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THIS SUNDAY
August 2, 2026
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Worship
Communion Sunday
Sermon by Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray
"The Centrality of Love"
7 AM: Atherton Memorial Chapel
8:45 AM – Gift of Music
by Pohnpei Ministry Quartet
9 AM: Sanctuary
View service live/later on YouTube
11 AM: Parish Hall
View the worship bulletin
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CHILDREN & YOUTH
Nursery will be CLOSED this Sunday 8/2
A staffed Nursery is typically available during the 9 & 11 AM worship services.
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 services. 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.
Youth will meeting in the new youth room from 12-1:30 PM this Sunday.
Contact: melissa-thach@centralunionchurch.org
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Central Union Windward Ministry
Sunday Worship
10 AM: Sanctuary
38 Kāne‘ohe Bay Drive, Kailua, HI 96734 808-254-3802 • cuwindward@gmail.com
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Central Union Pohnpei Ministry
Sunday Worship
9 AM: Sanctuary
| | NEWS + ANNOUNCEMENTS + REMINDERS | | | | |
Learn to Play the ‘Ukulele!
Interested in learning how to play the ‘ukulele? Beginner players of all ages 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 join the musical fun on Sundays from 1-2 PM in the Women’s Building. Sessions start up again on August 2!
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Back-to-School Blessings
It's back-to-school time – whether you're a student, teacher, administrator, we invite you to join us for a blessing to start the new school year on August 9.
Come to any worship service that Sunday with your backpack, satchel, briefcase, or whatever bag you use for school, and participate in our annual backpack blessing and receive a special gift for the new school year!
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Attend "Time & Talent Fair"
As part of our stewardship campaign, we will celebrate with a "Time & Talent Fair" on August 23 out on the lawn (between the Sanctuary and the Women's Building) at 10 AM (between the 9 and 11 AM services). Explore how our church is building upon our four "Strategic Pillars & Goals" and how time and talents can be shared to support the ministries of our church. Come check out the various booths... perhaps you will find yourself in one of the photos!
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Upcoming Messy Church
Looking for a fun and engaging way to explore faith? Messy Church is a fantastic opportunity for families of all shapes and sizes to come together, get creative, and learn about God’s love in a relaxed and informal setting. All are welcome to the next Messy Church gathering on Wednesday, August 26, 5-7 PM in the Parish Hall. Dinner will be provided so please RSVP!
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Stewardship Season
Our stewardship campaign for the 2027 calendar year has begun. Our theme, "There Our Hearts Will Be", invites us into a season of deep spiritual alignment. It is a time of reclaiming our sacred why. We are learning to re-frame giving, not as a performance or obligation, but rather the quiet, courageous work of placing our hearts in God’s care. Faithful stewardship is not primarily about money, but it is about placing our hearts in God’s hands. Throughout this season, we invite you to prayerfully consider how you will share your time, talent, and treasure.
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New Associate Minister
Members received the exciting news that we have called the Rev. Irene Willis Hassan as our Associate Minister.
Read Pastor Rushan's announcement to members about Pastor Irene who will begin her ministry at Central Union in September.
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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!
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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
| | Next issue of The Spire will be published on August 12. Content due date is August 5. | | |
Pray for those in our community in need of physical healing. May they get the rest, nourishment, and support needed for recovery.
Pray for those in our community who are extending themselves to be primary caregivers for others. May they be cared for as well.
Give thanks for the opportunity to learn from one another!
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Church Council
Next meeting: August 27
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
| | 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. | |
The Hawai‘i Conference Office is CLOSED until further notice. Staff are working remotely.
READ FULL UPDATE
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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
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Volunteer to 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.
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Volunteer with Community Ministry Next: August 11
Every month on the 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.
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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
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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
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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.
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New in the CUC Archives
From our Historian, Karl Hedberg
Speaking with anyone who has known Ken, you will hear enthusiastic praises. The Reverend Kenneth Orson Rewick, Central Union’s 20th Senior Minister (1970-1974), is the latest addition to cuchistory.org—Central Union’s history website and digital archive!
He had a love for working with youth. Before becoming our Senior Minister, he was chaplain of Punahou School for 15 years (1950-1965), then the headmaster at Mid-Pac Institute for five years. Yearbook photographs during Dr. Rewick’s presidency show him having fun with the students in an afternoon game of touch football.
In 1970 Central Union again chose wisely in naming its next senior minister, the Rev. Kenneth Orson Rewick. Dr. Rewick and his wife Doris, a Central Union Preschool teacher and later director of the school, took their place naturally at Central Union, encouraging in the church a keen sense of congregational participation drawing those who simply “came” to church to become involved. Membership grew past the 3,000 mark.
| | For more info, contact Karl Hedberg: historian@centralunionchurch.org | | Included is Ken’s fun story and sermon about catching a 225-pound Marlin in only a 13-foot boat. After caught, with help from a larger boat alongside, the fish was hoisted into their small boat leaving no room for Ken and his buddy. To return to Pokai harbor, Wai‘anae, West O‘ahu, they had to sit on TOP of the Marlin and paddle to the harbor using the boat oars. As he tells the story in his sermon “Confessions of a Fisherman”, you can feel his presence speaking to you, making you want to get up and say… “Here am I Lord, use me!” VIEW MORE | | 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!) | | 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, including our worship spaces. Please be vigilant and guard your personal items and valuables. | | |
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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