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SUNDAY WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP
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Sunday Programming
TWO SUNDAY SERVICES: 9:30AM & 11:15AM
9AM:
- Live Religious Education Service on Zoom
9:30AM:
10:30AM:
11:15AM:
12:15PM:
1PM:
Sunday Evening
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March 5
“Community in the Community”
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
As we gather to celebrate our fourth Community Day of Service and the official end of the Annual Pledge Drive, we will gather to reflect on how our church makes a difference in the wider community. Rev. Thom’s sermon will contain messages from leaders in our wider community about our impact.
March 12
“Do You Belong?”
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
The central message of Universalism is that God’s love extends to all people equally. As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to – as a favorite song puts it – “draw the circle wide, make it wider still.” Join us for a service on how we might extend this sense of belonging ever wider.
March 19
“Defending Trans Lives”
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
As states across our nation place legal restrictions on gender affirming medical treatment, we are witnessing a surge of families (with the financial means to do so) fleeing red states for homes where their loved ones can receive the care they need. Unitarian Universalism has a long history of affirming the rights of Trans and nonbinary individuals. Learn how we can stand strong in solidarity in these times.
March 26
“Sacred Heart”
Danny Gotham, Glenn Mehrbach, and Rev. Thom Belote, leading worship
Join us for this special service on the connection between music and spirituality. Danny Gotham will perform a special piece by Peter Oustroushko called “Sacred Heart” and Rev. Thom will respond with a reflection on the spiritual significance of this piece.
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ANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE 2023-2024!
Thank you, if you've already made your annual pledge! Your generosity of talent, time, treasure, and trust is appreciated. If you've not pledged yet, please go online and pledge now! Pledging is how we support to our church, each other, and the wider community. The goal for the Annual Pledge Drive is to fund our church’s operating budget that pays for our wonderful staff, supports amazing programming, and keeps the lights on and the doors open! QUESTIONS? Please contact Bonnie Crotty Nelson, Stewardship Chair below, or call: 919-929-7054.
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MARCH 4: DAY OF SERVICE! Saturday, March 4 the annual Day of Service returns! This year’s theme is March Madness! Help us make a 3-pointer by joining your fellow UUs to collectively contribute volunteer efforts to improve our community and to celebrate the conclusion of the annual pledge drive.
This is a great opportunity to achieve our church’s mission by working as a team with family and friends and sharing the good energy of your hands and heart. There are a few spots left! Jump higher and get ready for the madness!
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SHARE THE PLATE FOR UU JUSTICE NC ON MARCH 12
On March 12th, your donation to Share the Plate will benefit UU Justice NC. The Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry of North Carolina joyfully organizes UUs across 22 NC congregations, including Community Church of CH, to work together for justice grounded in our spirituality.
2022 was the largest activation of NC UUs in history! Through UU the Vote campaign and coordinating with other groups, 20 UU congregations wrote 34,000 postcards and make 36,000 calls to voters of color. To fight voter intimidation, we also helped create a rapid response safety team across the state.
And we are just getting started! This year we’ll continue to work with our state-wide partners to fight for Reproductive Justice, Medicaid Expansion, voting rights, LGBTQ rights and more. Learn more, and about Friday Action hour, at UUJusticeNC.org. Your generosity to the March 12th Share the Plate will make this work possible!
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ECO: RESTORING THE NORTH CAROLINA PEATLANDS TO HELP WITH CLIMATE CRISIS As described last month, many coastal peatlands in North Carolina are releasing carbon because they were ditched and drained for farming and forestry decades ago. Peatland restoration will prevent the constant release of large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, thus lessening global warming. Restoration also improves wildlife habitat and reduces risks from flooding and wildfires.
Rewetting the peatlands and restoring more natural groundwater levels involves construction of water control structures. These structures can be adjusted to keep the amount of water in the peatlands at the appropriate level. This program also includes active monitoring of the results including carbon accounting methodology. Some peatlands were originally tree covered. In such cases part of the solution is to plant trees like the Atlantic white cedar.
You can help restore NC peatlands and protect other peatlands. Find out two ways you can make a difference during ECO’s Earth Month activities in April.
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WE ARE PUTTING ON A PLAY!
We are so happy to announce that we will be doing the play “A Wrinkle in Time” at church in November 2023! Auditions will be in May. The play has great parts for adults, youth and children. Major roles and more modest roles. And lots of exciting behind-the-scenes roles –lights, sound, sets, props, costumes. The play is based on the Newberry Award winning YA novel by Madeleine L’Engle. It is fantasy/science fiction and has a Universalist theme.
If you are interested in being involved or want more information, please contact Joëlle Bourjolly below or Marion Hirsch .
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WOMEN CIRCLE'S TRIP TO JAZZ VESPERS - MARCH 23, 2023
On Thursday, March 23 at 7 PMthe WomenCircle is going to Jazz Vespers at Duke Chapel. This is a worship service which combines the ancient form of evening vespers with the musical improvisation of jazz. It is a collaboration between Duke Chapel and the Duke Jazz Program. Join WomenCircle for dinner at one of the restaurants at the Broadhead Center (TBA) at 5:30 PM. Optional carpool from church at 4:45 PM. Free parking at the Bryan Center Parking Garage on a first come-first served basis. RSVP to Bonnie Gilliom below or Joan O’Brien by March 20.
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NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTION:
Please welcome Kyle Terrell ("TERR-uhl")
Kyle says, "We are spiritual, emotional, mental, social and physical beings. This community supports growth in all of these areas, but I'm most interested in creating a stronger spiritual foundation." Kyle grew up in various towns throughout North Carolina, but spent most of her work life in the suburbs of Washington DC and Baltimore, MD. Kyle adds, "I had always had a special fondness for my years in Chapel Hill, so as I approached retirement I wanted to return. In 2010, I moved back to NC, then eventually retired in 2021. I'm drawn to nature, the arts, social justice and lifelong learning, so The Community Church seemed to be the right fit for me. Since my retirement, I would like to find ways to become more involved within the community....Life presents many challenges. The Community Church provides a means to make a meaningful impact in the world one small step at a time."
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JOIN REV. THOM & RACHEL ROSE FOR EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP CLASSES:
3/2 & 3/9 & 7PM - OR -
NEW! Sessions 1 & 2 Combined into a "Super-Session"
2:30 - 5PM, Sunday, 3/19
Are you considering Membership? Interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism, or our church community?
On Thursday evenings, 3/2 & 3/9/23, at 7PM, and -- NEW! -- Sessions 1 & 2 Combined into a "Super-Session" 2:30 - 5PM, Sunday, 3/19 Rev. Thom & Rachel Rose will offer a two-part Exploring Membership class. The class will provide an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and our congregation, the meaning of Membership, provide an opportunity for reflecting on our spiritual journeys, and give you a chance to meet others who are newer to The Community Church. Please RSVP by sending an email to Rachel Rose. . If you have already taken the Exploring Membership class and feel ready to join, you can sign the Membership Book in person with Rachel Rose on any Sunday morning, or with Rev. Thom by appointment. Can't make it this time? Let Rachel Rose know if you can participate on March 2 & 9 -- or -- March 19.
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SUNDAY SMALL GROUP SOCIAL CONTINUES IN MARCH!
Join Rachel Rose for this important time of connection. We will continue meeting on Sundays in March. We have an icebreaker, join in random groups (it's fun!) and have a time of sharing and fellowship, followed by a closing reading. We hope to see you there!
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HELP MAKE SUNDAY MORNINGS HAPPEN - SERVE AS A GREETER! Our church is busy, and we need folks to help welcome people - both newcomers and longtime members - into our church on Sunday morning... and we have some Greeter spaces open over the next few weeks! Please take a moment to sign up below, and help new people see what our community is really like. Please join us when you can for this simple, but important work. Thanks so much - your help is appreciated!
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2023 PHOTO DIRECTORY
PICTURE DAYS AT CHURCH!
MARCH 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 & 17
Get your photos taken Sundays, after after services, or on a “Picture Day!” Members and Associates are invited to have their photo taken for our 2023 Photo Directory - Please schedule an appointment with Rachel Rose if you'd like to be included. It takes fewer than ten minutes, and it helps us connect as a community!
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MUSICAL MAGIC BY DANA LUNDQUIST AND GLENN MEHRBACH
On March 25, Dana’s glorious voice and Glenn’s unparalleled piano artistry will reunite for a special musical event in the Sanctuary, benefiting our church’s annual fall auction. Italy-inspired bubbly beverages and goodies will be joyously served during intermission.
When: Saturday, March 25, 3 PM
Where: Community Church of Chapel Hill
Tickets: $35 General Admission*
*Sign up for available seating now! Reservations and payment requested by March 23.
Email Joan O'Brien to reserve the number of places you want. She will send you the link for payment instructions.
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NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR MARCH On Saturday, March 18 from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss Unraveled: The Life and Death of a Garment, by Maxine Bédat. This is a fascinating journey into the life of a garment, starting from the raw materials and then following a long journey to sewing machines in Bangladesh, where workers earn illegally low wages. Some of the questions raised: Is organic farming sustainable? Are garments made from recycled plastics an environmentally good practice? What dangerous chemicals are used in the dyeing and weaving processes? Not just a story of the journey of a pair of pants, but an investigation of the global fashion economy and our role in it as consumers. Doug Shier will be leading our discussion. Note the new location for this and future meetings, the Living Room of the Jones Building. New members and drop-ins are welcome. Contact Ed Steffes to ask questions or to be placed on the group’s email list.
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QUUILTERS
Our March 4 meeting coincides with the church-wide Community Day of Service. We meet in The Gathering Room from 9:30 to 11:30 AM to Roll, Tie, Tag, and Bag over 330 quilted placemats for Meals on Wheels in Orange and Durham Counties! Please wear your face mask. We will be joined by up to eight additional volunteers from the church community.
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RARE WOMEN We are women (mostly retired) who ARE OLDER, WISER, AND RARE and meet on Zoom in three different groups. Joann Haggerty’s group meets 2-4 pm on the 1st and 3rd Mondays; Bonnie Gilliom’s group meets 10-11:30 AM on every Thursday; and Susan Blanchard’s group meets 1:30-3:30 PM on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays. We are discussing selected chapters from My Grandfather’s Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D. Discussion questions can be found here. Discussions in Rare Women are intended to prompt us to share thoughts, feelings, values, courageous examples, friendships, and life experiences with group members. However, what is said in Rare Women, stays in Rare Women. NEW MEMBERS are welcome to join any of our three groups. The meeting schedule and discussion topic for each group are posted on the Rare Women webpage.
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Spring ephemeral walk March 11, 10:30 AM at Pump Stations Trail, Eno River Park. This 1.2-mile loop trail near Durham is generally considered an easy route. We will be spotting the NC spring ephemerals. We might see Trout Lily, Rue Anemone, Bluet, Bloodroot, Toothwort and Spring Beauties. Meet at the Pump Station Trailhead, 3860, 3998 Rivermont Rd, Durham, NC 27712. Park along the gravel road. Lunch afterwards at PICNIC, a nearby BBQ restaurant. RSVP to Teri Brooks to keep up to date on any changes.
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ART IN THE SANCTUARY During March and April Cathy Klopfenstein's watercolors will be hanging in the Sanctuary. Cathy graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.F.A. and received a Master of Science Degree from Western Connecticut University. She is a Silver Signature Member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina and served on the Board of Directors for eight years.
The paintings in this show capture ‘now’ through line, form, color, light and atmosphere. The artist brings the moment back to life with blank spaces, brush, colored water, memory, and inspiration. Mini scenes are all around - some can inspire.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE MINISTRY
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FOOD FOR THE INTER FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE The Day of Service is a great once a year effort, but you can continue your service in smaller ways all year. If you buy two or three extra items for the IFC Community Market once or twice a month when doing your normal shopping, and then bring them to the blue bins in the Commons, you will be doing an impressive service in one year. If you involve your children in choosing the items or bringing them to church, you can be teaching them some of your values. Any person who lives or works in Orange County can apply to get groceries once a month from the IFC. Some of the food available comes from the government or local stores, but the great majority comes from donations by individuals and church groups. It will not cost you a lot in time or money and will help some of your neighbors who are having a difficult time. Think about making this a new habit for the coming year.
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APRIL NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY MARCH 15
The Community Church of Chapel Hill Board of Trustees wants to hear from you!
If you would like to learn more about The Community Church of Chapel Hill,
please contact Rachel Rose, our Director of Membership & Communications:
Whether you are new, or a longtime attendee, and whatever your beliefs or background,
we welcome you to our community of friendship and ideals.
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106 Purefoy Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-942-2050
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