CUCC Weekly eNews

SIS meets on Tuesday,  November 28th 2017,  6:30 P.M.  at the home of Marty Lamb.  Join SIS (Sisters in Spirit)  for potluck and sing-a-long from “Rise Up Singing” books.  Contact Marty at  919-834-4280 for additional information and directions to her home.

A Big Thank You!! .... To all who helped out at the church workday last Saturday!  Several routine but important jobs were accomplished, as were some not-so-routine projects!  In particular, you may want to take note of the improvements to the choir room, the janitor's closet, and the "toolshed" side of the Bryan-Berry Building.  Also note the return of the Peace Pole!  Hallelujah!

Welcoming and Fellowship would like to cordially invite you to join us for the CUCC Annual Adult Christmas Party Bring an Hors d'oeuvre to share; drinks will be provided This year we will enjoy a potluck of heavy hors d’oeuvres while being festively entertained  by some of CUCC’s finest! It’s always one of the highlights of the year so please mark your calendar and plan to join us!   Childcare will be provided. See details below. Date: Saturday, December 9th Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm Special music and Christmas Carols. Robert Parrish will have his new guitar in hand. Marty Lamb will read a Christmas story. Mac Hulslander will close out the party with a special song. In the Spirit of Christmas, we will be collecting gently used scarves, hats and gloves for Love Wins ! There will also be a collection box in the fellowship hall. As a special treat, Maria Mayorga will be making special adult beverages (mojitos and custom traditional Nicaraguan drinks from a menu) featuring the Nicarag...

JOIN US SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3, FROM 5:00PM - 7:00PM   for an Intergenerational Advent Celebration!  All are invited tonight in the Fellowship Hall at 5:00pm for an Intergenerational Advent Celebration. You may make an Advent wreath to light your way during this season of waiting. There will also be  an Advent journal prepared with readings and prayers for you to take home with you. The Children will participate in their annual cookie exchange with Ms. Anne Bailey, and we will end with a pizza dinner! 

Join Pastor Jenny for Learning to Walk in the Dark , during the four Sundays in Advent, December 3 – December 24, 9:15am - 10:15am, in the Hoffmann Room.  Barbara Brown Taylor introduces a field guide to making our way in the dark. We will read and discuss the book together. Order your book today or contact Pastor Jenny by Friday, November 24, if you want to reserve a copy for $11.  "A gift to every person who's felt the darkness but not had the words to  articulate it" - Shauna Niequist From Pastor Jenny:  I am excited to be leading a small group during the four weeks of Advent using the book, "Learning to Walk in the Dark" by Barbara Brown Taylor, former Episcopal Priest, author and teacher. It is conventional for us to advertise this season of anticipation with headliners and candles that speak of hope, joy, peace and love, but rarely do we fully embrace the darkness which is actually anecdotal for receiving the fullness of what this season brings. Reminiscen...

Let’s all pitch in and help spruce up the church building and grounds just in time for Advent!  Helpers of all ages are needed!  We will re-plant the “Peace Pole,” and we’ll clean out the Bryan-Berry Building, but tasks will include some window washing and picking up pine cones.  (Lots of pine cones!)   We’ll work from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and get this done.  There will be bagels!   Remember, many hands make light work!   ( Note :   If you want to help, but cannot come at the scheduled time, email Skip ( stoddard@ncsu.edu ) and we’ll see about an alternate time.)

CUCC will gather at noon on Nov. 19 to hear about progress on a variety of initiatives sparked by congregational input.  Anyone interested in CUCC's life and work is welcome to attend; only CUCC members can vote.  Child care will be provided. If you have an item for the agenda, please contact Jane Smith, moderator, immediately.  smithjeg@mindspring.com Read before coming : Nov. 19 Congregational Meeting Agenda Draft minutes of June 11 Congregational Meeting Report on the Southern Conference Annual Gathering 2017

Looking for Security at Church? That’s What Got Us Into This Mess Opinion by Benjamin Boswell, November 10, 2017 My heart is breaking for the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. What happened at First Baptist Church is every pastor’s worst nightmare. It was the worst mass shooting at a house of worship in American history. There are no words to comfort those who experienced such horrific tragedy, senseless violence, death and devastation. But we know that in their darkest hours that God was near to the victims and our hope is in the promise of God’s presence. We pray that God will be with those who are suffering; as Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” We pray that in their grief, the people of Sutherland Springs will cry out in pain and that God will hear their laments as God heard the cries of Israelites in Egypt, and come to deliver them and all of us from the scourge of violence that is wreaking havoc on our nation. We are at war with ourselves. ...

Memorial Service We offer our heartfelt sympathy and prayers to Vivian Hunter upon the death of Phil Letsinger on Tuesday, October 24.  A memorial service will be held on November 18, at 11:00 a.m., at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.

Transgender Day of Remembrance  Candlelight Vigil and Reception November 20th - for every year until the violence stops! Join the LGBTQ folks and allies at the  NC State Capitol  on  November 20th  starting at  6:00 pm  in the center of Raleigh's downtown as we remember those we have lost to violence around the world during this year. A reception at the LGBT Center of Raleigh follows immediately after our observance. We usually gather on the South side of the Capitol Building on East Morgan Street. Candles provided. For more information and directions go to:  https://www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com/programs/adult-programs/transgender-initiative/transgender-day-of-remembrance.html

Lectionary for the Week of November 19, 2017   Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Green Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30

C h i l d r e n ’ s S u n d a y S c h o o l Many thanks to Grady and Fawn who donated a kitchen to our preschool class!!! The children will be singing in church the Sunday before Thanksgiving. It will be an exciting day. They will be singing a song that Anne Bailey has wanted them to learn for a very long time. Please see our special dates below! 11/19   Children sing in church 11/26  Make ornaments for church tree during Sunday School 12/03 Practice for Christmas pageant 12/03  Advent workshop with pizza dinner & cookie exchange 5-7pm 12/10   Christmas pageant during worship 12/17  Choir presents BROTHER HEINRICH"S CHRISTMAS by John Rutter - Children will stay in church for this special telling of the Christmas story and then go to their class 12/24   No Sunday School 12/31   No Sunday School

Sunday   1 1/19          9:00am Nursery for newborns - 3-year-olds     9:00am  Taizé Worship – Sanctuary    9:30am Choir Practice - Sanctuary     9:30am Youth Confirmation Class - Youth Room  1 0:30am Worship Service - Sanctuary - Children’s Choir Singing  10:45am Children’s Sunday School - Sunday School Rooms  10:45am Youth Sunday School - Youth Room  11:45am Fellowship - Vaughan Fellowship Hall  12:00pm CONGREGATIONAL MEETING - Vaughan Fellowship Hall    3:00pm Covenant Community - Bradow Room Monday 11/20  12:15pm Monday Lunch Group - Hoffmann Room      Tuesday 11/21 10:30am Office Staff Meeting - Pilgrim House Wednesday 11/22     9:30am Tai Chi – Vaughan Fellowship Hall   7:00pm Choir Practice - Sanctuary   Saturday 11/25      9:30am Saturday Morning Book Club – Library   ...

Bill Lamb and Ellen Beidler will again be leading the Adult Bible Study on Sunday mornings at 9:30am in the Bradow Room. The discussions will revolve around the study for Advent: The First Christmas , by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crosson. Contact Ellen Beidler ( ebeidler@usa.net ) or Bill Lamb ( william.e.lamb@gmail.com ) with any questions.

1st Sunday in Advent: Dec. 3, 5:00pm-7:00pm   Everyone will be invited to make an Advent wreath for use at home to accompany you on the spiritual journey of preparing the way for God's love in this season of waiting. There will also be an Advent journal prepared with readings and prayers for you to take home with you. The Children will participate in their annual cookie exchange with Ms. Anne Bailey, and we will end with a pizza dinner!  We need your help  collecting materials for our Advent wreaths. Please bring clean, empty cans — soup or vegetable sized — to the box in the Narthex or drop them off at the church office during the week. We’ll be collecting through Tuesday, Nov. 28. Questions? Contact Suzette Roach or Judy Kiel.