CUCC Weekly eNews

We had so much fun swapping recipes and laughing about "healthy" that we decided to schedule two more Wednesday potlucks this fall:   Sept. 5 and Oct. 10. (Yes, we know the 10th is a 2nd Wed., but the room was booked.) Our theme is still "Eating Together, Eating Healthy."  As always, you define "healthy." - Choosing foods which honor the earth? - Tailoring your diet to your body? - Buying foods grown and harvested so that workers stay healthy and are paid a living wage? - Gaining the benefits of laughter and friendship? Let the dish you bring reflect a healthy habit that you are trying to adopt.   Bring the list of ingredients so that others can choose which dishes meet their goals.  Be prepared to swap recipes.  All ages welcome. A Gathering of Friends event - posted for Welcoming, Fellowship & Growth Ministry

Welcome... Welcome if you've chosen this week to visit Community UCC! Welcome if a CUCC friend has brought you today! Welcome if you're a CUCCer back from a summer of travel! Welcome if you've been here all summer, keeping things going! Welcome to worship Sunday, September 9, 10:30am! Today we'll worship as we... Sing, play croquet/horseshoes/parachute games, sign cards to our college students, decorate posters for the NC Pride parade, play checkers, put together puzzles, write letters of advocacy for hungry people, pray by stacking stones, chalk sidewalk art, bubble dance. Bring a potluck dish to share with a North Carolina ingredient (homemade or store-bought is fine). - posted for Welcoming, Fellowship & Growth Ministry 

As has been widely publicized, the Deacons have invited previous pastors at CUCC to return this fall and give guest sermons during August - October. The first of these was Collins Kilburn who spoke at 10:30 worship on August 19. The Deacons asked me to film these presentations, and the video of Collins Kilburn's sermon is now available . I'm in the process of reorganizing and expanding the media and historical archives, and a permanent location for the video will await completion of that task. Meanwhile, it's also available at YouTube . Personal comment by Lavon: Collins' reflection on the 1960s is both poignant and challenging. We can look back with pride at the gains made during the 1960s in breaking down racial barriers and enriching our church's relationship with black churches in the area. But at the same time it's a stark reminder that much of that harmony has escaped us during the last 20 years of strife within the UCC. Collins' comments about Rosa P...

Two new study groups will begin in August, led by Pastor Steve Halsted.  The Monday evening group will meet on August 13 and 27 and will read and discuss Brian McLaren's book, The Secret Message of Jesus .  The Tuesday evening group will meet on August 14 and 21 and will read and discuss Marcus Borg's book, Reading the Bible Again for the First Time .  Both groups will meet in the Fellowship Hall.  Brown Bag Supper at 6:30pm and study begins at 7:00pm.  Hope to see you there! - From the bulletin

What can I recycle at home?   Apex Cary Clayton Fuquay-Varina Garner Holly Springs Raleigh Rolesville - I wasn't able to find the details of Rolesville's recycling contract online.  If you email the Town of Rolesville at bryan.hicks@rolesville.nc.gov, Mr. Hicks (Town Manager) will send you a pdf with the list. Wake Forest Wendell Zebulon What can I recycle through CUCC? Batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, watch/hearing aid) - NOT LEAKING - put on cabinet in Vaughan Fellowship Hall or hand to Jane or Gary Smith Florescent light bulbs (long or compact) - NOT BROKEN - hand to Jane or Gary Smith - DO NOT put on shelf in Fellowship Hall !!!  (Please, please don't leave them.  Obviously, broken glass is dangerous and the mercury used in all florescent bulbs is a (temporary, but serious) health risk.) Thanks, Jeanne!!!!! (What do I do with my bottle caps now?)  Many thanks to Jeanne Ledbetter who has now retired after years of delivering our bottle caps to an Aveda salon. Here'...

Everyone has them.  They could be living across the street, or even right beside you.  They could be someone that you see at the beauty shop or the barber shop.  You may even see them as you are riding the bus or strolling in the park.  Who are they ?  They are the people that you have wanted to invite to church.  Before you know it, Welcoming Sunday will be here.  This is a time when our church welcomes everyone back from the summer and we invite our friends and neighbors to be with us. Sunday, September 9 , will be filled with worship, art, food, and games like horse shoes and checkers. Bring a potluck dish to share. So, go ahead.  Now is the time to invite that friend, loved one, or acquaintance for a time of worship and fun.  Welcoming Sunday will be a good experience for all.    ‒ Submitted by Robert Parrish 

Do you want to put your faith and concern into action? Community UCC encourages its members as well as the surrounding community to learn more about issues and related public policies and become advocates for equality and justice. Not the Typical Sunday School  We study the foundations of faith and the public policy issues related to social and economic justice, peace, and protecting the environment. Speakers include community leaders from the Triangle and across the State, religious leaders, government officials, elected representatives, activists, and directors of non-profits. Every Sunday, 9:15-10:15AM, Vaughan Fellowship Hall 9/16 – Transitional Churches led by Skip Stoddard  9/23 – ONA Task Force will lead – topic to be announced  9/30 – 30 minute video on the events leading up to and surrounding the Selma to Montgomery march,              followed by discussion led by Joan McAllister . 

All ages are welcome to the Annual Church-Wide Pool Party from 5-8pm at Lake Park Swim Club  .  The pool is located at 6333 Lakeland Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612.  Come and enjoy hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie option, foosball, basketball, volleyball, diving, and of course, swimming!  Bring a side dish to share.  Thank you to the Burkhardts for hosting again this year!  - Submitted for Santi

As part of our ongoing “Revisioning and Renewal Process,” we have invited pastors who have previously served here to return and preach.  They will share their wisdom and unique perspectives  from different time periods at CUCC.   Reverend Collins Kilburn (1960-1969) will be our guest preacher on August 19.  The  Reverend John Lackey  will preach September 16,   Reverend Dave Barber (1990-2000) will be here on September 23, Reverend Carol Ripley-Moffitt (2000 - 2002) will be here September 30, and Reverend Cally  Rogers-Witte (1978-1996) will preach on October 7.  Please mark your calendars and plan to join us for these special Sundays.    ‒ Submitted by Bill Lamb  

Dear Friends,  J. W. Stevenson has been quoted as saying, “The true church is the fellowship of people in whom a new  life is being formed.  We are to be a people perpetually giving new shape to our fellowship, looking for what  the church is to be.”  With this thought in mind, we as a congregation have been participating in an ongoing process of  looking at our past history and our accomplishments in ministry, while evaluating the present and looking  toward the future.  As part of this process, we are planning a Retreat event (Oct. 26 & 27) that we hope You will be able to  attend!  It will be held locally at St. Paul’s Christian Church , 3331 Blue Ridge Rd, Raleigh, North Carolina, on  Friday evening from 5:30pm – 9:00pm, and all day Saturday, with morning and afternoon sessions (9-5).  Meals will  be provided, as well as childcare.  We will have professional Facilitators to make our time spent together fun,...

With our website in transition, the blog will be posting the link to the August newsletter .

Film producer Todd Tinkham recently returned from visiting some of the Pennsylvania fracking sites and has created a 30-minute film on Fracking called  Message from the Marcellus:  What NC Needs to Know about Fracking and the Natural Gas Industry.  This film is being shown at CUCC on Wednesday July 25 at 7 PM.     Elaine Chiosso from Haw River Assembly will also share a presentation on the topic and lead the discussion and Q&A on this important issue. Posted for Gary Smith 

On Saturday, July 21, the youth have organized a church-wide service project for the Interfaith Food Shuttle (IFFS) .  Up to 15 participants can help bag and then distribute groceries indoors at the IFFS warehouse from 9-11am.  More participants can work at their teaching garden on Tryon Road later that morning.   IFFS is a local private nonprofit hunger relief organization that focuses on growing and recovering perishable foods.  IFFS collects this good, wholesome food which, because of outdating, over-purchasing, and /or minimal damage would otherwise end up in landfills.  They also grow food in several local gardens.  The food is distributed to agencies serving those who are hungry. Sign-up to volunteer on the board in the narthex.

A video of the presentation of the Cy and Carolyn King Award has been added to CUCC's Media Archive. Since the award is for their work on peace and justice issues, the video below has been located in the "Church and Society" portion of the archive. An earlier post to this blog provides a link to the YouTube version of this video. Cy and Carolyn King Award

For any of you with some time available this week/weekend - check out the Wild Goose Festival June 21-24 at Shakori Hills in Chatham County. Wild Goose is " a community creating a festival at the intersection of justice, spirituality and art. " It brings together speakers, musicians and artists from a broad spectrum of spiritual (primarily Christian) traditions, modeling an environment that is somewhere between UK's  Greenbelt and Burning Man .  Speakers include Jim Wallis, Brian McLaren and Julie Clawson to name just a few http://www.wildgoosefestival.org/the-2012-lineup/speakers-2/.  Michelle Shocked is performing Saturday night.