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THIS SUNDAY
November 15, 2026
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Worship
Sermon Series:
Children of the Light
7 AM: Atherton Memorial Chapel
8:45 AM: Gift of Music
Piano Students of Dr. Brent Nitta
9 AM: Sanctuary
View service live/later on YouTube
11 AM: Parish Hall
View the worship bulletin
| | Our Associate Minister, Rev. Irene Willis Hassan, will lead worship at the Honolulu campus for the 9 AM and 11 AM worship services this Sunday, preaching a message titled "What Could Possibly Go Right?" Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray will lead worship at 7 AM in Honolulu and 10 AM at Windward, preaching a message titled "Awake in the Dark". Both sermons are part of the continuing sermon series Children of the Light. | | |
CHILDREN & YOUTH
Nursery
A staffed Nursery is available during the 9 and 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 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.
Youth will gather from 12-2 PM for a scavenger hunt.
Contact: melissa-thach@centralunionchurch.org
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Central Union Windward Ministry
Sunday Worship
10 AM: Sanctuary
"Awake in the Dark"
Sermon by Rev. Rushan Sinnaduray
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Central Union Pohnpei Ministry
Sunday Worship & Communion
11 AM: Atherton Memorial Chapel
| | NEWS + ANNOUNCEMENTS + REMINDERS | | Note: The Church and Preschool were impacted by the widespread Microsoft outage today and have not had access to email. It is unknown how long the issue will persist. If you need to contact the Church Office, you may call 808-941-0957. View the online staff directory for direct numbers if you need to reach out to staff directly. | | Messy Church is for everyone! | | Our next Messy Church worship service is scheduled for next Wednesday, November 18, 5–7 PM, in the Parish Hall. Everyone from keiki to kupuna is welcome and encouraged to join us for this multi-generational gathering which will combine with our annual Advent Workshop. Our theme is Every Living Thing Needs Time to Get Ready. Advent is the season in which we prepare for the Mystery of Christmas, so let's get ready to get ready! Join us as we create our Advent wreaths, work on special projects for community outreach, and create special treats to share with family and friends as we celebrate the Advent season. | | Join the Boomers & Beyond group for their first off-campus outing next Tuesday, November 17. They will be going to a film screening of West Side Story at Hawai‘i Theatre at 11:30 AM. Text or call Ronny Lynn (808-391-2733) if you'd like to go with the group. They will meet at the church at 10:30 AM to carpool. If you're a senior (or know one) who's interested in connecting with others and participating in leisure pastimes, join Boomers & Beyond! They meet weekly—all are welcome! | | | | |
Apply for Central Union Preschool
Applications for the Central Union Church Preschool 2027–2028 school year are available now through November 30, 2026. Applications for the toddler ‘ohana program (2 years old) will be available in 2027 from January 5 through February 28! Learn more at: centralunionpreschool.org
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Attend Free Concert
The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Choirs will present choral music that explores historical, fictional, and modern concepts of villainy. Conducted by Alec Schumacker and Nola Nāhulu, the program features music from O‘ahu, Mongolia, France, the Philippines, Venezuela, Italy, Russia, and even Star Wars!
Portraits of Villainy is a free concert taking place in our main Sanctuary in Honolulu on Friday, November 20, at 7:30 PM.
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Save the Date: Worship & Witness
On Sunday, November 22, we will embody our call to be a church not confined by walls, but propelled by love. “The Church Has Left the Building” is an opportunity to live our faith beyond the Sanctuary. We’ll begin the day together in a joint worship service at 9 AM, then scatter across our wider community, like the early disciples, to participate in acts of compassion, justice, and care. Please join us!
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Give Aloha
MAHALO NUI to everyone who donated through Give Aloha in September! With 20 individual donations and matching by Foodland, we received a total of $6,021.95.
If you have not yet submitted your Foodland Give Aloha receipt to the Church Office, please turn it in by November 15 via mail or in the offering plate to get credit on your giving statement.
| | Last chance to sing in 77th presentation of Messiah! | | Like to sing? Central Union's ministry of music invites you to sing in the 77th annual presentation of Handel's Messiah on Sunday, December 13, at 7:30 PM, as part of a community ensemble, The Hawai‘i Nui Chorale. Rehearsals began on October 29 and will continue for five more Thursdays at 6 PM. Participants are allowed to miss up to two rehearsals. Tonight is the third rehearsal, your last chance to join if you haven't already! For more info and registration, click HERE. | | | | |
Calling All Youth!
We are looking into planning a youth mission trip for Summer 2027. Because of the youths' long history of Punahou parking fundraisers and a designated fund for this purpose, the trip will be nearly free! It will be open to any youth currently in grades 6-12 who meet a couple criteria (volunteering for the Punahou parking fundraiser Feb. 5-6, 2027, and at least monthly attendance on Sundays). Details are still being worked on, but our Youth Director is gauging interest and availability.
| | If you know a youth that would be interested in participating, please complete this form as soon as possible! | | | | |
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
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Thrift Shop Update
Starting on November 11, our Honolulu Thrift Shop will return to its old schedule, extending business hours from 9 AM to 3 PM on Wednesdays and Saturdays!
Limited donations are being accepted. If you have gently-used items that can be sold and given a new home, you may bring them to the Thrift Shop during open hours.
Volunteers are still needed! If you're interested in volunteering at the Thrift Shop, please contact: thriftshop@centralunionchurch.org.
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Share your Estimate of Giving!
Thanks to all those who have already submitted their Estimate of Giving cards! As part of our stewardship, sharing our Estimate of Giving greatly helps our church to plan for the year ahead and live within our means. We trust that where our hearts go, our lives, choices, and resources will follow. If you have not yet turned in an Estimate of Giving card, we hope you will spend some time in prayer and consider what you are able to give in the coming year to support the ministry of Central Union Church.
| | You may turn in your Estimate of Giving card to the offering plate at Sunday worship, to the Church Office, or complete it online. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the Church Office. | | |
Pray for our community ensemble, The Hawai‘i Nui Chorale, and all the different voices preparing for this year's presentation of Messiah.
As we come upon the 139th birthday of Central Union Church, give thanks to those who united Fort Street Church and Bethel Union on November 13, 1887, and to all who've poured into our church since.
Pray for our upcoming Messy Church gathering, that it will bring together young and old for a time of creativity, formation, and fellowship!
| | 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 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: December 8
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.
| | SMALL GROUPS & WEEKLY OPPORTUNITIES | | | | |
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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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.
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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.
| | Are you on Instagram? Connect with us! | | 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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