The class will read and discuss “When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome” by Richard E. Rubenstein. We will begin this book on Sept. 8; no class on Sunday of Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1). Rubenstein is a professor at George Mason University, and a former Rhodes Scholar. We welcome new members of the class to join any time. Contact Mary Stone to get on the email list and receive the Zoom link. We meet for an hour by Zoom at 8:30am on Sunday mornings.
Fall Kick Off is almost here! Sunday, September 8th is our churchwide Fall Kick Off Sunday. We celebrate the return of the choir, and return to our 10:30am worship time.
Immediately following the worship service, we will gather in the Social Hall for our 3rd Annual Taco Bar!
Our fall Church School and Cooperative Youth Ministry (CYM) program will officially kick off on Sunday, September 8th.
All kids in K through 5th grade will begin by attending the service with their family. They will be dismissed to their class following Children’s Time. Learn more about church school for grades K through 5 here! We also have a nursery available for infants through age 5, open during the worship service.
A new youth church school (CYM) class using the Generation Why curriculum from Shine will also debut on September 8th. This class will be open to all kids in grades 6th-12th. Class will begin at 10:30am in the Conference Room (don’t go into the main sanctuary with your families!). This class will meet twice a month. The following meeting will be on Sunday, September 22nd. Learn more about our Cooperative Youth Ministry program for grades 6 through 12 here!
Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye!
Notice of a Special Congregational Meeting
Of
Christ Congregational Church, UCC
9525 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20901
On request from the Senior Minister, the Clerk calls for a special congregational meeting of Christ Congregational Church on Sunday, July 21st following the worship service.
The congregation will ratify the Purchase and Sale agreement related to the purchase of Christ Congregational Church’s building and property.
Where: BOTH in the Sanctuary at the church building (see address above) AND on Zoom (same link as the Sunday Worship link)
Food and childcare will be provided.
The memorial service for Alex Boyer will be Saturday, June 29 at 1:00 pm, with a reception following in the Social Hall. All attendees are encouraged to wear Nationals Baseball shirts, in honor of Alex’s devotion to the team.
Since 2018, every year CCC has observed one Sunday in June in honor of Robert White, a Black man living with mental illness when killed by police in Montgomery County. This year, our topic is the Christian response to the October 7th attack on Israeli civilians and Israel’s ongoing military response. In Gaza, an estimated 37,000 people have been killed and another 85,000 wounded. In the West Bank, occupied by Jews and Palestinians, Israeli settlers burned homes and shot Palestinian residents while members of the Israeli Defense Forces stood by.
The displacement and subsequent oppression of Palestinians has a long history of concern within the Black liberation movement. See this 1967 statement from the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC): The Middle East Crisis, August 15 1967 (crmvet.org)
Please join fellow members of the United Church of Christ by signing the online cease fire petition: https://bit.ly/UCC4 Ceasefire
We will have a hard copy for people to sign in the sanctuary on June 30th.
Welcome to the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival, the region’s most prolific cultural event focused on the celebration and support of the historic Black communities of Montgomery County, Maryland. Spanning five days and 8 venues, our 2024 Festival is set to captivate with 23 events across the county. With a fresh Caribbean carnival theme, this year’s Festival promises to be unforgettable with lively music, dances, activities, and a celebratory and vivid atmosphere.
Join your friends and neighbors on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 as we gather together under the Interfaith Pavilion at the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival, marking its second annual celebration in support of Montgomery County’s Historically Black Communities. Returning this year, the Interfaith Pavilion will host various faith communities and non-profit organizations, featuring activities like Neighbor to Neighbor BINGO—an inclusive opportunity for all ages to foster community bonds. With a theme centered on “What it Means to be a Neighbor,” this vibrant area of the Festival promises fun and games for all attendees. CCC is an official sponsor of this event.
About the Scotland AME Zion Church & Community
The Church, built by hand by congregants (1915–1924), was severely damaged by a flood in the summer of 2019. The Scotland Community was founded in 1880 by William Dove, a formerly enslaved farmworker, who was the first Black man to own land in Potomac. It was an enclave of more than 500 acres. The Church, currently being restored, is the community’s only remaining historic structure. Twenty-five of the current 100 townhomes in the Scotland Community are still owned by descendants of the original founder.
On May 22, our very own Carlean Ponder and Pastor Matt proudly represented CCC at a significant event organized by the Potomac Association Justice and Witness Action Network. This forum, held at First Congregational UCC in Washington, D.C., featured an address and conversation with Robert Jones, President and Founder of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).
Robert Jones, a prominent author and thought leader, has dedicated his work to uncovering and addressing the deep-seated issues of white supremacy in American society. His notable works include The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: and the Path to a Shared American Future, White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, and The End of White Christian America. His insights challenge us to confront uncomfortable truths and to strive towards becoming anti-white supremacy churches.
Pastor Matt had the honor of introducing Dr. Jones, setting the tone for an evening of profound reflection and dialogue. Carlean Ponder shone as a host on the panel, guiding discussions with grace and conviction. CCC was a proud financial sponsor of this event, emphasizing our collective commitment to fostering conversations and actions that promote justice. Our support helps create platforms where voices like Dr. Jones’s can be heard, and where meaningful progress towards racial equality can be made.
We invite you all to continue engaging with these critical issues. Together, we can build bridges of understanding and create pathways to a shared American future grounded in compassion, justice, and unity.
CLICK HERE to watch a recording of the event.
Worship Services in the summer months begin at 10AM! Our summer worship schedule begins next Sunday June 16th. Click here for details about the current service.
Pride Month is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQIA+ community to history, society, and cultures worldwide.
Love your neighbor as yourself. UCC Wellness Ministries’ mission is to inspire, enable, and empower everyone to experience wellness as they live their lives. Wellness Ministries in local congregations strengthen the UCC by generating and augmenting the interconnected efforts of the people in the pews to provide a circle of care. The UCC is only as strong as its local congregations.
God created humankind in God’s image. UCC Wellness Ministries is a coveted Open and Affirming ministry as we inform and encourage the grace-filled ministries that together enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual health of all God’s children.
If one member suffers, all suffer together. The number of people in the United States who identify as LGBTQIA+ has increased substantially in recent years, particularly among younger generations. Health disparities and health access-related challenges persist across multiple dimensions. Friendly and competent health care is essential, but it can be challenging for LGBTQIA+ people to find. Current legislative actions make obtaining appropriate care for individuals of all ages even more difficult. As allies and advocates, we can assist in finding the necessary resources.
Love Your Neighbor Out Loud. UCC Love is Louder: Love Your Neighbor Out Loud is a campaign faithfully supporting the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of LGBTQIA+ siblings by equipping faith communities with resources and tools for just action and care. Tools for Advocacy – Search by state. It also helps identify welcoming healthcare facilities.
Love is Louder Toolkit #1 Communal Care of Trans & Non-binary Siblings
~ Excerpted from the UCC Wellness Ministries June 2024 Newsletter ~
PRIDE Month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. We are here as a community of solidarity, collectivity and identity, as well as resistance to discrimination and violence to all who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Welcome home, People of God!
