Sunday at UPUCC
May 17th
Morning Worship – 10:30am (onsite/online)
This Sunday as we continue our “Roll Down, Justice” Series, Pastor Paula will preach on the theme of “Dreaming of a Day When All Is Well” from Isaiah 35:1-10. What do you dream that day would look like? How are we collectively bringing it to be?
After Worship – CLC Meeting
The monthly CLC meeting will occur on Sunday May 17th and this year we have added an agenda item to discuss Strategic Priorities for Growth. This month’s discussion will focus on Publicity. We will discuss questions such as: What are our priorities for publicity? What is our messaging when we are in public? What resources will we need to execute? The discussion is intended to strategic in setting objectives, while not being prescriptive on implementation. Feel free to join us onsite or online for this important discussion this Sunday in the Library!
Please consider joining us to provide an extravagant Sunday Welcome to all–volunteer below to be a Greeter, Usher, Lay Leader, or Barista (Coffee Set Up and Clean Up.)
Read below to access links for Zoom, bulletins, and Sunday volunteer opportunities.
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
Did you know the United Church of Christ has a Justice & Peace Action Network?
On behalf of the UCC, the JPAN offers that “Our commitment to justice will continue no matter who is in the White House, Congress or the Supreme Court.”
Want to join this justice movement? Sign up for the Justice & Peace Action Network to receive weekly opportunities to take action!
United Church of Christ | Southern Conference of UCC | UCC News
Service Sunday | May 24th
We are holding a Service Sunday on May 24 to celebrate Pentecost! There will be several opportunities available to choose from. To help us make sure we have enough supplies and to coordinate logistics, please let us know which service project you are most interested in doing.
Aesthetics Listening Sessions
As we move forward with decorating our newly refreshed space, we believe that form should follow function. To help guide our work, we are beginning by listening to the community to create a list of values that we want to be reflected in the way our space looks and feels.
We will have a number of listening sessions:
- May 7th, 6pm (online only)
- May 19th, 6pm (online only)
- May 31, 11:45am (onsite/online)
Please share during the listening sessions, or via the survey below to help contribute to the larger story of who we are and what we value! Please note: at this time, we are not considering specific design elements or ideas. We want to start with our values and build up the art from that groundwork.
Offering Counters Needed
Volunteers are needed to count the offering after Sunday worship services. The time requirement is 15-20 minutes immediately following the worship service once every 4 weeks. Training and documentation will be provided. Reach out to Vickie, UPUCC Treasurer for more information!
A Story of Hope from Impact Global Health Alliance
We believe that every life is sacred, yet many around the world still face life-threatening risks during childbirth due to a lack of resources. Through our partner, Impact Global Health Alliance (formerly Curamericas), families like María’s in rural Guatemala now have access to safe, respectful care close to home. We invite you to read her story today and see how our collective support is changing lives and bringing hope to underserved communities.
Community Game Night
In keeping with our Ministry Plan of “Connecting with Courage and Care,” we are starting a monthly game night for the community. We plan to open the event to those in our surrounding neighborhoods and the Triangle in general. As a way to ensure that we have enough folks to play games, we are seeking your input first to try to find days and times that are convenient.
Help Plan Our First Halloween Masquerade
On Friday October 30th, we are inviting community LGBT youth and ally youth to our church for a Halloween Masquerade. We want this to be a safe, fun, and welcoming event that welcomes individuals throughout the Triangle, and shows the community what we value as a church. We invite all interested, youth and adults, to join the Masquerade planning task force so that the event reflects an array of skills and viewpoints in the creation of an event that we hope will become annual.
Ongoing Announcements
Help Host Healing Transitions on First Sundays
Thriving in Ministry Video
After worship on April 19, those who were present watched the film produced for the Duke Divinity School “Thriving In Ministry” program that focuses on Pastor Paula’s ministry journey. The five and one-half minute film, shot at UPUCC in December and January, features cameo appearances by a number of UPUCC folks and is a reminder of the power of our community in making space to embrace and affirm people fully.
Mutual Care Network Starting Up
The UPUCC 2026 Ministry Plan calls for building a culture of helping one another, fostering genuine connections, and ensuring that no one feels alone. In support of this aim, the Covenant Leadership Circle has created a task force (TF) that is charged with outlining a structure for UPUCC to implement a mutual care network. Our first step is 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 inclination to assist with a particular request.
We recognize that each of us has unique skills and different gifts to offer. The TF has come up with a list of things that folks might need and we invite you to add your name to any area you might be willing to assist with. If you think of something we’ve missed, please add it to the “other” category or send us an email.
Thank you for helping us get this valuable resource up and running,
The Mutual Care Task Force
CLC Updates
Next Meeting: May 17th at 12pm in the Library
There’s a lot of energy right now in the life of our church. The Covenant Leadership Circle is helping nurture new ways for us to connect, care for one another, and engage more deeply with our wider community.
From preparing for Out! Raleigh to organizing service opportunities like Guns to Gardens, and from expanding youth programming to strengthening mutual care, this is a season of building something meaningful—together.
We’re also continuing to improve our space, support new groups, and create clearer pathways for people to get involved in ways that match their interests and gifts.
If you’ve been wondering how to plug in, this is a great moment. Read the full update to see what’s happening—and where you might find your place.
Guns to Gardens in Raleigh on June 13, 2026
Safe Gun Disposal Event from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Disarming Hearts: A Vigil of Remembrance at 4:00 p.m.
Both events will take place at Umstead Park UCC, 8208 Brownleigh Dr, Raleigh, NC.
Volunteer
Volunteer to help make a difference! We need a wide variety of volunteers. Review volunteer positions and sign up now!
Give
Financial contributions are welcome here (Select ‘Guns to Gardens’ from the fund dropdown menu and write ‘Guns to Gardens’ in the memo line)
The Event
Umstead Park UCC is partnering with RAWTools South and other local communities of faith to offer a Guns to Gardens Safe Disposal Event on June 13, 2026. The event provides a safe way for people to dispose of unwanted firearms. Participation is voluntary, free, anonymous, and open to all gun owners. Firearms are collected, and, on the spot, chopped up to be turned into garden tools, garden art, and jewelry.
The process of turning weapons into tools is deeply symbolic, representing a shift from violence to growth, from destruction to creation and from harm to healing. The program draws inspiration from the biblical passage Isaiah 2:4, which speaks of beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, signifying a transformation from warfare to agriculture.
Surrender a Firearm
Gun owners interested in disposing of their guns should arrive at the event any time on June 13 between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with their unloaded firearms stored in the trunks or backs of their vehicles. A volunteer will meet each car at the entrance to the event and participants will stay in their cars while guns are dismantled by trained safety specialists.
While supplies last, gift cards of up to $200 will be offered as a “thank you” to those who dispose of their guns at the event.
Why This Is Important
With over 400,000 million guns in American homes, many of these are unwanted for a number of reasons. For instance, there may be vulnerable children or adults in the home, owners have inherited the guns but aren’t comfortable with them, or someone has already been harmed by the gun. As faith communities, we can help dispose of these guns and make a difference in preventing more unnecessary gun violence or even death.
Attend the Closing Vigil
Join us for Disarming Hearts: A Vigil of Remembrance at 4:00 p.m. on June 13 onsite and online. This service of prayers, songs and readings, is for survivors of gun violence (including those impacted in any way by trauma from gun violence) and for all who care about gun violence prevention. All ages are welcome. The vigil will include a forge where those who choose may hammer dismantled gun parts to help turn them into garden tools, making an instrument that could do harm into a tool that can sustain life.
Thank You to Our Partners!
Beth Meyer Synagogue, Windborne United Methodist Church, Church of the Nativity, Community United Church of Christ, Pullen Memorial Baptist Mission and Outreach Council, The Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh.
Stories of Interest
Take a moment to listen, watch and learn more!
RAWtools South (the group partnering with us on the Guns to Gardens Safe Disposal Event and Disarming Hearts: A Vigil of Remembrance) recently was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. Click here to listen to the 4-minute audio story.
Hiring Youth Director and Teaching Interns
We are hiring for two part-time positions currently.
The Youth Director role designs and leads weekly opportunities for youth to gather, helps plan and implement programs, and collaborates with our established network of progressive youth ministries in the area. Read the Youth Director job posting for more information on the role and how to apply.
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!
