CUCC Weekly eNews

Join us Thursday, June 4 from 1:00pm- 2:00pm for a prayerful community discussion about the events of the last two weeks. Many of us are angry, sad, and concerned about the state of our country. Pastor Lacey will host a safe space to talk about these concerns through our weekly CUCC Cafe. Email lacey.cucc@gmail.com for the Zoom information.

We will hold our June congregational meeting after worship on Sunday 6/7/2020 on Zoom. Please review these three documents prior to the meeting: Minutes from the January Congregational Meeting Minutes from February Congregational Meeting Agenda The purpose of the meeting is to give you a picture of our church’s current status as we continue to Be the Church during COVID-19. Additionally, we would like to hear your questions and comments regarding the church’s future response. Please consider the following ideas prior to the meeting: What questions do you have about CUCC during COVID-19? What do you see as a “next step” or step forward for our church? What needs to happen for you to feel ready to “come back” to the physical space? What ideas or suggestions do you have? We will use breakout groups to manage our discussion of these ideas during our FIRST EVER Zoom Congregational Meeting. Additionally, we will be discussing our church’s remembrance of Cally Rogers-Witte. T

On first Sundays, CUCC has a tradition of collecting bags of food for local food pantries in a shopping cart in the fellowship hall.  Now that we are worshipping virtually, we needed a plan B. June 7 is a first Sunday.  If you didn't bring a food bag for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle last week (we collected over 100 food items!), you can still bring your donation this coming Tuesday, June 9. COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOOD ITEMS NEEDED: Canned Vegetables Canned Fruit Rice Pasta & Pasta Sauce Cereal Boxes Oatmeal Canned Soup Canned Chicken & Tuna Canned & Dry Beans For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept donations of: Items void of nutritional value including: Candy Vienna sausages "Fruit" drinks made without fruit juice Sodas Chips Home prepared food including canned/jarred fruits, vegetables and preserves Dented and rusted cans Items without labels If coming to CUCC on a weekday doesn't work for you, why not make a do

Please sign this petition from the ACLU asking for bail bond reform.  Sign here Last fall CUCC voted as a congregation that we want to see bail bond reform. ( Here the resolution we voted in, and here is the version we are asking the Southern Conference of the UCC to endorse.) Because the cash bail bond system is a racially and socially biased system destroying lives. In North Carolina, 86% of the people in our jails haven’t been convicted of a crime. Being a person of color or being in poverty are a much better predictors of pretrial jail time than is guilt of a crime. Pretrial jail time leads to loss of jobs, disruption of families, and destruction of lives. Our state's money bail system is broken and corrupt. No one's freedom should depend on the color of their skin or their bank account balance. We urgently need a new system that restores fairness and justice to the process. We must do what we can to change the system. As CUCC, we have said that the sys

We have a new affinity group, the Community UCC Racial Justice Affinity Google Group.  This group is for members and friends of CUCC who are called to working for the end of racism in Raleigh, NC and the US.  The group will provide a safe platform to share about racial justice - our feelings, needs for support, information on current news and trainings and opportunities for action in the world.  Jim Smith is managing this list and invites anyone interested in joining the group to send him an email and he will add you to the group. Jim Smith  jwmsmith64@att.net

Webinar Topic:  America on Fire!  A racial equity conversation Thursday, June 4, 2020, 6:00 pm  (ET)  Webinar sponsored by the Southern Conference of the UCC To attend, contact Jane Smith for the Zoom meeting information   Featured Presenter:  Rev. LaShauna Austria is the Southern Conference Minister for Racial Equality and Justice This webinar is part of the SOC's series Educating, Equipping and Empowering. Here is a bio of Rev. Austria borrowed from the Rotary Club website: LaShauna Austria Executive Director of Benevolence Farms LaShauna grew up in Alamance County. She went to Alexander Wilson, then Southern Middle, then Southern High School. She joined the Army for a short while and then came back to Alamance County. She is married with four children. She is also a pastor for the United Church of Christ in Asheboro and she recently bought land in the southern part of the county to fulfill her dream of becoming a farmer. LaShauna became involved with Benevolence F

Congregations for Social Justice will have a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, June 10th from 8:30 to 10 am. The speaker will be Ms Yolanda Taylor. She is a Managing Attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina Incorporated. For a password to the meeting, please contact Bill Gretsch,  Merrilee Jacobson, or Adrienne Little.  Their contact information is in Breeze.  Or reach Adrienne at ajlittle39@gmail.com.

Living in Community Council’s Response to COVID-19 May 28, 2020 edition New opportunities keep popping up every day, so keep checking the CUCC Online Calendar . Thursday, May 28 CUCC Café – Śānti hosts Friday, May 29 Last day to order your book for "Inspired" study CUCC Café – Bill hosts Saturday, May 30 Conversation and Meditation Sunday, May 31     Pentecost Taizé worship and fellowship Sunday Morning Bible Study - Acts All-ages, traditional worship and fellowship    Wear red for Pentecost   Youth-led worship Youth Sunday School Monday, June 1 Monday Lunch Group COVID-19 Task Force Tuesday, June 2  Office staff meeting Inter-Faith Food Shuttle collection Office staff meeting CUCC Café – Bill hosts Life & Faith Wednesday, June 3 CUCC Café   - Bill hosts Confirmation Choir Thursday, June 4 CUCC Café   - Śānti hosts Deacons Ministry All staff meeting Friday, June 5 CUCC Café   - Bill hosts Current needs in the commu

The last two months have brought challenges to our congregation, our state and our country. During this time of sheltering in place, we’ve discovered that the CUCC community is a vibrant one, even when we can’t be physically together. Thanks to the efforts of many, we’ve experienced meaningful worship, gathered online for small group and ministry meetings, held a virtual auction and said farewell to our interim pastors with a Zoom concert. Now that North Carolina is taking incremental steps to lessen restrictions, the Council has begun discussing what the “new normal” might look like for our community.  A taskforce composed of Mike Cline, Mike Soboeiro and Merrilee Jacobson gathered guidance from medical professionals, governmental agencies and national church bodies to ensure that Council had a wide breadth of information to consider.  At its May 18 meeting, Council held a lengthy discussion and mapped out some initial steps as part of our own “Phase 1” plan. First and f

On June 2, the Raleigh City Council will be voting on a proposed $80 million affordable housing bond that will impact the city for five years if passed this November.  Congregations for Social Justice (CSJ), of which CUCC is a member, is concerned that the bond does not currently target residents who are most in need of affordable housing.  If you share their concerns, please take two minutes (literally!) to send the letter below via email to Mayor Baldwin, City Council members and their staffs. If you have questions about the bond, please contact CSJ members Adrienne Little (919-781-0829) or Merrilee Jacobson (919-274-4539). Sample letter to be sent to citycouncilmembers@raleighnc.gov and mayorstaff@raleighnc.gov with a copy to councilstaff@raleighnc.gov Dear Mayor Baldwin and Raleigh City Council members, On June 2, please vote in favor of an affordable housing bond that targets our neighbors living at or below 30% of Area Median Income (AMI). I am especially concerned about

Join Pastor Lacey as we dive into Rachel Held Evans’ book, Inspired: Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again , Thursday evenings at 7-8pm from June 11th – July 9th on Zoom. Register here. Order a paperback book here  (part of the registration form). Deadline is Friday, May 29. Cost is about $15; your donation toward the cost would be appreciated.  You may donate here ; choose "Give to Inspired Book Group." If you would prefer an mp3 or Kindle version, you may order that online yourself. “If the Bible isn’t a science book or an instruction manual, then what is it? What do people mean when they say the Bible is inspired? When Rachel Held Evans found herself asking these questions, she began a quest to better understand what the Bible is and how it is meant to be read. What she discovered changed her—and it will change you too.” Questions?  Contact Julie Robertson (contact information is on Breeze)

We're celebrating Pentecost this month.  Let's unpack that story of disciples and tongues of fire in an upper room and the totally unexpected way it turned their lives upside down.  Have you had an experience that you would describe as the palpable presence of Spirit that ended up influencing your life choices? Whether it was tongues of fire or the sudden courage to do what you'd never imagine you could do or something else entirely, what did you feel and think and, most importantly, do after the "encounter"?  Now years (or days) later, how has that story influence other choices you face? If you've never experienced anything you would call Spirit, you are welcome in the conversation, too. Sceptic or curious is fine. Listening with respect is what we do at Life & Faith, and that includes listening to you. Life & Faith is an informal and fluid gathering for anyone who shows up. Bring a friend!  As we sip our beverages of choice, we swap stories and

On first Sundays, CUCC has a tradition of collecting bags of food for local food pantries in a shopping cart in the fellowship hall. In this time of being careful not to spread our germs, we have switched to making donations. June 7 is a first Sunday.  If you didn't bring a food bag for the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle last week, you can still bring your donation this coming Tuesday, June 9.  Read more about the food they want . If coming to CUCC on a weekday doesn't work for you, why not make a donation to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle or Urban Ministries of Wake County so they can purchase food for their food pantries?  You can set up a recurring donation or make a ritual of pressing the donate button each first Sunday.

It is unwise for us to gather in person for our quarterly program + luncheon events for retirees for the remainder of 2020.  Retirees' Luncheons for 2020 are cancelled. If you have an idea for an event which we could do virtually (or from our cars or other inventive ideas), please contact the office.  Maybe you would like to be part of organizing it?  The office will pass along your idea and offer to help to whichever ministry comes closest to what you imagine.  - Jane Smith for Jeanne Ledbetter and Susan Maleszweski

What?  No masks?!!! In spite of the legal requirement to “social distance,” the weeds at CUCC are popping up at very close quarters throughout the church grounds. Help is needed to remove the offenders and discourage new attempts at crowding. If you’d like to volunteer, please contact Property Ministry chairperson Merrilee Jacobson at 919-274-4539 or mkjacobson123@gmail.com. Those people who can’t tell a weed from a flower are welcome to pick up sticks and pinecones that are also in good supply.

This email is a continuation of deacon outreach efforts in this time of COVID 19. Contained within this email is yet another devotional for our collective reflection, offered by our very own Marty Lamb. Also, please remember that if you are in need of support or assistance, then please don’t hesitate to call or reach out to one of us. We are happy to receive your prayer requests. We are also able to contact pastors or church staff on your behalf, should you require their support. We will strive to help any way we can.  You can reach us through Breeze ; look for the Deacons tag to find our names and contact information. Thank you for being in community with us. May we remain unified, loving, passionate and compassionate during this difficult time. Peace be with you! Paul Atkinson Deacons Ministry Chair ******************** “Psalms 16:8 and 9: 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my

The trees we planted Earth week will have an additional benefit in addressing climate change… reducing the need for air conditioning.  As the climate gets hotter, the need for AC increases, which uses more electricity which (if generated from fossil fuels), which causes the climate to get hotter.  Trees offer communities evaporative cooling, reducing the local temperature. Thank you for your donations to plant trees and for trees you plant at home this year. Read the science from Dr. Bill Schlesinger of the Nicholas School of the Environment, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. - submitted by Jane Smith for CUCC's Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force

If you are invited by Zoom to update to 5.0, please do it. Thank you. Jane Smith for the Virtual Worship Tech Team

An Update from Church Council Congregational Meeting and COVID-19 New opportunities keep popping up every day, so keep checking the CUCC Online Calendar .   The calendar is up to date through June 7. May 21, 2020 edition Thursday, May 21 CUCC Café – Śānti hosts CUCC Book Club Friday, May 22 CUCC Café – Bill hosts Saturday, May 23 Sunday, May 24 Final day to submit names of graduates to office Taizé worship  and fellowship Sunday Morning Bible Study - Acts All-ages worship and fellowship Do Justice Ministry Youth Sunday School Arts in Worship Committee Monday, May 25 Monday Lunch Group Tuesday, May 26  Office staff meeting CUCC Café – Bill hosts Youth Choir Carbon Neutral CUCC Wednesday, May 27 CUCC Café   - Bill hosts Confirmation Thursday, May 28 CUCC Café   - Śānti hosts Friday, May 29 CUCC Café   - Bill hosts Current COVID-19 related needs in the community What you can do to help now Item 5 is new Other important news in t

After thoughtful discussion, Council has voted to keep all CUCC grounds and buildings closed to all groups through at least June 7, 2020. You will receive additional information in the coming days regarding CUCC’s response to COVID-19.  Please mark your calendar for a scheduled congregational meeting to be held on Sunday, June 7th, following worship on Zoom. Keep an eye out for information from Council prior to the meeting. Megan Fackler Bretz Moderator

Friends: As you know, much of climate change comes from our fossil fuel use.  These fuels put CO2 (sometimes just called “carbon”) into the atmosphere.   To decrease climate change, we must decrease this carbon generation. One of the 2020 goals of the Justice in a Changing Climate task force is “to seek a strategy for CUCC to become carbon neutral”, that is: a strategy to eliminate the carbon we put in the atmosphere.   (Our solar panels, composting and energy efficiency put us well on our way!) Our first meeting to discuss and plan this strategy will be by Zoom on Tuesday, May 26, at 7:30 PM. We would love to have broad congregational input into the strategy and implementation. Please contact Gary Smith (Email: smithgk@mindspring.com) if you would like to participate in this first meeting. God bless our work together Gary Smith, for the JCC

In a Time of Uncertainty Five consecutive Saturdays: May 30, June 6, 13, 20, 27 11AM-12PM on Zoom Are you new to meditation and want some gentle support and resources? Do you already practice meditation and want to share your experiences? Would you enjoy a small group meditation for a few weeks? Consider joining one or all of the meetings in this contemplative series. Daniel Day, Buddhist and meditation practitioner will facilitate our Zoom gatherings as we explore together the Spiritual Practice of mindful meditation. An invitation from Daniel: “Set aside this time as a gift to yourself. Before the meetings start, you might consider creating a space for yourself, choosing a quiet location and bringing in anything that enhances your senses: a meditation blanket or pillow, flowers, incense, a chime, a candle, crystals or rocks, an image of Jesus, or a holy figure, spiritual symbol, or a saying pertaining to any religion or practice that carries a special vibration and tun

Influence Wake transit into the future:   The FY21 Recommended Wake Transit Work Plan is available for review!    Review the plan here     Submit comments here The 30-day public comment period will run from May 15 to June 14. Feedback received will be considered by the CAMPO Executive Board and the GoTriangle Board of Trustees prior to the plan’s adoption. A letter from  Go Forward Dear Community Partners, In January, the TPAC held a public review and comment period on a draft transit work plan for fiscal year 2021 that listed $114.2 million in proposed investments. Find a news release about those investments here. Because efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic are expected to significantly affect many kinds of tax collections, the Wake County Transit Planning Advisory Committee is recommending that most new Wake Transit improvements proposed for fiscal year 2021 be delayed until available revenues can be better assessed later this year. The TPAC used feedback from Januar

Dear fellow CUCC'ers: The deacons continue their outreach efforts in this time of COVID 19.  Also, please remember that if you are in need of support or assistance, then please don’t hesitate to call or reach out to one of us. We are happy to receive your prayer requests. We are also able to contact pastors or church staff on your behalf, should you require their support. We will strive to help any way we can. Thank you for being in community with us. May we remain unified, loving, passionate and compassionate during this difficult time. Peace be with you! Paul Atkinson Deacons Ministry Chair **************************** Scripture, Conversation, and Guided Meditation  Marty Lamb Mark 1 :17   Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me! And I will make you fishermen for the souls of men!” Jesus had his apostles, his friends, his followers. We are ultra-aware of his aloneness as his death approached, but many other times, he was around  and  connecting with people. H

Merrilee and I were discussing ways she might learn about opportunities from the United Church of Christ and our own Southern Conference.  At whatever pace we begin to engage in person, we will continue to need to be virtually connected to our sisters and brothers in the UCC who live and worship in other places. Consider subscribing to one of these newsletters.  Almost any emphasis of the UCC has its own newsletter.  Search on ucc.org   for news and resources for all kinds of specific stuff.  For all I know there is one on church music or property or refugees or housing... Southern Conference E-Blast   Open any edition of the E-blast to find the news subscription info at the bottom.  Right now they are running a series of webinars on all kinds of topics related to being church in the pandemic. Southern Conference:  Creation Justice Network (Southern Conference’s environmental network)  contact Rev. Karen Richardson Dunn at krichdunn@gmail.com. UCC:  “ Keeping You Posted ” -e-zi

Are you waiting for a meeting to start and wondering why no one is letting you in?  Are you suddenly having trouble with your video or microphone?  It has happened to all of us, and I find myself wondering, "Is it me or is it Zoom?" If you are fine with whatever happens, don't bother reading the rest of this article.  But if you would like to know things you can try to figure out what is going on, here are some suggestions. 1)  Is it Zoom?  Anytime you have a meeting coming up and want to check whether Zoom is currently experiencing problems, click the Zoom status report link .  We are using Zoom Meetings.  If it is Zoom, watch for an email from the meeting contact to tell you about rescheduling a meeting or workarounds the group is trying. 2)  Is it your internet?  Check you internet speed to see if it is suddenly low.  First, test it on a day it is doing well so you know your download speed (use speedtest and click on the Go).  Remember that number.  If your down

New opportunities keep popping up every day, so keep checking the CUCC Online Calendar . May 14, 2020 edition Thursday, May 14 Worship practice CUCC Café – Śānti hosts Friday, May 15 CUCC Café – Bill hosts Saturday, May 16 Conversation & Meditation Workshop Sunday, May 17  Taizé worship with communion and fellowship Sunday Morning Bible Study - Acts All-ages worship and fellowship Arts in Worship Committee Youth Sunday School Monday, May 18 Monday Lunch Group Council Tuesday, May 19 Office staff meeting CUCC Café – Bill hosts Youth Choir Happy Hour with Pastor Lacey Wednesday, May 20 CUCC Café   - Bill hosts Confirmation Choir Thursday, May 21 Worship practice CUCC Café   - Śānti hosts A meditation from the psalmist and Pastor Lacey View here Current needs in the community What you can do to help now Other important news in this edition Sign a petition asking for cash bail bond reform Is there a graduate in your home?  L

A meditation from the psalmist and Pastor Lacey

Just Show Up electronically to support bail bond reform. Please sign this petition from the ACLU asking for bail bond reform.  Sign here Last fall CUCC voted as a congregation that we want to see bail bond reform because ... in North Carolina, 86% of the people in our jails haven’t been convicted of a crime, poverty or being a person of color are a much better predictors of pretrial jail than is guilt of a crime, and people in pretrial jail lose jobs, family, lives. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has given us another reason why we need to reform our bail bond system.  People in jail and prisons are getting sick and dying for no fault of their own. Our state's money bail system is broken and corrupt. No one's freedom should depend on their bank account balance. We urgently need a new system that restores fairness and justice to the process. We must do what we can to change the system. Right now, you can take a step.  Sign this bail bond reform petition   God’s blessi

We don't need you to come pick up these items, but thought you might be wondering where they had gone.  If either is yours, contact Merrilee Jacobson  mkjacobson123@gmail.com.

What is safe to compost? Hi, CUCC.  We have been using a composting service at church for 23 months now. And here is the exciting news! Even though the church is closed, and we are not having Fellowship Hour during the COVID-19 pandemic, last month you brought 354 pounds of compost to church!! That was our 5th largest collection ever!! And equal to not driving your car 2000 miles!! Congratulations, and keep it up! Keep bringing your compost to church, and put it in the bin outside of the kitchen window. Gary Smith, for the Justice in a Changing Climate task force smithgk@mindspring.com

CUCC Celebrates Graduates in worship on Sunday, May 31. Please send an email to Śānti Matthews at education.cucc@gmail.com with information about all high school and college graduates by Sunday, May 24 so we can extend our pride and joy to all who have recently received diplomas or degrees! Be sure to include all of the following that are applicable: student's name, degree, school, honors, and any future plans.

Did you know that you can change your name in Zoom after you enter the room? This is a great way to add your pronouns to your name.  We had just begun adding pronoun stickers to our name tags when we started worshipping in homes.  My name, for instance, would be "Jane Smith (she/her)." Here's how: From a phone or tablet:  Tap on your screen.  Click on Participants.  Hover over your name, click on More.  Click on Rename and type your name and pronouns. From a laptop or desktop:  Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen.  Click on Participants.  Hover over your name, click on More.  Click on Rename and type your name and pronouns. The view on my laptop

Invite friends and family to join you for worship. Invite friends and family to join you at worship, sending them the Zoom meeting information/password. Let us know what names and phone number your guests plan to use so we can invite them into the worship space from the Waiting Room. Guest attending Taizé worship? Contact Lavon Page lavonpage@gmail.com.   Guest attending 10:30 worship? Contact Jane Smith smithjeg@mindspring.com.   {Please do NOT share with anyone you do not know, and do NOT put the Zoom meeting information/password on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).} An invitation to allow us to see your smile We love seeing your face as we gather in worship – the blessing and warmth of the gathered community.  This Sunday is Pastor Lacey’s first with us.  If you would feel comfortable, would you turn on your video to welcome her? All-ages, traditional worship  Our first worship service led by Rev. Lacey Brown 10:30-11:45AM Fellowship following in Zo

Hello from Pastor Lacey Two times to gather with Pastor Lacey New opportunities keep popping up every day, so keep checking the CUCC Online Calendar . May 6, 2020 edition Thursday, May 7 Worship practice CUCC Café – Śānti hosts Moderating Team Deacons Ministry Quarant-auction bidding all day Friday, May 8 CUCC Café – Bill hosts Quarant-auction bidding ends at 6PM Saturday, May 9 Conversation & Meditation Workshop SIS Creativity Night Sunday, May 10  Taizé worship and fellowship Sunday Morning Bible Study - Acts of the Apostles All-ages worship and fellowship Youth Sunday School Monday, May 11 Monday Lunch Group Tuesday, May 12   Office staff meeting CUCC Café – Bill hosts Youth Choir Wednesday, May 13 CUCC Café   - "How did you find community at Community?" with Pastor Lacey Confirmation Choir Thursday, May 14 Worship practice CUCC Café   - Śānti hosts Current needs in the community What you can do to help now Oth

How exciting to see Lacey in our sanctuary in the “Hello from Pastor Lacey” video she and Jordyne shared. She has already started to join a variety of Zoom meetings with staff, ministries, and smaller groupings. She invites each of us to reach out to her by email, phone and Zoom. While we haven’t reached the milestone of being together in person, Lacey is wading into Community waters using the same means we’ve used to sustain church ties over the past two months. Many of us have enjoyed worship and fellowship quite successfully during this pandemic and, perhaps to our own surprise, have gotten pretty good at using technology. Two new opportunities for group Zooming with Lacey have been added to the church calendar to allow for some guided “getting to know you” conversation. Join one of the following zoom rooms as Pastor Lacey asks, “How have you found community at Community?" Wednesday, May 13 from 1-2pm - CUCC Cafe  Tuesday, May 19 from 5-6pm - Happy Hour Look for the Zo

Check your email from Saturday, May 2 at 8:28pm from Susan Atkinson (thru Breeze) RE: Ready! Set! Bid! (This could be in your spam folder.) There you’ll find the link to our online auction catalog and bid page. Make your bids on items sure to be just what you need to boost your days of physical distance from our beloved Community. Bidding runs until 6pm Friday May 8 .        This Friday! Check out item #2 Last Saturday, CUCCers on 30 devices Zoomed in to laugh along with a tuxedoed Sam Woodrum, who hosted the kick off to our Quarant-Auction in hilarious style. We made faces and showed off our pets. (Yes, Silly Snail made an appearance!)  We were roasted by Sam and sung to by Zenna Bryan and Sophie Flynn. CUCC’s auction website was demonstrated by its creator, Tim Jensen. We have 6 items in this small auction designed to bring some joy to you and keep stewardship in our minds during these trying times. We’ve had enthusiastic feedback that may lead to a second round of online au

SIS cannot go to the beach for their annual retreat, but that doesn't stop their annual creativity night from taking place. Saturday, May 9, 7PM on Zoom If you are a CUCC woman of any age, SIS (Sisters in Spirit) is for you.  Come to the creativity night with a poem, a reading, or a joke to share and one positive quality you are experiencing during our sheltering in place and are using creatively. Contact Marty Lamb to get the Zoom meeting info.  martha.a.lamb@gmail.com."

Who are you and, more importantly, where did you go? On Sunday you appeared in the Zoom Waiting Room for 10:30 worship.  With your generic name I didn't recognize you.  Did you see my message asking you to get in touch?  Were you too shy to call me?  All of the sudden you vanished, a mystery. I am sad to think I scared you away like a skittering chipmunk when you came to our worship door. Get in touch so we can open the doors wide to let you in.  Worship wasn't the same without you. Signed, Jane smithjeg@mindspring.com PS  A reminder to CUCCers:  Do invite your friends, neighbors, co-workers, family to join you for worship or other events at CUCC.  A personal invitation may be just what someone needs right now.  Just give me a heads up so I will recognize them and invite them into the worship space.  (And remember, don't share the zoom info with people you don't know, or put it on your social media.)

The time between the sections of Zoom worship may feel like an eternity to you, but one of the blessings that online worship offers us is the opportunity to rest into a slower pace. Our online worship service gives us more space between words and music. We invite you to let these pauses become natural and comfortable to you. We encourage you to allow yourself to rest into the slower pace. May it enable you to celebrate the present moment, and maybe even sense it as a connection to the Divine. As Miles Davis, trumpet player and jazz composer, said “it’s not the notes you play it’s the notes you don’t play.” When you notice pauses in our church services each week, enjoy, and breathe deeply the presence of Spirit. Who knows, we may bring more natural and comfortable connection and space with us when we return to worship services in our sanctuary?

We celebrate a life of service with Doug Barrick who retires this Friday, May 8.  Doug says his grandchildren "need more intensive spoiling besides all that I still need to learn and relearn from them to make me wiser in my old age." Doug retired a career with the NC Department of Health and Human Services where he most recently served as Rules Coordinator for the Adult Care Licensure Section of the NC Division of Health Service Regulation.