CUCC Weekly eNews

The foreign film series restarts on Sept. 23 with the acclaimed 2010 French film "Of Gods and Men." Many regular attendees for the movie series are active in Monday Lunch Group, so I generally consult with Monday Lunch Group when scheduling a film. This film receives rave reviews from those in Monday Lunch Group who have seen it. As usual, the film will begin at 7:30 in the Fellowship Hall, and refreshments will be available during the movie. Feel free to bring a friend, and please arrive on time so that the feature (just over 2 hours) can begin promptly at 7:30. This will allow us to have a little discussion afterwards and to be out by 10 PM. Following is the description of this film found at Netflix ... Awarded Grand Prix honors at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, this compelling historical drama relates the ordeal of seven French Trappist monks in the mountains of Algeria who are taken captive by Islamic fundamentalists. Before the monks' abduction, they have ample reaso...

Our Appalachia Service Project team invites you to join us as we support our teammate, Mark Taranto, who is performing in this Cary Players production .  We'll meet at the Cary Arts Center at 7:15 to distribute the tickets; you can pay Jane then. If you'd like Jane Smith to order your tickets (and possibly get the group discount rate of $15), email or call her BEFORE SEP. 10.   I need to know how many tickets you need from each category:  adults ($18), seniors - 55+ ($16), or student ($16), (price if we can't get the group rate).  By ordering a ticket you are committing to paying for it whether or not you can attend. This is a family friendly play. Here's the description from the Cary Players. "Be a part of history when Cary Players produces the very first musical to hit the stage of the brand new Cary Arts Center in downtown Cary! This 399-seat state-of-the-art theatre will quickly become Cary's hottest cultural gathering place, and you can be there at our fir...

The fall church school season began with a splash last Sunday at the annual pool party (thanks, Burkhardt family).  Here is what is in store for the fall: On Welcoming Sunday, September 11, all ages at CUCC worship together, beginning in the sanctuary, but moving quickly outside to worship through games, service, music, creativity, 9/11 reflections, and an NC foods potluck.  From "Miss Anne Bailey" (children):  "This fall we will study Moses in depth. I am very excited about this study for both of our classes. In September we will also tally our offering collected for the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION and select our next charity." The children will continue to harvest the "Plant a Row for the Hungry" (over 200 pounds harvested so far).  Parents, find your pre-K and first graders in the Children's Library and your second through fifth graders in the long classroom next to the kitchen. From Santi (youth): " Church School (Christian Education classes for 6t...

The Forum resumes Sundays at 9:15-10:15 in the Vaughan fellowship hall beginning the week AFTER Labor Day weekend . This Fall, the Forum will focus on a series of topics for multiple weeks; the first three topics address the use of social media, the school system, and environmental sustainability. Each topic is coordinated by a different Ministry. September 11 – “Sharing the CUCC Message" Have you noticed? Print media is being used less and less by both young and old. Telephone calls? Almost a thing of the past. Email? Not as effective as it used to be. Given the move to electronic communications such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, YouTube and others, how can CUCC effectively spread our message and be relevant to our congregation and the wider Raleigh community? Join us at Forum to hear the ups, down, ins and outs of communicating electronically. What works best? How much time does it take? How can I learn to become tech savvy and use these electronic tools? September 18 ...

Thanks to Joan for forwarding to me a link to an upcoming movie, " Trans ."  It looks to be a powerful documentary which provides additional information about life for many trans people. Joan's link is to a Facebook page, but since not all of you are on Facebook, you might want to look at the trailer from the web site of the documentary company .  Just type Trans into the search box on the site.  The documentary is listed as Trans (formerly Finding New Hope)

A service of worship celebrating the gifts of our life here in North Carolina.  After starting in the sanctuary for the invocation and a 9/11 remembrance, we'll continue worship outside in NC fashion. Games:  horseshoes, basketball, puzzles, checkers, & more Service:  packing the hygiene bag items we've been collecting for Church World Service Creativity:  making prayer sticks Music:  music by John R, by Marty & Jane, and more + a playlist of NC music Food:  NC foods potluck Remembering:  9/11 remembrance board Exercise:  pick up soccer game after worship concludes with the potluck Bring a friend! Bring a dish which includes a local ingredient.

Come for an hour or all morning this Saturday, August 27, to get CUCC ready for Welcoming Sunday.  Come prepared for window washing, cobweb cleaning, fellowship and a nice sense of accomplishment.  Bring gloves, rags and cleaning supplies.

Noon, Sept. 18 Fellowship Hall Wield a marker and scissors for justice as we make signs to carry in the NC Gay Pride Parade. Artistic skills not required! Young artists welcome with a parent. A Gathering of Friends event 

 The 27th Annual NC Gay Pride Festival is on Saturday, September 24, on the East Campus of Duke University. Our church will have an official supportive presence there by having an information table and marchers in the Pride Parade. Your involvement and support are needed. We need people to staff the table and to answer questions; people to walk in the parade, carrying signs and the CUCC banner; and people who will express our church’s warm welcome to potential visitors. Please sign up with contact information! Sign up sheets are in the hallway on the Open and Affirming bulletin board as well as on the Gathering of Friends bulletin board in the Vaughan Fellowship hall. We will be in touch regarding carpooling and directions.

Women of CUCC, you are invited to the annual Sisters in Spirit (SIS) beach retreat Friday, October 7th - Sunday the 9th.  We gather at the Lamb's Topsail Island home for a weekend of friendship, fun, and spiritual growth.  This year's theme is "There's a Spirit Coming Down...."  Please contact Marty Lamb ASAP if you plan on attending and/or for more information. Marty says, "'May we choreograph the rhythms and rituals of our lives to ensure greater structure, stability and contentment."

Sunday, August 28, 4:30 - 7:30 pm Lake Park Swim Club 6333 Lakeland Drive, Raleigh The event is open to all ages...so come one, come all.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, and vegetarian options will be provided. We just ask that you folks bring a side or dessert to share.  Swimming is optional...fun and fellowship are mandatory. RSVP to Heather Burkhardt

An Appalachia Service Project friend of mine, Mike Harris, is part of the leadership team for the new Anglican 4th Day and he has extended an invitation to any CUCCer who'd like to participate in a Cursillo-like weekend.  Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 7:00pm at Camp Agape in  Fuquay-Varina. Anglican 4th Day is the new expression of a movement which uses the retreat/ongoing group model of Cursillo.   [You might have heard of Tres Dias, Walk to Emmaus, and Sunrise - similar experiences - or of the folk song or bumper sticker, Des Colores, a Cursillo standby.]  Most Cursillo-type groups are denominationally based, but the Anglicans have chosen to be ecumenical.  I have never been on Cursillo, but several friends of mine from Grace Lutheran were deeply enriched by their participation in the weekend and the follow-up groups of fellowship, support, and action called Ultreya.  The weekend is " an experience of...

Jesus said, "You are my friends."  Not disciples or acquaintances or committee members.  Friends. Friends take care of each other, laugh until they cry together, trust each other enough to disagree, bring out the best in each other.  When you find yourself following God into difficult places- maybe singing in jail (Paul & Silas) - you need your friend at your side.  When you feel called to do the impossible - perhaps open the church to the rejected (Peter to the Council in Jerusalem) - you need to know and trust those to whom you bring the scary new idea. For the church to be the church, we grow into friends. This fall make a new CUCC friend. Watch for a wide array of opportunities to get to know one another: some new, some ongoing. Movie night, potlucks, trip to a play, Wednesday morning prayer, book discussion, pool party, hiking & more. Sign up on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall so the host knows you a...

Sign up on the Gathering of Friends bulletin board in the fellowship hall (Jane's house holds 15) Discussion evening:  Aug. 24, Wed., 6:00pm, Smith's home Eat before you come or bring a brown-bag supper. "I was intrigued when I heard an NPR recommendation for summer reading. Emily sounds like a character worth knowing, somone who is living her life fully, but figuring out how to negotiate changes which come with age. Since some of us are interested in talking about our own aging or our aging parents, I thought others might enjoy the novel, too.  I hope the early start time will allow us to finish so folks don't have to drive home in the dark.  Do feel free to bring your supper; I'll be eating mine, too!"  - Jane Smith This A Gathering of Friends event was sparked by conversation at the June congregational meeting.  Many of us love reading books and talking about them.  Others of us are noticing that we are entering the "older generation" or have par...

Start your day with a time of prayer and friendship. Using the liturgy for the day from the newly-published Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals , we'll pray and read the scrptures of the day, then share a cup of coffee or tea and catch up on our week. 45 minutes max, then you are off to work! 6 Wednesdays, 7-7:45am, Bradow Room Sept. 14, 21, 28, Oct. 5, 12, 19 A Gathering of Friends event 

"What can I eat to keep myself healthy if I am pre-diabetic?"  Our own Diana Koenning will be on hand to answer your questions at this first Healthy Eating Potluck.  Diana is a dietician with WakeMed (MPH, RD, LDN).  [The theme was suggested by someone at the June congregational meeting.] Bring a low-carb, low-refined sugar dish and the recipe. Saturday, August 20 Gather at 4:30pm to set up tables & chairs Fellowship Hall People of all ages are welcome; no childcare will be provided. Friends are welcome Potluck series This is the first in a series of themed potlucks that we'll be having this fall, responding to a request at the June congregational meeting that we have more opportunities to get to know each other as we enjoy good food.   The potlucks will be hosted by everyone who shows up.  Together we'll set up & clean up.  And each time we'll pick a theme and set a date for the next potluck.  So bring your ideas, too.  Will our next...