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THIS SUNDAY
March 23, 2025
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Fig Leafing
by Hannah Garrity
Inspired by Luke 13:6-9
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WORSHIP
Third Sunday in Lent
Sermon Series:
Everything In Between
Meeting God in the midst of extremes
"Rest & Growth"
7 AM – Atherton Memorial Chapel
9 AM – Sanctuary
Guest Preacher
Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson
"Serving with a Glad Heart"
View live/later on YouTube
11 AM – Parish Hall
View the worship bulletin
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Celebrating Elly Chong's Ministry
CUC member Elly Chong has been an active member of our denomination, the United Church of Christ (UCC), over the years. She is stepping away from her position on the UCC Board. This Sunday, we will honor her and celebrate her ministry in the 9 AM worship service. The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, UCC General Minister and President, will be present for the occasion and also share the sermon.
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Central Union Windward Ministry
Sunday Worship
10 AM – Windward Sanctuary
Sermon by Kahu Richard Walenta
38 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Kailua, HI 96734
808-254-3802 • cuwindward@gmail.com
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Central Union Pohnpei Ministry
Sunday Worship
11 AM – Atherton Memorial Chapel
| | 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 | | NOTE: Wednesday, March 26, is Prince Kūhiō Day. The Church Office will be closed and there will be NO Serving Aloha food distribution as the Hawai‘i Foodbank will also be closed. The Thrift Shop will open as normal. | | | | |
Youngish Beach Day
Our Young(ish) Adult Ministry is having a casual beach day get-together this Saturday, March 22, 2-5 PM at Ala Moana Beach Park. Generations X, Y, Z are invited! Bring your kids, friends, simple snacks to share, and come hang out and enjoy the afternoon!
RSVP for more details:
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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.
| | Last Call: RSVP for Aloha Celebration | | Please join us on Sunday, March 30, 2025, to 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! Please RSVP by TODAY either online (bit.ly/aloha-mary) or by phone (call 808-440-3004), and be sure to give the names and number of people you are RSVPing for, so we can make sure to prepare enough space and food! | | GOT PHOTOS? If you have any of photos of Pastor Mary and her ministry, you may send them to share@centralunionchurch.org by Monday, March 24, to be included in a slideshow that will be shared at the reception. | | We invite you to send a message of gratitude or share your favorite memory of Pastor Mary. Submit your message anytime! | | | | |
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 March 23 and April 13, OR you can choose your gift and make your donation online.
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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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Upcoming session:
Saturday, March 22
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 third session is on March 22, 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, March 25, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 27, 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!
| | 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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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.
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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 deeper Faith and Works, that we would align our hearts and actions and allow them to inform each other.
Give thanks for the ministry of folks like Elly Chong in our wider church.
Pray for our children and youth, teachers and school administrators, as they enjoy their spring break.
| | 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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