January 5

​“Planting Ourselves At The Gates Of Hope”  

Jenn Kapranov, Intern Minister, preaching

On this first Sunday of the New Year, we will reflect on the idea of hope as a way towards a better future. Hope, like a delicate medicinal plant, requires careful cultivation. In this service we will explore our role as guardians and gardeners of hope.

MUSIC NOTES: This week, the Community Church Choir will open the New Year singing two songs of hope by two iconic American artists, Ysaye Barnwell and Emily Dickinson. We’ll open the service with a Hymn Sing.

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 posted following the service.

REGULAR WORSHIP SCHEDULE

9 AM: 

• Live Children's 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

JAN 4 AWARD-WINNING GIBSON BROTHERS AT COMMUNITY CHURCH CONCERTS On Sat., Jan. 4, 7:30 PM, Community Church Concerts welcomes back The Gibson Brothers to our stage! With a couple of decades performing and 14 albums under their belt, as well as back-to-back International Bluegrass Music Association awards for Entertainer of the Year in 2012 and 2013, The Gibson Brothers have proven they have what it takes to succeed as vocalists, instrumentalists, and songwriters. Start the new year off with great music and join us! 

Buy tickets and learn more about the artists

Volunteer to help

Ask questions

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2025 -- 1-3:30 PM EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP

SUPER-SESSION

(Parts I & II combined)

WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH (OR JUST LEARN MORE)?

Join Rev. Thom & Rachel Rose to "explore Membership!"

To become a Member of The Community Church, one must:

• Take a Class (it's fun, easy, and worthwhile even for the retired UU ministers who've attended!)
• Sign the Membership Book
• Make a Pledge

WANT TO JOIN US? The class provides an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and our congregation, the meaning of Membership, provides an opportunity for reflecting on our spiritual journeys, and gives folks a chance to meet others who are newer to The Community Church.... and Rev. Thom and Rachel Rose would love for YOU to join them!

PLEASE RSVP WITH RACHEL ROSE. Childcare provided with RSVP! CAN'T MAKE IT THIS TIME? Let Rachel Rose know, so she can let you know about upcoming opportunities.

THANKS TO:

• DeeDee and the Lavinder Family for hosting more than 80 people at the 5th Annual Solstice Lantern walk on Dec 21 at their home. We appreciate their wonderful hospitality for this spirit-warming winter event.

DURING SUNDAY SOCIALS:

• Racial Justice Ministry - Recruitment & 8th Principle
• Side With Love - Share The Plate and Drag Story Hour
• Stewardship - information about the charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY?

In January, children are exploring STORY as their Soul Matters theme at 9 AM on Zoom and in person at 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM. First Grade OWL begins and 8th Grade OWL resumes. Coming of Age will meet in the on Sunday evening.  For more information about our Religious Education Program, please contact Kat Good.

ART SHOW IN SANCTUARY “Greeting Seasons” by Barbara Lee Smith is our show for January and February. A reversal of a holiday message she shares a years-long visual response to changes around and within her.

She has accumulated thousands of remainders of painted fabric which is now her palette fusing them and binding them with a machine stitched line that draws the eye around and into the composition. See Barbara's website for more info.

CHALICE CIRCLES IN 2025 -- NEW FORMAT Chalice Circles will be offered 2x month, on the 3rd Thursdays and the 4th Saturdays. Chalice Circles will begin with Chalice lighting and a reading. Then, we will break out into small groups for an hour or so before returning to the large group for a closing. Chalice Circles are an opportunity for connection that emphasizes the practices of deep listening and vulnerable sharing around a monthly spiritual topic. Topics for the first three months:

Thursday, January 16: Hope -- REGISTER

Thursday, February 20 and Saturday, February 22: Ancestors -- REGISTER

Thursday, March 20 and Saturday, March 22: Peace -- REGISTER

QUUILTERS We get together on Saturday, January 4, 9 - 11:30 AM, in the Gathering Room. Our focus is on making placemats for participants in Meals on Wheels. Kits, fabric, batting, and instructions are available to take home to work on, and you can bring your machine to get started during our meeting. We'd love to also see your personal projects during our check-in time that starts at 9:30. See the website for more info. Join the email list.

WOMENCIRCLE BOOK SHARING AND EXCHANGE WomenCircle is having a book sharing and book exchange on Saturday, January 4 from 10:30 AM – noon in the Living Room. You will have an opportunity to read a favorite passage or tell why your chosen book was important to you. Bring any books that you are willing to give away for our end-of-meeting book swap. Contact Lisa Epner for more information or to RSVP.

JAN 5 SHARE THE PLATE (STP) FOR CAROLINA ABORTION FUND On Jan 5, STP is for Carolina Abortion Fund (CAF). CAF believes that abortion is healthcare. Clinics are struggling with less funding. The flooding in W NC closed the only clinic there. Patients had to travel to the Triangle - resulting in increased expenses for travel and housing. CAF operates a helpline and works with clinics to provide grants that fill the gap between what patients can afford and the full cost.

DRAG STORY HOUR JAN. 11 AT 2 PM Side With Love is excited to host Drag Storyteller Stormie Daie, a torrential force of energy and entertainment, telling stories for school age children and their grown-ups–but people of all ages are welcome. Thanks to UU Justice NC, admission is free but pre-registration is required. If you wish to volunteer to assist with this event, we have a few opportunities.

OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS January 25 at 10 AM, join Outdoor Connections on a walk. Peninsula Point trail in Forest Ridge Park offers an easy trail with options for a longer walk. 45-minute drive from church. Mostly wide gravel trail. If you take a spur, as we did, you walk along water most of the time. Contact Teri Brooks to RSVP for details and updates. Nice park building, very clean bathrooms, friendly staff. Meet in parking lot. Lunch options.

STRENGTHEN OUR MISSION AND LEGACY! Contributions to our Endowment Fund are a lasting gift to the church. They can be made at any time and are tax deductible. If you've already included the church in your plans, let us know. Your commitment qualifies you for membership in the Legacy Society - our way of thanking you for your generosity. For more information, please email Charles Lee, Chair of the Endowment Committee.

COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ACTION

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. (Don't know how? Rachel Rose will help!)



If you're unsure, contact 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. 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. (NEW) MOST NEEDED: UNEXPIRED & UNOPENED pasta, pasta sauce, soup, canned or dry fruit, cereal, juice, bar soap, and liquid dish soap. 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. (Please put LECTIO in the subject line of your email.) All are welcome!

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.