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APRIL 2018 - In This Issue:
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April 1, 2018
Easter Sunday
"Between Two Thieves" Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
Both Services Will be held in the Sanctuary
Join us this morning for a sermon about Easter approached through the lens of Universalist and Liberation theology.
April 8, 2018
"The Hopeful Science of Looking Forward" Bryan Sexton, preaching
Join us this Sunday for a service featuring church member Bryan Sexton who will speak about why the concept of "Later" is fundamental to who we are.
April 15, 2018
"Masculinity: Toxic and Otherwise" Rev. Thom, preaching
From #metoo to mansplaining we are living in an age of social upheaval where old (and unjust) power arrangements are being acknowledged and challenged. Come to a service dedicated to reflecting on this moment in time and what is needed to create wholeness. Check out church communications for opportunities to dialogue with Thom in advance of this service.
April 22, 2018
Earth Day
"For the Beauty of the Earth" Rev. Thom, leading worship
9:15 Service Will Be Held at Memorial Rock Amphitheater
Join us as we celebrate Earth Day and recommit ourselves to more environmentally-responsible living. This will be multigenerational worship service for those of all ages. (The 9:15 service will be held at Memorial Rock, which is located on the church property. Park in our lot and Greeters will let you know where to go.)
April 29, 2018
"Spirituality: Seeking and Finding and Seeking" Rev. Thom, preaching
So, what exactly is spirituality? How should we understand this word that seems to deny exact definition? How do we find balance in a community that includes both people who are highly interested and highly uninterested in spirituality?
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PLEDGE DRIVE & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
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BUILDING ON OUR LEGACY -- NOW IS THE TIME!
Our capital campaign is drawing to a close.
Working together, we have created an exciting vision for redesigning our building, one that will strengthen what The Community Church of Chapel Hill has to offer both within and beyond our walls - friendship, love, spiritual renewal and growth, enriching the lives of children and youth, caring for each other, ministering to those in need, and standing on the side of love. This Capital Campaign is our church's proclamation that we believe in this vision, we believe that what we have to offer to ourselves and to the world is needed and important and worthy of our financial support. If you have not contributed, we invite you to invest yourself through your financial resources into this work we are called to do together. We hope to receive all pledges on or before April 8.
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April 27-29, Peaks of Otter: OK lakeside lodging overlooking the mirrored reflection of Sharp Top Mountain. Internationally famous Warbler Road for peak of migration warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks. Banks of Trillium, pockets of Lady Slippers.
May 19, Robertson Millpond, near Wendell. One of last year's favorites, a well-marked paddle (reasonable rentals) on kayak width trails through a Bald Cypress swamp. With luck we'll catch wild roses in bloom.
June 8-10. Roan Mountain for what may be the most spectacular display of Rhododendrons - period. Plus Linville Falls, a 10 + spectacle of its own. Plus! Decide by
May 7 and share a private cabin near Banner Elk on 20 acres of mountaintop at bargain rates. RSVP for all/any to:
chandler-dorfman@mindspring.com
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MUSIC NEWS
by Glenn Mehrbach, Music Director
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Why who makes much of a miracle? As to me I know nothing
else but miracles, whether they be animals feeding in the fields, Or, birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in
the air, Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet and bright, Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring; These, with the rest, one and all, are to me, miracles.
-Walt Whitman
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Alyssa Hinton's show, Earth Consciousness and Cultural Revelations, will be on exhibit in the sanctuary during March and April. Internationally trained, and of mixed heritage, Alyssa draws on an eclectic background. This has allowed her to create art with universal appeal, investigating on many levels and challenging conventional parameters of "expected" Indian imagery. Her recent themes reflect an attempt to untangle a complicated web of events pertaining to the displacement of her Tuscarora (Eastern North Carolina) and Osage (Missouri/Kansas) ancestors.
These narrative earth-conscious works speak to the preservation of both the ecology and indigenous spiritual traditions. They bring to light aspects of a distinct but under-represented southeastern Native experience, one whose basic worldview is rooted in ancient Mississippian mound culture. On a more personal note, by uncovering what has been denied or seemingly lost, the work also chronicles the artist's 'inner restoration.'
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BUILDINGS & GROUNDS COMMITTEE
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THE VIEW FROM THE ROOF
A terrific group of Sanctuary and B&G volunteers cleaned out the Manse. Following that, the mold specialists found leaks in the plumbing downstairs necessitating removal of a chunk of wall. At least we now know where it all was coming from and it is gone. Now we just have to rebuild the bathrooms and install the new sewer line... But hope Springs eternal, it will all get done.
The Jones building has a new roof, hooray! No more leaks in the kitchen and elsewhere. And plans continue to move forward on outdoor lighting improvements.
Eight B&Gers shared lunch at Breadman's after our March WorkPARTY. Our next one will be April 9th from 9 AM -noon+lunch, due to the Easter holidays.
And always remember, YOUR JOB is to email
maintenance@c3huu.org or catch Brad at church whenever you see something amiss. Early reports save $$$!!!
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COMMUNITY SERVICE MINISTRY
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TABLE Upcoming Events: Save the Dates!
TABLE's 10th birthday Saturday, April 7, 2018
Celebrate 10 years of feeding local kids with TABLE. Come to the
Open House, 11 AM - 1 PM
at the TABLE o
ffi
ce, 209 E. Main St. in Carrboro for refreshments, a chance to pack a bag for a child and more! Also, throughout the day, join businesses around town as they celebrate TABLE with food drives, o
ff
ers and other activities Go to www.tablenc.org for more information and updates.
TABLE Food Truck Rodeo Saturday, April 21, 2018, 3 PM
Join neighbors and friends at Orange United Methodist Church, 1220 MLK Jr. Blvd. in Chapel Hill for delicious food and family fun. All to benefit TABLE's mission to feed local hungry kids.
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 CROP WALK is a long time fundraising activity in Chapel Hill/Carrboro. The registration begins at 1:30, be ready to walk at 2:30.The regular walk is a 3.7 loop, but a mini-walk also exists. 3/4 of the money raised goes to Church World Service to help in 80 countries with emergency relief and also longer term self-help projects. 1/4 of the money stays here to help with the IFC's food programs.
To make it easier for interested folks to find each other, check the bright feet on the Kiosk in the coffee hour. People looking for walking buddies or people wishing to support a walker can sign up. It is the responsibility of the walkers to contact the buddy and/or the financial sponsors.. Let's have a number of folks from the Community Church in that crowd walking together to fight hunger.
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ECO'S ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER
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First Sunday Recyclables
April 1 at the ECO table: e
yeglasses
(prescription or not, can be broken, includes sunglasses)
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As every month, ECO is also collecting
batteries
(AAA - D, button, rechargeable),
corks
(natural and synthetic), and tiny bits of metal (paper clips, nails, screws, etc.).
Burned: Are Trees the New Coal?
Woody biomass is the latest false solution to climate change. Find out how biomass companies are devastating our forests. April 6, 6:30-8:30 pm, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF), 4907 Garrett Road, Durham. Click here
for more information.
Earth Day is April 22.
Watch the weekly announcements for fun activities planned by ECO.
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APRIL 8 - HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
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Habitat for Humanity and the Community Church are building a new home for the Tengono family. The Tengono's came to Chapel Hill to be closer to their grandchildren and decided they wanted to put down roots here. They looked to buy a home but could not qualify for a loan. A friend connected them to Habitat and now a new home will be finished in time for the Tengonos to plant a garden this spring. Community Church members have been involved, providing construction help, food for volunteers, and making a quilt for the family.
Please support these efforts and give the Tengono family a new start by giving generously during the April 8th share the plate.
Unable to make it on April 8, please send your contribution to the church office. Make checks payable to The Community Church of Chapel Hill UU with "Habitat for Humanity" in the memo line.
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APRIL 22 -
CHATHAM CITIZENS AGAINST COAL ASH DUMPING (CCACAD)
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After the 2014 coal ash spill into the Dan River, Duke Energy was ordered to clean up their 14 coal ash dumps in NC. One of Duke Energy's "solutions" to the problem was to dump its coal ash in Brickhaven, a community adjoining Moncure in Chatham County. Moncure is a
rural, low income community that is roughly 30% African American. It has often suffered
environmental injustice,
repeatedly selected over the years as a dumping ground. E
xposure to the heavy metals in coal ash has very serious health effects including respiratory problems, cancer, and organ damage. When Duke Energy failed to adequately address these problems, a group of citizens formed CCACAD, a small multi-racial organization with widespread community support. They would greatly appreciate our help with legal expenses incurred in their fight against the coal ash dump in the courts.
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SAVE THE DATE: The Share the Plate Committee is now accepting applications for Share the Plate Sundays for July-December 2018. Deadline for applications is Sunday, May 13. For applications, click here.
Questions: Email
Jill Baker or
Jane Provan.
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Come join the Community Clickers
as we use needles and yarn to create comfort and warmth for our community. Our projects are made with 7" x 9" knitted and crocheted blocks of washable acrylic, #4 worsted weight yarn. Our ongoing projects are to make shawls for UNC Hospice Home in Pittsboro (nine were delivered in February!) and an afghan for the 2018 fall auction. It takes 18 blocks to make each shawl and 49 blocks to make the afghan. Join us on Wednesday April 4th from 2-4 pm in the Commons Area and on Monday April 16th from 7-9 pm in the Straley Room. We generally spend some time working on a group project and then click and chat, but some attendees click and chat the entire time! Can't knit or crochet? Come learn! Donate finished blocks at our table on April 15th. Contact
clickers@c3huu.org
for more information.
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Faith Connections on Mental Illness
The annual conference of Faith Connections on Mental Illness will be held on
Friday, April 13 at the St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill. The focus this year is on how individuals and families can experience hope and healing while living with mental illnesses. Speakers will cover topics including substance use disorders and addiction, depression in the elderly, and breaking the stigma of mental illness in faith communities.
Click here for more information or to register.
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ADDRESSING INCOME DISPARITY
Nearly 100 church members participated in a survey of potential dialogue topics conducted by the Sanctuary for Dialogue (SfD) Ministry. What stood out was that economic justice was of great interest and concern to survey respondents. So we decided to hold a two hour Dialogue which we have titled "Addressing Income Disparity". Dialogues are structured discussions led by trained facilitators from the SfD team; for more info
click here.
If you are interested in participating, please email us at
dialogue@c3huu.org
. L
et us know which time you would like to participate: 3:00PM - 5:00PM on Sunday, April 29, or 7:00PM - 9:00PM on Monday, April 30.
If both work for you, we'd like to know that, too.
The deadline for enrollment is Sunday, April 15. You can also register at our table during coffee hour on April 1, 8 or 15.
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SPIRITUAL EDUCATION FOR ADULTS
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You can register for SEA classes now either during tabling or online:
Tai Chi. Led by Joe Swain. Walk-ins welcome. Wednesdays
7-8 pm.
Transform Negative Judgement and Hate to Joy and Love through Dragon Dao Yin: An ancient Qigong Form. Led by Dave Gulick, 7-8 PM 4/5, 4/12, 4/19 and 5/3 and 5/10.
Creative Time to Connect with Your Inner Spirit. Presented by Steevie Jane Parks, Thursday 7-9 PM 4/26.
Voluntary Simplicity. Facilitated by Marion Hirsch, 7-9 PM 5/3, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31.
Vegetarianism from a Spiritual Perspective. Rondy Elliott, 7-9 PM 5/17, 5/24, 5/31.
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On Saturday, April 21 at 10:30, the CCCH Readers will be discussing An Indigenous People's History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. The acclaimed historian and activist offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of the indigenous peoples. It reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resisted the expansion of the US empire. Carolyn Holt will be leading our discussion. Join us in the Kirby Room to share your insights. Drop-ins are welcome.
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 Often we applaud outstanding performers or leaders within our church, showing how much we appreciate their efforts. There are also many behind-the-scenes workers who keep our church functioning well. Did you know that Ruth Leopold has been watering the potted plants in the Sanctuary and Commons for years and years?
At the IFC we are proud to say that we serve two dinners a month. Did you know that Eleanor Armstrong has been the leader for both of those dinners for over 10 years? She has had much help from others, but she has been there almost every time. The helpers vary from ones who come about once a month to those who try once or twice. There is another almost invisible group of church IFC volunteers who have been responsible for the 3rd Wednesday lunch, going back almost to the early 2000's. They include Shelley deFosset, Carla Knipp. Susie Hafer, and Dorothy Hammett.
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2018 Fall Auction - SAVE THE DATE!!!
The Community Church's annual Fall Auction of dinners/events, food, treasures, services, vacation places, and more will be on Saturday, October 27th! Mark your calendars and plan to attend! This is the church's largest fundraiser (and FUN-raiser) in support of the annual operating budget. We will follow the same format as last year (opening at 4:30 pm with silent auction bidding beginning at 5 pm) so start planning your auction donations and fabulous finger foods for munching on while bidding! For more information and to volunteer to help, contact Don and Susan Blanchard.
Check out the auction website
for updates and to get ideas from previous auctions.
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STAY CONNECTED
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