CUCC Weekly eNews

This edition of Friday Email is distributed as a PDF file. Friday Email for November 26, 2014

Pledges are still being sought by the Stewardship Ministry. Below is the stewardship sermon for the pledge campaign which was presented by Pastor Steve Halsted on November 16, 2014. (Filmed by Betsy Towler.)

Thanksgiving is associated with "harvest" and the bounty of nature that surrounds us. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm sharing two recent photos that help us celebrate the phenomenal natural beauty that surrounds us. Photo by John Little - captured on his iPhone while on a hunting trip in South Dakota with his sons October 2014 Rainbow over Cary NC Photo by Lavon Page (iPhone) November 24, 2014

This edition of Friday Email is distributed as a PDF file. Friday Email for November 21, 2014

Advent is coming and the plans are in place! Prepare the way for a deeper more meaningful appreciation of Christmas by participating in the following events! Over the next three weeks, you are invited to bring a box or two of wholesome snack bars, granola bars, nabs, or vienna sausages, for making snack kits to give to those who gather downtown for a meal each Sunday morning. We will deliver the snack bags on December 7 during Church School when we help Human Beans Together to serve a hot meal.   Also, please let Ms. Anne-Bailey know ASAP if you are able to help with our annual Christmas pageant in worship. Calendar of Events: Sunday, November 23 Church School with guest drama coach, Emily. We will finalize our skit, so bring your ideas, puns, and jokes. I'll have copies of those that Michael found online.   Sunday, November 30 Ornament making with CUCC children. Then lunch out and Christmas tree shopping. Bring lunch money if you are able. Adults who can go and drive, please RSVP.

The Youth Group's Christmas gift to the world will be to serve another meal downtown to those who come to Moore Square on Sunday mornings. This is the last day to bring in snack items. We'll gather at 10:15 upstairs in Pilgrim House to pack bags. Then we'll leave at 10:30 and will serve from 11:00-11:45. We will return to the CUCC parking lot at 12:00. we need drivers to take us downtown (Oak City Outreach Center, 215 1/2 S. Person St.). Snack items needed:  a box or two of wholesome snack bars, granola bars, nabs, or vienna sausages Read more from Human Beans Together!

CUCC member Ed Klemmer will give his much delayed answer to this question. In a previous Forum Ed led a stimulating discussion of the question, but allowed others so much time to talk that he didn't leave himself enough time to propose his own answer. This time, Ed will speak first before others are invited to chime in with their own thoughts. Join us at Forum, Sunday, December 14, 9:15AM in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall.

Plan to join us on Saturday, December 6, from 5:00pm – 7:30pm, as we honor and remember Steve’s legacy with our church and celebrate with him and Marcy as they look forward to new adventures and experiences.  There will be skits, food, fun, reminiscences and more.  Child care will be provided.  If you would like to carpool or a ride to and from the celebration, contact Sue Cottle.  If you would like to volunteer to help with decorations, setup, cleanup, or anything else, please contact the church office at 919-787-6422.

Monitor the Stewardship Campaign  Progress at communityucc.org Costume Poetry Slam with Café Style Coffee and Dessert A Message from the Stewardship Ministry Forum – November 16, 9:15am – “Fracking and Methane” New Address for Shannon and Glenn Core Pray at the Legislature Sisters in Spirit (SIS) “Hand and Foot” PFLAG Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20, 2014 Pianist Jonathan Moyer to Perform at West Raleigh Presbyterian Fall Congregational Meeting, Sunday, November 23 Save the Date – Steve’s Retirement Party! No Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service “Festival of Lights” Celebration New Lights in the Choir Loft Sunday School Children Need Your Help Filling Stockings Costume Poetry Slam with Café Style Coffee and Dessert Tomorrow!  November 15, 7:00pm, in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall. Join us for our second annual Poetry Slam/Coffee House Party and Novemberfest celebration.  For more information or to RSVP or volunteer to share a poem, contact Śānti Matthews ASAP at forsanti@aol.com

On the last Sunday of November, we begin the Season of Advent with the lighting of the first Advent Candle.  But Christians are not the only faith tradition that celebrates the “Divine Light” in images that overcome darkness in our world.  “Festivals of Light” are also celebrated in some fashion by Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and Bahai groups.  In recognition of this common ground and through my work with the Triangle Interfaith Alliance and our Deacon’s Ministry, we are planning a “Festival of Lights” collaboration in our Sanctuary on Sunday, November 30, at our 10:30am worship service. Representatives of the above mentioned faith traditions will explain and demonstrate how they celebrate within their tradition and we hope that mutual respect and greater understanding will bring people closer together.  We will continue our celebration with a potluck meal together sharing favorite foods from our cultural traditions.  Please be thinking about what you would like to share at our Common Tab

Save the Date!  November 15, 7:00pm, in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall. Once again, our NovemberFest Celebration will be a Poetry Slam/Coffee House Party.  More details coming!  Find the sign up poster in the narthex for those willing to contribute a poem. For questions or to volunteer to share a poem, contact Śānti Matthews.  Coffee and dessert will be served cafe style by our youth wait staff.

The CUCC Sunday School Children have requested that we collect small items for the Salvation Army Christmas stocking program this year and they need your help!  They wish to fill 50 stockings for children from infants to 12 years old.  Please help us by donating to our collection.  The children will be collecting items that will fit in the stockings until December 7th.  Small toys, markers, pencils and sharpeners, coloring books, card games, cars, trains, dolls, etc. are perfect for the stockings.   We will fill the stockings during Sunday School on December 7th.  Please look for our donation boxes wrapped in Christmas paper!  Check the bulletin board in the hallway at church or see below for suggestions of items for the stockings.   Please provide new, unwrapped gifts (no food or candy, please). Thank you for your help! Girl or Boy, Infant or Ages 0-1: Sippy cups/bottles, hats, toys, wipes, books, blankets, pacifiers Girl or Boy, Ages 2-3 or 4-5: Coloring books/crayons, toothbrush/t

The Stewardship Campaign has begun! Monitor Our Progress at communityucc.org All Church Workday – Tomorrow! November  8, 9:00am-Noon Forum – November 9, 9:15am A Message from the Stewardship Ministry Life & Faith in Downtown Raleigh – November 11 Pray at the Legislature Costume Poetry Slam with Cafe Style Coffee and Dessert Sisters in Spirit (SIS) Fall Congregational Meeting, Sunday, November 23 Save the Date – Steve’s Retirement Party! No Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service “Festival of Lights” Celebration PFLAG Annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, Nov. 20, 2014 Sunday School Children Need Your Help Filling Stockings All Church Workday – Saturday, November 8, 2014 – 9:00am-Noon The grounds are looking a little shaggy, and it is time to clean up for the fall and holiday season!  Your Property Ministry appreciates your energy and skills to accomplish some inside and outside cleaning.  Window washing, raking, picking up pinecones and sticks, removing trash for pickup, and blowing the p

Want to help change a life? You can! Informational meeting December 14, noon, Hoffmann Room Helping people gain and keep meaningful work aids not only the worker, but his/her entire family, and the community. The Economic Justice Task Force at CUCC plans to partner with Loaves and Fishes to train the LAF parents in the kinds of life skills that will help them find the dignity and purpose of better employment opportunities.  We will be using the “Jobs for Life” program, a Christian-based, non-profit international organization that has worked with thousands of people since 1996.  Training will take place at LAF, which is located on New Bern Avenue. During 8 weeks and 16 sessions, we will cover such topics as: Understanding my value Identifying and overcoming roadblocks Perseverance and positive attitude Conflict resolution Effective communications skills Excelling on the job We will enroll 4-6 students. The course will begin in March, with training in January.  We need volunteers for the