CUCC Weekly eNews

The next "Sacred Conversation on Race" has been postponed, due to the scheduling of an event that many participants may want to attend, the official opening/kickoff of the Barack Obama Campaign office for the Raleigh area. INSTEAD OF MEETING NEXT TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 22, WE WILL MEET ON SUNDAY MORNING, AUGUST 3, AT 9:15 AM (THE REGULAR FORUM TIME). More details on the program will be announced later.

(from Joan McAllister) The Triangle Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will once again publish a Signature Ad in the Independent Weekly in September 2008. This is our only fund raiser of the year, and these funds help area gay youth as well as help PFLAG with education, support and advocacy. Our goal is to show that people across the Triangle support gay,lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) people. Furthermore, by highlighting religious groups in the area, we hope to show that people of all faiths affirm and support the LGBT community. We invite you to join us with our most successful ad yet. Last year over 300 individuals and families participated in the signature ad.Our message is simple: "We, the undersigned, affirm the lives of gay,lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. We condemn acts of bigotry and hatred. We join PFLAG in celebrating the lives of those we love and admire; acceptance and love; family values for a lifetime....

The 7th annual P2e watermelon and hot dog fest will be held next Sunday (July 6) in the fellowship hall following the 10:30 worship service.

For those who haven't seen the controversial new campaign add from moveon.org.

A little humility is good for folks at both ends of the spectrum. Here's a teaser from today's NY Times column by David Brooks. The cocksure war supporters learned this humbling lesson during the dark days of 2006. And now the cocksure surge opponents, drunk on their own vindication, will get to enjoy their season of humility. They have already gone through the stages of intellectual denial. First, they simply disbelieved that the surge and the Petraeus strategy was doing any good. Then they accused people who noticed progress in Iraq of duplicity and derangement. Then they acknowledged military, but not political, progress. Lately they have skipped over to the argument that Iraq is progressing so well that the U.S. forces can quickly come home. The column is The Bush Paradox by David Brooks . It's a good reminder that we don't always get it right either. (And there's an interesting response to the David Brooks column by Joe Klein of Time Magazine.)

You will recall that the CUCC Forum had a program recently, led by Greg Flynn, about the recommendations from the Special Transit Advisory Commission (STACC), a committee comprised of Triangle leaders, dealing with Transit needs and options for Wake County and the Triangle . Dealing with this important topic, WakeUp Wake County is hosting a forum this Thursday evening, June 26, 7:00 to 9:00pm (registration begins at 6:30pm) at the NC State University McKimmon Center, Transit: Is Wake County Ready for It? I am proud to note that Community United Church of Christ - Justice in a Changing Climate is among the sponsors. You can read more about WakeUp Wake County and about the Transit Forum at http://wakeupwakecounty.com/cms/ where there are links in the box about the Transit Forum for more information including a detailed flyer. With the financial support of sponsors, admission is FREE . You can register on-line and I hope you'll plan to come. If you have any questions, please conta...

We will continue our "Conversation on Race" this Sunday, June 22, at the regular Forum time, 9:15 to 10:15am. More information about panel speakers and topics will be announced tomorrow (Friday). Please plan to come and participate. And, we will meet again on Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30pm. More information tba. Please put it on your calendar.

Below find links to notes from which sermons and ministry moments were preached at CUCC as part of A Sacred Conversation on Race . Keep in mind that a sermon when preached differs from the notes used to prepare for the preaching. May 18, 2008 " Alive in the Spirit " - The Rev. Steve Halsted Click here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcxkfpb_5d4266hgd May 25, 2008 " It's Not Martin Luther King Day! Or Is It ?" - The Rev. Robert Parrish Click here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcxkfpb_4fckns9cz May 25, 2008 " Conversation on Race: A Bit of History " - Cy King Click here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcxkfpb_6ck9ms4zq Peggy Hoffmann wrote a wonderful play, " A Peculiar People ," which gives more information about the context of the events Cy describes. Click here: http://homepage.mac.com/lavon/church/peculiar_people/ June 1, 2008 " God Leads " - The Rev. Steve Halsted Click here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcxkfpb_8c3mxhjfw COMING ...

We began our "Conversation on Race" on Sunday, May 18, with three speakers who shared their perspectives, prompting a challenging discussion among the 80+ participants. Stories were shared about how we have been affected in the past and how today's environment is still an unhealthy and divisive one. Tomorrow, June 1, we will continue the "conversation" with Dorothy Thompson and Terence Morrison as our guest panelists. In preparation, let's consider two questions we might discuss: Is affirmative action still the right course? And, what policies and programs should we implement (or get rid of) to address the economic disparity faced by minorities in our community? Come and voice your own thoughts and challenge others and yourself to really look hard at what society does and what part we all play in it, good and bad. Cy King eloquently described last Sunday at Worship the chronology of Community UCC 's efforts to end racial discrimination, all the way back ...

When: Sundays, 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Vaughan Fellowship Hall for six weeks First class: May 25 Who: Adults and older youth. Gentle and suitable for beginners; experienced yogis and yoginis welcome Wear: comfortable clothes and slip-off shoes Bring: any props you may have such as blankets and straps (old neckties make great straps) Don't need to bring: Mats and blocks Teacher: Ellen Beidler. Ellen recently received her 230-hour yoga teacher certification through Yoga-Body, Mind, and Spirit. Sponsor: CUCC's Arts in Worship Committee Charge: none Yoga offers more than physical exercise; it allows practitioners a way to explore their spiritual path. Best of all, it is fun!

With regard to the upcoming "Conversation on Race" ... In the 1990s there was a custom at CUCC of having a sermon on "race" the week of the MLK holiday in January. Sometimes I found myself sitting in the pew thinking, "What the preacher is calling racism isn't racism, and what's being proposed as a solution isn't a solution." I do have some experience with racism, having twice been jailed for being in the wrong place with someone of the wrong color. But the term is used much more broadly now, and for many different purposes. Currently race is lurking just around the corner in nearly every conversation about the Presidential election process. Both Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Clinton have been accused of "racist" comments. And every exit poll seems to be asking voters, "Was your vote influenced by race?" The goal of MLK was to get past race altogether, not to institutionalize it via a morass of agencies and regulations to servi...

The national office of the United Church of Christ has called for UCC congregations to engage in a conversation on race. You are invited to be part of Community UCC's on-going engagement through these next steps: May 18 The Forum (9:15 to 10:15am) presents a participatory "Conversation about Race." Panel speakers who have committed to come are Brad Thompson, Former Raleigh City Councilman, and Daniel Coleman, Chairman of the RWCA, two longtime community leaders. And we anticipate that several other leaders from the African American community will also join us. Also in preparation, several readings are recommended. One for your reference: Principles and Assumptions Underlying a Conversation on Race (Perkins/Otto) which you can also link to on the website. May 24 The Rev. Robert Parrish will present a sermon to spark our thinking. May 29 & 30 The Rev. Steve Halsted is attending the clergy conference at Franklinton Center at Bricks. Conference leadership...

Need to submit a check request to reimburse you for a CUCC expense? You can now find the document online. Go to http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcxkfpb_3chqd4cg2 . Page 1 is the form you print, fill out, and return to CUCC with your receipts. Page 2 gives the line item #'s from our budget to help you fill out the form; you don't need to print this. Let Jane know if you have any trouble using the form. This is a new effort to help you in your work at CUCC.

Jane Smith would like to quote you on CUCC's website. A word, a verbal image, a sentence or two, an anecdote, a photo - these can give potential CUCC members a taste of our life together. Send your comments to Jane by May 31.

Maundy Thursday, March 20 6:30pm 100,000 Lights for Peace Vigil remembering 5th anniversary of the war in Iraq Where: front lawn and patio, CUCC Bring: a bell or other joyful noisemaker 7pm Maundy Thursday worship : Tennebrae, handwashing, communion Where: CUCC sanctuary Good Friday, March 21 9am-1pm Personal Devotions Where: CUCC sanctuary Easter Sunday, March 23 7am Community Sunrise worship Where: West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, 27 Horne Street, outside 9am Taize' worship Where: CUCC sanctuary No Forum or Sunday Morning Bible Study today! 10:30am Main worship Where: CUCC sanctuary Bring: a flower for the Resurrection cross on the CUCC front lawn