Community

We have intentionally named our congregation Community United Church of Christ because we value being a community of faith within the larger community around us. We value relationships that charish and transform our lives for the betterment of all forms of community life. We seek to be good stewards of our time, talents and money.

Wright Center | Food Pantry | Method Child Development Center
Rich Park Housing | Meals on Wheels

Community Service

"I've always been interested in getting involved in the part of the church which works directly at touching people in the community. I want to learn about the long-term relationships with groups which we [CUCC] have built so I can get involved. Christianity is about getting involved with, relating to, helping people that are in need." - Joe

"When I serve on the Community Outreach Ministry, I feel that I am organizing exactly what Jesus asks us to do 'feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, helping those who need help,' 'treating others as I would like to be treated.' It feels like what I'm supposed to be doing." - Geri

The church's constitution calls for the Community Outreach Ministry (COM) to introduce the congregation to opportunities to serve in local, state and national communities, as well as the wider United Church of Christ. In these many ways CUCC, through its Community Outreach Ministry, is living up to the scripture according to James 2:17-18 with its good works, so that its faith may live.

Live Your Faith

• Act to bring hope to people in need by participating in events listed in the newsletter.
• Cook or serve a meal to 40 women at the Wright Center for Women
• Bring a food bag of groceries to feed a household through the Urban Ministries Food Pantry (1st Sundays).
• Walk to raise funds to help those who are hungry (CROP Walk, 1st Sunday in October).
• Spruce up a playground or read to a child at Method Child Development Center.
• Ask a CUCC representative to the board of RICH Park Housing about what is happening at these ministries.
• Be a substitute driver for Meals on Wheels.
• Support with your prayers, time, talents, and money the agencies who bring hope and help to those in need in our community and around the world.
• Clip Boxtops for Education symbols from General Mills products or UPC barcodes from Campbell's products to support Elon Homes for Children and place them in the box in the fellowship hall on the bookshelf. Questions? Contact Mary Pruneau.
• Set the direction of CUCC's service through monthly discussion with the Community Outreach Ministry.

Special Collections

• Spring:  One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) 
• Fall:  Neighbors in Need (NIN)
• Winter: The Christmas Fund

Helen Wright Center for Women

"Because the congregation strives mightily to 'live' its motto - nurturing spiritual growth and working for social justice, all in an atmosphere of warm, human caring." - Marge

Join us every third Sunday (except March and October) as members from CUCC prepare and serve a meal to 40 women who are moving from homelessness to a brighter, safer future. No cleanup is required. This is a great job for a family with school-aged children! The Wright Center is a ministry of Urban Ministries of which CUCC was a co-founder. This small, intimate shelter is a great place for families to volunteer and for children to learn that helping other people is fun. Many CUCC children have grown up cooking and serving a meal annually.

• Wright Center Instructions for Serving a Meal (PDF)

What's Next?

Urban Ministries Food Pantry

Pickup 1st Sundays

Ever wonder why there is a shopping cart in the Vaughan Fellowship Hall? That is where you put the "basic bag" of groceries destined for the food pantry at Urban Ministries. To your basic bag is added assorted meats, fresh veggies, canned foods, and other staples – enough to feed the household for a week.

Basic Food Bag

• 1 lb. rice
• 1 lb. grits
• 1 lb. dried beans
• 2 cans bean (navy, pinto, kidney, etc. but NO GREEN BEANS)
• 1 jar peanut butter
• 2 cans tomatoes
• 1 can carrots
• 2 qts. dried milk
• 2 cans or jars applesauce
• 2 boxes mac & cheese

Live Your Faith

• Shop for one basic bag of groceries each month. (value about $16)
• Donate your leftover paper or plastic grocery bags; UMC uses 1000/week!

What's Next?

Method Child Development Center

"I am on the Board because I am interested broadly in issues that concern women and children. I have spent time at the Center, and I wish all kids could have the experience that young children have at MCDC. I want to see that it continues. However, MCDC is NOT well-funded--like most not-for-profit daycares with which I am familiar. There are MANY kids who receive vouchers at the center. This money that the county provides is but a fraction of the true cost of the child's education at the center. They need $$--they could also use our sweat to keep the physical plant in top shape. We need to care about this center--we helped found it--now it is our responsibility to keep it functioning. We need to step up to the plate if we really care about the next generation of kids. I'll try to see that this happens." - Maria

MCDC was founded by congregations committed to providing quality childcare to all children, regardless of race or income. Designed to allow children from all backgrounds to learn and play together, MCDC continues to provide outstanding childcare. Community UCC was a founding congregation; Maria Murray Riemann is our current representative on the Board of Directors of this non-profit.

Live Your Faith

• Read aloud to a preschool class once a week
• Child-proof a playground. The three playgrounds need constant upkeep with weeding, paint, sanding.
• Make a donation for the day to day work of the center.

What's Next?

Rich Park Housing

In 1968, Raleigh InterChurch Housing was born with the dream of creating low cost housing where anyone could live without regard to race. Five congregations - three black and two white - joined together to utilize a federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) program to build 100 apartment units on Method Road.

In 2008, RICH Park Housing celebrated 40 years of ministry. With the end of the HUD program, RICH Park continues to provide low cost housing in a mixed income development. The consortium of five congregations has rededicated themselves to providing oversight through a professional property management company. An on-site manager organizes a variety of programs for residents.

RICH Park Housing Congregations

• Community United Church of Christ
• Cosmopolitan Baptist Church
• Davie Street Presbyterian Church
• First Baptist Church (Wilmington Street)
• Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh

CUCC Members, RICH Park Board

• Marge Eckels
• Frank Gailor
• Peg Hulslande

What's Next?

Meals on Wheels

Every 2nd Wednesday, three teams – a driver and a deliverer – bring hot meals to homebound elderly and persons with disabilities in an effort to improve health, reduce isolation, and prevent inappropriate institutionalization. At 11:00 the teams go to the food distribution center at 1001 Blair Drive to pick up insulated containers of meals. They drive to about 7 homes, delivering the food to the residents. The run is finished at about noon when the team returns the insulated containers to the distribution center.

What's Next?