December 3
“It Came Upon The Midnight Clear” Rev. Thom Belote, preaching This famous Christmas hymn, written by Unitarian minister Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849, was composed as a lament for the Mexican-American war. As we enter this sacred season, we are acutely aware of violence and suffering in Palestine and Israel. What does it mean for us to hear the angel song of peace? MUSIC NOTES: This Sunday, the Community Church Singers will sing three songs from three decades, starting with a song by Julie Gold, made famous by Bette Midler, and later a medley of songs by an unlikely pairing, “Emma’s Revolution” and John Lennon. We’ll precede the service with a Hymn Sing focusing on hymns of peace and the season. WORSHIP SCHEDULE
9 AM:
Contact Marion Hirsch for Sunday evening High School Youth programming COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ACTION
DAY-AFTER-THANKSGIVING POTLUCK 2023
Welcoming Ministry On November 24, 2023, The Community Church of Chapel Hill Welcoming Ministry held its first-ever Day-AFTER-Thanksgiving Potluck. It was a fun, informal affair, with plenty of fresh food. Nearly sixty folks shared a meal and fellowship. For more information about the Welcoming Ministry, contact Rachel Rose. QUICK LINKS |
UPCOMING EVENTS![]() We'll trim wreaths and trees, hang lighted garlands, and fill baskets for IFC's HomeStart residents. At 5:30, we'll gather to share chili, salad, cornbread, and dessert! We'll close the evening with a holiday sing-along led by the UUkes. Volunteers needed to donate HomeStart gifts; decorate; set up and clean-up; bring food! Learn more.
DURING SUNDAY SOCIALS:
Participate in the life of our church by supporting Artists and the church! Please join us for a Holiday Market, where folks showcase and sell their work, members of our community do some holiday shopping and everyone supports the church (20% of proceeds are donated to The Community Church)! Featuring: Rope bowls and other rope crafts, Pottery, handmade ornaments, unique hand-designed bottles, upcycled art, honey & candles, assorted winter hats, sculpture, Christmas decorations, drawings and festival braids, decorated eggs, middle school creations, CDs, prints of nature photography, luggage tags and more! WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In December, children are exploring MYSTERY as their Soul Matters theme. This week, we will focus on the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. We will play dreidel and eat latkes at 9 AM on zoom and in person at 9:30 AM and 11:15 AM. Fifth Grade OWL concludes this week. Adulting and Coming of Age will meet in the evening. For more information about our Religious Education Program, please contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good. QUUILTERS We meet on Saturday morning, December 2, 9 - 11:30 AM, in The Gathering Room. We are focused on making quilted placemats for participants in Meals on Wheels. Fabric, batting as well as kits are available. You may also turn in any lap quilts or quilt tops. Bring your machine to begin work and/or take supplies home to work on. Please bring your current or recent projects to share with us during our check-in time as we love seeing them. Join our email list. GREENERY NEEDED FOR GREENING WREATH-MAKING ON 12/2! In addition to decorating trees, hanging garland and wreaths, and assembling HomeStart gift bags, Ruth Gibson will lead a fresh wreath-making station! These wreaths will decorate the exterior doors of the Church and Jones Building. Bring fresh greenery to the church on 12/2 between 4-4:30 PM (when you bring your potluck dish!). If you have work gloves or pruning shears bring them, too! Not into greening? Please help with the dinner set-up at 4:30 PM. Questions? Contact Bonnie Crotty Nelson. ECO MINISTRY FOR THE EARTH’S MONTHLY MEETING THIS SUNDAY -- DECEMBER 3, 1:15 PM Eco Ministry will continue to plan our activities for 2023/2024. As the plans become firm, we will let Friends of Eco Ministry and the Church congregation know. To learn more about specific topics Eco Ministry is involved in, please visit our webpage. Contact us for details and to obtain a Zoom link to join our meeting. MENTAL HEALTH MINISTRY SUPPORT GATHERING DECEMBER 3 The Mental Health Ministry Support Group will meet Sunday, December 3, from 2 PM to 4 PM in the Kirby Room. The group provides support for family members of people struggling with mental illness. This is not a group for individuals with mental illness but rather one for those who care about those individuals. If this sounds like something that would be helpful to you, please join us. Contact Susan Spalt or Marion Hirsch for more information. SUPPORT THE FUTURE OF OUR CONGREGATIONAL MISSION! Have you thought about giving a lasting gift to the church? Contributions to build our Endowment Fund can be made at anytime and are tax deductible. If you are over 70½ years of age, you can transfer all or a part of your RMD (Required Minimum Deduction) directly from your IRA to the church. Check with your financial advisor to explore this or other opportunities for planned giving. For more information, please email Charles Lee, Chair of the Endowment Committee. Come see Charles at the Holiday Market, December 3. |
WE ARE A WELCOMING CONGREGATION
We are a congregation that has historically stood for the civil rights of all people, especially those affected by racism and homophobia. We are a Welcoming Congregation, celebrating and affirming the active presence in our congregation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual members and friends and their families. We are actively engaged in dialogue about how to be a more racially diverse, multicultural, anti-oppressive congregation. |
SUNDAY PARKING: Please honor the parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities and limited mobility at the front of the church, as well as the spaces reserved for the Auction Winners. We encourage folks to carpool and/or park offsite, if at all possible. Parking is available at The Community Church, as well as alternate parking options. See a map here. Please note: Parking is not allowed at the Kehillah across the street. WEEKDAY PARKING (for church functions): The Main Lot is fully rented; please use the small Front Lot directly in front of the church, the wooded Pine Lot along Purefoy Road, or in the Rear Lot behind the church.