April 11
"Transcendence"
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
Unitarian Universalism includes both people who find the concept of God personally meaningful as well as those who do not. Or, to put it another way, Unitarian Universalism includes an extremely diverse spectrum of theologies and atheologies, including a dizzying variety of concepts of God as well as about as many types of Humanism as Baskin-Robbins has flavors. This morning's service will be about the place of transcendence in our theological thinking.
MUSIC NOTES: The Special Music this week will be provided by congregation member and vocalist Cheryl Diegel, with help from guitarist Danny Gotham.
If you wish to have a joy or sorrow named in the service,
4/11: Building Project Task Force Update and Q&A about Building Project!
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Sunday Programming
Watch Virtual Worship Service On Demand!
10am: Live Religious Education Service on Zoom
11am: Live Community Coffee Hour on Zoom
&
7pm: High School & Middle School Youth Group
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ANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE BUILDING MOMENTUM
Following the inspiring Pledge-a-thon on March 20, our congregation has responded.
As of April 7, more than 200 families have made their pledge.
Thanks to everyone who has made their pledge of financial support
to fund our programs in the coming church year.
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WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK WITH OUR NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION? In the 41st week, the wooden interior doors are hung, lighting fixtures are working, vinyl composite tiles are being laid on designated floors, and stained-wood trim is on the way for ceiling beams and sliding barn doors in the Gathering Room. Take a virtual peek at ongoing work via the Building Project webpage, here, featuring weekly-updated photos and a current mini-video, along with information galore. Contact us here if you have any questions.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In April, children and youth in Religious Education are studying BECOMING. This week, we are talking about how we all start small and become who we are meant to be. We will continue our time of Family Fellowship on Sunday mornings, where we can share joys and sorrows. Middle School and High School youth groups will gather virtually on Sunday evening. On Saturday, the Family Fun event is an interactive movement game! For more information about our Religious Education Program, contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good.
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RACIAL EQUITY OFFICE HOURS: IS GEORGIA BRINGING BACK JIM CROW? Office hours are for people to talk about race in a safe space with skilled facilitators. What are your thoughts about the voting law in Georgia? How does this leave you feeling about our legal system? What can you do to share your voice? Drop into office hours to talk more about this question, general questions you have, or any discourse about race that’s been on your mind. This is a casual setting, so drop in or drop out any time! Office hours are every week - here, on Sunday at 5PM. See you there!
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RIDE TO PRESCHOOL NEEDED Preschoolers don’t get to ride on the school bus, so the Immigrant Justice Initiative is looking for volunteers who can bring Sofia (and Gaby) from the Manse to Frank Porter Graham on weekday mornings and back from school to the Manse (picking up Gaby first) in the afternoons. It’s a very short trip in the car but complicated and difficult on foot. If you could help out, please contact Doug Shier here.
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HOT OFF THE PRESS ON APRIL 9 – NEW ISSUE OF BUILDING BLOCKS BULLETIN The March-April 2021 issue of the BBB is available now - here, via the Building Project webpage. Featured articles are “Gap Begone!” and “Hello Building!” with appropriate illustrations. Do check out your copy while it’s hot!
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BEYOND THE GAP – Q&A SESSION APRIL 11 Timely fulfilment of existing capital pledges, on top of already-raised funds, assures our ability to close the Gap on schedule. As explained in the March 10 letter from our Board and our Minister, the list of deferred capital improvements (for when additional funds permit) is being compiled and updated by the Board Finance Committee. The list with recommended timeline priorities invites your feedback, by email and via a coffee-hour session on April 11. More information here.
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ECO ACTIONS FOR EARTH MONTH CHECK OUT THE ECO WEBPAGE FOR TIMELY ACTION: Thinking of going outdoors to an Earth Day event at one of the NC parks, do explore the various events now, so you don’t miss something appealing. Look too for the Electric Vehicles events, some of which are on April 10 and April 15. Advocacy: Let Biden know of need for Carbon fees. Tell NC Utilities Commission that Duke’s 15-year plan does not meet NC standards. ECO will meet April 11, 12:30PM. All are welcome; contact ECO here for zoom link.
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HOUSING OPTIONS AS WE AGE Have you thought about where you or your parents will live in your 80s or 90s? Join our discussion group as we explore aging in place and other housing options. Our next Zoom meeting is April 14 (1:30-3:30pm). Our speaker will be Jennifer Albright who has worked in elder care for over 10 years. She will talk about Family Care Homes. Links to resources can be found HERE. Contact Susan Blanchard, here, to join our group.
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OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS: SYLVAN HEIGHTS BIRD PARK, SAT. APRIL 17 Remarkably, Scotland Neck, NC, is home to an internationally important waterfowl conservation site. Sylvan Heights has been uniquely successful in breeding endangered waterfowl and wonderfully resourceful in presenting them in open access habitats where birds and unfeathered bipeds share open space. These are glorious creatures with most (the birds) still in full breeding plumage. Let’s meet there for a picnic brunch/lunch at 11:30 AM, then tour the park. RSVP here.
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SHARE THE PLATE (STP) For more than a quarter century, our church has worked with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for area families. We contribute funds and work on construction with homeowners, who share costs. The April 18 Share the Plate will continue this long-standing church mission, which has included 22 single-family homes, a duplex and townhouses. Please send your donation to the church office, checks payable to Community Church of Chapel Hill UU; put Habitat STP in the memo line. Thank you.
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LEMONADE & WHEELS SOCIAL (-DISTANCING) 4/18/21, 2-3PM We hope you can join us! Weather-permitting, we will meet in socially-distanced assigned (& rotating!) spots in the large parking lot at church for a fun (and tasty!) social event, including lemonade, fun and fellowship. For kids, we have "wheels-distancing". Kids can bring their wheels - bikes, trikes, scooters, and skateboards and ride around in adjacent area of the parking lot for fun. For safety and Phase 3 compliance, there is a strict guest number limit, and registration is required. Please complete this form to RSVP. Thank you.
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WRITE HERE WRITE NOW (WHWN) Tell Congress to Support a Just Transition to Climate-Friendly Agriculture! Write letters to our US Senators in support of the Justice for Black Farmers Act (S.300) and Climate Stewardship Act to ensure a just transition to a resilient, equitable and climate-friendly agriculatural system. Send directly to UUSJ or email Brenda here by April 21. Online submissions are here : insert your own information before submitting. Or, complete this and submit letters to Brenda Rogers. Call Brenda at 919-968-0833.
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CONSIDER APPLYING TO SHARE THE PLATE (STP)! MAY 2 DEADLINE! Are you involved in a worthy organization/project within or beyond our walls? Might it benefit from additional funding? STP invites interested members/organizations to submit an application for consideration for July-December 2021 STP Sundays. Deadline: May 2. Applicants must use new and improved applications available HERE! To learn more about Share the Plate, how to apply, and requirements for acceptance, CLICK HERE. Questions? Contact Jill Baker, here, or Jane Provan, here.
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HUGE WELCOME AND THANKS TO FRANKLIN HIRSCH! Our Congregational Administrator, Dana Lundquist, is taking partial maternity leave to take care of her new foster daughter and is incredibly grateful and excited that Franklin Hirsch has come on board part-time to help with handling financial procedures! Franklin grew up in this congregation, and recently graduated college, where he studied Accounting. He will work in the Dana's office on Mondays. Dana is still available by email, here, and phone, but may take longer than normal to respond.
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WE'VE ADDED A SECOND CHURCH ZOOM ACCOUNT! We've added a second Zoom account so more church groups can meet. Moving forward, we have "Zoom 1" or "Zoom 2". You can check to see if either is available for a specific time by looking at our Calendar and reserve one of the Zoom accounts by filling out this form. Regardless of whether you use our church or your personal Zoom account, please remember to fill out the reservation form so we can add all events to our calendar, here, and make all our offerings visible and accessible to our community!
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SCAM ALERT Several members of the church received email from an address imitating Rev. Thom's, or those of other staff members. These messages ask people to purchase gift cards to give to people in the hospital, or something similar. These messages are a scam. If you receive them, please report them and delete them. If you have any concerns, please email Rev. Thom here. Please know that Rev. Thom and the staff of The Community Church will never send out email solicitations asking people to purchase gift cards.
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COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ACTION |
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CAMPUS MINISTRY: Northside Tour |
On March 30, 2021, six Members of the Campus ministry took the Soundwalk Histories of Home: A Walk with Northside Neighbors,
sponsored by Marian Jackson Cheek Center for Community and Justice.
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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!
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FRESH EGGS Cathy Cole’s hens are laying again! If you want to buy eggs—$5/carton and all proceeds go to the Capital Fund—call her at 919-967-3422. You will need to pick them up at her house or at the church.
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ARTWORK ON THE WALL DURING VIRTUAL SERVICES Steevie Jane Parks will be showing several of her recent paintings during virtual services from March 30 through the end of April. Email Steevie here or call her at 919-918-1014.
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BEYOND OUR WALLS
suggested by Members & Committees
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SIDE WITH LOVE AND FORWARD TOGETHER ACTION OF THE WEEK Click here to take action "Close the Healthcare Coverage Gap!" For far too long, North Carolinians have gone without life-saving health insurance. NC Republicans have recently signaled their openness to the idea of “closing the coverage gap.” This week, call on your state legislators to use federal funds to extend medical coverage to those who most need it. Take action here. - Submitted by Side With Love
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CH PUBLIC LIBRARY EXHIBIT: ROLE BLACK WOMEN IN LOCAL CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT In partnership with the Chapel Hill Public Library, historians have launched a new online exhibit, “I Was Still Singing,” to document the role of Black women in local civil rights movements. Led by community historian Danita Mason-Hogans, this exhibit offers a look into the perspective of Black women who have shaped the Town’s history. See the exhibit here. Submitted by Joy Blevins
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Most BLUE text is clickable! Blue text links to outside websites or to an email address. Example: email c3hfinance@gmail.com for rentals.
Please submit Weekly Announcements contributions HERE.
Announcements are due by noon Wednesday, prior to Friday's issue.
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