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Worship

Godspell:

The Gospel in Community

7 AM: Atherton Memorial Chapel

8:45 AM – Gift of Music

Margaret Lloyd on piano

9 AM: Sanctuary

View service live/later on YouTube

11 AM: Parish Hall

View the worship bulletin

CHILDREN & YOUTH



Nursery

A staffed Nursery is available during the 9 and 11 AM worship service.

Children, from birth through 3 years old, may be left in the Nursery with our caregivers during the service.



Sunday School

We offer a Sunday School program for children, ages 3 through 5th grade, during the 9 and 11 AM worship service. Children participate in the first part of the service and will leave for Sunday School following the Time for Keiki.

Contact: cayanna-herrera@centralunionchurch.org

Youth Group

Our Youth Group is for young people in grades 6 through 12.

This week, the Youth will meet between Noon and 1:15 PM to have lunch and hang out in the Youth Room, then attend a play together.

Contact: melissa-thach@centralunionchurch.org

Join us on the third Sunday of the month for this special, intimate, and contemplative service in the Iona tradition. Too often in our living we struggle with woundedness – whether of the body, of the mind, or of the spirit. Come and discover a place of healing for your soul rooted in the traditions of the Scottish island of Iona where Celtic Christianity flourishes. The service will include music from the Taizé community, prayer, silence, and the ritual of the laying on of hands. All are welcome.

Upcoming Sermon Series

Experience the good news in a fresh way through The Gospel According to Broadway: The Musicals of Stephen Schwartz. Drawing on beloved Broadway shows, this series explores how faith, grace, justice, and purpose are revealed through modern storytelling and song. Rooted in the United Church of Christ’s belief that God is Still Speaking, this series echoes Pastor John Robinson’s reminder to the Pilgrims that “the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth from his holy Word.” We listen for God’s voice not only in Scripture, but also in the culture and stories that surround us today.

Join us as we discover how God continues to speak—on the stage, in community, and in our lives!

April 19, 2026 – Godspell: The Gospel in Community

April 26, 2026 – Children of Eden: Creation, Freedom, and Forgiveness

May 3, 2026 – Wicked: Grace, Friendship, and the Cost of Discipleship

May 10, 2026 – The Prince of Egypt: Deliverance and Divine Calling

May 17, 2026 – Pippin: The Search for Meaning

Learning Tree

Join Pastor Rushan for an engaging conversation about Central Union’s Strategic Plan: Reclaiming Our Sacred Why. We’ll explore our Spirit-led vision for a future where we “worship deeply, grow faithfully, welcome radically, and live boldly”. You’ll have the chance to ask questions, share reflections, and learn how each of us plays a part in this journey. Come discover how our four pillars—Worship & Music, Faith Formation & Growth, Radical Hospitality, and Living Out Faith—are shaping the next chapter of our life together. All are welcome. Bring your curiosity, your hopes, and your heart for the church we are becoming.

New Member Meeting

Interested in becoming a member of Central Union? Join Pastor Rushan to learn more about church membership on May 3 at 10 AM (between the 9 AM and 11 AM services) in the Rewick Board Room in the Admin building! Please RSVP to natasha-dator@centralunionchurch.org by Thursday, April 30. The new member reception is scheduled for Pentecost Sunday, May 24.

Dazzle Auction Extended

Get ready, get set, GO BID to support Central Union Church Preschool! This year's DAZZLE online silent auction is now live with over 100 items and experiences to bid on. There's something for everyone!

Check it out and submit your final bid by Friday, April 17, at 5 PM!

To bid on any item or package, select the "Get Started" button at the top right. You'll be directed to create an account or log into an existing account. You must enter your credit card information to successfully bid on anything. Winning bidders may pick up the items after Tuesday or it can also be mailed, depending on the item.

Messy Church on Earth Day

Looking for a fun and engaging way to explore faith? Come to Messy Church! It’s a fantastic opportunity for keiki to kūpuna to come together, get creative, and learn about God in a relaxed and informal setting. Experience church through creativity, hospitality, and celebration. April’s Messy Church gathering will be on Earth Day (April 22) and our theme is Green & Growing! Dinner will be served so please RSVP.

Check out our promo reel!

Donate to Easter Project

Each year, our Children's Ministry does a Lenten/Easter project to bless the wider community. This year our donation drive is focused close to home, supporting flood relief efforts here in Hawai‘i through the Lāhui Foundation. We will be fundraising through Eastertide which concludes on Pentecost Sunday (May 24). Children's Ministry started us off with the Easter Eggstravaganza and a $2,000 donation! Help us eggceed eggspectations!

To contribute to our Lenten and Easter flood relief project, click the "Give" button here or on centralunionchurch.org and select “Children Ministry - Lenten/ Easter Project” in the drop-down menu. Or send a check to the church with “CM Easter project” in the memo line. Mahalo!

Registration Open for Compassion Camp

Looking for summer plans for keiki? Kids ages 3–11 are invited to Compassion Camp, hosted by our Children's Ministry, from July 20–24, 8 AM to 12 PM each day. Suggested donation is $65. Space is limited! Learn more and register online at bit.ly/cuc2026compassion.

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

Church Council

Next meeting: April 23

In 2026, Church Council meetings will be held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:00 PM in the Rewick Board Room in the Church Admin Building. These regular monthly meetings are open to all CUC members who wish to attend as an observer.

Contact the Church Council: council@centralunionchurch.org

Pause on Donations

The Thrift Shop (Honolulu campus) will NOT be accepting any more donations until further notice. Many items have been donated around the turn of the year, but we don't have enough volunteers and space right now to sort and store all the donations. Please hold your donation items or offer them to another organization. Mahalo for remembering the Central Union Thrift Shop! We look forward to accepting more donations in the future.

View The Spire for April 2026

Pray for those in need of healing of the mind, body, or spirit.

Pray for the children of our church and community. May we protect and nurture them.

Give thanks for music which allows us to hear God in new ways!

HCUCC NEWS

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.

Storm Response

Two back-to-back Kona low storms have devastated parts of Hawai‘i over the past two weeks, leaving many residents with the overwhelming tasks of cleanup and recovery. Read this week's Coconut Wireless newsletter for an update and see how the Hawai‘i Conference and the United Church of Christ are responding. While direct donations to affected families or to local organizations on the ground are most effective, we also invite you to contribute through our denomination's Hawaii Flood Appeal.

Volunteer at the CUC Thrift Shop

Wednesdays and Saturdays, between 9 AM - 3 PM

Contact Joanne Matsumoto thriftshop@centralunionchurch.org

Volunteer with the Flower Committee

Fridays or Saturday mornings

Contact flowers@centralunionchurch.org for more info

Volunteer at Serving Aloha

Wednesdays, 10 AM - 1:30 PM; check in at the Women's Building

NEED FOOD? Walk-in: 11 AM - 12 PM; Drive-through: 12-1 PM

Volunteer with the Garden Club

Thursdays, 9 AM - 11 AM; Help keep our campus looking beautiful!

Questions? Contact: troy-tomita@centralunionchurch.org

Read in the Sunday worship service!

Sundays at 7 AM / 9 AM / 11 AM

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.

Volunteer with Community Ministry Next: May 12

Every second Tuesday, our small but dedicated team of volunteers prepares a hot meal to be delivered to shelters in the community. They are in need of extra help! If you're available around 2:00 – 4:30 to help cook, or a bit later to deliver in Waikiki, your support would be greatly appreciated! If you're available for any of the Tuesdays and would like to volunteer, let us know how/when you can help. Sharing the responsibilities will allow volunteers to take breaks. Text Laura at 808-221-0126.

Online Zoom Fellowship

Are you interested in helping folks stay connected with the CUC ‘ohana? Are you unable to come to the church campus but want to connect? Join this casual time of virtual fellowship via Zoom on Sundays at 11 AM. Just drop in whenever! It's a great way to meet and keep in touch with people, especially those who may be homebound.

Click to join on Zoom

Meeting ID: 810 1050 2863

Passcode: cuc

Online Zoom Fellowship

Sundays around 11 AM

JOIN ON ZOOM (Meeting ID: 810 1050 2863; Passcode: cuc)

Or call by phone: +1 669 900 6833, Passcode: 976725)

Contemplative Prayer Meditation

Wednesdays, 6:30 – 8:00 PM • Rewick Board Room (Honolulu campus)

Mindfulness Meditation with Marion

Mondays, 5 PM • JOIN ON ZOOM

Mindful Movement with Bamboo Sticks

Tuesdays, 2 PM • Women's Building (Honolulu Campus) OR JOIN ON ZOOM

Men's Bible Study on Zoom

Wednesdays, 7 AM • Email cuc@centralunionchurch.org for info.

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!

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.

CUC History Website

Fun discoveries await you at cuchistory.org, Central Union’s history website and digital archive!

Under "Fun Information," "Sleuths share history of Central Union," you will enjoy what archivists Jean Dabagh and Suzanne Case say about Central Union in 1988.

Contact CUC Historian, Karl Hedberg: historian@centralunionchurch.org

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.