The Chimes Vol. LIX No. 2 Web Edition February 2015 Dear Friends, Now that 2015 is fully upon us, I write this month with some good news and with a request. The good news is that the Town Council, at its January 12 business meeting, gave final approval to three proposals affecting the next phase of our building project. The Council members granted a Special Use Permit for the construction of our building addition, a change to the zoning atlas that brings us into compliance with Town regulations regarding square footage, and our petition to close a portion of Robertson Lane, so as to re-route it. The Council vote was the culmination of almost three years of work on the part of our building committee and design team. On your behalf, I want to say a word of deep appreciation to the members of the building committee (John Blythe and Rickie Howard, co-chairs; Allison Chambers, Jason Dell, Gordon Merklein, Mark Moshier), to the design team (DTW architects Robert Sotolongo, Susan Straw, and Dawn Vanorsdale, and Dan Jewell and Jeremy Anderson of Jewell Coulter Thames). I also thank all my colleagues at University Church who have devoted hours and hours to meetings and the coordination effort. Thanks, too, to those individuals who serve the greater good of Chapel Hill by their service on the town’s councils, commissions and advisory boards. Of course, we are only just beginning the next phase of construction. We will spend the next several months securing the necessary permits to proceed with the demolition of the church-owned house at 212 East Rosemary Street, the road relocation and the building itself. We hope those steps will commence by late spring and hope to occupy our new space by next spring. For now, we are completing the punch list for the previous phase and looking forward to a couple of months of quiet before the next wave of activity. As always, we appreciate your patience and your prayers. The request I have beckons us in a different direction. My colleagues and I are beginning to plan a summer sermon series that hinges upon your requests. In the next few weeks, we would like to hear from you. How would you complete the sentence: I would like to hear a sermon about__________? We won’t promise to take on every subject everyone names; we only have twelve Sundays, after all. But we’d like to hear from you as we plan for the summer. Please send us your requests (via email, snail mail or a note in the offering plate) by March 1, 2015. I hope your February is full of light and warmth. Peace, Bob Dunham, Pastor FEBRUARY Capital Campaign Update 3 Church Office Volunteers Needed 3 Montreat Worship and Music Conference 3 Welcome, New Members! 4 News from New Hope Camp and Conference Center 4 Choir News 5 Adult Christian Education 6 Vacation Bible School Registration 7 Presbyterian Youth Connection 7 Fifth Annual Women’s Retreat 8 Session Digest 8 Presbyterian Campus Ministry: Montreat College Conference 9 UPC Staff Contact Information 9 Local Outreach News: Housing for New Hope Thanks UPC 10 Young Adult Group 11 Get to Know UPC Staff 11 Local Outreach News: Announcing the UPC Book Drive 12 University Presbyterian Church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and is a Stephen Ministry Congregation. The first phase of construction for the University Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign, Faith Forward, is almost complete! To learn more about this phase and what it means for church members, please check out the construction update on page 3 of this edition of The Chimes.
The February edition of The Chimes, UPC's monthly newsletter, includes registration information for Montreat Worship and Music Conference, Vacation Bible School and the spring women’s retreat. Read all about the Capital Campaign update, new members, the Youth Choir’s dinner theater production, adult education, PYC, the UPC book drive and more!
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The Chimes Vol. LIX No. 2 Web Edition February 2015
Dear Friends,
Now that 2015 is fully upon us, I write this month with some good news and with a request. The good news is that the Town Council, at its January 12 business meeting, gave final approval to three proposals affecting the next phase of our building project. The Council members granted a Special Use Permit for the construction of our building addition, a change to the zoning atlas that brings us into compliance with Town regulations regarding square footage, and our petition to close a portion of Robertson Lane, so as to re-route it.
The Council vote was the culmination of almost three years of work on the part of our building committee and design team. On your behalf, I want to say a word of deep appreciation to the members of the building committee (John Blythe and Rickie Howard, co-chairs; Allison Chambers, Jason Dell, Gordon Merklein, Mark Moshier), to the design team (DTW architects Robert Sotolongo, Susan Straw, and Dawn Vanorsdale, and Dan Jewell and Jeremy Anderson of Jewell Coulter Thames). I also thank all my colleagues at University Church who have devoted hours and hours to meetings and the coordination effort. Thanks, too, to those individuals who serve the greater good of Chapel Hill by their service on the town’s councils, commissions and advisory boards.
Of course, we are only just beginning the next phase of construction. We will spend the next several months securing the necessary permits to proceed with the demolition of the church-owned house at 212 East Rosemary Street, the road relocation and the building itself. We hope those steps will commence by late spring and hope to occupy our new space by next spring. For now, we are completing the punch list for the previous phase and looking forward to a couple of months of quiet before the next wave of activity. As always, we appreciate your patience and your prayers.
The request I have beckons us in a different direction. My colleagues and I are beginning to plan a summer sermon series that hinges upon your requests. In the next few weeks, we would like to hear from you. How would you complete the sentence: I would like to hear a sermon about__________? We won’t promise to take on every subject everyone names; we only have twelve Sundays, after all. But we’d like to hear from you as we plan for the summer. Please send us your requests (via email, snail mail or a note in the offering plate) by March 1, 2015. I hope your February is full of light and warmth.
Peace,
Bob Dunham, Pastor
FEBRUARY
Capital Campaign Update 3
Church Office Volunteers Needed 3
Montreat Worship and
Music Conference
3
Welcome, New Members! 4
News from New Hope Camp
and Conference Center
4
Choir News 5
Adult Christian Education 6
Vacation Bible School Registration 7
Presbyterian Youth Connection 7
Fifth Annual Women’s Retreat 8
Session Digest 8
Presbyterian Campus Ministry:
Montreat College Conference
9
UPC Staff Contact Information 9
Local Outreach News: Housing
for New Hope Thanks UPC
10
Young Adult Group 11
Get to Know UPC Staff 11
Local Outreach News:
Announcing the UPC Book Drive
12
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 .
The first phase of construction for the University Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign, Faith Forward, is almost
complete! To learn more about this phase and what it means for church members, please check out the construction
update on page 3 of this edition of The Chimes.
The Chimes Volume LIX, No. 2 February 2015
The Ch imes i s a publ ica 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,
If you would like to explore the class offering for this summer in more detail, please visit www.presbymusic.org/montreat.html. For more information, contact Beth Auman Visser at [email protected] or (919) 929-2102 ext. 118. See you at Montreat!
You Are My Beloved: Baptism to Transfiguration
June 21 - 27, 2015
Time to sign up for some Montreat FUN!
Registration is due February 15, 2015
Open to all active choir members
Rising fourth graders to graduating Seniors
Capi tal Campaign Const ruc t ion Upda te We’re almost there! The first phase of construction is
almost done. We’re getting some parking back; the
dumpster is gone, and we’re working on the punch list
with CT Wilson. If you have a question, notice some-
thing that was supposed to be done during construc-
tion but hasn’t yet been completed, or if you see some-
thing that was affected by construction that hasn’t yet
leave a note in Anna Pinckney Straight’s mailbox in
the church office.
As updates are available, we will pass them along.
Please keep an eye on the bulletin announcements and
Weekly E-News. To sign up for Weekly E-News, visit
www.upcch.org and click “Subscribe to E-News”
from the bottom of the page.
Church Of f ice Volunteers Needed! The church office needs volunteers for the first and third Friday afternoon of the month. The shift is 12:30-4:30. If you’re
interested in this service to the church, you can volunteer for one or both. Responsibilities include welcoming
visitors, answering the phone and simple clerical tasks.
If you’re available, or if you’d like to volunteer as a substitute instead, please call Shelley Adams at
In January, 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
Lucy and Donald McMillan (Frank): Lucy and Donald McMillan joined UPC by reaffir-mation of faith. They met while they were stu-dents at UNC, and they lived briefly in Wash-ington, D.C. be-fore moving back to Chapel Hill. Donald is the
Vice President of Account Services at Demographics Pro, a leading social media analytics service. Lucy is an OB nurse at UNC Hospitals. Their son, Frank (age 2), was baptized in Se-wanee, TN.
Ellie Lamb: Ellie Lamb joined UPC by reaffirmation of faith. She was a member of University Presbyterian Church in the 1960s and returned to Chapel Hill to join her son, John Wil-son, and his family, after living in Tex-as for many years.
Betty Anne and Joe Cook: Betty Anne and Joe Cook trans-ferred their member-ship from South Pres-byterian Church in Dobbs Ferry, NY to UPC. Joe was the di-rector of a tropical disease program and later founded a non-profit for control of a blinding disease. Betty Anne was the health
coordinator for 25 Head Start programs in Westchester Coun-ty. They first lived in Chapel Hill 50 years ago while Joe com-pleted his residency in internal medicine and Betty Anne com-pleted her MPH in maternal and child health. They are happy to join their daughter, Marianne (Ratcliffe), whose family is active at University Presbyterian Church. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren.
News f rom New Hope Camp Save the date! Join us for our 10th annual fundraiser on Saturday April 11, 2015. This year we’ll have a new twist to our event, Tastes & Tunes. Enjoy live music and eat delicious food in support of New Hope Camp and Conference Center. The event will feature a Wall of Wine—pay $20 for a wine ticket and select a number on a bottle of wine. At the end of the evening, collect your wine! You may have the $15 bottle or the $75 bot-tle. Everyone is a winner! For those with a sweet tooth, we’ll have the Wall of Cookies. Pay $5 for a cookie ticket and pick a number. You could end up with a delicious plate of homemade cookies or a packet of Twinkies.
The event is from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. in the Dining Hall. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased in advance at the office or on the evening of the event. Please join us for an evening of fun and fellowship as we raise money for Summer Camp pro-grams and facilities! We hope to see you there.
Also, just a reminder that we are still accepting applications for our summer positions: Counselors and Lifeguards. The new summer staff application is online at www.newhopeccc.org.
Registration for Spring Intersession Camps and Summer Camps is in full swing. For information about these programs, go to our Website at www.newhopeccc.org or contact the office at (919) 942-4716.
Page 5 For more information about UPC choirs, contact Beth Auman Visser, Director
of Children’s and Youth Choirs, at (919) 929-2102 or [email protected].
Presented by the
UPC Youth Choir and the
Congregational Life Committee
February 5, 6 and 7
UPC Fellowship Hall
A Toe-Tapping Musical
Book by TOM KEY and RUSSELL TREYZ
Music and Lyrics by HARRY CHAPIN
Featuring Our Special Guests
The BIG FAT GAP
Bluegrass Band
The Thursday, February 5, performance is free. No meal is served and no ticket is needed.
On Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7, the meal is served at 6:00 p.m. and the show begins at 7:00 p.m.
Rich in humor and unsparing in their earthiness, Clarence’s translations and lectures “explode in our ears the mighty ideas which transformed the early disciples and enabled them to turn their world upside
down.” (Dallas Lee, Introduction to The Cotton Patch Evidence)
Cotton Patch Gospel is a highly acclaimed musical that humorously brings the Gospels of Matthew and John to the stage. With music composed by Harry Chapin (“Cat's in the Cradle” and “Taxi”), this colorful story brings the far away places of Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem into the contemporary Southern
United States. Follow the story of Mary Davidson’s son, Jesus, from His birth in a trailer park to His Good Friday lynching and Easter Sunday victory.
In Chapin’s own words, “Cotton Patch Gospel is special. It is a rare dramatic presentation that succeeds in both entertaining us and sharing fresh insight into the Gospel, the greatest story every told.”
More Choir News: The Junior Choir will sing on Sunday, February
8, at 11:00 a.m. worship. That afternoon, they will have an extended
rehearsal from 4:15- 5:45 p.m. to read through their spring musical.
All are welcome to adult education classes at UPC! If you missed a previous term or week, no worries! Participation and enjoyment are not dependent upon previous classes. Watch for more details for each class and a detailed reading list in the Weekly E-News, the Sunday morning bulletin announcements and the UPC Website. Please visit www.upcch.org and click “Education.” To sign up for E-News, click “Subscribe to E-News” at the bottom of the Website. You can also find information about upcoming education opportunities on the UPC Facebook page. Visit www.facebook.com/upcch and click “Like” to join.
Adul t Chr is t ian Educa t ion Term 3: Through Februar y 8
All are welcome and encouraged to attend Adult Education classes on Sunday mornings from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m.
Feasting on the Word: This class expands our understanding of the lectionary scripture for each Sunday. This curriculum is
coordinated with the children’s ministry planning. Facilitator: Bob Dunham. Location: Room 139.
Connections: This class features Holy Land Revealed video lectures by Dr. Jodi Magness, an archeologist and religion professor
at UNC. Facilitators: Lee and Myrah Scott. Location: Vance Barron Hall.
Faith Issues in Literature: Featuring Barbara Brown Taylor’s book, Home By Another Way,
this class will explore Taylor’s sermons through the church calendar. Facilitators: Kelly Ross
and Kate Fiedler Boswell. Location: Stephen Ministry Room.
Family Matters - Building Moral Intelligence: This class features the book The Seven
Essential Virtues that Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing, by bestselling author, Michele Borba.
These virtues are empathy, conscience, self-control, respect, kindness, tolerance and fair-
ness. Gain a new understanding of moral intelligence for our children through the study of
this indispensable book for parents and grandparents. The author confronts the front-page crisis we now face in our country
and the breakdown of values. We will understand, evaluate and inspire our children (or grandchildren) with the seven essential
virtues which comprise moral intelligence. Facilitator: Jim Schultz. Location: Terrace Room..
Term 4: Februar y 15 - March 29 Feasting on the Word: This class expands our understanding of the lectionary scripture for each Sunday. This curriculum is
coordinated with the children’s ministry planning. Facilitators: Bob Dunham and Anna Pinckney Straight. Location: Stephen
Ministry Room.
Faith Issues in Literature: Featuring the poetry of Mary Oliver found in New and Selected Poems, Volume One. Facilitators:
Nancy Benjamin, Ruth Moose and Kelly Ross. Location: Terrace Room.
Connections: Dementia and Alzheimer’s - Finding Comfort in Knowledge, Faith and Hope: This class will explore
brain changes associated with normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Each class will have a specific
focus and will be led by an expert in the field. Topics will include the most recent research on causes and treatment options;
practical advice and resources for loved ones and caregivers; a theological perspective on dementia and healthcare; a discussion
of the film Iris; and preventative measures to keep aging minds sharp and healthy. Facilitators: UPC Mental Health Taskforce.
Vaca t ion Bib le School Regis t ra t ion Opens Soon! Mark your calendar and plan to join us for Vacation Bible School 2015! This year, VBS will be held June 29 - July 2 at Camp New Hope. The theme will be Message Received: Hearing God’s Call.
Come spend time with your friends in a traditional outdoor camp setting and learn about how God calls each one of us. VBS is open to all children ages 3 years - rising 5th grade (grade child will enter in Fall 2015). Registration opens February 15, 2015. VBS is a morning activity from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. and is held at New Hope Camp and Conference Center. Cost is $40 per child ($80 maximum for one family). There are scholarships available.
This year, you will once again be able to register your child and provide payment online! Look for the link to the online registration page this month in the bulletin announcements and Weekly E-News. To sign up for Weekly E-News, visit www.upcch.org and click “Subscribe to E-News” from the bottom of the page. Paper forms will also be available in the church office. If you have questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Nancy Myer at [email protected] or Tracy Lovelady at [email protected].
Sunday, February 1: PYC will meet for lunch today from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
February 5, 6 and 7: 2015 Youth Choir Dinner Theatre Production, Cotton Patch Gospel
Sunday, February 8: No PYC tonight. Take some time to rest up after the musical.
ASP balance due ($150)
Thursday, February 12: Delayed Opening - Youth Sunday preachers will meet for
breakfast
Sunday, February 15: Youth Sunday Planning - High School Only tonight
Monday, February 16: Teacher workday (Middle School Service Day, deadline was January 11)
Sunday, February 22: Youth Sunday Planning – All Youth
Presbyter ian Youth Connect ion (PYC) Join in the fun, fellowship and faith development at Presbyterian Youth Connection! We meet each Sunday starting at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. After dinner (bring $5 to help with the cost of food), we enjoy a program and time for sharing our joys and concerns with one another. Pick-up is in the UPC parking lot at 8 p.m.
PYC is for any youth in 6th-12th grades. Email Kim McNeill, Staff Associate for Youth Ministries, at [email protected] with any questions or to get more information about this incredible group.
February Calendar
Stay in touch with all things PYC. Be sure you’re receiving the weekly PYC email from Kim. It will tell you all you need to know for the coming week. And sign up for text reminders, too! Text “@UPCP” to (919) 267-2577 and you’ll be signed up to receive last minute reminders about PYC. We also invite youth and parents to follow us on Twitter @UPCPYC. Go to https://twitter.com/upcpyc.
listened to a devotion by Chip Sudderth based on 1 Corinthians 12—our spiritual gifts and how we are all different members of the body with different skills. He encouraged the new Session members to listen and learn and develop their talents for their role in the church body;
approved the baptism of David Sanford, the son of Bill and Katie Sanford, on February 8, 2015;
approved the pruning of our magnolia tree. (It may look odd for a while, but this will ensure its continued good health!);
listened to an explanation of UPC’s different financial accounts and current financial situation from Bob Dunham and Jeffrey Hart (Administration Committee). Information on upcoming budget decisions (in February) was also presented;
received a report from Stewardship (John Wilson). The 2015 Stewardship campaign has gone well—with good current pledging results to date. The Committee (and Session) hopes to receive more pledges to help fund the 2015 budget;
approved purchasing new air compressors and an extended warranty for the large HVAC chiller unit to be funded from the General Reserve Account;
received a report from Bob Dunham that the Chapel Hill Town Council has approved our special use permit and the
rezoning needed for our expansion project;
received a report from Susan Ross (Global Outreach) indicating $3000 from their 2015 budget would be sent to the Medical Benevolence Foundation immediately to assist with the Ebola crisis in Africa;
received the 2013 Audit from Bernard Robinson & Co. and discussed the additional assistance needed in the financial office; and
listened to many plans for upcoming events: Vacation Bible School (Nancy Myer), the 2015 Women’s Retreat (Kate Fiedler Boswell), and Second Sunday Lunches (Patty Baum, Congregational Life).
~Mary Ellen Olson, Clerk of Session
Sess ion Digest
Fi f th Annual Women’s Ret rea t Apri l 24 - 26, 2015
Join us for the fifth Annual Women’s Retreat, Pray, Eat, Love, from Friday, April 24, 6:00 p.m., through Sunday, April 26, 1:00 p.m. in Ocean Isle Beach, NC.
Our leader will be Deb Guess, a full-time jewelry and mixed media artist, producing artwork for galleries and teaching in the Soul Whispers Arts studio. Her passion is helping folks make connec-tions between creativity and personal spirituality. Deb previously taught a class focused on food and faith at the Annual Recreation Workshop at Montreat. She is excited about guiding our discussions about the theology of the table as we cook and share meals together.
This year we will head to the beach, with time to walk along the water, relax on the oceanfront deck or take a dip in the private pool. This retreat is designed to remind us that God speaks to us during the pauses of our lives; when we “retreat,” we are honoring the God-given gift of Sabbath.
Registration begins February 1, and you may register online at http://goo.gl/VKoSlM or through paper forms available in the church office. Cost for the retreat includes lodging for two nights, private bath, meals and retreat materials: $150 per person for one King, two people or $220 per person for two Queens, two people. Scholarships are available.
Please contact Kate Fiedler Boswell at [email protected] or (919) 929-2102, ext. 130.
Get to Know UPC S taf f Meet Emily Brawley. Emily is our Sunday sexton and does
many different types of jobs for the
church. She sets up equipment and
chairs for meetings and events. She
directs members and visitors on
Sundays. She helps keep the church
building clean, and she takes time
to chat with members and visitors
whenever she can. Emily helps en-
sure that UPC is always organized,
clean and friendly. This May, Emily
will be graduating with a B.A. in
English and Music from UNC Chapel Hill. She also has an
A.A. degree from a community college on the North Carolina
coast. She grew up on the Virginia coast and has a culinary-
genius twin sister and a bubbly little sister. The sisters are all
very different, and Emily likes to joke that she’s the tormented
artist of the family. She’s a self-described music nerd, plays
classical guitar and classical clarinet, and is starting to learn to
play the piano. She also sings lead vocals for a UNC class
called Rock Lab where she plays classic rock hits and writes
songs with her peers. Emily loves art, too—she’s taking a
painting class at UNC—and hiking. In fact, when she’s not
sleeping, you’ll find Emily wearing a pair of men’s hiking
boots, ready to hit the trails at a moment’s notice!
Emily told us why she enjoys working at UPC. She said, “I
love to fix things and it feels good really good to know I can
help people. A couple of weeks ago I found a church-
member’s earring and was able to give it back to her. Just little
things like that make me feel like I’m making some sort of
difference. I’m thankful to be a part of such a dedicated team
that often works behind-the-scenes. Pastor Dunham, Rob, and
Dennis are wonderful. They taught me all I know. Of course, I
don’t have room to list all of the wonderful people who help
out at UPC. If you see them around, thank them!”
The most important thing that Emily has learned from her
time working at UPC is that God is everywhere. It’s so great to
have you on staff, Emily!
Meet Brandon Shiflett, UPC’s Church Mouse. A Church
Mouse or Resident Security Person is
someone who lives inside the church,
making sure all is well and providing
safety and security to the church and
all the church’s property. Working as
the Church Mouse is Brandon’s main
duty, but he does other things, as
well. He helps the staff by printing all
the bulletins and announcements for
Sunday worship and by printing The
Chimes. He also ensures that every-
thing is ready to welcome members and visitors to worship
each Sunday morning. Brandon is currently enrolled in com-
munity college at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount
studying to become a Physical Therapist Assistant, and he
works as a team leader at Chick-fil-A at University Mall in
Chapel Hill. Previously, Brandon was a calibration technician
for about five years and served in the United States Marine
Corps for five years of active duty. Brandon was born near
Richmond, Virginia.
Brandon told us why he enjoys being the Church Mouse for
UPC. He said, “The first reason is that the entire staff of UPC
has truly become like a second family to me. The second rea-
son is that God has truly gifted me with the gift of service; that
is one of the many platforms that God is using in my life to
display His grace, love, mercy, character and most importantly
the Gospel, and I think working at UPC truly utilizes this gra-
cious gift God has given me. Lastly, I enjoy being a part of the
great team with Dennis and Rob that keep UPC in awesome
condition, as well as safe and secure so that everyone who
comes to UPC can worship the one true God unhindered! I
pray that by God having me here I can truly serve Him but
also be here and serve every person that makes up the body of
Christ here at UPC.”
Everyone at UPC loves working with Brandon. He’s been an
excellent addition to our staff!
Young Adult Group a t Univers i ty Church Young Adult (YA) is a group at UPC for adults who are out of college and not in the Parents of Young Presbyterians (PYPs). The group gathers for lunch after church on Sundays to enjoy food and fellowship and meets once a month for dinner or a movie/game night.
If you would like to learn more about this group or if you would like to be added to their email list, please contact the group’s coordinator, Chelsey McElwee, at [email protected] or contact the group’s staff liaison, Kate Fiedler Boswell, at [email protected].