CUCC Weekly eNews

Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering that supports works of justice and compassion in the United States and abroad. Two-thirds of the NIN receipts support program initiatives and direct grants offered through the UCC’s Justice and Witness Ministries. More directly, NIN makes available grants up to $3,000 twice a year. CUCC will collect its NIN offering on October 6. NIN really does make a difference, and not simply for people far away. The NIN website tells this story out of Asheville. Just Economics (JE) is a small non-profit, advocacy organization whose mission is to educate, advocate, and organize for a just and sustainable local economy in Ashville, NC. JE works on issues of economic justice primarily centered on root causes of poverty including wage disparity. In 2010, Just Economics received a Neighbors in Need grant for their Economic Justice program entitled Voices . Voices is an eight-week leadership training program designed to help low-income people find ...

Saturday, October 19, 7:00pm-9:00pm On the church grounds Bring a camp chair and a copy of Rise Up Singing (if you have one, and don't worry if you don't). We all had so much fun singing at our church-wide camping trip last spring; we didn't want to have to wait until next spring to gather around a fire again. If you have questions, contact Śānti Matthews, Mike Schafale , or anyone in the CUCC Youth Group.

So where are you going to be on Thanksgiving Day? Want to spend a little time with CUCC friends and enjoy a good meal. We would like to start up an old CUCC tradition we haven't done in a while and have a Thanksgiving Day meal at church. For those who can't spend time with family, why not come together at CUCC and enjoy the season with others in your church? If you want to participate, please contact the church office at 919-787-6422 or cucc@nc.rr.com. We'll figure out the logistics when we get an idea of who might be interested. The Lambs will provide the turkey; pot luck for the rest. - Submitted by Bill Lamb

We will celebrate World Communion Sunday on October 6 at 10:30am worship.  Steve Halsted invites us "to bring something to church that morning that connects you to people in faraway places, perhaps some little trinket or piece of artistic work from your travels to other parts of the world.  I [Steve] plan to bring either a small wooden cross of St. Francis from Italy or a piece of pottery from New Mexico.  See what you have that would connect us to others around the globe on World Communion Sunday and we will share our objects at the beginning of worship o this special day."

NC Pride Festival and Parade New to CUCC?  Newcomer’s Supper Sept. 30 Youth News for this Weekend Economic Justice Task Force Meeting Taizé Worship Wednesday Evening Bible Study An Evening of Blue Grass Date Change for “Life & Faith” Crop Walk Coalition for Peace With Justice NC Pride Festival and Parade   Saturday, September 28.  Come out and show your support for your LGBT family and friends.  CUCC will have an outreach table and will march in the parade.  If you have never been to Pride, you have missed out on a wonderfully affirming event.  We need volunteers to help set up and be at our table; and we would love to have as many of you as are able to march with us.  The event is located on the Duke East Campus.  Set up begins at 8:00am.  Festival grounds open at 10:00am and the Parade begins at 1:00pm.  Contact Cathy Marshall (919-787-6422) or Maegan Mohr (Maegan_mohr@yahoo.com) for more information. New to CUCC? Newcomers' Supper...

I really appreciated what Gary Smith shared recently at worship in regards to Matthew 22:36-39:  "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.   And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." We have the wonderful vision of a holistic ministry here at CUCC but sometimes we forget to minister to our whole selves so that we may truly grow to love ourselves. The holiday season, in particular, can be quite challenging to me in regards to physical health and I don't think I am alone in this.  For that reason, I will be facilitating a covenantal small group to support each other in uniting our spirit, mind and body by eating right, living well and loving God. This will be loosely based on the book Your Whole Life: The 3D Plan for Eating Right, Living Well, and Loving God by Carol Showa...

Forum Parent Appetizer/Dessert Potluck Date Change for Life & Faith New to CUCC?  Newcomer’s Supper Sept. 30 An Evening of Blue Grass NC Pride Festival and Parade Youth Participation at NC Pride Walk for Hope Children’s Message Crop Walk Keeping Homeless Families Together Art Wall Property Committee Garbage & Recycling Bins Forum September 22, 9:15am, Vaughan Fellowship Hall: "Anyone and Everyone" Part 2.    The ONA Task Force will show the second half of “Anyone and Everyone” next Sunday.  In the documentary by filmmaker Susan Polis Schutz, individuals from such diverse backgrounds as Japanese, Bolivian, and Cherokee, as well as from various religious denominations such as Mormon, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Hindu, and Southern Baptist, share intimate accounts of how their children revealed their sexual orientation and discuss their responses.  The parents also talk about struggling with the pain of their sons and daughters dealing with not being accepted b...

You can help us get the word out to friends and neighbors.  The Forum planning committee has pulled together an excellent series of speakers on The Affordable Care Act.  So many people have questions and many are worried.  Why not pass along word about this opportunity to hear from experts?  Simply pass along this link to a description of the Forum sessions - http://cuccraleigh.blogspot.com/2013/09/you-and-obamacare.html  . - submitted by Jane Smith after a discussion with the Social Justice Ministry

I was asked to set up a video feed for the Vaughan Wing in case there was an overflow crowd for Julia Macintosh's memorial service. The crowd barely fit into the sanctuary, so there was no need for the video feed. But the camera did record "in the cloud" the rather lengthy service. Julia's daughters requested the videos, so I'm making links available here in case anyone at CUCC might be interested. Julia Macintosh Service (Part 1) Julia Macintosh Service (Part 2)

To allow folks to work the Oct. 8 elections, Life & Faith in Downtown Raleigh will gather on Tuesday, Oct. 15 (3rd Tuesday).  New people welcomed enthusiastically.  Those who come set the topic for the night as we ponder how to connect what we believe to what we do.   6:30pm for those who want dinner; 7pm for the beverage-only people.  Dutch treat.  Look for our red Life & Faith comma at the corner round table at Tyler’s Tap Room. For more information, contact Jane Smith. - submitted by Jane for Life & Faith in Downtown Raleigh

Are you new to Community UCC?  Let us treat you to dinner on Monday evening, September 30.  We'll get to know one another and you can ask questions about CUCC and our life together.  Arrive after 6pm for appetizers.  At 6:30 we'll sit down to dinner together and the conversation usually wraps up around 8:15. Please RSVP to the church office (919-787-6422) by Sep. 25.  Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or if you need child care.  We're happy to oblige.

Parent Appetizer/Dessert Potluck* - Do you have a child elementary age or younger?  You are invited to join other parents in the same boat for conversation about raising children as faithful people.  It's a time to compare notes and resources, ask open-ended questions, laugh together, and become friends.  Nobody will tell you what to do - it's not that kind of group.  We're meeting Sunday, September 22, 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Jane and Gary Smith's home.  Bring an appetizer or dessert to share.  This meeting is parents-only.  RSVP to Jane so she has enough chairs and plates (smithjeg@mindspring.com or 919-787-6539). * “Rituals and Resources for Teaching Faith at Home" - this group meets about once a month on a Sunday late afternoon.  Most months parents and children come together.  Parents talk while the children play, then we share a potluck dinner together.  But sometimes the group wants time when their children won't be in ears...

Julia Mackintosh SIS (Sisters in Spirit) Youth Parent Retreat Forum – September 15 ONA Sunday Sunday School will start Sunday, September 15 Economic Justice Task Force Parent Appetizer/Dessert Potluck – Rituals & Resources NC Pride Festival and Parade New to CUCC? Newcomers' Supper Sept. 30 NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Caring Committee Stewardship Ministry Gardening Therapy Crop Walk Keeping Homeless Families Together Moral Monday ad hoc Group An Evening of Blue Grass PFLAG Fundraiser Julia Mackintosh – Julia Mackintosh, frequent attender of Forum at CUCC, died last Saturday, Aug 24, surrounded by her family.  The memorial service will be on September 14, at 2:00pm, at Community United Church of Christ.  To view her memorial page on the Cremation Society of the Carolinas' webpage, go to: http://www.memorialsolutions.com/sitemaker/memsol.cgi?user_id=1070802 SIS (Sisters in Spirit) - This Saturday Sept. 14th, 8:00pm, the Common Ground Theater in Durham will present Ionesco's pla...

The crowd for Welcoming Sunday was estimated by Geri Bowen (who was in charge of food) at around 90. The weather was wonderful. And the mood was festive. Here are some film clips from the day. You can view in HD or full screen or at Vimeo by clicking the appropriate button on the video.

Julia Mackintosh Welcoming Sunday Forum this Sunday Fall Church Retreat Rich Park Voter Registration   Retirees’ Group Life and Faith in Downtown Raleigh Youth Parent Retreat Sunday School will start September 15 Parent Appetizer/Dessert Potluck – Rituals & Resources NC Pride Festival and Parade ONA Sunday New to CUCC? Newcomers' Supper Sept. 30 Crop Walk Keeping Homeless Families Together Voter Registration Applications Julia Mackintosh – Julia Mackintosh, frequent attender of Forum at CUCC, died last Saturday, Aug 24, surrounded by her family.  The memorial service will be on September 14, at 2:00pm, at Community United Church of Christ.  To view her memorial page on the Cremation Society of the Carolinas' webpage, go to: http://www.memorialsolutions.com/sitemaker/memsol.cgi?user_id=1070802 Welcoming Sunday – Join us this Sunday, September 8 for our version of “Homecoming.” As we welcome everyone back from the summer, we participate in a variety of activities: play...

Your help is needed to finish the playhouse this Saturday, Sep. 7, 7:30-10:30AM.  Many of the regular workers are busy, so new helpers are needed if we are to be done in time for the dedication the next day. The jobs to be done are: Cut the excess off the roof Nail the roof down Apply tarpaper and shingles Attach railings on front porch Build, stain and apply window boxes Touch up painting, clean-up Helpful (but not necessary) tools: a cordless drill, hammer, and screwdriver - Message from Joan McAllister

On Saturday, September 14 we will have a Parent Retreat upstairs in the Pilgrim House from 9:00 am-12:00 pm.   Coffee, juice, bagels, cream cheese, and fruit will be provided. This is an important meeting to look over our plans for Church School and Youth Group activities for 2013-2014. We need parent input on Church School Curriculum, Confirmation, BYC, ASP, Service Projects, etc. Parents please respond to Śānti (forsanti@aol.com or 919-961-8814) to indicate whether or not you will be able to make this meeting.  

In the Sunday, September 1, edition of the Raleigh News & Observer, Lena Gallitano is named Tar Heel of the Week . A brief excerpt ... Through her work with the county and state Audubon Society, she helped establish the N.C. Birding Trail, fought the Navy landing field that would have disturbed migratory birds in Eastern North Carolina and helped preserve bird habitats at several local parks, among other projects.   Her work during the past two decades recently got nationwide attention when the national Audubon Society, an environmental group rooted in a love of birds, recognized her with its William Dutcher Award.