View as webpage

Worship

Communion Sunday


Sermon by Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray

"Rest That Sets Us Free"

7 AM: Atherton Memorial Chapel

8:45 AM – Gift of Music

Piano Students of Louise Kefford-Ching

9 AM: Sanctuary

View service live/later on YouTube

11 AM: Parish Hall

View the worship bulletin

About our sermon series: Beyond Belief

Faith is often presented as a destination—a point of 'belief' we reach and then stay put. But Jesus calls us into a movement. Our new sermon series Beyond Belief explores the counter-cultural invitations of the Kingdom. From the bravery required to speak truth to the quiet resistance of Sabbath rest, we will discover how to cultivate a faith that thrives in a complex world. What does it mean to live a life that goes deeper than just "believing the right things"? This five-week journey (June 21 – July 19) through the Gospel of Matthew challenges us to move beyond comfortable pews and easy answers. We will explore how Jesus calls us to a faith that is courageous, welcoming, restful, cultivated, and patient.

CHILDREN & YOUTH



Nursery

A staffed Nursery is available during the 9 & 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 & 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 at 12 PM to watch a movie at Ward Theatres.

Contact: melissa-thach@centralunionchurch.org

Note: The Church Office will be CLOSED this Friday, July 3, in observance of the July 4th "Independence Day" holiday.

Reminder while on campus: We are fortunate to have a large, open campus with lots of people passing through for different reasons. To protect your belongings, we recommend not leaving things unattended in public spaces. Please be vigilant and guard your personal items and valuables.

A summer Jazz Vespers service has been added!

Learning Tree on July 12

CUC member and medical scientist Joe Elm will provide an update on Ebola and Hantavirus. Learn what it is, where it is present, how to protect yourself, and what we can do about it.

Save the date and plan to attend the Learning Tree presentation on these Emerging & Re-emerging Viruses on Sunday, July 12, at 10 AM in the Women's Building.

The World Health Organization has declared a health emergency following the latest outbreak of an Ebola strain for which we have no vaccine. It is one of the world’s deadliest viruses and now spreading rapidly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. In May, a cluster of passengers with severe respiratory illness aboard a cruise ship was reported to the World Health Organization. The virus was identified as a Hantavirus strain and had a case fatality rate among infected passengers of 23%. Global health workers are trying to keep these viruses contained. In a connected world like ours, our neighbors' health matters for us.

July 19: Save the date for a CUC summer celebration!

The whole Central Union ‘ohana is invited to the Parish Hall for a summer celebration (following one combined worship service at 10 AM). Bring a favorite dish/side to add to the spread! So far we've got hot dogs, hamburgers, vegetarian chili, rice, and Pohnpeian fried chicken. (You can drop off your food and labeled serving utensils in the Parish Hall before the worship service or bring it with you after.) In addition to the potluck, there will be a sundae bar in honor of National Ice Cream Day, fresh popcorn, water play outside for keiki, and fellowship for all! Come and enjoy! Friends welcome!


Floral Arrangers Needed

Do you have a knack for arranging flowers? Would you like to learn how the church floral arrangements are done?

The CUC Flower Committee is happily welcoming new people to learn and help with the floral arrangements that adorn our worship spaces each Sunday. If you're interested in being part of this blossoming ministry, contact Dona Hanaike for more info: flowers@centralunionchurch.org

Seeking Instruments

Our CUC Pohnpei Ministry (which worships in Pohnpeian on Sundays at 11) is hoping to start a young adult ministry with music. You know that our Pohnpeian friends love singing and music, but they currently have no musical instruments. If you have a musical instrument of any kind that you are planning to get rid of or donate, they would love to receive it! It would make their dreams come true! If you can contribute, please call/text Wp. Robinson Fredrick (808-741-2547). Kalahngan & thank you!

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 still available! 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

View The Spire for June-July 2026:

Next issue of The Spire will be published on August 12. Content due date is August 5.

As many celebrate July 4th as Independence Day, pray for deeper understanding and empathy, recognizing that it is not a celebration for all.

Pray for those experiencing any kind of loss.

Pray for the fruition of new ideas and ministries that are in the works.

Church Council

Next meeting: July 23

Church Council meetings are 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

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.

Volunteer at the CUC Thrift Shop

Wednesdays and Saturdays, between 9 AM - 1 PM

Contact Joanne Matsumoto thriftshop@centralunionchurch.org

Donations are currently NOT being accepted at our Honolulu Thrift Shop.

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: July 14

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.

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

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

For Young(ish) Adults

Did you know that we have a Young(ish) Adult ministry here at CUC for generations X, Y, Z? 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.

For more info, contact Karl Hedberg: historian@centralunionchurch.org

New in the CUC Archives

The Reverend Horace H. Leavitt, Central Union's 17th Senior Minister (1931-1943), is the latest addition to cuchistory.org—Central Union’s history website and digital archive! Rev. Leavitt led Central Union through some of the most challenging times, starting with the Great Depression, a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939.

The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty. People didn’t have food or work. Our elders could share heart-wrenching stories. During this time, Leavitt's accomplishments included the formation of the Women’s League (1934), the construction of the first Women’s Building (1935), and the original Parish Hall (1937).

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Rev. Leavitt with CUC members stepped up providing temporary homes for more than 100 people left homeless. Our Great Lawn became a victory garden for all. During the nighttime blackouts, following the attack, Central Union provided moonlight evening organ concerts with the programs printed in luminous ink.

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.