April 4, 2021
Easter Sunday
"The Importance of Being Thomas" Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
In the Gospel stories of the resurrection, Jesus appears multiple times to his friends and followers. Perhaps none of these appearances are more memorable than Jesus' encounter with "doubting Thomas," the disciple who insists on touching Jesus himself. Thomas has even been called the most UU of the disciples. This morning's Easter service reflects on the role of Thomas in spiritual life.
MUSIC NOTES: This Easter Sunday, the service will feature the Community Church Choir belting out an upbeat, Gospel-style reimagining of the most famous chorus from Handel’s “Messiah,” accompanied by our very own “In House Band.” And Danny Gotham will bring us new versions of two traditional Easter pieces, with music by Leo Kottke and John Fahey. Lastly, our virtual choir leaders will sing spirited hymns to encourage you to rise and lift your voices high!
If you wish to have a joy or sorrow named in the service,
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Sunday Programming
Watch Virtual Worship Service On Demand!
10am: Live Religious Education Service on Zoom
11am: Live Community Coffee Hour on Zoom
&
7pm: High School & Middle School Youth Group
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ANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE BUILDING MOMENTUM
Following the inspiring Pledge-a-thon on March 20, our congregation has responded.
As of March 31, more than 160 families have made their pledge.
Thanks to everyone who has made their pledge of financial support
to fund our programs in the coming church year.
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Thanks to:
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Jane Provan (Toad), Caroline Sherman (Frog) and Rosemary Graysmith (Narrator) for their wonderful performances for Frog and Toad Puppet Theater in last week's worship service.
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WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK WITH OUR NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION? In the 40th week, with the walls now painted, door hardware and light fixtures are being installed. Electric panel hook-ups and conditional power inspection are happening, also HVAC startup. Take a virtual peek at ongoing work via the Building Project webpage, here, featuring weekly-updated photos and a current mini-video, along with information galore. Contact us here if you have any questions.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In March, children and youth in Religious Education are studying COMMITMENT. This week, we will focus on friendship with a Frog and Toad multi-generational service. We will continue our time of Family Fellowship on Sunday mornings, where we can share joys and sorrows. Middle School and High School youth groups will gather virtually on Sunday evening. On Saturday, the Family Fun event is Minecraft Show and Tell! For more information about our Religious Education Program, contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good.
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RACIAL EQUITY OFFICE HOURS: HOW DO WE DEAL WITH REALITY TV RACISTS? Read up on the racial controversy from this season of The Bachelor. How do we contextualize racists in reality tv? Office hours are for people to talk about race in a safe space with skilled facilitators. Drop into office hours to talk more about this question, general questions you have, or any discourse about race that’s been on your mind. This is a casual setting, so drop in or drop out any time! Office hours are every week - here, on Sunday at 5PM. See you there!
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PLEDGE-A-THON VIDEO AVAILABLE A recording of the Pledge-A-Thon held on Saturday, March 20 is now available here, on the church's YouTube channel, if you missed it (or would like to rewatch your favorite parts). The Pledge-a-thon was a joyous and moving celebration of our community featuring humor, stories, songs, poems, and testimonials.
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RIDE TO PRESCHOOL NEEDED Preschoolers don’t get to ride on the school bus, so the Immigrant Justice Initiative is looking for volunteers who can bring Sofia (and Gaby) from the Manse to Frank Porter Graham on weekday mornings and back from school to the Manse (picking up Gaby first) in the afternoons. It’s a very short trip in the car but complicated and difficult on foot. If you could help out, please contact Doug Shier here.
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MUSIC GALA SUBMISSION DEADLINE Time is running out if you'd like to contribute to this year's virtual Music Gala, "MasqUUerade." Sunday, April 4, will be the last date for gala submissions. The Music Gala itself takes place virtually on Saturday, April 24. Please contact Music Director Glenn Mehrbach, here , for more information or to make a submission.
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ECO: FIRST SUNDAY MEETINGS MOVED TO APRIL 11, 12:30PM Look for our Earth Day/Earth Month activities starting April 4. These range from creating a pollinators-friendly-yard to ways of supporting President Biden’s Climate Plan. Once again we are also offering Project Drawdown’s EcoChallenge. You can start the EcoChallenge now. Our first Sunday meeting has been moved to April 11, 12:30PM. ALL ARE WELCOME to join us each First Sunday. Contact Eco here to receive a Zoom invitation.
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COMMUNITY CLICKERS The Clickers will meet Wednesday April 7 at 2PM in the church courtyard. We will collect finished blocks and baby hats. We will plan to design a shawl. hopefully we will have beautiful weather and will be able to sit, chat, and click. See you there. See our webpage here.
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CAPITAL FUND - WHAT'S BEYOND THE GAP? Timely fulfilment of existing capital pledges, on top of already-raised funds, assures our ability to close the Gap on schedule. As explained in the March 10 letter from our Board and our Minister, the list of deferred capital improvements (for when additional funds permit) is being compiled and updated by the Board Finance Committee. The list with recommended timeline priorities invites your feedback, by email and via a coffee-hour session on April 11. More information here.
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OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS: SYLVAN HEIGHTS BIRD PARK, SAT. APRIL 17 Remarkably, Scotland Neck, NC, is home to an internationally important waterfowl conservation site. Sylvan Heights has been uniquely successful in breeding endangered waterfowl and wonderfully resourceful in presenting them in open access habitats where birds and unfeathered bipeds share open space. These are glorious creatures with most (the birds) still in full breeding plumage. Let’s meet there for a picnic brunch/lunch at 11:30 AM, then tour the park. RSVP here.
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NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR APRIL On Saturday, April 17 from 10:30 to 12, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss On Tyranny: 20 Lessons from the 20th Century, by Timothy Snyder. This meeting will be held via Zoom teleconferencing. Joy Blevins will be leading our discussion. The Readers meet on the third Saturday of each month; new members and drop-ins are welcome. Contact the group here to ask questions, or to be placed on the distribution list for meeting information.
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SHARE THE PLATE APPLICATIONS FOR JULY-DEC 2021 STP SUNDAYS DUE MAY 2! The Share the Plate (STP) Committee invites interested members/organizations to submit an application for consideration for July-December 2021 STP Sundays. Deadline: May 2. Applicants must use new and improved applications available HERE! To learn more about Share the Plate, how to apply, and requirements for acceptance, CLICK HERE. Questions? Contact Jill Baker, here, or Jane Provan, here.
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HUGE WELCOME AND THANKS TO FRANKLIN HIRSCH! Our Congregational Administrator, Dana Lundquist, is taking partial maternity leave to take care of her new foster daughter and is incredibly grateful and excited that Franklin Hirsch has come on board part-time to help with handling financial procedures! Franklin grew up in this congregation, and recently graduated college, where he studied Accounting. He will work in the Dana's office on Mondays. Dana is still available by email, here, and phone, but may take longer than normal to respond.
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WE'VE ADDED A SECOND CHURCH ZOOM ACCOUNT! We've added a second Zoom account so more church groups can meet. Moving forward, we have "Zoom 1" or "Zoom 2". You can check to see if either is available for a specific time by looking at our Calendar and reserve one of the Zoom accounts by filling out this form. Regardless of whether you use our church or your personal Zoom account, please remember to fill out the reservation form so we can add all events to our calendar, here, and make all our offerings visible and accessible to our community!
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SCAM ALERT Several members of the church received email from an address imitating Rev. Thom's, or those of other staff members. These messages ask people to purchase gift cards to give to people in the hospital, or something similar. These messages are a scam. If you receive them, please report them and delete them. If you have any concerns, please email Rev. Thom here. Please know that Rev. Thom and the staff of The Community Church will never send out email solicitations asking people to purchase gift cards.
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COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ACTION |
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CAMPUS MINISTRY: Northside Tour |
On March 30, 2021, six Members of the Campus ministry took the Soundwalk Histories of Home: A Walk with Northside Neighbors,
sponsored by Marian Jackson Cheek Center for Community and Justice.
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LECTIO MEDITATION GROUP We meet at 12 noon every Friday on Zoom. Using readings from poetry and the sacred traditions of world religions, we practice meditation through deep listening. If you’re interested in joining or would like more information, contact Barb Chapman here. (Please put LECTIO in the subject line of your email.) All are welcome!
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FRESH EGGS Cathy Cole’s hens are laying again! If you want to buy eggs—$5/carton and all proceeds go to the Capital Fund—call her at 919-967-3422. You will need to pick them up at her house or at the church.
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ARTWORK ON THE WALL DURING VIRTUAL SERVICES Steevie Jane Parks will be showing several of her recent paintings during virtual services from March 30 through the end of April. Email Steevie here or call her at 919-918-1014.
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BEYOND OUR WALLS
suggested by Members & Committees
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SIDE WITH LOVE AND FORWARD TOGETHER ACTION OF THE WEEK Speak out against Anti-Trans Bill HB 358. This state legislature bill would ban transgender women from competing on women’s athletic teams at public schools. Call your State Representative and tell them that all young people in NC deserve the opportunity to experience the benefits of playing sports. Talking points are here. - Submitted by Side With Love
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Most BLUE text is clickable! Blue text links to outside websites or to an email address. Example: email c3hfinance@gmail.com for rentals.
Please submit Weekly Announcements contributions HERE.
Announcements are due by noon Wednesday, prior to Friday's issue.
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