CUCC Weekly eNews

Today's N&O had several articles of interest related to this Sunday's forum topic, city and county budget challenges: funding art in Raleigh's budget a possible SE Raleigh community center shrinking United Way funds

Feb. 1 "Budget challenges for cities and counties", Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown and Raleigh City Councilor Thomas Crowder Feb. 8 - "Animal rescue and animal rights reform", Joan Williams Ott, Founder and President, and Beth Livingstone, Executive Director, AnimalKind Feb. 15 – “Building a State of Equality”, Ian Palmquist, Executive Director, EqualityNC Feb. 22 – "NC's Public Schools", Dr. June Atkinson, NC Superintendent of Public Instruction The Forum meets in Vaughan Fellowship Hall at Community UCC which is located at 814 Dixie Trail, Raleigh (corner of Wade Avenue and Dixie Trail). All are encouraged to attend and participate in the discussions.

Cy King sent a link to an HBO website which featured a video of the inaugural concert last week. It turns out that HBO kept the video available for only one week, so it's no longer available via HBO (who had purchased the TV rights to the concert). However, here's a short clip from YouTube which illustrates what it was like to be in the audience for the concert. (Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen are singing.)

(posted at request of Vandy Bradow ) The rally, titled “Women Empowered,” will be held Saturday, February 21, in Durham at Mt. Calvary UCC, 1715 Athens Drive. Register by mail (Betty Griffin 1319 Cherry Dr., Burlington 27215) or phone (336) 584-5637 by February 1. The $5 registration fee includes three morning sessions, lunch, and the afternoon celebratory worship service. The program is approximately 6 hours , beginning at 9:30. Carolyn King, Marge Eckels, and Vandy Bradow have attended a previous rally and enjoyed it. Information is on the bulletin board and also on CUCC’s website. All UCC women members and friends are invited.

Rep. Deborah Ross will preview the NC General Assembly session which convenes on January 28. The anticipated $2 billion+ budget shortfall will require the legislature to make difficult decisions about cuts and possible tax increases.

This message from NC Policy Watch: The 2009 Legislative session is about to convene. A state budget will be developed and many important fiscal and policy issues will be debated. If you’re looking for the inside scoop on what to expect, be sure to attend a special “Crucial Conversation” luncheon sponsored by NC Policy Watch– Click here to register for this event “The 2009 Legislative Session: Prospects for the Progressive Agenda” Featuring: House Speaker Joe Hackney and other special guests. When: Tuesday, January 27 Check-in registration: 11:30 am Discussion: 12 noon-1:30pm Where: Marbles Kids Museum (formerly Exploris) is downtown Raleigh at the corner of Hargett and Blount Streets Cost: $10 (includes box lunch) (Preregistration by Jan 25th required to guarantee lunch)

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day , this Sunday's Forum features a viewing of President-elect Barack Obama's Speech on Race , followed by a "Conversation on Race". Let's continue our conversations on how race has affected and continues to influence our personal lives and public policies.

According to the N&O, "Nine major challenges confront Perdue" , including campaign finance reform. Come to Forum tomorrow, January 11, and hear Damon Circosta from NC Center for Voter Education discuss Public Financing of Elections and Election Reform .

Graphic images depicting the rush to get coltan in eastern Congo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txi4WCyOA8Y

The Forum Committee is pleased to announce the Forum schedule for January, 2009: Jan. 4 - Film: A View from the Underside: The Legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Jan. 11 - Public Financing of Elections and Election Reform (Damon Circosta, Policy Director, NC Center for Voter Education ) Jan. 18 - "Conversation on Race": Viewing and Discussing President-elect Barack Obama’s Philadelphia Speech on Race. (Celebrating the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday) Jan. 25 - Major Issues before the NC General Assembly 2009 session, convening on Jan. 28 (Rep. Deborah Ross, D-38) We hope you will come and join in the discussions. If you need more information, please contact Cynthia Ball at 919.387.9479 or cball@ballmediation.com.

You may be interested in participating: SAT 1/10. 8a - 12noon. Wake County "Yes We CANS!" Food Drive, part of President-Elect Obama's National Service Day. Home of Vickie Takei,2508 Dahlgreen Rd., Raleigh Several counties in NC are organizing an after-holiday food drive in the spirit of Martin Luther King. President-Elect Obama has declared January 19th "National Service Day" and has challenged our communities to host a 'service event' prior to Jan. 20th. We are participating in the "YES WE CANS!!" food drive for the NC Food bank. This event will have several phases....we will meet on Saturday, January 10th to create and distribute our grocery bags to specific neighborhoods. We will hang the bags on door knobs w/information on what is needed and when we will collect, which will be on Saturday, January 17th. Help is needed either SAT. Or, if you want to organize a food drive at your office, school, church, etc., please contact Vickie for more

As we approach our memorial service for Mary Pickering, I have found in my video archives from last spring a clipping that is so poignant that I want to share it. Not only is it a haunting reminder of the beauty of Mary's voice, the fact that she died in a tragic automobile accident 8 months after this was filmed (during worship on March 9, 2008) makes the song especially meaningful to all of us as we look to that "gathering at the river". Shall We Gather at the River - Mary Pickering, March 9, 2008

Some new photo galleries submitted by various folks ... Christmas Pageant (Dec. 14) Decorating the Sanctuary and Narthex