Webeditionchimesoctober2013

The Chimes Vol. XLIII No. 10 Web Edition October 2013

Dear Friends,

I was in Texas recently attending a memorial service for a dear friend who had devoted his life to the church he loved, first as a pastor and, in the end, as a seminary professor. It was a sad day, but a day of grace and laughter as well as tears. In his homily at the service, another dear friend noted that it is remarkable what Christians do in the face of death: they sing. That day we sang a lot, more than we sometimes sing here at University Church during memorial services. But even here, it is true.

Our songs have much to do with our faith. And so, even in the face of death, we lift our voices. Our voices may be a bit shaky, but we sing. Tears may stream down our faces, but we sing. Our hearts may feel as though they are breaking under the weight of grief, but we sing.

We pray for God’s presence in the face of death, singing, “Abide with me, fast falls the even tide.” We proclaim our confidence in death’s presence, singing, “And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on....” We seek confidence as we sing, “When I walk through the shades of death, Your presence is my stay; one word of Your supporting breath drives all my fears away.” Music stirs our souls, puts starch back in our knees, and enables us to stand in the face of life’s troubles and on the threshold of life’s final mystery.

More memorial services and more tears will come, but in these days I am grateful for the music that lifts us. In Austin, one verse particularly moved me, a verse of “For All the Saints” we seldom sing because of the way our hymnal configures the hymn. It sings of those who have fought life’s battles faithfully:

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,

Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,

And hearts are brave again and arms are strong.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Grace and peace,

Robert E. Dunham

OCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBEROCTOBER

Presbyterian Youth Connection 3

Global Outreach Partners Visit 3

Welcome, New Members! 4

October Choir Fun 5

Advent Crafts Festival and

Alternative Gift Market

6

Session Digest 6

Faith Forward Update 7-10

Sabbatical Report: Kim McNeill 11

Preparing to Prepare the Way

Register by October 13

11

Adult Education: Terms 1 and 2 12

Church School Offering and

World Communion Sunday Event

13

UPC Mission Trip to Haiti 14

Presbyterian Campus Ministry 14

Local Outreach News 15

World Communion Sunday 16

October News from New Hope

Camp and Conference Center

16

Peacemaking Offering on

World Communion Sunday

2

U n i v e r s i t y P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h i s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h t h e P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h ( U . S . A . ) a n d i s a S t e p h e n M i n i s t r y C o n g r e g a t i o n .

UPC Capital Campaign UPDATE! Learn about what’s been going on behind the scenes with the UPC Capital Campaign,

Faith Forward, including progress with the building committee and how the campaign will help with Sunday mornings in

the Choir Room, as well as how you can pledge! See pages 7-10 for our special Faith Forward update!

The Chimes Volume XLIII, No. 10 October 2013

The Ch imes i s a publ i ca t ion of Univers i ty Presbyter ian Church

The Chimes is published monthly. Deadline for submission of articles is the 15th of each month for the following month’s edition (with a few exceptions to accommodate holiday schedules). Please include your name, phone number and email address. The newsletter is posted on the church’s Website (www.upcch.org) and on www.issuu.com/upcch. Send article submissions and inquiries to Newsletter Editor, University Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 509, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0509, or email [email protected].

The church office may be reached by telephone at (919) 929-2102, by fax at (919) 929-7669 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the UPC Website (www.upcch.org) or the UPC Facebook page (www.facebook.com/upcch) for more information. ** Deadline for the November edition of The Chimes is noon on Tuesday, October 15, 2013.

University Presbyterian Church Staff: Robert E. Dunham, Pastor; Anna Pinckney Straight, Associate Pastor; John Rogers, Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry; Heather Ferguson, Staff Associate for Education; Kim McNeill, Staff Associate for Youth and Congregational Life; Thomas Brown, Minister of Music; Beth Auman Visser, Youth and Children's Choir Director; Ellen Parker, Director, UPPS; Jeanette Schmidt, Office Manager; Cristen Mugford, Financial Administrator; Karen Fisher, Director of Membership; Jennifer Potts, Publications Coordinator; Dennis Dallke, Property Manager; Rob Kurtz, Sexton.

How to Submi t Ar t ic les for The Sunday Bul le t in’s Announcements

Or for the Month ly Newslet ter, The Chimes

Please submit articles for the monthly newsletter (The Chimes) or announcements for the worship bulletin (Weekly Announcements) to

our Publications Coordinator, Jennifer Potts. Email her at [email protected] or call (919) 929-2102, extension 113.

Sunday, October 6, is World Communion Sunday, when we celebrate our ties to brothers and sisters worldwide. On this day, we receive the Peacemaking Offering. Seventy-five percent is used to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to God.

This year, UPC’s Outreach Committee and Session have designated the 25 percent at our discretion to support efforts to aid Syrian refugees. Nuhad Tomeh, a PC(USA) mission co-worker and a Syrian by birth, has been working with the Presbyterian church in his hometown to help refugees fleeing the fighting. The National Evangelical Presbyterian Synod of Syria and Leba-non has started a care program for displaced families that have had to flee Syria due to the war. The care program provides re-lief assistance and pastoral care, including a worship service once a week. The funds we collect from the Peacemaking Offering will be used by Tomeh and the Synod to aid these refugees. We encourage you to give generously. Thank you! See page 3 for more information about World Communion Sunday.

Peacemaking Of fer ing Wi l l Be Received Sunday, October 6

Our Church Family The UPC congregation and its pastors

take seriously the call to pray and be

present with those who are in need, so

we encourage you, a friend or a family

member to let us know if you have

scheduled surgery or have been admitted

to the hospital. During the week, please

call the church office at (919) 929-2102,

and over the weekend, please call one of

the pastors. Thank you.

“Are any among you sick? They

should call for the elders of the

church and have them pray over

them, anointing them with oil in the

name of the Lord,” James 5:14.

Due to privacy concerns and HIPAA laws,

there are no notifications or lists at any

local hospitals or clinics which would in-

form the church if you are hospitalized,

receiving treatment or undergoing surgery.

Visit our Website: www.upcch.org

Volume XLIII, No. 10 October 2013 The Chimes

P r esbyter ian Youth Connect ion

October Calendar

Saturday, October 6 - World Communion Sunday: We will use our time and our own hands to create meals for those in need. You don’t have to be an all-star chef to provide a warm meal. Find out how at PYC!

Sunday, October 13 - Class Dinners: All youth are invited to dinner with their Grade Level Sponsors. Watch your email for class locations.

Sunday, October 20 - New Perspectives: John Collins will join us at PYC. He works with former inmates in Orange County. We’ll host them for a visit at PYC and learn a bit about life behind bars and life since prison. *ASP deposit due

Sunday, October 27 - McKee Farm Corn Maze after church. Meet in the parking lot as soon as the 11 a.m. worship is over and you’ve quickly changed clothes. Bring $10 in cash for lunch and the maze. We’ll be back for choir at 3 p.m.

All 6th-12th graders are invited to attend PYC from 6-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall (drop-off at 6 p.m.) and Youth Center (pick-up at 8 p.m. in the parking lot). This amazing group of teens meet every week as they help one another strive to be faith-ful Christians in the world. For more information contact Kim McNeill, Staff Associate for Youth and Congregational Life, at [email protected]. We invite youth and parents to follow our Twitter page @UPCPYC. Go to https://twitter.com/upcpyc.

On Friday, October 4, Mm. Mamonyane Mohale, Director of the Ministry of Hope Orphanage in Lesotho, Africa, will visit University Presbyterian Church.

Ministry of Hope was founded to address the needs of orphans in Mala-wi, which was heightened by the impact of HIV/AIDS. They have been

very successful in that nation. Nancy and Frank Dimmock, PC(USA) Mission co-workers UPC helps support, have been instrumental in this effort. During their time in Lesotho, the Dimmocks recognized similar needs in that nation and worked with Mm. Mohale to found Ministry of Hope-Lesotho. They now serve dozens of babies and children, and our church has helped them with capital needs as they expand their facility. UPC would like to show her we stand in support of her diffi-cult and essential ministry with orphans in Africa.

On Sunday, October 6, Woody McLendon will visit UPC. Woody is the President of JAARS, the technology arm of Wycliffe Bible translators. Their past work in literacy and in bringing the Bible to people around the world is world-renowned. However, JAARS and Wycliffe today are not the organizations I remember from my youth—they now use the latest in information technology to revolutionize the process of translation and to bring the Bible alive in cul-tures around the world. Woody has helped lead this process and will tell us about his work.

Woody will speak in the Stephen Ministry Room from 9:45-10:45 a.m. on Sunday, October 6, and will join us for that day’s World Communion Sunday worship services. Please join us to welcome Woody and hear about his exciting work. He is not a stranger to our congregation, as his parents are members here and his daughter Ruth-Anne is studying at UNC.

~Mark Peifer, Global Outreach

Help Us Greet Two Global Outr each

Par tners in Ear ly October !

Global Outreach is very excited that two of our Global Outreach partners will be visiting UPC from October 2 - 6, culminating in World Communion Sunday. We invite the congregation to join us in learning about their exciting work.


In September, University Presbyterian Church joyfully welcomed the following new members into the life of the church.

Please join us in welcoming the newest members of our congregation!

We Celebra te Our New Members

Scott and Kelli Smith, Morgan Smith and Brian Smith –

The Smith family comes to us by transfer of their membership

from another church in the area. Scott grew up in Chapel Hill,

graduated from UNC, and worked in sporting goods for a

number of years before joining the Kenan-Flagler School of

Business as director of development for the Triangle area. Kel-

li was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and Gainesville, Florida.

She is a graduate of Meredith College and the University of

Florida and worked for seventeen years as a classroom teacher;

she now works in elementary instructional coaching for the

North Carolina Department of Education.

Their daughter, Morgan, graduated from UNC this past spring

and recently began her work as a third-grade teacher at Camer-

on Park Elementary School in Hillsborough. Their son, Brian,

graduated last spring from the McCallie School in Chattanooga

and is now a first-year student at UNC.

Mac Gilliland – Mac comes

to us by reaffirmation of his

faith. He grew up in a Pres-

byterian family in Green-

wood, South Carolina, gradu-

ated from Davidson College

in 2012, and is now in the

second year of a Ph.D. pro-

gram in chemistry at the Uni-

versity of North Carolina.

Sada and Jason Reed – Sada and Jason moved to Chapel Hill

a year ago from Minnesota; they come to us by transfer from

the Easter Lutheran Church of Eagan, Minnesota. Sada is in

the second year of a Ph.D. program in journalism and mass

communications at UNC. Jason commutes to Minnesota each

week, where he works for the domestic anti-hunger organiza-

tion, Feeding America.

Ramsey and Brien White (Bo and Alston): Not pictured –

The Whites come to us by transfer of their membership from

another congregation in the area. Brien is an investment advi-

sor in the Chapel Hill office of Brown Advisory and has al-

ready begun teaching in the kindergarten Church School class.

Ramsey worked previously in major gifts at UNC’s Arts and

Sciences Foundation but spends much of her time now at

home with their children, Bo, 5, who is a kindergartener at

Durham Academy, and Alston, 2, who just started at Universi-

ty Presbyterian Preschool.


For more information about UPC choirs, please contact Beth Auman Visser,

Director of Children’s and Youth Choirs, at [email protected] or (919) 929-2102.

Children’sChildren’sChildren’sChildren’s ChoirChoirChoirChoir

sings on October 20 at 11 a.m. worship

and is invited

to wear their Halloween Costumes

to choir rehearsal on October 27

Junior Choir sings on October 13 at 11 a.m. worship

and is invited

to wear their Halloween Costumes

to choir rehearsal and then go to

Mardi Gras Bowling on October 27

Youth Choir

leads the music on

World Communion Sunday,

October 6, at 11 a.m. worship

and

on October 13 at

8:30 a.m. worship


Advent Craf ts Fes t ival and Al terna t ive Gi f t Market

Please join us on Sunday, November 24, in the Fellowship Hall for the annual Advent Crafts Festival and Alterna-tive Gift Market. Save the date for breakfast, snacks, coffee, crafts, alternative gifts and fun!

Advent Crafts Festival: 9:45 - 11:00 a.m.

Advent is a special time of anticipation and preparation. The Advent Crafts Festival, planned by the Children’s and Youth Ministry Com-mittee, is an intergenerational event where all ages can gather to make fun family crafts in preparation for Advent. We suggest that participants either “dress down” or bring an old t-shirt or smock that can get messy. You might also want to bring a tote bag to store your completed crafts.

If you would like to help us plan one of the crafts for the festival, donate supplies or volunteer at one of the craft tables on the day of the festival, please contact Heather Ferguson at [email protected] or Colleen Minton at [email protected].

Alternative Gift Market: 9:45 - 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 - 12:30 p.m.

The Alternative Gift Market is organized by the Global Outreach Committee. This market offers an opportunity for folks to purchase a gift in honor of someone, such as a family member, friend, coworker, boss, etc. The alternative gift you select—food, medicine, live-stock, shelter, development aid, etc.—will be sent overseas or to poverty-stricken areas in the United States by ecumenical nonprofit agencies. At the Market, you will select a gift from a shopping list, pay for it (checks only, please) and get a descriptive insert to put in a free Christmas card that you select and give to the person you are honoring. An alternative

gift is a perfect “sustainable and green” gift idea that blesses the donor and the receiver. Watch the November edition of The Chimes for the UPC Special Projects Shopping List. Shopping lists and order forms will be available in the narthex and on the UPC Website (www.upcch.org) at a later date. If you cannot attend the Market, you may make an order at a table that will be set up in the narthex on Sunday, December 1, and Sunday, December 8.

Sess ion Diges t

At the September meeting of Session, we:

• listened to a devotion and prayer by Bob Dunham from the book Falling Upward by Richard Rohr on achieving a second, adult level of naiveté or simplicity allowing for a greater acceptance of ideas;

• welcomed Duke Divinity students Beth Hatch and Libby Boehne, who were observing a Session meeting as part of a class assignment;

• approved the baptism of William David Eller, son of Jenny and Daniel Eller, on September 29, 2013;

• noted 35 participants received communion at Carolina Meadows at the recent service led by Anna Pinckney Straight;

• welcomed back Kim McNeill following her summer Sabbatical. Kim shared information on an all-youth beach retreat planned for the weekend of September 22;

• approved communion by Taylor Guthrie Hartman, Associate Youth Pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church, at the above mentioned retreat;

• approved three additional youth advisors: Mike and Sharon Edmiston and Brittany McGowan;

• received a report from Heather Ferguson on the busy opening Rally Sunday on September 8, and she noted another large class of 26 confirmands;

• approved four additional Church School teachers: Brien White, Anne Bryan, Moisha Platto and Hampton Corley;

• approved the formation of a task force to consider the new Presbyterian hymnal soon to be released;

• approved an Endowment Fund disbursement of $2,500 to UPPS and CYM for construction of cabinets, part of their usual spring disbursals that had been delayed; and

• received an update from the Building Committee noting the approval process currently involves a rezoning request for the expansion project area and the granting of an easement for the rerouting of Robertson Lane.

~Mary Ellen Olson, Clerk of Session


Behind the Scenes by John Bly the

University Presbyterian Church 2012-2015 Capital Campaign UPDATE

Overthepasttwoyears,wehaveheardmuchabouttheimprovementsweareplanningon

makingtoourfacility.Whatweoftendonotappreciateistheamountofactivityandhard

workthatisgoingonbehindthescenes.InthisFaithForwardupdate,JohnBlythe,Chairof

theBuildingCommittee,providesuswithaglimpseofwhathasbeengoingon…

Thispastsummer,UniversityPresbyterianChurchappliedtotheTownofChapelHillforaSpecial

UsePermittobuildtheadditiontothechurch’seducationwing.However,likemostapplicantswant-

ingtobuildinChapelHill’sdowntownhistoricdistrict,UPChadspentmanypriormonthsplanning

andmeetingwithtownstaffandtownboardstoreachthepointofformalapplication.Andmore

meetingsandopportunitiesfortownplannersandresidentstocommentontheprojectlieahead.

Here’sareviewofwhereUPChasbeenandwhereit’sheaded:

◊ Spring2011:UPChiresDTWArchitectsandPlannersastheleaddesign+irmforthechurch

additionandrenovation.

◊ Summer2011:Project’sdesignteamandchurchmembersmeetwithtownstafftodiscuss

designoptionsfortheadditionandreroutingRobertsonLane.

◊ Fall2011:ChurchmembersshowplanstoUPC’sneighborsanddiscusstheproject.Design

teamsharesconceptplanswithChapelHill’sHistoricDistrictCommissionandseeksinformal

feedback.

◊ Winter2011/SpringandSummer2012:Workingwithchurchmembers,designteamincorpo-

ratesfeedbackfromHistoricDistrictCommissionandre+inesdesigns.Discussionscontinue

withtownstaff(streetsengineers,plannersand+iremarshal)aboutreroutingRobertsonLane.

The Building Committee


Faith Forward Capital Campaign UPDATE

◊ December2012:Designteampresentsre+inedplanstoHistoricDistrictCommissionand

gatherscomments.Thismeetingisaninformalreviewanddoesnotconstitutesignoffon

theprojectbytheHistoricDistrictCommission.UPC’sBuildingCommitteehiresC.T.Wilson

Constructionasthegeneralcontractorfortheproject.

◊ February2013:DesignteampresentsplanstoChapelHillTownCouncilandgathersCouncil

members’feedback.AswiththeearlierHistoricDistrictCommissionmeeting,thepresenta-

tiontotheTownCouncilisaninformalreviewofthechurch’splans.

◊ Winter2013:DesignteamincorporatesfeedbackfromHistoricDistrictCommissionand

TownCouncilintoprojectplans.BuildingCommittee,designteamandC.T.Wilsonstaffmeet

forpre-constructionplanningandre+inementofprojectbudget.

◊ June2013:UPCsubmitsanapplicationforaSpecialUsePermittotheTownofChapelHill.

Thispermitisrequiredbecausethechurchadditionexceedsthesquarefootagethatcanbe

routinelyapprovedbytownstaff.Permitapplicationincludesdesignsfortheaddition,as

wellasamapshowingproposedre-routingofRobertsonLanewithdetailsonsidewalklay-

outandroutingofpublicutilitiesunderneaththestreet.

◊ Summer2013:Townstaff(streetsengineers,plannersand+iremarshal)reviewthe

church'splansindetail,examiningcompliancewithtownregulationsandsuchissuesas

traf+ic+low,+ireequipmentaccessandstormwaterdrainage.Commentsaresharedwith

BuildingCommitteeanddesignteam.Asaresultofreview,townplannersconcludethat

UPCmustrequestrezoningforitsproperty.Theadditiontotheeducationwingmakesthe

totalsquarefootageofchurchfacilitiesexceedtheamountallowedinthecurrentzoning

district.

◊ Fall2013:BuildingCommitteeanddesignteamevaluatetownstaff'scomments.Because

somesuggestedchangesarenotrequired,UPCmustdecidewhethertomakerevisionsor

seekapprovalfromtownboardsandTownCouncilwithplansastheycurrentlystand.

BuildingCommitteecontinuesconversationswiththeownersofneighboringpropertiesand

seekstheirsupportfortheproject.

Inthecomingmonths,thedesignteamandBuildingCommitteememberswillpresentthechurch's

planstoseveraltownboards.ThoseboardswillincludetheHistoricDistrictCommission,the

TransportationBoard,theBicycleandPedestrianAdvisoryBoardandthePlanningBoard.Upon

completionofthosemeetings,UPCwillpresentitsplanstotheChapelHillTownCouncilandre-

spondtoquestionsatapublichearing.TheCouncilwillthenvoteonwhethertograntUPCaSpe-

cialUsePermitandtorezonethechurch'sproperty.

Wehopethatthisprocesswillbecompletedbymid-winter2014.Oncetherezoninghasbeenap-

provedandaspecialusepermitgranted,UPCwillthen+ilethenecessarypaperworkwiththe

TownofChapelHillsothatconstructioncanbegin.LikeeveryoneatUPC,theBuildingCommittee

iseagerforthisworktogetstarted.Wehopeyou'llbeginseesignsofconstructionorrenovations

duringthesummerof2014.

The Bui lding Commit tee , cont .


Page 9

OnmostSundaysatUPC,anoteintheyoungpeople’schoir

newsreadscheerily,“Nowisagreattimetojointhechoir!”

What’sremarkableisthatBethAumanVisserandourmusic

leadersreallymeanit—noexperienceoreventalentre-

quired.It’strulyamazingthatweekafterweek,withonly

onesmallroomandapianoonwheels,childrenofallages

learnhowtoparticipateexuberantlyinUPCworship.

Throughback-to-backpracticesonceaweek,andquickre-

hearsalsbehindthescenesonSundays,childrenasyoungas

+iveyearsoldarelearningtoshareScriptureandpraisethroughmusic.

Butbehindthescenesisbestleft

unseen.Whentheherdofsmall

choristersisreleasedfromChurch

Schoolandstampedestowardthe

choirroom,there’salikelihoodof

collisiononthosespecialSundays

whenthechildrensing.

Adultspresstothewalls,Chancel

Choirmembersdodgeandsmilepa-

tientlyandparentshopeandpray

therightrobesandmusicendupin

therightsmallhands.

Withmorethan100youngpeopleparticipatinginthethreeschool-agedchoirs,Sundaymorningis

acrush.Duringtheweeksofextraholidaymusicormusicals,thecompetitionforspaceandmusic

timegrows.Instruments,setsandmusicbooksarecrammedintoeverycorner.

Despitethelackofdedicatedmu-

sicspace,UniversityPresbyterian

Churchwarmlyembracesthe

messageofColossians3:16.In

thismessage,Paulwrites:“Let

thewordofChristdwellinyou

richlyinallwisdom,teachingand

admonishingoneanotherin

psalmsandhymnsandspiritual

songs,singingwithgraceinyour

heartstotheLord.”


Behind the Scenes by Ju l ia Buckner

Sunday Mornings in the Choir Room


ChildrenwhohavebeenblessedtosingintheChildren’s,JuniororYouthChoirsarefollowingthis

Scripture.Thewordstheysingbecomerealtothemeachtimetheyaresung.

Andcongregationmemberswhoare“singingwithgraceinyourhearts”areworshipping,too.With

theunderstandingofGod’swordre+lectedbacktothechildrenfromthefacesofthelisteners,our

congregation’s“joyfulnoise”isampli+ied.

TheFaithForwardcampaignplansfordedicatedmusicspacetogiveaproperplaceforprepara-

tionandmeditationtoallthosewhoworshipbyliftinguptheirvoices…andalittlelessmayhem.

Sunday Mornings in the Choi r Room, cont .

S tay Connec ted wi th UPC’s Fai th Forward

Capi ta l Campaign !

Alwaysstayconnectedandup-to-datewiththeUPCCapitalCampaignbyjoiningusonline!

VisittheFaithForwardWordPressblogathttp://faithforwardupc.wordpress.com

Visitand“Like”theUPCFacebookpageatwww.facebook.com/upcch

It'snottoolatetopledge!Indeed,newpledgesareencouragedandwelcomed.

Therearetwowaystomakeapledge:YoumayvisittheFaithForwardpageoftheUPCWeb-

siteatwww.upcch.org/info/capital_campaign.htmlandclick"PledgeOnline."

Youmayalsocontactthechurchof+iceat(919)929-2102andrequesttobemailedapledge

card.Simply+illoutthecard,signitandreturnittoUniversityPresbyterianChurch,POBox

509,ChapelHillNC27514-0509,c/oFinanceOf+ice.Thankyou!



I’m not sure our language has a word that can sufficiently ex-press my gratitude for my summer Sabbatical. Thank you just isn’t enough. In my three months away, I traveled to places on my bucket list, spent wonderful quality time with my family, and read books that have been on my shelf for years!

I explored parts of Scotland I’ve only dreamed of seeing. And more than that, I traveled alone, which was exhilarating and freeing! It’s rare that I take a trip without a strict schedule, lots of teenagers, 15 passenger vans, and health forms in tow. Traveling through Scotland alone was an unbelievable experi-ence of traveling light and going where the Spirit led me. I headed out west with my parents for adventuring in the Grand Canyon, Antelope Slot Canyon, and Zion National Park. While, traveling with my parents was sometimes a comedy of errors, this was an experience that fed my soul. I enjoyed my favorite place—the beach—with friends and family and spent a couple weeks in Montreat helping to lead recreation for two weeks of Youth Conference.

Even though I traveled non-stop until the final two weeks of my Sabbatical, I can assure you this was definitely a time of

rest and renewal. I not only spent my weeks learning how to rest and how to better worship, I also learned new ways to hold on to Sabbath practices that were elusive until now. I’m better prepared to care for myself as I continue to live out my calling to serve University Presbyterian Church. I will forever be grateful to you for giving me this time to explore my faith and enhance my faith-ful living.

Joy!

~Kim McNeill, Staff Associate for Youth and Congregational Life

If you’d like to read more about Kim's Sabbatical, you can find de-tails about each trip on her blog: www.seekingsabbath.wordpress.com.

Sabba t ical Repor t : Kim McNei l l

Kisimul Castle in Barra, Scotland (stronghold of the McNeills) The Grand Canyon

Leading Recreation at Montreat

Youth Conference

There are still spots left in the pre-Advent class Preparing to Prepare the Way! To register online, please visit http://upcdce.wufoo.com/forms/p7x0r9/. You may also call the church office at (919) 929-2102 and request to be added to the list. The registration deadline for this class has been moved to Sunday, October 13.

Parents are invited to participate in this five-week workshop during which we will make our own Jesse Tree ornaments and review the scripture readings that accompany the ornaments. At the end of the five weeks, each family will have a full set of Jesse Tree ornaments and complete under-standing of the Biblical story culminating in the birth of Jesus. The class will be facilitated by Juli Kim and others. Don’t miss out. Register today!

Pr epar ing to Pr epar e the Way, A Spec ial Ter m 2 Class

Re gis t ra t ion Deadl ine : Sunday October 13


Adul t Chr is t ian Educa t ion Term 1: Through October 13, 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Page 12

Surrounded by a Cloud of Witnesses: Heroes of UPC: Woven throughout the history of UPC are golden threads of the spiritual and social impact made by exceptional individu-als. Inspirational lessons from the lives of these witnesses are present still.

Facilitator: D.G. Martin Location: Stephen Ministry Room

Connections: The Christian Response to Divisiveness and Inequality: As political, economic and social issues these days create chasms between neighbors, God calls us to be bridge builders and peacemakers. Recall the words of the prophet Mi-cah, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Facilitator: A variety of members and guests Location: Terrace Room (Note the new location)

Faith Roots: Growing while Parenting a Confirmand: Specifically designed for parents of confirmands, this class will engage parents in the same faith exploration as the youth.

Facilitator: Carolyn Schwarz Location: Garden Room

Holy Grounds: An Informal Gathering for Coffee and Conversation: This class recognizes that Christian fellowship is one of the strongest bonds among people and aims to pro-vide a space for gathering and great “stand alone,” one-on-one and small group discussions. Whether you drink coffee or not, come join us for fellowship and spiritual renewal!

Facilitators: Alison Kavanaugh and Juli Kim Location: Fellowship Hall near the Landing

Feasting on the Word: Join us for reflections, activities and conversations that will help you encounter each other and God through the rhythm of the Revised Common Lectionary. This year, we’ll bring in a variety of additional resources and media to help us to make God’s story our story.

Facilitator: A variety of members and guests Location: Education Office

Discovering the Bible: Registration for this class is closed.

Facilitator: Anna Pinckney Straight Location: Vance Barron Hall

Term 2: October 20 – November 17, 2013, 9:45-10:45 a.m.

Honoring The Gospel: When you look at the apostle Paul closely, his life in Acts and letters to a variety of early Christian communities, it’s hard to see his model of church life and faith as a “systematic” one. What the apostle Paul realizes is the gospel has a way of coming to life in unique ways in different communities. In light of what we see in his letter to the Ro-mans in particular, what do we learn about how we are called to honor the gospel in our own context? This class will look at Acts, Romans and several resources on how we live out the gospel claims within our own lives/where we “build our homes” today. The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, offers us instructive words as we study together. He writes to the surviving elders in Babylonian exile in the 6th century BC that they are to “build houses and settle down...” In the fast-paced world of our lives, Christ also calls us to, “settle down” and pay attention to the Kingdom of God all around us. Maybe the best description of this class are in the words of a UPC servant of Christ who has gone ahead of us, Paul Meyer. Paul said, “Pay attention. The Gospel has a way of coming alive differ-ently in every setting. We just need to move aside our agendas and pay attention and participate in what God is doing.”

Facilitator: John Rogers Location: TBA

Preparing to Prepare the Way: Sign-up Requested: Regis-ter online at http://upcdce.wufoo.com/forms/p7x0r9/ before Sunday, October 6. See page 11 for more details.

Facilitators: Juli Kim and others Location: Garden Room

New Officer Training: New and current Elders and Deacons are invited to attend the training sessions from October 20 to November 17 during Church School. Those who participate are asked to attend all five sessions. Please contact Heather Ferguson at (919) 929-2102 or [email protected] to RSVP.

Facilitator: Heather Ferguson Location: Stephen Ministry Room

Holy Grounds: An Informal Gathering for Coffee and Conversation: This class recognizes that Christian fellowship is one of the strongest bonds among people and aims to pro-vide a space for gathering and great “stand alone,” one-on-one and small group discussions. Whether you drink coffee or not, come join us for fellowship and spiritual renewal!

Facilitators: Alison Kavanaugh and Juli Kim Location: The Parlor

Feasting on the Word: Join us for reflections, activities and conversations that will help you encounter each other and God through the rhythm of the Revised Common Lectionary. Each class will focus on the lectionary text of that particular Sunday, and this year, we’ll bring in a variety of additional resources and media to help us to make God’s story our story.

Facilitator: A variety of members and guests Location: Education Office

Discovering the Bible: Registration for this class is closed.

Facilitator: Anna Pinckney Straight Location: Vance Barron Hall


Church School Of fer ing:

Help Provide for Those in Need

The Inter-Faith Council (IFC) Food Pantry Did you know that one in four children in Chapel Hill and Carrboro live with food instability? This means that at any given time, opening a cupboard or the refrigerator might not reveal a nutri-tious snack or healthy meal.

This year, we will have special IFC Food Pantry Boxes located in each of the Church School class-rooms. Children and youth will be encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item with them each week. Boxes will be collected and taken to the Food Pantry at IFC to help families and individuals in need.

The Inter-Faith Council is a nonprofit organization that helps our community by providing social services to help individuals and families in need. By donating to the IFC Food Pantry, you can help with this mission.

The IFC Food Pantry needs cereal, dry pasta, pasta sauce, canned vegetables, rice, canned fruits, canned meats, dried beans, peanut butter, soup, grits/oatmeal packets and paper bags with handles. In addition to donating through children and youth Church School, you may bring these items to church on Sundays and leave them in the IFC shopping cart in the narthex. Or, you may take donations directly to the IFC Food Pantry at 110 W. Main Street in Carrboro. Thank you for caring!

Living Waters for the World The children and youth Church School offering collected this year will be donated to Living Waters for the World (LWW), a ministry of clean water and the mission focus of the Presby-terian Church (USA) Synod of Living Waters.

Living Waters for the World began in 2002 with installations at Mexican border ministries. LWW now has more than one hundred water purification systems in operation in 14 countries located in the developing world and in Appalachia.

What began as the work of a handful of volunteers has blossomed into a ministry with worldwide reach. The turning point was the establishment of a training school in 2004 called Clean Water U at St. Andrew Presbytery’s Hopewell Camp and Confer-ence Center in north Mississippi. Mission team volunteers come from across the nation and from a wide variety of faith back-grounds—Presbyterians, Methodists, Catholics, Pentecostals, Baptists, non-denominational Christians and others. They are trained in developing partnerships, leading mission teams, installing water systems and educating the water system users about the reasons for use and proper uses for clean water.

“We found out pretty quickly that it doesn’t help much to enable people to get clean water if they don’t understand in the first place why they need it,” said Wil Howie, the founder of Living Waters for the World and now its full-time director. “That’s why we stress the health, hygiene, and spiritual educational components as much as we do the how-to of assembling a system.” Learn more about Living Waters for the World at www.livingwatersfortheworld.org.

On World Communion: Sunday, October 6, 2013

CYM is planning a special gathering for children, Kindergarten through Middle School, on Sunday, October 6, World Communion Sunday, that will feature a presentation on Living Waters for the World. We are working with a church in Hickory, NC, who has partnered with LWW for several years and wants to come that morning to tell our children and youth about the impact of LWW! If you are interested in helping plan and organize for this event, please contact Heather Ferguson at (919) 929-2102 or [email protected]. Thank you!

This year, the offering collected during children and youth Church School will help provide two of life’s essentials: food and water. This will be accomplished with the help of two wonderful organizations, the Inter-Faith Council and Living Waters for the World.


On Thursday nights, we get together for a meal and program where conversation ranges, well... RANGES! At one program this past month, one of our seniors led us in a conversation about what our “church” might or should look like down the road. What is our “vision” for a community of faith that gathers together? Here are some thoughts from our students as they were asked to come up with a mission statement for that “church.” I pray these thoughts will be ones where you can hear what is important to a group within our church who might be echoing a similar sentiment if you were asked the same question.

~ John Rogers, Associate Pastor for Campus Ministry

“We are a community of people bound together by the gospel. The link between us is stronger than our differences. We strive to engage with people beyond our physical walls. We all will fall short of these ex-pectations but God’s grace will redeem us all.”

“Coming together. Having time. Understanding dif-ferences. Reaching out. Creating harmony.”

“Our mission is to be a welcoming community; a body of believers that works collectively through mu-

sic, prayer, and service, with the goal of glorifying God, exploring our faith, and spreading the warmth of God’s love.”

“We are founded and rooted in grace and a reliance on the word of God and the goodness and love of our risen Savior. We strive to be a community that builds a meaningful relationship with one another. Through our worship and our mission we will equip our congregation to go out into our local community and the world to be advocates for faithful life, morality, jus-tice, and peace.”

“As a community of Christ we strive to foster spiritual growth and an open, welcoming environment to all of God’s children through: music, prayer, communion, acceptance, and encouraging the exploration and discovery of personal faith.”

“We are a community of believers faithful to God, who value the importance of fellowship through music, discipleship, and service in the name of Sweet Baby Jesus.”

Presbyter ian Campus Minis t ry

Presbyterian Campus Ministry (PCM) offers programming for undergraduate, graduate and professional students and welcomes

new participants at any time. The programming is supported by the outreach of University Presbyterian Church. For more

information visit the Website at www.uncpcm.com or contact John Rogers at [email protected].

The bond between UPC and our partners in Haiti is strong and rewarding. With each visit, we learn more about the work UPC supports and the people in Haiti who are working hard to make a change in this impoverished land. Our Haitian part-ners are now truly our friends, and we take pleasure in being with them. Please think about joining the team next April to help strengthen the bond that grows stronger with each visit.

In Blanchard, Leogane and Fondwa, we will see progress with the work of Family Health Ministries. The St. Joseph home in Port-au-Prince is always a lively place where we will spend time, but we will also take time to be with the Wings of Hope family in Fermanthe and Trinity House in Jacmel. It will be exciting to witness the progress of the new high school in Blanchard being built under the guidance of Pastor Leon Doleans. The Duplan community has embraced us and

warmed our hears, and we look forward to being with Pastor Enoch and his community for a visit.

When we go to Leogane, we will stop by the KODEP project and be with the Haiti Fund community. We will be busy with our visits, but as always, part of the team will conduct teacher workshops. Other members of the team are welcome to assist with that work. Our presence is highly valued by our friends in Haiti as we give support to all the work and projects that are underway there. Life in Haiti is hard, but the spirit, energy and spiritual strength of the people are a wonder to witness.

For information about the trip, please contact John Rogers at [email protected] or (919) 929-2102, Lisa Lord at [email protected] or (919) 490-8635 or Kay Leaman at [email protected] (919) 929-5913.

UPC Miss ion Tr ip to Hai t i : Apri l 11-19, 2014


Local Out r each News: Bike and Bui ld Provides Unique

Awar eness Bui ld ing Exper ience

UPC helped sponsor Sean McWeeny, Presbyterian Campus Ministry member, as he cycled across the country for Habitat for Humanity.

Routine is a funny thing sometimes, and there’s nothing I per-sonally crave more than to establish and subsequently break my habits. I am a habitual reflector, and I hope that this space will give me some reflection on a summer experience in which there was only time for sleeping, eating, biking, and most im-portantly, building.

We built roofs, walls, decks, but most importantly, we built intimate relationships with our beneficiaries, God, and our-selves. Common experience brings us closer, and struggle and strife can certainly be a common experience. However, it only brings us closer together if we can be simultaneously strong willed and vulnerable to the fact that our bodies and minds are limited by the human experience. Luckily for me, and the 26 others who rode from Nags Head, NC to San Diego, CA, we had the greatest human experience one could ask for.

The reason I was afforded such an incredible experience is because I am a child of privilege, at least in the light of the fact that I am a college student living in Chapel Hill, where poverty is a relatively unseen and unknown problem. The average list-ing price for a home in Chapel Hill is just shy of $500,000, and it’s not hard to see why. However, that makes it impossible for people living in Chapel Hill who are working a minimum wage job at 40 hours a week to afford even a single bedroom apart-ment at the Fair Market Rent. In fact, there is not a single county in the United States where a person working a mini-mum wage job at 40 hours a week can afford a single bedroom apartment at the Fair Market Rent. According to HUD, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, “afford” is simply defined as spending less than 30 percent of your in-come on housing.

This is what is known as the affordable housing crisis, and now imagine a single mother working two jobs to make ends

meet for her two children who are entering high school, trying to afford a decent living space where her kids can come home and study without dis-traction. We talk about education reform like it is a giant living in the hillside, when no matter how good our teachers are, our kids will not learn because of an unstable home environment. This is the world that we live in.

Luckily, there are people and communities across this great nation who are willing to help, and I see them as heroes. The Habitat for Humanity in Prescott, AZ held a potluck dinner for us a mere two weeks after their community lost 19 fire-fighters to the second deadliest incident in US history behind 9/11. It was a feeling of mutual respect—them respecting us for putting our bodies on the line, and us respecting them for providing a community ravaged by tragedy with some hope and goodwill. That was not the first time I cried, nor would it be the last.

Life on the road was beautiful, and whether it was standing on a peak on the Blue Ridge Parkway or hitting a mountain pass in the Rockies and seeing the collegiate peaks or a 104-mile ride in 100-degree heat with a brutal headwind into Little Rock, AR, there was beauty in it all. Some of it was poetic beauty, like the mile long steep hill at mile 103 of that ride where you couldn’t help but laugh at the pain and the “bring it on” mentality. Whether it was running into the Pacific Ocean holding hands with your 26 best friends or struggling on an-other 102-mile ride in 102-degree heat into the Eastern Colo-rado Desert, it didn’t matter; it was beautiful just the same.

So that was the routine, and I hope to bring that routine of hope and inspiration with me wherever I go. Constantly being forced to be comfortable outside of your comfort zone is a challenge. All while trying to understand the importance of having a place to call your own.

~Sean McWeeny, UNC-CH Class of 2015 Music (B.A.) and Psychology (B.S.)

Non Profit Org.

Permit No. 78

U.S. Postage Paid

Chapel Hill, NC

University Presbyterian Church

209 East Franklin Street

P.O. Box 509

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

We w e l c o m e a l l f a c u l t y, s t u d e n t s , n ew c o m e r s a n d

v i s i t o r s . October 2013 The Chimes Newsle t te r

University Presbyterian Church is affiliated with The Presbyterian

Church (U.S.A.) and is a Stephen Ministry Congregation. On Sun-

day mornings, worship services are held at 8:30 and 11:00 and

church school for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Children of all ages are wel-

comed and cherished by this congregation. Childcare for infants

through kindergarteners is provided on Sunday mornings by our

paid sitters and parent volunteers.

The Sanctuary is wheel-chair accessible. Handicapped parking

spaces are available, and a parking assistant will be available to

help you out of your car. Assistive hearing devices and large-print

bulletins and hymnals are available during worship. Office hours:

Monday—Friday 8:30-4:30. Call (919) 929-2102 for more infor-

mation. Learn more about our programs from the church Website

(www.upcch.org) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/upcch).

October News from New Hope Camp

and Conference Center It’s that time of year again when the air is crisp and leaves on the trees are changing into beautiful shades of color! That must mean we’re about to have our 10th Annual BBQ Dinner and Barn Dance. This fundraising event will be held on Saturday, Oc-tober 5, from 5-9 p.m. at 4805 NC 86 S., Chapel Hill. All proceeds will go toward the camp programs and facilities.

Things here usually slow down a little in the fall, but this year, it’s shaping up to be a busy one. Remember, if you are looking for a relaxing place to have your holiday gathering, consider taking a look at New Hope!

When we looked back at this summer, we found that we didn’t have as many scholarship campers as we would like to serve. There are many children who would benefit from a week of camp whose families just cannot afford the cost. As you look around your churches, schools and neighborhoods this year, keep New Hope in mind and lookout for those families we can help. Fore more information about any of these updates, please call (919) 942-4716.

~ Richard Stevens, Executive Director New Hope Camp and Conference Center

On Wor ld Communion Sunday: October 6 , 2013

♦ UPC’s Global Outreach Partner, Woody McLendon, will speak in the Stephen Ministry Room from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Learn

more about The Wycliffe Bible translation work he has been a part of for so many years. See page 3 for more information.

♦ Kindergarten through Middle School Church School Special Event: Living Waters for the World,

guest speaker and presentation. During the church school hour, beginning at 9:45 a.m. See page 13

for more information.

♦ The Peacemaking Offering will be received during both worship services. See page 2 to learn more

about the offering and UPC’s designated recipient of the local portion.

Webeditionchimesoctober2013

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