January 12

“Why We Stand With Immigrants”

Rev. Thom Belote, preaching

Almost exactly eight years ago, our congregation launched our Immigrant Justice Initiative. During this service, we will explore our nation’s immoral and broken immigration system and our moral witness and response.

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

THIS SUNDAY - JANUARY 12

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.

HENHOUSE PROWLERS CLOSE THE COMMUNITY CHURCH CONCERTS SEASON FEB. 8! Bluegrass Cultural Ambassadors (in collaboration with the US State Dept.), the Henhouse Prowlers, will return to rock our stage Sat., Feb. 8, 7:30 pm! Founded nearly two decades ago with the simple desire to play original and powerful bluegrass, this quartet now finds themselves at the intersection of performance, diplomacy and education. The band bends and squeezes the traditional form of bluegrass into a keenly-developed sound all their own. 

BUY TICKETS / LEARN MORE   VOLUNTEER   ASK QUESTIONS

DURING SUNDAY SOCIALS:

• Racial Justice Ministry - Recruitment & 8th Principle
• Stewardship - information about the charlie kast Ministerial Development Fund
• The Mountain Retreat - info about Community Church Retreat at The Mountain
• Immigrant Justice Initiative - Information to follow up on Rev. Thom's sermon 

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 and 8th Grade OWL continue. The Bridging program for high school seniors begins and youth will go bowling in the afternoon. For more information about our Religious Education Program, please contact Kat Good.

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

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.

SIDE WITH LOVE & UU THE VOTE Politically, where do we go from here?

Jan 19 at 1 -2:30 pm in the Gathering Room. 

Join Rev. Lisa Garcia-Sampson, Executive Director of UU Justice NC, to discuss ways to maintain political momentum that we can build on for future elections. A light lunch will be provided. An RSVP is appreciated for planning purposes or signup at the Sunday Socials. Sponsored by Side with Love/UU the Vote planning team.

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!

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.

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.