CUCC Weekly eNews

Pastor Joy Alford is planning the following free to adults in and around the Wake Forest Area: 1)   Short DVDs created to enhance small group discussions.   This series is known as NOOMA and is produced by Flannel, a company promoting spiritual reflections on individual life experiences.  I have facilitated discussions using these videos in the past and it has always been a stimulating starter. The name NOOMA comes from a phonetic spelling of the Greek word πνευμα, meaning "wind", "spirit", or “breath”— Come join us to see where the Spirit of the Living God takes us in our spiritual growth journey.  There is no charge and you do not have to be a member to join us for this series. This study will be held on Wednesday nights at 7:30pm at Hatch . This series goes for 8 weeks from Feb 15-April 5, but you may feel free to attend one or all. 2.   Tai Chi for stretches and meditation in movement begins Wed.  Jan 11, 2017. This will start at 7am and be held week...

This Monday, we will be listening to music and readings from The Christmas Revels, now an annual event around the time of winter solstice in a few major cities although it began in Boston in the early 1980's. The theme for The Revels this particular year in Washington, D.C. is 'Wassail! Wassail! Early American Christmas Music' so there is a lot of shape-note music. Also attached is the last set of poems for Christmastide , the Twelve Days of Christmas, up to Epiphany on January 6. These are ones I have selected. If you have one to share, please bring it on Monday. - from Ann Retzer

Church Council has scheduled the January congregational meeting to be held Sunday, January 29, 2017 at noon. This meeting is required by the CUCC bylaws .  Actions at the meeting will include opening prayer determination of the presence of a quorum approval of the minutes of the Nov. 20, 2016 congregational meeting questions about the 2016  yearly reports  of our ministries and task forces election of officers and ministry chairs for 2017 passage of the church budget for 2017 approval of the pastor's housing allowance other business as raised by members of the congregation closing prayer adjournment. Please  read the yearly reports  prior to the meeting. -->

Rev. Jenny Shultz-Thomas sends this letter in anticipation of being with us for our Christmas Eve Service. Her first full Sunday with us will be on January 15. This letter is her advent greeting to us. Letter from Rev. Jenny Shultz-Thomas

Gather with others for a time of prayer as our country inaugurates a new president.  Expect silence, reading from the Bible, and an opportunity for you to speak a prayer from your heart.  This time of worship will last about 30 minutes.  While planned from the Christian tradition, anyone in the community who would like to gather for prayer is welcome. Some people may choose to linger for quiet conversation after the time of prayer has concluded. Friday, January 20, 5:30PM, fellowship hall Sunday, January 22, noon, Hoffmann Room This pair of opportunities to gather in prayer is sponsored by the 6 justice groups of Community UCC.  For more information, contact Jane Smith.

The Christmas Pageant was presented on December 11. Suzette Roach took photos. Click the collage below to view the photo album.

Monday Lunch Group continues their Advent focus on using poetry in meditation. On Dec. 26 we will take a break from our series for our Christmas party. Bring a salad if you haven't signed up for anything. We have room at the table for everyone. For details call Sue Cottle. We will have a short video after lunch. If you can't join us we will miss you. - Sue Cottle ________ A note from Ann Retzer:  Since our December  Monday programs vary from one week to the next and I may not always be there, I have attached  ' An Advent Poetry Companion: Poems for Prayer and Pondering ' so there will be a new poem for meditation every day. *  Use these however it works for you. In the past two weeks, I have used three or four of their poems along with other selections from different sources. More poems later. * When I thought about MLG doing poetry for Advent, I found 'An Advent Poetry Companion: Poems for Prayer and Pondering' while googling around. It's from The Education...

Join us at 6:30PM for the annual CUCC Adult Christmas Party.  It is a chance to get to know your fellow CUCCers in a festive atmosphere.  Hot hors d'oeuvres, scrumptious dessert table, spiral ham, vegetarian and vegan appetizers, and wine will be available.  A special soloist will provide musical entertainment and lead us in caroling.  Please come!  (No fee, but we welcome a small donation to defray the cost of the food and beverages.)

This opportunity for justice action come from Adrienne Little, CUCC's Social Justice Ministry representative at Congregations for Social Justice. 1 -  Urgent Call to Action! from Joe Rappl All CSJ members and friends are invited to support the Partnership to End Homelessness' collaboration on the permanent multi-service center as they work with the city to secure the funding and contracting with the county needed to move forward.     Raleigh City Council - Tues, Dec 6 - 1:00 PM Click HERE to see Hugh Hollowell's plea Will Raleigh Keep Its Promises To The Homeless and Hungry? Who: everyone with a vision for more equal treatment of all people in the City and County What: attend the December 6, 2016 City Council Meeting - wearing GREEN Where: 222 West Hargett Street Second Floor council chamber When: Tuesday December 6, 2016, 1:00 p.m. meeting Why: This is a very large commitment by the city - over $3 million in funding for the purchase and rehabilitation of the multi-servic...

An equipment malfunction prevented filming of much of the Christmas story presentation given during the worship service on Sunday, December 4. But the portion related to the coming of the magi provides an illustration of the way the Christmas story was interpreted in the context of exile. Julia Robertson, Marty Lamb, and Doug Barrick appear in this excerpt. The audio recording of the entire program is available below and features Marty Lamb, Julia Robertson, Joanna Woodrum, Sam Woodrum, Todd Lipman, and Doug Barrick

During Advent, Christmas and Christmastide including the first Monday in January before Epiphany, we will explore ways to use poetry for meditation. On our Monday Lunch days beginning November 28th, seven or eight poems will be handed out for you to use every day during the coming week. They need not to be read in any particular order, you can choose. You may have one that is always meaningful to you, feel free to use it instead. This time of year, finding the time to use the poems for meditation any given day might be a problem. If you have time, take a brief break and select a poem just to read, reading it aloud is often interesting. Other days, maybe you will have the time to spend with a poem for meditation, journalling, even writing your own poem. It's all up to you how much or little you do, but making our Advent journeys together is going to be interesting for sure! Advent begins on Sunday, November 27th so our first MLG will be on the 28th. Since I cannot be there, Geraldin...

Advent is the four Sunday period before Christmas - the day we celebrate the coming of God to live among us through the birth of Jesus.  During Advent we wait expectantly - for the birth of the Christ child and the coming of Christ again. One traditional part of Advent is the giving of gifts, a way of saying thank you to God for the gift of Jesus Christ.  Gift-giving opportunities are noted with a star *. You are welcome to attend any of these Advent events - just show up! 2015 "Fear not!" Christmas tree 1st week of Advent Sunday, November 27 During 10:30 worship Śānti Matthews and Doug Barrick will  share the message: "What is the Christmas story?"  After the Children's Time, the children and youth will leave worship to work together to create ornaments for CUCC's Christmas tree.  After worship, the youth will eat lunch and then go shopping for CUCC's tree. Live near Wake Forest?  Worship with CUCC's Prism group.  A special Advent focus runs Nov. 27...

From Adrienne Little, the Social Justice Ministry's representative at Congregations for Social Action: World AIDS Day “A Time to Remember Candlelight Labyrinth Walk” from Carolyn McClendon, carolynjmcc@aol.com Millbrook Baptist Church, 1519 E. Millbrook Road in Raleigh, will host the 8th annual World AIDS Day “A Time to Remember Candlelight Labyrinth Walk” on Thursday, December 1, 2016. The walk will occur from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., and will include a continuous bell ringing and reading of names of persons who have died as a result of HIV/AIDS.  A time of reflection, remembrance and light refreshment will follow the walk from 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. indoors. All are invited to attend and remember… The labyrinth and garden will be open throughout the day for any and all who wish to walk in silent meditation or sit, remember and pray.  Meditation Guides and red ribbons will be available on site.            *          *     ...

Community Thanksgiving Service Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7PM West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 27 Horne Street West Raleigh PC will be our hosts.  Pastors, members and the choirs of Fairmont UMC and Community UCC will lead us in worship.  If you would like to sing in the choir, arrive to rehearse at 6PM. Childcare is available beginning at 6PM.

Adrienne Little extends these invitations from congregations in Congregations for Social Justice.  She represents CUCC at their meetings. 1 - Fight for $15 Community Meeting from Ben Carroll          Thursday, November 17 | 6:30pm        Raise Up office | 2220 N Roxboro St, Durham, 27704 On November 29th, 4 years to the day after the first fast food worker strike in New York City, low wage workers across the nation will walk off the job in the largest ever low wage worker day of action. We will demand that elected officials and global corporations raise wages and allow workers to form unions. We see this as the beginning of sustained activity to hold elected officials accountable to the 64 million workers in this country who make less than $15 / hour. 2 - Save the date - CSJ Annual Dinner Meeting from Al Reberg       Monday, February 6, 2017 – 6:00 PM       Highland United Methodist Church - Bradley Hall ...

Charlotte Yongue grew up next door to Jo and me and became something of a surrogate daughter. She's finishing nursing school at ECU now, and she posted on Facebook a link to a video about a program in Raleigh neither Jo nor I was aware of. Support for the program comes from Christ Church in Raleigh. I share this 8-minute video simply because it's a good thing going on in our community that deserves to be more widely recognized. (Thanks to Betsy Towler for alerting me to Charlotte's post.)

So far this week I've attended Monday Lunch Group (Monday), a Religious Education Ministry meeting (Tuesday), and have Bible Study coming up (Wednesday). No matter what the topic or agenda of the meeting, we seem to be still in the mode where something will come up that turns attention to last week's election, and still tears, anger, grief, and unresolved issues are barely skin deep. One person at the meeting last night commented that she was all set to be a gracious winner and offer reconciliation to others until the election broke the wrong way, and then she suddenly found that her reconciliatory intensions few out the window. On the home front my own wife Jo has retreated from the TV altogether and refuses any overture to "come and look at this". Our niece Sabrina Tavernise has been on the science and medicine desk at the NY Times for well over a year, but she was called onto the political beat to take a look at the wreckage among friends and families that was left...

Have you noticed that people have begun wearing safety pins? According to a New York Times report , " As a show of support, groups of people across America are attaching safety pins to their lapels, shirts and dresses to signify that they are linked, willing to stand up for the vulnerable." This Wednesday the youth will decorate safety pins which they will offer to the congregation on Sunday.  Or, you can wear an unadorned pin from your junk drawer. As Pastor Peg reminded us, actually standing up for vulnerable people takes courage in the moment.  Let us pray for one another - whether or not we wear a safety pin - that we will act in love when the opportunity arises.

Dear Friends, I am sending this to you and asking Cathy to share it in the next several newsletters. By simply sending a letter to Santa via email you can donate to the Make A Wish Foundation Christmas Campaign . Since 2003 Macy's has been participating in a Believe Campaign. They donate $1 for every letter sent in to Santa (up to $1Million) to the Make A Wish Campaign. Please take a minute to send Santa your best wishes this Christmas and help a sick child's wish be granted in the future. Thank you, Anne Bailey

This year's political campaign season was ugly. No question about it. And it didn't get much prettier when the votes were counted. As one who is rooted in red-state America but spends most of my time in blue-state America I get caught in the crossfire more than most. Here are two things I've seen or heard in the past 48 hours ... “It wasn’t just Donald Trump who won last night — it was his supporters, too. The Klan won last night. White nationalists. Sexists, racists and buffoons. Angry young white men who think rap music and Cinco de Mayo are a threat to their way of life...  Men who have no right to call themselves that and who think that women who aspire to more than looking hot are shrill, ugly, and otherwise worthy of our scorn rather than our admiration struck a blow for misogynistic [expletive] everywhere.” -- Aaron Sorkin (creator of the TV series "West Wing"). And then just a few minutes ago the blue collar worker who came to repair my hot water heater as...

Adrienne Little sent this invitation from our friends at Highland United Methodist Church Join author Clare Hanrahan for a reading and book signing The Half Life of a Free Radical: Growing Up Catholic in Jim Crow Memphis Tuesday, November 15, 7 p.m. Highland United Methodist Church 1901 Ridge Road Raleigh, NC  27609 Clare Hanrahan will present her new book, and speak on the importance of telling one's story in the context of the political and social realities of the times.  Ms. Hanrahan lives in Asheville and is author of Jailed for Justice: A Woman’s Guide to Federal Prison, Conscience & Consequence: A Prison Memoir, and Dissenting Opinions and Public Addresses on Justice, Peace, & Consequences of Dissent. She is a member of the National Writers Union and North Carolina Writer’s Network.  Her most recent publication will be available at book signings and local book stores. Praise for The Half Life of a Free Radical “First and foremost this is an entertaining tale...

This Sunday at Forum (9:30AM, Fellowship Hall) we will hear from Dennis Gaddy who works with those leaving incarceration.  Adrienne Little passes along this opportunity to be a help at a one morning event where lawyers will provide pro bono legal help to apply for expungement of criminal records.  Here is the message Adrienne forwarded from Sara Stohler. Dennis Gaddy called this week and told me about an important new initiative that is being sponsored cooperatively by the District Attorney’s office (Loren Freeman), the Public Defender, NC Justice Center, Legal Aid of NC, Campbell Law School, Dennis Gaddy’s Community Success Initiative, and several other groups.  On Nov. 12, there will be about 300 persons who have criminal records who qualify for expungement of those records, an action that will make employment and housing more readily available. Lawyers will be at Chavis Community Center from 9-12 AM, offering pro bono legal help to apply for expungement. This is an ama...

Occasionally I pirate a UCC Daily Devotional to share with those don't subscribe via email. Today's devotional seems particularly poignant. The author is Mary Luti, and you can find it on the UCC website . -- Lavon Page "God's steadfast love never ceases; God's mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning: great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23 We get our devotional assignments long before publication, so I'm writing this  three weeks before the election. The day it's published we'll know who won, but now, as I mess with syntax and synonyms, I'm clueless. I don't know if it was a squeaker, a landslide, or something in between. I don't know if the pollsters were dead on or if Nate Silver is driving a cab today, scratching his head. I don't know if the loser conceded gracefully or threw a tantrum, nor if the winner delivered an inspiring speech or a cringe-worthy crow. I don't know if you stayed up late w...

November 7, 2016 Dear friends, Advent is a very special time in the church year.  In fact, the first Sunday of the liturgical year is the first Sunday of Advent.  This year that will be November 27. Advent is a time of expectantly waiting for the Christ Child to come yet again.  Your staff has worked hard to create worship experiences that will bring you closer into the story, about a family of refugees and how they made their way in the world. As you await the coming of the Christ child you will also be awaiting the coming of your new pastor, the Rev. Jenny Shultz-Thomas, who was called as your pastor yesterday. As part of my role as your intentional interim minister, I need to give you the time and space to begin your preparation and time of anticipation.  In order to do this my last Sunday with you will be November 20, 2016, the day of the Fall Congregational Meeting.  Ken will come from Connecticut to be with us because he has been blessed by you as well. It...

All are invited to a church-wide Peace Picnic in the fellowship hall on Sunday, November 13, after worship! Lunch will be served, free of charge, but love offerings will be welcomed to cover the cost. Former Raleigh gang members who have formed a truce, and now call themselves Save the Youth will share their stories with us. They will be accompanied by Diana Powell, from Justice Served NC , who will share about how she was instrumental in the truce. Their stories are heart-warming, miraculous, and beautiful! Don't miss this opportunity to support them and to be better peacemakers in our world. Thanks! – Śānti Matthews

Join the 4th annual Novemberfest Coffee and Dessert with Poetry Slam , Saturday, November 12, 6:30-8:30PM. If you want to attend, please reserve your spot by sending an email to education.cucc@gmail.com; also, please let me know in  the email if you plan to recite a poem (original poems are especially encouraged). We hope to see you for this time of fellowship and fun for all ages!  All are invited to enjoy coffee, tea, and dessert (provided by Stewardship Ministry) and enjoy a variety of poetry readings. Call Śānti Matthews with questions.

The City of Oaks Marathon has Dixie Trail blocked from Hillsborough to Wade.  You can access the Dixie Trail lot from Wade Avenue, but not from points south. Pull slowly to the barricades at Wade and Dixie.  Officer Rollins will open the barricade for you.

The City of Oaks Marathon (and three related races) will run just south of CUCC.  Parts of Dixie Trail, Peace and Hillsborough Streets will be blocked. To plan your route to worship, check all four course maps . Remember to set your clock back Saturday night!

Long-time friends of CUCC, Bill and Rosemary Pate (ASP team leaders), sent me this invitation to a concert to raise funds for those harmed by the flooding in West Virginia this summer and in eastern NC this month. You are cordially invited to attend a special ASP event at First United Methodist Church , Cary the evening of Saturday, November 19th.  We are excited be hosting the musical group Alathea , who will be performing a concert for us that evening as we celebrate the great work of ASP and raise funds for flood relief in Rainelle, WV and in eastern North Carolina.   If you have any questions or need additional information, feel call Dennis Hilton at 919.772.6950. Alathea, "I'll Carry You" Official ASP video If you would prefer to get your hands busy making a difference, Bill and Rosemary are leading an adults-only working ASP weekend to WV December 4-9 and will be looking into possible ASP projects in eastern NC.  Here is their letter: Dear Friends We hope you are al...

This is our regular third annual congregational meeting as required in our by-laws.  Plan to stay after worship; light refreshments will be provided. From Article VI.  Section 4. Third Annual Congregational Meeting: This meeting shall be held in the Fall of each year. The date and time shall be set by the Church Council and announced at least two weeks in advance. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss goals and objectives for the coming year and to kick off the pledge campaign. Other business consistent with the Constitution and By­Laws may be transacted at this meeting. A proposed budget and a proposed slate of officers, ministry and committee members shall be presented at the Fall congregational meeting. If you have an item for discussion, please contact Frank Gailor, Moderator. Agenda Opening Prayer Secretary's reading certification of the minutes Approval of the minutes of the May 5, 2016, congregational meeting Supporting documents: Draft minutes Approval of the minute...

Photos from CROP Walk - Click to view album

On a gorgeous afternoon in October (Oct. 16), the children of CUCC sponsored a Blessing of the Animals with Pastor Peg officiating. See more photos

The Community UCC Pastoral Search Committee was appointed earlier this year by our Deacons Ministry to perform a national search for a new settled pastor.  The committee is delighted to say that we have found an excellent candidate and are excited for you to get to know them.  To this end, we pray that you will participate in one or more of the events we have scheduled for Nov 4 through 6 to meet and speak with our candidate and their family.  The candidate will also preach and lead worship at 10:30 on Nov 6.  After worship, at a called congregational meeting, Community UCC members will vote on the recommendation of the Pastoral Search Committee to call the candidate as our next settled pastor. Click program below to enlarge for reading

Annette Patton Bingham January 29, 1936 - October 18, 2016 (Annette Bingham has been a regular participant in many CUCC activities, including Taizé worship and Sunday Forum. She also has served as a leader of the Triangle Interfaith Task Force.) Annette Patton Bingham was born in Greensboro, North Carolina on January 29, 1936, to John Constantine Patton and Nettie Elizabeth Horne. She died October 18, 2016 at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina at the age of 80. She was nurtured and baptized at the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant and after marriage continued her lifelong service in the Methodist Church. She was a graduate of Greensboro High School and earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts and Letters from North Carolina State University. On September 10, 1955 she married William Louis Bingham of Roper, North Carolina. In their married life they lived in Lafayette, Indiana; State College, Pennsylvania; Nancy, Lorraine, France; Hyattsville, Maryland;Chicago,Illino...

Special Congregational Meeting Nov. 6 at 12:00 noon To vote on the call of our proposed new pastor Set your clocks back Saturday night! The Pastoral Search Committee is delighted to share with you that we have completed the search and are presenting to you a candidate for the pastorate at Community UCC.  This week members will receive a letter  in which is a short biography and an invitation to our "Candidate Weekend" on November 4-6.  We invite you to attend any of the sessions with our candidate so that you may get to know this person outside of worship, and feel prepared to vote at the special congregational meeting.  Look for more information about the weekend events in the bulletin and in your email newsletter. - The Pastoral Search Committee

Adrienne Little represents CUCC's Social Justice Ministry at meetings of Congregations for Social Justice.  Consider participating in one of these events in our community.  Contact Adrienne if you have questions. 1 -   Crucial Conversation - Wake County's transit referendum: The case for a "yes" vote from Rob Schofield          Tuesday, October 18, at noon — Box lunches will be available at 11:45 a.m.        Center for Community Leadership Training Room at the Junior League of Raleigh Building        711 Hillsborough St. (At the corner of Hillsborough and St. Mary’s streets)        Cost: $10, admission includes a box lunch. This year’s general election ballot in North Carolina is a crowded one. Across the state, voters will be asked to make dozens of decisions on a dizzying variety of candidates and, in many places, special ballot referenda. One of the most important of these referenda wi...

Are you new and wish to become a member of a church Ministry? Or are you ready to try something new? Is there a ministry that fits your time and talents? Let the Nominating Committee hear from you! Matching people's talents and interests to the work of the church is our job as we begin updating the slate of ministries and committees for the upcoming year. For information about the different ministries and their activities,  go to our website . We hope to hear from you soon! Thank you for opening up your imagination to possibilities... Geri Bowen Marty Lamb Jeanne Ledbetter (Your nominating committee)

The office phones and internet are not working due to problems from Hurricane Matthew.  You can reach Cathy and Peg by cell phone or email which they check throughout the workday. - updated 10-15-16

As usual Community UCC turned out a large group of youth and adults to participate in Walk for Hope that was held on October 9.

Adrienne Little represents CUCC at the meetings of the Congregations for Social Justice.  Here are two open invitations to the community which might be of interest to you. 1 -   In depth conversation regarding the "Suspensions in the Wake County Public School System" from Portia Rochelle < portiarochelle@yahoo.com > Speakers:     Keith Sutton and Monika Johnson Hostler                     WCPSS Board of Education Date:            Tuesday,October 11, 2016 Location:      Martin Street Baptist Church,                     1001 East Martin Street                     Raleigh, North Carolina                     Johnson Building                     State Street Entrance Time: ...

The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker Everyone is invited to a book discussion and luncheon on October 23 after worship in the Hoffman Room.  Whether or not you have read (or finished) the book, you are welcome to be part of the discussion. In the last three decades, millions of American workers have lost their jobs, their health insurance and their pension plans.  Violations of safety regulations are increasingly common.  The hourly wage has scarcely increased at all, even as the risk of being laid off has risen sharply.  The Big Squeeze tells the personal stories of workers who have had to adapt to these changes and endure ongoing stresses and strains.  Hear their stories and share solutions. The youth will provide a simple Ethiopian vegetarian stew and rice.  The discussion about this timely book is sponsored by the Economic Justice Task Force .

Have you been needing to get something done around your house and not been able to do it yourself? Let the CUCC Youth Group take care of it for you. We have set aside one Saturday a month to do chores for church members.  Contact Śānti Matthews at 919-961-8814 or education.cucc@gmail.com if you want to have three youth come do chores for you for two hours, suggested donation is $20. We will work out a day and time that suits you. This new initiative will help us keep our Appalachia Service Project team work momentum, help us get to know members of the church better, and will help us to raise funds for activities for our growing group.

Drop in on the discussion and activities at Sunday Forum.  9:30-10:15AM, Fellowship Hall. November 13:  Dennis Gaddy presents a program to assist men and women transitioning from prison and jail Dennis Gaddy, Executive Director of Community Success Initiative , a non-profit corporation with a vision to crate communities where people discover their potential, set worthy goals for their lives, and take action in a positive way, with an emphasis on men and women who are transitioning form prison and jail, or who otherwise find themselves entangled in the criminal justice system. An Intergenerational Faith and Art Forum November 20:  Star Making Workshop Hope is a star that shines in the night, leading us on till the morning is bright. When God is a child there's joy in our song The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong, and none shall be afraid. - Brian A. Wren As we approach Advent, Śānti Matthews will teach us to make our own 3D star ornaments, and we will explo...

Yes, Christmas attire is encouraged! Our annual  CUCC Christmas Party will be on Saturday, December 10, 2016. The party this year will be catered by Tuscan Blu with vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and omnivorian options.  Tickets go on sale on October 30. Contact Susan Maleszweski for more information.

Friday, Oct. 14 - Sunday, Oct. 16 If you like tent camping, or want to try it, come see the beautiful leaves with us at Pilot Mt., October 14 – 16. BUT, we need to know we have enough space – Chris Burkhardt has reserved four sites, and we can reserve more. SO, if you want to come, please email Chris. The campsite has hot showers, and we’ll all contribute for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Saturday and breakfast Sunday (meals Friday are on your own).  We’ll share more information on what to bring, including a packing list, as we get closer. About Pilot Mountain: Rising abruptly more than 2,000 feet, Pilot Mountain is a remnant of the ancient Sauratown Mountains, with great views of the Blue Ridge and the Piedmont.

Friends, Will you pray with me? From Tuesday, October 4th through Tuesday, November 8, I will be praying every Tuesday in the sanctuary from 10:00am to 10:30am.  Yes, November 8 is Election Day.  I will not be praying for specific persons to be elected, but I will be praying for people to be elected who are willing to work together to bring about peace in all kinds of ways. Please join me in person or in spirit.  If that time of day does not work for you, please select a time and a place that will.  But let's be intentional about praying for God's Kingdom here and now. Amos 5:25: But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Prayers for the journey, Peg

Join us for the 36 th Annual Raleigh CROP Walk on October 23 Help us to raise $5000 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 5K with a new Kid’s Walk! When:  The CROP Walk is held on October 23.  Registration begins at 2:00, the walk begins at 3:00. 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/d...