CUCC Weekly eNews

 Sunday 12/03        9:00am Nursery for newborns - 3-year-olds     9:00am  Taizé Worship – Sanctuary    9:30am Choir Practice - Sanctuary    9:30am Adult Bible Study - Bradow Room  1 0:30am Worship Service - Sanctuary - First Sunday of Advent  10:45am Children’s Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms  10:45am No Youth Sunday School - First Sunday  11:45am Fellowship - Vaughan Fellowship Hall    3:00pm Covenant Community - Bradow Room    5:00pm Intergenerational Advent Celebration - Fellowship Hall         Monday 12/04  12:15pm Monday Lunch Group - Hoffmann Room            Tuesday 12/05   10:30am Office Staff Meeting - Pilgrim House    6:30pm Life & Faith in Raleigh - O’Malley’s Restaurant & Pub   Wednesday  12/06        9:30am Tai Chi – V...

Lectionary for the Week of December 3, 2017 - First Sunday of Advent Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

Friends, This first Sunday of Advent marks the anniversary of my daughter’s baptism, so I will share this Advent reflection that I wrote on the day following in 2015. “I think sometimes we, parents of little ones, think that baptism is simply a religious rite  that we need to check off the list, so we dress them up in flowing gowns and head pieces and take them to church. As I was sitting here this morning feeling almost paralyzed by these images of violence that continue to fill my feed I am reminded of the significance of my children's baptisms, of the water that gently covered their brows, then drip-dropped  down their tiny faces, tickling their noses and softly leaving their skin once again.  As a  mother this water helped ensure my babies' safety as they grew and developed inside of my body, and then ushered them to their next adventure when birth would bring them into the next world. This same life-giving water fills their bodies even now as they learn to talk ...

From the Social Justice Ministry – Submitted by Adrienne Little Last week brought the latest gun-related massacre, this time at a California elementary school. Yes, these higher profile tragedies can overshadow the everyday reality:  over 100 Americans die from gun violence every single day in America.  But there is hope in passing bi-partisan legislation that would strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).   If this bill was a law it would have prevented the Texas shooter from buying guns legally. Senator Blumenthal said the following about the S. 2135, the Fix NICS Act: “The federal background check program is only as good as the information that is provided to it. Mass murderers in Sutherland Springs, Charleston, and Blacksburg were legally prohibited from accessing firearms, but gaps in NICS allowed each of them to walk out of a gun store with the weapons used to commit their crimes. Our bipartisan legislation will incentivize state...

You may have noticed the appearance of small signs by the entrances to CUCC.   These signs replace those that disappeared over the years, perhaps when we renovated the narthex.  In 1996, the congregation voted to post the signs .

Neighbor to Neighbor is a grassroots organization based in Southeast Raleigh that has been serving the community there since 1994.  It provides a host of programs for youth and adults, all with the goal of building communities of hope, justice, and compassion. We are excited to partner with them by assisting with the Christmas party for their after school program on Thursday Dec. 7, beginning at 5:30 pm.  We plan to provide dessert, help serve food, and provide a craft.  If you are interested in being a part of this event, please contact Charles Coble at coble72@hotmail.com.  We hope to see you there!

Join your CUCC Family for Thanksgiving Dinner Bev and Keith Stolarick, Marty and Bill Lamb, and Sherrie King are hosting a Thanksgiving Potluck on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23 ,  at 1:30pm in the Fellowship Hall at CUCC. RSVP to one of those listed above or the church office at office.cucc@gmail.com . Please bring your favorite side dish.  Bill Lamb is providing the turkeys.  Drinks will be provided.  A great way to spend the holiday - spending it with your church family.

Lectionary for the Week of November 26, 2017 - Reign of Christ Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100 or Psalm 95:1-7a; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46

Hallelujah Anyhow By Tony Robinson, November 20, 2017 "Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold and there is no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord." - Habakkuk 3: 17 - 18 As this is written, Thanksgiving is coming up later this week. It's one thing to be celebrate Thanksgiving when our home is warm and comfortable, our table is laden, everyone is enjoying more or less decent health, and your leaders aren't threatening nuclear war. It is something else again — as will be true this year for folks in Puerto Rico, Houston, Florida and Sonoma County — when home has vanished, the table is meager, and people are sick and tired. Who gives thanks to God when life is tough, when things aren't great, when instead of a lot what you have is a little? The closing verses of the book of the prophet Habakkuk, some of which you can...

Sunday  1 1/26        9:00am Nursery for newborns - 3-year-olds    9:00am  Taizé Worship – Sanctuary   9:30am Choir Practice - Sanctuary   9:30am Adult Bible Study - Bradow Room    9:30am Youth Confirmation Class - Youth Room 1 0:30am Worship Service - Sanctuary - Rev. Michael Evans 10:45am Children’s Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms 10:45am Youth Sunday School - Youth Room After worship, Youth practice Advent song, then youth go to lunch together and buy the Church Christmas Tree. Youth are asked to purchase their own fast food lunch (if possible). 11:45am Fellowship - Vaughan Fellowship Hall 12:00pm Stewardship Ministry Meeting - Library   3:00pm Covenant Community - Bradow Room   Monday 11/27  12:15pm Monday Lunch Group - Hoffmann Room            Tuesday 11/28  10:30am Office Staff Meeting - Pilgrim House ...