CUCC Weekly eNews

Prayers for BYC Campers Food Bags Due this Sunday Taizé Worship Welcoming, Fellowship & Growth Meeting Hospitality for Moral Monday Keeping Homeless Families Together Great Flying Seeds!!! Gardening Therapy Art Wall Musical – Into the Woods, Jr. Food Donations for Moral Mondays Event Screening of Film – Citizen Koch Retreat, Contemplate, Share, Recreate Prayers for BYC Campers  As eleven of us prepare to leave for BYC (Baptist Youth Camp) today, (Alex Bowen, Michael Bowen, Leah Jensen, Erin Kiel, Jackson Kiel, Carson Roach-Howell, John Robertson, JaCarrie Spurlock, Teresa Worley, Paul Kiel, and Śānti Matthews), I am aware of how much we need and cherish your prayers, your thoughts, your support, and your care. It’s my hope that CUCC will pray for us as we travel and while we are gone. Please offer prayers in worship today and throughout the week as we leave for camp and as we spend time over the following six days learning, growing, and understanding each other and God more dee...

Dear friends, As eleven of us prepare to leave for BYC (Baptist Youth Camp) on Sunday, June 30, (Alex Bowen, Michael Bowen, Leah Jensen, Erin Kiel, Jackson Kiel, Carson Roach-Howell, John Robertson, JaCarrie Spurlock, Teresa Worley, Paul Kiel, and Santi Matthews), I am aware of how much we need and cherish your prayers, your thoughts, your support, and your care. It’s my hope that CUCC will pray for us as we travel and while we are gone. Please offer prayers in worship on Sunday, June 30, and throughout the week as we leave for camp and as we spend time over the following six days learning, and growing, and understanding each other, and God more deeply and truly. We will be focusing on Exile. We'll study the biblical meaning and history of Exile, but we'll also be exploring more personally, the spiritual effects of deep loss, the religious and social effects of crisis, and the beautiful consequences of hope and new beginnings.   ...

At yesterday's meeting we planned for today's (June 24th) rally (see post below) and confirmed we will meet next week (June 30) at 9:15am in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall.  If you have questions about Moral Mondays, or are interested in participating in the work at CUCC please come. Meanwhile, you can contact Jane Smith to have your name added to the emailed work of the ad hoc group which happens during the week. Gray Woodard has a small list of folks willing to provide hospitality to out-of-towners attending Moral Mondays or returning for court dates.  Joan McAllister will let the NAACP-NC know of our offer.  Call Gray to add your bedrooms to the list.  You are asked to provide a clean bed, and a warm shower to guests.  Gray will call to ask if your space is available for a specific date. Karen Vollrath announced today's rally logistics at worship yesterday. We had some internal discussion about how to work during the week.  Moral Mondays events ar...

What are the Moral Mondays?  Check out the inspiring videos at the NAACP of North Carolina web site.  The theme for today is "Labor, Women and Economic Justice." If you are considering using your constitutional rights to be present inside the legislative building (thereby risking arrest), you MUST attend the training at 3pm at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. The rally for everyone begins at 5pm on Halifax Mall.  A carpool will leave from the CUCC Dixie Trail parking lot at 4:30 sharp; look for Jane and Joan there.  If you don't plan to stay until the last bus leaves, Jane is happy to drive you back to your car earlier. Can't get to the rally by 5pm?  Arrive when you can.  The first bus to the detention center doesn't leave until about 6:45pm, so your presence is still needed throughout the evening. Questions?  Call Jane. - submitted for the ad hoc Moral Monday group

Our next Rituals & Resources for Teaching Faith at Home gathering will be Sunday, July 28, 4-6pm, at the Lake Johnson swimming pool.  Families with children 5th grade and younger are welcome.  Bring snacks & drinks for your own family.  Those families who still feel energetic at 6pm will head out for a pizza dinner, while the sleepy ones can head home. Directions Pool fees

In a "State of Things" broadcast on WUNC Radio this week, Frank Stasio reflected on the career of the late Gov. Jim Holshouser. A clip from a comment made by Gov. Holshouser in 2004, 40 years after his term as Governor of North Carolina, is worth remembering by all of us in this current age of political polarization ... Gov. Jim Holshouser speaking in 2004 (16 sec.)

Church Office closed Friday – Monday Rev. Margot Pickett to Preach this Sunday Property Ministry Meeting Youth Field Trip this Sunday Moral Mondays Fun at the Lion’s Park Playground & Cookout Items needed for PLM Families Together Living the Questions Discussion Series Church Office Closed Friday June 21 through Monday, June 24 The Church Office will be closed Friday, June 21, through Monday, June 24, as Cathy attends the wedding of her daughter.  If you need assistance, contact Bill Lamb (919-834-4280), Robert Parrish (919-616-1606), or Joy Alford (919-605-4336). Rev. Margot Pickett to Preach this Sunday, June 23 We welcome the Rev. Margot Trusty Pickett to the pulpit this Sunday at 10:30 worship.  Our pastor, Steve Halsted, is on sabbatical this summer. Rev. Margot Pickett Margot was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the youngest of three children. She did her undergraduate work at Duke University and received her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Sem...

Have a great photo of CUCC members at Moral Mondays?  Share them here or on our Facebook page.  Send a .jpg to Cathy in the office and she'll ask Josh to add it to a new Moral Mondays photo album on our web site.

Did you catch Cy King on WRAL's story on the June 17 Moral Monday? http://www.wral.com/moral-monday-protest-nets-84-arrests/12562450/ - submitted by Jane Smith for myself

The Life and Faith in Downtown Raleigh group will meet on our usual second Tuesday, July 9, at Tyler's Tap Room.  Come at 6:30 to order dinner or arrive at 7 if you just want a beverage.  Look for Sherrie King and the Life & Faith red comma at the round table on the far right of the restaurant. Those who attend choose the topic for the night, but I generally bring a fall-back question.  I propose the question from the Rev. Hollie Woodruff Duncan's sermon on Sunday, "When were you slapped in the face by grace?"  And, more to the point, is there something about that experience that you are still chewing over that you'd like to brainstorm with a group? You can read Rev. Hollie's sermon on her blog http://revhollie.blogspot.com/  . Here's the map for parking near Tyler's Tap Room .  - posted for the Life & Faith in Downtown Raleigh group

The theme for today is Environment, Justice and Health.  You are welcome to bring a sign or to wear a t-shirt depicting one of these topics. If you would like to carpool to the 3pm training for those considering non-violent civil disobedience, call Joan McAllister this morning.  Training is required for those risking arrest. If you would like to carpool to the 5pm rally , meet Jane Smith in the Dixie Trail parking lot at 4:20.  She will leave promptly at 4:30.  Jane plans to stay until the last bus leaves, but is happy to drive you back to your car if you need to leave earlier. Joan McAllister has prepared Moral Mondays lapel ribbons for those who would like a conversation-starter during the week.  The ribbons are made with duct tape and red/white/blue ribbon.  These rich symbols allow you to assign your own meaning.  Duct tape:  fixing our broken state legislature?  refusing to be silenced?  Red/white/blue ribbon:...

We welcome the Rev. Margot Trusty Pickett to the pulpit this Sunday at 10:30 worship.  Our pastor, Steve Halsted, is on sabbatical this summer.   Margot was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, the youngest of three children. She did her undergraduate work at Duke University and received her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She was married to Mark Pickett in 1977 and ordained in 1978 at Third Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church in Indianapolis. She and Mark served as Co-Pastors of Christ Congregation in Princeton, New Jersey from 1979-1985 and of Pilgrim UCC in Durham, NC from 1995-2004. From 1985-1995 Margot served as the Associate Pastor at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, UCC, in Hanover, New Hampshire. In July 2004 Margot was hired as the Director of the Pastoral Leadership Development Program of the Southern Conference, the position she continues to hold today. Margot is a rabid fan of Duke Men’s and Women’s basketball, and almost ...

The response we got from our request for items needed when new families move into an apartment was so great that we have decided to continue it. There is a basket in the fellowship hall under the windows for you to put items into. Items needed are:  laundry soap        dish soap                       toilet paper                            paper towels trash bags                      spray cleaner        toothpaste                             toothbrushes bar so...

If you love being outdoors, love to get dirty and muddy while tending the garden and plants, and getting to know other CUCC folks, then “Gardening Therapy” is the right place for you.  Join us from 9:00am – 11:00am on the first and third Tuesdays of the summer months to pull weeds, listen to the birds, prune plants and shrubs, and spend a few productive hours working on the CUCC grounds.  A little gardening therapy is good for body and soul.  We hope you’ll bring your work gloves and join us. We will meet again this Tuesday, June 18.   For more information, contact Lena Gallitano.

Reverend Hollie Woodruff Duncan Durham Bulls Baseball Moral Mondays Ad Hoc Group Meeting Hospitality for Moral Monday Youth News for this Sunday Gardening Therapy Living the Questions - Joy's living room on Wednesdays and CUCC on Sundays PLM Families Together Property Ministry Meeting Fun at the Lion’s Park Playground & Cookout Reception Reverend Hollie Woodruff Duncan - The Reverend Hollie Woodruff Duncan serves as the Chaplain of Barton College (in nearby Wilson, NC). She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). You can get to know her at her blog, "The Underside:  Thoughts and musings from a faithful, but sometimes irreverent, minister."  CUCC came to know of Hollie through the Beisels who met her at Love Wins Ministries in downtown Raleigh.  Rev. Hollie is married with a teenage stepson; her husband serves as a hospice chaplain. Hollie is also mom to two golden retrievers, Stone and Sadie.  We welcome her to the pulpit while our...

The Rev. Hollie Woodruff Duncan serves as the Chaplain of Barton College (in nearby Wilson, NC). She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). You can get to know her at her blog,  " The Underside :  Thoughts and musings from a faithful, but sometimes irreverent, minister."  CUCC came to know of Hollie through the Beisels who met her at Love Wins Ministries in downtown Raleigh. Rev. Hollie is married with a teenage stepson; her husband serves as a hospice chaplain. Hollie is also mom to two golden retrievers, Stone and Sadie.  We welcome her to the pulpit while our pastor, Steve Halsted is on summer sabbatical.

Location and time of Moral Monday events has changed in the last few hours before several Moral Monday rallies.  To make sure you are going the right place at the right time, subscribe to the NAACP-NC emails.  Send an email with your name and email address to info@naacpnc.org . To keep informed about what we're doing at CUCC, contact Jane Smith who will add you to our in-house email notices. - submitted for the ad hoc Moral Monday group

If you have questions about Moral Mondays and how you might participate, attend the ad hoc Moral Monday group discussion Sunday, June 16, 9:15 in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall or talk to Edith, Joan or Jane. Ideas: Attend a Moral Monday .  Rally attendees are present legally; those who go inside the legislative building risk arrest.  Rallies are family friendly.  You can attend the rally (about 5-7pm), cheer on the arrestees (about 7-10pm), or greet those leaving jail (anytime between 9pm and the wee hours). Provide a bed to someone who is travelling from far away to attend Moral Monday.  (Contact Gray Woodard) Support a CUCCer who is risking arrest.  Possible needs:  money for fines, pet sitting while detained, a middle-of-the-night ride home, a friend to attend non-violent civil disobedience training and be there on the outside, make a "thank you" sign to greet an arrestee returning home. Attend a Congregations for Social Justice meeting t...

North Carolina is a BIG state.  If you would be willing to offer a bed to someone who is travelling a long distance to attend Moral Monday, please contact Gray Woodard. - submitted for ad hoc Moral Monday group

Carpool:   Those wanting to carpool to Moral Monday after the memorial service for Marge Eckels should touch base with Joan McAllister who will be cleaning up in the kitchen.  The plan is to grab some dinner, then spend the evening cheering on the arrestees until the final bus departs the legislative building for Hammond Road detention facility. There is no carpool this week for the 3pm non-violent civil disobedience training (Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 3pm) or the start of the rally (Halifax Mall, 5pm).  David Smith will be going to the rally from the beginning, so you can look for him if you'd like to stand with the CUCC contingent. - submitted for the Moral Monday ad hoc group

Marjorie Mills Robinson Eckels died June 5, 2013, at age 91. She died peacefully at home in the loving care of her daughters Marilyn and Christine. Marjorie was born in Hartford, CT, where she grew up the cherished only child of William and Violet Robinson. She attended U of Conn where she met her husband and life partner Arthur Raymond Eckels. They were married for over 50 years. Marjorie completed a Master of Social Work degree at the U of Chicago. Between 1949 and 1953, Art and Marjorie's four children were born, Alan in Mt. Carmel, CT, and Peter, Marilyn, and Christine in Raleigh, NC, where Art taught at NC State. The family moved to Burlington, VT, where they lived for five wonderful years in a countryside home with a spectacular view of Lake Champlain. Following their move back to Raleigh for Art's professorship at NC State, Marjorie worked for years in her chosen field of social work. Despite busy lives working and raising four children, Marjorie and Art opened their hom...

Marjorie R. Eckels Śānti Matthews to preach this Sunday, June 9 Caring Committee Moral Monday Forum Life and Faith in Downtown Raleigh Fun at the Lion’s Park playground & cookout Living the Questions - Joy's living room on Wednesdays and CUCC on Sundays Durham Bulls Baseball Marjorie R. Eckels – Marge Eckels, beloved member of CUCC, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, June 5, her loving daughters at her side.  A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 10, 4:00pm, at CUCC.  Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.  Marge will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Śānti Matthews to preach this Sunday, June 9 We welcome Śānti to the pulpit this week.  We normally hear her in her role as our youth leader, so it is a treat for the rest of us to hear her. This Sunday we also celebrate with our graduates; plan to speak with them during the party after worship. We celebrate the following graduates: From College Jeffrey Mohr (UNC-Greensbo...

  Members of JCC and the Property Ministry have been discussing solar energy generation. We have a preliminary estimate that a combination of the CUCC Fellowship and Education wing roofs could be used to generate about 20,000 kilowatt hours of energy per year to sell to Duke Energy Progress. We are considering funding the system through an "LLC" in which CUCC members and others will have the opportunity to invest for several years to purchase the system, recoup their investment through tax credits and energy sales, and then donate the system to the church. We are looking for a date to hold an open discussion meeting this summer and would like to know of your interest in attending. Please contact Skip Stoddard, Ron Howell,  or Gary Smith , if you are interested. We will keep you informed as we schedule the meeting.

An ad hoc group of CUCCers and friends met Sunday, June 2, to discuss how we might continue our work for justice with the North Carolina General Assembly. Ideas/plans on the table: Moral Mondays - continue to follow the leadership of the coalition working through the NC NAACP by participating in Moral Mondays - hold information sessions for those planning to attend or do non-violent civil disobedience at Moral Monday on every Sunday immediately before the next Moral Monday.  For instance, if there will be  a Moral Monday on June 17, we will hold an info session on Sunday, June 16, at 9:15 in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall.  At these questions you can receive answers to your questions about logistics.  We'll also continue to encourage one another as we speak about our experiences and commitments to an ever-wider circle of friends. - carpool from the CUCC Dixie Trail lot to Moral Mondays - those who aren't doing non-violent civil disobedience can provide support to t...

NEW LOCATION FOR RALLY:  The rally to support those doing non-violent civil disobedience has moved to Halifax Mall which is on the opposite side of the legislative building from the Bicentennial Mall (where the museums are). If you would like to carpool to be a witness (not doing non-violent civil disobedience) at today's Moral Monday, meet Jane Smith at the Dixie Trail parking lot at 4:25.  She will leave promptly at 4:30. Jane plans to stay at the witness until the last batch of arrestees leaves the legislative building, but she is happy to drive folks back to their cars earlier and then return for more standing. Remember - dress for rain, wear VERY comfortable shoes, and bring water for the heat. If you would like to carpool to attend the non-violent civil disobedience training at today's Moral Monday, call Joan McAllister by 2:15 today and leave a message.  If you plan to do civil disobedience, you MUST attend the training today. - submitted for the Moral Monday ...

Śānti is second row, second on right We welcome Śānti to the pulpit this week.  We normally hear her in her role as our youth leader, so it is a treat for the rest of us to hear her.  This Sunday we also celebrate with our graduates; plan to speak with them during the party after worship. From College Jeffrey Mohr (UNC-Greensboro) Austin Osborne-Newman (UNC-Charlotte) From High School Susie Binganisi Jackson Kiel Carson Roach-Howell Katie Srivastava -submitted for the Deacons

Join the conversation with Life and Faith in Downtown Raleigh.  This group of CUCCers and friends meets on second Tuesdays to bounce ideas, support and challenge each other, and enjoy good company.  We meet at Tyler's Tap Room (Raleigh); parking map .  Arrive at 6:30pm if you want dinner or at 7 if you just want  a beverage (with or without alcohol).  Dutch treat.  We’re generally out of there by 8:15.  Our topic may be "How is faithing going in your life?" unless someone comes with something they'd like to brainstorm.  Look for Etta Barksdale and the red Life and Faith comma at the round table on the far right of the restaurant.  New folks and friends of new folks are always welcome. A Gathering of Friends event  - submitted by Jane Smith

Roger Shinn, a key player in the formation of the UCC in 1957, died last month in Southbury CT at age 96. An interesting obit appears in Sunday's NY Times ... Perhaps Dr. Shinn’s signal moment came after the 1957 merger of two mainstream denominations, the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches, to form the United Church of Christ. He was the principal author of the statement of faith for the denomination, which is still used in words close to his original.