CUCC Weekly eNews

    The Church Office will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, in celebration of the Fourth of July Holiday.  We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Fourth.

Dear CUCC Friends,  One of the joys of being part of a progressive denomination in the life of faith is the opportunity to be joined with so many others from around the country who are working tirelessly in their own communities towards a more just and peaceful world. Over the next several days, I will be meeting with my UCC Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI) cohort in Baltimore, Maryland, as we discuss our own plans to that end as young professionals serving in faith communities across this nation; a nation which is currently under seize. I ask that you hold us in the light as we discern next steps, as well as offering your prayers and presence “for peace,” as our nations leaders deliberate over the state of healthcare in this country. God, in your mercy… Over the weekend, we will be joined by thousands of others at the UCC General Synod event where delegates and UCC National Leaders will address several resolutions that we hope will move us, as advocates of equality, in...

Dear Friends, Eighteen of us, thirteen youth and four chaperones, are preparing to leave for BYC (Youth Camp) on Sunday, July 2: Cooper Atkinson, Mason Atkinson, Aubrey Shannon Barrick, Alex Bowen, Zenna Bryan, Rebekah Fairbrother, Sophie Flynn, Tsegawit Gebremedhin, Julia Langenderfer, Ella Powell, John Robertson, Marybeth Worley, Terry Worley, Olivia Worters, Bill Bryan, Paul Kiel, Annaka Sikkink, and Śānti Matthews. BYC is a church camp in Laurel Springs, North Carolina, that is organized and supported by eleven churches (eight Alliance of Baptist Churches and three UCC Churches) who covenant together to provide a safe, nurturing, fun and creative space for youth to learn more about God, themselves, and community. Youth get to spend the week with roughly 100 other youth from like-minded churches all over the country. This will be the 8th year that CUCC has participated. We can't say enough good things about both the deeply profound spiritual opportunities, the community building...

Lectionary for the Week of July 2, 2017 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Green Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13 or Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42

                         Sunday          7/02      9:00am          Taizé Worship – Sanctuary                                    9:30am          Adult Bible Study - Bradow Room                                  1 0:30am          Worship Service with Communion - Sanctuary                         ...

Our garden is growing! After a seed failure early in the spring, our garden is up and coming! We have tomatoes, peppers, squash and eggplant this year. Many thanks to Mr. Bill (Lamb) who continues to donate to  PLANT A ROW  from his garden and to Carol Clark who donated and planted more eggplant and pepper plants in the garden. The new soaker hose is missing from our garden. If you happened to borrow it please return it by placing it back in the garden as it was. Thank you. It is easy for you to donate to  PLANT A ROW . Just take your veggies to the check out counter at Logan’s Garden Shop, 707 Semart Dr., Raleigh, and tell them the donation is from CUCC. You will receive a receipt which you can drop by the Sunday School room and we will add your donation to our tally. All donations are appreciated. I look forward to seeing the children whenever they are here this summer. Safe travels everyone! Anne Bailey

Karen Withem is a member of CUCC and a regular at Sunday's Taize' worship.  We're excited about the showing of her first film and invite you to attend this film festival in Cary. Here's a note from Karen. Hi all, my first film "A Rude Awakening," will screen July 5 at the Cary Theatre. It's an evening of shorts featuring one locally made film, plus shorts from all over the world, and the programs I've seen have been very good. "A Rude Awakening" was an Official Selection and won the Audience Choice Award at the Great Lakes International Film Festival in 2016. View the " A Rude Awakening" trailer Come and bring your friends! Best regards, Karen Withem Motion for Pictures Screening Series July 5, 7PM Cost: $3 to $5 Cary Theater 122 E. Chatham Street Cary, NC  27511

Thanks to Maria Mayorga & Jason Myers and their kids for preparing and serving the Wright Center meal Sunday June 18. They went over and beyond the call of duty doing it all on  Father's Day. There are openings for November 19 and Dec 17 if you would like to help serve or prepare food for the Wright Center. Please contact Laura Upchurch by email at  laura.lewis3@twc.com  or call   919-616-8285 .

Sunday, July 9, 2017 - 5:00pm - 8:00pm Please join Lutheran Services Carolinas at Big Boss Brewing Company as we celebrate diversity through food.  Your refugee neighbors, and our clients, will be cooking dishes native to their country of origin.  Enjoy this family friendly event with games, t-shirts, food, speakers and community connections - register  here  to be part of the celebration! Contact Joan McAllister for additional information at joan_mcallister@att.net. 

As you know, President Trump has said that he will pull the US from the Paris Climate Accords.  This is a very sad and dangerous decision.  Today, I am proud of the leaders the Southern Conference of the UCC because last week they signed on to a UCC emergency resolution in opposition to our withdrawal.  The resolution will be presented at the General Synod later this summer  http://uccfiles.com/synod/reso lutions/The-Earth-is-the%20Lor ds-Not-Ours-to-Wreck-Imperativ es-for-a-New-Moral-Era-v-DDA.p df ..  Some of the key aspects include “...RESOLVED, that the Thirty-first General Synod of the United Church of Christ calls upon the whole of the church to prayerfully engage the following imperatives as we seek to initiate a new moral era: Let our clergy accept the mantle of moral leadership :  Now is the time for clergy to speak from their pulpits about the moral obligation of our generation to protect God’s creation. Let the world know that whatever the curren...

Please Join Us in Celebrating the Graduation of JaCarrie Elizabeth Spurlock Saturday, June 24th,  2:00pm to 4:00pm Community United Church of Christ 814 Dixie Trail Raleigh, NC 27607 Vaughan Fellowship Hall Heavy Hors D'oeuvres RSVP to Cara at 919-702-5070

CUCC Members Making a Difference Austin Osborne-Newman , who was raised and confirmed at CUCC, participated in the 2017 Trailblaze Challenge to raise money for Make-a-wish. Austin and his girlfriend, Mandy Hough, set a goal to raise $5000 for Make-a-wish, and they would very much appreciate support from CUCC folks. If you would like to learn more or/and to support them, please follow the link. http://trailblazechallenge.kintera.org/2017spring/austinmandy Austin and Mandy thank you for your support of this terrific cause.

The Journey One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice-- though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. "Mend my life!" each voice cried. But you didn't stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do-- determined to save the only life you could save.                      - Mary Oliver This afternoon as I sat ou...

Lectionary for the Week of June 25, 2017 - Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time -(Third Sunday after Pentecost) Green - Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17 OR Jeremiah 20:7-13; Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18; Romans 6:1b-11; Matthew 10:24-39 Ramadan Ends - 60th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ

Sunday          6/25     60th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ                                     9:00am          Taizé Worship – Sanctuary                                    9:30am          Choir Practice - Sanctuary                                    9:30am          Adult Bible Study - Bradow Roo...

At the last Congregations for Social Justice meeting on June 14th, Rachel representing Habitat for Humanity spoke for seven houses they would like to build in Cary. So far citizens have opposed the construction even with their cutting back on the number they want to build. Now Habitat for Humanity is seeking R8 zoning the same as across the street. On June 22nd at the town council meeting people who see the need for low cost housing are asked to get a Habitat t shirt at the parking garage at 6 o'clock and come to the meeting at 6:30. Residents from Cary are asked to speak at the meeting. Adrienne Little

Whenever I hear friends pontificating about "hate", I always cringe a bit. I know it's not "us" that they're talking about. Hate is very easy to spot in those who disagree with us. The Bible affirms that when it asks, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" That plank whopped us over the head this week. But the same week in which I heard much talk among friends about the 2nd anniversary of the shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston and the 1st anniversary of the shootings at the Orlando nightclub, we were strangely silent in church today about the shootings on the ball field in Alexandria this week. And the scary thing about the shootings in Alexandria is that the shooter's profile seems so normal to us. In today's NY Times, Ross Douthat makes that very observation ... So Hodgkinson’s seeming normalcy, his angry but relatively mains...

Dear Beloved Community,  On this Monday, June 12, 2017, I am at a loss for words, which is pretty rare for me—as you have already witnessed. I have been with you for 148 days, nearly 5 months, serving as your Pastor at Community United Church of Christ. Some of the days and weeks have been long, yes, but most have been filled to overflowing. I find myself overwhelmed with peace and joy as the excitement and energy from being in your midst ushers me from one page to the next—expectantly. I am sitting now at my own kitchen table, with the soft humming of the dishwasher in the background, birdsongs bouncing off the glass behind me, the natural light competing with the chandelier above my head to illuminate this space. My daughter is home sick today with a virus that warms her tiny body to the point of tears. She is sleeping now, and I am thankful. I am overwhelmed with gratitude today for many things; but mostly for how the Spirit has blessed my family with the incredible gifts of you...

Newcomers’ Coffee Sunday, June 18 In the Library after the 10:30am Worship Service Anyone interested in learning m ore about CUCC is invited to join  us for casual conversation and refreshments. Hope to see you there!

Please join us Tuesday, June 20th, as we share with each other. “The Sacred You”  - More than a support group, The Sacred You invites Queer folk and their friends, family, and allies to experience true community within a spiritually rich safe space. Let’s celebrate who we are together!! Open to LGBTQ and their friends, families, and allies. Place:  Community UCC - Vaughan Fellowship Hall Time:   7:00pm, Third Tuesdays For additional questions or information, contact Pastor Jenny at 919-809-8850.

                                                                                                  Sunday          6/18     9:00am          Taizé Worship – Sanctuary                                    9:30am          Adult Bible Study - Bradow Room                                  10:30...