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Sermon Series: Tell Me Something Good

"The Good News is Together, the Impossible is Possible"

WORSHIP

Third Sunday in Lent

Rev. Dr. Will Whitmore*

7 AM: Atherton Memorial Chapel

8:45 AM – Gift of Music

by Piano Students of

Dr. Wendy Yamashita

9 AM: Sanctuary

View service live/later on YouTube



11 AM: Parish Hall

View the worship bulletin

*Note: Pastor Rushan is off island and will return to the office on March 9. Mahalo to CUC member Rev. Dr. Will Whitmore who will officiate the Sunday services.

CHILDREN & YOUTH



Nursery

A staffed Nursery is 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. This week they will meet in the Youth Room from 12-2 PM.

Contact: melissa-thach@centralunionchurch.org

Attend Organ Concert

Dr. Joy-Leilani Garbutt is an organist, musicologist, and an ardent advocate for gender-equity in the field of music. She will be the featured concert organist at the Hawai‘i Chapter American Guild of Organists annual recital playing music by women composers—on International Women's Day and Woman Composer Sunday! Hear her in the Sanctuary on Sunday, March 8, at 2 PM. Free admission, $25 suggested donation.

Connect with us on Facebook + Instagram for daily reflections throughout Lent.

Tell Me Something Good

Can we be "good news" people in a world too often burdened by bad news? You are invited to journey through this Lenten devotional at your own pace. Each week offers art, reflections, poetry, and hymns to ground you in the good news. May the good news inspire us to take action in a world desperate to hear, see, and taste what is good.

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 digital 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.)

Faith Statements on Iran

from the HCUCC Coconut Wireless

The United Church of Christ's General Minister and President Karen Georgia Thompson issued a statement Saturday condemning the bombing of Iran by the United States and Israel and urged people of faith to continue to call on elected officials to reject war.

READ MORE

Tell your members of Congress to say NO to war with Iran! TAKE ACTION

Joint statement from UCC & Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): READ MORE

Statement from Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP): READ MORE

Central Union is partnering with other community organizations to hold a Community Vigil for Peace to mark the deaths of those killed in Gaza. The death toll since October 2023 surpassed 75,000 a year ago and is rising still, even after a ceasefire was declared last October. We are called to "Weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). Please join us in solidarity on Saturday, March 14, from 3-6 PM in the Sanctuary or online. Come and leave as you need. The service is inspired by the seven-hour prayer "naming every child killed in Holy Land war" led by Cardinal Zuppi. There will be a speaking of the names of children killed, interspersed with prayers and readings by representatives of various faith traditions. May our grief be transformed into collective action for peace and justice.

Support Cheryl & Rogerio

As of March 5, Cheryl still awaits Rogerio in Brazil. Despite a flight delay, there is hope Rogerio will arrive soon—maybe even in time for his birthday and their marriage anniversary. WATCH A VIDEO UPDATE FROM CHERYL.

If you would like to help ease their financial burdens in this difficult time, you are invited to donate through their online GoFundMe campaign.

Service of Healing & Prayer

Sunday, March 15, 5:30 PM

Atherton Memorial Chapel

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.

Volunteer with Community Ministry Next: March 10

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.

Lenten Altarscape

Keep your eyes on the Sanctuary communion table!

This Lent, the Flower Committee, at Pastor Rushan's request, will be doing a Lenten Altar Scape that will evolve each week. It'll be simple and stark to start, then gradually grow in color and dimension each Sunday with the coming of spring until the final celebration on Easter! Watch the floral evolution as the Lenten season progresses. The Flower Committee will make their usual beautiful arrangements for Atherton Memorial Chapel and the Parish Hall during Lent.

Photo by Margaret Lloyd

Easter Flowers

The Flower Committee will adorn our worship spaces with lilies 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 an order form by March 29 to be listed in the bulletins on Easter Sunday (April 5). You may order online by clicking below OR submit a form which is printed in the Sunday worship bulletins.

Lenten Book Study

This Lent, step into a thoughtful, engaging, and hope-filled journey through Scripture as we explore Rachel Held Evans’ beloved book Inspired. In this four‑week study, we’ll look at how the stories of the Bible continue to shape, challenge, and encourage us today—especially as we walk through a season meant for reflection, renewal, and deeper faith. There are Thursday morning and Tuesday evening options available each week. Come when you can! NEXT: March 10 & 12

Childcare for Dazzle

If you've not purchased Dazzle tickets due to a lack of childcare, CUPS got you covered for April 10, 5-10 PM! Hawaii Dance Bomb is hosting a kids night for CUPS keiki and siblings (ages 2-6) so you can leave them in good hands while enjoying Dazzle. Cost is $100. Drop-off starts at 4:45 PM.

DAZZLE PRE-SALE RATES EXTENDED

Get your Dazzle tickets!

Dazzle is Central Union Preschool's (CUPS) annual fundraiser gala that supports CUPS' 5 Es— Educational Opportunities, Environments, Endowment, Events, and Economic Diversity. Attend the 21st anniversary of Dazzle on Friday, April 10, 2026. Enjoy culinary tastings from local renown chefs, silent and live auctions, live entertainment, and camaraderie at the Alohilani Resort in Waikiki. Save $50 on individual tickets and $500 on a Constellations table through March 1!

Every gift, in any form, is 100% tax-deductible. For additional ways to get involved, contact Alana Anderson at (917) 623-5913, via email at alana@centralunionpreschool.org, or visit the Dazzle website where you may purchase tickets, sponsor a teacher, or contribute to the auctions, and MORE!

Check out the participating chefs!

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: March 26

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.

Give thanks for the ministers among us and our shared ministry!

Give thanks for all the music that will be shared this Sunday, from piano students to a concert organist and everyone in between.

Pray for those who are helping their neighbors get through life's hardships. May we take every opportunity to be a good neighbor.

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 - 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

Volunteer with Community Ministry

Second Tuesdays

2-4:30 PM - Prep and cook; food drop-off to follow (driver needed)

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.

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.

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.