Fellowship at United Church
There are many opportunities for fellowship at United Church. Every Sunday there is a coffee hour following the 8:45 and 11:00 services. In addition there are many annual fellowship events. Please consult the calendar or contact the church office for detailed information and new events.
Fellowship Events
- Celebration of Ministries
- All of the Boards of the church are on hand to provide information on opportunities to serve, learn and fellowship. This also marks the start of the new church school year for children and youth.
- Cluster Dinners
- Fall Retreat at Blowing Rock Conference Center
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The church family goes en masse to the Blowing Rock Assembly Ground set amidst the
fall splendor of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This year's program will be "The
Transcendent Table", something a bit different than in years past. On Saturday morning
we will take a field trip to the "Churches of the Frescoes" in Glendale Springs and West
Jefferson, NC to see the frescoes created by Ben Long. Since the frescoes were created
in the 1970s and 80s hundreds of thousands of people have visited the churches. One of
the frescoes is a wall-size depiction of the "Last Supper."
We will use this artwork and our faith and experience to inform our understanding of the "Transcendent Table." In addition to the power of the artwork to inform our faith, this is a beautiful drive through our North Carolina Mountains in a season when the leaves should be at their peak color. Join your church family, get to know the treasures of our beautiful state, come to the All-Church Retreat!
- Wednesday Evening Dinners
- Join us each of these weeks for table fellowship at 5:45PM. Meals are catered and child care will be provided during the program times from 6:30PM until 7:30PM. All meals feature good food and good fellowship!
- Advent and Christmas
- The church Boards join together to sponsor a number of educational, fellowship, worship and outreach activities to enhance our understanding of the meaning of the season.
- Alternative Christmas Market
- The Alternative Christmas Market provides an alternative to "malling" in search of Christmas gifts. The market offers arts and crafts from third world countries, "Gifts of Life" to developing nations that are coordinated through Church World Service, church members' gifts of service ("fish"), and craft and food items made by church groups. Proceeds are divided between Church World Service and a camp scholarship program for needy children.
- Advent Family Workshop
- The church family makes Advent wreaths and other decorations. and receives their Advent Devotional Booklets which provide daily devotionals written by members and friends of UCCH.
- Christmas Dinner and Carol Sing
- Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
- Shrove Tuesday is "Mardi Gras" or "fat" Tuesday, the last day before Lent. It is an evening to celebrate and eat pancakes and fatty foods in preparation for the Lenten fasts. Bring bacon, sausage, fruit or other goodies and eat all of the pancakes you want.
- Lenten Series
- During the Lenten season we meet weekly for supper and study, beginning with our Ash Wednesday Service. The study topic will be announced in January.
- Good-Time Softball — Sunday afternoons — June-August
- We participate in a softball league with other churches. Everyone over age 14 is invited to get a UCCH shirt and come out to play. And spectators of all ages are invited to come support the team.
- Spring Beach Retreat
- A chance to enjoy the sun, surf and one another in this all-congregation event. We stay in rented cottages, have an outdoor Sunday worship service on the beach, and optional "group eatings".
- Summerfest — Typically a Sunday in July
- We gather in the Fellowship Hall for a huge buffet of the best of the summer harvest of vegetables and fruits. Delicious!
- Retired Men
- This informal group of retired and semi-retired men meets monthly to discuss topics related to religion and spiritual issues. Call Richard Edens for more information.
- Monday Evening Women's Group
- For women interested in fellowship and discussion of books and contemporary women's issues. The group enjoys potlucks, picnics movies and other outings through the year. For additional information, please call the church office.
- Women’s Fellowship Second Tuesday Morning Group
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All women of United Church are part of Women’s Fellowship, a group which seeks to
provide a variety of programs for the women of our congregation. Our major service
opportunity is the charity Bake Sale held during the Alternative Christmas in November;
proceeds from the sale go to Meals on Wheels.
Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 10 am either at the church or in members’ homes. Programs and devotions are led by volunteers. Highlights of the year are the Christmas Potluck supper and the Valentine Party in February. Check the church newsletter and "This Week" section of the Sunday worship bulletin for locations, dates, and times of upcoming events. For additional information, please contact the church office.