WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
May 2, 2021
"Principled & Purposeful"
Rev. Thom Belote, preaching

What are the Seven Principles? How were they written? When were they adopted? Did you know that, according to the bylaws of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Principles need to be re-examined at least every 15 years? Should our movement adopt an 8th Principle? In this morning's service, Rev. Thom will explore everything you ever wanted to know and more about the Principles and purposes.

MUSIC NOTES: This week, the Community Church Choir will be singing two highly-contrasting pieces for the service, both by up-and-coming American choral composers. In the first, a wordless meditation entitled “Hands,” Minneapolis-based writer Jocelyn Hagen asks choir members to join hands at the conclusion of the piece. We’ll do our best to accomplish that virtually. The second, the kaleidoscopic “Can You See,” by Los Angeles composer Zanaida Robles, musically juxtaposes parts of the National Anthem with the words from the often-seen “In this house, we believe” sign. The effect is, by turns, jaggedly rhythmic, richly melodic, and boldly confrontational.

If you wish to have a joy or sorrow named in the service,
please send your joy or sorrow to Rev. Thom here by 9AM on Saturday.


Sunday Programming


Watch Virtual Worship Service On Demand!

10am: Live Religious Education Service on Zoom

11am: Live Community Coffee Hour on Zoom

&

7pm: High School & Middle School Youth Group
WITHIN THESE WALLS
WE DID IT!!! Thanks to your extraordinary and amazing generosity, we have been successful in reaching our pledge goal for the coming fiscal year. Thus far, the Annual Pledge Drive has received pledges totalling $530,000! Thanks to everyone who responded. If you haven't pledged yet, it is not too late. You can pledge online here. Please contact Dana Lundquist, here or Rev. Thom, here with any questions or to request a paper pledge form.
THANK YOU TO: All of the performers in (especially the In House Band: Max Kuhlman, Danny Gotham, Richard Edwards & Jay Miller) and donors to the 2021 Music Gala, "MasqUUerade"!
  • WHAT’S NEW THIS WEEK WITH OUR NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION?  In the 44th week, details abound. Grab-bars, mirrors and other accessories are appearing in the new bathrooms; “barn doors” are mounted on the east wall of the Gathering Room; a commodious closet for committee storage is being constructed in the upper-level connector room. Take a virtual peek at ongoing work via the Building Project webpage, here, featuring weekly-updated photos and a current mini-video, along with information galore. Contact us here if you have any questions.

  • WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In May, children and youth in Religious Education are studying STORY. For our first Sunday on this theme, we will learn the story of a crayon activist. We will continue our time of Family Fellowship on Sunday mornings where we can share joys and sorrows. Middle School and High School youth groups will gather virtually on Sunday evening. On Saturday, the Family Fun event is Collaborative Story Telling Games! For more information about our Religious Education Program, contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good.

  • IN CASE YOU MISSED IT - MUSIC GALA VIDEOS AVAILABLE! If you weren't able to watch this year's Music Gala, "MasqUUerade," in person, or want to revisit some of your favorite moments, YouTube videos of the entire Zoom Event and each of the three "acts" are available on the church website. Find them all here. And if you watch and enjoy, consider donating to the Capital Fund to show your support and appreciation.

  • RACIAL EQUITY OFFICE HOURS: WHY IS IT RACIST THAT D.C. ISN'T A STATE? Office hours are for people to talk about race in a safe space with skilled facilitators. D.C. might become our 51st state! Why is racism the main reason D.C. is not a state? Do you know the racist history of excluding D.C.'s population? Drop into office hours to talk more about this question, general questions you have, or any discourse about race that’s been on your mind. This is a casual setting, so drop in or drop out any time! Office hours are every week - here, on Sunday at 5PM. See you there!

  • HELP ROSA SET UP HER APARTMENT Rosa del Carmen Ortez-Cruz, a guest at the Manse, has started full-time employment and is moving into an apartment May 1. We can help her make this exciting transition through donations. If you have lightly-used furniture or major kitchen items, please contact the Immigrant Justice Initiative through Merry-K Moos to see if it is something that Rosa needs. Please do not bring donations to the church. We would also gratefully receive cash donations for Rosa to purchase needed items. You can donate here.

  • SHARE EARTH ACTIONS YOU TOOK IN APRIL AND THANK YOU! If you participated in ECO Actions for Earth, or in Drawdown... Eco Challenge, THANK YOU, and please let us know through ECO what actions you took or, if you did not participate, what you would like us to do differently next year. Earth Month is over, but every day is Earth Day, so do look at ECO’s continuing announcements, here, for ongoing opportunities to combat the Climate Crisis, and please join ECO on May 2 at 12:30. All are welcome. Contact ECO here for Zoom link.

  • SIDE WITH LOVE AND FORWARD TOGETHER ACTION OF THE WEEK Demand Justice for Andrew Brown's Family & Call for new NC Body & Dashboard Camera Legislation SB510. Take action here.

  • GABY'S CREATIONS NEW BROCHURE Take a look at Gaby’s NEW BROCHURE with photos of cards, handbags, & shoes. The designs are original & awesome! (Birthdays, Mother’s Day, & graduation are coming up - I have placed my order. - Kathy Putnam) Folks who ordered Christmas & Valentine’s Day cards & shoes from Gaby’s Creations are now fans! Early orders will be filled first. The brochure has info on products, cost, etc. See new brochure and place orders here.

  • RIDES NEEDED! We need volunteers to drive our guests to work, to school, and other places. We especially need people who can spare about an hour-and-a-half to get Gaby and the children to or from her weekend job in Durham, and now that many of us--including Gaby--are vaccinated, we hope several of you would be willing to do this once or twice a month.  Sign up here if you can help. All persons driving our guests must have provided a photocopy of their driver's license and car insurance to Doug Shier, here.

  • BEYOND THE GAP – WHAT’S HAPPENING IN APRIL Timely fulfillment of existing capital pledges, on top of already-raised funds, will close the Gap on schedule, June 2022. At the April 11 Q&A session, about 35 members of the congregation met with project leaders to discuss prioritizing and eventually implementing deferred capital improvement projects. A pilot test of the proposed process will address our immediate need for AV equipment. The overall list with recommended timeline priorities invites your feedback. Learn more here.

  • INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES SHARE THE PLATE (STP) - IFC -MAY 2 For over 50 years our church , through its volunteer and financial support, has played an important part in making the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services what it is today, the preeminent organization addressing food insecurity and homelessness in our community. This STP will address a newer role for the IFC which is the development of leaders who are addressing the causes of poverty in our community. Learn more here.

  • APPLY NOW! "SHARE" YOUR PROJECT WITH SHARE THE PLATE (STP)! Our church has long supported worthy organizations with which our members are involved and passionate about, through the Share the Plate Ministry. Interested? If so, STP invites you to submit an application for consideration for July-December 2021 STP Sundays. Deadline: May 2. Applicants must use new and improved applications available HERE! Learn more here about Share the Plate, how to apply, and requirements for acceptance. Questions? Contact Jill Baker, here, or Jane Provan, here.

  • COMMUNITY CLICKERS Clickers will meet Wednesday, May 5 in the courtyard from 2-4. We will design a shawl or two, collect knitted and crocheted blocks and baby hats, and click and chat. Please remember your chairs, masks, and projects to share. Check the webpage, here, for additional information. See you soon!

  • SEA CLASS: THE ACTIVE SOUL: POETRY AS SURVIVAL Leader: Cheryl Wilder May 5, 12, 19, 26 7:00-8:30 pm, via Zoom... Emerson said, “There is no greater value than that of the active souls.” In the book, Poetry as Survival, Gregory Orr explores the active soul of the lyric poet. Traversing between her inner mysteries and her exterior self, the lyric poet actively takes hold of her emotional life rather than passively endures it. Grief, love, awe, despair—explore your active soul through the art of poem-making. No experience necessary. Register here.


  • CHURCH SOFTBALL After a summer of no softball in 2020, the town public fields will be available this year for a church softball league. Games are played at Homestead Park on Sunday afternoons, June through August. Play is open to all genders, 13 years and up. It is a low-key league, with no umpires, no called balls and strikes. It is meant to be fun for all skill levels! If you are interested, or have questions, contact team manager, Nils Brubaker, here.
OFFICE NEWS


  • HUGE WELCOME AND THANKS TO FRANKLIN HIRSCH! Our Congregational Administrator, Dana Lundquist, is taking partial maternity leave to take care of her new foster daughter and is incredibly grateful and excited that Franklin Hirsch has come on board part-time to help with handling financial procedures! Franklin grew up in this congregation, and recently graduated college, where he studied Accounting. He will work in the Dana's office on Mondays. Dana is still available by email, here, and phone, but may take longer than normal to respond.

  • WE'VE ADDED A SECOND CHURCH ZOOM ACCOUNT! We've added a second Zoom account so more church groups can meet. Moving forward, we have "Zoom 1" or "Zoom 2". You can check to see if either is available for a specific time by looking at our Calendar and reserve one of the Zoom accounts by filling out this form. Regardless of whether you use our church or your personal Zoom account, please remember to fill out the reservation form so we can add all events to our calendar, here, and make all our offerings visible and accessible to our community!

  • SCAM ALERT Several members of the church received email from an address imitating Rev. Thom's, or those of other staff members. These messages ask people to purchase gift cards to give to people in the hospital, or something similar. These messages are a scam. If you receive them, please report them and delete them. If you have any concerns, please email Rev. Thom here. Please know that Rev. Thom and the staff of The Community Church will never send out email solicitations asking people to purchase gift cards.
ONGOING EVENTS
  • 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 As Rare Women, we build relationships in small groups by sharing our lives and the gifts, myths, and challenges of growing older. Three different groups (led by Susan Blanchard, Bonnie Gilliom, and Joann Haggerty) are meeting at least bimonthly in person outside at the church or via Zoom from now through June 24. Newcomers are welcome. Check our webpage, here, for meeting schedules, topics, and Zoom links. Contact us here with questions.

  • FRESH EGGS Cathy Cole’s hens are laying again! If you want to buy eggs—$5/carton and all proceeds go to the Capital Fund—call her at 919-967-3422. You will need to pick them up at her house or at the church.
BEYOND OUR WALLS
suggested by Members & Committees

  • COMMEMORATION OF 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FREEDOM RIDES MAY 5, 6:30PM Join OC Community Remembrance Coalition & Carolina K-12 for FREE virtual program commemorating 60th Anniv of Freedom Rides. In May1961 Black & white civil rights advocates boarded a Greyhound bus in Washington DC headed to N. Orleans to test 1960 US Supreme Ct decision that segregation of interstate transportation facilities was unconstitutional. In 1961 over 400 activists joined challenge despite danger of refuting white supremacy then. Main speaker David Dennis, JD, one of the Freedom Riders. Learn more about program & register here. Submitted by Joy Blevins

  • FAITH CONNECTIONS ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Father Greg Boyle, best-selling author and founder of Homeboy Industries, the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program, will keynote the 10th Annual Faith Connections on Mental Illness Conference: Hope and Healing: Faithfully Practicing Community Inclusion. Wake AHEC will offer optional professional credits for this day-long live webinar, which will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2021. More information and registration here. Submitted by Mental Heath Ministry
Most BLUE text is clickable! Blue text links to outside websites or to an email address. Example: email c3hfinance@gmail.com for rentals.  
 
Please submit Weekly Announcements contributions HERE.

Announcements are due by noon Wednesday, prior to Friday's issue.
 
The Community Church Board wants to hear from you! Contact them here.
106 Purefoy Road, ​Chapel Hill, NC 27514 | (919) 942-2050 | Contact Us | Donate Now