We believe that Christian Education is a lifelong venture that includes struggling with scripture and the stories of our faith that challenge us to be in right relationship with God and our community. We seek to offer meaningful Christian Education programs for every stage of life. 

During the church year (September - May) we offer many adult education opportunities, including:

Sunday Morning Offerings for Adults

Adult Forum (Fellowship Hall, 10 am) 

• February 5 (with Dan Vermeer) “The Global Water Challenge.”  Dan is the Executive Director of Duke University's Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE).
   
• February 12 (with Hope Taylor) “Fracking and Clean Water Issues in North Carolina.”  Hope is the Executive Director of the Durham and Asheville officers of Clean Water for North Carolina.
   
• February 19 (with Pat Davis) “Does Orange County Have a Water Problem?”  Pat is the Sustainability Coordinator for OWASA.
   
• February 26  Mission, Ministry, Mortar:  Foundation Funds for the Future
  Twenty-five years ago bequest from Virginia Nelson begin a small foundation fund for mission.  While additional gifts have been added to this foundation fund, the Board of Membership Engagement and Stewardship is adding a new opportunity for securing the mission and ministry of United Church of Chapel Hill into the future.  We will be announcing three foundation funds:  Mission, Ministry and Mortar.
   
• March 4 Youth Mission Trip(s) and Luncheon Fundraiser
  Our youth will show pictures and talk about their trip last year to visit our sister church in Germany and their joint visit to Italy.  The German youth will be returning to visit us this August.  In addition our youth will be going to NY City in June for a mission trip.  Please come and hear their plans.  The youth will begin serving lunch at 11 am for those who worshiped at 8:45 am and will still be serving following the 11 am service.  They will be offering a German meal as a fundraiser for their 2012 mission trip.  Thank you for your support.

March 11  Protect NC Families
Ryan Rowe from Protect NC Families will talk about the harm Amendment One will inflict on North Carolina families if the constitutional amendment defining marriage or civil union as only between a man and a woman excluding any recognition of same-gender marriages or civil unions.  Come learn more about how you can help protect ALL families in North Carolina.

March 18 & 25 Repeal the Death Penalty
On May 20, 2000 United Church of Chapel Hill was one of the first congregations in the State to support the People of Faith Against the Death Penalty’s Moratorium on Executions.  Over time PFADP garnered more than 1000 such resolutions from congregations, businesses, community groups and 39 local governments.  People of Faith Against the Death Penalty is now launching a campaign to make the moratorium permanent by repealing the death penalty.  On March 18, Amanda Lattanzio from PFADP will be us to talk about repealing the death penalty in North Carolina.  And on March 25, Tye Hunter, church member and the Director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation will speak.

also on March 18  Sustainable Harvest International with Lenin Bautista, Staff Member from Honduras (Assembly Hall)
Lenin Bautista, a staff member with SHI in Honduras, will be visiting the United States for the first time in March.  He will be in Chapel Hill from March 16-26.  He will speak at 10am in the Assembly Hall.  Watch for more information and opportunities to meet him.  United Church has had three trips to Honduras with Sustainable Harvest International and is looking at the possibility of a fourth in the next year.

New Class:  The Tao of Spiritual Practice (Starting Sunday, Feb. 12 - Sunday April 1) 

Have you ever wondered how to pray?  Or have you ever wondered if prayer is the only way to feed your spirit? 

Well, we're in luck because Christians throughout the centuries have explored that same question and now it's our turn!  We'll have the opportunity to explore six different spiritual practices throughout the season of Lent during the Sunday school hour.  Not only will we learn about these spiritual practices, but actually get to practice them! 

This class is open to everyone.   Wake Forest Divinity Student & UCCH Intern Patrick Campbell will lead this class.

Spiritual Growth Class (Family Parlor, 10 am)

This year's topic:  Wide Open Spaces:  Women Exploring Call through Stories and Reflection (led by Cely Chicurel, co-contributor to book)

Faith and Family Class (Room 229, 10 am)

The Faith and Family Class meets each Sunday to support each other in facing the joys and challenges of parenting children of all ages.   This fall we will read 99 Ways to Raise Spiritually Healthy Children.

Weekday Offerings

Monday Book Group (Library, noon)

Coming January 2012 Christ of the Celts:  The Healing of Creation by J. Phiip Newell

(from the book jacket)...this moving book offers a reflection on the "forgotten" Jesus, the Christ of the ancient Celtic tradition.  Drawing on the gospels of Thomas and the Acts of John and the writings og Irenaeus, Eriugena, and Teillard de Chardin, the author ignites us with the possibilities that can come from understanding this ancient spiritual tradition.  The Celtic Christ offers new hope for achieving harmony, healing, and renewal for human beings and for all of creation.

Wednesday Sermon Shaping (Library, 7 am)

On Wednesday morning we look at the suggested texts for the coming Sunday. The pastor who will be preaching leads the study, and participants can occasionally hear their comments or insights in Sunday’s sermon. Join us in the library and help shape the sermon! Yes, coffee and tea are provided!

Wednesday Evening Programs

Nurturing both faith and fellowship, United Church has three Wednesday evening series during the program year. The first in September, Wednesdays Together, welcomes everyone back from their summer break and newcomers to our community. In January, we interrupt January’s darkness with Light Up Your Winter; and as a preparation for Easter’s joy we engage our hearts and minds in a Lenten Series. 

This year's Lenten Series begins on Wednesday, February 29 (for four weeks).  We begin each series with a Fellowship Dinner at 5:45 pm and programs begin at 6:30 pm.  This year's Lenten Series programs include:

Sharing Experiences of Race, Bill & Kathy Murray

Bill and Kathy Murray will provide skill training to enhance skills in: expressing yourself, listening, having empathy, and dialoguing. Participants will share stories from their own life experience involving racial incidents. Confidentiality will be expected. One person at a time will share their story. Others will draw the speaker out and respond with empathy. They will avoid judging or giving advice.

Creation Spirituality of Matthew Fox, Herman Greene

Matthew Fox is one of the leading theologians of our time, and perhaps the most provocative. He will be coming to United Church on April 27-28, 2012, to present a program on “Ecospirituality.” Many new understandings stem from his work, including "original blessing," "creation spirituality," and the "cosmic Christ," and he has drawn attention to Christian mystics, especially Meister Eckhart and Hildegard of Bingen. He continues to push the edge of religion, care, and authentic humanness. Come learn about, and prepare for, this contemporary prophet.

Living Without Enemies: Being Present, Jan Dodds, Prison Ministry Team

As Christians we are called to respond to “How can I help.” Sam Wells, Dean of Duke Chapel, and Marcia Owens, Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham in their book, Living Without Enemies, present a vocabulary to guide our consideration: working for, working with, being for, and being with. During the five sessions we will explore the vocabulary, apply it to three areas of external mission - Reentry and Reconciliation, Habitat for Humanity, and Family Resettlement - and summarize to share with BJOS and the Council. Leaders include Jan Dodds, Dave Nickell, Dennis Pagano.

Being UCC, Rollin Russell & Jill Edens

The United Church of Christ: An Open and Affirming, Justice and Peace, Multi-Cultural, Covenantal Church: What that means for Catholics, Evangelicals, Seekers and any other of God’s Children.

Cracking the Guido Code: How to Read Music, Jenny Anderson

To some, musical notation is just a bunch of mysterious dots and squiggles, but, like any code, once you crack it you can read it! If you always wanted to read music or to improve your music reading skills, come learn to crack the music notation code, whose inventor, by the way, the 11th century monk Guido d'Arezzo, developed the system as a way to teach church music!

Sacred Space Studio - Batik class

Join us as we begin a new and exciting art class in the Sacred Space Studio. Classes will be Wednesday, February29, March 4,11, and 18. Missy Valentine will lead us as we experience the magic of Batik. This ancient form of fabric design uses hot wax to create a design on material. The fabric is then dyed and the wax acts as a resist blocking the color dye. Several layers of wax and dye will create an amazing effect.

The cost for the 4 week class is $40 ($10 per week). You must register - contact office@unitedchurch.org.  Class size is limited to 10 youth and adults so sign up early. The hot wax would not be safe for young children.

Fall Retreat at Blowing Rock Conference Center
(Next retreat:  October 19-21, 2012)

UCCH Library

The UCCH Library is situated between the Narthex and the Fellowship Hall, so you can easily stop by any time and particularly during the coffee hour between services. The Library’s holdings cover a wide range of topics, with particular strength in materials on Christian experience and life and Christian social theology (including many social justice issues). The Library also holds collections of fiction for adults and a children’s collection. You can read in the Library, or you can borrow books by signing them out on paper slips near the Library door. If you have any questions about the Library or would like to become a Library volunteer, please contact Barbara Wildemuth.