9:30 a.m. Forum on Hunger: In advance of the March 28 food packaging activity, we will gather to learn more about this most pressing of issues.

10:30 a.m. Worship: “Paul: Justification by Grace through Faith”

These committees meet following worship: Membership & Publicity, Children’s, Pastoral Care and Faith-in-Action.

5:00 p.m. UPUCC Orientation. For all visitors, prospective members or just plain curious folk. Meet in the church library. (It would be helpful for Doug to know if you plan to attend in advance. You can let him know today or email him at doug@upucc.org.)

No Youth Group.

THIS WEEK

Thursday, March 18
Midnight Deadline for April Newsletter  

NEXT SUNDAY, March 21, 2010

9:30 a.m. Learning Circle for the Unemployed—an Overview
On this morning, the pastoral care committee will provide an overview of an upcoming series they will be sponsoring which will deal with topics around unemployment.

9:30 a.m. Children Choir Rehearsal. Meet in the Youth Room.

10:30 a.m. Worship: “Paul: There Is Neither Jew nor Greek, Slave Nor Free, Male Nor Female.”

These committees meet following worship: Adult Education and Stewardship & Finance

5 to 7 p.m. Youth Group.

7:00 p.m. A Window (or two or three) Into Paul. See item above for topic schedule.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Need immediately! Two more people for our clean teams. You join a group that cleans the church once a month. Each team determines their own schedules. Contact Bob Winstead at bobandellin@aol.com to be part of this very important behind-the-scenes work.

Food Packaging Day following worship on March 28. Please plan to be there as we pack 10,000 meals for Stop Hunger Now (SHN). We need 50 or so participants. Ask anyone who took part last year and you will hear great stories of what fun it is to do such a good thing! Plan on working for about two hours. Sign-up sheets are located in the back of the worship space. Even if you cannot join us that day, the Faith-in-Action committee is collecting donations as part of UPUCC’s financial contribution to SHN. Leave your check (to ‘Stop Hunger Now’) or cash in the glass jar by the sign-up sheet. Accepting donations through March 28.

Watch for Sign-up sheets coming SOON for the annual Neuse River Clean-up on Saturday, April 10. The cleanup is sponsored by the Neuse River Foundation and covers 50 river miles from the dam at Falls Lake all the way to the Smithfield town commons. Traditionally, UPUCC has worked a long seven-mile section from Capital Boulevard to Buffaloe Road. It isn’t a great trip for small children, but all adults, teenagers and older kids (accompanied by an adult) are encouraged to come out and spend a day supporting our commitment to Mother Earth. You don’t need to own a canoe, as we typically have been able to get several from Paddle Creek. There are also opportunities to clean-up from dry land, working the shores near the various put-ins along the river. Look for the sign-up sheets coming SOON because we will need to have a head count well before the event.

UPUCC Youth Group: On Sunday, March 21 from 5 to 7 p.m. all youth in grades 6 through 12 are invited to create something wonderful by using their own gifts and talents. The amazing Emily Porterfield-Winstead and Ellin Porterfield will lead the youth in writing and producing their own drama. We want all voices, faces, songs and smiles to be part of this group. Please mark your calendars! Dinner will be served!!

Johns River Service Project (JRSP) and Talent Swap: On Sunday, May 2 immediately following worship UPUCC youth will be hosting another church-wide Talent Swap to raise money for their Summer Mission Trip. This summer the Southern Conference is bringing Appalachia Service Project (ASP) to our very own state and camp. Johns River Valley Camp is providing a service project week (July 11-17) where youth are invited to provide a helping hand to families and homes within the foothills of North Carolina. Please plan to attend and participate in the Talent Swap May 2 and learn morning about JRSP. Lunch will be provided. If you are interested in donating to the Talent Swap, please contact Joi (joi@upucc.org) or Sandra Browning McKeown (sandrabrowningmckeown@gmail.com). In the past we have had donations such as: pie of the month, canoe rides, plane tours, wine tastings, and parent’s night out.

The Hundred Dresses. Hannah Hoskins has been cast in the role of Maddie in an upcoming Raleigh Little Theatre play called, The Hundred Dresses. The production has a powerful message about bullying and standing up for what is right. The play runs from this Friday, March 12 through March 28. See www.raleighlittletheatre.org for ticket availability.

Meet the 2010 Soulforce Equality Riders. Friday, March 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Hanes Auditorium 121 at UNC-Chapel Hill. The Equality Ride is a two-month bus tour taking 25 young adults to faith-based iinstitutions that discriminate against LGBTQI students and often go as far as expelling them even for “appearing gay.” The riders are sponsored in this area by the LGBT Center at UNC, along with UPUCC and a few other GLBT-affirming congregations. They will present Equality U, the documentary made from the 2006 Inaugural Ride at UNC on the 19th and it would be wonderful to have several UPUCCers there is tangible support. Contact Doug Long (doug@upucc.org) if you are interested in joining him there!

UCC Young Adult Service Communities.  Both year-long and summer hands-on justice advocacy/service opportunities available for adults between 19 and 30. Coordinated through the UCC Volunteer Ministries and open to applicants of all faith backgrounds. Housing, health insurance and stipend for food and incidental expenses provided. Participant may qualify for a part-time AmeriCorps Education grant. More information and on-line application at www.ucc.org/volunteer/summer-young-adult-service. Direct questions to Mary Schaller Blaufuss, Executive for UCC Volunteer Ministries blaufusm@ucc.org or (866) 822-8224, x3214.

You are invited to honor Anne Neil (Elaine Orr’s mother) on the occasion of her 90th birthday next Sunday on March 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Club Room (first floor) of Magnolia Glen. Your presence is your gift. (Extra parking available next door at Temple Beth Or). If you wish to send a message, Anne’s address is: 5301 Creedmoor Road, Apt. 103, Raleigh, NC 27612.

UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns National Gathering. July 14-17 in San Diego, California. The Gathering this year marks an important milestone year as the UCC celebrates the 25th anniversary of the General Synod resolution calling on UCC congregations to declare themselves open and affirming. Early-bird registration is available until March 31 at $99 per person. Register now at https://www.regonline.com/national_gathering_2010.