Churches plan beach gathering
KIHEI - Four churches will gather for a South Maui Ecumenical Picnic on Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Kamaole Beach Park III.
The members of Kihei Lutheran Church, St. Theresa Catholic Church, Tongan United Methodist Mission and Trinity by the Sea Episcopal Church will gather for a day of fellowship and fun.
All participants are asked to bring canned goods for the Keolahou Food Pantry.
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'Blessing of the Backpacks' set
MAKAWAO - Makawao Union Church will send children off into the new school year with a "Blessing of the Backpacks" on Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. worship service.
Each child, along with his or her book bag, will be blessed as a sign of God's love in the coming school year and in caring for the inevitable jitters, a news release about the event said.
Makawao Union Church is an interdenominational church celebrating 150 years on Maui. It is located at 1445 Baldwin Ave., 2.5 miles mauka of Hana Highway.
For more information, call 579-9261.
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Education registration planned
KIHEI - Registration for religious education for kindergartners to high schoolers at St. Theresa Church will be held Aug. 6 and 7 at the church following weekend Mass.
The program begins in September. Kindergartners to 5th-graders meet Sundays from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. and 6th-graders to high schoolers on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m.
An information packet will be given at the time of registration, which will continue through August.
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Children's play set for Sunday
WAILUKU - The children's musical "The Troubbable of Zerubbabel" will be presented Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the Iao United Church of Christ.
The play, written by William Anderson, is the culmination of a two-week "Joyful Noise" musical vacation Bible school at Wailuku Union Church.
The musical tells the story of Zerubbabel, who led the people who returned from captivity in Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The children and youth will recount the longing for their homeland, the difficult journey and the many obstacles the returnees encountered.
The musical "will teach, inspire and lead people to worship," a news release said.
Iao United Church of Christ is located at 2371 W. Vineyard St. in Wailuku.
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Spiritual teacher talks planned
WAILUKU - A spiritual teacher who has worked with the Dalai Lama and been inducted in the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers will be presenting a four-Sunday series, beginning this Sunday, at Unity Church of Maui.
The Rev. Mary Omwake is a spiritual teacher and ordained Unity minister. She also has spoken at the United Nations for Season for Peace and Nonviolence.
Her Great Ongoing Adventure series, which runs from 10 to 11 a.m., includes Sunday, The Awakening Process; Aug 7, Practice, Practice, Practice; Aug 14, Make Me An Instrument; and Aug. 21, Be Love Now with Ram Dass.
Unity Church of Maui is located at 483 S. High St. For more information, call 242-9327.
