CUCC Weekly eNews

March 28 Edition of Weekly News Index to all editions of Weekly News The online calendar is always available and is always up-to-date. Deadlines to submit articles to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com): Weekly Newsletter email - TUESDAY by NOON. Sunday bulletin - TUESDAY by NOON.

The Easter Sunday videos are now available in the church archive ... Children's Story by Joy Alford Sermon by Rev. Peg Williams Processional, Anthem, Offertory, and Hallelujah Chorus Also there are photos available in the photo gallery .

Adrienne Little, CUCC's representative to Congregations for Social Justice, sends these four invitations to educational opportunities. 1 -    Dorothy Day: A Radical Discipleship of Mercy from  Trevor Thompson Trevor.Thompson@stfrancisraleigh.org            Friday, April 8, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM            Founder’s Room, Anthony Hall            Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi            11401 Leesville Rd., Raleigh See the newsletter from St. Francis of Assisi congregation , p. 5 for more details 2 -  Methodist Federation for Social Action North Carolina Conference from HENRY C JARRETT jarretth@bellsouth.net        " Dare to Hear: An Honest Conversation about Race and the End to White Privilege"           Saturday, April 9 - 9:00 AM-3:30 PM           Duke Memorial United M...

March 23 Edition of Weekly News Index to all editions of Weekly News The online calendar is always available and is always up-to-date. Deadlines to submit articles to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com): Weekly Newsletter email - TUESDAY by NOON. Sunday bulletin - TUESDAY by NOON.

The Gospel of Mark study concluded a week early, ending Tuesday, March 22. - submitted by Joy Alford

2016 Live Auction Catalog ( Joan's menu for her auction item) 2016 Silent Auction Catalog 2016 Cash and Carry Catalog 2016 Proxy Form The CUCC Family Fun Auction Party is coming up on Saturday, April 23, and we need you to help make it a success! The auction is an annual fundraiser for CUCC. Please consider donating an item for the auction. Examples of past auction items include: Weekends at the beach, lake or mountains Hand-made pottery, quilts, jewelry and original artwork A morning of bird-watching & lunch  Therapeutic massage Day trips to fun destinations. A geology field trip or a hike at a state park Pet-sitting, Babysitting, Yard work, Handyman, and Computer services Brunches, lunches, dinners Delicious homemade cakes, pies, jams, etc. Getting your donation into the auction catalog There are three ways to tell us what you want to offer at the auction.  We need a brief description of your item, minimum bid, and any conditions.  If your item is an event,...

The spring congregational meeting this year will be held on Sunday, May 15, following the 10:30am worship service. This annual spring meeting is required by our bylaws. It is a "regular" meeting. At regular meetings, the agenda is unrestricted. This means that any proposal on any topic can be presented to the congregation for consideration. However, if you plan to present a topic for discussion, it is helpful if you let the moderator (Frank Gailor) know in advance. Agenda Appalachian Service Project announcement     Approval of the minutes Treasurer's Report Annual Report on Membership   Update from CCLIHC Action on Deacon Recommendations of Members of the Search Committee    ( list of recomnendations for Search Committee ) Old Business New Business Draft minutes of Feb. 7 congregational meeting

A slightly condensed version of the entire Youth Sunday program is now available on video in the CUCC Archive .

Join Sam and Joanna Woodrum this Saturday, Mar. 26, 9-10AM for a walking meditation for all ages  in Schenck Forest , consisting of prayerful activities and some silence. This will be a semi-guided walking meditation with 1.5 miles of moderate hiking. Those who prefer less walking have the option to join the group for the first and last 1/4 mile of the walk and sit in a covered picnic area in between.  Facilities are rustic.  Bring water and comfortable clothes.  There is a port-a-potty near the picnic area but no running water. Schenck Forest Directions :  From the NC Museum of Art, take Reedy Creek Road NW for exactly 1 mile (0.3 miles past Edward Mill Road).  Take a left on an unmarked dirt road.  Drive 100 yards and park on the right side of the road.  We'll meet at the gate on the right.

The final film (Silent Light) in this year's Lenten Film series was shown in the fellowship hall last night to an audience of 18 participants. The highest attendance for any film this year was 20, and the lowest was 15, so the level of participation was consistent throughout the series. A total of 31 different people attended at least one of the films, and the total attendance for the 5 sessions was 88. There were 5 participants who attended every film, 12 participants who viewed 4 more of the films, 15 who saw at least 3, and 25 who attended at least 2 films in the series. Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for the series and especially to Geraldine Bryan, Betsy Towler, Karen Withem, and Jo Perry who helped preview films and make the final selections.

March 17 Edition of Weekly News Index to all editions of Weekly News The online calendar is always available and is always up-to-date. Deadlines to submit articles to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com): Weekly Newsletter email - TUESDAY by NOON. Sunday bulletin - TUESDAY by NOON.

Members of Community United Church of Christ, Greetings from the Deacons’ Ministry!  The Transition Team has invited us to form a Pastoral Search Committee.  We have had discussions with Pastor Peg and reviewed the UCC’s resources for congregations engaged in the Search for and Call of a new pastor to help us understand this exciting responsibility.  Here’s where we need your help. JOIN US IN THE FORMATION OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE!  Submit your prayerfully considered, written nomination(s) of potential committee members from the church membership.   Review the criteria for committee members on the nomination form.  Be specific about the qualities you see in your nominee(s) that will make them an asset to the committee.  Helpful document:   Five Commitments for Search Committees Search Committee Nominations form This form was also included in the weekly CUCC newsletter (3/17/16) and will be an insert in the Sunday Bulletin (3/20/16).  Nominatio...

Maundy Thursday March 24, 7:00pm Community United Church of Christ Supper begins at 5:45pm The good people from St. Paul Christian Church will join us for a simple supper of soup and bread, and a combined Maundy Thursday service. Join us as we remember the Last Supper of Jesus with the Apostles.

Children as young as 5 years old will have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on community outreach activity at Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC on April 9 from 2-4.  They will be participation in an age-appropriate food sorting project. A parent or responsible adult must accompany each child. To sign up to participate, email Gray Woodard. CUCC can have only 15 people attend this activity on this day, so if you decide to be a part of this outreach, please make it a priority to attend.

Join our own Mike Schafale (terrestrial ecologist with North Carolina Natural Heritage Program ) and Skip Stoddard (geologist with the NC Geological Survey and retired NCSU professor) on a Lenten journey at White Pines Nature Preserve .  The cycles we see in nature, the interrelatedness of all things natural, and the re-awakening of the season will be our spiritual themes.  This is our March 19 Lenten Journey . Meet at CUCC to carpool at noon OR meet the group at the preserve at 1PM.   Directions Description of White Pines Nature Preserve : "The 275-acre White Pines Nature Preserve was conserved because of its namesake, a tree more commonly found in higher, cooler climates. Curiously, the white pine (Pinus strobus) was once common here — more than 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. As the climate warmed, the white pine and other cool-weather species (spruce, fir and hemlock) retreated from all but a few isolated pockets of the Piedmont, where conditions created a c...

March 10 Edition of Weekly News Index to all editions of Weekly News The online calendar is always available and is always up-to-date. Deadlines to submit articles to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com): Weekly Newsletter email - TUESDAY by NOON. Sunday bulletin - TUESDAY by NOON.

On Monday, March 7, the Monday Lunch Group invited one and all to participate in a birthday luncheon for Peg Hulslander to celebrate Peg's 80th birthday. We swapped lots of stories about Peg and enjoyed a shared meal, cake, and ice cream. View entire photo album from party

From time to time we will post stories from CUCC people. Adrienne Adrienne's story At a Social Justice Ministry meeting we decided we would like to help formerly incarcerated individuals adjust to life outside of prison. It was when many people were being released. Our plan was announced in church in a Ministry Moment given by Mike Soboeiro. Five people signed a volunteer sheet. Shortly after that I attended a Capital Area Reentry Council Resource Fair. Sara Stohler and I were staffing the table with a faith based sign.   A young lady came up and expressed her need to find a church where she would not be judged. I invited her to our church.  We scheduled her to talk at our morning forum. The people who heard her were impressed. Most of these members had not signed the original volunteer sheet. Together we were able to furnish rides  to various events including Dennis Gaddy's program for individuals making an adjustment to  life outside of prison, some volunteer progr...

Bidding takes a hilarious turn CUCC Annual Auction Saturday, April 23 6:30pm - 9:30pm Come and join the fun at our annual auction.  We all have a great time as we raise money for all of the wonderful causes that our church works and believes in. Inexpensive items in the 2015 silent auction. Contact the church office at 919-809-8850 or office.cucc@gmail.com or Carol Kepler or Carol Clark if you would like to donate an item or service for the auction. SEE YOU AT THE Auction!

Church-Wide Spring Work Day Saturday, March 19, 2016 9:00am - Noon Let’s all pitch in and help spruce up the church building and grounds just in time for Easter!  Helpers of all ages are needed!  Tasks range from window washing to picking up pinecones.  We’ll work from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and get this done.  Remember, many hands make light work!  Children and their parents are welcome.  Come for part of the time or all of it.

Pastor Peg Williams received this invitation.  Sign up before March 14 to get the discounted price.  Let us know if you decide to attend. Growing Up in Faith with Mental Illness , a one-day conference offered by Faith Connections on Mental Illness in conjunction with AHEC, will be held on Friday, April l, 2016 at St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill. The program runs from 9 till 4:30 and features Gary Nelson, DMin from West Virginia, author of A Relentless Hope: Surviving the Storm of Teen Depression. Other presentations include Jack Naftel, MD, Understanding Mental Illness in Childhood and Adolescence; Youth M.O.V.E; a parent panel; one church’s effort to raise mental health awareness, and other expert speakers. Early Bird registration is $35 until 3/l4 or $75 for optional professional credit via Wake AHEC. Breakfast and lunch are included. Register online .   For details . There is always a waiting list so sign up soon!

Adrienne Little sends you this information on events from Congregations for Social Justice.  Adrienne represents CUCC at their meetings. 1 -  Gerrymandering: "Assault On Democracy”? from Don and Shirley Birt            Gerrymandering: "Assault On Democracy”?            Thursday, March 17, 7PM            Community United Church of Christ            814 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607 (Corner of Dixie Tr. and Wade Ave.) How much is gerrymandering the “problem behind the problem” of our current political, moral and economic upheavals in NC? What’s being done about it? Join Community UCC’s Economic Justice Task Force in an expanded discussion and exploration of the issue with Jane Pinsky of the NC Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform. Jane has been director of the NC Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform since 2007. The Coalition, in which Common Ca...

Cathy Marshall asked to have this announcement posted.  This group has reserved our fellowship hall for their March meeting. Americans United for Separation of Church and State Meeting Announcement: Tuesday, March 8, 2016 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM Community United Church of Christ Fellowship Hall Our local, state and federal governments seem determined to remove the Wall of Separation between Church and state.  We cannot allow these actions to go unchallenged! These days it seems only one religion is worthy of freedom and, of course, government support… theirs! Americans United fights for freedom of religion for everyone and government support for none. Therein lies the rub.  It takes courage and understanding to stand for freedom of religion for others. When others lose their freedoms, ours, too, is lost. Americans United welcomes everyone to help in the struggle to maintain our religious freedom. We do not advocate any political party or candidate.  We discuss the i...

March 2 Edition of Weekly News Index to all editions of Weekly News The online calendar is always available and is always up-to-date. Deadlines to submit articles to the church office (office.cucc@gmail.com): Weekly Newsletter email - TUESDAY by NOON. Sunday bulletin - TUESDAY by NOON.