CUCC Weekly eNews

CUCC's Council is leading the way in exploring ways for us to continue to meet for worship, Lenten practices, and friendship.  In the coming days you will hear about live streaming, Zoom fellowship gatherings, and a variety of formats for meeting for mission and study.  If you have friends in the community who are feeling isolated or whose congregations are not able to "go virtual," please invite them to join you at these events. If you would like to participate but all of this "virtual" stuff is new to you, contact the church office and we will connect you with someone who can walk you through it by phone.  office.cucc@gmail.com If you have experience using virtual gathering tools, why not offer to mentor-by-phone someone who is new to the technology?  Contact Jane Smith to offer to help.  We promise not to swamp you with work!  smithjeg@mindspring.com Meanwhile, keep an eye on CUCC's online calendar .  As "virtual" gathering opportunities a...

Dear friends, We have been carefully tracking the news of the coronavirus (COVID-19). As you know, the news about COVID-19 intensifies and changes by the day. At this time, organization after organization—including churches, institutions of higher learning, professional sports, and entire towns have cancelled in-person events and meetings. After serious consideration, the Council has concluded that it is necessary to cancel all in-person events, including worship, at the church. The church building will be closed to all groups beginning Saturday, March 14th at 5:00 p.m. through March 31st. On March 31st, we will reassess the situation. The physical office will also be closed, but we will be responding to messages, emails and otherwise doing the business of the church virtually. So, please make sure to contact us by email (office.cucc@gmail.com) or by phone (919-809-8850) if you have any questions or concerns, and to let us know how we can help you. Our deacons will also be in tou...

Saturday, April 4, 1-4PM* Vaughan Fellowship Hall RSVP by March 21 to attend or request childcare. Adults and youth from CUCC and the community are invited. By describing how our personality adapts and responds to both stressful and supportive situations, the Enneagram shows opportunities for personal and spiritual development and provides a foundation for compassion for self and others.  Our workshop will be led by Holly Burgin, LCSW. This Strengthening Our Core spiritual practice is being provided by CUCC's Religious Education Ministry. *On March 31 the CUCC Council will evaluate whether to resume in-person events.

Forest Bathing Spiritual Walk Saturday, March 28, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve,  2616 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary (meet in the area behind the nature center building). Friends are welcome. Register by March 20: education.cucc@gmail.com, including your email and phone numbers so we can contact you if there is a weather cancellation. Experience shinrin-yoku, or "forest bathing," as it is known in Japan - the practice of intentionally and mindfully spending time in the forest, using all our senses to experience nature up close. It creates a bridge between us and the natural world. Numerous scientific studies show that forest bathing significantly reduces stress and improves cardiovascular and metabolic health, among other health benefits. Most importantly, it gives us a profound sense of the beauty and mystery of the universe. Mary Pat Peters, CUCC friend and Spiritual Landscape Designer, will guide us. Bathrooms  are nearby. Contact Śānti at 919-961-8814 o...

Joe Retzer, our food bag deliverer, received this update from Urban Ministries today.  The take home message:  make an online donation instead of bringing a food bag on April 5. From Urban Ministries: Food drives will be suspended until further notice to limit person to person contact. In lieu of food donations or drives, you can make a monetary donation to offset the cost of our food purchases from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. While we are the county’s largest client-choice pantry, we have made the decision to have our shoppers remain in the cars for the time being. Boxes will be packed and handed to them, with dietary concerns taken into consideration.

Adrienne Little shares these two opportunities being advertised by Congregations for Social Justice.  We can be the church wherever we are. 1 - Take the Wake Bus Rapid Transit: Southern Corridor Survey! from Het Patel, Senior Transit Planner, City of Raleigh Department of Transportation, <het.patel@raleighnc.gov> In January 2019, the planning phase of implementing BRT along the Southern Corridor began with a study to help select the preferred route. This work will build upon the Southern Gateway Corridor Study completed in 2017 and the Wake Transit Plan Major Investment Study completed in 2018. The Wake BRT: Southern Corridor will connect downtown Raleigh with the North South Station and Purser Drive in Garner. We would like your feedback and thoughts! Please take the short survey for Wake BRT: Southern Corridor. The survey will be open until March 20, 2020. For more information about the project, visit the Bus Rapid Transit page ! Questions? Contact Het Patel, Seni...

Now's the time to get creative thinking about what you'd like to donate to the CUCC Annual Auction (May 16). What will you donate? Donation form here   Submit one form for each item you are donating. How might you turn something you enjoy doing into an event or experience you can share with others at CUCC?  Do you cook?  Do you have an interesting hobby?  Like to play games?  Can you babysit or petsit? Or, is there something you enjoy making that you would enjoy donating?  Do you have plants that need thinning?  A special cookie recipe?  All have been popular items in the past.  Here is last year's catalog to get your creative juices flowing. We need donations submitted by May 10 (earlier if possible). Mark your calendars for CUCC's Annual Church Auction. Saturday, May 16 6:30-9:30PM Join Sam Woodrum for another rockin' show. Childcare provided. This is a terrific way to celebrate Spring, have a great time, come away with w...

Welcome!  The people of CUCC invite you to participate in our life together. CUCC Calendar of Events       See details in each event March 4, 2020 edition Messages Look for next week's eNews on the weekend New hearing assistive devices Online conversations Sermon+ question for "Absolute Dependence" Upcoming events at CUCC Movie Night March 6 Schedule your time to donate blood at CUCC March 7 Register for Better Angels workshop by March 8 St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday Night Supper   RSVP by March 10 Healing Conversations:  Life Transitions RSVP by March 11 St. Patrick's Day church-wide supper   March 17 Save the date for the 8th Annual Church-Wide Outdoor Event and Camp-out Save the date  CUCC Better than Average Auction May 16 Spiritual Practices for Strengthening Our Core Celebrating with each other Photos and stories from CUCCCC2020 confirmation retreat A CUCC group recommends these community events Spread the word...

The deadline for submitting articles remains Tuesday morning at 9AM, but the emailed version of the eNews won't go out until the weekend. Thanks for your patience with travel schedules. - Jane Smith, Communications Committee

Thanks to an accessibility grant from one of our members, CUCC has invested in hearing assistance devices. You can choose from three ways to amplify the worship service – a “neck loop” that works with the T-switch on a hearing aid, an earbud, and an over-the-ear device. To select from any of these options, please see the usher.

What do you want to think biblically about this week? You can listen to Pastor Tony's March 1 sermon here . Sermon+ is an occasional series in which our preachers pose a follow-up question to their sermon for your consideration.  You can join in community conversation via our Facebook page, Community United Church of Christ .  Or you can ponder on your own.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society Friday, March 6, 7PM Read more about the movie here Feel free to bring your dinner with you if you don't have time to eat at home. And bring snacks to share if you are so inclined. If you're bringing food or snacks you may wish to arrive a bit early to partake or to share your snacks. This is a touching film that will warm your heart. The date is 1946. The location is the island of Guernsey, the largest of the Channel Islands in the English Channel which separates England from France. Questions about the CUCC Movie Fellowship Group?  Contact Lavon Page lavonpage@gmail.com.

The Blood Connection  mobile donation van will be in the Dixie Trail parking lot of CUCC on Saturday, March 7, 1 to 5PM.  Read more about the blood donation process here. Schedule your time to donate Our Caring Committee offers this opportunity for anyone within the church or the community at large to consider the spiritual practice of potentially saving a life by giving blood. Anyone under 16 is not permitted to give blood, anyone 16 or 17 needs a parent present for consent. Please come hydrated and fed, and with your driver’s license. This is a Lent 2020: Strengthening Our Core service project.  If you have questions, contact Robert Parrish  RobertCParrish7@gmail.com.

Depolarizing Within Workshop Led by Better Angels facilitator Saturday, March 21 9-noon Vaughan Fellowship Hall Register to attend  by March 8. Childcare:  By request only; email Śānti Matthews by March 8 education.cucc@gmail.com The Depolarizing Within workshop will help you think differently about those on the other side, and give you skills to depolarize conversations. This Lent 2020:  Strengthening Our Core spiritual practice is presented by CUCC's Religious Education Ministry.

RSVP your preference for traditional corned beef and cabbage, or Irish Stew (vegan) to cuccfellowship@gmail.com. Join your church family as we honor St. Patrick and have some green-themed fun. March 17 6-7:30PM Vaughan Fellowship Hall All ages welcome. Youth will gather for festivities after eating their dinner with everyone else. This Lent 2020: Strengthening Our Core spiritual practice of fellowship event is sponsored by Welcoming and Fellowship Ministry.