HOW WE WORSHIP
An Invitation to All
Each Sunday at worship, the Senior Kahu offers the invitation:
"We welcome all to the Table as the LORD welcomes us,
for this is the Table, not of the Church, but of the Lord. It is His desire
that we meet Him here, to be in community with Him
and one another, to break bread, and to share the cup of salvation."
So, come. Worship with us. You are welcome here.
WHAT TO EXPECT
At Puka'ana Congregational Church, worship is warm, simple, hopeful, and centered on the presence of God in community. We gather as we are—locals, visitors, kūpuna, keiki, long-time members, and first-time guests—and we trust that God meets each one of us right where we are on the journey. Expect a blend of traditional congregational hymns, Hawaiian mele, and contemporary praise, woven together with Scripture, prayer, reflection, and the aloha of a community that genuinely cares for one another.
Our services feel intimate and welcoming. You’ll be greeted with smiles, encouraged to settle in, and invited to participate as you feel comfortable. We follow a simple, meaningful flow: gathering, singing, praying, reading the Word, hearing a message, and sharing in fellowship. We laugh easily, pray earnestly, and uphold the Hawaiian values of respect, hospitality, and communal care. There is no dress code—come in shorts, aloha wear, or Sunday best. Come with an open heart. You belong here.
HOW OUR WORSHIP IS SHAPED
Worship at Puka'ana is shaped by our identity as a historic Hawaiian Congregational church and a joyful member of the United Church of Christ. Our worship blends the traditions gifted to us by our kūpuna with the evolving needs of today’s church. We draw deeply from the Scriptures, from the life and teachings of Jesus in the Gospels, and from the rich heritage of Hawaiian spirituality—respect for creation, reverence for ancestors, and the belief that God walks with us in the ordinary rhythms of life.
Our church follows a liturgy guided by the UCC Book of Worship (1986). Our liturgy is simple and participatory. We pray together, we respond together, and we listen for God together. Our preaching is grounded in the Good News of Jesus Christ—justice, mercy, healing, and hope—and always connected to real-life joys and struggles here in Hawai'i.
Worship is not a performance but a shared act of devotion. We honor the traditions of our past while embracing creativity, new music, new expressions of faith, and the unique voices of every generation. Above all, we worship in a spirit of aloha: grateful, courageous, openhearted, and trusting that the Spirit continues to lead us forward.
THE SACRAMENTS: BAPTISM & COMMUNION
Baptism
In the United Church of Christ, Baptism is a sacred act of belonging—God’s visible sign that we are named, claimed, and loved. At Puka'ana, we baptize infants, children, youth, and adults. We celebrate Baptism as the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith, not a declaration of perfection. It marks our entry into the Body of Christ and our commitment to raise one another in love, accountability, and discipleship. Whether at the font inside the sanctuary or down by the ocean where generations before us were baptized, the waters remind us that God’s grace flows freely and abundantly.
Communion
Holy Communion is at the heart of our worship life and is celebrated weekly as a reminder of God’s unconditional love made known in Jesus Christ. Our table is open to everyone—members, visitors, children, seekers, and those still wondering what they believe. In true Congregational spirit, we practice an open table because we believe the meal belongs to Christ, not us.
We share simple elements—bread and cup, sometimes traditional, sometimes contextual to Hawai'i—that speak to God’s presence in everyday life. As we receive Communion, we remember Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection. We also renew our call to be a people of justice, compassion, reconciliation, and hope. At Puka'ana, this sacred meal strengthens us to love boldly, serve joyfully, and walk together in the Spirit.