May 5, 2024
“What Happens When A Woman Takes Power?” Led by Glenn Mehrbach and the Community Church Choir This Sunday the Music Director Glenn Mehrbach and the Community Church Choir will present a service using the music and poetry of American women created since the adoption of the 19th Amendment in 1920, giving women the right to vote. The service will include music by acoustic soul artist India Arie, Indian-American composer Reena Esmail, African American composers Florence Price and Undine Smith Moore, pop songwriter MILCK, Alexandra Olsavsky of the vocal trio “Artemisia,” and poetry by Amanda Gorman and Maya Angelou. Join us as we create a service that will challenge and inspire, with music and words to celebrate and lift up the variety of American women’s voices in our midst. WORSHIP SCHEDULE
9 AM:
Contact Marion Hirsch for Sunday evening High School Youth programming COMMUNITY CHURCH IN ACTION
EASTER SERVICE AT MEMORIAL ROCK
On March 31. 2024, our early service was held outdoors at Memorial Rock, at our amphitheater. Over 150 people listened to beautiful music provided by Danny Gotham and worshipped together in nature. 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. If you're unsure, please contact Rev. Thom, Rachel Rose or Franklin Hirsch and see if the communication is legitimate. QUICK LINKS |
UPCOMING EVENTSHAVE YOU PLEDGED?
Thank you to all who've made their 2024-'25 pledge. We have pledged $700k, which is a new record! Funds promised through the Annual Pledge Drive are critical to the financial health of the church. Pledges continue to be accepted, and we are reaching out to those who haven't completed a Pledge Form yet. Every pledge is important and everyone's participation is vital. Questions? Please contact Bonnie Crotty Nelson, Stewardship Chair, or Franklin Hirsch, Congregational Administrator. WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH
(OR, JUST LEARN MORE)? Join Rev. Thom & Rachel Rose to "Explore" Membership! JOIN US! MAY 5, SUN 2 - 4:30 PM (Parts 1 & 2 combined) childcare provided with RSVP. 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 would love for YOU to join us. RSVP with Rachel Rose. CAN'T MAKE IT THIS TIME? Let Rachel Rose know; she'll let you know about upcoming opportunities. DURING SUNDAY SOCIALS:
Side With Love: all in to UU the Vote Share The Plate: Inter- Faith Council for Social Services WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY? In May, children are exploring PLURALISM as their Soul Matters theme. This week, we will learn about how having lots of differences is great at 9 AM on Zoom and in person at 9:30AM and 11:15AM. 8th grade OWL continues. Youth in Neighboring Faiths will visit the NC Zen Center. In the evening, Coming of Age and Adulting will meet. For more information about our Religious Education Program, please contact Marion Hirsch or Kat Good. QUUILTERS We meet on Saturday morning, May 4, 9 - 11:30 AM, in the Gathering Room. Fabric, some kits and instructions for quilts, totebags, zippered pouches, and more will be available. These are projects for the HomeStart Women's Shelter residents and clients of the local Refugee Support Center, and more. You may bring your machine to start on a project and/or take supplies home. We have a check-in time starting at 9:30 AM and we love to see what else everyone has been working on. Join our email list. SHARE THE PLATE: INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES (IFC) On May 5, there will be a Share the Plate in support of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Services. For nearly 60 years, our church, through volunteer and financial support, has played an important role in making the IFC the community leader in addressing food insecurity and homelessness. The May 5 presentation will look at the challenges that non-profits like the IFC have in raising funds and how we might make their job easier. Learn more. ECO MINISTRY FOR THE EARTH’S MONTHLY MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE MAY 5, 2024 Eco Ministry for the Earth is meeting on May 5 at 1:15 PM by Zoom to review what went well and what could use improvement, and to plan for future action. Feedback is welcome. All are welcome to join us. For more information, contact Eco Ministry for the Earth. REPAINTING BEGINNING MAY 7! On May 7, contractors start to repaint and refurbish most of our church's interior- needed maintenance that's been a long time coming. On May 12 and May 19, Sunday services will be held in the Community Room of the Jones Building. During the work, large parts of the church will be inaccessible and parking will be extremely limited or even unavailable on weekdays. Volunteers needed for preparing and resetting the space! For more information, visit the Buildings and Grounds page. More info soon! OUTDOOR CONNECTIONS: PANTHER BRANCH NATURAL AREA, SAT. MAY 11, 9 AM Panther Branch is the newest and maybe the happiest addition to Eno River State Park. It has some remarkable concentrations of wildflowers, including our target species, Mountain Laurel. We'll do a mostly-easy 2-mile stroll/stop/admire to be followed by lunch at Hillsborough BBQ. The preceding, sneaky "mostly" is based on a ten-foot stream crossing that some of us will need a hand to negotiate. Hands will be readily available. RSVP. "THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL" AUDITIONS This fall, we'll be presenting "The SpongeBob Musical." All congregation members are welcome and encouraged to audition. This is a multi-generational musical with a large cast and crew, and parts for singers, dancers and non-singers alike. Auditions will be held weekends of May 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26. For detailed information about the show and audition process, go to "The SpongeBob Musical" webpage. To schedule an audition, go to the Sign-Up Page. Questions? Contact Glenn Mehrbach, Director. |
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.