CUCC Weekly eNews

Angel Tree:   Throughout Advent Throughout Advent, bring gifts to share with children whose parents are in ICE detention or have been deported.  Take a tag from our angel tree; white poinsettias are for new shoes, tags with red poinsettias are for new coats.  $40 maximum per purchase.  The tag will tell you the child's name, age and size.  Bring the gift wrapped, if possible, with the poinsettia tag taped on the outside before Wednesday, December 17.   Or, if you prefer, write a check to CUCC with Angel Tree on the memo line. This project is a continuation of our Oaxaca journey. N eighbor to Neighbor Christmas Celebration Desserts:   Drop off at CUCC by December 4 If you can provide a dessert of 10 child-friendly, individual servings on December 5 for the N2N mentoring program , contact Dawn Koonce (co-chair, CUCC's Community Outreach Ministry) at tigerfan2125@gmail.com.  Label your treats "N2N" and put them on the kitchen...

Turkey bones here! According to Worldwatch Institute, the U.S. generates an extra five million tons of household waste between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.   This waste then either degrades to become the intense greenhouse gas methane in the landfill, or it sits there taking up space. You can avoid both of these by bringing your food waste (meat and bones, too) to church. Put in the compost bin in the courtyard outside of the church kitchen, and then Compost Now will turn it into valuable organic soil. So, if (snicker) you have food waste during the holiday season (or anytime) bring it to church! Gary Smith for the Justice in a Changing Climate Task Force smithgk@mindspring.com

For this week's Sermon+, preacher Śānti Matthews offers these photos for your contemplation.  The motto of the United Church of Christ, is Jesus’ words, "That they may all be one." No matter our challenges, our hardships, our frailties, our mistakes, our ugly thoughts, our failures, our bickering, our difficulties, our differences…. the truth is, there is always more. We are all one. On this week following the Reign of Christ Sunday, can we remember to be gentle with each other and with ourselves? Can we remember that we are together in Christ? Here is a link to her sermon text. Sermon+ is an occasional series in which our preachers pose a follow-up question to their sermon for your consideration.  You can join in community conversation via our Facebook page, Community United Church of Christ .  Or you can ponder on your own.

So many people find the holidays to be difficult.  New to town.  Not being accepted by their church or family. Loss through distance or death of a loved one.  Faithful waiting can be easier if you know someone - even a stranger - is waiting with you. Let us share the signs of Advent with those far and wide who follow our Facebook page.  We'll follow the themes of the candles on our Advent wreath. December 1  Peace  THIS WEEK December 8  Hope December 15  Joy December 22  Love Each Sunday I will post a prompt with the Advent theme for the week on our Facebook page.  Either reply with your offering, or send it to me and I will post for you.  Share a piece of music, an artwork or photograph, a saying, a verse of scripture, something someone said to you. Let us be Peace as we wait together - in person or virtually. Jane Smith, CUCC's webmaster  smithjeg@mindspring.com

Exciting things are happening as our rooms are reconfigured for new purposes!  Enjoy this photo essay of some of the work to date, and drop by the rooms on Sunday to take in the transformation.  How do you imagine using our new spaces to minister within and beyond CUCC? Imagination + Design photo essay We are thankful for the many adults and youth lending their design, construction, and painting abilities as we design for ministry. 

Dear Friends and Neighbors, I am (already) thinking about my New Year’s resolution! For the past several years, I have resolved to be thankful. There was a time in my life in which I failed to give thanks—and this even though I had everything to be thankful for. This year, I will continue to resolve to give thanks whenever it is true and right to do so, whenever and wherever I can give thanks. As I will be attending the meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature on November 25th, I wanted to take this opportunity to give thanks for Community UCC. I have been inspired by so many of you: your willingness to take risks, eat and drink together, think both about your past and future, to work with two “bridge” pastors, to fight for the environment, affordable housing, bail bond reform, and so much more. I am thankful for all the ways in which so many of you have chosen to work with me as I learn to get comfortable in my own pastoral skin. I am a pr...

Sundays, December 1, 8, 15, and 22 9:15-10:15AM Hoffmann Room Need a book?  Books will be available in the fellowship hall after worship starting November 24.  If you would like to contribute to the cost, the books cost $20.  Also, three copies of the book are available through the Wake County Public Library. Need childcare so you can attend? Contact Śānti Matthews education.cucc@gmail.com by Tuesday, November 26 . Bill Lamb will lead a 4 week Advent study on Richard Rohr's book Falling Upward .  December 1 we will watch a video conversation with Richard Rohr to introduce the book.  The subsequent weeks will each focus on one third of the book which we hope you will read in advance (though come anyway if you don't finish the reading in time). Join us as we explore the idea that our spiritual life is not static. You will come to a crisis in your life, and after the crisis, if you are open to it, you will enter a space of spiritual refreshment, peace an...

Is shopping for a bag of food for the Urban Ministries food pantry  a meaningful part of your grocery shopping each month?  Then you need to know that Urban Ministries has changed which foods are priorities.  Some of our old favorites are no longer wanted, and new items are on the list. Food bag shopping list Want to support the food pantry, but the shopping isn't a treasured part of your routine?  Consider making a monthly donation so that Urban Ministries can purchase clients' top choices at 17cents/pound through the Food Bank of North Carolina.  Your dollar stretches farther with a financial donation.  $25 feeds one family for a week. Joe Retzer takes the bags to Urban Ministries on the first Sunday of each month. For more information, contact Dawn or Charles (their contact info is on Breeze).

Mark your calendar for TUESDAY, January 21, when the winter/spring monthly supper series begins.  We'll be gathering monthly on third TUESDAYS to allow people with standing Wednesday commitments to enjoy the January - May series. A bit shy about starting up a conversation with people you don't know?  Volunteer to help with clean up after one of the suppers.  Sudsy hands and a bit of jovial chaos build friendships.  Contact Susan Atkinson cuccfellowship@gmail.com Turkey and Gratitude Photos Thank you to Welcoming and Fellowship Ministry for our fall series of monthly suppers.

So responds one of the community volunteers who lent a strong back to last Saturday's preweatherization of a home in Raleigh. Low income homeowners in Wake County can receive a free weatherization of their home (insulation, a new energy efficient HVAC system, etc).  Imagine the importance of spending less for electricity to a pinched budget!  Some homeowners are unable to clean out their attic or crawlspace where the work will be done.  That's where the preweatherization team comes in.  Volunteers from many congregations come together for a few hours to remove items and, as the homeowner directs, take no longer wanted things to the landfill, recycling, and hazardous waste centers.  You'll get dirty, work alongside some genuinely kind people, and head home with a smile knowing that this home owner will have significantly lower electricity bills and you have tackled climate change. If you would like to be notified of upcoming opportunities to pitch in, contact...

Several people requested that Pastor Carol share the benediction from Sunday's 10:30 worship.  Here it is.  If you decide to share this, please include the copyright at the end. Blessing When The World is Ending Jan Richardson Look, the world is always ending somewhere. Somewhere the sun has come crashing down. Somewhere it has gone completely dark Somewhere it has ended with the gun, the knife, the fist. Somewhere it has ended with the slammed door, the shattered hope. Somewhere it has ended with the utter quiet that follows the news from the phone, the television, the hospital room. Somewhere it has ended with a tenderness that will break your heart. But, listen, this blessing means to be anything but morose. It has not come to cause despair. It is here simply because there is nothing a blessing is better suited for than an ending, nothing that cries out more for a blessing than when a world is falling apart. This b...

If you were unable to attend Sunday's congregational meeting, here's what we discussed. Moderator Ellen Beidler grounded us by reminding us of our freedom and responsibility to set the direction of CUCC (congregational polity) and of our connection to other congregations and settings of the United Church of Christ. We affirmed the work of Do Justice on reforming the cash bail bond systems, and voted to support sending to the United Church of Christ a resolution to do this work more broadly. Stewardship Ministry chair, Jason Myers, asked us to provide input on the proposed operating and reserve budgets for 2020 and to turn in our financial pledges soon.  We will vote on a final budget at the January congregational meeting.  If you would like a copy of the financial reports, contact the church office . Nominating Committee chair, Sue Cottle, shared their work so far on a slate of officers and ministry members for 2020 (first draft) and asked us to volunteer if we haven...

If you found a Bible with a blue, hardback cover in the sanctuary on Sunday, please turn it in to the office or to Śānti  Matthews. Thank you.

Wear a button to educate friends and neighbors. Last Sunday in the Congregational Meeting CUCC officially called on the UCC to advocate and act to change unjust Cash Bail Bond Systems throughout the USA after a very supportive and constructive congregational discussion urging our continuing state and local pursuit through advocacy and collaborations.    Read the approved resolution     Talking Point Cards and "Reform Bail Bond" buttons were passed out to aid us to advocate for this cause, and more will be available by contacting Bill Gretsch wrgretsch@verizon.net or anyone on CUCC's Do Justice Ministry.

One of the purposes of Congregations for Social Justice is to help faith-based people who care about justice connect to others with similar concerns.  The CSJ newsletter advertises open events sponsored by CSJ member congregations.  CUCC's Do Justice Ministry participates in Congregations for Social Justice, being represented by Bill Gretsch, Merrilee Jacobson, and Adrienne Little.  If you would like to attend any of these events with someone, contact any of our 3 representatives to see if they are going. CSJ JustBeer -  Nov 21 Due to Thanksgiving Holiday shifting to        Thursday, November 21 - 5:00 PM        High Park Bar and Grill        625 E Whitaker Mill Road           919-833-4527   We usually have 12-20 folks around the table.         Most get a bite to eat with their beverage - iced tea, water, whatever!  😉       ...