CUCC Weekly eNews

In a world becoming increasingly globalized, more people are leaving their homelands to seek better lives and opportunities in new countries. Their reasons for leaving are diverse and complex. The U.S. has long been a nation of immigrants and we are consistently conflicted about this. We gratefully welcome immigrants and their contributions; and we exclude them, discriminate against them and, at times, inflict grave harm upon them. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors. The Bible is clear in calling us to welcome aliens and strangers and to love them as we love ourselves. In these times, let us listen to the voice of the still-speaking God as we learn how to respond to these new sisters and brothers residing among us. (ucc.org) November 1:  Intergenerational Forum  Go around the world with us! Visit such places as India, China, Costa Rica, and Germany through the eyes and hearts of our friends who have recently returned from their travels. Be engaged, moved, and inspired,

Thank you all for the wonderful support you showed for the CROP Walk and the fight against hunger.  I have some amazing news to share. Donations kept coming in even after the walk, such that our total funds raised were $4553.68 as of Monday evening.  CUCC is the #1 team in Raleigh online -- and I suspect over all! The walk itself included 33 CUCC participants.  The youngest walker was 3 years old, donations began at $5.  One of our fundraisers raised over $1000! and was the #2 fundraiser in all of Raleigh! Again many thanks to all that participated and supported us in different ways.  You are such a giving group in so many ways. Sincerely, Maria, team captain

(This information provided by Maria Mayorga.) Thank you all for participating in this year’s crop walk.  I can tell you that we have exceeded our goal and it is all because of you! I will be near the registration tables there by 3:15 pm, please try to arrive by 3:30 to turn in your forms and register. This post contains the following important information. Location and time information Important detour information for those driving in Turning in your forms Costume information for those with children/children at heart Location and time information Broughton High School (723 Saint Mary’s St.) enter the back parking lot entrance off of St. Mary’s street.  There will be volunteers with signs. Activities will start at 3pm; the walk will start at 4pm.  Maria will be near the registration tables by 3:15 pm.  The walk route can be found here. Turning in your forms For those of you who have paper forms.  Please turn them in to Maria either at church on Sunday or when you meet up.  Keep the top

Sunday, November 8, Noon, in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall This is  the time of year to be grateful - both for what we have received and for what we are able to give back to the community and the world.  If you wish to comment on any pressing items that need to be in the proposed 2016 budget, please contact Carol Kepler or come to our Budget Committee meeting on Sunday, November 8th, at Noon, in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall, and let the Stewardship Ministry know of any specific suggestions you have for the budget.  

Congregational Meeting Sunday, November 22, Noon, Vaughan Fellowship Hall At our fall congregational meeting, we will preview the proposed budget for 2016 and hear a progress report on recruitment of congregational officers, as well as chairs and members of our committees and our seven Ministries.   Pledge Sunday, November 15,  has come and gone, and the sobering news is that we are approximately $55,000 short of our goal of $230,000.  If you have not already made a pledge, please do so as soon as possible so that we can begin to seriously assign numbers to the budget lines.  If you would like to volunteer your services on any committee or ministry, or recommend someone for a position, please contact Geri Bowen, Marty Lamb, Peg Hulslander or Rev. Peg Williams.    

October 25, 2015 Weekly News The  online calendar  is always available and is always up-to-date. Newsletters from 2013 and 2014 may be found on the News blog.  Older newsletters  are found in the archive.

Karen Withem has launched a new film project. The name of the new film will be "Stand Up". The project was announced this week via the RocketHub website. Here's a quote from the announcement released via RocketHub ... “Stand Up” is an 8-minute short film about a successful comic living life in the fast lane – until he finds himself stuck in his worst nightmare. Hard drinking, fun-loving Lukas Baker is used to audiences howling with laughter, but one night at a luxe venue he suddenly bombs. He storms backstage to rip into his long-time manager -- who tells him he is not his manager at all, but a doppelgänger angel. This is how Lukas learns he is dead. Now... how did he die and what does he have to do to win back his fans? Full RocketHub article: rockethub.com/61353 In the video below, Karen explains what motivates her media efforts and talks about the upcoming new film. If you would like to participate in funding this project, you can do so via the RocketHub website. Early

Sisters in Spirit (SIS) will meet on Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 PM at the home of Vivian Hunter. We will start with a pot luck supper, then have fun playing a couple of games.  ALL women in the church are invited and most welcome. To find out more about SIS, call Gray Woodard.

When I was working at the St. Paul's fair restaurant, my new friends invited CUCCers to a fun evening of big-band style music and dancing.  This is a "FUN-raiser" for the great ministries at St. Paul's.  Maybe a group from CUCC would like to go together? St. Paul's Big Band Dance with Leon Jordan and the Continentals Friday, November 6, 7:30-10PM (doors open at 7) Fellowship Hall, 3331 Blue Ridge Road $10/person advance   $15/person at the door Includes light refreshments St. Paul's church office:  919-787-1278

Adrienne Little and CUCC's Social Justice Ministry invite you to make a difference int he world by participating in one of these events in our community. 1 -  “ The North Carolina/Moldova Partnership ” Thursday, October 29, 2015 - 6:30 pm - Temple Beth Or - 5315 Creedmoor Rd, Raleigh 2 -  Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] The Alternatives to Violence Project [AVP] is offering its first workshop in the Triangle November 20-22 in Raleigh at Raleigh Friends Meeting.  The North Carolina Department of Correction wants this fun, engaging and transformational program established in our prisons, but we need community volunteer facilitators to do this.  Anyone with an interest in making a meaningful contribution to transforming our prison system, and in experiencing this hands-on, fun, activity-based intensive weekend workshop, please let us know.  People who have taken the training report they have connected deeply with others, laughed, shared, listened, and have experienced increased

UPDATE:  Nov. 2 There was very limited interest in sharing a Thanksgiving meal at the church so we will not being doing that at CUCC this year.  Of course, that doesn't mean you can't invite each other to dinner at home or a restaurant! ORIGINAL POST:  If you have no plans for Thanksgiving, contact the church office and let us know if you would be interested in participating in a Thanksgiving dinner here at the church.  Call 919-809-8850 or email office.cucc@gmail.com by November 1.

October 18, 2015 Weekly News (PDF) . (The print size of Weekly News online can be adjusted to whatever size you prefer. Check out this  one-minute video  if you don't know how to do that.) The  online calendar  is always available and is always up-to-date. Newsletters from 2013 and 2014 may be found on the News blog.  Older newsletters  are found in the archive.

October 11, 2015 Weekly News (PDF) . (The print size of Weekly News online can be adjusted to whatever size you prefer. Check out this  one-minute video  if you don't know how to do that.) The  online calendar  is always available and is always up-to-date. Newsletters from 2013 and 2014 may be found on the News blog.  Older newsletters  are found in the archive.

On Sunday, November 1, we will remember those persons we have lost in the past year by reading their names as part of our worship service.  If you would like to have a loved one's name read, please contact the church office by October 30.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered to work at the St. Paul's Fair Restaurant.  If you have any questions, call Mary Matthews or Joan McAllister who are taking over as contacts on this project. Signs ups are now closed. If you go to the fair, drop by the restaurant to say hi and grab a terrific meal.

Help CUCC raise $1500 to combat world hunger! What: The CROP Walk is organized through the Church World Service to raise money for hunger relief in our community. The walk is a family friendly event with 1 mile and 3.1 mile routes. When: The CROP Walk is held on October 25.  Registration begins at 3:00, the walk begins at 4:00. (Kids – or kids at heart- wear your Halloween Costumes!) Where: The routes begin and end at Broughton High School ( 723 Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh ).  Arrive by 3:30 to meet up with members of our church team so we can walk and fellowship together!  Click here to see the route . Why: Donations to the CROP Walk go to hunger relief agencies right here in our community! Who : Everyone is invited to walk with us!  This is a fun, easy walk for young and old alike.  If you can't walk the routes, please consider donating to our team or joining as a “Spirit Walker”! How: (1) Sign-up/donate online (2) Pick up a registration envelope/donate in person, from the

October 11, 2015 Weekly News (PDF) . (The print size of Weekly News online can be adjusted to whatever size you prefer. Check out this  one-minute video  if you don't know how to do that.) The  online calendar  is always available and is always up-to-date. Newsletters from 2013 and 2014 may be found on the News blog.  Older newsletters  are found in the archive.

Here's the October 2 scoop on upcoming events from Congregations for Social Justice as submitted by Adrienne Litte for our Social Justice Ministry 1 - Save the Date - CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting - Monday, February 1, 2016 2 - Jesus in Islam - from the Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies You are cordially invited to Institute of Islamic and Turkish Studies Speaker Series on Sunday, October 25th at 3pm. The topic is Jesus in Islamic Perspective. Prof. Zeki Saritoprak from John Carroll University will give the speech and sign his books. 3 - Moral Political Organizing Leadership Institute and Summit Annual Conference Join Pastors and Faith Leaders in strategy sessions on Social Justice Movement Building, Social Policy Analysis, and Scripture Exegesis. October 29-30, 2015.   Opening Welcome and Overview of Summit at 9:30 am. 4 - Come and Celebrate - Community Success Initiative is 11 years old        Come help us celebrate 11 years              Saturday October 31st, 2015  -  11am-2

Due to a scheduling conflict, the instructors who were going to lead the Jobs for Life program starting next week won't be able to do so.  Instead, the program will be slated for after the first of the year and will be held at the Loaves & Fishes site on New Bern Avenue.  Thanks to all of you who volunteered to help with this mission:  we will be back in touch in a couple of months.

1. Land Trusts Offer Houses People With Lower Incomes Can Afford 2.  JustBeer will be held today September 24th at Tylers Restaurant and Tap Room, 18 Seaboard Ave., Suite 150, Raleigh, NC 27604 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Drop by to relax with good friends and make new friends concerned with Social Justice issues. - submitted by Adrienne Talbot for CUCC's Social Justice Ministry

October 4, 2015 Weekly News (PDF) . (The print size of Weekly News online can be adjusted to whatever size you prefer. Check out this  one-minute video  if you don't know how to do that.) The  online calendar  is always available and is always up-to-date. Newsletters from 2013 and 2014 may be found on the News blog.  Older newsletters  are found in the archive.