WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
January 2
"The Sabbath: A Temple in Time" 
Rev. Alison Wilbur Eskildsen
As Rev. Thom Belote begins his sabbatical, we'll explore how time for spiritual or personal rest and renewal might serve us. And to highlight Earth’s journey around the Sun and mark the transition to a New Year, we'll "call the directions".
​MUSIC NOTES: This Sunday, longtime Community Church musicians Danny Gotham and Glenn Mehrbach will collaborate for all the Special Music, playing songs by Peter Ostroushko and Pete Seeger. Before the service, Danny and Glenn will also play a medley of forward-looking instrumentals, and finish with a congregational rendition of a New Year’s Eve classic.

If you wish to have a joy or sorrow named in the service,
please send your joy or sorrow to Rev. Alison here or text her at (919)391-8517 by 9AM on Friday.

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR: Please join Rachel Rose for this important time of connection. We meet here, via Zoom at 11:30 AM on Sunday. We have an icebreaker, randomly-assigned groups (it's fun!) time for sharing and fellowship, then a closing reading. We hope to see you there!
LIVESTREAMING IN-PERSON SUNDAY SERVICES We livestream the in-person worship service each Sunday at 10 AM. View the livestream here, on the church's Youtube channel. In case the livestream is interrupted, a recording of the service will be made and posted following the service.
WITHIN THESE WALLS
Thank you to:
Mike Goodyear who for the past many months has been working on cleaning, painting and building new storage spaces for Music, Religious Education, Volunteers and Worship.

The Lavinder Family for hosting the Family Solstice Lantern Walk on December 22.
TABLING DURING COFFEE HOUR:
  • Annual Pledge Week/Community Day of Service
  • Concert Series
  • Community Clickers
  • Share The Plate
WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In January, children are learning about Living with Intention as their Soul Matters theme. This Sunday, we will start by setting intentions for the year in Zoom Family Worship at 9AM and In Person at 10AM. For more information about our Religious Education Program, contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good.

DE-GREENING OF THE SANCTUARY & COMMONS - January 2, 11AM The Worship Associates Ministry will be leading the de-greening of the Sanctuary and Commons on Sunday, 1/2, at 11AM, immediately following the service. Please help out and make this your first church event of the new year! The de-greening is a multi-generational event and masks are mandatory (as is the case for all inside events). Questions? Email Bonnie Crotty Nelson here, or call: (919)929-7054

RARE WOMEN We are women (older, wiser, and mostly retired) who are meeting via Zoom and using this discussion guide to talk about Ashton Applewhite’s book, This Chair Rocks – A Manifesto Against Ageism. Joann Haggerty’s group will meet from 2-4PM on Monday, January 3 and Susan Blanchard’s group will meet from 1:30-3:30 PM on January 6 to discuss Chapter 6. Check our WEBPAGE for group meeting times and Zoom links. Contact us HERE to join our email list.

COMMUNITY CLICKERS Community Clickers will meet Wednesday, January 5 in the Gathering Room at 2PM. If you would like to learn to crochet or knit, join us. We are happy to help you get started. If you have these skills and need some a project to work on and fellowship to go with it, join us. We will be designing a shawl for Hospice and sharing our projects. Come join us as we begin our 2022 journey toward our goal of 30 Hospice shawls and numerous baby hats for UNC. Check our webpage for more information.

SHARE THE PLATE JANUARY 9: THE MOUNTAIN It’s a mountain preserve in Highlands NC.
It’s a place to learn, grow, relax, and refresh in the splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It’s a welcoming, loving environment for UUs and others of like mind.
It’s a summer camp for UU kids!
It’s a retreat for families, churches, and individuals!
It’s a Hands-on Peace Farm and Education Center.
The core values that shape the values of The Mountain reflect our UU heritage and our 7 Principles.
Please help support with your Share The Plate gift on January 9.

HENHOUSE PROWLERS OPEN CONCERT SERIES JAN. 14!The Henhouse Prowlers kick off our Winter '22 Community Church Concerts Series on Fri. Jan. 14, 8 PM The Prowlers have been to over 25 countries, working with the U.S. State Department and under their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors - incorporating music from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and more into their already robust repertoire of unique traditional American music. Tickets and info HERE! PROOF OF VACCINATIONS AND MASKS REQUIRED! Want to volunteer? Contact TERRY BAKER!

NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR JANUARY On Saturday, January 15 from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss The Road to Unfreedom: Russia/Europe/America, by Timothy Snyder. Jeff Blass will be leading our discussion, which will be held via Zoom. 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.

SIDE WITH LOVE Gun Violence Vigils across NC on January 16 - Remembering Dr. King and other Victims of Gun Violence. A coalition across the state is organizing these vigils. Here is a running list of locations and who is taking the lead locally. If you / your congregation is interested in supporting (or even leading a vigil in an area not yet listed) you can contact Jim Hurdis from the UU Fellowship in Raleigh who can give you more info.

IMMIGRANT JUSTICE INITIATIVE: HELP ROSA & HER CHILDREN Rosa Cruz, who spent years in Sanctuary and then a few weeks at our Manse, is doing well, with a job, an apartment and plans to continue her education. Sadly, her previous uncertain immigration status deprived her of the right to visit her children. This could be quickly resolved in Family Court, if she can raise money for the legal fees. If you want to help Rosa, there is more information here.

MINISTER'S DISCRETIONARY FUND Thanks to the church's generosity, the Share the Plate on Christmas Eve collected more than $2,400 for the Minister's Discretionary Fund. Thank you! During Rev. Thom's sabbatical, if you need financial assistance from this fund, you may contact either Rev. Alison Wilbur Eskildsen or Marion Hirsch.
COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ACTION
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY: 
Family Solstice Lantern Walk & Bonfire 

On December 22, 2021, 40 members of our community celebrated the coming of winter with Family Solstice Lantern Walk and Bonfire at the Lavinders'.
ONGOING EVENTS
SUNDAY PARKING Parking can be tight on Sunday mornings, but there is plentiful parking available just a short walk from the church. Parking is free on Sundays in the small Mason Farm lot, the Hibbard Drive lot, and along Hibbard Drive. Please consider using these spaces if you are able to. Unfortunately, parking at Kehillah Synagogue is no longer allowed on Sunday morning.

VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR CONTINUES! Please join Rachel Rose for the return to this important time of connection. We will be meeting here, via Zoom at 11:30 AM on Sunday. We will have an icebreaker, be assigned into random groups (it's fun!) and have a time of sharing and fellowship, followed by a closing reading. We hope to see you there!

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!

SUNDAY SERVICES FLOWER DONATIONS Would you like to donate flowers for The Community Church Sunday Services? Flowers can be shared to commemorate an anniversary, remember a loved one, or celebrate an important occasion. Please use this form to donate flowers to help make our Services more beautiful. Thank you!

COFFEE HOUR: (MASKED) FELLOWSHIP & TABLING INDOORS, BEVERAGES OUTDOORS As the weather gets colder, we'll gather indoors AND outdoors during Coffee Hour. Masks are required indoors, while coffee, tea and masks are optional outside! Please sign up here to Table during Coffee Hour - that is, have a table set up to share your important work with our community!

COMMUNITY SERVICE MINISTRY Containers for donations to the IFC Community Market have been set up in the Commons so that the collection of food and personal hygiene items can resume. What are needed most are toilet paper, baking mixes, snacks, cans of fruit, instant grits, and coffee. Church volunteers will take these donations to the IFC (Inter-faith Council for Social Services) pantry on Main Street in Carrboro.

FEATURED EVENTS IN THE ORDER OF SERVICE: These are the "ads" in the paper Order of Service we hand to parishioners on Sundays for Services. It is also posted on the church website under the description of the Service, and in the Sunday morning email Service Reminder. Submissions are due by noon on Wednesdays for the following Sunday. Please include any preferred images in a separate email to Rachel Rose, here. For convenience, here is the form
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

GENIE JANSEN was introduced to events at and ideas within The Community Church by Ruth Gibson, and Genie became an official Member this month! Genie is originally from Syracuse, then Woodstock, and Rhinebeck , New York and - since '84 - Chapel Hill, NC.
Genie says, "I was an active Catholic, but found it difficult to believe. As my theology evolved, I wanted community and an appreciation of wisdom from all sources to lead a more meaningful life. I watched (online services) all last year, then decided to come in person... I believe we create our own Heaven or Hell on earth by how we value, treat and help others. I like the embrace of community and the emphasis on working for justice of all kinds." Welcome, Genie!
Would you like to introduce yourself to the greater congregation? Schedule having your picture taken for the Member Spotlight (and the Photo Directory!) with Rachel Rose, here. Already had your picture taken? Complete the Member Introduction, here, and tell us a little about yourself!
BEYOND OUR WALLS
EVENTS & MORE SUGGESTED BY CHURCH MEMBERS & GROUPS
JANUARY 6 VIGIL FOR DEMOCRACY AT DOWNTOWN CHAPEL HILL 5:30PM Organized by a community volunteer, this non-partisan event aims to bring together people across race, party & background to hold a candlelight vigil to remember the Jan 6, 2021 violent & deadly attack against our democracy & our freedom as voters to choose our leaders. Vigil is a call to stand up for what unites us all & show our resolve to protect our democracy. Bring non-partisan signs & candles or other lights if you can. Vigil at W. Franklin St & S. Columbia St in downtown Chapel Hill. More information here. Submitted byJoy Blevins

JANUARY 6 REMEMBRANCE RALLY: SENATOR TILLIS RALEIGH OFFICE 11:30AM This volunteer-organized Jan 6 rally/vigil is in remembrance of 1st anniversary of the violent/deadly attack on US Capital against our democracy. Partisan factions continue work to silence our voices by preventing free & fair elections. Democracy is not a partisan issue, & we must ask US Sen Tillis & other elected leaders to pass voting rights legislation to protect the country from anti-democratic forces. Rally held at Tillis office: Federal Building, 310 New Bern Ave, Raleigh NC 27601. More information about the rally, including a map, & other Jan 6 remembrances across NC, here. Submitted byJoy Blevins
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Announcements are due by noon Wednesday, prior to Friday's issue.
 
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106 Purefoy Road, ​Chapel Hill, NC 27514 | (919) 942-2050 | Contact Us | Donate Now