Faith Briefs
Open house planned
Central Union Church, the largest of 126 United Church of Christ churches in Hawai'i, will have an open house this month for its just-completed $8 million building project.
The old parish hall, built in 1928, had been razed a year and a half ago, and a new one was built in its place. The new hall can hold more than 800 for contemporary worship services and includes a stage, kitchen and youth center. The youth center is equipped with pool table, ping-pong table and sofas, as well as computers with Internet access for homework. Youth programs are open to the public.
The new, three-story Family Life Center has classrooms for Sunday school and a new adult daycare center, with joint senior-children events planned with church preschoolers.
The open house at 1660 S. Beretania St. will be 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 21.
For more information, call 941-0957.
Shingon prayer service
The Shingon sect of Buddhism is planning a two-hour prayer service at 1 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.
After Shingon rituals are performed, there will be an interfaith service in English.
These events are tied in with the 100th anniversary of the Shingon Mission in Hawai'i. Celebrations include a three-day Blaisdell Center convention, which will feature an "88 Temples of Shikoku" exhibit at the Pikake Room. On display at that exhibit will be sand and scrolls from each of the 88 temples that are part of the Hachijyuha Hakasho pilgrimage, established by the founder of the Shingon Mission.
Some Buddhists choose to take the pilgrimage to visit each temple, and can make it perhaps once during their lifetime.
For information, call the Shingon Shu Hawaii Betsuin, 941-5663.
Choir needs singers
Temple Emanu-El is looking for singers to take part in the high holiday choir, part of the temple's Rosh Ha-Shanah Eve service, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6, as well as the Kol Nidre (eve of Yom Kippur) service at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15.
All voice ranges are needed. Rehearsals will be Sundays and some Wednesdays.
For more information, call Ken Aronowitz, the cantorial soloist, at 595-7521.
