e-Blast
July 30, 2020
Our campus is currently closed.
August 2, 2020

Rev. Brandon Duran and Rev. Mary Herbig
Livestream at 10 AM
Passcode: 037417
STAYING CONNECTED
To view the August edition of the Spire , click here.
School Supplies for Students
For many years, the CUC Youth Ministry has collected and donated school supplies to the students of Kuhio Elementary School. Though there continues to be many uncertainties about what school will be like through the ongoing pandemic, we hope that our continued support for students will be certain! We invite you to join the Youth Ministry in blessing local students by making a monetary donation of any amount that will be used to purchase supplies for students in this new school year.
TWO WAYS TO DONATE:
(To limit physical contact, we will only collect monetary donations.)
  • Write a check to “Central Union Church” with “Kuhio School Supplies” in the memo line. Mail/deliver it to the church “Attn: Accounting” (1660 South Beretania Street; Honolulu, HI 96826).
  • Donate online through our website HERE. Select “Youth Ministry” as the Donation Cause.
Back-pack Blessing and Drive-In Vespers
Families with keiki or youth are invited to a drive-through backpack blessing in front of the sanctuary on  Sunday, August 23rd at   5:30 pm.  Right afterwards, join your Central Union Church community in-person to continue our Summer Vespers Series: drive-in worship on the 4th Sundays of the month. Come worship with us  (from the safety of your car)  for this special worship service on  Sunday, August 23rd at 6:00pm.  If you are not coming to church in a car there will also be a space to sit  (socially distancing)  on the lawn. We will start contact tracing in hopes of keeping our community safe. This will just mean we will be recording the names of who attends each service. We look forward to coming together to worship safely that Sunday evening!
Congregational Care
Resuming Small Grou p Meetings
Good news! We will be resuming our two, pre-Covid19, small-group meetings!

Caregiver Support Group
Our first Caregiver Support Group meeting will resume on Tuesday, August 4th, from noon-2pm. We invite anyone who is interested to reach out for more information.*

Book Group – Jesus: A Pilgrimage
Encounter our Lord anew as you embark on a journey to the Holy Land with Father James Martin as he shares his personal stories, anecdotes from saints, and accounts of his travels to Israel. The Book Group will pick up with Chapter 11,  Capernaum , "They removed the roof above him ." While we are halfway through the book, we invite anyone who is interested in joining, to participate!*

*If you are interested in joining either of the above groups, Caregiver Support, or Book Group, or you are interested in being part of our planning Care Team, please contact Alice Taum at 440-3007 or e-mail, [email protected] .
PLEASE NOTE: None of the above groups can meet on campus at this time .
Central Union Church Women's Retreat Alert!
During this year of “Changed Plans,” your Retreat committee has gotten creative!
Though our beloved venue will not be Camp Mokuleia this November, as earlier planned, we are busy working on ideas for an Online experience to help us enjoy the same bonding love and inspiration we have felt in years past.

Stay tuned , because we will be sure to:
Let you know the date and time;
Mail last year's "letter-to-self";
and reveal our "special delivery" retreat 2020, just when we needed it the most!

A simplified registration will be online as in the past. Cost will be minimal. And since we'll be On-line, our Off-island sisters can join us this year if they choose!

Blessings!
Pursuing Racial Justice
This class is for anyone who wants to learn more about racism and pursuing justice in their own life and community. If you find yourself asking any of these questions: what does racism look like here in Hawaii? What does the Bible say about racism? How is God asking us to live in loving and just relationship with one another? Then we welcome you in this class!

This class will be facilitated by our pastoral intern, Cassie Chee, and will meet for three Thursdays in a row: August 6th , 13th , and 20th at 6 pm on Zoom. In each session we will build upon material from the previous. Participants are highly encouraged to attend all three sessions in order to cultivate trust and accountability in the group . If you are interested in attending, please contact Cassie Chee at [email protected].
Help is on the Way
Help is On Way continues with its once a month food drives at CUC.
CUC members can drop off non- perishable food at CUC Monday - Friday 9 AM to 4 PM and we will add it to their supplies.

Please call Suzanne at 440-3030 if you wish to drop off food during the week.
Thanks for your Kokua!
Reopening Liaisons
Nathan Wong and Bruce Luxton will be serving as the Council’s liaisons on our phased plan of reopening. They will be the point persons that the Congregation can go to with ideas, questions or suggestions. In addition, they will work with staff to determine implementation strategies and assist in recruitment of volunteers that may be needed for specific tasks.
Bruce or Nathan may be contacted at  [email protected] . We are grateful for their willingness to step forward and help lead this effort. Mahalo Bruce and Nathan!
Central Union Church is here for you through...
Prayers
During this time of change, stay-at-home orders and uncertainty, we are here to pray for you! We believe God hears our prayers and will continue to be at work among us. Please email your prayer requests to our pastoral team at  [email protected]  or call our on-call line at (808) 791-2966 .

COVID-19 Assistance Fund
With an unemployment rate of over 37%, we realize that there is great need arising in our community. If you are in need of assistance, we are here to help our faith community! A special fund has been created through the generosity of donors called the COVID-19 Assistance Fund. Please contact Pastor Brandon at  [email protected]  so we can support you during this time!

Ways to Give:
Give Online
www.centralunionchurch.org // Click on ‘Give Now’

Text to Give
Text “Risen” to 206-859-9405

Mail
1660 S. Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96826
Mindful Movement with Bamboo Sticks
NOW ONLINE every Wednesday 5:00 - 6:15 PM
Taught by Marion Lyman-Mersereau.  Come move your body and settle your mind with the bamboo stick practice! The Qigong routine with bamboo sticks was developed by an elderly Zen master to maintain his suppleness. With practice of this routine, one can maintain strength, balance, and breath control. It incorporates mindfulness practice as we become more aware of each movement and how it affects our breath and our bodies. You’ll need a 6ʻ stick of some variety - ideally bamboo and if you’re short a broom would do or a hiking pole. A 6ʻ lightweight smooth stick is best.

Contact Carol Alevizos at [email protected] for more information and the Zoom link to attend.
Centering Prayer
Join us every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8 PM on Zoom. To participate, contact  Carol for more information and the Zoom link.
Stay up to date on all of the happenings at Central Union Church by visiting our website: www.centralunionchurch.org

The due date for articles for the September 2020 Spire is Monday, August 31st . Please email all submissions to [email protected] .

We welcome articles for the CUC Website, News, e-Blast, and/or post on our bulletin boards. The deadline for each publication is the Tuesday preceding each Sunday. Please submit all articles to [email protected]

CENTRAL UNION CHURCH
1660 SOUTH BERETANIA STREET
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96826
(808) 941 - 0957 WWW.CENTRALUNIONCHURCH.ORG
CENTRAL UNION WINDWARD 
38 KANEOHE BAY DRIVE
KAILUA, HAWAII 96734
(808) 254-3802