CVLC-Durham

09/04/2026

Way to go Lowe’s Grove and DPS!!!!

Aja Mitchell connected CVLC to the then brand new Lowe’s Grove PTA years ago. It’s been a pleasure working with Tomeka Everett, the PTA president. We are planning to be there again on God’s Work Our Hands Sunday, September 13th.

For the first time in more than a decade, no public schools in Durham received an “F” performance grade in the state’s latest data report.

One school celebrating the success is Lowe’s Grove Middle, which is making strides in performance and proficiency. Students and staff at Lowe’s Grove said that sometimes their school gets a bad rap.

Hear from students, teachers and more about what learning is like at Lowe's Grove Middle in 2026 here: https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/durham-county-news/lowes-grove-middle-moves-out-of-low-performing-status-as-no-durham-schools-get-f-grade/

09/03/2026

“Well done Good and Faithful servant.” This Sunday at 10 AM will be last time we gather around these worship furnishings. Soon, we’ll have new seating, a new baptismal font, a new ambo (pulpit & lectern in one), a new altar (which will be taller, just not nearly as long), and a new carpet. We’ll be able to accommodate concerts, cantatas, and other community events much better. Join us this Sunday at 10 AM as we retire this Sanctuary and welcome the new one.

Fun fact: in our history it says that this Altar, sometimes called “Paul Bunyan” because of its size, was designed “to make communion easily accessible and do away with barricades to the Lord’s Supper.” We are working to make the Good News more accessible today too. In recent years we got rid of the hazardous steps and made the entrance much more inviting, including an elevator. Now the Sanctuary will be more inviting to people in wheelchairs. In fact, someone in a wheelchair will be able to lead worship when we are done. To God be the glory!

08/24/2026

What a wonderful and busy Sunday at church! ❤️⛪️

Today, Mike Green Sr. shared a wonderful sermon about how faith has saved him and the powerful role it continues to play in his life. He even shared bookmarks filled with Bible verses connected to his message—a meaningful reminder to carry God’s Word with us throughout the week. 📖

Near the end of worship, we gathered at the baptismal font for a Backpack Blessing! 🎒 Everyone received a backpack tag that says, “God’s got your back,” and we loved seeing all the different things people brought to be blessed. And yes—even a toolbox made its way up for a blessing! 🧰😊

After worship, we welcomed our aspiring members and their sponsors to their first New Members Class! We’re so excited to continue getting to know them and walk alongside them as they prepare to officially become members of our church on September 20. ❤️

What a full, joyful day of faith, fellowship, and growing together as a church family!

08/23/2026

What a FUN weekend at CVLC! 🎉🎬🍰

Friday night, we kicked things off with our Movie & Pie Night, and it was a big success! We had 26 people, 16 pies, and plenty of ice cream. Wow!! 🍨🥧 Thank you to our wonderful team members and Jeff Scott for showing the film "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture", all of our amazing pie makers, and everyone who came out and made the evening so lively and meaningful.

If you missed the movie, you can still watch it! "1946" is available to rent on YouTube for $3.99.

Our Expanding Our Welcome group also has more events coming up! Our next gathering will be Wednesday, September 23 at 7:30PM on Zoom, where we’ll study a Reconciling Works brochure about sexual orientation and gender identity, along with information about gender pronouns.

In future gatherings, we’ll explore topics including sexual orientation, what happens to families when a child comes out, building confidence when talking with LGBTQ+ people, stereotypes, and a Bible study looking at verses that have long been used to “clobber” LGBTQ+ people and keep them from churches. We hope you’ll join us for these opportunities to learn, ask questions, and grow together. ❤️

Then on Saturday, we had our White Elephant Bingo Night! 🎉 We enjoyed snacks, lots of different variations of bingo, plenty of winners, and some VERY fun prizes—including a blanket, candle holders, sourdough starter, cookie dough, popcorn, a lamp, a windshield cover, and plenty more! 😂

A huge thank you to our bingo callers Tammy Justice, Brooklyn Justice, and Pastor Ben Krey—you all did a fantastic job keeping the games moving and everyone entertained! 👏

We had such a great weekend together, and we can’t wait for the next one. Stay tuned for our next game night! 🎲❤️

08/20/2026

The first step of our sanctuary renovation is officially done—and it went very smoothly! We wrapped up by noon, thanks to everyone who pitched in and helped make the work a little easier.

Of course, every good renovation comes with a few surprises. Once the risers came out, we uncovered even more than we expected, including an exposed exhaust pipe that had been hiding underneath. Now we have a new opportunity to figure out the best solution for it! 😄

There’s still plenty of work ahead, and some parts will take time, but we’re excited to see the progress already happening. We’re also sure the band is looking forward to moving into their new home!

One step at a time, we’ll get it done. Thank you to everyone helping make this renovation possible! ❤️

08/18/2026

Today, we had the opportunity to set up a teacher school supply table at Lowes Grove Middle School, and we were blown away by the gratitude and excitement from the teachers! We collected a TON of school supplies to help stock their classrooms and support the incredible work they do every day. ❤️

But our support doesn’t stop at the beginning of the school year! Supplies often run out halfway through the year, and by then, teachers can easily be forgotten after the excitement of back-to-school season has passed. That’s why we’re planning another school supply drive in December, right around Christmas break, to help refresh classroom supplies and give teachers a boost heading into the second semester. 🎄📓✏️

Thank you to everyone who donated and helped make today possible! We’re grateful to be able to support our teachers and remind them that their community sees, appreciates, and cares about them. 💙

08/16/2026

🎬🥧 A FULL WEEKEND OF FUN AT CVLC! 🥧🎲
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered!

Friday, August 21 | 6:00–9:00 PM
Join us for a special movie night featuring 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture, a documentary exploring the history and impact of the translation that introduced the word “homosexual” into some English Bibles. This event is part of our ongoing work to expand and strengthen our relationship with the LGBTQ+ community through our Expanding Our Welcome Team. Pie will be served from 6:00–6:30 PM, followed by the movie from 6:30–9:00 PM. Come ready to watch, learn, and have meaningful conversation together.

Saturday, August 22 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Then come back the next day for White Elephant Bingo Night! 🎉 Bring a prize to exchange in classic white-elephant fashion, enjoy some snacks, and have fun playing bingo with friends.

Two days, two great events, and plenty of opportunities to connect with your CVLC family! Come fill up your empty weekend with fun, fellowship, and maybe a little friendly competition. ❤️

08/12/2026

As summer winds down and new routines begin, we invite you to bring a little piece of your everyday life into worship. 🎒💼👜
On Sunday, August 23, bring the bag, case, or toolbox you carry throughout your week as we offer a special blessing for our work, learning, and daily callings. Whether you're headed back to school, returning to work, or simply carrying the responsibilities of everyday life, there’s a place for you in this blessing.
Come as you are—and bring what you carry. ❤️

08/03/2026

Our friends at South Durham Church, one of our neighboring churches here in Durham, are serving at Lowe’s Grove Middle School this week, and they could use our help!

Because Lowe’s Grove serves as their worship space, they are spending this week (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.) caring for the campus through a variety of projects. Today volunteers have been spreading and raking mulch, picking up trash, clearing dead trees and brush, and even prayer walking around the school. No matter your age or ability, there is a way for everyone to serve!

If you have even a few hours to spare this week, we encourage you to join them. There is no commitment to stay all day—come whenever you’re able! Breakfast, lunch, snacks, fresh fruit, and plenty of water are generously provided by local restaurants, grocery stores, and community partners.

Let’s show our support for our neighbors and help care for the place they call their church home. If you’re able to lend a hand, please sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Qqfe96wZUUi3h3KqKkOwTV9TTuYFndy00AXWhAu4hno/viewform?ts=6a61874c&edit_requested=true

Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ in our community! This is a great way to show your support and serve God!

07/20/2026

What a joyful weekend at CVLC! ❤️🎄☀️

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas in July, and it was such a blessing to see so many kids and families join us! As we celebrated the birth of Jesus, we also embraced the spirit of giving. Just as the wise men brought gifts to honor the Christ child, our church came together to donate food for the Park Town Food Hub, sharing Christ's love with our neighbors in a tangible way.

This celebration was the perfect conclusion to an incredible week of Music Camp, which wrapped up on Friday. Throughout the week, our campers explored the story of Christmas and the wonder of the Incarnation—how God came down to dwell with us in Jesus. Seeing those same truths continue into our worship service made for a meaningful weekend of celebrating God's greatest gift.

Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and helped make this weekend so special. May we continue to live out the joy, generosity, and hope of Christmas all year long! 🎁✨