ANTICIPATING WORSHIP...
We continue our exploration of the first chapter of Mark’s Gospel on Sunday, reading the story of the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law and Jesus time in “a deserted place” (Mark 1:29-39). We will worship focused on the sense of “deserted place” as an opening for our clarity of purpose.  Following worship, the Pastoral Relations Committee will facilitate a conversation with Craig in an effort to foster a healthy relationship between congregation and minister. 
 
This Sunday following worship, our youth will be collecting food and monetary donations as part of the Souper Bowl of Caring.
 
Candlemas
     Today marks the half-way point between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.  Sunlight picks up a head of rays and fills the North Hemisphere with a confidence that spring is on its way.  The ancients, when opening up the first furrow in the field on this day, would bury a loaf of bread kneaded with milk and holy water as acknowledgment of the gifts of the earth and sun.
     Others mark this day as Brigid with rituals of recommitment to engage in civic change.  There is a lot to turn our stomachs in the political arena.  But there are flickers of hope all across the land that local, grassroots efforts can energize for hope.  There’s the doctor who moved to Vermont a few years back and moved into a house across from the State Legislature, organizing people every day, hounding the legislators of the wisdom of health care for everyone until the state passed Universal Health Care legislation.  There is the sea change just recently within the City Council of New Haven, CT, where grassroots candidates swept in by simple relationship-building campaigns.  There is the grassroots pressure in our own state to offer some compensation to the victims of sterilization, a potential model for other states.
    What flame within you will feed this day?  What loaf will you bury in the furrow trusting that some sustenance, some resilient truth will, by your toil, break the crust of the hard ground and turn green?

Informal Gathering to Discuss Relationship with our Minister
The Pastoral Relations Committee will facilitate a conversation this Sunday, February 5, 12:15 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.  Craig will share some of his priorities for this year, his involvement in the community and the wider church and receive questions about those things.  You are invited to be a part of this conversation with the aim of nurturing a healthy relationship between minister and congregation.

Weekly Prayer Gathering
We have started a weekly prayer gathering each Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall.  We pray a short psalm, check in with each other, sit in silent centering prayer for about 15 minutes, then prayerfully sit with a short piece of scripture, meditating on words or phrases that capture our attention.  We end with the Celtic body prayer.  Child care is provided and we are done by 7:00 p.m.  We hope you will consider joining us on a Tuesday evening.

Green Group Meeting
Parkway's Green Group will meet on Thursday, February 9 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss plans for the year, including the Earth Day Fair. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Sunday, February 12
We will mark the National Preach In on Climate Change in worship. There will be a lunch meeting for youth and their parents after community time.
 
Race to the Ballot Rally
Parkway UCC will have a presence at a rally about Amendment One to the North Carolina Constitution (about marriage) on Monday, February 13 at Old Salem Square, 601 S. Church St., 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.  We have an opportunity to have a table there to let people know about Parkway, so we are inviting you to sign up for a time slot to be available at the table.  See the sign-up sheet in the narthex.
 
New Arrival
We are pleased to learn that our former Intentional Interim Minister, Gene Derryberry, and his wife, Virginia, are first-time grandparents, with the birth of Virginia, daughter of Elizabeth and Mike, on January 30.  Congratulations and best wishes to them all!

Lenten Carbon Fast
There is again an invitation to a carbon fast this Lent.  You can sign up to receive a daily Carbon Fast e-mail message by going to Lenten Carbon Fast.  The six weeks of Lent begins on Wednesday, February 22.

Church Directory
An updated church directory (contact information only, no pictures) is available on the protected site. Print out a copy to keep by your telephone! Also read through the updated biographies of Parkway members and participants.

THIS WEEK AT PARKWAY
February 5   Sunday        Congregational conversation after worship
February 7   Tuesday       Prayer gathering, 6:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall
February 8   Wednesday  Church Council, 7:00 p.m., Fellowship Hall
February 9   Thursday      The Green Group will meet to discuss plans and projects for the year, 6:00 p.m. All are welcome.
February 11 Saturday      Fellowship Hall in use 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
February 12 Sunday        Property Committee, 4:00 p.m.


UPCOMING ECUMENICAL EVENTS
 
Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ)
Saturday, February 11, 9:30 - 12:00, Shaw University, Raleigh
Join the delegation from North Carolina Council of Churches as it joins with the state NAACP at the 6th HKonJ march and rally. Mark your calendars, hold the date, and come march!
It is more important than ever that progressive people of faith join with other friends and allies to stand up and step out for justice. Please plan to join us there and march behind the Council's banner.  See HKONJ for more information.
 
North Carolina Council of Churches Critical Issues Seminar
Everyone eats. How and from where we get that food, how much is available to us, how it is grown, and what happens when there isn’t enough all have implications for our world and its inhabitants. We need to consider this very fundamental part of our lives as a faith issue. So we hope you’ll join us for the 2012 Critical Issues Seminar, Eating Well: For Ourselves, For Our Neighbors, For Our Planet as we explore topics like the economics of hunger in the midst of plenty, food and water insecurity and peace, buying local, food and spirituality, issues of climate change and personal health, and more.
The seminar will take place Thursday, April 19, 8:30 - 3:30 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem. See Critical Issues Seminar for more information.

Schedule for Kitchen Cleanup/Close for 2012

January	Sandy Peterson
February	Janice Nelligan
March	Ann McLain
April	Jane Crouse
May	Pat Van Cleve
June	Amy Wright
July
August
September
October
November
December

Schedule for Potlucks

January	North
February	Central
March	South and East
April	North Ardmore
May	South Ardmore
June-July-August	No Potluck
September
October
November
December

Announcements, calendar items and concerns are emailed on Thursdays from the church office.  If you have an announcement for the Thursday email or Sunday bulletin, please email Parkway UCC by 9:00 a.m. on Thursday.
Announcements that develop after Thursday morning can be submitted in written form to a chancel area basket before worship begins on Sunday morning.  Craig or the liturgist will then share summaries of key announcements during the opening greeting time.

Minister:  Craig Schaub: 336-723-1395, Craig's email. Office Hours - Tuesdays 9-10:45, Thursdays and Fridays 9-1; Off on Mondays.
Administrative Assistant: Julie Wilson: 336-723-1395, Julie's email. Office Hours - Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 9-1.
Director of Education: Conner Evans: 336-245-3949, Conner's email

NEIGHBORHOOD NURTURE NETWORK
Please contact your neighborhood leader if you know of a need we could address.
Nurture Network Coordinators:  Susan Bryant 787-4562; Amy Wright 287-2810

Ø       ARDMORE NORTH  (27103 North of Hawthorne Rd) - Wilma Lowry 765-2355 and Jerry and Gayle Moore 768-3732
Ø       ARDMORE SOUTH  (27103 South of Hawthorne Rd) - Genie Carter 724-2331
Ø       CENTRAL  (all of 27104) - Rebecca Reel 794-0328
Ø       NORTH  (all of 27105 and 27106) - Bill Donohue and Deborah Woolard 922-0530
Ø       SOUTH  (27127, part of 27107 south along Hwy 52, Lexington) -  Cranford and Othella Johnson 723-1109
Ø       EAST  (Downtown 27101, Kernersville, Greensboro, most of 27107, High Point) - Bob Hudson 571-241-9651 and Billy Muncy 571-241-3405
Ø       WEST  (Advance, Clemmons, Lewisville, Mocksville, and western 27103) - Sean and Janice Nelligan 778-0866

2012 CHURCH COUNCIL
President:  Anne Herndon
Vice President:  Nancy Vargas
Secretary: Betsy Brais
Treasurer:  Ray Crouse
Financial Secretary:  Carol Whitney
    Collections Assistant: Patti Woodard
Education Committee Chair:  Lissa Stiles
Missions Committee Co-chairs:  Vicki Schwartz
Nurture Committee Co-chairs:  Ann McLain, Jane Crouse
Property Committee Chair:  Henrietta Fulton
Worship Committee Chair:  Nan Parrish
Members-at-large:  Gayle Moore, Bob Severs, Pat Eisenach
   -------
Historian:  Peggy Taylor
Communications Chair:  Pat Eisenach (website administrator)