APRIL 2018 - In This Issue:
SUNDAY SERVICES
9:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M.  
April 7
Earth Day
Rev. Thom Belote, leading worship
Join us on Sunday, April 7, for a multi-generational service, celebrating the Earth and exploring how we can better take of the only home we have.
 
April 14
Are You Liberated? Rev. Thom, preaching
On this Sunday before Passover, Rev. Thom's sermon will begin by recounting story of the Jewish exodus from Egypt. We will consider questions, like: what does liberation look like in our time? How can we be partners in liberation?
 
April 21
Beyond Belief Rev. Thom, preaching
Join us on this Easter Sunday for a celebration of hope, renewal, and life prevailing over death. Our 9:15 Service will be held at Memorial Rock amphitheater, and our 11:00 Service will be held in the Sanctuary.
 
April 28
rev. charlie kast, preaching
alone: loneliness or solitude
" I live in that solitude which is painful in youth but delicious in maturity." (Albert Einstein)

WORSHIP, MUSIC & ARTS
MUSIC NEWS
by Glenn Mehrbach, Music Director
Looking for congregation members willing to help with Song-Leading during Sunday services, and being a part of the Soundroom Team (minimal training involved). Contact Glenn for more info, or sign up online by following the links above.

SAVE THE DATES: Performers are in place for our annual Music Gala, "SinfUUL SoUUnds: Surveying the Seven Deadly Sins," held on Saturday, April 13, at 7pm in the Sanctuary. The 90 minute gala will be followed by a reception in the Community Room with dancing, desserts and more. Then on Friday, May 3, the Music Team will present a very special concert, "From Church to Tango," with guest bandoneonist Alejandro Pinzon, accompanied by Glenn Mehrbach on piano. The following Sunday, May 5, Alejandro will join the choir to perform "Misa a Buenos Aires" (also known as "Tango Mass") along with and a six-piece ensemble of strings and piano.
 
ANNOUNCING THE FALL COMMUNITY CHURCH MUSICAL: This fall, we'll be presenting our next church musical, Shrek the Musical, from November 22-24. Auditions will be held over 3 weekends from May 11-25. More information about how to sign up in the next Newsletter, as well as the Weekly Announcements. In the meantime, if you'd like to know about the musical, click HERE. Or you can watch a recording of the original Broadway production on Netflix  
 
ART IN THE SANCTUARY
From March 3 through April 28 the art in the Sanctuary will be cloth constructions by Alice Levinson. In her non-traditional cloth constructions, Levinson employs a broad range of surface design processes, emphasizing layering of color and texture, movement and intuitive process.
Her work has been included in exhibits throughout the United States, Italy, and Israel. It is in numerous private and institutional collections, including those of UNC Hospitals and the North Carolina Hillel Foundation. She is an owner-member of the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts in Hillsborough, NC. In addition to her personal creative work, Levinson is active as an arts advocate supporting the work of artists and arts institutions in Orange County, North Carolina.

FLOWER COMMITTEE
 

  The Frances Brewer Flower Fund for Sunday Service flowers is carried out every Sunday except when a personal donation is made, often as a celebration of life in memory of someone, or to mark another significant event.  
 
The women who use this fund or Nature's bounty are: Susie Hafer, Ellie Tucker, Lynn Harmon, Christine Arnsberger and Joan O'Brien. Anyone interested in joining this committee, even occasionally, please contact Susie Hafer
COMMITTEES & MINISTRIES
BUILDING PROJECT
UPDATES ON THE BUILDING PROJECT

While the Annual Pledge Drive has been the congregation's highest priority these past couple of months, the Building Project Task Forces have been chugging along on twin tracks. Track One is to gain Town approval for our plans and convert them into actual construction beginning this June. Track Two is to foster projects that will ultimately "close the gap" between estimated construction costs and projected funds in the capital account. By the second week of each month, a fresh issue of "Building Blocks: C3HUU's Building Project Update" offers monthly information tidbits and photos to keep everyone apprised of building and funding progress. Copies are available in the project display rack in the alcove between kitchen and stage, and on-line via the Building on Our Legacy section of the church website, along with building sketches, lots of other details, and contact information.
JUSTICE & SERVICE
ECO'S ENVIRONMENTAL CORNER
First Sunday Recyclables
April 7 at the ECO table: eyeglasses (prescription or not, can be broken, includes sunglasses). As every month, ECO is also collecting batteries (AAA - D, button, rechargeable), corks (natural and synthetic), and tiny bits of metal (paper clips, nails, screws, etc.).

For Earth Month, join a friendly competition between our church and Eno River UU Fellowship to see who can collectively make more impact on climate change through individual actions. To learn more and join the Community Church team, CLICK HERE . The challenge will run April 3-24.

ECO is planning Earth Month activities for April 7 and 14; watch the Weekly Announcements for more information. 
 

SIDE WITH LOVE  
SIDE WITH LOVE - CONCERT FOR A CAUSE: AL OTRO LADO

On Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m. Deborah Davis and Deborah Hollis will give a benefit concert for Al Otro Lado, a bi-national, direct legal services organization serving indigent deportees, migrants, and refugees in Tijuana, Mexico.

Davis and Hollis will perform two treasures of the Cello-Piano repertoire, the Sonata for Piano and Violoncello, Op. 5, Nr. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven, and the Sonata for Violoncello and Piano, Op. 119 by Sergei Prokofiev. The Beethoven sonata displays the young Beethoven's seriousness, playfulness, and fiery intensity. The Prokofiev sonata is a mature work, and in spite of the restrictions of the Soviet era, protecting "Soviet socialist realism" is expressive and explosive, while still employing moments of levity and folk-like melodies.

We invite a donation of $15, but any amount will be gratefully accepted. Children are very welcome. For more information about the concert or the Side With Love Ministry, visit the Love Table early in April.
 
SHARE THE PLATE
APRIL 7 SHARE THE PLATE: INTER-FAITH COUNCIL 
 
On April 7, there will be a Share The Plate in support of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services (IFC). The relationship between our church and the IFC is a long standing one; we were a founding member over 50 years ago. The bond is strong between our values and the mission of the IFC which is "to confront the causes and respond to the effects of poverty in our community." To learn about the important work of the IFC, click here.
APRIL 21 SHARE THE PLATE: NC WARN'S CLEAN PATH 2025 
Climate change is the biggest crisis we face, and yet our leaders continue to deny, debate, and delay while time runs out. Fortunately we don't have to wait until national governments take action; we can act locally, through NC Warn's Clean Path 2025 initiative.

Clean Path 2025 is a statewide grassroots campaign working on the city and county levels to replace electricity produced with fossil fuels with local solar, battery storage and energy-saving programs. The goal is 100% use of renewables by 2030, and 50% by 2025. Action teams are working with local governments, businesses and residents to change where their energy comes from and create leverage on Duke Energy and state government to create a clean energy future. 100% of April 21st STP donations to Clean Path fund will go to projects in Durham, Orange, or Chatham County. Possible projects: A solar powered community building/emergency shelter, solar panels on bus shelters, and a solar educational farm. Questions? CLICK HERE.
 
APRIL 28 SHARE THE PLATE: OKAY (OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AND YOUTH)  
OKAY (Opportunities for Kids and Youth) cares about the well-being of our community children, especially low-resource families, especially times when they aren't in a safe space. Also inactivity during summer exacerbates the achievement gap.
OKAY members from various local churches, born of Church Women United, partner with IFC.
OKAY:
Advocates - for affordable programs
Shares - information, resources, ideas, space, volunteers, love
Facilitates -
* Identify, encourage, supplement, support, collaborate, network with programs in churches and community - Vacation Bible Schools, Parks & Rec. (not enough programs), El Centro, Rogers Rd. Center, etc
* Connect families to programs (develop list; share with schools, churches, community agencies)
Church members supported, participated and continue important leadership in this community endeavor. (CSM project)
New initiative for summer 2019 facilitates partnership between CH Parks & Rec and local church (Binkley) to provide additional programs.

LEARNING & FELLOWSHIP
COMMUNITY CLICKERS
Come join the Community Clickers as we use needles and yarn to create comfort and warmth for our community. Our projects are made with 7" x 9" knitted and crocheted blocks of washable acrylic, #4 worsted weight yarn. Our ongoing projects include making 18-block shawls for UNC Hospice (nine were delivered in March!), baby hats for the American Heart Association, and individual projects for our first ever C3HUU Holiday Bazaar table! Join us on April 3rd from 2-4 pm in the Commons Area and on Monday April 15th from 7-9 pm in the Straley Room. We generally spend some time working on a group project and then click and chat, but some attendees click and chat the entire time! Can't knit or crochet? Come learn! Donate finished blocks and/or yarn in our box in the Commons Area. Contact us for more information.  
SPIRITUAL EDUCATION FOR ADULTS
  
 
Spiritual Education for Adults (SEA)  
 
Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese system that has been called "meditation in motion." Join us on Wednesdays for a peaceful interlude in the week.  
CLICK HERE to contact Joe Swain.  
 
Learn more HERE.  
 
NONFICTION READERS
 
NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR APRIL On Saturday, April 20, at 10:30 in the Kirby Room, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. This international bestseller is an analysis of human history from our earliest roots, before we were the only species of the genus Homo who walked the earth; delves into the big changes (agricultural, industrial and post-industrial revolutions) that shaped history, including what is necessary due to biology and physics and what we have added culturally; and takes us into issues posed by the latest technology. Carolyn Holt and Joe Swain will be leading our discussion. The Nonfiction Readers meet on the third Saturday of each month. New members and drop-ins are welcome. Click here to contact the group.
OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS
Outdoor Connections: Raulston Arboretum, The Best of Spring
Suppose there were a place where a half-century effort to cultivate the most beautiful plants in the world was on display in garden settings borrowed from the cultures which have cherished them. There is. It's free. Please join us.  
 
Meet at the church at 10:00, Sat., April 13 to carpool. We'll have lunch at the mother church of Mediterranean food in the Triangle, Neomonde. RSVP HERE.
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
With Rev. Thom's knowledge and full support, there was an exploratory meeting in late January to determine interest in establishing a cancer group at church. Eight people attended, decided there was enough interest and began discussing what they wanted the group to be and to do. The group is open to anyone associated with the church who's had a cancer diagnosis at any point in time. It will welcome you whenever you decide the time is right to attend. There is no expectation of regular attendance. There is an expectation of confidentiality.
In February, the group decided its regular meeting time will be the fourth Thursday of the month, 9:30-11:30 am in the Straley Room, unless otherwise announced. It is lay led by Danny Gotham, Allen Spalt and Cecilia Warshaw. To date ten individuals have attended and a handful more have expressed interest. If you would like more information or have questions, contact CECILIA.

2019 FALL AUCTION

2019 Fall Auction - SAVE THE DATE!!!
SAVE THE DATE!!! The Community Church's annual Fall Auction of dinners/events, food, treasures, services, vacation places, and more will be on Saturday, October 19th! Mark your calendars and plan to attend! This is the church's largest fundraiser (and FUN-raiser) in support of the annual operating budget. We will follow the same format as last year (opening at 4:30 pm with silent auction bidding beginning at 5 pm) so start planning your auction donations and fabulous finger foods for munching on while bidding!  
 
For more information and to volunteer to help, contact Don and Susan Blanchard. Check out the 2018 auction website to get ideas from previous auctions or to check on what you bought and sold last fall (under My Statement after you log on using your phone number and the last four digits of that number as your PIN). The 2019 website will be available in July. 
                                                   
MAY NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE BY APRIL 21
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT ARTICLES
 
The C3HUU Board wants to hear from you! Click here to share with us your thoughts, comments, concerns, and questions. Click here to learn more about the Board, including viewing the Board and Congregational Meeting minutes.  
 
If you would like to learn more about joining the Community Church of Chapel Hill, please contact our Membership Director, Rachel Rose, by calling the office (919) 942-2050, emailing c3hmembership@gmail.com, or find her at one of our Sunday services. Whether you are brand new or a longtime attendee, and whatever your beliefs or background, we welcome you to our community of friendship and ideals.