CUCC Weekly eNews

During worship on Dec. 28, Ellen Beidler acting as Chair of the Deacons presented Pastor Steve Halsted with a gift from the congregation on the occasion of his final Sunday in the church pulpit. (5 minute video)

On December 21 Sam and Joanna Woodrum joined the church. And on December 28 Emily Perkins joined. Sam and Joanna Woodrum joined on Dec. 21, 2014 Emily Perkins joined on December 28

The Christmas Eve service in 2014 features music performed by the choir led by Anne Moorman-Smith, the youth, Doug Barrick (organ and piano), Amy Jensen (flute), and Mike Schafale (hammer dulcimer). The candlelight singing of Silent Night has become a tradition at CUCC. This year is the first time the entire service has been captured on video (with help from Karen Withem). The audio track was recorded separately and the multi-camera setup allowed multiple views of the service. Thanks to the entire congregation and the excellent congregational participation for making this an event to remember. (This video is about 40-minutes long. Only transitional periods in the service have been edited out.) This video is permanently archived in high definition  in the CUCC Archive.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, Dec. 24, 5:00pm A Request from Vandy Bradow   Christmas Fund  Steve’s Last Service New Member this Sunday! No Church School this Sunday, December 28th No Forum this Sunday Monday Lunch Group Menu of Compassionate Gifts Epiphany Sunday/Babies We Love – January 11, 2015 Loaves and Fishes Chili Sale Annual Reports January Congregational Meeting – January 25th CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting – Monday, February 2, 2015 Dinner for HK on J Out-of-Town Participants Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, December 24 Join us for a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Wednesday, December 24.  Our service will begin at 5:00pm.  Afterwards, we’ll gather for bright fellowship and hot cider in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall. A Request from Vandy Bradow Vandy would like to bring her mother, Ida Klages, to the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, but she will need some assistance from members of the congregation.  She needs a couple of strong people to help h

A segment on 60-minutes (CBS) caught my attention on Sunday, Dec. 21. It highlights the relationship between Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and President Barack Obama. It's an inspiring message that's appropriate for Christmas. The link below shows the entire interview (about 12 min.) and it includes commercials. But it will give you a warm feeling that's appropriate for the season. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senator-tom-coburn-60-minutes/

Christmas Cantata performed at Community UCC on December 21, 2014. This was the 3rd performance of this cantata in the past 15 years, and the performance was to honor the many years that Pastor Steve Halsted has spent living in the southwest. This video may also be found in the "Music" section of the CUCC Archive.

We are fortunate to be welcoming these clergy to preach and lead worship during January and early February. January 4 - The Reverend Jim Luck (David Sigmon's former pastor from Greensboro) January 11 - Mark Zainedden January 18 - our own Joy Alford (newly returned from Cuba!) January 25 - Joy Alford February 1 - The Reverend Sheila Barrick The Rev. Peg Nowling Williams will begin her interim pastorate on February 2.

Annual reports from all ministries and committees should be submitted electronically to the church office and to the moderator (Lavon Page) by January 5. You may send the reports as email attachments to office.cucc@gmail.com or Lavon. For reference purposes, you can find copies of last year's reports at the church website .

We are continuing continue with Francis Fukuyama's book  Political Order and Political Delay . We hope to get up to about p164 of 548 pages. We would love to have you join the discussion. We are currently on corruption trust, patronage, reform, clientelism in western countries in the 19th and 20th centuries. - submitted by Ed Klemmer, December 20, 2014

Stop by and see the new additions to the Art Wall by Franciso Joseph. Francisco Joseph and his family (his wife and three children) recently moved to Raleigh from Savannah, Georgia. Originally from the island of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean, Joseph has lived in the US for 30 years.   In that time, he has worked a variety of jobs, mostly in the hospitality industry for hotels, cruise lines and restaurants and has also run his own company specializing in home repair and odd jobs. Joseph started painting when he was 47. He has no formal training but felt a calling to start painting.  He has explored a variety of subject matter and medias, such as painting on recycled windows, which requires painting in reverse. Joseph feels called to make people happy through his work, which is expressed in the vibrant colors and subject matter.  Joseph is currently considering creating a  book for children. Joseph is a full time artist and this is the primary means of supporting himself and family.

Gift for Pastor Steve New Member this Sunday! Christmas Cantata by CUCC Choir - December 21 Caroling at Morningside Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, December 24 A Request from Vandy Bradow   Christmas Fund  No Forum this Sunday Youth Christmas Party – White Elephant Party Earth Sabbath - Winter Solstice Celebration at Peacefalls, Saturday, December 20 Monday Lunch Group Tai Chi  “Jobs for Life” Volunteer Opportunities Menu of Compassionate Gifts Epiphany Sunday/Babies We Love – January 11, 2015 Loaves and Fishes Chili Sale CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting – Monday, February 2, 2015, 6:00pm Church Office Closed – December 24, 25, 26 Annual Reports Gift for Pastor Steve The Deacons will be presenting Steve a gift from the congregation honoring his service to CUCC and to help him remember us as he begins his next journey. We know this is a time of year when this request competes with many requests to open your hearts and checkbook, but please consider a donation for Steve’s retirem

Church Council has scheduled the January congregational meeting to be held on January 25. This meeting is required by the CUCC bylaws. Primary actions at the meeting will include election of officers and committee and ministry members for 2015, passage of a church budget for 2015, and distribution of ministry and committee reports describing activities in 2014. [All reports should be sent to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com) and the moderator (lavonpage@gmail.com) by January 5.] You can find copies of last year's reports at the church website.] The January meeting is one of the three required congregational meetings which are "unrestricted" in terms of topics that might be considered. In the words of our church bylaws, "Other business consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws may be transacted". If you have items that you intend to bring up at the congregational meeting, it would be helpful if you would let the moderator (Lavon Page) know in advance s

Forum will kick off the new year on Sunday, January 4th at 9:15AM in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall for a month-long series on homelessness and affordable housing. We'll begin looking at the issue statewide with our guest speaker Terry Allebaugh of the N.C. Coalition to End Homelessness who will give us an overview of their statewide initiative.  Come expand your knowledge base on the topic! Mr. Allebaugh is also a member of our sister church Pilgrim United UCC in Durham, N.C. and husband of the interim pastor at West Raleigh Presbyterian, Lori Pistor. On later Sundays in the month we'll be learning from other guests about local efforts to increase affordable housing in our area, with Frank Gailor leading a discussion about our own new rental units on the last Sunday of the month (January 25). Join us for all these opportunities to learn and grow! - submitted by Marty Lamb

Please join us Saturday December 20th, 4PM, for a celebration of the sacred darkness and the return of the light:  a time for closure and new beginnings.  The Winter Solstice marks a full turning of the wheel of the year and offers a perfect opportunity for releasing the past and setting intentions for our journeys ahead.  In preparation, whether you are joining us or not, consider what thoughts, habits, or patterns you are ready to release and what dreams and visions you would like to bring into the light. 11320 Peed Dead End Road, Raleigh 27614.  Directions to Peacefalls are listed below. RSVP to Karen Bearden What to bring with you: • a reading, poem, song to share that connects you with the solstice • an open heart, ready to release the old and embrace the new • a drum, if you have one • an appetizer or dessert • plate and utensils for your meal • warm layers and dancing-around-in-the-dark shoes • flashlight Directions to Peacefalls: 11320 Peed Dead End Road, Raleigh 27614 Peacefal

Church office The church office is closed Jan. 1 and 2. Groups Monday Lunch Group will meet Dec. 29 for their farewell party with Steve Halsted. No tai chi December 31.

Epiphany Sunday/Babies We Love – January 11, 2015 Every Epiphany Sunday, CUCC celebrates "our" babies born the previous year. So whether the new baby is in your home or you are a loving grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, etc., we want to celebrate your baby's birth. Contact Cathy Marshall at the church office (919-787-6422 or office.cucc@gmail.com) BY JANUARY 1. Provide the baby's name and relationship to you, the parents' names, the birthdate & place, and send a photo if you have one.  On Epiphany Sunday (January 11), we'll celebrate with a “Babies of 2014” display during our regular fellowship time.

Advent Event – Saturday, December 13 Children’s Christmas Pageant – Sunday, December 14th Forum – December 14th, 9:15am Want To Help Change A Life? You Can! – “Jobs for Life” Free Holiday Concert at NC Museum of History  this Sunday Monday Lunch Group Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - Wednesday, December 24 A Request from Vandy Bradow     Earth Sabbath - Winter Solstice Celebration at Peacefalls, Saturday, December 20 Christmas Cantata by CUCC Choir - December 21 Menu of Compassionate Gifts Update on Festival of Lights Donations A Message from the Stewardship Ministry Epiphany Sunday/Babies We Love – January 11, 2015 CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting – Monday, February 2, 2015, 6:00pm Gift for Pastor Steve   Advent Event – Saturday, December 13 Advent will soon be here with all the hustle and bustle of the season leading up to Christmas.  Why not take a quiet, reflective time to savor the deeper meaning of Advent?  On Saturday, December 13, 10:00am – 2:00pm, the Deacons and Rev. Halsted will

What is the 4th worst health risk in developing countries which causes 4 million premature deaths per year? Your first thoughs may be AIDS, TB, or malaria. However, it's actually household air pollution (HAP) from cooking and heating homes with open fires and traditional stoves. The good news is this least well known health risk is now being addressed globally by the UN Foundation's Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC). To learn more about this critical public health and environmental threat impacting millions and GACC's response, see these videos. An inspiring and intriguing TED X video explaining the range of problems (health, economic, safety for women and children, climate change) caused by open fires in homes and the variety of sociological and cultural factors to consider in finding a solution - Saving lives through clean cookstoves , Ethan Kay presenting Climate Reality's report on how clean cookstoves have the additional benefit of addressing climate

(submitted by Vandy Bradow) The myriad varieties of poinsettias represented at the NCSU Horticulture Science Graduate Student Association's show (Sunday 12/7) will be on sale  at the JC Raulston Arboretum Thursday and  Friday from 11 to 5, and Saturday from 10 to 1.  Pots of 4.5" diameter will be $5, 6.5" D $10, and 10" D $25.  There will be signs at both the parking lot (visitor center) and pedestrian entrances to direct you to the greenhouse where the sale will take place. Be prepared to be dazzled, and bring both checkbook and some newspaper to protect the plants from cold. Don't buy plants and leave them in the car for any significant time before you take them home or to the lucky recipient. Proceeds will go to the Association, Horticulture Field Labs, and Floriculture Research.

Pastor Steve’s Retirement Party – Saturday, Dec. 6 Food Bags Due this Sunday Grab a Seat at the Table – Communion for all this Sunday Forum – December 7th, 9:15am Snack Kits for the Homeless Sunday School Children Need Your Help Filling Stockings Christmas Cards for Soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital Beer & Hymns – Sunday, December 7, 7:00pm Monday Lunch Group Advent Life & Faith in Downtown Raleigh – December 9th Advent Event – Saturday, December 13 Children’s Christmas Pageant – December 14, 2014 A Message from the Stewardship Ministry Want To Help Change A Life? You Can! – “Jobs for Life” Light for Lima Pastor Steve’s Retirement Party! – Saturday, December 6 Join us Saturday evening 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, heavy hors d’oeuvres, fun, reminiscences and more.  Child care will be provided.  If you would like to carpool

The "Festival of Lights" program was held at Community UCC in Raleigh NC on November 30, 2014 (the first Sunday of Advent). Speakers from diverse religious traditions (Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim) reflected on the symbolism of "light" within their own faith traditions. Since the program was long (about 85 minutes), the video has been broken up into six segments. All portions may be found in the CUCC Archive. All videos from the Festival of Lights Included here is the liturgical dance performed by Alex Cox, Brooke Lipman, and Emily Perkins.

Śānti Matthews has sent us a photo of the church Christmas tree selected by the youth of the church for this Christmas season.