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THIS SUNDAY
March 30, 2025
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WORSHIP
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Service of Release and Aloha for Pastor Mary on her last Sunday
Sermon by
Rev. Mary Herbig
10 AM – Sanctuary
View live/later on YouTube
View the worship bulletin
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Special Mission Offering:
One Great Hour of Sharing
| | This Sunday we'll celebrate Pastor Mary's ministry with Central Union Church and the wider Hawai‘i Conference United Church of Christ. We will have one worship service at 10 AM in the Sanctuary with a special Service of Release and final message by Pastor Mary. Following the service around 11:30 AM, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a fun-filled farewell reception and lunch. ALL are welcome! Mahalo to those who RSVP'd in advance. | | | | |
Attend Organ Concert
Born in Austria, rising star Lukas Hasler has a thriving international concert career and is one of the top followed organists on social media. He will be playing a concert—presented by the Hawai‘i Chapter American Guild of Organists—with music by Mendelssohn, Saint-Säens, Buxtehude, Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach. You can hear him in our Sanctuary on Sunday, March 30, 2 PM. Free admission, $25 suggested donation.
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Central Union Windward Ministry
Sunday Worship
10 AM – Windward Sanctuary
Sermon by Kahu Richard Walenta
"Law by Rote Can Miss the Purpose"
38 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Kailua, HI 96734
808-254-3802 • cuwindward@gmail.com
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Central Union Pohnpei Ministry
Sunday Worship
10 AM – Sanctuary
| | Follow us on social media (Facebook or Instagram) for daily reflections throughout Lent. | | |
Read Devotional
"Everything In Between"
Read, look, and sing your way through the pages of this devotional. Each week offers art and reflections to explore beyond the black and white binaries, the categories we create. This Lent we're trusting that God shows up in shades of gray, rainbow hues, and everywhere in between.
We'd love for you to use this beautiful devotional! You may contact the Church Office to request a hard copy OR to receive a link to the online version which can be accessed via computer and mobile devices. (We are not sharing the link online in order to protect the work of the devotional creators, A Sanctified Art.)
| | NEWS + ANNOUNCEMENTS + REMINDERS | | | | |
Honoring Elly Chong
This past Sunday we took a moment to celebrate longtime church member Eleanore “Elly” Chong for her service in the wider church. Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, joined us to make a special presentation honoring Elly and also shared the sermon in the 9 AM worship service. View the live-stream recording!
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Got These Plants?
The Flower Committee needs donations of Heliconia, ginger, ti leaves, laua‘e fern, Star of India branches, or any loose plumeria blossoms to decorate the Parish Hall for Pastor Mary's Aloha Celebration.
If you have any of these items, please drop them off on Saturday morning, March 29, by noon in front of the Parish Hall. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dona Hanaike at flowers@centralunionchurch.org.
| | Pastor Mary's love language is Words of Affirmation! We invite you to send a message of gratitude or share your favorite memory of Pastor Mary. If you've been impacted by her and her ministry, let her know! We hope this digital compilation of messages will be easily accessible and mobile so she can take it with her wherever she goes to remember us by and encourage her in her ongoing ministry. Submit your message here anytime! | | | | |
Rummage Sale
Plan to shop and support our Thrift Shop at their Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 12, from 9 AM to 1 PM in the Women's Building. If you have newspaper or packing paper, bubble wrap, hangers, grocery/shopping bags that you're willing to part with, we will gladly take them! Please drop them off at the Thrift Shop or Church Office by April 9.
Volunteers are needed for setup on the Thursday/Friday prior and for the Sale on Saturday morning. Please reply if you can help out or contact: thriftshop@centralunionchurch.org.
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Messy Church
Looking for a fun and engaging way to explore faith? Come to Messy Church on April 23, 5:30 to 7:30 PM in the Parish Hall! It’s an opportunity for all ages to come together, get creative, and learn about God’s love in a relaxed setting. There will be crafts and activities, interactive worship, food, and fellowship. All are welcome from keiki to kūpuna! Please RSVP by April 18.
In the coming weeks, our ministry leaders will share more. Check the CU Weekly and CUC social media to learn more about Messy Church!
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Lent 2025 Heifer Project
CUC's World Mission Ministry invites the whole church to participate in the Heifer Project! (Hear their invitation in worship.) Our goal is to raise $5,000 for Heifer International, a nonprofit that helps families around the world escape hunger and poverty by investing in local farmers and their communities. Please visit our Living Gift Market after any of the worship services on Palm Sunday, April 13, OR you can choose your gift and make your donation online.
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Check out the "Fill the Ark" Giving Calendar and family devotional!
You will learn how your gifts through Heifer International share God’s love and make a real difference to end world hunger.
| | Attend Godly Play Storyteller Training | | |
Storyteller Training
March 29 and May 3, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
at Central Union Church
May 31, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
at Epiphany Episcopal Church (Kaimuki)
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The training is in 3 parts. If you're unable to attend all three sessions, please contact cayanna-herrera@centralunionchurch.org.
Cost is $50 for CUC members with scholarships readily available ($250 for others). Lunch and snacks will be provided.
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Get your DAZZLE tickets!
Enjoy tasting menus from 20 local renown chefs, silent and live auctions, entertainment, and camaraderie at the beautiful Alohilani Resort in Waikiki for Central Union Church Preschool's (CUPS) 20th anniversary of DAZZLE on Friday, April 25, 2025. (Get 50% off standard room rates at the Alohilani Resort with our event room block!)
For more information and tickets, go to bit.ly/DAZZLE25. General tickets are currently $325 until March 31,
then it will increase to $375.
Dazzle is the Preschool's annual fundraiser gala that supports the 5 Es, including educational opportunities, environment, events, and the tuition assistance program, which paves the way for CUPS' diverse group of keiki. Please consider attending Dazzle or donating an item to one of the auctions. For questions or to become a sponsor/donor, contact Alana at 917-623-5913 or alana@centralunionpreschool.org.
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Upcoming session:
Saturday, March 29
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Lenten Wellness Journey
Church member Nani Elm, a double board-certified holistic health practitioner and lifestyle coach, will take us through a journey of Wellness – Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally, Mentally, Socially, and Environmentally – while sharing from lived experience. Her class, "Lamenting Lent: Live, Love, Learn", will run on the six Saturdays of Lent (come when you can!). The fourth session is on March 29, from 10 AM to 12 PM in the Youth Room (at the far end of the Parish Hall).
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Upcoming session options:
Tuesday, April 1, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Thursday, April 3, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
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Lenten Bible Study
Join us for an enriching Bible study series as we delve into the Gospel of Luke over five weeks in Lent. Engage in meaningful conversations about the themes and messages in the Gospel of Luke. Strengthen your faith and understanding of Jesus’ journey from birth to resurrection. Connect with other members of our Church community and share your spiritual journey in a supportive environment. All are welcome. Come on Tuesday evening OR Thursday morning!
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Easter Flowers
The Flower Committee will distribute flowers among our various worship spaces for Easter. If you’d like to donate and dedicate a plant ($10 each) to the Glory of Easter, in honor of someone, or in memory of someone, please submit your order by Sunday, April 13, to be included in the Easter bulletins.
You may order online by clicking below OR submit a 'coupon' which is printed in the worship bulletins.
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Learn to Play ‘Ukulele
Beginner ‘ukulele players from keiki to kūpuna are welcome to come and learn from Wade Cambern who is freely sharing his love of music through teaching ‘ukulele.
Bring your own ‘ukulele and come learn to play or get some beginner tips on Sundays from 1-2 PM in the Women’s Building.
Group will NOT meet this Sunday, March 30.
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Say It with Flowers!
Got a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion coming up? Commemorate it with flowers at a Sunday worship service!
Our Flower Committee creates floral arrangements for our worship spaces each week. You can give flowers in honor of someone with a printed dedication in the worship bulletin.
Email:
flowers@centralunionchurch.org
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Church Council
Next meeting: April 3
Church Council meetings will be held on the first Thursday of the month at 5:00 PM in the Rewick Board Room in the Admin Building.
These regular monthly Council meetings are open to all Church members who wish to attend as an observer.
Contact the Church Council: council@centralunionchurch.org
| | Click below to view The Spire for March 2025! | | |
Pray for Rest & Growth in your own life. What do you need more of?
Give thanks for Pastor Mary and her ministry here at Central Union and in the Hawai‘i Conference, and for the opportunity to celebrate together!
Pray for those feeling overwhelmed by all there is to do.
| | The Coconut Wireless is a weekly e-newsletter of what is happening in and around the Hawai‘i Conference United Church of Christ. Get word on the latest news, events, learning opportunities, and more. Connect, share news and resources with sister churches. | | WEEKLY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | | | | |
Garden Club on Thursdays
If you would like to help keep our campus looking beautiful, please consider joining what we are currently calling the "Garden Club"! Volunteers and staff will meet weekly to do regular landscaping around the Sanctuary on Thursdays from 9-11 AM. Meet at the Sanctuary steps. Feel free to bring your own gardening tools, but we'll have some you can use.
Questions? Contact Troy Tomita:
troy-tomita@centralunionchurch.org
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Readers Needed for Worship!
Worship is one of the heartbeats of our church – it is the work of the whole church community in praising God, hearing God's word to us and responding in faith. One way to help each other in our worship is by reading scripture and other parts of our service. It enhances our experience of worship when we can have different faces and voices leading worship.
If you are willing to read in a worship service, please join our pool of readers! Learn more and sign up by clicking HERE.
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For Young(ish) Adults
Did you know that we have a Young(ish) Adult ministry here at CUC for generations X, Y, Z? We gather monthly for breakfast and fellowship after worship and we also have a special monthly event. For more information email youngish@centralunionchurch.org.
We’d love to connect with you!
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HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE?
We welcome relevant news and events to share in our publications. Please submit items to news@centralunionchurch.org by Wednesday to be published in the following days.
| | Looking for a venue? Our church's range of facilities can accommodate all kinds of events! By renting out our spaces, we can provide a gathering place for the community and generate revenue for ministry. Learn more about our venues and consider hosting your next event at Central Union. (Members receive a discount!) | | |
Beware of Email Scams!
Scams come in many forms, whether it's someone impersonating church staff or even a member, or a stranger seeming to have a good deal for you on a special product or service. Please be cautious when checking emails! Know that church staff will never ask you to purchase something or give personal information by email. Often you can identify an email's authenticity by verifying the sender’s email address (CUC staff emails end with @centralunionchurch.org), but it's also possible for scammers to mimic email addresses. So if you receive any strange message at all and are ever in doubt, just delete it, don't reply or click on any links. You may call the church office (808-941-0957) to confirm.
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