March 2015

8208 Brownleigh Drive Raleigh, NC 27617

www.upucc.org

Stop Hunger Now - March 29 Join us on Sunday, March 29 following our 10:30 a.m. worship service to participate in this year’s food packing event! Stop Hunger Now requires online registration this year. The link to this new procedure is included in this newsletter. There is also the opportunity to assist in offsetting the cost to UPUCC. We will feed you lunch and then convert our worship space into an assembly line, packaging food at a fast pace. It only takes about two hours, and the event is lots of fun! See page five for complete details.

Book Study: March 15, 22, & 29 The New Jim Crow:

Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

March 8 - Reverend Dian Griffin Jackson Rev. Dian Griffin Jackson, Pastor of Mt. Zion United Church of Christ (Rockingham, NC), author of The Phoenix-Rising from the Ashes, will be preaching at our 10:30 a.m. worship service and leading the after-church forum discussing her book and other topics of interest. Copies of her book are now available ($15) in the office. (Note: This book and Dian’s presence are especially important for us as we explore issues of racism embedded in our culture. She will elicit a unique and meaningful depth to this conversation.)

Whether you make it to the book discussion or not, you will surely not want to miss the worship service that day. Dian is arranging for

some very special music in addition to augment her already strong preaching! For those of you at HKonJ who saw Dian introduce 11 year old Raven Newton… You will be excited to hear that Raven will be singing in worship that day as well. And as if that’s not enough, Dian’s son, Darian, will also be singing that day. Any of those three personalities individually (Dian, Darian, and Raven) would be the highlight of any of our Sunday worship services. To host all three on the same Sunday creates an opportunity that you simply will not want to miss.

Kate Forer leads a three part series of discussions on The New Jim Crow , Michelle Alexander’s 2010 book on the U.S.’s mass incarceration of African American men. Join us on Sunday evenings, March 15, 22 and 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. Link to the book on amazon.com:

Youth Sunday March 15

Talent Swap/Auction Chili Cook-Off

Dessert Contest

What “talent” can you donate? How much will you bid for various items and activity offerings? Will you enter your cherished chili for the cook-off? How about baking your best cake for the dessert contest? Look for details on page three.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Jim-Crow-Incarceration-Colorblindness/dp/1595586431/ref=sr_1_1?

s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424794333&sr=1-1&keywords=the+new+jim+crow

The Horrible ‘Norm’ of Racism Like all of you, I was disturbed deeply by the horrendous act(s) of violence in

Chapel Hill this past month. Referring to the deaths of three Muslim students,

I’ve heard, and used, words like ‘senseless,’ ‘unspeakable’, ‘unbelievable’ and

‘incomprehensible’ to describe this unthinkable crime. Though the degree to which

racism is a contributing factor can and will be debated, it would be hard to

maintain racism was not a factor at all. The same is true of the well-publicized

deaths last fall of African American young men in Ferguson, Cleveland, and New

York. Was racism the only factor? Most probably not. Was some form of racism part

of the equation? Most probably so.

And so the turmoil rises- protests and counter-protests:

Black lives matter… All lives matter… Muslim lives matter…

Race, as Jim Wallis phrased it almost 30 years ago, is America’s ‘original sin.’ Most succinctly stated, “The United States of

America was established as a white society, founded upon the genocide of another race and then the enslavement of yet

another.”

(http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/07/29/racism-americas-original-sin )

If that sounds like something lifted from a high school AP History course that does not exclusively teach ‘American

Exceptionalism,’ then so be it. When it comes to racism, America is not exceptional. We are, unfortunately, the norm.

Hardly indivisible, from American Indians, to African Americans, to Muslim Americans, in our own country we are a

people still divided.

...And what are we to do? How are we to address and act upon the racism we recognize so clearly among us?

A task force at UPUCC has begun to address such issues. It is not a topic we will exhaust in a session, or a series of

sessions. Expect a wide range of opportunities to surface to newly address this deep and pervasive world-wide malady.

Several such opportunities are offered in March. Kate will lead a series of discussions on “The New Jim Crow,” Michelle

Alexander’s 2010 book on the U.S.’s mass incarceration of African American men. (See page one for details.)

Another extraordinary opportunity for insight and discussion occurs in worship on March 8th, and the forum to follow,

with the Rev. Dian Jackson. Many of us know Dian. As a UCC friend and colleague, she has preached here a handful of

times before. She comes this month, however, having published much of her life story through a thinly veiled protagonist

serving a pulpit in Western N.C.

Dian’s book, “The Phoenix- Rising from the Ashes” was not an easy read for me. I will admit that, had I not known Dian

and known she was coming this month, I probably would not have finished the book. It will not make the NY Times Best

Seller list or perhaps any ‘best’ list at all. It will, however, be a book that I will personally never forget. Its hard and real

subject matter relies on a vocabulary of domestic violence, struggling economic realities, and sexual repression. But

precisely because the book is raw, unvarnished and painfully honest (shockingly so at times) and pulls us squarely into a

world far different from most of ours, I strongly commend it to you.

If we want to address the racism woven into our social fabric, if we want to begin to pull out the threads that invade the

cloth of our lives like cancers in our corporate body, we must have hard and honest conversations. On March 8th Dian

provides us an extraordinary opportunity to converse on ‘America’s original sin,’ then and now, here and now.

I hope you’ll be there.

As sinful as the rest of you-

P.S. A few copies of Dian’s book are available in the church office. See me or Peg to get a copy. $15.

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Youth Sunday! Following an inspiring youth led worship on March 15, we will gather for fellowship, fundraising, and a bit of friendly competition as we roll together three big events into one lunchtime activity. Kicking things off with food for our post-worship hungry bellies, we will have a chili cook-off and dessert bake-off. Voting will be by silent auction for a second offering of the chili or dessert. Highest bid wins the contest. There will be a grand champion as well as winners in specific categories. If interested in entering the contest, contact Ashley Montague Ashleym27613@gmail.com for the chili cook-off and Lisa Hoskins hoskins.lisa@gmail.com for the dessert bake-off. With full bellies, we will head into part three of the afternoon, a talent auction. Talents are rolling in. Some of the items already donated include: Join they Youth Group at Kerr Lake June 13 for a day of

water fun. Wake boarding (lessons provided), jet skis, tubing, BBQ lunch and generally acting like a teenager (regardless of your age).

Truckload of 5 year old composted horse manure for your garden - spread with the help of UPUCC youth group

A week of summer camp at Right Track Academy Babysitting Get your kitchen & pantry organized Hurricanes hockey tickets complete with parking pass. 3 hours of handyman service A year of gift wrapping Have a room of your house painted Big Pizza Feast on The Neuse- Saturday, April 25! Chef

Todd Smith, with Sous Chef Sally Bean, presents the best, authentic, Neapolitan, artisanal pizza in the Triangle (Antipasti, bruschetta, focaccia, a big Greek salad and sweet tea [or BYOB]). At the home of Janice Odom and Doug Long. Limited to 15 of the highest bidders.

Some items will be sold as part of a live auction and others will be sold to the highest bidder via silent auctions. If you have a fun talent that you would like to share with the auction, please contact Mark Stevens (markstevensrtp@gmail.com), or look for the 1/2 sheets of paper at the back of the worship space. We are looking forward to a fun lunchtime activity of fellowship and helping our youth ministry with their plans for summer mission trips to Brooklyn and western North Carolina. Hope you can make it!

Delight in humor and, through joyous celebration, savor the goodness of life.

Children’s Clothing Closet

Sharing our resources: Daire Roebuck will be available the third Sunday of each month immediately after worship to open the Children's Clothing Closet (located in the storage area adjacent to the Youth Room).

We have clothing from NB through 18-24 months for boys; baby and toddler clothes for girls. Donations are always accepted. Sizes limited to NB through 4T. Questions? Contact daire.e.roebuck@gmail.com

Youth Schedule

March 1 - Youth Prep for Youth Sunday Following worship

March 8 - Youth Prep for Youth Sunday Following worship

March 15 - Youth Sunday! 10:30 a.m. Youth Led Worship Service

Following worship: Talent Swap/Auction

Chili Cook-off Dessert Contest/Auction

March 29 - Stop Hunger Now Event Following worship

Who says churches aren’t growing? We may have to expand our nursery as the UPUCC family continues to expand! Three couples are all expecting additions to their families over the next few months. To celebrate their pregnancies, TJ & Justine Price O’Neil are hosting a part for all three at the home of Doug Long and Janice Odom. What: Pregnancy Party/Diaper Drive!

When: Sunday afternoon, March 15 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Where: 5409 Edington Lane, Raleigh 27604

Details: BYOB… diapers, too!

March 15 - A Pregnancy Party/Diaper Drive?!

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Happy Birthday, UPUCC! New Procedure for Stop Hunger Now Food-Packing Event

To celebrate the birthday of our church, UPUCC will host our seventh annual Stop Hunger Now (SHN event on March 29). New this year, Stop Hunger Now has a web page associated with our event...all who want to participate must register on the site. Additionally, there is a "Donate" button on the web page. The funds raised will offset our final cost from the FIA budget. (Our cost for this event is $3,194.) The page is now set up: http://events.stophungernow.org/UmsteadParkUCC

We will pack 11, 000 packages of food to help feed the hungry all over the world! The cost per meal is still 29 cents per meal.

SHN is a Raleigh based international hunger relief organization. Join us on Sunday, March 29 following our 10:30 a.m. worship service. We will feed you lunch and then convert our worship space into an assembly line, packaging food at a fast pace. It only takes about two hours, and the event is lots of fun!

Children five and older are welcome to participate. We need a minimum of 50 volunteers. This is a wonderful fellowship event. Please come out to be a part of this joyous celebration!

Meals & Movie Groups Plan for Joint Venture!

The Meals Group and Movie Group are combining on the night of March 7! We will meet at The Point Restaurant and Bar, 1626 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh around 5:45 p.m. (http://www.thepointatglenwood.com/) Those who wish to make a night of it can head a few doors down to the Rialto to see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at 7 pm. Please let Roberta (roberta@ncab.org) know by March 4, if you plan to be there for dinner so we can make an appropriate reservation. If you have any questions about the movie, contact Gina Kentopp (gkentopp@hotmail.com) Please note that this is open to all, not just members of these groups.

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March 1- 9:30 a.m. Laura Riddick

The Wake County Register of Deeds, Laura Riddick, will talk to us about the reversal of Amendment One from her vantage point.

March 8 Rev. Dian Griffin Jackson

After preaching during the 10:30 a.m. service, Dian Jackson will spend time with us to discuss her book, The Phoenix-Rising from the Ashes as well as other topics of interest. Lunch is available to order prior to worship (or bring a sack lunch). Childcare provided for children under age six.

March 15- 9:30 a.m. Living on a Dollar a Day

Can you imagine what life is like for people who have only a dollar a day to cover all their expenses? During this forum we will view portions of the documentary film “Living on One Dollar”, where the filmmakers try to get by in rural Guatemala on a dollar a day.

Lenten Worship Opportunities Continue

Contemplative Worship: In addition to our usual 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship service, we provide special opportunities for worship during the season of Lent, continuing the contemplative worship each Sunday from 8:45-9:30 a.m. through Palm Sunday (March 29).

March 22- 9:30 a.m. Moderator’s Moment

Our UPUCC moderator, Greg Howes, will lead a discussion of our current budget challenge and related topics from Stewardship & Finance and Visioning Committees.

March 29- 9:30 a.m. Jesus, The Last Week

You Tube presentation with John Dominic Crossan

On this Palm Sunday join us to get an understanding of how Jesus spent his last week and what it means. We will have copies of the scripture passages that Crossan references. Crossan is a New Testament scholar, historian of early Christianity and a member of the Jesus Seminar who has published both scholarly and popular works.

March Discussion Series Kate will lead a discussion of The New Jim Crow on three Sunday evenings. See page one for details.

March 1 Kyle Kentopp

March 8 Nicki Norris

March 15 Gina Kentopp

March 22 Mary Nations

March 29 Janice Odom

Forums

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March 1 Altar Prep: Eleanor Smith Communion Prep: Chris Ousley Coffee Set-Up: Amy Lewis & Deb Elliot Greeters: TJ & Justine Price O’Neil Ushers: Gustavo Sa & Bonne Shook-Sa Sound System: Andy Orr Auditor: Joelle DeJoseph Clean-Team: Leslie & Mike Heavey, Edward McFarland, Daire Roebuck, Phyllis Mueller March 8 Altar Prep: Rita DeMario Coffee Set-Up: Sally Bean & Todd Smith Greeters: Angela Walden-Weaver, Leslie Heavey Ushers: Joanne & Ted Frazer Sound System: Jerry Pemberton Auditor: Martha Eller Clean-Team: Mark & Rita DeMario, Dawn McCarthy, Chris Wilms, Amy Lewis March 15 Altar Prep: Eleanor Smith Coffee Set-Up: Carol & Nevin Fouts Greeters: Maria Mauriello, Ada McKerrell

Upper left clockwise:

One of our many helpful ushers. During our animal blessing worship: -Amy Lewis and Deb Elliot (along with their faithful Merde) helped facilitate. -Linda Evans reports Coco served as assistant photographer during the service. -Twila Kelly led our slightly revised Affirmation of Community. -Wayne Thompson shared an animal story.

March 15 continued: Ushers: Youth Sound System: Dan Harrell Auditor: Hope Kiser Clean-Team: Tim Champion, Dan Harrell, Chris Ousley, Ada & Colin McKerrell March 22 Altar Prep: Michael Lester Coffee Set-Up: Roberta Ouellette Greeters: Chris Ousley, Deb Elliot Ushers: Bob Martin, Paul Buschkemper Sound System: Peter van Dorsten Auditor: Julie Carlsness Clean-Team: Ted Frazer, Eric Jensen, Tom Jones, Nevin & Carol Fouts, Deborah Dunn March 29 Altar Prep: Eleanor Smith Coffee Set-Up: Jodi & Joelle DeJoseph Greeters: Sally & Todd Smith Ushers: Courtney & Liz Prochaska Sound System: Frank McKay Auditor: Frank McKay Clean-Team: Leslie & Mike Heavey, Daire Roebuck, Edward McFarland, Phyllis Mueller

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Welcome New Covenant Partner!

If you were able to attend our Blessing of the Animal Service a few weeks ago, you heard Kristine Berry offer a call to action, during which she shared about her volunteer experience and opportunities to assist with various animal shelter organizations. Kristine, who recently became a Covenant Partner, lives in North Raleigh and works at IBM as a Program Manager for Client Experience. She likes to travel, read, take photographs and be outdoors (especially mountain biking). She and her husband spend most of their free time with animals. Their furry family members include Dita, an eight year old Rottweiler; Riley, a nine year old yellow Lab, who participated in our Blessing of the Animals, and Max, a ten year old German Shepherd. The couple also foster big dogs and kittens with several different local rescue groups. Kristine also volunteers at the Wake County Animal Center and is the Spay/Neuter Coordinator for the Coalition to Unchain Dogs in Raleigh. Kristine describes herself as a “recovering” Catholic who has been searching for a church home for several years. She found the national UCC through Facebook and says, “I was drawn to UPUCC because the church aligns with my values and beliefs, while strengthening my faith, and putting actions behind their words. I look forward to getting to know the church members better.”

Covenant Partners & Friends Directory

Many of you have been complimenting our work on the new website, (www.upucc.org) but have also noticed that the pictorial directory is no longer accessible. This is a work in progress, and we hope to have a new version up and running soon! In the meantime, you will soon receive an email with our UPUCC directory (no photos) attached. Having your current contact information AND photos would be very helpful as we work to put the web directory together. When you receive the email directory, please take a moment to see if we have your current contact information. Thank you for your help!

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Sun. Mar. 1 8:45 a.m. Lenten Meditative Worship. Kyle Kentopp leads. See page six.

9:30 a.m. Forum: Laura Riddick, Wake County Register of Deeds, speaks. See page six.

10:30 a.m. Worship & Communion. “Community in the Wilderness,” Doug Long preaching. Handbell Choir. Baptism of Austin Hiatt.

After worship-1:30 p.m. Youth: Prep for Youth Sunday.

Tues. Mar. 3 7:00 p.m. UPUCC Coordinating Council meets in the library.

Wed. Mar. 4 6:30 p.m. Clean Team Captains meet.

7:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal in the worship space.

Sat. Mar. 7 9:30 a.m. Yoga in the worship space.

5:45 p.m. Meals Group meets at The Point Restaurant. See page five.

7:00 p.m. Movie Group meets at the Rialto Theater. See page five.

Sun. Mar. 8 2:00 a.m. Daylight Saving Time begins (set clocks ahead one hour)

8:45 a.m. Lenten Meditative Worship, Nicki Norris leads. See page six.

9:30 a.m. Committee Meeting Time. Childcare provided for children under age six.

10:30 a.m. Worship: Rev. Dian Jackson preaching. See pages one and two.

Following worship Forum: Rev. Dian Jackson discusses her book. See pages one and two.

After worship-1:30 p.m. Youth: Prep for Youth Sunday

Mon. Mar. 9 7:30-8:30 p.m. Easter Brass rehearsal in the worship space.

Wed. Mar. 11 7:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal in the worship space.

Sat. Mar. 14 All Day Youth Day of Service with Raleigh Youth Mission.

9:30 a.m. Yoga in the worship space.

Sun. Mar. 15 8:45 a.m. Lenten Meditative Worship. Gina Kentopp leads. See page six.

9:30 a.m. Forum: “Living on a Dollar a Day.” See page six.

10:30 a.m. Worship: Youth Sunday

Following worship Talent Swap/Auction, Chili Cook-off, Dessert Contest. See page three.

Following worship Children’s Clothes Closet open. See page three.

3:30-5:30 p.m. Pregnancy Party/Diaper Drive. See page four.

7-8:30 p.m. “The New Jim Crow,” part one of three discussions led by Kate Forer. See page one.

Mon. Mar. 16 7:30-8:30 p.m. Easter Brass rehearsal in the worship space.

Wed. Mar. 18 7:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal in the worship space.

Thurs. Mar. 19 Midnight April Newsletter deadline.

Sat. Mar. 21 9:30 a.m. Yoga with Ellen Beidler in the library.

Sun. Mar. 22 8:45 a.m. Lenten Meditative Worship. Mary Nations leads. See page six.

9:30 a.m. Forum: Moderator’s Moment. See page six.

10:30 a.m. Worship: “The Sacred Spring,” Doug Long preaching.

7-8:30 p.m. “The New Jim Crow,” part two of three discussions led by Kate Forer. See page one.

Mon. Mar. 23 7:30-8:30 p.m. Easter Brass rehearsal in the worship space.

Wed. Mar. 25 7:30 p.m. Choir rehearsal in the worship space.

Sat. Mar. 28 9:30 a.m. Yoga in the worship space.

8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. NC Bread for the World Event.

Sun. Mar. 29 8:45 a.m. Lenten Meditative Worship. Janice Odom leads. See page six.

9:30 a.m. Forum: The Last Week YouTube with John Dominic Crossan. See page six.

10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Worship: “If Jesus Rode into Washington,” Doug Long preaching.

Following worship Stop Hunger Now Event. See page five.

7-8:30 p.m. “The New Jim Crow,” part three of three discussions led by Kate Forer. See page one.

Mon. Mar. 30 7:00 p.m. UPUCC Men’s Group. Contact Reed Altman reedaltman@gmail.com for details.

7:30-8:30 p.m. Easter Brass rehearsal in the worship space.