October 1, 2026 Minister’s Message

Aloha, mai kākou,

The joy of being together on Sundays is palpable. In a time of deep division, our worship, work, and celebration offer comfort, courage, and inspiration.

Americans have always disagreed. The greater danger now is losing the ability to recognize one another’s humanity—and becoming willing to exclude, punish, or discard those we fear. Genuine listening is not weakness; it is a spiritual discipline. It asks us to listen beneath anger for fear, loss, and longing, while refusing contempt for neighbors whose views we find troubling.

This is the heart of our Hope for Us work. This Friday and Saturday, we will gather to listen, learn, practice, and grow together. Such work strengthens us personally and as a congregation, and may help us bring healing to the wider divisions around us.

Listening does not require surrendering moral clarity. We can acknowledge people’s concerns about safety, borders, and social change while firmly rejecting the dehumanization of immigrants, the separation of families, and the weakening of due process. Democracy requires more than elections: it requires people who can disagree without abandoning one another’s humanity, and institutions willing to protect the vulnerable when fear demands exclusion.

Our calling is both civic and spiritual: to widen the circle of belonging, uphold the rule of law, speak honestly about harm, and practice a love strong enough to seek justice.

I am deeply heartened by this congregation’s commitment and energy. Here are some of the ways we will gather, witness, and serve this month:

October Gatherings

• Friday, October 2, 5 pm: Hope for Us workshop and dinner in the church sanctuary.
• Saturday, October 3, 10 am: Hope for Us workshop and brown-bag lunch in the upstairs classroom. Please register and check in with the Sof Ma‘arav guard at the front door; go upstairs quietly so as not to disturb their sanctuary service. Please carpool and park at Temple Emanu-El, as church parking is allocated to Sof Ma‘arav.
• Sunday, October 4, 10 am: Hope for Us Worship Service, led by our beloved guide, Rev. Samantha Wilson, followed by Talk Story in the sanctuary.
• Saturday, October 10: Witness Against ICE at the Federal Detention Center, led by Vicar Rev. David Gierlach. Clergy will wear recognizable garb; bring signs if you can. We will gather at St. Elizabeth Church on King Street and travel by bus to the center. Please email me to reserve a bus seat.
• October 16, 6 pm – 8 pm: The Vote is Sacred – Faith Feast – in our sanctuary! We expect 80-100 faith leaders to come together to share concerns and strategies for faith communities to help. We host this event along with sponsors The Interfaith Alliance of Hawai‘i (TIAH), Hawai‘i Children’s Action Network (HCAN), and contributors ACLU and League of Women Voters. Our Rediscovering Hawai‘i’s Soul and Social Justice Team are making this happen. This follows last month’s Break Bread luncheon. About 40 clergy and lay leaders gathered at our church to share issues and ways to raise awareness with our congregations.
• Saturday, October 17, 11 am–1 pm: No Dictators: Vote Early at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, 415 S. Beretania St., Honolulu.
• Saturday, October 17, 3 pm: Honolulu Pride Parade & Festival, beginning at Magic Island and proceeding along Kalākaua Avenue toward the Waikīkī Shell and Kapiʻolani Park.
• Saturday, October 17, 5–9 pm: Honolulu Pride Festival at theTom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell and Diamond Head Greens. Our Social Justice Team will host a community booth distributing heartfelt hugs and treats. Please join us.

Our Faith in Action For Unitarian Universalists, social action is not separate from spiritual life. It grows from worship, prayer, covenant, and community. We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person and seek justice, equity, and compassion in human relations—especially when people are frightened, families are separated, or neighbors are told they do not belong.

Our presence will not solve every problem, but silence has consequences. By showing up, we declare that human dignity is not merely affirmed in words, but defended in practice. If you join these demonstrations, please bring not only a sign, but a spirit of grounded compassion. May our witness be guided by courage, discipline, care for one another, and a steadfast refusal to surrender anyone’s humanity.

Mahalo for all you do,
Rev. Deborah