September 24, 2026

Greetings!

The Congregation Overnight Retreat Returns:

Save the Date for June 5–6, 2027

Some of the best parts of life together as a congregation happen when we have a little more time—time to share a meal, sit in conversation, laugh together, play together, pray together, and simply enjoy one another’s company. Next summer, we are making space for just that.

Save the date for June 5–6, 2027, as the Congregation Overnight Retreat returns to Caraway Conference Center! For those who would like a little more time away, there will also be an optional additional night on Friday, June 4.

For many years, retreats at Caraway were a meaningful part of the rhythm of our life together. We are excited to return both to a familiar place and to a tradition that has helped generations of our congregation deepen relationships, make new friends, and grow together in faith.

The retreat will be for all ages and all stages of life. Whether you have been part of the Congregation for decades or have only recently begun worshiping with us, whether you come on your own or bring your whole family, we hope you will consider being part of the weekend. One of the gifts of a congregational retreat is the opportunity to spend time with people we may see on Sunday mornings but do not always have the chance to really know.

We already have a wonderful planning team at work imagining the weekend. Our hope is to create a retreat with room for meaningful conversation and worship, activities and fun, time outdoors, shared meals, and plenty of space simply to rest and be together. It won't be about packing every moment with programming. It will be about making room for connection, belonging, and the kind of relationships that are at the heart of being church together.

There is nothing to register for quite yet. For now, simply save the date: June 5–6, 2027, at Caraway Conference Center in Sophia, North Carolina, with the option to arrive a day early on June 4. More information about the schedule, accommodations, cost, and registration will come in the weeks and months ahead.

We hope many of you will join us as we bring back this beloved Congregation tradition—and discover together what this retreat can become for a new season of our life together.

Blest be the tie that binds,

BACK PEW COLLECTION: THANK YOU!

Thanks to your generosity, we collected and delivered 40 pounds of food to the beautiful new Durham Food Bank facility. Your donations will help provide healthy, nourishing staples to Durham-area families. Thank you for helping fight hunger in our community!

ADULT FORUM

With a variety of guest speakers, Adult Forum offers presentations and discussions on a wide range of thought-provoking topics, including Biblical studies, current social issues, and the work of mission agencies. Adult Forum meets in person in Westbrook 0012 and by Zoom. The link is here.

September 27: Harry Rodenheizer, Congregation member

October 11: Matt Shadle, Catholic theologian, ethicist, and author of the Window Light - "Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas, on AI and human finitude"

ADULT BIBLE STUDY



Join us for our ongoing 8-week study exploring Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament, including Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What do we do with our Christian faith when surrounded by neighborhoods of chaos? Join us for a discussion on God and meaning as we explore these ancient texts and their relevance for our lives today. The Adult Bible Study is led by Congregation intern Jia Cummings. Class meets in person in Westbrook 0012 and by Zoom.

WEDNESDAY BOOK GROUP

Our Book Group begins a new year with Gregory Boyle’s Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times. Drawing on decades of stories and relationships from Homeboy Industries, Boyle invites us to consider what might happen if we truly believed that everyone is inherently good and that we belong to one another—no exceptions.

Join us for this four-week study, September 16–October 7, as we explore belonging, compassion, kinship, and the kind of community we are called to become.

Wednesdays by Zoom | 10:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. Choose whichever group works best for you.

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

Join us Sunday, October 4, at 3:00 p.m. on the Duke Chapel Quad for the annual Blessing of the Animals worship service. Dogs, cats, and other animals will join ministers and the Durham Children’s Choir for this special service. Pet owners are welcome to bring their animals to receive a blessing as part of the service. The 30-minute service will include music from the Durham Children’s Choir, Scripture readings, and a sermon. Individual animal blessings will take place immediately following the service.

Please note: Those bringing pets are responsible for their animals and are asked to bring only pets that will be safe around children and other animals.

The Blessing of the Animals is inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, a thirteenth-century friar known for his love of animals and the natural world. Francis believed that all creation could give glory to God, writing in his Canticle of the Sun, “Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures.”

THE DURHAM PILGRIMAGE OF PAIN AND HOPE

The Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope is an opportunity to discover how your spiritual journey is connected to the place you live—Durham, NC.

During the pilgrimage, you will immerse yourself in the story of Durham and the biblical story as you reflect with others on what these stories mean for how we live our lives in Durham today.

Join us for this transformative experience as we connect Durham’s story, your story, and God’s story.

Dates

October 2–4, 2026

Registration

Register at www.durhamcares.org/pilgrimage

Important: When registering, be sure to choose Fall Duke Chapel (not Spring).

RACIAL EQUITY: FILM & CONVERSATION 

Join us on Saturday, October 4, from 4–7 p.m. at the home of Gary and Billie Bauer for an evening of film, fellowship, and conversation. We’ll watch My Name Is Pauli Murray, a documentary exploring the life and legacy of Pauli Murray, a pioneering lawyer, activist, poet, and priest whose work helped shape the fight for racial and gender equity. Murray grew up in Durham, making their story especially meaningful to our local community.

We’ll gather at 4 p.m. to watch the film together. Following the movie, we’ll share a light meal and have a group discussion about Murray’s life, work, and legacy.

Can’t make it at 4? Feel free to watch the film on your own and join us around 5:30 p.m. for the discussion and meal.

Please sign up here to let us know if you plan to attend.

EXPLORING MEMBERSHIP AT THE CONGREGATION

Are you interested in learning more about the Congregation at Duke University Chapel—or considering making the Congregation your church home?

Join us this fall for Exploring Membership, a three-session opportunity to get to know one another, learn more about the Congregation and our relationship with Duke Chapel, explore the faith and practices that shape our life together, and consider what it means to belong and participate in this community.

We will gather on Sundays, October 11, October 18, and November 1. On October 25, rather than meeting for class, participants will be invited to experience the life of the Congregation with fresh attention. Those who choose to become members will be welcomed into the Congregation during worship on Sunday, November 8.

Whether you are ready to become a member or simply curious to learn more, you are welcome. Participating does not obligate you to join.

Register Here for Exploring Membership:

https://congregationatdukechapel.breezechms.com/form/9635dd

FELLOWSHIP IN THE PARK: OUR ANNUAL GATHERING

Join us for the Congregation’s Annual Picnic on October 18th from 4-6pm at Piney Wood Park (400 E. Woodcroft Parkway, Durham). The Fellowship Committee will provide tacos: beef, chicken, hard and soft tortillas, rice, beans, chips, salsa, guacamole, and queso. You are invited to bring a dessert to share, but that is entirely optional. We also ask you to bring a reusable water bottle to help us cut down on our waste. We will bring jugs of water for you to refill them. Delilah will provide an activity for children. Plus there is a playground! Come and enjoy the Congregation community and make new friends and catch up with old ones!

OCTOBER SERVICE PROJECT



Join the Congregation at Duke University Chapel on Saturday, October 24, from 9:00–11:30 a.m. at the Food Bank CENC at Durham for a morning of service, fellowship, and making a difference in our community. We’ll gather at the Food Bank’s new location at 1607 Hamlin Rd., Building F, Durham, NC 27704, where we’ll spend the morning sorting and packing donated food for distribution to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. 

Volunteers are an essential part of the Food Bank’s hunger-relief work. A single volunteer shift can help pack enough food to provide more than 160 meals for local families.

Children and Youth: Volunteers 12 years and older are welcome during regular volunteer sessions. Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Ready to Serve?

Volunteers can reserve their spots by registering through the Congregation’s group link:

Duke Chapel – Group Registration Link.

After selecting the link, click the “Sign Up” button next to the appropriate shift. Then follow the website’s prompts to either create an account or log in to an existing account and complete your registration.

Please note: Registration through the Congregation’s group link is required before volunteering with us.

We look forward to serving together and helping provide food and hope to our neighbors in need!

Questions? Contact Mary Tyrey at mjtyrey@gmail.com.

SAVE THE DATE - CONGREGATION OVERNIGHT RETREAT

Join us June 4–6, 2027, at Caraway Conference Center for a special weekend away filled with fellowship, connection, and time together as a congregation. All ages are welcome!



Stay tuned for more details and registration.

JOYS AND CONCERNS

John Weinerth: John passed on September 2. You may view John’s obituary here. Please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Layne Baker: Remains in Pettigrew Rehabilitation Center.

CHECK OUT EACH COMMITTEE'S MEETING

Committee Meetings listed below are open to all who wish to attend

Education Committee

Sunday, September 27

📍Chapel Kitchen

The Education Committee meets every 4th Sunday after worship at 12:15pm in the Chapel Kitchen.



Administration Committee

Sunday, October 4

📍Chapel Lounge and via Zoom

The Administration Committee will meet the 1st Sunday in October.



Fellowship Committee

Sunday, October 4

📍Congregation Office

The Fellowship Committee meets every 1st Sunday immediately following worship in the Congregation Office.

Racial Equity Group

Thursday, October 8

📍 In person and via Zoom

The Racial Equity Group meets the 1st Thursday of every month. Please contact Mindy for meeting location and with any question.

Mission & Outreach Committee

📍 Chapel Kitchen

The Mission & Outreach Committee meets every 1st Sunday immediately following worship in the Chapel Kitchen.

Stewardship & Finance Committee

📍 Via Zoom

The Stewardship & Finance Committee meets on the Tuesday before the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.

Visitation & Care Ministry

📍 Congregation Office

The Visitation & Care Ministry meets every other month.

eNEWS SUBMISSION REMINDER



All committees’ completed eNews submissions are due to Kirsten Ford by Monday at 5:00 PM.