Skip to main content

Weekly Email - 17 APRIL 2015

From the Interim Pastor
We Welcome Rev. Dr. Kenneth Williams to our Pulpit this Sunday
A Message from the Caring Committee
Do You Enjoy Fellowship after Church?
A Note from the Youth
Church-Wide Outdoor Event & Camping: April 25-26!
Save the date!  Solar Celebration at Anderson Point Park - April 19
Earth Sabbath Celebration, Wednesday, April 22
Book Fundraiser – Book Sale May 1 - 3
Taizé Worship at Duke, April 24
Congregations for Social Justice – Faith & Practice Series
May Newsletter Deadline
Come One! Come All! CUCC Auction Party! – Saturday, April 18

From the Interim Pastor

Can we talk about church?
Can we talk?
Last year my husband Ken and I moved to Durham from Rochester, NY.  We "retired" from full-time ministry and relocated to the land of Ken's birth.
For the first time in a really long time we needed to look for a church.  This was not something either of us had done for a long times as we usually moved to town to serve a church.  We discovered that it isn't easy finding a new church.  We actually found our grocery store to be more welcoming. (You can read about our experience on my Huffington Post blog:   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-peg-nowling-williams/what-the-church-can-learn_1_b_6055106.html)
I think that Community UCC does a great job, but I'd like to hear your experiences, as well.
What were you looking for when you came to Community UCC? If you are new to our church or reading this as a seeker, would you mind sharing what you are seeking? We can't be all things to all people, but we can learn from each other.
Thanks and blessings, Pastor Peg

We Welcome Rev. Dr. Kenneth Williams to our Pulpit this Sunday
We welcome Rev. Dr. Kenneth Williams to our pulpit this Sunday. Rev. Dr. Williams is the spouse of our interim pastor, Peg Williams.  He has degrees from Campbell University, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and McCormick Theological Seminary.  In addition to serving churches in Wisconsin, Illinois and New York, Ken served as the Executive Minister of the Rochester-Genesee Region in New York.  He and Peg moved from Rochester, NY in January 2014 so he could return to his North Carolina roots.

A Message from the Caring Committee
The Caring Committee wants to encourage everyone to contact us when you have need of care, help, or support.  The committee is available to help provide food, do some house and ground work, visit those who are sick, drive you to doctor’s appointments, etc.  And of course, we are always available to pray for you, with you, and for our church community.  Contact Rev. Robert Parrish, Co-Chair (919-616-1606), Joy Alford, Co-Chair (919-605-4336), Rev. Peg Williams, interim Pastor, 919-809-8850, or any member of the Caring Committee and let us help!  A list of Caring Committee members is on our church website.  Asking for help is difficult for some people, but we want you to know that the members of the Caring Committee do care and wish to give support to any and all needs as we do God’s work. Submitted by Rev. Robert Parrish

Do You Enjoy Fellowship after Church?
Do you enjoy the fellowship with you church family after worship service?  If so, we could use your help in providing this fellowship.  It’s very simple – the cheese, crackers, nuts and drinks are already available in the kitchen.  We ask that you provide an item (you can be reimbursed if you wish) to go along with the above items, such as fruit or a vegetable platter, dip and chips, etc.  You would be responsible for setting up and cleaning up afterwards.  Please sign up on the sheet in the kitchen or contact the church office and let Cathy know what Sunday (or Sundays) you would love to help!  Thank you!!!

A Note from the Youth
Community UCC is committed to installing a solar panel roof on our fellowship hall. The CUCC Youth Group is trying to raise $665 this week - enough to buy half a panel. Please consider helping us with this effort. $12 would provide 3 watts of solar power, $77 would buy one square foot of solar panel, $100 would keep 38 pounds of CO2 in the air. Check it out here: http://www.razoo.com/story/Cucc-Youth. Thank you from the CUCC Youth.

Church-Wide Outdoor Event And Camping: April 25-26!
Church-Wide Outdoor Event and Camp Out
Make a Joyful Noise
Saturday, April 25 at 4PM -
Sunday, April 26 at 11AM
Umstead Park: Camp CRABTREE (Unit A)
Sign Up on the signup sheet located in the fellowship hall and narthex or email forsanti@aol.com by Monday, April 20.
Including: campfire songs, musical instruments, potluck/cookout, campfire, cabin camping, morning prayers
Come one; come all for some or all of our time.
If you don't want to camp, come for the afternoon and evening, bring a side dish and let’s share dinner!
Directions:
William B. Umstead State Park is located in Wake County between Raleigh and Durham: 8801 Glenwood Ave (park entrance is 2.9 miles north of intersection of Glenwood and Millbrook on the left side of the highway as you’re headed west.)
We will be at Camp Crabtree Unit A
After turning left into the park entrance, continue past the Visitor’s Center.
Turn left on Maintenance Road (about .6 mile from entrance, signage also indicates toward Group Camps)
Take your first right on Group Camp Road. This is a dirt and gravel road. Continue for 1.5 miles. You will pass a bridge, and lake access parking.
Camp Crabtree entrance is on the left as you reach the top of the hill.
Continue .3 miles to camp. Pull all the way to the dining hall to unload and then park in the lot.
The park gates close at 8PM, and no one is permitted in or out after that time. Please join us until 7:30PM, and then make your way out, or count on spending the night!
If you are coming for the evening only, please bring:
a side dish to share with dinner
a camp chair
a copy of Rise Up Singing! If you have one!
If you are spending the night, please bring:
a side dish to share with dinner
a camp chair
socks & comfortable shoes for walking/playing
clothes in layers (it may get cool at night)
a sleeping bag
pillow
a flashlight
toiletries (there are showers)

Make a Joyful Noise Retreat Schedule
April 25, 2015 at 4PM-April 26 at 11:00AM
4-6PM hike at 4:30, free time, games for young at heart    
6PM dinner (bring a side dish to share)
7PM campfire with songs
10PM camping in cabins      
9AM breakfast
10AM morning prayers
10:30AM clean-up
11AM depart

Questions? Contact Santi Matthews (919)961-8814 or forsanti@aol.com

Save the date!  Solar Celebration at Anderson Point Park - April 19
After the excitement of successfully bidding for the great items offered at the Family Fun Auction on Saturday night (18th), wouldn’t a relaxing afternoon with friends on the greenway be a perfect way to spend Sunday afternoon?  Write, “Sunday, April 19, 2:00pm, Anderson Point Park small picnic shelter,” on your calendar.  The Solar Celebration kicks off Earth Week.  We'll start with cake and an announcement of our progress raising funds for the solar project.  Choose between walking/running the greenway, enjoying the playground, kicking a ball around the fields, or chatting at the picnic area.  Fun for all ages! - Submitted by the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force
Link for Anderson Point Park: http://www.raleighnc.gov/parks/content/ParksRec/Articles/Parks/AndersonPoint.html

Earth Sabbath Celebration, Wednesday, April 22
Please join us for an Earth Sabbath Celebration and potluck dinner on Earth Day 2015,
Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 6:00pm - 8:30pm, at the home of Carl & Emilie Sigel, 11116 Bremerton Ct., Raleigh, North Carolina. Please bring a dish to share and reusable plates, utensils, and water bottle. R.S.V.P by April 17th to cwsigel@aol.com or
919-847-4252

Book Fundraiser - Book Sale May 1 - 3
CALLING FOR ALL BOOKS! We are raising money for CUCC by joining the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in their annual book sale.  All proceeds from books donated by CUCC folks will benefit our church.  All types of books are welcome.  Please put donated books in or beside the boxes in the hall and narthex.  Donate books by Monday, April 27th.  If you want for your books to be picked up, please call Peg Hulslander at 919-833-7203.  So far, 350 books have been donated.  Please check your bookshelves for a book that someone else might enjoy.

Taizé Worship at Duke, April 24
Three brothers from the Taizé community in France will be at Duke University for worship and conversation on Friday, April 24.
Location:  Goodson Chapel in the Divinity School
Schedule: 7:00pm evening prayer service; 8:00pm conversation with the brothers.
Recommended parking is in the Bryan Center lot off Scientific Dr.

Congregations for Social Justice – Faith & Practice Series
Highland UMC Housing Raleigh: Faith & Practice Series - from Joe Burton & Marty Babcock.  (For full series, see attachment below).
Wednesdays 6:30-7:45pm, April 8 through May 13
Christ calls his followers to care for others, to help meet their most basic human needs, including shelter. Join us for an exploration of the housing needs in our own community, the policies that affect it and how we can help advocate for a more just system. A wonderful array of guest speakers will help guide our conversations about Christians living in community, local housing policies, and the different ways we can support community efforts to ensure a home for everyone. Submitted by Adrienne Little for SJM

May Newsletter Deadline
The May Newsletter deadline is Wednesday, April 22.  Please have your article emailed to the church no later than 2:00pm Wednesday.  Thank you.

Come One! Come All! – CUCC Auction Party, Saturday, April 18
Come join us for our annual Fun Auction, Saturday night (tomorrow) at 6:30 p.m. Attached are the catalogs of items being up for bid (both silent auction and live auction). In case you are not able to attend, and want to bid on an item, a proxy sheet is also attached. Please contact someone you know who is attending to serve as your proxy.
Snacks and beverages and childcare will be available.