NOTE: This newsletter might be cut short by your email program.
Select "view entire message" at the bottom of this email to see the entire Newsletter!
|
|
SUNDAY WORSHIP & FELLOWSHIP |
|
|
|
9 AM - Live Religious Education Service on Zoom
11 AM - In-Person Coffee Hour
7 PM High School Youth Group
|
|
September Worship Services
September 5. 2021
"With Meaning & Purpose"
Rev. Alison Eskildsen, preaching
On this Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, we explore what fills our days — the work and activities we do. Are we doing what we most need to do?
Rev. Alison, Minister Emerita of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, Georgia, leads the service. Following her retirement last year from that congregation, she and her husband, Paul, moved to Chapel Hill to be near their son and his young family. They look forward to becoming more deeply connected to this congregation.
September 12. 2021
"Trust"
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching
Who and what can you trust? UU minister Rev. Daniel Kanter identifies trust as a core aspect of faith. Do we approach life in the spirit of trusting other people, ourselves, and the world? Do approach life distrustful of others, ourselves, or the world around us? Join us for a service on the relationship between trust and faith.
September 19, 2021
"Ecological Grief"
Rev. Thom Belote
In a sermon he wrote - but did not deliver - last month, Rev. Thom identified three types of grief that overlay our present lives. Those types of grief were pandemic grief, political grief, and ecological grief. We are living in a period of accelerating climate change, observable in extreme weather, fires, droughts, and heat waves. This sermon offers a spiritual perspective for living with grief.
September 26, 2021
"An Activism of Cohesion"
Rev. Patty Hanneman, guest preaching
Our Fifth Principle calls us to promote "the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large." This asks each of us to bring our life's narrative into relationship with others'. During these polarized times, how can we begin to live together again as fellow Americans?
Rev. Patty Hanneman lives in Durham, NC with her partner, Karen Hill. She is a graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School and served as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Hillsborough, NC for 12 years. Rev. Patty is now in private practice, creating sacred and nurturing spaces for spiritual direction, rites of passage, and constructive conflict. www.soulfuljourneycollective.com
|
|
We celebrated our new addition on July 24 with an Open House, featuring tours of the new space and a chalice cookie to take home. RE was ready to move inside! The lily pads were awaiting our younger members, and then our bigger world was beset by the Delta variant of Covid. We posted some great pictures of the new spaces on the website, as well as photos of the over 100 people who came to check it out. Marion Hirsch reports that Religious Education is using the Porch each Sunday, and it is working wonderfully. “The children are really appreciating the new restrooms and especially the water fountains.” And, on August 15, the High School Youth Group met for the first time in the Living Room! We all will be looking forward to a time that we can use it freely. |
|
CHILDREN'S & YOUTH MINISTRY |
|
FALL YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRY PROGRAMS BEGIN SEPT 12 In August, Registration opened for Fall Programs for Youth and Children's programs. Soul Matters will return for young and elementary-aged children. The program begins Sunday, September 12. There will be many programs for youth, including Neighboring Faiths, Coming of Age and Bridging as well as youth groups. In addition, we will be offering four modules of the Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Program. The four modules for 2021-22 will be 1st grade, 5th grade, 8th grade, and 10th-12th grade. To sign up for the weekly Children's and Youth Ministry mailing list, please contact Marion Hirsch, here or Kat Good, here.
|
|
A NOTE FROM YOUR MUSIC DIRECTOR |
|
It’s been a difficult 18 months being your music director. So much of my job was taken from me. If you think of the choirs I direct as instruments I “play,” then I have not been able to play that “instrument” since March 1, 2020, when we hosted the Southern District Choral Festival. And while creating “virtual choirs” contained some satisfaction, and I appreciate all of those who’s complimented me on the work I’ve done, I would trade ALL the virtual content for just ONE actual “in person” choir piece. For while some professions adapt well to the virtual environment, choral directing, alas, does not.
So where to go from here, with so much still uncertain? I’ve tried to present compelling music in services safely, with individual or small groups, and instrumentalists staying masked. I’ve started choir rehearsals again, outside when possible, and inside when necessary, but with masks and plenty of social distancing. As far as the usual “musical signposts” of the church year, like the Children’s Holiday Pageant and the December “Choir Sunday,” I’ve been brainstorming different scenarios, from “best cast” to “worst case.” And, no, there will be no “church musical” this year.
Finally, I’d like to thank all the singers and instrumentalists of the church who’ve worked so hard, learned new skills, tried dozens of takes of their videos to get it right, endured problematic Zoom rehearsals, and, in the end, kept the music of the church alive and kicking, creating many touching and spectacular moments along the way.
So I look forward to seeing you in church, and welcome any ideas you might have to help make the music program better - during these strange times, or anytime.
Glenn Mehrbach
Music Director
|
|
CHARLES HOUSE SHARE THE PLATE On Sept. 19 your Share the Plate donation will go to the scholarship fund at the Charles House Center for Community Eldercare. This exceptional day program was started by the family of our first minister, Charlie Jones, over 30 years ago and has been supported generously by our donations ever since. In recognition of the many years of financial and volunteer support, Charles House will dedicate a beautiful new piano to the Community Church during a small ceremony in September. Over the years, Charles House remained true to its original ideas: treat older people with respect, while allowing them to do all they are capable of doing. There are varied activities, including lots of music and dancing, a delicious lunch, flexible schedules, and a dedicated staff in a safe and stimulating place. This allows families to work and fulfill other obligations. Your donations offer attendance to people with financial need.
|
|
SOUL MATTERS CHALICE CIRCLES
Would you like to build stronger connections with fellow church members? The 2021-22 small group ministry program is using a new format this year. Chalice circles will be very similar to covenant groups. Small groups of 7-10 members, included a trained facilitator, will meet monthly to connect deeply with each other around monthly themes:
- October: Embracing Possibility
- November: Cultivating Relationship
- December: Opening to Joy
- January: Living with Intention
- February: Widening the Circle
- March: Renewing Faith
- April: Awakening
- May: Nurturing Beauty
- June: Celebrating Blessings
With this program, you will receive a packet with readings and reflection questions weeks before your group meets to have time to consider what you want to share. We expect to offer both in-person and virtual groups. If you would like to join a circle, please fill out this form. If you have questions, contact Anne Belote here.
|
|
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 on Sunday mornings at 11AM beginning 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!
|
|
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... andwe 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!
|
|
OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS: (LUNCH AND) WILDFLOWER WALK, SUN, SEPT 26, 12:30 PM Lunch on Mama Dip’s porch, followed by an easy 2 mile walk at Mason Farm. We tend to connect wildflowers with spring and overlook their more spectacular fall display. The fields at Mason Farm are at their best in September. Join us to enjoy them together.
|
|
Samantha Reynolds wrote in her poem, “I am not old, she said. I am rare. I am the standing ovation at the end of the play…” NEW MEMBERS are welcome to join us in September when we will begin discussing This Chair Rocks – A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Appelwhite using these DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. There are three different Rare Women groups: Bonnie Gilliom’s group meets from 10 am – noon on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays and will begin fall meetings on September 9th; Susan Blanchard’s group meets from 1:30-3:30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays and will begin meeting on September 16th; Joann Haggerty’s group meets from 2-4 pm on the 1st and 3rd Mondays and will begin meeting on September 20th. Notices about in-person meetings (if occurring) and Zoom links for each group are posted on the Rare Women webpage, here.
|
|
NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR SEPTEMBER On Saturday, September 18 from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. The book provides an overview of the New World prior to European contact. Its three sections cover (1) the population of the New World and what happened to it, (2) the history and civilizations of the New World, and (3) the impact of native peoples on the New World landscape. It does a good job of bringing modern research (and controversies) to the general reader. Steve McNeary 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.
|
|
SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, October 23rd – for the 2021 Fall Auction! We are now planning a FULLY ONLINE AUCTION since safely gathering inside in person and without masks is not possible. However, WE CAN HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL FALL AUCTION if EVERYONE participates. We need YOUR donations NOW for the AUCTION CATALOG! Enter items through the DONATE function after logging in. As of August 15, the auction catalog had 135 items from 50 donors! Great start! When you create a donation in the auction catalog, upload your best picture and then send additional ones to us for posting on the Auction Resources page, HERE. Need ideas? Check out previous catalogs (2011-2020) online under Catalog Grid to see what has been offered before. Online bidding will open on Saturday, September 25 and will close at 8 pm on Saturday, October 23. Questions? Contact the auction chairs, Don and Susan Blanchard.
|
|
QUUILTERS MONTHLY MEETING QUUilters meets the first Saturday of every month from 9:30 until 11 AM in the Church Commons. Our next meeting is Saturday, September 4. We get to know each other better by chatting and working together on quilts and other handmade items for various local charities. Contact Aline Dawson to be added to our email list.
|
|
OCTOBER NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY SEPTEMBER 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.
|
|
106 Purefoy Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
919-942-2050
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
