Community UCC eNews
April 22, 2021
Community UCC is an inclusive and progressive Christian Church doing social justice, environmental faithfulness, interfaith collaboration and spiritual formation to help ourselves and others grow in faith, hope and love.


COVID Status: Virtual worship. Limited office hours.
See below.

SO MUCH GOOD NEWS! — If it says "[Message clipped]" at the bottom of your eNews, that means you're not seeing everything. Click the link next to that to view the entire newsletter.
Sunday worship — Zoom and YouTube (bit.ly/cuccyoutube)

Join us for worship on Sunday, April 25. Robin Carlson will deliver a sermon titled "Love as a Verb." See below for how we "do church" now.
Sunday worship onYouTube begins at 10:30 a.m.
Instructions for Zoom worship

We will provide the Zoom worship live on our YouTube channel (bit.ly/cuccyoutube) on Sundays at 10:35 a.m. Doors "open" around 10:15-10:20 for a few minutes of fellowship before worship begins.

Links to the Zoom worship services go out each Wednesday in a separate email just to church members. Look for "Zoom links" in that email subject line. If you would like to receive the Zoom links to participate in the Sunday service in a more interactive way, please contact the church office or let Lisa know.
Thursday evening worship

Evening worship has resumed at 7 p.m. Thursdays on Zoom. If you have questions or would like a Zoom link, contact Robin at faithgrowth@communityucc.com.
Helping folks who are hungry

We want to put our Love Into Action as we move through our Stewardship Campaign.

So we're asking our members and friends to generously donate non-perishable food items to share with the community. Please bring donations to the church office by 2 p.m.Thursday, April 22, OR between 8 a.m. and noon on Thursday, April 29.

We will give our donations to Hope Lutheran Church for its weekly food distribution.
All-Church Family Camp scheduled for Labor Day

Mark your calendars! The All-Church Family Camp is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-5, at Camp Tamarack.

Camp Manager Wade Hobson and others have developed a plan to ensure safety for all campers. The plan incorporates requirements from the Centers for Disease Control and the American Camp Association.

This includes probable wearing of masks, meal precautions and tent/cabin assignments only with your "bubble group."

Be on the lookout soon for a video message from Camp Director Annie Van Patten about this great news. Annie can be reached at 209.902.2033 or teechrannie#comcast.net.
Messages about mental health

At last Sunday's worship service, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell kicked off messages from our congregation about mental health and mental illness. Watch and listen to her presentation in the video below.

This comes as CUCC prepares to become a WISE – Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged – congregation for all persons who experience mental health challenges. Click below to see and hear Elizabeth's message.

Next week's eNews will feature a video of Janet Capella telling of her personal journey.
Faith Education Team raffles Game Night Basket

The Faith Education Team is selling tickets to win a Game Night Basket with puzzles, games, movies and more.

Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20. A drawing will be held at the May 2 worship service to select a winner. (The original date was April 25.)

You can buy tickets through Givelify or by sending a check to the church. Please designate this is for the Faith Education basket.
A great opportunity to expand your tech skills and help CUCC!

Do you have an interest in video/technology and want to help with filming services at CUCC?

We're looking for volunteers to be trained on the new video equipment purchased through the Lights Camera Action! capital campaign. The equipment is partially installed in the sanctuary.

Please contact Felicia Rocha for more information. Flearocha82@gmail.com or
559.284.9921
Another chance to keep xeriscape looking good on Saturday, May 1
Another work party is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 1, to weed the xeriscape.
Please bring a hoe, gloves and sun protection gear. If you don't have a hoe, we have some at church. We also have a wheelbarrow. 
Thanks to Helmut Kloos for organizing this year's work parties and for his dedication to maintaining the church grounds. He was joined on April 25 by Lisa Bell, Doug Hoagland and David Rocha.
Stewardship Campaign 2021: "Beloved, Love"

This year's Stewardship Campaign – "Beloved, Love" – continues and will culminate on Stewardship Sunday, May 2. Each week will feature a different theme and different speaker.

This week Alex Madrid will speak about Love of Creation.
On May 2, Gary Walker will speak about Love in Action, and Doug Hoagland will give the sermon.

Community UCC conducts a Stewardship drive each spring asking church members and supporters what they will bring to the mission of the church. Folks complete a financial Pledge Card plus a Time and Talent Sheet for the following fiscal year, from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

Letters from the church went out last week with the forms. Please return them to the church by May 2 or fill them out online. Here are links for the Pledge Card and Time and Talent Sheet.
... From Pastor Julia

Pastor Julia offers a video message in the wake of the conviction of Derek Chauvin.
Women's Book Discussion Group starting 'Blessed Are the Crazy' – Missions' group continues its study

The women's group will begin a new six-week book discussion at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 27 on Zoom. The book: "Blessed Are the Crazy" by Sarah Griffith Lund.

If you have questions or need a Zoom link, please contact Robin at faithgrowth@communityucc.com.

Another group organized by the Missions and Social Justice Team meets at noon on Sundays to discuss the book. The group will focus on Chapter 5 this Sunday, April 25.

If you have questions or want to receive Zoom links for the study, please contact Kathy Lukan at lukefam5@yahoo.com or Elizabeth Davis-Russell at edavisrussell@comcast.net.
Adult Education meets Mondays

Adult Education meets from 9-10 a.m. Mondays.

The group has begun a six-week video discussion, exploring "How the Bible Actually Works" by Peter Enns.

A Zoom link will be made available. Contact Robin at faithgrowth@communityucc.com if you're interested.
On April 18, Pastor Julia delivered a sermon titled "Peace on a Roller Coaster" inspired by portions of Luke 24. Click on the triangle above to watch and hear the sermon.
Marilyn on vacation; ministers will return calls

Marilyn will be on vacation from April 26 to May 9. During this time, we will respond to voicemails, but the responses may be delayed.

Please call or e-mail Pastor Julia 559.943.0384 (j.penner.zook@gmail.com ) or Robin 559.960.2452 (faithgrowth@communityucc.com).
Contacting Pastor Julia at church

Pastor Julia will be in the office Thursday morning and can be reached by phone, text, e-mail or Facetime other days of the week as well. E-mail her at j.penner.zook@gmail.com
If you have a prayer (of joy, for healing, gratitude, love) for someone or someplace that you would like lifted up during worship on Sunday mornings, please send it to Pastor Julia at  j.penner.zook@gmail.com. You can also submit prayer requests via our web page at communityucc-fresno.org/worship/prayer-requests/.
Join in Earth Day 2021 celebration today

Earth Day is April 22. Janet Capella directs our attention to a Facebook page that has information about local events. Here is the link.
In each week's eNews, we include a news article from our larger denomination, the United Church of Christ, to show the faithful work being done in other places.
UCC leaders laud historic legislation on reparations, heading to House vote

A piece of historic legislation, first considered decades ago, is heading to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. H.R. 40 would establish a commission to develop proposals and a “national apology” to help repair the lasting legacy of slavery. 

The United Church of Christ and its ecumenical partners are strong supporters of the Commission to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African-Americans Act. It passed the House Judiciary Committee by a 25-17 vote late Wednesday, April 14. The bill was introduced for the first time in 1989 by the late Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan.

“This country will never heal from the sin and evil of racism until we take seriously the important work of reparations,” said UCC General Minister and President John Dorhauer. “Let us finally tell the full truth about America’s racist past and present. Let us create pathways to the redistribution of wealth until damages are repaired and equity is ensured.” Continue reading at UCC.com
Happy Birthday to all who are celebrating this month

April Birthdays
1 Sharon Powers
2 Elise LeBeau
4 Sierra LeBeau
5  Megan Fazio
7 David Wall
9  Niki Ruffin
10 Nancy Tackitt
11 Everette Newport
16  Abbie Kilburn
17 Katharine Chaffin
21 Leland Virag
24  EJ Hinojosa
25  Jake Tilley

April Anniversaries
2 Carol and Henry Phillips
3  Marie and Steve Edwards
16 Cheryl and Jeff Jones

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.
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). Send your announcements to both Lisa Boyles Bell and Doug Hoagland. Doug is now the primary newsletter designer, but Doug and Lisa collaborate on its production. Emails: lisamboyles12@gmail.com and doughoagland@att.net.
Our Joyful Giving page reflects the many ways members can help support our Church's missions and operations, especially needed in these critical and uncertain times.

Due to COVID-19, worship will remain virtual for now. Limited office hours have resumed.

Phone: 559.435.2690
Email: office@communityucc.com  
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