CUCC Weekly eNews

During worship on Dec. 28, Ellen Beidler acting as Chair of the Deacons presented Pastor Steve Halsted with a gift from the congregation on the occasion of his final Sunday in the church pulpit. (5 minute video)

On December 21 Sam and Joanna Woodrum joined the church. And on December 28 Emily Perkins joined. Sam and Joanna Woodrum joined on Dec. 21, 2014 Emily Perkins joined on December 28

The Christmas Eve service in 2014 features music performed by the choir led by Anne Moorman-Smith, the youth, Doug Barrick (organ and piano), Amy Jensen (flute), and Mike Schafale (hammer dulcimer). The candlelight singing of Silent Night has become a tradition at CUCC. This year is the first time the entire service has been captured on video (with help from Karen Withem). The audio track was recorded separately and the multi-camera setup allowed multiple views of the service. Thanks to the entire congregation and the excellent congregational participation for making this an event to remember. (This video is about 40-minutes long. Only transitional periods in the service have been edited out.) This video is permanently archived in high definition  in the CUCC Archive.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, Dec. 24, 5:00pm A Request from Vandy Bradow   Christmas Fund  Steve’s Last Service New Member this Sunday! No Church School this Sunday, December 28th No Forum this Sunday Monday Lunch Group Menu of Compassionate Gifts Epiphany Sunday/Babies We Love – January 11, 2015 Loaves and Fishes Chili Sale Annual Reports January Congregational Meeting – January 25th CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting – Monday, February 2, 2015 Dinner for HK on J Out-of-Town Participants Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, December 24 Join us for a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Wednesday, December 24.  Our service will begin at 5:00pm.  Afterwards, we’ll gather for bright fellowship and hot cider in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall. A Request from Vandy Bradow Vandy would like to bring her mother, Ida Klages, to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, but she will need some assistance from members of the congregation.  She needs a couple of...

A segment on 60-minutes (CBS) caught my attention on Sunday, Dec. 21. It highlights the relationship between Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and President Barack Obama. It's an inspiring message that's appropriate for Christmas. The link below shows the entire interview (about 12 min.) and it includes commercials. But it will give you a warm feeling that's appropriate for the season. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senator-tom-coburn-60-minutes/

Christmas Cantata performed at Community UCC on December 21, 2014. This was the 3rd performance of this cantata in the past 15 years, and the performance was to honor the many years that Pastor Steve Halsted has spent living in the southwest. This video may also be found in the "Music" section of the CUCC Archive.

We are fortunate to be welcoming these clergy to preach and lead worship during January and early February. January 4 - The Reverend Jim Luck (David Sigmon's former pastor from Greensboro) January 11 - Mark Zainedden January 18 - our own Joy Alford (newly returned from Cuba!) January 25 - Joy Alford February 1 - The Reverend Sheila Barrick The Rev. Peg Nowling Williams will begin her interim pastorate on February 2.

Annual reports from all ministries and committees should be submitted electronically to the church office and to the moderator (Lavon Page) by January 5. You may send the reports as email attachments to office.cucc@gmail.com or Lavon. For reference purposes, you can find copies of last year's reports at the church website .

We are continuing continue with Francis Fukuyama's book  Political Order and Political Delay . We hope to get up to about p164 of 548 pages. We would love to have you join the discussion. We are currently on corruption trust, patronage, reform, clientelism in western countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. - submitted by Ed Klemmer, December 20, 2014

Stop by and see the new additions to the Art Wall by Franciso Joseph. Francisco Joseph and his family (his wife and three children) recently moved to Raleigh from Savannah, Georgia. Originally from the island of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean, Joseph has lived in the US for 30 years.   In that time, he has worked a variety of jobs, mostly in the hospitality industry for hotels, cruise lines and restaurants and has also run his own company specializing in home repair and odd jobs. Joseph started painting when he was 47. He has no formal training but felt a calling to start painting.  He has explored a variety of subject matter and medias, such as painting on recycled windows, which requires painting in reverse. Joseph feels called to make people happy through his work, which is expressed in the vibrant colors and subject matter.  Joseph is currently considering creating a  book for children. Joseph is a full time artist and this is the primary means of supporting h...

Gift for Pastor Steve New Member this Sunday! Christmas Cantata by CUCC Choir - December 21 Caroling at Morningside Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, December 24 A Request from Vandy Bradow   Christmas Fund  No Forum this Sunday Youth Christmas Party – White Elephant Party Earth Sabbath - Winter Solstice Celebration at Peacefalls, Saturday, December 20 Monday Lunch Group Tai Chi  “Jobs for Life” Volunteer Opportunities Menu of Compassionate Gifts Epiphany Sunday/Babies We Love – January 11, 2015 Loaves and Fishes Chili Sale CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting – Monday, February 2, 2015, 6:00pm Church Office Closed – December 24, 25, 26 Annual Reports Gift for Pastor Steve The Deacons will be presenting Steve a gift from the congregation honoring his service to CUCC and to help him remember us as he begins his next journey. We know this is a time of year when this request competes with many requests to open your hearts and checkbook, but please consider a donation for S...

Church Council has scheduled the January congregational meeting to be held on January 25. This meeting is required by the CUCC bylaws. Primary actions at the meeting will include election of officers and committee and ministry members for 2015, passage of a church budget for 2015, and distribution of ministry and committee reports describing activities in 2014. [All reports should be sent to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com) and the moderator (lavonpage@gmail.com) by January 5.] You can find copies of last year's reports at the church website.] The January meeting is one of the three required congregational meetings which are "unrestricted" in terms of topics that might be considered. In the words of our church bylaws, "Other business consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws may be transacted". If you have items that you intend to bring up at the congregational meeting, it would be helpful if you would let the moderator (Lavon Page) know in advance s...

Forum will kick off the new year on Sunday, January 4th at 9:15AM in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall for a month-long series on homelessness and affordable housing. We'll begin looking at the issue statewide with our guest speaker Terry Allebaugh of the N.C. Coalition to End Homelessness who will give us an overview of their statewide initiative.  Come expand your knowledge base on the topic! Mr. Allebaugh is also a member of our sister church Pilgrim United UCC in Durham, N.C. and husband of the interim pastor at West Raleigh Presbyterian, Lori Pistor. On later Sundays in the month we'll be learning from other guests about local efforts to increase affordable housing in our area, with Frank Gailor leading a discussion about our own new rental units on the last Sunday of the month (January 25). Join us for all these opportunities to learn and grow! - submitted by Marty Lamb

Please join us Saturday December 20th, 4PM, for a celebration of the sacred darkness and the return of the light:  a time for closure and new beginnings.  The Winter Solstice marks a full turning of the wheel of the year and offers a perfect opportunity for releasing the past and setting intentions for our journeys ahead.  In preparation, whether you are joining us or not, consider what thoughts, habits, or patterns you are ready to release and what dreams and visions you would like to bring into the light. 11320 Peed Dead End Road, Raleigh 27614.  Directions to Peacefalls are listed below. RSVP to Karen Bearden What to bring with you: • a reading, poem, song to share that connects you with the solstice • an open heart, ready to release the old and embrace the new • a drum, if you have one • an appetizer or dessert • plate and utensils for your meal • warm layers and dancing-around-in-the-dark shoes • flashlight Directions to Peacefalls: 11320 Peed Dead End Road, Ral...

Church office The church office is closed Jan. 1 and 2. Groups Monday Lunch Group will meet Dec. 29 for their farewell party with Steve Halsted. No tai chi December 31.