CUCC Weekly eNews

Carson Roach-Howell made a very nice video of Dave Barber's return to the pulpit last Sunday. Carson's video of Dave Barber is now available as part of our media archive, and is also available at YouTube . Two guest appearances remain. Carol Ripley-Moffitt will be here on September 30, and Cally Rogers-Witte will visit on October 7. All of these appearances will be recorded for the "Pulpit" section of our permanent archive .

What dreams have you been imagining for CUCC? Have you been chewing over an idea?  Had a recurring glimpse of what you'd love our future to be?  An idea you've been meaning to discuss with someone? Are you curious about what others think it means to be CUCC?  To "nurture spiritual growth and work for social justice?" God is still speaking, CUCC's All Church Retreat Friday, Oct. 26, 6-9pm (starting with dinner) Saturday, Oct. 27, 9a-4pm (lunch included) St. Paul's Christian Church 3331 Blue Ridge Road, Raleigh Who will be gathered?  Anyone currently participating in the life of CUCC. RSVP to the office  What ages are the children you will be bringing?  Do you have dietary restrictions? RSVPs due by Oct. 15! Child care provided if you RSVP. The Youth Group lock-in is woven throughout the retreat (more details from Santi to come)

As we move toward the planning retreat scheduled for next month, I would like to share an interesting and perhaps relevant letter that is part of our historical archive. The letter was written by Rev. Allyn Robinson to the congregation of the United Church of Raleigh on September 30, 1943. The United Church of Raleigh is the mother church from which our present CUCC was born in 1969, and the United Church was the home and the nurturer of the Institute of Religion which ran through the 1940s and 1950s after being started under Allyn Robinson's leadership in 1939. His letter in 1943, however, berates the congregation (in fairly strong language) for their lack of enthusiasm for Sunday morning attendance and worship. And he urges the congregation to "put first things first." And he concludes that the result of people "failing to put first things first" is "that the liberal church is weak." The letter makes a very interesting read, and I pass it along for t...

There are some pictures that I need help with. First, there are two pictures from the 1940s that show what I believe to be a large portion of the congregation of the United Church of Raleigh. The only person I can identify in either picture is Rev. Eutsler, the Pastor. I would love to identify some of these 1940s church members. Second, there's a picture taken in our present church that labels a small group of people as "the first consistory". I believe this might be a group of people from the E&R church in Raleigh which built our church building at the corner of Dixie Trail and Wade Avenue in 1957. The info that we have includes the names of most of these people, but I haven't yet run into anyone at CUCC who is familiar with these names (T. Edsel Cooke, William Cope, Helen Peeler, W. C. Pickett, Jr., and Perry Moore).  If you can provide any information about any of these people, please contact me.

On September 16, Rev. John Lackey returned to CUCC by invitation from the Board of Deacons. Rev. Lackey served as pastor in the 1970s prior to the long term of Rev. Cally Rogers-Witte (who will visit here on October 7). The video of John Lackey's presentation is now available in our Media Archive. The video can also be found at YouTube .

Gather for discussion of the intersection of faith and life at each Sunday's Adult Forum.  We meet in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall from 9:15-10:15am. UPCOMING SCHEDULE, September 2012 September 16  - " Open Discussion on the Visioning Process and the Upcoming CUCC Retreat" led by members of the planning committee September 23  - "A Brief History of Pride" led by the Open and Affirming Task Force (ONA) September 30  -  30-minute video on events leading up to and surrounding the Selma to Montgomery march followed by a discussion led by Joan McAllister - information from Cynthia Ball and the Forum Planning Group 

There will be an informational/organizational meeting of the Economic Justice Task Force on Sunday, September 16th, at 12:00 in the Bradow Room to plan a future meeting date and agenda. We hope that anyone who is interested in finding out more about the Task Force will join us as we begin to plan the directions and focus of the group.  ‒ Submitted by Shirley Birt  

Days are cooling, weeds are growing.  We can use a few more hands to get down and dirty to  improve CUCC’s grounds.  Gardening Therapy is continuing into the Fall and we hope you all will  add these dates to your calendar:  September 4 and 18  October 2 and 16  We begin at 9:00am and work until noon.  See you there!         ‒ Submitted by Lena Gallitano 

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 .