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RELIGION
Just like families, Honolulu faith communities are sharing Thanksgiving with their neighbors. All religions give thanks
in interfaith servicesMary Adamski
Star-BulletinThe rollicking gospel songs of a Samoan choir, a yoga meditation and readings from the Jewish Torah, the Christian New Testament and Buddha's reflections will be features at Honolulu's longest-running multifaith celebration.
The 39th annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Temple Emanu-El, 2550 Pali Highway.
The First Unitarian Church next door at 2500 Pali Highway will serve refreshments following the celebration.
Parking is available at both sites.
The Rev. Sam Cox, a founder of the Open Table all-denominations discussion group, will be the guest speaker.
Nuuanu Valley churches and temples take turns hosting the celebration. This year, the 17 participating organizations include Congregational, Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, United Church of Christ and Unitarian churches, Jewish and Buddhist temples, Community Church of Honolulu, Soka Gakkai International and Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Center.
"Reclaiming the Rainbow" will be the theme of another annual ecumenical celebration, at 9 a.m. Thursday at Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St.
"There was a lot of controversy about rainbows this year," said the Rev. Ron Ching, Central Union associate minister.
"I feel (the University of Hawaii) discarded a very good name. I want to emphasize the rainbow as a symbol of the diversity of life, the diversity of experiences that can help us to grow and be the people God wanted us to be," said Ching, who will be the guest speaker.
Members of a dozen organizations will participate. They include Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and United Church of Christ congregations, as well as Samaritan Counseling Center, Waikiki Health Center, Pacific Health Ministries, Agape Ministries, and Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.
The Honolulu Boy Choir, directed by Dale Noble, will perform Hawaiian and inspirational music.
Attendees are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the needy. Monetary offerings will go to Agape Ministries for the homeless, Honolulu Boy Choir, and Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.
Musicians from several Windward churches will join voices at the thanksgiving worship at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church.
Thirteen Christian congregations plus the Pohai Nani Retirement Community will participate.
The program will include the Windward Jazz Quartet from St. John Lutheran Church, Wai Ole Ola O Kailua singers, dancers from the Kailua Christian Church Youth Group, and speaker Maxine Pollock, St. Anthony's pastoral associate.
Canned goods and cash will be collected for the food pantries at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and St. George's Catholic Church, both in Waimanalo.
Other Oahu congregations planning special services for the holiday include:
Manoa: Manoa Valley Church, 9 a.m. tomorrow and 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Religion Calendar
CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
45-435 Aumoku St., 247-2733
The Nursing Homes Ministry will sing tomorrow, 3:15 p.m. at Ann Pearl and 4:15 p.m. at Pohai Nani Care Center.THE CENTER FOR POSITIVE LIVING
P.O. Box 61850, 988-6907
Singer/songwriter Greg Tamblyn will present the lesson, "The Sacred and the Silly," at the Sunday celebration of life, 10 a.m. Nov. 26 at Ala Moana Hotel, Carnation Room. He will also perform a live concert, "A Humorous Musical Psycho-Spiritual Experience," 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at 2926 Woodlawn Drive in Manoa. Tickets cost $15 and must be purchased in advance by calling 988-6907.CENTRAL UNION CHURCH
1660 S. Beretania St., 941-0957
Willis Moore of the Hawaii Geographic Society will show slides of Honolulu from 1795 to 2000, 10-11 a.m. Tuesday in the Women's Building. Card or board games to follow. Come early for stretching exercises. Bring a brown-bag lunch.CHRIST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1639 Keeaumoku St., 536-7244
The English congregation will have a baptism service 5 p.m. Nov. 26 at Ala Moana Beach Park. Potluck to follow.CHRISTIANS IN REAL ESTATE
P.O. Box 11597, 734-7208
Kent Keith, Randy and Gay Hongo, and Carl Sargent will speak about "Occasions for Forgiveness," Dec. 7 at Hale Koa Hotel, Waikiki Ballroom. Registration begins at 11:15 a.m., lunch and speakers at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $18 by Friday, $20 by Dec. 4. Please make checks payable to CIRE. For reservations, call 734-0541 by Dec. 4. Validated parking.HONPA HONGWANJI HAWAII BETSUIN
1727 Pali Highway, 536-7044
The Cultural Division will present exhibitions of flower arrangement, needlepoint and Japanese calligraphy, and demonstrations of the tea ceremony, Universal Tai Chi/Chi Gung, Japanese archery, Hawaiiana, Japanese language and taiko drumming, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.KAPAHULU BIBLE CHURCH
3224 Kaunaoa St., 734-3727
NUUANU CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
2651 Pali Highway, 595-3935
Donations of canned goods and other nonperishable food will be collected at 8, 9 and 10:15 a.m. worship drives tomorrow. Donations will be delivered to the Hawaii Foodbank.OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH
1775 S. Beretania St., 946-6505
Free concerts featuring Southern gospel music by Tony Gore, The Lesters, The Whisnants and Kirk Talley continue at 7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow.SPIRITUAL LIFE CENTER
1020 S. Beretania St., 523-1170
Advent Interlude Retreat, 6 p.m. Friday-4 p.m. next Saturday at Paewalani Center in Kaneohe. Cost is $55.WAIPAHU UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
94-330 Mokuola St., 677-3317
The Rev. Chris Eng will deliver the sermon, "Imagine a New Age" at 8:30 a.m. contemporary and 10:30 a.m. traditional worship services tomorrow.
