Weekly e-Newsletter from United Church of Chapel Hill

"News You Can Use"  January 31, 2012

Light Up Your Winter  
Our Light Up Your Winter dinner & programs conclude tomorrow night.  Join us at 5:45 pm for a "Spaghetti Dinner" prepared by the United Church Preschool and our final Light Up Your Winter programs.
 
The programs are from 6:30 to 7:30.  
 
This January's Light Up Your Winter series includes programs on:

RACING ACROSS THE LINES (led by Jill Edens & Karen Demby)

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS (led by Richard Edens)
WIDE OPEN SPACES (led by Cely Chicurel) 
CARING FOR CAREGIVERS (led by Aly Breisch)
SACRED SPACE STUDIO (led by Cathy Beemer)
 

Worship & More this Sunday  
 Richard Edens will preach.   Music this Sunday:  Children's Choir (8:45); Children's Choir & Chancel Choir  (11:00)
 
10 am - Sunday School for all ages 
10 am - Sunday's Adult Forum:   JAN 29 - FEB 19  The Water Series

Only about 2.75% of Earth's water is fresh water: 2.05% frozen in glaciers, 0.68% as groundwater and 0.011% as surface water in lakes and rivers. In the next 20 years, the quantity of water per capita worldwide will decrease by 30%. A lack of adequate water and sanitation facilities keeps children, especially girls, from attending school. Women spend an average of 3-5 hours each day fetching water, missing out on opportunities to perform other tasks. Parents miss work due to water-related illness or caring for sick family members. Increasingly, water is the source of conflict. 

During this series, we will learn about some of the issues related to water at the global, state and local levels.

This Sunday - Dan Vermeer will discuss "The Global Water Challenge."  Dan is the Executive Director of Duke University's Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE). 
 

Also at 10 am:  INTERESTED PERSON'S GATHERING in Assembly Hall

Are you new to United Church, or have you been wanting to learn more about who we are and our many ministries?  If so, then this gathering is for you.   Please join our pastors and lay leaders for this informal informational gathering, to learn more, to ask questions, and get to know us. 

Youth activities this Sunday:

• Youth will be collecting canned goods and money for the IFC following each Sunday service.
• 12 - 1 pm NYC Mission Trip meeting,  Room 235 (mandatory for all participants).
• Youth Choir will have sectional rehearsals this Sunday, Feb 5. All youth choir boys will rehearse 12 - 1 pm. Boys, if you are coming directly from the 11 am service, bring a lunch!  All youth choir girls will rehearse from 1 - 2 pm.
• There will be NO Youth Groups this Sunday (Super Bowl). 

Stop Hunger Now Meal Packaging Event
Sunday, February 12, 5 - 7 pm in Fellowship Hall
 
United Church Friends and Families: This is an intergenerational community event that continues to inspire participants of all ages.  The Boards of Children and Youth Ministries have been working together in support of this fundraiser, and invite you all to participate in this culminating missional event. 
 
Our goal was to raise $2,500 to package and ship 10,000 meals across the globe.  Currently, we have collected $2,356.00 and have two Sundays to go!!  If you wish to make a donation, you can write a check to UCCH with Stop Hunger Now in the memo line and drop it in the offering plate, mail it in, or bring it by the office. 

Event Details:

• Set-up will begin at 4:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall.  If you can help unload the meals, set-up tables and work stations - please email Jenny or Susan and plan to arrive by 4:30 pm. 
• The actual meal-packaging will occur from 5 - 7 pm.  We are asking folks to sign-up in shifts, either 5-6 pm  or 6- 7 pm.  We would LOVE to have people, who are able, to stay for the entire evening.  
• We will provide pizza ($5/person or $15/family) in Room 235 for those interested in eating during the event.  Please RSVP to either Susan Steinberg or Jenny Shultz if you plan to stay for pizza.  
• Pizza will be served from 5:30-6:30 pm, so if you work the 1st shift you will eat at 6pm (after your shift) and if you work the 2nd shift you will eat at 5:30pm (before your shift).  If you plan to stay for the duration of the event you can eat anytime between 5:30-6:30 pm.  With your RSVP, please let us know of any food allergies or dietary needs that we need to be aware of. 

Thank you for taking part in such a wonderful program!  Your time, energy, and resources will assist in providing meals to over 60,000 children and families in the developing world!!
 
New Lenten Sunday morning class: The Tao of Spiritual Practice

Starting Sunday, Feb. 12 - Sunday April 1 - 10 am
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 and meets Sunday, Feb. 12- Sunday, Apr. 1 in Room 235.  Class Led by Wake Forest Divinity Student & UCCH Intern Patrick Campbell

Memorial Service for Norm Hoover
Norm Hoover's memorial service will be this Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 am at the Fearrington Village "Gathering Place."  Fearrington Village is on Hwys 15/501, 8 miles south of Chapel Hill.  There is a stoplight  on the hwy at FV.  Turn left into FV.  At fourth street on the right, turn onto Swim and Croquet Street.  The Gathering Place is on the right. 
 
Susan Steinberg is away this week
Susan Steinberg will be at the Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators annual meeting, in Grand Rapids, MI, from Wednesday through Friday of this week. She will be available by email, and will be in church on Sunday.
 
This Sunday is SOUPer Bowl Sunday
United Church youth will be outside the Sanctuary at both worship services with soup pots to collect money and non-perishable food items.  All foods collected will go to the IFC Food Pantry and Stop Hunger Now. 
 
Youth Summer Trip to Montreat - Registeration due on Sunday
All youth interested in going to Montreat this summer need to sign-up with Jenny Shultz by this Sunday.  Montreat is scheduled for July 21-28.
 

Monday Evening Women's Group
 The Monday evening women's group will be gathering for dinner next Monday, February 6, at 6:30 at Nantucket Cafe (near the corner of 54 and I-40). All women of the church are welcome.
 

Young Adult Ministries:  Coffee Talks are Back
Young Adults join us for SOUL Pancake on Wednesday nights at 7 pm.  In the spirit of fostering community we will be meeting at various coffee shops in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Durham community. 

SOUL Pancake is about the interplay between Philosophy, Creativity and Spirituality.  It's about discussing some of life's most interesting questions and still feeling like a human being on the other side.

Please check the website for more information and find us on Facebook at UCCH Young Adults.  Tomorrow night we are meeting at Straw Valley Cafe in Durham off Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. and will be discussing "What is Truth?".  Hope to see you then and there!  For more info. please email Jenny Shultz.

UCCH Crafts Group
Feb. 10, 7 pm - Sacred Space Studio

Carol Edmonds will teach us to make a lighted decorative glass box in a Spring or Easter motif at our next craft meeting. The approximate cost will be $13.
Please RSVP (by end of day Feb. 7) to office@unitedchurch.org. 
 

Valentine's Swing Dancing
Put on your dancing shoes and come swing to the sounds of the UCCH Ambassadors Swing Band on Saturday, Feb. 11. Enjoy delicious chocolates, our famous UCCH coffee, and an all-music evening all for the low price of $10.  Pianists Julie Mitchell and Renee McBride will entertain you with Broadway and oldies hits during the band's breaks. Bring your honey, or come find one here!
 

Youth LeadershipTeam
YLT is collecting nominations for the 2012-2013 youth leadership team.  All nomination forms are due to Jenny by Friday, February 17.  Forms can be found in the wall pockets outside of Jenny's door or on the UCCH Youth facebook page.

This Week's Calendar
 
Tuesday, January 31
      6:15 pm Chancel Handbells - Music Room
      7 pm Prison Ministry Meeting - Family Parlor
 
Wednesday,  February 1
     7 am  Bible Study - Library
     4:45 pm Intermediate Spanish Class - Library
     5:45 pm Light Up Your Winter       
           Dinner (5:45 pm);  Programs (6:30 pm)
     7:30 pm Chancel Choir - Music Room
 
Thursday, February 2
     7 pm Deacons Meeting - Library
     7:30 pm Chamber Singers - Sanctuary
 
Friday, February 3
     8 am Undoing Racism Workshop - Assembly Hall
     9:15 am Yoga - Family Parlor
 
Saturday, February 4
      8 am Undoing Racism Workshop - Assembly Hall    
      6 pm Spanish Worship Service - Assembly Hall
 
Sunday, February 5
    8:45 am & 11 am Worship
    8:45 Children's Choir
    10 am Sunday School Classes for all ages
    12 pm New York Youth Trip - Room 235
    12 pm Youth Choir - BOYS - Music Room
    1 pm Youth Choir - GIRLS - Music Room
    2:30 pm Ambassadors Rehearsal - Music Room
      NO Youth Group evening activities - enjoy the Super Bowl!
 
Monday, February 6
     12 pm Monday Book Group - Library
     6 pm Beginning Spanish Class - Library
     6 pm Bronze Voices - Music Room
 
Tuesday, February 7
      6:15 pm Chancel Handbells - Music Room
      7 pm Yokefellows - Hillsborough OCCC