Participate in the Day of Prayer and Public Witness

Tuesday, December 10, is Human Rights Day and has been chosen as the Conference-wide Day of Prayer and Public Witness. On this day, all of our churches are invited to join with one voice to call for a ceasefire in the Holy Land, specifically in Gaza, Palestine. This is in response to a resolution that Central Union unanimously sponsored, “A Call to Education and Action Regarding the Crisis in Gaza“, which was affirmed at the annual Hawai‘i Conference United Church of Christ ‘Aha Pae‘āina in June 2024.

A small team of church members – including representatives from Community Ministry, World Mission Ministry, and the Young(ish) Adult Ministry – has prayerfully organized two ways that Central Union will participate in the Day of Prayer and Public Witness on December 10:

  1. A sign-waving campaign from 3:45-6:00 PM on the Great Lawn
    1. Bring a sign – or we will have a few extras – that say things like: This Church calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, Ceasefire now!, All I want for Christmas is a ceasefire, Honk if you support a ceasefire, or Give Peace a Chance.
    2. We will gather outside on the Great Lawn for a time of prayer at 3:45 PM.
    3. We’ll sit or stand along Beretania Street holding and waving our signs until 5:30 or so – but it’s okay if you can’t be there the whole time! Come as you can. We will have chairs available for those who need them.
    4. We will conclude with a time of prayer together.
      CUC member Melinda holding up CEASEFIRE NOW sign at home
  2. A social media campaign on Tuesday, December
    1. Post a graphic (options available below) on your social media. You may save the images below to post or create your own.
    2. Post a photo of yourself holding a sign (like the ones for the sign-waving).
    3. You can use the hashtag #hcucc4ceasefire and tag @centralunionchurch or @ucc.hawaii on Facebook/Instagram.
    4. SAMPLE CAPTION: “Today I am observing a Day of Prayer and Public Witness with my church, Central Union Church of the Hawai‘i Conference UCC, in response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. As a Christian, I am called to act justly and be a peacemaker. Peace is not possible while people are being bombed and starved. I join with my wider church in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and Palestine. I invite you to take action by contacting congress: https://p2a.co/8qQcAmk“

To save an image, right click and select “Save Image…”

We hope that you will participate in some way to join in this important and prophetic work for a just and lasting peace this Advent season!