Community UCC eNews
February 27, 2020
Community UCC is an inclusive and progressive Christian Church doing social justice, environmental faithfulness, interfaith collaboration and and spiritual formation to help ourselves and others grow in faith, hope and love.

Sunday Sermon  

Sunday, March 1, Pastor Ara will deliver a sermon on “Signs and Wonders,” based on the scripture John 2:1-11 and 4:43-54.

Worship Service Each Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
NOTE: We broadcast our Sunday Worship service on Facebook Live beginning at 10:30 a.m. We want to make service accessible to members or friends who can't be with us on Sunday mornings. The camera captures the front of the Sanctuary and the first couple of rows of seats.
Our Lenten Journey

From Pastor Ara: The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (yesterday) as a 40-day journey of spiritual discipline. For many, the focus is on denial, yet the season is a great moment to add, develop and enrich one’s spirit by adopting a new and healthy practice.

At Community, one such opportunity is joining together to read and study the Sermons on the Mount and Plain. We will gather at the White’s home on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. in the Sunnyside area of Fresno (contact Eileen, Pastor Ara or the church office for the address). We are open to offering a second time and place to gather on Sunday late afternoons or evening at the Church.

Please express your interest in a Sunday gathering and study by signing up on Sunday, March 1, or emailing Pastor Ara at pastor@communityucc.com  

Our journey begins with Blessings and Woes (Matthew 5:1-12 and Luke 6:20-26) on March 4.
Fundraiser: Gifting Tree!

The Missions and Social Justice Team delights in offering you “The Gifting Tree,” filled with various gift cards with a value over $400.

Tickets are $10 each, 6 for $50, or 13 for $100. Drawing will be held on March 15 .

Cards on the tree include the following:
  • $60 - Perfect Balance Yoga
  • $50 - Southwest Airlines
  • $80 - Curves gym two-month membership
  • $50 - Olive Garden
  • Two $25 gift cards to Alla's Mediterranean Restaurant
  • $25 - Amazon
  • $25 - Regal Cinemas
  • Two $10 Starbucks gift cards
  • $20 - Target
  • $20 - Panera
  • $20 - R&G Threading Bar
Living the Questions 2.0

Below are the upcoming topics (subject to change) and theme for February and March.

Theme: CALL TO COVENANT
March 1 — Reclaiming the World
March 8 — A Kingdom without Walls
March 15 — Social Justice: Realizing God’s Vision
March 22 — Incarnation: Divinely Human
March 29 — Prayer: Intimacy with God
April 5 — No LTQ (Palm Sunday)
April 12 — No LTQ (Easter)
April 19 — Compassion: The Heart of Jesus’ Ministry
April 26 — Creative Transformation
May 3 — Embracing Mystery
Our next book, during Lent, will be " Death of Jesus for Progressive Christians " by Donald Schmidt. We study at 6 p.m. Tuesdays in the Conference Room.

Upcoming meetings:
  • March 3 — Session 1
  • March 10 — Session 2
  • March 24 — Session 3
  • March 31 — Session 4
  • April 7 — Session 5
Saturday Morning Breakfast Group
Saturday, March 7
Conference Room
Breakfast at 8:45 a.m.,
talk begins at 9 a.m.

  • On March 7, Gary Walker will talk about "The Life and Legacies of Leonardo da Vinci.”

  • On April 4, Nancy Pressley will discuss Focus Forward, a program to aid troubled youth.

  • For May 2, Dr. Al Evans has invited Dr. Nataliia Kasianenko, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Fresno State, who is a native of the Ukraine. Her research focuses on comparative politics and international relations, with an emphasis on nationalism, identity politics, and human rights in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. 
Editor's Note: Have you noticed the changing colors I've been incorporating into the newsletter background for the past few months? It's not random. I've been doing it to reflect the liturgical season we are in.

The use of colors to differentiate liturgical seasons became a common practice in the Western church in about the fourth century. You can read more here.
Men's Book Study Group

The men's book study group, led by facilitators Rod Zook and Chad Hayden, has finished its study of "Naked Spirituality." The group will take about a month off, then will restart with a new book. Watch for news in the coming weeks.

In each week's eNews, we include a news article from our larger denomination, United Church of Christ , to show the faithful work being done in other places.
In an era of violence, UCC churches take protective steps

When the people of  Cathedral of Hope, United Church of Christ ,  held a blessing ceremony for their memorial Peace Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 16, they also took a permanent step to keep violence away.

The new plaza, just outside the Dallas church's main doors, has bollards – a kind of sturdy post – and other physical features designed to keep violent intruders from driving vehicles through.

It's not the first security measure deliberately put in place by Cathedral of Hope – one of the largest LGBTQ-welcoming congregations in the United States – to prevent or limit violence. Security cameras, armed guards, usher training and door monitoring have long been in place. Continue reading at the UCC.com website .
Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all who are celebrating this month!

March Birthdays
4 – Dala Ramirez
6 – Kristi Cole
8 – Emma Haring
9 – Ashlyn Chaffin, Olivia LeBeau
14 – Lynette Mulvihill
15 – Jack Van Patten
16 – Marie Edwards, Benjamin Williams
17 – Michael Dillahunty
23 - David Rocha
24 – Pam Mighaccio, Lu Parks
25 – Sophie Gilbert
27 – Carol Dailey, Debbie Schroer
30 – Jerry Thompson

March Anniversaries
19 – Bill & Carol Dailey
26 – Tom & Penny Carroll
31 – Al & Carolyn Evans

Did we overlook someone's birthday or anniversary for this month? Please let Marilyn ( office@communityucc.com ) and Lisa ( lisamboyles12@gmail.com ) know so we can get you in next week. We never intend to leave anyone out.
Upcoming Church Events

  • Thursday Evening Worship – weekly at 7 p.m., we hold a weekly contemplative, interactive, spirit-filled worship service in the Sanctuary
  • March 7 – Saturday Morning Breakfast Group, 8:45 a.m., Conference Room (see article above)
  • Sundays at 9 a.m. – Adult Education in the Conference Room
  • March 1 – Recycling Sunday, first Sunday of the month
  • March 5 – Council Meeting in the Conference Room

Keep up to date with our Church's online calendar!
eNews deadline is 10 a.m. Wednesdays

CUCC eNews is a weekly publication distributed every Thursday. Deadline for submitting announcements is 10 a.m. Wednesdays (and earlier is appreciated). Please send your announcements to Marilyn at office@communityucc.com . Lisa Boyles (lisamboyles12@gmail.com, 559.244.9502) is the eNews editor and communications liaison for our church.
We've updated our Joyful Giving page to reflect the many ways members can help support our Church's missions and operations.

Phone: 559.435.2690 
Email: office@communityucc.com