't ask people to check their brains at the door. Questions are not just allowed, they are encouraged!" he exclaimed.
"We might not always be right," he said, "but it will always be interesting!"
"Holy Innocents has deep historic roots in Lahaina," explained Father Bill. "In 2012, we celebrated 150 years of ministry."
The Anglican Church, formally established in Honolulu by the monarchs on Nov. 30, 1862, held its first service on Maui in Lahaina by the Right Rev. Thomas Nettleship Staley, the first bishop of Honolulu. Bishop Staley used the Book of Common Prayer as translated by King Kamehameha IV.
"Our church was first built in 1872 on a lot diagonally across Front Street from the present location," Father Bill said, noting that on these royal grounds, Hawaii's reigning monarch, Queen Lili'uokalani, enjoyed holidays and vacations as a child.
Throughout his years at Holy Innocents, Father Bill, as a parish priest, found himself called to speak out for justice in the community and the world. As a former Wall Street lawyer and Roman Catholic, his own diversity has been a tool for uniting others.
"Holy Innocents became one of the original church members of FACE-Maui (Faith Action for Community Equity), and I have been active in it since its founding," he said.
Holy Innocents spoke out against abuses by banks in lending practices and foreclosures, against abuses and unfair treatment of immigrants, in favor of affordable housing and other matters of importance to the community.
"It also was vocal in its support of marriage equality under the civil laws of the state," said Father Bill.
Many of Father Bill's memorable moments happened in his weekly talk story in the church with the children from Holy Innocent's Preschool.
"We start with a little prayer," he said, "then, we add what we are thankful for and ask for help for those that need extra prayer. Then we sit down for talk story and end with a song, the 'Ho'onani' and the 'Lord's Prayer.' "
"The children and the community will miss Father Bill so much," said Cynthia Shibao, Holy Innocents Preschool director. "He absorbed himself in Hawaiian culture and tradition from the get go and spent years studying and mastering the language."
Holy Innocents organist Carol Becker agreed. "Everyone has been in a better mood and spirit since Father Bill has been here. We will miss him a lot."
"I have been blessed to be able to share with parishioners and visitors alike the message of God's love and care for all," Father Bill tearfully said.
"In addition, it has been a privilege to share with them the beauty of God's creation at our historic and uniquely beautiful location."
As he enters his 70th year, Father Bill realizes that he is being called to challenges yet to be discovered, and that the parish is also being called to new challenges.
"Mark and I will be moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, a block from the Charles River, Harvard University and the monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an Episcopal order of monks," he said.
Aloha and mahalo, Father Bill.
All retirees know the dilemma. There are great expectations, and there is heartache. Add leaving Maui to the equation, and it is understandable how difficult saying goodbye will be for Father Bill Albinger after ten years as priest in charge of Holy Innocents Episcopal Church in Lahaina.
For Father Bill, retiring means farewell to his beloved congregation, preschool, friends and, in fact, to the whole Maui community. His last official service at Holy Innocents will be Sunday, Dec. 28.
"I found my job at Holy Innocents when I came to Maui to do supply work, on the Sunday after Easter, 2005," said Father Bill, noting how the people embraced him and his spouse, Mark, with so much aloha.Shortly thereafter, he was invited to become the priest at Holy Innocents."Being a parish priest encompasses unforgettable moments," Father Bill said. "You get to see and share God's presence in people's lives at their most joyful and painful times."
Reminiscing about his experiences, Father Bill said he found God most present when people are especially open to receive Him. For example: blessing a baby shortly after birth, baptizing people into the Body of Christ, presiding at marriages, visiting the sick, comforting the dying and commending them to God's care at a funeral.
With sincerity and integrity, Father Bill invited "everyone" into his church. The doors of Holy Innocents are open at the front and sides of the building, welcoming guests and island trade winds.
"Here at Holy Innocents, we don't ask people to check their brains at the door. Questions are not just allowed, they are encouraged!" he exclaimed.
"We might not always be right," he said, "but it will always be interesting!"
"Holy Innocents has deep historic roots in Lahaina," explained Father Bill. "In 2012, we celebrated 150 years of ministry."
The Anglican Church, formally established in Honolulu by the monarchs on Nov. 30, 1862, held its first service on Maui in Lahaina by the Right Rev. Thomas Nettleship Staley, the first bishop of Honolulu. Bishop Staley used the Book of Common Prayer as translated by King Kamehameha IV.
"Our church was first built in 1872 on a lot diagonally across Front Street from the present location," Father Bill said, noting that on these royal grounds, Hawaii's reigning monarch, Queen Lili'uokalani, enjoyed holidays and vacations as a child.
Throughout his years at Holy Innocents, Father Bill, as a parish priest, found himself called to speak out for justice in the community and the world. As a former Wall Street lawyer and Roman Catholic, his own diversity has been a tool for uniting others.
"Holy Innocents became one of the original church members of FACE-Maui (Faith Action for Community Equity), and I have been active in it since its founding," he said.
Holy Innocents spoke out against abuses by banks in lending practices and foreclosures, against abuses and unfair treatment of immigrants, in favor of affordable housing and other matters of importance to the community.
"It also was vocal in its support of marriage equality under the civil laws of the state," said Father Bill.
Many of Father Bill's memorable moments happened in his weekly talk story in the church with the children from Holy Innocent's Preschool.
"We start with a little prayer," he said, "then, we add what we are thankful for and ask for help for those that need extra prayer. Then we sit down for talk story and end with a song, the 'Ho'onani' and the 'Lord's Prayer.' "
"The children and the community will miss Father Bill so much," said Cynthia Shibao, Holy Innocents Preschool director. "He absorbed himself in Hawaiian culture and tradition from the get go and spent years studying and mastering the language."
Holy Innocents organist Carol Becker agreed. "Everyone has been in a better mood and spirit since Father Bill has been here. We will miss him a lot."
"I have been blessed to be able to share with parishioners and visitors alike the message of God's love and care for all," Father Bill tearfully said.
"In addition, it has been a privilege to share with them the beauty of God's creation at our historic and uniquely beautiful location."
As he enters his 70th year, Father Bill realizes that he is being called to challenges yet to be discovered, and that the parish is also being called to new challenges.
"Mark and I will be moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts, a block from the Charles River, Harvard University and the monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an Episcopal order of monks," he said.
Aloha and mahalo, Father Bill.
Welcome to Holy Innocents new website. Please explore our site to learn more about us. We have a rich history here in Lahaina dating back to 1862.
If you are interested in our work in the community and would like to volunteer check out our Ministries pages. Maybe you would like to hold a wedding at this beautiful location? We will update our gallery on a regular basis so you can see the many happy couples who have committed themselves to one another here in paradise. Enjoy our new website and feel free to send us any feedback. |
JANE HOLSTEIN TO BE GUEST ORGANIST AT HOLY INNOCENTS
As part of Holy Innocents’ guest organist program, Jane Holstein of Hope Publishing will play at the 8:30AM service on Sunday August 3rd. Holy Innocents is located at 561 Front Street just south of Kamehameha III School. JANE HOLSTEIN has served as editor with Hope Publishing Company for 15+ years. She is busy as an arranger, choral clinician, organist, worship planner, and concert artist, residing in Wheaton, Illinois, with her husband, David L. Weck. Jane is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University, Kankakee, Illinois, and later received a DM in Organ Performance from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Besides serving as an editor with Hope, where she directs all of their choral, keyboard and instrumental publications, she is active in church music as organist/choral director as Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church in River Forest, Illinois. Jane was an integral part of the editorial team that compiled Hope's new WORSHIP & REJOICE hymnal (2001). Hope has published a wedding collection which she compiled and arranged entitled CLASSIC SOLOS FOR FLUTE AND KEYBOARD (Code 1507), as well as a number of choral anthems and choral collections, EASY ANTHEMS, vol. 1 & 2, WOMEN IN SONG, vol. 2 & 3. Her latest keyboard compilations include THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION FOR THE CHURCH PIANIST (Code 8285), and THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION FOR THE CHURCH ORGANIST (Code 8373). As a gifted concert organist, Jane has joined forces with Joel Raney for a series of duo-concerts featuring the piano and organ in an innovative keyboard excursion, exploring a variety of styles in sacred and classical music. 
Fr. Bill's Corner
ENDINGS AND BEGININGS On Sunday November 23rd we celebrated the Feast of Christ the King - the Last Sunday after Pentecost. It marks the end of the current Church Year (Year A in the three-year lectionary Cycle). The Gospel readings for the last three Sundays of Year A are from Chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel. It is the last of Jesus’ earthly teachings. He is teaching the crowds who have come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. Knowing his death approaches, Jesus ends with his final lesson of how to “get right with God”. He speaks of the Final Judgment with Jesus as judge. Those chosen and welcomed had developed characters marked by gratitude and generosity. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, Jesus tell them they did this for Him when they did it “for the least of these who are members of my family”. Seeing and caring for the least of God’s Children is honoring and serving God. Jesus tells us not to worry about the end times but instead live fully and generously today. He has told us in the three parables in Chapter 25: Be wise. Be Watchful. Be ready. And, in the meantime, get on with it and use the talents and gifts God has given us to do as good stewards should do. It is fitting that this year Thanksgiving comes right after the end of this Church Year and the start of the New Year. Sunday November 30th is the start of a new Church Year. During Advent, we anticipate the coming of Jesus into the world and into our hearts. The readings remind us both of our own limitations and brokenness and of God’s faithfulness and caring. The long anticipated Savior of the world comes to us in the form of one of “the least of these” – a tiny vulnerable baby born in a stable to a poor family. FATHER BILL RETIRES AT YEAR END What is true liturgically is also true in life. Every ending is also a new beginning. I will retire at year-end. Bishop Chang asked me to serve Holy Innocents for six months as supply priest. Mark and I arrived the Sunday after Easter in 2005. It has been a long and wonderful six months! Bishop Bob told me I am the longest-serving priest at Holy Innocents since Charlie Burger. After almost ten years and having turned 69, it is time for a new priest. Mark and I have to discern what God is calling us to in our lives and I believe that God is calling Holy I into a new era of its life serving the people of Lahaina and West Maui and our many wonderful visitors. It just seems to be the right time for change for both us and for the church. The vestry and the parish have had a lot of time to prepare for this change and I believe both Holy I and we have been enriched by this time together. Mark and I have rented a little house in wonderful neighborhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts. We will be close to Mark’s mom and family and to many old friends. We will be a short walk from Harvard Square, the Charles River, the Monastery of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, Episcopal Divinity School and the Harvard athletic facilities. Words cannot express our gratitude for the love and caring we have received at Holy I. It has been a joy and privilege for both of us. And you will see us again – New England winters do not improve with age! |
