Community UCC eNews
February 6, 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, Feb. 9, Dialogue on Race and Racism facilitated by
Elizabeth Davis-Russell and Felicia Rocha

Jesus: Stories and Signs 
The sermon texts from Jan. 19 through March 29 will be a parable or a miracle inspiring us to revel in the mystery, open to possibilities previously dismissed or ignored, and emboldened to act with courage, conviction and LOVE.

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.
Family Bingo Night

Community UCC's Faith Education Team presents a family Bingo Night from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 . $25 per family, or $5 ages 5 to 11, $10 ages 12 and up. Come and join the fellowship!
Black History Month Worship

We have four very different worship services planned for the celebration of Black History month at Community UCC.

  • Feb. 9: A Dialogue on Race and Racism - we will gather in groups around tables and be guided and prompted through a challenging and uplifting conversation. Trusting that the conversation/dialogue needs to continue, we will gather on the second Sundays of March, April and May after worship for extend and contains conversation. We will be facilitated by the Mission Social Justice team.
  • Feb. 16: African American Sacred Music - EJ has a very special worship planned. The usual great, but different, music and an informative talk on African American Church music.
  • Feb. 23: Emulating Zacchaeus - The Call to the Church on Stewardship of Our Abundance with those who have been denied...

After worship on Feb. 23, we will gather in Hayden Hall for “A POT-LUCK LUNCHEON OF EXTRAVAGANT PROPORTIONS.” Please bring a large portion of a very favorite food-comfort, delicious, a dish that evokes beautiful memories. We will share, eating more than we should and sharing any remainder for any one to take home.

Finally, we will have a movie night at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, in the Sanctuary. We will view “ The Long Shadow, ” a documentary that connects the racial injustice of today with brutally dehumanizing institutions of slavery and Jim Crow. The movie will be followed by a reception in Hayden Hall for discussion inspired by the movie. Donation welcome, but not required.
From Pastor Ara: After several months of small steps to take toward a more environmentally just life, we need a reminder to continue to engage. Three small steps to be taken again and again:
  • We have been using the Church China for months. The Fellowship team needs a volunteer or two from the rest of the congregation to help wash dishes. The sign up sheet is on the welcome table in the narthex. There is plenty of room, so please sign up!
  • Toilet paper: which do you prefer? Bamboo or made from recycled material?They are sold by the case of 48. Too much for most of us to store in our homes. The church will order and you can pick up a roll or six. $1.00/roll. Available next Sunday, February 16.
  • The big, beautiful COMMUNITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST reusable bag. Pick up a couple for $5.00 each.
Thank you!
Living the Questions 2.0

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

Theme: RECLAIMING THE WORLD 
Feb.  9 — The Myth of Redemptive Violence
Feb.  16 — Practicing Resurrection
Feb.  23 — Debunking the Rapture

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
Men's Book Study Group

The men's book study group, led by facilitators Rod Zook and Chad Hayden, will continue their study of "Naked Spirituality" by Brian McLaren at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 . The group will discuss Chapters 25 and 26.
The Women's book for January and February will be "Holy Envy, Finding God in the Faith of Others" by Barbara Brown Taylor. We study at 6 p.m. Tuesdays in the Conference Room.

Upcoming reading assignments:
Feb. 11 — Ch. 8 and 9
Feb. 18 — Ch. 10 and 11
Feb. 25 — Ch. 12 and Epilogue
Interfaith Scholar Weekend
Feb. 21-23

As part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, one of his grandsons, Rajmohan Gandhi, will be the speaker for the 2020 Interfaith Scholar Weekend event Feb. 21-23 . For more information and to register, see the website www.interfaithscholar.org or pick up a brochure in the Narthex.
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 Forwar d, a program to aid troubled youth.
From Annie Van Patten: WOW! Your efforts really “PAID OFF!” Several recycling Sundays worth of items brought in $141.81 this past week. The proceeds from  CRV  bottles, cans and plastics is definitely worth the minor effort it requires. And your efforts are greatly appreciated! It all adds up to a tidy sum during the year and is a help to our church’s budget. Thanks! And keep it coming! 

Reminder:  Recycling is the first Sunday of each month and only CRV items bring in money.  
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.
Minnesota church hosts prayer vigil for migrants forced to ‘remain in Mexico’

An immigrant-welcoming congregation of the United Church of Christ in Duluth, Minn., hosted an interfaith prayer vigil Wednesday night on behalf of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, tied to the first anniversary of U.S. government protocols that force them to remain in Mexico until their cases can be heard.

People from around the city on the west shore of Lake Superior congregated at Peace United Church of Christ, invited by the local Interfaith Committee for Migrant Justice. Continue reading at the UCC.com website .
Happy Birthday and Anniversary to all who are celebrating this month!

February Birthdays
2 — Rod Zook
4 — Dwayne Ruffin
7 — Michelle Williams
10 — Bonita Earl, John Comegys, Beryl Weinschenk
12 — Alexandra FitzGibbon
14 — Cathie Moseley
15 — Christian Fazio
16 — Ruben Fernandez, Bob Garcia
17 — Rose Rowe
19 — Charlene Toews
22 — Vhuso Sukuta
26 — Cheryl Jones
27 — Anne Simone

February Anniversaries
No anniversaries in February.

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.
Fresno State celebrates Black History Month with numerous events

Fresno State, committed to honoring the diversity of its student body, faculty and staff, will celebrate Black History Month throughout February with an array of public events.

At a commemoration ceremony on Jan. 22 for the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro told attendees that every member of the campus community plays a role in fostering an inclusive environment of respect, kindness, collaboration and accountability where all can thrive. Continue reading at FresnoStateNews.com.

Upcoming Church Events

  • Thursday Evening Worship – weekly at 7 p.m., we hold a weekly contemplative, interactive, spirit-filled worship service in the Sanctuary
  • Sundays at 9 a.m. – Adult Education in the Conference Room
  • Feb. 12 - Choir rehearsal, 6:30 pm, Sanctuary
  • Feb. 17- Church Office closed/President's Day
  • March 1 – Recycling Sunday, first Sunday of the month
  • March 7 – Saturday Morning Breakfast Group, 8:45 a.m., Conference Room (see article above)

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