August 29, 2021
“Gathering of the Waters”
Multigenerational Worship led by Rev. Thom,
Marion Hirsch, and Kat Good
This Sunday only:
TWO OUTDOOR SERVICES - 9:30 AM & 11:15 AM
Just as individual streams flow into a mighty ocean,
this morning we re-gather as a church community in celebration of our connections.
Join us for this experiential multigenerational service.
If you wish to have a joy or sorrow named in the service,
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Sunday Programming
9 AM: Live Religious Education Service on Zoom
10 AM: In-Person Worship & Religious Education
11 AM: In-Person Coffee Hour
NEW, Beginning SEPTEMBER 5! 11:30 AM: Zoom Coffee Hour - JOIN HERE!
7 PM: High School Youth Group
A recording of Sunday's service will be available early Sunday afternoon.
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MULTIGENERATIONAL GATHERING OF THE WATERS On Sunday, August 29, we will be holding our annual multigenerational Gathering of the Waters service in an exciting and unique way. Worshippers will be assigned to small groups and will rotate between three stations: song, story, and sharing. The service will be held outside, and will be masked and distanced. We will be holding two services on Sunday August 29, at 9:30 and 11:15. Please bring a water bottle to the service!
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LIVESTREAMING IN-PERSON SUNDAY SERVICES We will be livestreaming 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. Thank you for your patience as we expand our technologies.
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WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? This week, children are invited to attend a very special Multigenerational Water Service (at 9:30 AM or 11:15 AM) with their families. We will meet in three accessible spots outside of the church and have a time for Song, Story and Sharing. Remember to bring water representing your summer adventures and a reusable water bottle for a special gift. Masks are required for all. (There will not be a Family Worship Zoom service this week).For more information about our Religious Education Program, contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good.
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SIDE WITH LOVE FOR FAIR VOTING DISTRICTS...Our NC UU Justice Ministry is partnering with All on the Line to provide Zoom workshops about the redistricting process in North Carolina and the tools and training to effectively advocate for fair maps this September. Learn more about it here.
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COMMUNITY CLICKERS We will meet Wednesday September 1 in the Commons at 2 PM. We will be continuing our work to create shawls for Hospice and baby hats for UNC. It is not too early to begin thinking of scarves for the Christmas Project Homestart gift bags. Come meet with us to knit or crochet. If you would like to learn either needlecraft, we welcome you and will get you started. For further information, refer to our webpage, here.
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VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR RETURNS BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 5! Please join Rachel Rose for the experimental return to this important time of connection. We will be meeting here, via Zoom at 11AM on Sunday, September 5. 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!
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CHURCH PICNIC -- HOLD THE DATE! We are pleased to announce our annual church picnic will be held this year on Saturday, September 11 from 5 - 8 PM at New Hope Camp and Conference Center. It will be outside, as usual, and we will make a few adjustments for everyone's safety. Look for more information coming very soon! Please email DeeDee here for more information.
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REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IS OPEN The Fall Children's and Youth Ministry program begins Sunday, September 12. Registration is open now. Programs include Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education, Neighboring Faiths, Coming of Age, Bridging, Middle and High School Youth Groups and Sunday morning Religious Education. We will continue to have both live and virtual options this year. Children -- ages 0-5th Grade register HERE. Youth -- 6th-12th Grade register HERE. Questions? Please contact Marion Hirsch, Director of Religious Education, here.
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RARE WOMEN We are elder women (mostly 60+) who meet in three different groups via Zoom to discuss the gifts, myths, and challenges of growing older. Our THIRD YEAR (!) starts in September and NEWCOMERS ARE WELCOME! We will be discussing Ashton Applewhite’s book, This Chair Rocks – A Manifesto Against Ageism, using a discussion guide, here. Check our webpage here for group meeting times and Zoom links. Contact us HERE to join our email list and get meeting updates.
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HOGWARTS HOGSMEADE FAIR POSTPONED The Hogwarts event, The Hogsmeade Family Fair which was scheduled for September 25 has been postponed due to concerns about the Delta variant. We are waiting to set a date for the Fair until things are more certain. We want things to be fun, safe and relaxed when we gather. Stay tuned.If you are interested in helping with the Hogsmeade Fair, contact Selden Holt, Headmistress, here.
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SIGN UP FOR CHALICE CIRCLES SMALL GROUP MINISTRY Chalice Circles will be very similar to covenant groups. Small groups of 7-10, including a trained facilitator, will meet monthly to connect deeply with each other around monthly themes. What is new and different this year: Participants will receive a packet with readings and reflection questions weeks before their group meets, so participants will have time to consider what to share. In person and virtual options available. The program will begin in October, and we are forming groups. If you are interested in learning more or signing up, please fill out this form. If you have questions, contact Anne Belote, here.
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HOW TO SIDE WITH LOVE IN A PANDEMIC Side with Love is the primary Unitarian Universalist social action movement, and partners with other organizations to advocate for justice. We used to march and rally but now we have found ways to work effectively together from our own homes. Check out our Activity Poster here or on the church website, to see how you can actively Side With Love.
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NEWS FROM THE IMMIGRANT JUSTICE INITIATIVE So much has been happening with our friends! Yeimy has spent some time in Texas with relatives but has now returned to this area where there are better work opportunities. Gaby and Oscar now both have full time jobs and are planning to move to their own place by the end of the year. After arriving Blanca was able to locate some friends from Honduras living in Raleigh. She and David have joined them. Let us know if you would like to volunteer or receive occasional updates.
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Meet the Adamo Valverde Family:
Alexa (she/hers), Michael (he/his), Elle (she/hers) and Oliver (he/his)
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Alexa says: "The winter solstice event drew us, the robust children’s program engaged us as a family, and then the warm welcome from so many people made us want to be a formal part of this spiritual community." The Adamo Valverdes recently moved from Atlanta, having attended First Existentialist Congregation - Unitarian Universalist. Alexa just became a Worship Associate and Michael looks forward to participating in the Build your own Theology class. Alexa adds, "Michael and I are brave, curious and compassionate thinkers and doers, who are working to cultivating these values in our kids. We want to be in community with like-minded, kind, compassionate folks working for more justice and more love in the world. We hope to be in a more racially-diverse community and will do our part to help cultivate that." |
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MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW! NEW SPACES NOW AVAILABLE Please request your dates & times in the virtual and physical spaces of our church for the summer & upcoming year. The form is always available here, on the homepage of the church website. Please use this form for all requests, including changes/cancellations; this helps Dana and Rachel track & meet our congregation's needs. Groups are meeting via Zoom and /or in person, and much of our campus is open. Here is our Building Use Policy, which we regularly update.
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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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ART IN THE SANCTUARY The art in the Sanctuary during July and August is fiber art and cold wax painting by Marni Goldshlag. The fiber art pieces are sheer and semi-sheer fabrics hand stitched to a backing. Cold wax painting involves mixing beeswax, oil paint, and odor-less thinner. If you are interested in purchasing any of the pieces, contact Marni here.
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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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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!
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BEYOND OUR WALLS
EVENTS & MORE SUGGESTED BY MEMBERS & GROUPS
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AFFORDABLE HOUSING RALLY IN CHAPEL HILL ON SAT AUGUST 28 Several local organizations are cosponsoring a march on Sat Aug 28 from 1 pm-5pm for affordable housing for our local community members who are at or below 30% AMI (Area Medium Income). Meet at Peace & Justice Plaza, 179 E. Franklin St & march to the Jackson Center, 512 W. Rosemary St (.7 miles). There will be opportunities for folks with lived experience to speak out. LOVE Chapel Hill will be providing transportation to the rally. For more information about the march, including arranging for transportation to march, go to Inter-Faith Council for Social Services website, here. Submitted by Joy Blevins
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ORANGE COUNTY COMPOST-A-THON AUG 21 – SEP 18, 2021 All Orange County residents are invited to take part in the 2021 Compost-A-Thon events, consisting of FREE virtual & in-person events with chances to win prizes. The Compost-A-Thon offers fun as well as key info for community members to take action for the sustainable handling of food waste. Did you know: Approximately 1 pound of food waste is generated per American per day with food waste the No. 1 contributor to US landfills, causing irreparable harm to the environment. More info here. Sign up 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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