Alternative Christmas Market

The Market, held every November the weekend before Thanksgiving, is focused on providing a place for non-profits and mission groups to raise funds and awareness about their projects; to offer an alternative to holiday gift buying and to create a place for our community to expand on the meaning of gift giving. Items featured in past years include fair trade arts and handicrafts from around the globe; gifts to invest in developing nations through Church World Service; photography, crafts, arts, food and music by Church members; Jill's Jewelry (a jewelry donation and resale for NC Council of Churches) and many, many others. 

In past years upwards of 12 subcommittees were formed to plan and operate the Market. Last year 60 vendors from outside the church and 12 within the church participated and the two day sale resulted in more than $39,000 for church mission projects including a Church World Service project focusing on the Ndikwe Primary School Project in Kenya.

This years’ market will be Saturday, November 19 (9 am-2 pm) and Sunday, November 20 (9 am-1 pm.)

CROP Hunger Walk: Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty

CROP Hunger Walk is a four-mile fund-raiser that takes place each spring. The event’s course takes walkers through Carrboro and Chapel Hill neighborhoods as they raise awareness about - and funds - to address local and global poverty. Proceeds are split between the local Inter-Faith Council’s hunger-relief programs (25%) and Church World Service initiatives (75%), which include global hunger education, aid to refugees, disaster relief, and selfhelp projects in more than 80 countries. The event is sponsored by 19 local congregations and several businesses.

CROP Walk 2011 was held on March 27. The walk was hampered by foul weather and timing during local school breaks, but nonetheless, our participation in the walk helped to raise $800-$1000 for IFC and other charities. For next year’s walk, circle the date Sunday, March 25, 2012.

North Carolina Pride Festival

We sponsor a booth and a contingent of marchers at the North Carolina Pride Festival. NC Pride is the largest LGBT event in the Carolinas, held each September on Duke University’s East Campus in Durham. There is food, entertainment, art and souvenirs, information about various community resources, and, of course, a parade. The event gives us an opportunity to be loud and proud about being an open and affirming congregation.  This years’ festival is Saturday, September 24th from 9am-5pm. For further information go to the festival’s official website www.pridenc.org.