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THIS SUNDAY
December 8, 2024
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WORSHIP
Second Sunday of Advent
Sermon by Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray
"We Can't Go Alone"
7 AM – Atherton Memorial Chapel
9 AM – Sanctuary
View livestream of service
11 AM – Parish Hall
View the worship bulletin
10 AM – Online
Via Zoom or Facebook
Webinar ID: 871 4936 7567; Passcode: cuc
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Live Stream Worship
We have begun to live stream our 9 AM traditional worship service from the Sanctuary on Sunday mornings! If you've ever wanted to know what it's like worshiping in person without having to come to campus, now you can find out!
You can find our live stream worship videos through our website (centralunionchurch.org) or on our YouTube channel. We will continue our 10 AM online worship service through Zoom/Facebook for the Advent season.
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Attend 75th Presentation of Handel's Messiah!
Check our Facebook and Instagram to share on social media and help spread the word!
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Central Union Windward Ministry
Sunday Worship
10 AM – Windward Sanctuary
Sermon by
Kahu Richard Walenta
"My Peace Is Not of This World"
Lorna Bright, Worship Musician
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Central Union Pohnpei Ministry
Sunday Worship
11 AM – Atherton Memorial Chapel
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NEWS + ANNOUNCEMENTS + REMINDERS | |
Pastor Mary Herbig is out of the office and will return on December 11. | |
Participate in the Day of Prayer and Public Witness | |
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This coming Tuesday, December 10 (Human Rights Day), has been chosen as the Conference-wide Day of Prayer and Public Witness. On this day, all of our churches and members are encouraged to join with one voice to call for a ceasefire in the Holy Land where well over 40,000 people have been killed in the past year. This call is in response to a resolution that Central Union sponsored, "A Call to Education and Action Regarding the Crisis in Gaza", which was affirmed at the annual Hawai‘i Conference United Church of Christ ‘Aha Pae‘āina in June 2024.
A small team of CUC members – including representatives from Community Ministry, World Mission Ministry, and the Young(ish) Adult Ministry – has prayerfully organized two ways that Central Union will participate:
A sign-waving campaign from 3:45-6:00 PM on the Great Lawn
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Bring a sign with messages of justice, peace, and specific calls for a ceasefire. ("This Church calls for a ceasefire in the Holy Land," "Ceasefire now!", "All I want for Christmas is a ceasefire," "Honk if you support a ceasefire," "Give peace a chance", etc.) We will have a few extra signs available!
- We will wave our signs along the street, starting and ending our time with prayer. Come as you're able! Chairs will be available for those who need to sit.
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A social media campaign on Tuesday, December 10
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Take and post a photo of yourself holding a sign (like the ones for sign-waving). You can use the hashtag #hcucc4ceasefire and tag @centralunionchurch or @ucc.hawaii on Facebook/Instagram.
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Post/share a graphic in support of a ceasefire.
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Find downloadable graphics, ready captions, and resources HERE.
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Please join us to engage in this important and prophetic work, calling for a just and lasting peace this Advent season! | | |
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CUC on KITV Island Life
Central Union was highlighted in a short segment on the KITV Island Life live show this past Monday.
Pastor Rushan and Dr. Alec Schumacker shared briefly about our church and the 75th presentation of Messiah coming up on December 8. Click to watch the clip!
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Prepare for Christmas!
Check our Facebook and Instagram to share on social media and help spread the word!
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We are in the season of Advent, the start of the Christian church year. It is a time of active waiting – reflecting on hope, peace, joy, love – and preparing ourselves for the birth of Christ! The theme for our Advent sermon series and devotional is "Words for the Beginning". | | |
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Read Advent Devotional
"Words for the Beginning"
"Read, look, and sing your way through the pages of this devotional. Each week offers art, reflections, poetry, and hymns to give you strength, courage, and grace."
Limited hard copies will be made available at worship services. You may also 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.)
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Young(ish) Adults Christmas Jamboree
Those in generations X, Y, and Z are invited to join the Young(ish) Adult ministry for a Christmas jamboree on Friday, December 13, 7-9 PM. Bring a dish to pass, a $20 white elephant gift, and of course, your holiday spirit! We want to welcome baby Jesus in style, so be sure to wear your most intense Christmas outfit – there will be a prize. For more information or to RSVP, email youngish@centralunionchurch.org.
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Christmas Open House
We’re excited to invite you to our CUC Christmas Open House, finally back after a 5-year hiatus! Join us in the Women’s Building on Sunday, December 22, 10-11 AM. Feel free to bring some Christmas cookies to share (finger-food only, no cakes or pies), and the Welcome & Engagement Ministry will provide coffee, juice, and hot cocoa, along with some delicious Christmas
treats. We are hoping to see you and your family there, catch up with friends, and enjoy this whole-church holiday event! We’re going to have a Merry time!
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Give a gift this Christmas!
Help to share joy with others this holiday season by making a monetary donation to our White Gifts project by December 13. Our savvy shoppers will use the funds to purchase gifts based on the needs of our partner agencies in the community. Many of these gifts go to adults and youth who are facing injustices and challenging transitions.
The White Gifts story reminds us that all people are valued, and we can all offer something to bless others!
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Poinsettias for Christmas
The Flower Committee will distribute poinsettias to adorn our various worship spaces in time for Christmas! If you’d like to donate and dedicate a poinsettia, please submit your order by Monday, December 16.
You may complete a hard-copy order form (printed in the Sunday worship bulletins) OR you can order online!
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Tuesdays 6:00 – 7:30 PM (December 10, 17)
Thursdays 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM (December 12, 19)
In the face of uncertainty and conflict, Christians reclaim the Christ Child who brings us together, heals our hearts, and calls us to bring light into the darkness. Join us for this video study as we reflect upon the significance of the Christ Child for our lives, for our faith and for our world today!
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Share your Estimate of Giving
Thanks to all those who have already submitted their Estimate of Giving Cards! It's not too late to get yours in. Our Estimate of Giving greatly helps our church to plan for the year ahead and live within our means!
You may complete an Estimate of Giving Card online OR fill out a physical card
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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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As we continue the Advent season and prepare to light the candle of peace, let us reflect on what is required for peace to be possible for all people, and may we work for peace in our world.
Pray for the singers, musicians, and all those who will bring to life Handel's Messiah to share with the community. Give thanks for the blessing of music!
Pray for courage to act in the face of injustice, "for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). Give thanks for opportunities, such as the Day of Prayer and Public Witness, to put our faith in action.
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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 | | |
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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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HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE?
We welcome relevant news and events to share on the CUC website, e-blast, and/or to post on our bulletin boards. Please submit items to news@centralunionchurch.org by Wednesday to be published in the following days.
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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!) | |
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Beware of Email Scams!
Scams come in many forms, whether it's someone impersonating a church leader, 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. 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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