TWO SUNDAY SERVICES:
9:30 AM & 11:15 AM February 5, 2023 “The Happiest Place on Earth” Rev. Thom Belote, preaching The Bureau of Labor and Statistics recently published a study on the places where Americans are happiest. It turns out the answer is not Disney World. It’s church! Paradoxically, even in an age where church attendance is declining, Americans report that participation in religious community is a leading source of happiness and meaning. Join us for a service exploring our commitment to lives of meaning, service, and joy. Both services will also include a recognition of our newest Members. MUSIC NOTES: This Sunday, we have two very special guests: the father and son of our wonderful church pianist, Ariadna Nacianceno. This multi-generational trio will play piece arranged by her father, Raul. Raul will also be a spoken soloist with the Choir. Speaking of the Choir, they will sing two pieces for the service. The first is a setting of a poem by Emily Dickinson. The second is based on a poem by a high school student in Minnesota, about a family who emigrated from Mexico to Saint Paul. REGULAR SUNDAY SCHEDULE
9AM: Live Religious Education Service on Zoom 9:30AM: Livestreamed and In-Person Service
11:15AM: Livestreamed and In-Person Service
1PM: Online Sunday Social Sunday Evening: Youth Programs Contact Marion Hirsch for more information about Children's & Youth programming community church
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UPCOMING EVENTSANNUAL PLEDGE DRIVE 2023-2024! The 2023-2024 Annual Pledge Drive begins February 5! Pledging information is available online and after service at the Board of Trustees table. The Day of Service on March 4 will be our grand finale celebration! We want to generously pledge our support to the church. By sharing our time, talents, treasure, and trust, we will nurture our spirits, care for one another, and change the world with our love.
Questions? Contact Bonnie Crotty Nelson SAVE THE DATE AND SIGN UP FOR THE 2023 DAY OF SERVICE! Saturday, March 4, the annual Day of Service returns. This year’s theme is March Madness! Help us make a slam dunk by joining your fellow UUs to live our mission through collective contributions to our community and to celebrate the conclusion of the Annual Pledge Drive. Please sign up here for a Day of Service volunteer activity, or sign up at the Day of Service table hosted during the Sunday Socials after each church service in February. Jump higher! Questions? Contact Leigh Anne King. QUUILTERS February 4, 9 - 11:30 AM, in The Gathering Room. We will work on placemats for Meals on Wheels participants. Our goal is to make as many as we can by the March 4 Community Day of Service. Ready to Sew kits are available. Bring your sewing machine, cutting tools, etc. to work at the meeting, and take home supplies as well. Please wear a mask. Join our email list. BE A PART OF THE 2023 PHOTO DIRECTORY: SIGN UP NOW! FEBRUARY 7, 10, 17, 21, 24 & 28 MARCH 3, 7, 10,14 & 17 Get your photos taken Sundays after services, or on a “Picture Day!” Members and Associates are invited to have their photo taken for our 2023 Photo Directory - Please schedule an appointment with Rachel Rose if you'd like to be included. WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In February, children are exploring Love as their Soul Matters theme. This week, we will make valentines for legislators to encourage Medicaid Expansion at 9 AM on zoom and in person at 9:30AM and 11:15AM. Middle School and High School Youth Groups will meet in the evening and we will have Youth Family Dinner. For more information about our Religious Education Program, please contact Marion Hirsch. QUUILTERS We meet on Saturday morning, February 4, 9 - 11:30 AM, in the Gathering Room. This is our final push to complete as many quilted placemats for Meals on Wheels as we can by our March 4 Community Day of Service! Turn in any completed placemats. Bring your sewing machine as we have more kits and fabric bundles that you can start at the meeting and/or take home to finish. Wear your facemask, please, and bring your current or recent personal projects to share with us. Join our email list. RARE WOMEN AND WOMENCIRCLE DAY OF SERVICE PROJECT Rare Women and WomenCircle are collecting Ensure and Boost nutritional drinks for Durham Meals on Wheels. We are also making greeting cards for MOM recipients in February after both services in the Community Room, and on the Day of Service, Saturday, March 4, 10 am – noon at church. Collection boxes for donated drinks and cards are in the Commons. For more information or guidelines about card making, contact Lisa Epner. BE A PART OF THE 2023 PHOTO DIRECTORY: SIGN UP NOW! FEBRUARY 7, 10, 17, 21, 24 & 28 MARCH 3, 7, 10,14 & 17 Get your photos taken Sundays after services, or on a “Picture Day!” Members and Associates are invited to have their photo taken for our 2023 Photo Directory - Please schedule an appointment with Rachel Rose if you'd like to be included. It takes fewer than ten minutes, and it helps us connect as a community! Already had your photo taken, but you'd like a new picture? No problem! Rachel Rose would be happy to give you another session. NONFICTION BOOK DISCUSSION FOR FEBRUARY On Saturday, February 18 from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, the Nonfiction Readers will discuss The Violence Inside Us: A Brief History of an Ongoing American Tragedy, by Senator Chris Murphy. Joy Blevins will be leading our discussion, which will be held via Zoom. New members and drop-ins are welcome. Contact the group to ask questions, or to be placed on the distribution list for meeting information. THE SPECIAL CONSENSUS AT COMMUNITY CHURCH CONCERTS! The Concert Series closes out its season with an extremely talented and innovative band, The Special Consensus, Sat., Feb. 25, 8 PM! The Special Consensus is a bluegrass band that has achieved a contemporary sound in their four decades of performing, making their music a modern classic. "Rivers and Roads", the band’s 19th recording, was nominated for a 2018 Grammy, received five 2018 IBMA nominations and was awarded Album of the Year. Join us! Learn more and buy tickets. Volunteer? Contact Terry Baker. WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER (OR, JUST LEARN MORE)? 3/2 & 3/9, 7 PM - or 3/19, 2:30 PM 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 is a great way to get to know others who are new to our community, and to learn more about our church in particular...and no one "has" to become a Member! That's why it's called "Exploring Membership!" RSVP with Rachel Rose. SIDE WITH LOVE INVITES YOU We have lots of opportunities to help our work for justice, with one-time sign-ups to small tasks, such as staffing our Sunday Social Hour table or helping with the upcoming Concert for a Cause. We also welcome interested persons to join the Love Team Coordinating Committee, which meets monthly on Zoom, or one of our task force groups. HOST A DINNER IN YOUR HOME FOR CHURCH MEMBERS The Community Church is sponsoring a Dinners in Homes program once again. If you would like to host a dinner at your home, you can sign up in person on Sunday. Another way is to sign up as a host for Dinners in Homes. The form has all the information you will need to design the dinner you would like to offer. |
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.