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SUNDAY WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP |
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9 AM - Live Religious Education Service on Zoom
11 AM - In-Person Sunday Social (Coffee Hour)
12 PM - Online Sunday Small Group Social
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR LIVESTREAMED OR IN-PERSON SERVICES: SUNDAYS AT 10AM!
April 3
“Transcending Mystery & Wonder: or, How I Spent My Sabbatical”
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
Our own experience of transcending mystery and wonder is the first source of Unitarian Universalism. On this Sunday, Rev. Thom returns from sabbatical and shares his vision of a religious community shaped by mystery and wonder.
April 10
“The Journey of Reconciliation”
Rev. Thom, preaching
75 years ago this week, in 1947, an interracial group of Freedom Riders came to Chapel Hill. Their journey aimed to test whether court orders banning segregation on interstate buses would be followed. Here in Chapel Hill the Freedom Riders encountered violent persecution as well as welcome from Reverend Charlie Jones, who gave the Riders protection and assistance. This morning, we retell this story from our history and explore its meaning for us today.
April 17
“Not Without You: An Easter Sermon”
Rev. Thom, preaching
TWO SERVICES: 9:30AM, Outdoors at Memorial Rock & 11:15AM in the Sanctuary
The title of this sermon comes from the title of an Easter poem by radical Christian theologian, poet, and mystic Dorothee Sölle. Taking our cue from Sölle’s theology and poetry, we will celebrate Easter and consider how we can be partners in resurrection.
April 24
Earth Day Multigenerational Service
Led by Marion Hirsch, Kat Good, Glenn Mehrbach, and Rev. Thom
Join us on the Sunday closest to Earth Day for a multigenerational service celebrating our planet.
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JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION COMMUNITY WALK
Join us on Sunday, April 10, at 2PM as we partner with University Presbyterian and other community groups to offer a walk commemorating the Freedom Riders coming to Chapel Hill in 1942 and Rev. Charles Jones’ role as an ally for racial justice. We will meet at the historic marker at the intersection of Columbia and Rosemary promptly at 2PM. All are invited!
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SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS |
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RACIAL EQUITY PRINCIPLES: GROUNDING FOR ACTION WORKSHOP APRIL 2, 10 AM-NOON We are excited to announce that Dr. Tema Okun, renowned racial justice educator, will be leading a workshop for our congregation. In this participatory workshop, we’ll have a chance to explore ten racial equity principles designed to ground us in our racial justice work. A special joy is Dr. Okun's parents were founding members of our congregation and she grew up here. This is going to be an inspiring opportunity for us to learn together. We plan for workshop to be in person at church, but we will move to Zoom if pandemic needs dictate. This workshop is sponsored by Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA), Side with Love, and Living Our Covenant with Intention.
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WALK THE WALK: LEARN ABOUT RACIAL EQUITY LOCALLY
In 2022, our Racial Justice learning will be local and in person. We will be visiting sites together and learning about racial justice and injustice here at home. Our program started with a visit to the Northside neighborhood in Chapel Hill, and will include visits to Stagville Plantation, the Pauli Murray Home, the Greensboro International Civil Rights Museum, and Charlotte Hawkins Brown Site. The program will culminate in a trip to Wilmington to learn about the 1898 Massacre. This program will be for all ages. Trips will be about once a month. Sign up for the Walk the Walk mailing list so you will get timely information about upcoming trips.
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SIDE WITH LOVE SPRING CONCERT Benefit for New North Carolina Project on April 3 from
3 -5 PM in the Sanctuary. Music is a gateway to deep feelings beyond the capability of words alone. In this concert, the cello, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful-sounding instruments, is paired with the piano’s tremendous power and variety. Debbie Davis, cellist, and Deborah Hollis, pianist, will begin with Vivaldi's highly rhythmic, playful and singing music, followed by the profound sonata of Rachmaninoff. This concert will display the range of human feeling beyond words but definitely “On the Side of Love.”
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SIDE WITH LOVE AND THE MORAL MARCH Many of us were involved in or remember the Moral Monday Marches on Raleigh, led by the Reverend William Barber. The Moral March has evolved into a nationwide movement, The Poor Peoples’ Campaign, rooted in religious and democratic values that demand justice for all. It calls for a moral revival to save the heart and soul of our democracy, breaking the silence about the” interlocking evils of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy and our distorted moral narrative.” This June, busses from all over the nation will bring people to a Moral March on Washington DC. More information below, and contact Side With Love if you would like to join the Love Team to fill a bus from our congregation.
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY SHARE THE PLATE As part of our church’s ongoing community service, we have the opportunity to continue to work with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. Our church has a strong history of partnering with Habitat and other churches to provide homes for community families who are cost-burdened and may live in substandard or overcrowded housing. Church partners pay part of the costs; Habitat and other funders provide the other half. Families repay the Habitat share in no-interest mortgage payments. Church members help with construction. Your donation in the April 3 Share the Plate will continue our Habitat mission. (Not here April 3? Please send your contribution to the church office, with checks payable to The Community Church of Chapel Hill UU. Put “Habitat” in the memo line.) Thank you.
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ECO’S SHARE THE PLATE FOR EARTH DAY/MONTH – TREESDURHAM – APRIL 24 Heat islands are a “hot” topic in the climate crisis. They occur where an excess of roads, buildings, and infrastructure absorbs sunlight and emits heat, intensifying temperatures compared to nearby. Mostly a result of long-term racial injustice (redlining, structural discrimination…), they disproportionally impact low-income neighborhoods and people of color.
Trees are a great “antidote” to heat islands and reduce physical/mental health issues, air pollution, crime, flooding, and more. TreesDurham focuses on islands identified by NCSU. It provides trees, equipment, and expertise for tree planting events; engages neighbors to plant and nurture new trees; trains volunteer crews to maintain existing trees; and collaborates with groups like Habitat to create a better environment for all residents.
You can donate online below, mail a check to The Community Church (ATTN: Dana Lundquist) with TreesDurham in memo line, or at church April 24.
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SHARE THE PLATE APPLICATION DEADLINE MAY 1! The Share the Plate (STP) Steering Committee is accepting applications for STP Sundays for July-Dec. 2022. Our mission is to support the outreach ministry of our UU congregation by developing and coordinating Share the Plate Collections: designated Sunday morning collections that support specific causes or organizations, which reflect the passions of the congregation. Deadline: Sunday, MAY 1! Applicants MUST use appropriate and current application forms and submit to the committee as directed below. Questions? Email Jill Baker or Jane Provan for more information.
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ECO EARTH MONTH APRIL 2022 ECO will start Earth Month on April 3, with courtyard "window art" tributes to the earth. April 10, we’ll be tabling about solar panels and how they combat the climate crisis; electric vehicles will be on the grounds for people to examine and learn about. April 17, we will table about our Share the Plate for 'Trees Durham,' a local community group whose goal is to eliminate heat islands, which detrimentally affect the health and well-being of residents, particularly in poorer neighborhoods. On April 24 we will Share the Plate for ‘Trees Durham’ and a tour of the native plants in our courtyard as well as the native plants game. For actions you can take during the month, see the ECO webpage.
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For the first time since 2019, the Music Gala will take place IN PERSON on Saturday, April 30, at 7PM in the Sanctuary. Titled "SPACE: The Final FUUntier," we're looking for music and songs about heavenly bodies, outer space in general, or really any song with a planet or heavenly body in the title ("I'm Your Venus," "Here Comes the Sun"). Collaborations are strongly encouraged. Contact Music Director Glenn Mehrbach for more information, or to submit your musical choice. Deadline is April 9. |
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SPIRITUAL EXPLORATION FOR ADULTS |
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DAOISM (TAOISM) #3 STRENGTH OF WEAKNESS May 2, 9 and 16 (on Zoom: 7-8:30): Kari Andrade will lead this study of the Dao De Jing, the primary text of Daoism (Taoism), written 2,500 years ago and the second-most translated book in the world after the Bible. We will study SIX of the 81 chapters focusing on the themes of water, soft overcoming hard and the strength of weakness. We will read several different translations of each chapter, and discuss their meaning and how these ancient ideas still apply to our lives. Each chapter is similar in length and complexity to a poem.
This class is sponsored by Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA). This is the third class in a series that Kari has offered on the Dao. Contact: Kari Andrade
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PREACHING PRACTICUM 2022 IS COMING IN APRIL For the eighth year in a row at The Community Church, Rev. Thom will lead this class on homiletics for laypeople. Those in the class will receive an introduction to preaching, write their sermons in a workshop format with other class participants, and deliver their sermon in a worship service during the summer. Only five slots are available for this year’s Preaching Practicum. Thursday, April 8, 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 7PM in person.
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JOIN THE WELCOMING MNISTRY APRIL 3 FOR SPECIAL TREATS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE - We will thank Rev. Alison and welcome back Rev. Thom during the Sunday Social - Join us!
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SUNDAY SMALL GROUP SOCIAL (ONLINE COFFEE HOUR) CONTINUES IN APRIL - NEW TIME! Please join Rachel Rose for the return to this important time of connection. We will be meeting on Sunday mornings at 12PM in April . 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! Please check your Weekly Announcements and Sunday Service Reminders for the NEW LINK.
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HELP MAKE SUNDAY MORNINGS HAPPEN - BECOME 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 many 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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EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP CLASSES: 4/13 & 4/20, 7PM Are you considering Membership? Interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism, or our church community?
On Wednesday evenings, April 13 & 20, we'll offer a two-part Exploring Membership class, in person. 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.
Classes will be held from 7PM to 8:15PM in person, in the church Commons.
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RARE WOMEN – JOIN NOW! We are women (mostly retired) who ARE OLDER, WISER, AND RARE! We are currently discussing selected questions (grouped under “Personal” and “Lifestyle” for April) from the Ungame. The questions can be found HERE and are intended to prompt us to share our thoughts, feelings, values, courageous examples, friendships, and life experiences with our groups. There are three different Rare Women groups: Joann Haggerty’s group meets from 2-4 pm on the 1st and 3rd Mondays; Bonnie Gilliom’s group meets from 10 am–noon on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays; and Susan Blanchard’s group meets from 1:30-3:30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays. NEW MEMBERS are welcome to join any group. The meeting schedule and discussion topic for each group are posted on the Rare Women webpage. To join our email list or get the Zoom link for a meeting, please contact us below.
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NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR APRIL On Saturday, April 16 from 10:30 AM to 12PM, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss The Deficit Myth: Modern Monetary Theory and the Birth of the People’s Economy, by economist Stephanie Kelton. We’ve all heard the conventional wisdom that the federal government should budget like a household; deficits are evidence of overspending; and the national debt will have to be paid off by our grandchildren. In this New York Times bestseller, Kelton argues that such ideas are fallacious, and they constitute a “narrative of scarcity” that underestimates government’s potential contribution to an economy that works better for all of us. Her book is well informed by economic theory, but written in plain English for a general audience. Ed Steffes will be leading our discussion, which will be held via Zoom. New members and drop-ins are welcome. Contact the group to ask questions or to be placed on the distribution list for meeting information.
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LATE SPRING WILDFLOWER WITH OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS - SAT. APRIL 23, 10 AM Saving the best for last. Early Spring ephemerals tend to be as tiny as they are charming. By April, Spring offers flowers you won’t have to stoop over to see. Bankside bushes aglow with Pinxter Azaleas, beds of yellow crested blue Irises, vibrant patches of Green and Gold. New Hope Creek pearls and sparkles along the pathway while newly arrived warblers add a descant. Not too shabby. We’ll meet at 10 at the Duke Forest entrance across from Mt. Sinai Baptist Church. RSVP below.
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WOMENCIRCLE IN DUKE GARDENS WomenCircle walk in the Duke Gardens on Tuesday, April 26 with picnic lunch. The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is 55 acres of landscaped and wooded areas. In the past, we have either wandered the paths as a group with some individuals or smaller groups branching off to see a part of the garden that interests them. We will meet for our picnic lunch about noon in the wisteria-covered pergola at the top of the terrace gardens overlooking the fish pool. More information here. Parking is available and you can either pay by app or credit card at the site. Carpooling is suggested, since parking is at a minimum. RSVP with Marni Goldshlag below.
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QUUilters meets the first Saturday of every month from 9:30 until 11AM in the Gathering Room. We get to know each other better by chatting and working together on quilts and other hand-sewn items for various local charities. Contact Rae Dawson to be added to our email list.
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ART EXHIBIT IN SANCTUARY From March 5, 2022 through April 24, the art in the sanctuary will be paintings by Steevie Parks. Steevie describes herself as an “Abstract Artist”. After a career as a Clinical Psychologist, Steevie returned to painting and has been exhibiting since 2013. Steevie says, “I also see myself as a ‘Colorist’, as ‘getting my colors just right’ is the major focus of each of my paintings… Color is perhaps the most important aspect of my love for painting. I get a huge thrill out of finding just the right color combinations to express my feelings about a given theme or subject. I start each new piece with a meditation where I allow colors and shapes to emerge in my mind’s eye as I listen to music.” Meet the artist Sunday, April 3, after Service, or attend her opening in the Sanctuary from 1-3 pm Sun April 10.
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MAY NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY APRIL 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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