Seventeen minutes to “Ring Out for the Walk Out”

United Church of Chapel Hill 1321 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill

In solidarity and concern on March 14th Seventeen minutes to “Ring Out for the Walk Out” A compelling youth-led group from Florida and Connecticut has called for “students, teachers, school administrators, parents and allies” to take part in a national school walkout (#Enough, #NationalSchoolWalkout, #neveragain) on March 14th in remembrance of the victims, and in protest against the Parkland, FL shootings and gun violence more broadly. The goal is for students and staff across the country to walk out of their classrooms for 17 minutes at 10:00 am that day “to protest Congress’ inaction to do more than tweet thoughts and prayers in response to the gun violence plaguing our schools and neighborhoods.” We know that scores of students and teachers in Chapel Hill and Carrboro are already planning to take part. At United Church of Chapel Hill we will be offering our support to this effort by ringing our church bell 17 times beginning at 10 am. We will ring our bell once each minute and between the ringing we will recite the names of the innocent who have been murdered in recent acts of mass gun violence. We will also be offering materials on how to take action locally and nationally. Members and friends of United Church are welcome to gather around our bell at 10 AM that day to offer witness, prayer and a commitment to action. If you know of other churches in this area or across the country who might consider similar action, we encourage you to contact them.  

Youth Speak: Never Again

United Church of Chapel Hill 1321 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Chapel Hill

Once again, the national sickness of gun violence is weighing heavily on our spirits, threatening to overwhelm us with fear and hopelessness. And once again, youth are speaking out, telling the truth about their suffering and frustration while courageously imagining another way. On the evening of Wednesday March 14th, United Church will gather to listen, deeply and well, to the voices of our young people. Join us from 6:30 to 7:30pm in the Assembly Hall as we receive the testimony of our youth, lighting candles for victims of gun violence. Together we will name the sins of gun violence and gun idolatry, grounding ourselves in the divine promise of healing and restoration. Together, we will remember our call: to act with great love as God's hands and feet in the world, seeking transformative justice and peace. Contact Youth Director Katherine Henderson with questions: khenderson@unitedchurch.org.