Say mahalo at Festival of Gratitude

The Hawaii International Forgiveness Day organization is inviting the public to attend a Festival of Gratitude tomorrow from 2 to 7 p.m. at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Shidler College of Business.

The eighth annual festival is among events being held in more than 80 countries on International Forgiveness Day. Communities in Schools and Dancers Unlimited will provide music, improvisational theater and street dance. Classes and exhibits will be offered.

The main program at 4 p.m. in the auditorium features a keynote speech by James Koshiba of Kanu Hawaii. Other speakers include "Heroes of Forgiveness" Kaleo Patterson and Ha’aheo Guanson of the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center in Chinatown; Roy Sakuma; and Joseph Nuuanu. Kauila Clark will offer sacred opening and closing ceremonies.

A free potluck dinner will start at 5:30 p.m. in the courtyard. Please bring a dish. For more information, visit www.hawaiiforgivenessproject.org or call 521-9222.

Seminar focuses on creative worship

Manoa Valley Church is offering a two-day seminar, "Creative Worship and Design Matters," Aug. 20 and 21 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The deadline to register is Friday.

Len Wilson and Jason Moore of Midnight Oil Productions, based in Grand Prairie, Texas, will present ideas and training for churches interested in more creative worship and media design, a release said.

Registration fees for the seminar are $49 for one day and $79 for both days. Register at www.midnightoilproductions.com/seminar/locations/honolulu. By mail, complete a registration form, make a check payable to Midnight Oil Productions and send to Manoa Valley Church, 2728 Huapala St., Honolulu, HI 96822.

Visit www.midnightoilproductions.com or call 988-3271.

Seminars cover sex for Christians

New Hope Leeward Church is holding two seminars next month related to helping people deal with sexual issues. They will be held at the Waipahu Town Center, 94-050 Farrington Highway.

The sessions will be led by Ted Roberts, senior pastor of East Hill Foursquare Church in Gresham, Ore., and founder of Pure Desire International Ministries.

For ministers and church leaders, "Pure Desire University" is a training seminar on how to lead a Christ-centered support group on sex addictions. It will be held Aug. 23 and 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $50, which includes lunch and training materials.

The "Sexy Christians" seminar, designed to help couples cultivate biblical intimacy, begins at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 and 8:30 a.m. Aug. 28. The cost is $25, or $35 per couple, including materials.

To register, visit www.newhopeleeward.org or e-mail mikem@newhopeleeward.org.

Chapel opens Samoan ward

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has opened a new Samoan-language ward at the Kalaeloa Chapel in the Kapolei Business Park.

The Maili Kai Ward invites all to join them in worship at 11 a.m. Sunday mornings on Lauwiliwili Avenue.

The Samoan ward is part of the Makakilo Stake, which includes seven English-language wards from Makakilo and Kapolei to Makaha. (A ward is a congregation of 150 members or more.) The Samoan ward is led by Bishop Filipo Ilaoa and his counselors, Sofeni Toilolo and Faauu Tana.

The main worship service, called sacrament meeting, and the adult Sunday school classes will be offered in Samoan. Sunday school for teenagers and classes for younger children will be available in English.

Call 693-9939 or e-mail ilaoafilipo@yahoo.com.