Stories

  • Story: The Fishing Game - January 25, 2026 Isaiah 9:1-4Matthew 4:12-23 One of the things that humans do, you’ve probably noticed, is play games. Sometimes they’re running around games, sometimes they’re tossing things back and forth games, sometimes they’re sit around the table and hope you get to move the number of spaces you want to move games. Sometimes they’re … Continue reading Story: The Fishing Game
  • Story: What Are You Looking For? - January 18, 2026 Isaiah 49:1-7John 1:29-42 At this time of the year, you might forgive an ‘apapane for looking a little flustered. Or just for looking around. And flying around. A lot. This time of the year can be complicated. For one thing, it’s time to get pairs together. When two birds have decided they’ll … Continue reading Story: What Are You Looking For?
  • Story: Not So Cool - January 11, 2026 Isaiah 42:1-9Matthew 3:13-17 ‘Auku’u are cool birds. They’re the most widespread heron in the world (black-crowned night heron). Our Hawaiian ‘auku’u have relatives across all the continents, including Antarctica. They’ve got startling orange eyes when they’re young and even more startling red eyes when they get older. Their blue and gray feathering … Continue reading Story: Not So Cool
  • Story: The Wisdom of Flight - January 4, 2026 Jeremiah 31:7-14John 1:1-18 “What is wisdom?” wondered the ‘amakihi as he flew through the sky. “What is wisdom?” wondered the ‘amakihi as he sipped on ohi’a nectar. “What is wisdom?” wondered the ‘amakihi as he settled down to sleep at night. “What is wisdom?” wondered the ‘amakihi as he woke in the … Continue reading Story: The Wisdom of Flight
  • Christmas Pageant: The GOAT - The GOATA Christmas Skit By Eric Anderson CHARACTERS Shepherd 1: A tender of sheepShepherd 2: A tender of sheep and one goatSheep: A wooly creatureGoat: A non-wooly creatureLead Angel: A messenger to shepherdsAngels: A backup chorus of messengersMary: A young womanJoseph: A young manMagi 1: A scholar dressed a lot like a kingMagi 2: Another … Continue reading Christmas Pageant: The GOAT
  • Story: The ‘Apapane’s Christmas Pageant (2025 version) - December 21, 2025 Isaiah 7:10-16Matthew 1:18-25 I don’t know how it came into the ‘apapane’s head to organize a Christmas pageant. I don’t even know how he’d heard about Christmas, let alone a Christmas pageant. Nevertheless, he flew all over the island, searching for creatures to take part in the pageant. He asked the I’iwi, … Continue reading Story: The ‘Apapane’s Christmas Pageant (2025 version)
  • Story: Why Do You Fly So Far? - December 14, 2025 Luke 1:46-55Matthew 11:2-11 The kolea is a pretty mellow bird. They’re not terribly skittish, though some will keep a sensible distance from people. We are a lot bigger than a kolea and probably look kind of scary to them. The myna, on the other hand, is not a mellow bird. They sing … Continue reading Story: Why Do You Fly So Far?
  • Story: The Best Flock - December 7, 2025 Isaiah 11:1-10Matthew 3:1-12 An ‘apapane wanted to know what the best way to be a flock is. There are plenty of examples if you journey around the island. He found an i’iwi, who said, “Keep it small, less than ten. And chase everybody else away. Speaking of which, ‘apapane, it’s time you … Continue reading Story: The Best Flock
  • Story: Caterpillar’s Hope - November 30, 2025 Isaiah 2:1-5Romans 13:11-14 Caterpillars don’t have the easiest life. They don’t get around very much – but then, when you move mostly to find another leaf to eat, you don’t need to move very far. There are things about that, while you’re eating leaves, would be very happy to eat you, and … Continue reading Story: Caterpillar’s Hope
  • Story: Decisions, Decisions - November 23, 2025 Jeremiah 23:1-6Luke 23:33-43 The common waxbills may be the smallest birds in Hawai’i – meaning how big the adults get. Newly hatched chicks even of very large birds can be smaller. But if you see a very small bird with a rosy beak, it’s likely to be a common waxbill. They like … Continue reading Story: Decisions, Decisions