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NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

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2023 Advent Guide: A Journey Towards Justice for Women and the LGBTQ+ Community

By North Carolina Council of Churches

This Advent season, coinciding with the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, aligns secular principles with Christian doctrine in the shared pursuit of ending oppression. This year’s Advent […]

2023 Advent Guide: A Journey Towards Justice for Women and the LGBTQ+ Community

by North Carolina Council of Churches

This Advent season, coinciding with the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, aligns secular principles with Christian doctrine in the shared pursuit of ending oppression. This year’s Advent […]

2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal

By North Carolina Council of Churches

The staff of the North Carolina Council of Churches offer these devotions in gratitude for the work you enable us to do in pursuit of God’s good world. And we […]

2023 Lenten Guide: A Season of Renewal

by North Carolina Council of Churches

The staff of the North Carolina Council of Churches offer these devotions in gratitude for the work you enable us to do in pursuit of God’s good world. And we […]

Growing Communities of Inclusion: A Faithful Response to HIV

By chris

It has been 41 years since HIV/ AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) was first discovered in 1981. Since that first discovery, there have been many advancements in detecting […]

Growing Communities of Inclusion: A Faithful Response to HIV

by chris

It has been 41 years since HIV/ AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) was first discovered in 1981. Since that first discovery, there have been many advancements in detecting […]

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2022 Advent Guide Keep Awake

By North Carolina Council of Churches

The central calling of an Advent ethic is waiting. But this waiting is not a passive or idle activity. The root word for wait is the same root word for […]

2022 Advent Guide Keep Awake

by North Carolina Council of Churches

The central calling of an Advent ethic is waiting. But this waiting is not a passive or idle activity. The root word for wait is the same root word for […]

2022 Lenten Guide: 40 Days of Positive Change

By Rachel Baker, Communications Director

Christians often use the season of Lent to focus on the basics. Some of us practice denial of certain luxuries and others practice the addition of spiritual disciplines. The point […]

2022 Lenten Guide: 40 Days of Positive Change

by Rachel Baker, Communications Director

Christians often use the season of Lent to focus on the basics. Some of us practice denial of certain luxuries and others practice the addition of spiritual disciplines. The point […]

2022 Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

By Rachel Baker, Communications Director

This Prayer for Unity and monthly ecumenical prayer calendar include by name the judicatories and congregations that are members of the North Carolina Council of Churches and the names of […]

2022 Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

by Rachel Baker, Communications Director

This Prayer for Unity and monthly ecumenical prayer calendar include by name the judicatories and congregations that are members of the North Carolina Council of Churches and the names of […]

2021 Advent: It is Well with My Soul

By North Carolina Council of Churches

How is it with your soul? This was the question asked weekly of those who gathered in the first Methodist societies organized by John and Charles Wesley while they were […]

2021 Advent: It is Well with My Soul

by North Carolina Council of Churches

How is it with your soul? This was the question asked weekly of those who gathered in the first Methodist societies organized by John and Charles Wesley while they were […]

2021 Death Penalty Abolition Sabbath Toolkit

By North Carolina Council of Churches

The North Carolina Council of Churches is promoting the weekend of Oct. 8-10, 2021, as Death Penalty Abolition Sabbath and are encouraging all faith communities to learn, preach, and pray […]

2021 Death Penalty Abolition Sabbath Toolkit

by North Carolina Council of Churches

The North Carolina Council of Churches is promoting the weekend of Oct. 8-10, 2021, as Death Penalty Abolition Sabbath and are encouraging all faith communities to learn, preach, and pray […]

2021 Lenten Guide: Enough for All

By North Carolina Council of Churches

How much is enough? Scripture has a treasure trove of advice for defining enough and even more advice on how to make sure everyone has enough. And not merely enough […]

2021 Lenten Guide: Enough for All

by North Carolina Council of Churches

How much is enough? Scripture has a treasure trove of advice for defining enough and even more advice on how to make sure everyone has enough. And not merely enough […]

2020 Advent Guide: The Heart of the Work

By North Carolina Council of Churches

As I write these words (early enough for compilation, printing, and delivery into your hands), we are all watching polls, listening to commentators, and considering how best to cast a […]

2020 Advent Guide: The Heart of the Work

by North Carolina Council of Churches

As I write these words (early enough for compilation, printing, and delivery into your hands), we are all watching polls, listening to commentators, and considering how best to cast a […]

2020 Lenten Guide: Power Made Perfect in Weakness

By North Carolina Council of Churches

God does not look for perfection in God’s disciples. Instead, God only looks for openness to God’s grace, which is all God needs to turn weakness into something great. This […]

2020 Lenten Guide: Power Made Perfect in Weakness

by North Carolina Council of Churches

God does not look for perfection in God’s disciples. Instead, God only looks for openness to God’s grace, which is all God needs to turn weakness into something great. This […]

2019 Advent Guide: Cultivating Care for Creation

By Rachel Baker, Communications Director

This advent season, the Council decided our theme would be focused on Climate Change. As people of faith, we proclaim our belief that our world is God’s creation, that God […]

2019 Advent Guide: Cultivating Care for Creation

by Rachel Baker, Communications Director

This advent season, the Council decided our theme would be focused on Climate Change. As people of faith, we proclaim our belief that our world is God’s creation, that God […]

2019 Lenten Reflection Guide: Waiting

By North Carolina Council of Churches

The liturgical season of Lent is all about waiting. Waiting for the day when God’s peace overcomes the chaos of the world. Waiting for justice in the midst of injustice. […]

2019 Lenten Reflection Guide: Waiting

by North Carolina Council of Churches

The liturgical season of Lent is all about waiting. Waiting for the day when God’s peace overcomes the chaos of the world. Waiting for justice in the midst of injustice. […]

2018 Advent Guide: My Soul Magnifies the Lord

By Rachel Baker, Communications Director

The lectionary readings for this advent season bring us Luke’s account of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. In that narrative, we have a beautiful piece of prose penned to […]

2018 Advent Guide: My Soul Magnifies the Lord

by Rachel Baker, Communications Director

The lectionary readings for this advent season bring us Luke’s account of the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. In that narrative, we have a beautiful piece of prose penned to […]

Earth Sabbath Celebrations

By Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

Growing out of the Earth Contemplations held in Asheville in 2009-2010, the Earth Sabbath Celebrations are contemplative and experiential services which utilize community building exercises, readings from many faith traditions, […]

Earth Sabbath Celebrations

by Susannah Tuttle, Eco-Justice Connection Director

Growing out of the Earth Contemplations held in Asheville in 2009-2010, the Earth Sabbath Celebrations are contemplative and experiential services which utilize community building exercises, readings from many faith traditions, […]

2019 Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

By Andrew Hudgins, Program Associate for Operations

This Prayer for Unity and monthly ecumenical prayer calendar include by name the judicatories and congregations that are members of the North Carolina Council of Churches and the names of […]

2019 Ecumenical Prayer Calendar

by Andrew Hudgins, Program Associate for Operations

This Prayer for Unity and monthly ecumenical prayer calendar include by name the judicatories and congregations that are members of the North Carolina Council of Churches and the names of […]

2017 Advent Guide: A Season of Hope

By Rachel Baker, Communications Director

The theme for our Advent Guide this year is hope. After considering various themes, we chose hope for the reminder of eternal Hope rather than the spurts of an optimistic outlook. We […]

2017 Advent Guide: A Season of Hope

by Rachel Baker, Communications Director

The theme for our Advent Guide this year is hope. After considering various themes, we chose hope for the reminder of eternal Hope rather than the spurts of an optimistic outlook. We […]

2017 Lenten Guide: Sing With Us

By North Carolina Council of Churches

For this year’s Lenten Guide, each member of the Council staff chose a verse from a favorite hymn to write about. We will post their reflections throughout Lent, for Ash […]

2017 Lenten Guide: Sing With Us

by North Carolina Council of Churches

For this year’s Lenten Guide, each member of the Council staff chose a verse from a favorite hymn to write about. We will post their reflections throughout Lent, for Ash […]

2016 Advent Guide: How Will We Welcome the Prince of Peace

By North Carolina Council of Churches

The NC Council of Churches has never taken peace for granted. Indeed, along with our work in opposition to violence, there has long been the recognition that peace manifests itself […]

2016 Advent Guide: How Will We Welcome the Prince of Peace

by North Carolina Council of Churches

The NC Council of Churches has never taken peace for granted. Indeed, along with our work in opposition to violence, there has long been the recognition that peace manifests itself […]

2016 Lenten Guide: Love One Another

By North Carolina Council of Churches

When we set out to prepare this year’s Lenten guide, the contributors were told they could choose whichever lectionary passage they wanted to write about for their given date as long […]

2016 Lenten Guide: Love One Another

by North Carolina Council of Churches

When we set out to prepare this year’s Lenten guide, the contributors were told they could choose whichever lectionary passage they wanted to write about for their given date as long […]

2014 Advent Guide: For To Us a Child is Born

By Rachel Baker, Communications Director

The Council’s 2014 Advent Devotional Guide is now available as a free download. Each year, Council staff take a social justice theme as a focus for these guides to be used during the […]

2014 Advent Guide: For To Us a Child is Born

by Rachel Baker, Communications Director

The Council’s 2014 Advent Devotional Guide is now available as a free download. Each year, Council staff take a social justice theme as a focus for these guides to be used during the […]

2014 Lenten Guide: A Time to Mend

By chris

Economic circumstances too often define us. How much we do or do not earn can put us on a path that either buffers our failures or tempers our successes. The […]

2014 Lenten Guide: A Time to Mend

by chris

Economic circumstances too often define us. How much we do or do not earn can put us on a path that either buffers our failures or tempers our successes. The […]

2013 God With Us: A Social Justice Advent Guide for Families

By chris

Because the season of Advent is a time of awaiting the Christ child and the risen Christ, it is a perfect time to think about social justice issues. Christ’s ministry, which is explored in other seasons of the Christian year, focuses on lifting up those whom society regarded as worthless or weak, including the poor, the ill, the foreigner, women, and children. Social justice was at the core of Jesus’ ministry. Based on the Advent readings for Lectionary Year A, this guide will assist you in slowing down this season by taking 20-30 minutes one night a week to focus on social justice.

2013 God With Us: A Social Justice Advent Guide for Families

by chris

Because the season of Advent is a time of awaiting the Christ child and the risen Christ, it is a perfect time to think about social justice issues. Christ’s ministry, which is explored in other seasons of the Christian year, focuses on lifting up those whom society regarded as worthless or weak, including the poor, the ill, the foreigner, women, and children. Social justice was at the core of Jesus’ ministry. Based on the Advent readings for Lectionary Year A, this guide will assist you in slowing down this season by taking 20-30 minutes one night a week to focus on social justice.

Voices of Moral Mondays: Testimonies of Faithfulness and Civil Disobedience

By chris

The NC Council of Churches is proud to publish this brand new collection of testimonies from Moral Mondays. With 32 short vignettes from North Carolinians across the state, Voices of […]

Voices of Moral Mondays: Testimonies of Faithfulness and Civil Disobedience

by chris

The NC Council of Churches is proud to publish this brand new collection of testimonies from Moral Mondays. With 32 short vignettes from North Carolinians across the state, Voices of […]

For You Were Once a Stranger: Immigration in the U.S. through the Lens of Faith

By chris

The debate about immigration policy continues to divide people of good will across our nation and our state. Immigration divides us, in part, because of both the breadth and the […]

For You Were Once a Stranger: Immigration in the U.S. through the Lens of Faith

by chris

The debate about immigration policy continues to divide people of good will across our nation and our state. Immigration divides us, in part, because of both the breadth and the […]