March 24, 2024

“The Threat of Christian Nationalism”

Rev. Thom Belote, preaching

Ethno- and religious nationalism pose a threat to democracy around the world as well as here in the United States. What role does a faith like ours, a faith that values the rights of conscience and the use of the democratic process in our congregations and society at large, in addressing this threat? How do we work for the world we want?

MUSIC NOTES: This Sunday, congregation Member Cheryl Diegel will sing two songs by Holly Near and Susan Werner, accompanied by guitarist Danny Gotham. Danny will also provide the Gathering Music, and will be joined on the final song by Cheryl, with a song by the Irish trio “The Whileaways."

LIVESTREAMING IN-PERSON SUNDAY SERVICES We livestream the in-person worship service each Sunday. View the livestream, 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.

9 AM: 

• Live Religious Education Service on Zoom

9:30 AM:

• Livestreamed and in-person service
• Nursery and Toddler Childcare
• Pre-K and Elementary Religious Education

11:15 AM:

• Livestreamed and in-person service
• Nursery and Toddler Childcare
• Pre-K, Elementary and Middle School Religious Education

Contact Marion Hirsch for Sunday evening High School Youth programming

2024-2025 ANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE WRAP-UP

Thanks to the generous pledges of over 250 families in our church! To date, we are on pace to reach our goal and fully fund our operating budget for the 2024-2025 church year. If you haven't filled out a pledge form yet, it is not too late.

Help us out by filling out a pledge form today.

Questions? Please reach out to Bonnie Crotty Nelson (Stewardship Chair) or Franklin Hirsch  (Congregational Administrator).

THIS SUNDAY! 37TH ANNUAL CROPWALK 2024

MARCH 24, 2-4 PM! Hunger is one of the greatest injustices facing our world, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Ending hunger is possible in our lifetime. You can help make it happen. Register for our local CROP HungerWalk, raise funds, and take us one step closer to ending hunger once and for all. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services. DONATE and/or join The Community Church team! Email Jay Miller or call 919-616-2190 with questions.

MISSION POSSIBLE 2024 BLOOD DRIVE We invite you to our third Day of Service life-saving Blood Drive scheduled for Saturday, March 30 from 10 AM until 2:30 PM. Our goal for the Blood Drive is 40 appointments, so please make your appointment today - regular and first time donors welcome! Special food treats will be available as usual, and the youth group will be supporting our canteen table as well. We can help you sign up through Tabling or you can sign up online. Find Our Drive - American Red Cross

RSVP BY APRIL 2! APRIL 6, 2024. 5 PM

MARION HIRSCH'S SILVER JUBILEE Help celebrate Marion Hirsch's Silver Jubilee (25th Anniversary)! To recognize Marion's quarter-century of invaluable service to our congregation, we will have a family-friendly event in the Sanctuary with readings, hymns, fun things for kids to do and more, followed by a shared meal in the Community Room. Please RSVP and/or sign up to help with: - Decorating & other set-up - Music (Glenn Mehrbach will lead us in hymns!) - Livestreaming so those far away can join us in spirit - Kid's activities (Kat Good will lead the fun!) - The shared meal - Clean-up - Anything else! Please direct all questions about the event to Rachel Rose.

MUSIC GALA

"THESE UU-NITED STATES" APRIL 13, 7 PM!

More information coming soon

Contact Music Director Glenn Mehrbach with questions.

THANKS TO:

• Brad Kosiba, our church Building and Grounds Chair for meeting with teens in Adulting to talk Home Maintenance. Brad Kosiba gave us tools and built our understanding of our physical space. He nailed it and hammered it home with love. 

• Briton Bieze for decorating the Living Room. Come and check out the refreshed look!



• Chris Provan, Annie Huntly and Rose and Nicole Graysmith for spending part of their Saturday morning returning pageant props and costumes to their proper places, and extracting unnecessary furniture from the Straley Room.



DURING THE SUNDAY SOCIAL:

• Blood Drive - Sign up blood donors for March 30 Blood Drive
• Side With Love - Information about Share the Plate for UU Justice, Reproductive Justice, Sex Abuse Prevention

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In March, children are exploring TRANSFORMATION as their Soul Matters theme. This week, we will learn about seasonal changes at 9 AM on Zoom and in person at 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM. First Grade OWL finishes this week. High School Youth Group will meet in the evening. For more information about our Religious Education Program, please contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good.

LECTIO DIVINA AS A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE -- 3/24 AT 2 PM OR 3/26 AT 7 PM Lectio Divina is a Latin term, meaning "divine reading", and is a meditative way of approaching a sacred text (bible or other world religion) and other literature (poetry, nonfiction). Lectio Divina encourages us to listen deeply to that still, small voice within us. By reading a passage several times with guided reflection, participants will experience a rich, ancient contemplative tradition. Led by Renee Wilson and Maureen O'Rourke. Register and learn more. Contact Renee Wilson with questions.

SIDE WITH LOVE TO DEFEND MEDICATION ABORTION! On Tuesday, March 26 from 10 AM - 12 PM, the US Supreme Court will hear a case about the use of Mifepristone, a drug commonly used for medication abortions. The Love Team invites you to join us at the Federal Courthouse in Raleigh for a Rally to Defend Medication Abortion, to bear witness at this critical time in the fight for abortion access. We are organizing carpools, to make it easy to attend. Visit us at the Love Table during Sunday Socials or check out our webpage for more information.

ELAINE PAGELS ON RELIGION -- A DISCUSSION CLASS ON ZOOM. WEDS IN APRIL

Facilitator: Mike Goodyear. We will watch and discuss 4 videos over Zoom, 7PM, about 2 hours each time. The videos feature Elaine Pagels talking about religious topics. Each week there will be a different focus, including The Origin of Satan, Adam, Eve and the Serpent, Revelation, and the Jesus Seminar. Dr. Pagels is historian of Religion who has conducted extensive research into early Christianity and Gnosticism. Register and learn more. Contact Mike Goodyear with questions.

ART TEAM -- ART IN THE SANCTUARY The continuing April show will be felt fiber art by Chapel Hill artist Sharron Parker. This exhibit titled “Expressing Reality as Felt”. ranges from realistic images of French doors and windows to more abstract images of light on water, butterfly wings, etc. Sharron will be available on Thursday, April 4 at 2 PM in the Sanctuary to talk to visitors about her work. For more information contact Sharron.

READING THE BIBLE AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE --- SAT 4/6 10 AM OR 4/8 6:45 PM Led by Karen Jessee. Enter into a conversation with scripture as we encounter passages from the Hebrew Bible—history and wisdom of the Jewish people—or from the New Testament of the Christian faith. Through the practices of contemplative reading, silence, and meditative writing, we will break open the Word. Together we will ask to hear what these sacred texts have to say to us, here, in our lives today. Register and learn more. Contact Marion Hirsch for more information.

SHARE THE PLATE -- HABITAT FOR HUMANITY On April 7 our Share the Plate will be for the benefit of Habitat for Humanity. The Community Church has been a long-term partner of Habitat. Of special note, over the next 5 years, volunteers will build 101 homes. The money we contribute assists Habitat in land acquisition, construction, home repair and even the financing of mortgages for new owners. There is a tangible impact of our dollars on the creation of affordable homes for families in our communities. For more info, email Glenn Davis or call 215-756-2400.

DAY OF SERVICE 2024 MISSION: POSSIBLE PHOTOS Send us your photos! Over 250 special agents gathered on March 2, 2024 to participate in our 2024 Day of Service. We saw "Mission: Possible" and it was "Mission: Accomplished"! Photos of the amazing service projects are now on the church website. Please send any photos you took to Carole Bruhn.

MUSIC TEAM MEMBERS NEEDED The Music Team is looking for new members. We meet approximately once every six weeks, and work with Music Director Glenn Mehrbach to plan big musical events, such as the Music Gala and the church musical, as well as looking for new ways to bring music to the church. If you're interested in finding out more, please contact Glenn Mehrbach.

UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2024 The Unitarian Universalist Association's 2024 General Assembly will be held from June 20-23. This year, it is being held completely online. There is a low-cost/no-cost business-only registration option as well as a full-program option. You can register on the UUA website. Please contact DeeDee Lavinder if you are interested in being a delegate from our congregation.

INTERESTED IN THE FALL MUSICAL? This November is our biennial musical. The proposed show is "The SpongeBob Musical." This is a multi-generational musical with a large cast and crew. Before committing to the show, we'd like to get an idea of who might be interested in auditioning for roles, and for behind the scenes jobs like costuming, props, sets, lighting and sound. If any of those things appeal to you, please fill out the Interest Form. For any questions or comments, feel free to contact Director Glenn Mehrbach.

SHARE THE PLATE THANK YOU FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY RAPE CRISIS CENTER (OCRCC) The Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force of Side With Love thanks you for your donations ($2067.03). These general operating funds will allow OCRCC to provide a safe, supportive environment for survivors of abuse. Program examples: Men's Support Group, and When We Gather, creating a space to focus on Black women’s healing from police violence. Check their website for location updates during current on-site construction. Visit Side With Love Table on Sundays for information about our next event. Contact Diane with questions.

DAY OF SERVICE 2024

Mission: Possible!

DAY OF SERVICE 2024 MISSION: POSSIBLE PHOTOS Send us your photos! Over 250 special agents gathered on March 2, 2024 to participate in our 2024 Day of Service. We saw "Mission: Possible" and it was "Mission: Accomplished"! Photos of the amazing service projects are now on the church website. Please send any photos you took to Carole Bruhn.

For more information about the Day of Service, contact Leigh Anne King

or Becky Wilkes.

BEWARE -- SCAM ALERT Scams targeting religious communities are increasing.

Scammers create fake email addresses (and sometimes phone numbers) impersonating the minister, staff members or lay leaders and contact congregants -- asking for contact information, login credentials, the Directory, etc., or to buy gift cards. Rachel Rose (Directory, contact info) and Franklin Hirsch (Finances) are the best people to help with these requests - they will always have the latest versions of our secure documents and are happy to help. If you receive a scam email, phone call or text, please report and delete it. If you're unsure, call Rev. Thom at (919)259-2009 or Rachel Rose at (919)283-1796 and see if the communication is legitimate.



TEXT ALERTS SIGN-UP: Would you like to receive a text in case of weather-related or other church closures and/or delays? If so, please fill out this form: we need to have your current cell phone number *and carrier*.

SHE? HE? THEY? OR, SOMETHING ELSE? PRONOUN STICKERS FOR NAME BADGES AVAILABLE All Members & Associates with permanent name badges are welcome to participate (or not!) Pronoun stickers (she/her, he/him, they/them, etc.) are available at the Visitor's Desk in the Commons / the Welcoming Table in the Community Room on Sunday mornings - Simply peel & stick to affirm and promote the worth and dignity of every person! Learn more about why pronouns are important, how to use pronouns, what to do when you or others make mistakes, and how to ask about people's pronouns.

SUNDAY PARKING Parking can be tight on Sunday mornings, but there is plentiful parking available just a short walk from the church. Parking is free on Sundays in the small Mason Farm lot, the Hibbard Drive lot, and along Hibbard Drive. Please consider using these spaces if you are able to. Parking at Kehillah Synagogue is not allowed on Sunday morning.

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!

SUNDAY TABLING: Tabling is an opportunity to share your group's activity with our congregation during Sunday Socials on Sunday mornings. Tables need to be set up by 10:15 AM and taken down after 12 PM. Please sign up by Wednesdays at noon for the following Sunday. Here is the form.

COMMUNITY SERVICE MINISTRY Containers for donations to the IFC Community Market have been set up in The Commons so that the collection of food and personal hygiene items can resume. (Updated! ) MOST NEEDED: powdered milk packets, apple juice, grits, rice, ramen, any form of protein, toothpaste, and shampoo. Church volunteers will take the donations to the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services Community Market on Main Street in Carrboro.

FEATURED EVENTS IN THE ORDER OF SERVICE: These are the "ads" in the paper Order of Service we hand to parishioners on Sundays for Services. Submissions are due by noon on Wednesdays for the following Sunday. Please include any preferred images in a separate email to Rachel Rose, here. For convenience, here is the form. 

RESERVE SPACE ON THE CHURCH CALENDAR Please check our Building Use Policy and our Calendar, then reserve space for your group or event! Complete this form to make your CALENDAR REQUESTS.

DOOR SIGNS Signs on the doors to the Sanctuary and Jones Buildings is an opportunity to share your group's activity with our congregation during the week, and on Sundays. Please sign up by Wednesdays at noon for the following Sunday. To let folks about your event, complete the sign up form.

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!

RARE WOMEN: OLDER, WISER, AND RARE Community Church women are invited to join one of our three groups. We use a variety of resources to prompt sharing of thoughts, feelings, values, and life experiences. What is said in Rare Women, stays in Rare Women. See the topic schedule and resources for 2023-2024. Additional group information is posted on the Rare Women webpage. To join our email list or ask questions, please contact us.

ART IN THE SANCTUARY Through Saturday, April 27 the art in the Sanctuary will be felt fiber art by Chapel Hill artist Sharron Parker. This exhibit, titled “Expressing Reality as Felt”, will range from realistic images of French doors and windows to more abstract images of light on water, butterfly wings, etc. For more information, contact Sharron.

Most BLUE text is clickable! Blue text links to outside websites or to an email address. Example: email admin@c3huu.org for rentals.  

Please submit Weekly Announcements contributions HERE.

Announcements are due by noon Wednesday, prior to Friday's issue.

The Community Church Board of Trustees wants to hear from you! Contact them here.

Learn more about the Board.