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Friday Email - 14 MAR 2014

Congregational Meeting Sunday, March 16 - 11:45am
2014 Youth Led Worship Service, Sunday, March 23!
Sunday Morning Bible Study – Lenten Study
Forum, Sunday, March 16, 9:15am - VFH
Monday Lunch Group Lenten Study
How to Use the CUCC Website
A Different Lenten Study:  Victory and Peace or Justice and Peace?
Lenten Study – The African American, Many Rivers to Cross
Got Cots?
Say it with Flamingos!
Newcomers' Supper
Toxic Free NC Event
 “Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air & Water”
Congregations for Social Justice Conference
Loan Your Art to the “Loo(vre)”

Congregational Meeting Sunday, March 16 - 11:45am
The Church Council has called a special Congregational Meeting in the sanctuary immediately following the 10:30 worship service next Sunday, March 16. The purpose of this meeting will be to ratify the purchase of the Lloyd property at 802 Dixie Trail and 2916 O’Berry Street for a total of $575,000. The Ad Hoc Property Committee and Stewardship Ministry will provide information and answer questions. Submitted by Lavon Page for the Church Council.

2014 Youth Led Worship Service, Sunday, March 23!
As is true every year, all of our youth and many adults are needed to help make this worship service beautiful and meaningful! If you are an adult who would like to assist in supporting our youth as they plan this year, please consider the following dates and times, and let Śānti know which would work for you. Then we can talk about what area of planning would most interest you.
Sunday, March 16, 10:45am - 2:00pm: Church School, lunch afterwards, and time for worship planning!
Friday, March 21, 7:00pm – 9:00pm: worship planning portion of our spring lock-in!
For more information or details contact Śānti: forsanti@aol.com or 919-961-8814.

Sunday Morning Bible Study, 9:30am, Bradow Room
Lenten Series in Sunday Morning Bible Study:  Beginning March 9th, the Bible Study will engage in two contemplative practices to prepare our hearts and minds for Easter, lectio divina and centering prayer.  You may have experienced these practices in solitude.  Practiced in community, they bring a special light and richness to the life of the spirit. All are welcome, even if you have never encountered these practices.  In the words of Richard Rohr, prepare to experience “under-doing and assured failure.”  Sound intriguing?  Bill Lamb and Ellen Beidler will lead.

Forum, March 16, 9:15am, VFH
Inequality for All - Part 2.  Income inequality in the United States is at historic highs. This widening income gap has a devastating impact on our economy.  How much inequality can our democracy tolerate?  Join us for the second part of this compelling documentary which features American economist and former U.S. Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, who examines how this inequality happened and how it affects our lives.  Led by Shirley Birt.

Monday Lunch Group Lenten Study
The Monday Lunch group meets Mondays at 12:15pm in the Hoffmann Room.  After a bag lunch, the group has prayer time where they offer up concerns and healing.  Newcomers and walk-ins are welcome! During Lent, the group will be studying the book, Life Lessons – Two Experts on Death and Dying Teach Us about the Mysteries of Life and Living, by Elizabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler.  Contact Vandy Bradow (vbradow@aol.com) if you would like additional information.

How to Use the CUCC Website
During the fellowship period following church on Sunday, March 23, the Communications Committee will give a short presentation on "How to Use the Church Website". You'll learn what kind of information can be found there, and how to find it. -- submitted by Lavon Page for the Communications Committee

A Different Lenten Study:  Victory and Peace or Justice and Peace?
Joy Alford will be hosting a six week Lenten group at her home in Rolesville - 5 miles north of Raleigh's I-540. The group will meet on Wednesday, March 5th through April 16th (not holding group on March 26).  This DVD-based study featuring John Dominic Crossan, "explores the juxtaposition of Roman Imperial Theology and the Kingdom of God."  The short DVDs will spark theological discussion which will help us journey together in preparation for Easter.

Content for the study includes:
Justice & the World: What is the Character of Your God?
History & Jesus: What is the Content of Your Faith?
Worship & Violence: What is the Purpose of Your Prayer?
Resurrection & Community: What is the Function of Your Church?
Please contact Joy (919-605-4336) or (w.joy.alford43@gmail.com) for directions or if you are interested in attending.

Lenten Study – The African American, Many Rivers to Cross
Thursday evenings, March 6 – April 10, 7:15pm, Hoffmann Room.  Rev. Robert Parrish will be leading a DVD series and discussion entitled, THE AFRICAN AMERICANS, “Many Rivers to Cross.”  This PBS documentary, produced by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, is an historical analysis of the diverse cultural, religious and political journey and development of African Americans from Africa to the present day America.  New images, insights and facts will be learned through this Lenten study about African Americans and their interconnections and influences on America as a whole.

Got Cots?
"Got cots? The Appalachian Service Project team members will be taking cots to sleep on during their week of service this summer. If you have a cot you would be willing to loan to a team member, please contact Julie Robertson at 919-522-2421. We promise it will be returned to you in good condition. Thanks!"

Say it with Flamingos!
A flock of bright pink flamingos could land in the garden of someone special to you all for a donation to the CUCC Appalachia Service Project Team.  Contact Julie Robertson.  Let her know when you'd like the flock to land, the name & address of the person to receive the surprise, and anything special you'd like to say.  After confirming with our flamingo wrangler that the flock is available that day, we'll take care of the rest. We'll herd a flock of 25+ flamingos to grace your friend's lawn for two days.  Then we'll retrieve the flock.  The perfect gift to say you care!  If you know of someone with a special occasion that deserves flocking, please call Julie Robertson at 919-522-2421 and leave a message with your name and contact information and we’ll get in touch!  The average donation for a flocking is about $45. Thank you from your 2014 ASP team - Paul Judy and Erin Kiel, Ashley Joyner, Teresa Worley, Michael Bowen, John Robertson, JaCarrie Spurlock, Katherine Manus, Skip Stoddard, Lena Gallitano, Patrick Lee.

Newcomers' Supper
You are invited to the Newcomers' Supper on Friday, March 28th. Unwind after a busy week, ask questions about CUCC, and meet other newcomers.  Dinner served at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to CUCC office by March 24th at 919-787-6422 or cucc@nc.rr.com. You can also contact Bev Stolarick in person or email at bstolarick@att.net.  Please tell us if you need childcare (ages) and if you have dietary restrictions.

Toxic Free NC Event
You're invited to a screening of Toxic Hot Seat on March 26th at 7:30pm at the Carmike 15 on Atlantic Springs Road in Raleigh. [Map]  Filmmakers James Redford and Kirby Walker follow a courageous group of firefighters and mothers, journalists and scientists, politicians and activists as they fight to expose a shadowy campaign of deception that left a toxic legacy in our homes and bodies - a campaign so cunning, it's taken nearly 40 years to unravel.
Chemical flame retardants are everywhere - our furniture, our homes, our bodies. Yet they don’t seem to stop fires. They do, however, seem to make us sick. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about toxic chemicals, their negative health effects and what you can do to protect your family.
This event will sell out, so be sure to get your tickets in advance. Hope to see you there! Purchase your ticket online today.  - Submitted by Laura Upchurch

 “Groundswell Rising, Protecting Our Children's Air & Water”
The Rialto Theater, Sunday, April 6, 1:00 pm. Mark Lichty, the executive producer, showed this film at CUCC in January. The film is told by the people whose lives have been affected by fracking. It gives a clear picture about the harm that fracking is doing to the environment. There will be a panel discussion following. Please put this date on your calendar and tell folks who are on the fence or have not heard about fracking to please see this film. Submitted by Laura Upchurch

Congregations for Social Justice Conference
Please join the Congregations for Social Justice for their conference: “Forward Together – God’s Work, Our Hands, Faith in Action, A Theological Conference Exploring the Public Policy Issues raised by the Moral Monday Movement.”
Saturday, April 12, 2014, 9:30am - 4:00pm, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 7000 Creedmoor Rd., Raleigh, NC.
Registration is $12.00 and includes Lunch.
Keynote Speaker: The Right Rev. Michael Bruce Curry XI, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.
Break-Out Discussions on Issues include:
Voting Rights: Jennifer Frye, Associate Director, Democracy NC
Education: Rodney Ellis, President, North Carolina Association of Educators
Poverty: Dr. Gene Nichol, Director, The Center on Poverty, Work & Opportunity UNC School of Law
Class and Racial Justice: Judith Roberts, Program Director, Racial Justice Ministries, E.L.C.A.

For More Information and Registration Please Visit: www.transformationresourcesnetwork.com
Submitted by Adrienne Little

Loan Your Art to the Loo(vre)
Do you have framed pictures or other wall art that you would loan to CUCC for rotating displays in the newly painted ladies and men’s restrooms?  If so, please put your name on the back of the art pieces (so we can return it) and place it in the Robing Room for Joan McAllister.