Sunday at UPUCC
October 4th
Morning Worship – 10:30am (onsite/online)
Join us for worship this Sunday at 10:30am both onsite and online! This week, we celebrate World Communion Sunday and the anniversary of the signing of our covenant. All are welcome!
Please consider joining us to provide an extravagant Sunday Welcome to all–volunteer below to be a Greeter, Usher, or Barista (Coffee Set Up and Clean Up.). If you are interested in serving as a Lay Leader, you may indicate your interest here.
Read below to access links for Zoom, bulletins, and Sunday volunteer opportunities.
Join Online | Access Bulletins | Volunteer
Congregational Vote Following Worship
Immediately following worship, we will hold a brief congregational vote to approve: 1) Guiding values to use as we work with a designer to complete our Aesthetics TF work. 2) Laura Carter-Scheid to fill the role of Moderator Elect on CLC 3) Gwen Reagan to fill the CLC vacancy as Member at Large.
Community Hour
There are three opportunities for Community Hour today: 1) Enjoy some bread from World Communion Sunday with some spreads; 2) Learn how to play Nertz! with David W.; 3) Attend lunch with our neighbors from Healing Transitions
Every Sunday after worship, we have the chance to deepen our connections through Community Hour. Do you want to craft with other creatives? Share about your travel experiences? Learn about important topics? Eat lunch with friends from the church? All these and more are possible! Write your ideas on the Community Hour whiteboard “menu” and invite others to join you each and every Sunday following worship.
Upcoming Community Hour Opportunities:
- October 11 – Covenant Leadership Circle Meeting
- October 18 – Book Discussion with Tyler: For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional by theologian Hanna Reichel.
- October 25th – Potluck and Congregational Meeting
- November 1 – Your idea goes here!
- November 8 – Your idea goes here!
- November 15 – Make some cards with the Creativity Group!
Post of the Week!
Have you engaged with us online this week? “Like,” comment on, and/or Share this Post of the Week! This engagement takes less than 60 seconds, and helps our church to be seen by others! Click on your preferred social media platform:
Facebook | Instagram | BlueSky
Also, subscribe to our YouTube channel!
UCC Connections
Marching for the Environment
Keep on a-Walkin’ is a new book available through the United Church of Christ’s publishing house, Pilgrim Press. It is the true story of 10-year-old Kimberly Burwell who joined her mother at protests against toxic dumping in their North Carolina community in 1982. Kimberly’s voice was carried nationwide after a reporter’s interview with her aired on the CBS evening news with Dan Rather.
The protests in Warren County, North Carolina, were early efforts of the environmental justice movement, following 4 years of illegal dumping by a manufacturing company and the subsequent decision by North Carolina to bury the carcinogenic waste in Warren County. The nonviolent marches drew multiracial and intergenerational participation.
Read more and see the free resources for educators here:
World Communion Sunday | October 4
World Communion Sunday is the first Sunday of October (10/4), so we’ll enjoy bread from around the world at community hour! Bring your favorite loaf, and UPUCC will provide an array of spreads.
Aesthetics Task Force Vote | Oct. 4
After listening to the congregation’s feedback, the Aesthetics Task Force has drafted a proposed list of guiding values to guide our work with a professional designer. You can review these values through the link below, and we will hold a brief congregational vote following worship on Oct 4 to approve them. If you have any comments or concerns, please reach out to Tyler!
Digital Privacy And Surveillance Clinic | October 10
Come join Triangle Common Good for a unique opportunity: we will be partnering with the local DEF CON chapter to host a digital privacy and anti-surveillance clinic.
Two volunteers from the local DEF CON 919 chapter, Joe and Rohan, will be presenting on how to better protect one’s digital privacy, reduce one’s data exposure to third-party collectors, and utilize open-source tools and platforms as alternatives to profit-oriented platforms. This will be a very hands-on clinic! Recommended you bring devices you use (e.g. phones or laptops), but a device is not required.
Souls to the Polls | Oct. 15-18
UPUCC is making big plans to help people vote their values as part of a national campaign of 1000 marches to the polls on the first day of voting. We are helping folks at Healing Transitions with registration, education, and transportation. We plan very visible caravans to the polls on the first day of early voting, and the following Saturday and Sunday. Let the PACE team know if you want to participate. Signups for drivers and riders will be set up shortly.
Here’s the schedule:
– Oct. 15th First Day of Early Voting in NC: Gather at the church at 4PM, decorate the cars, proceed to the polls. Polls close at 7:30PM (Ice Cream after?)
– Oct. 17th: Gather at the church at 10am, decorate the cars, proceed to the polls. Polls close at 3PM (Ice Cream after?)
– Oct. 18th: Gather at the church after worship (there will be pizza!), decorate the cars, proceed to the polls. Polls close at 6PM.
We will target both Durham and Wake Counties
Mark your calendars! Make a plan to vote! Take people with you!
A Music and Mental Health Mini-Retreat
All are welcome to join for ‘A Song in My Heart: A Music and Mental Health Mini-Retreat’ on October 24 from 9:00am–12:00pm. This mini-retreat is hosted by our friends at Good Shepherd UCC and facilitated by Lois Deloatch. For more information or to register, click below.
Holiday Cards Available for Order from the Creativity Group | Order by Nov. 22
This Holiday Season, consider sending one of our beautiful handmade Christmas cards. Our cards are uniquely designed to help you share your holiday wishes. With a variety of designs, personalize the inside message with one of ours or with your own. Start a new tradition and send a little piece of holiday wonder to everyone on your list.
Specifics are on the attached order form. Orders must be placed by Sunday Nov, 22. The Creativity Group appreciates your support.
Fall craft workshop!
Attention crafters, from beginners to skilled! Your Fellowship Lead Team will host a craft workshop later this fall. We need people willing to teach a simple craft for children or adults, or both. We are also looking for craft ideas. Fellowship will happily pay for supplies, and refreshments will be provided. Please contact Roberta O. for more information.
Interested in Serving Communion?
Have you ever served communion? Would you like to? Would you like to again? Here at UPUCC communion is usually served the first Sunday of each month. All information you need is provided prior to Communion Sunday, and we review everything with you on Sunday morning. So, if you have never served before and would like to, or if you would like to serve again sometime, please let Jane W. know!
Garden Cistern in Need of Repair
Our beautiful garden is in need of some water. We have a cistern which is full of water but the pump is broken and needs to be replaced. We need to keep it watered to stay beautiful and we don’t want to waste water. A new pump is around $600. If you are able to contribute to garden fund so we can raise enough money to get the pump fixed the plants would be very grateful! Thank you all so very much! -Debbie B.
Ongoing Announcements
Help Host Healing Transitions on First Sundays
Mutual Care Network at UPUCC
The UPUCC Mutual Care Network was designed to build a culture of helping one another, to foster genuine connections, and to ensure that no one feels alone. There are 2 parts:
(1) Identifying volunteers who are willing to help out when covenant partners have needs. We want to emphasize that signing up and letting us know how you can help DOES NOT mean that you must respond to every request, but rather helps us know who might have the needed skills and/or desire to assist with a particular request
(2) Providing a way for covenant partners to easily request care help when they need it. We’ve identified individuals who are willing to provide care in areas such as running errands, tech help, pet care and so on. Please let us know what you are needing and we will do our best to pair you up with someone ASAP.
The Mutual Care Task Force
care@upucc.org
CLC Updates
CLC Update: Building Community, Planning for the Future, and Getting Involved
There is a lot happening at UPUCC right now! The CLC spent its most recent meeting looking at our finances, planning for the coming year, supporting community-building efforts, and thinking about how we can invite more people into the work and life of the church. One of the biggest themes running through the conversation was simple: we have resources, energy, and ideas — and we want more people to help put them to work.
Hiring Teaching Intern
We are currently hiring a part time position:
The Teaching Intern role is a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in curriculum development, classroom management, and faith-based teaching within a supportive and progressive community environment. This includes teaching Sunday School classes and preparing lessons and materials. Read the Teaching Intern job posting for more information on the role and how to apply. We are thrilled to have Cody on staff as one teaching intern, and are looking to add to our team!
