On the second Sunday of every month, dozens of folks gather in Carrboro’s ArtsCenter for a church service. There’s singing, there’s fellowship, there are teachings and life lessons and fun and community and togetherness and humanity.

Only one thing is missing: the religion.

It’s called Sunday Assembly Chapel Hill – “all of the fun and community of church, but without the religion” – and it’s part of a growing movement worldwide. The “Sunday Assembly” idea originated in London in January 2013, the brainchild of British comedians Pippa Evans and Sanderson Jones – and in less than two years it’s taken off on both sides of the Atlantic. Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s Sunday Assembly, first organized this past January, is one of several dozen Sunday Assemblies that meet regularly across the country.

It’s open to everyone, religious, agnostic and atheistic alike. There’s a band playing popular songs and a ‘sermon’ from a different guest speaker every time. The community works with non-profits like Book Harvest and the Food Bank of Durham – and they serve as a support network for each other too. (Their motto is “Live Better, Help Often, Wonder More.”)

Kevin and Heather Klein are two of the co-organizers of Sunday Assembly Chapel Hill. They stopped by WCHL this week and spoke with Aaron Keck.

 

Sunday Assembly Chapel Hill meets at the ArtsCenter West End at 10:30 a.m. on the second Sunday of every month. Everyone is welcome. The next meeting is this Sunday, December 13 – they’re celebrating Solstice, with secular Christmas carols and a potluck. On January 10, they’ll celebrate their one-year anniversary in Chapel Hill-Carrboro.

Get more info at SundayAssemblyChapelHill.org, or like them on Facebook.