CUCC Weekly eNews

CUCC has been invited to join the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh in sponsoring their ANNUAL BOOK SALE on Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3.  Please bring books that you would like to donate and drop them in the boxes in the hallway by the coat racks.  CUCC will receive the proceeds from any books we sell. Plan to come to the sale which begins Friday morning, May 1st. On Sunday, May 3, all remaining books will be half price. If you would like to help with the book sale or would like more information, contact Peg Hulslander.

The Social Justice Ministry will provide the worship service next Sunday, April 12, for the Cy and Carolyn King Peace and Justice Award .  Join us as we are reminded how our spiritual focus and our social justice actions go hand in hand.  The recipients of the awards this year are Collins Kilburn and Leo and Judy Occhetti-Klohr. The King Award is named after Cy and Carolyn King who were long time members of the church and avid social activists.  Please plan to join us for this special service.

CUCC Youth can help you! Youth are providing childcare for CUCC CHILDREN AGES 3 and up on Friday, April 10: 6-9 PM! YOUR KIDS WILL BE FED AND CARED FOR WELL, while you go out for a nice quiet evening! This is a fundraiser for summer youth church camp. We are hoping that every youth who wants to go to camp will be able to. Suggested donation is $20 per family. Please email   Śānti   ASAP at forsanti@aol.com to register. Youth will then stay beyond 9:00 for a LOCK-IN with games, a movie, and an overnight lock-in. - Submitted by   Śānti Matthews and the youth

From the Interim Pastor Holy Week Events Children’s Church School this Easter Sunday Tuesday Evening Taizé Service – April 7th Parents’ Night Out (Childcare for CUCC Children) and Lock-In For Youth – April 10th April 12 Worship Service – Cy & Carolyn King Award Presentation Church-Wide Outdoor Event & Camping: April 25-26! “Let Your Life Speak” Series Life & Faith in Downtown Raleigh Sisters in Spirit (SIS) – Thursday, April 16, 6:00pm Save the date!  Solar Celebration at Anderson Point Park - April 19 A De-cluttering Opportunity – Book Sale May 1 - 3 CUCC Family Fun Auction Party – April 18 From the Interim Pastor             This evening we will celebrate Maundy Thursday at St. Paul’s and our sanctuary will be open on Friday from 12:00pm – 3:00pm for reflection.           Then on Sunday we will gather together to celebrate Easter, the resurrection of Jesus.           If this email was comi...

After a one-week delay because of ice storms during the first week of Lent, the Lenten movie series ran from February 27 through March 27. The attendance was remarkable. 15 people turned out on Feb. 27 when the parking lot was again covered in ice. 25 turned out for "The Retrieval", a movie that was brand new to CUCC. 21 attended the showing of "The Other Son" on March 13. 19 attended "As it is in Heaven" which was shown opposite Duke playing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 20. 20 came out for the finale "Of Gods and Men" which was in head-to-head competition with NCSU playing in the Sweet 16 on March 27. So let it be said that neither ice storms nor local teams playing in the NCAA tournament prevented a total attendance of exactly 100 at the Lenten film series this year. The purpose of this post, however, is to share the news that the participants in the film series expressed their appreciation via a generous response to Gera...

From the Interim Pastor Congratulations! Sunday Morning Bible Study:  Experiencing the stories Lenten Forum Series – Living the Questions Friday Evening Film Series Maundy Thursday Worship – April 2 Church Work Day – Saturday, March 28 Save the Date! Bread for the World is coming to Raleigh March 28 Healing Service, Monday, March 30, 12:45pm – Sanctuary Parents’ Night Out (Childcare for CUCC Children) and Lock-In For Youth – April 10th “Let Your Life Speak” Series Save the date!  Solar Celebration at Anderson Point Park - April 19 CUCC Family Fun Auction Party – April 18 From the Interim Pasto r March 26, 2015           If you lived in Indiana today, you would be reading about the 25th anniversary of a high school basketball game where over 41,000 people came to watch a senior in high school play.  His name is Damon Bailey and he and his school from Bedford were in Indianapolis to play in Indiana’s state championship*.  I was one of those fan...

What is One Great Hour of Sharing? OGHS is a Christian offering to empower, provide water, supply food, and give relief from disasters. The UCC in partnership with eight other denominations have been collecting this offering for almost seven decades.  Together, they raise about $12 million each year. How are the offerings used? The UCC responds to development, disaster, and refugee needs in 138 countries, and provides disaster relief and immigration assistance in the United States. More than 60% of the UCC's offering targets international development initiatives, including annual support for missionaries. Currently there are 7 OGHS supported missionaries and 2 Global Mission Interns working in disaster relief, health care, education, and agricultural development. The offering funds disaster preparedness and response, and disaster related volunteer initiatives in the U.S. as well. Nearly one-third of the UCC's offering is shared through Church World Service to support refugee, ...

From the intentional interim pastor March 26, 2015             If you lived in Indiana today, you would be reading about the 25 th anniversary of a high school basketball game where over 41,000 people came to watch a senior in high school play.  His name is Damon Bailey and he and his school from Bedford were in Indianapolis to play in Indiana’s state championship*.  I was one of those fans.             We Hoosiers came to hear about Damon when he was in the 8 th grade and Indiana University coach Bobby Knight started talking about him.  In 1990 Damon joined the IU basketball team as a freshman and we loved him even more.  That was a fun four years.             In 1994 the NBA draft was in Indianapolis and I was there when Damon was drafted in the 44 th round by the Indiana Pacers.  The place went...

April 25-26: SATURDAY/SUNDAY CHURCH-WIDE OUTDOOR EVENT AND CAMPING! Join in the fun! Our only agenda this year is to share good food, sing lots of campfire songs, take a beautiful nature walk, and simply rest and relax together! We will again be at Camp Lapihio at Umstead Park April 25 at 3:00PM to April 26 at noon! Arrive Saturday afternoon for a hike or some singing and games, or evening for dinner and a camp fire with more songs, and stay the night if you like cabin camping. We'll also have Sunday breakfast and morning prayers, and you can still make it to church for worship if you'd like! If you are coming for the evening only, please bring:  a side dish to share with dinner  a camp chair (optional)  a copy of Rise Up Singing (if you have one)   If you are spending the night, please bring:  a side dish to share with dinner  a camp chair (optional)  socks & comfortable shoes for walking/playing  clothes in layers (it may get cool at night)...

April 10: YOUTH LOCK/IN and PARENTS NIGHT OUT FOR CUCC CHILDREN! (Youth will provide childcare for CUCC Children ages 3-10 from 6-9 PM and then CUCC Youth will continue with games, a movie, and an overnight lock-in.)

This morning Sam and Joanna led the Lenten Meditation walk at Schenck Forest. -- Photos by Jo Perry

From the Interim Pastor New Office Hours and Phone Number Semi-guided Walking Meditation – A Lenten Event Sunday Morning Bible Study:  Experiencing the stories Lenten Forum Series – Living the Questions Friday Evening Film Series Maundy Thursday Worship – April 2 Church Work Day – Saturday, March 28 Save the Date! Bread for the World is coming to Raleigh March 28 Healing Service, Monday, March 30, 12:45pm – Sanctuary Fun-raiser for New Stove CUCC Family Fun Auction Party – April 18 From the Interim Pastor I’m sure you have had songs playing over and over in your head.  You can’t get rid of it; it just stays until it goes away on its own.  The term is “worming.”  You hear a song and it “worms” its way into your head, and like a tape recorder it just keeps playing whether you want it to or not.                   A few days the song “Seasons of Love” wormed its way into my head.  The difference here is that I don’t remem...

From the interim pastor March 20, 2015             I’m sure you have had songs playing over and over in your head.  You can’t get rid of it; it just stays until it goes away on its own.  The term is “worming.”  You hear a song and it “worms” its way into your head, and like a tape recorder it just keeps playing whether you want it to or not.             A few days the song “Seasons of Love” wormed its way into my head.  The difference here is that I don’t remember the last time I heard the song.  Since then I have listened to it numerous times.  It is captivating and compelling for me.             “Seasons of Love” comes from the musical “Rent.”  Rent   is a   rock musical   with music and lyrics by   Jonathan Larson [1]   loosely based on   Giacomo Puccini 's ...

9 AM March 21 (THIS saturday) at the Schenck Forest Description: This will be a semi-guided walking mediation, and involve 1.5 miles of moderate hiking.  Those that prefer less walking will have the option to join the group for the first and last 1/4 mile of the walk and sit in the covered picnic area in between. Directions: From the NC Museum of Art take Reedy Creek Rd Northwest for exactly 1 mile (.3 miles past Edward Mill Rd.) and take a left on an unmarked dirt road.  Drive 100 yards and park on the right side of the road.  We will meet at the gate on the right. Facilities are rustic.  Bring water and comfortable clothes.  There is a port-a-potty near the picnic area but no running water. Submitted by Sam and Joanna Woodrum who will lead the walk

Sunset from the Kepler's lake house (auctioned:  day at the lake) The CUCC Family Fun Auction Party is coming up on Saturday, April 18, and we need you to help make it a success! The auction is an annual fundraiser for CUCC.  Would you consider donating an item to the auction?  Examples of past auction items include: Garden plants Weekends at the beach, lake or mountains  Hand-made pottery, quilts, jewelry and original artwork A morning of bird-watching & lunch                        Therapeutic massage Day trips to fun destinations.  A geology field trip or a hike at a state park Pet-sitting, Babysitting, Yard work, Handyman, and Computer services Brunches, lunches, dinners Delicious homemade cakes, pies, jams, etc. Stone Mountain Auctioned:  camping trip with Mike and Skip Please contribute your time, talents or treasure to this wonderful annual event.  To make a pledge, call the office ...