CUCC Weekly eNews

March 1 – "A Clear and Independent Voice for People with Disabilities", Vicki Barrett Smith, Executive Director, Disability Rights NC March 8 – "The Court's Response: A look at how the Wake County court system is impacted by growth, the economy and crime and how it will respond", Lorrin Freeman, Wake County Clerk of Superior Court March 15 - "Walter Rauschenbusch and the Relevance of his Social Gospel Theology", Dr. Janet Nelson, Head of Dept. of Religion and Philosophy, Meredith College March 22 – The Healing Place, Suzanne Hayes, Past Chair, Board of Directors March 29 - to be announced

A Lenten Activities web page is now available on the Resources page of the Community UCC website.

"North Carolina's Public Schools" Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson NC State Superintendent of Public Instruction This Sunday, North Carolina's elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. June St. Clair Atkinson, will speak on the state of public education in North Carolina. Recently the position of State Superintendent has been in the news after Gov. Perdue's efforts to change the K-12 education governance structure by appointing Bill Harrison to be the "education CEO." Discussion continues, both in the public and in the legislature, about where the lines of authority should be and whether the position of Superintendent should be appointed rather than elected or even abolished. Dr. Atkinson will likely address this issue as well . Come and share in the discussion. We will begin promptly at 9:15 am so please arrive on time.

(a poem by Kerry Little, Joan's daughter-in-law) I am at the water’s edge contemplating, grieving and being..... Come with me. I envision Joan paddling with ease. Her kindness has carried us across the water. Her strength is solid and grounded as the strong oak on the shore. Her faith is deep and pure. She is calm and peaceful as the lake on a perfect summer day. She is everywhere. Her love is vast, colorful and alive. Brilliant, Majestic, Reliable as the setting sun. I breathe into it and let the beauty envelope me. My heart fills, My eyes tear For she is always with me, next to me, within me. As the setting sun disappears into the dusk I hold my breath wanting this image to last... forever. Then I remember the sun will rise and set tomorrow as I inhale deeply. Kerry Little February 2009

A memorial service for Joan Little will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Community UCC at 3:00 PM, Sunday, February 22. Since a mass was held last week at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh, the ceremonial portion of the upcoming memorial service will be brief. The primary focus will be group time to remember Joan via a video that celebrates our time together with her and the legacy she leaves behind.

" AnimalKind : A Paradigm Shift to End Pet Overpopulation" Joan Williams Ott, Co-Founder and President Beth Livingstone, Executive Director Nearly 20,000 sheltered animals die as victims of pet overpopulation every year in our area. There will never be enough homes for them all. Joan and Beth from AnimalKind , a non-profit based in Raleigh and serving the Triangle area, will introduce to us the paradigm shift that has successfully ended pet overpopulation in seven states. Come and hear how the Triangle-area can be next!

Visitation will be Monday everning 7-9 p.m. at the Renaissance Funeral Home at 7615 Six Forks Rd. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday at 11:00 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 2718 Overbrook Dr. followed by a reception at Community United Church of Christ. After the funeral mass, cremation will take place in Durham and on Wednesday there will be a 2:00 service at the Our Lady of Lourdes columbarium.