Our mission statement is:
“To guide America back to God through the teachings and Marriage Blessing of True Parents.”
We are a local branch in Durham, NC of FFWPU (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification).
We have Sunday service at 11:00am.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on July 19, 2026
Music Offering 제왕나비 (Monarch Butterfly)
Lyrics
Sermon
Sunday School: Moral lesson from the Japanese folktale “Stonecutter"
A poor but skilled stonecutter named Tasaku lives on a mountainside, always wishing he were someone else. A mountain spirit grants his wishes in a chain of escalating desires.
Realizing a humble stonecutter can carve away a mountain, he wishes to be himself again — and finally finds contentment in who he already was.
Three takeaways:
You already have worth — you don't need to be someone else to matter
Comparison steals joy — always wanting what others have never satisfies
You have a purpose — God gave you your own gifts and place
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on July 12, 2026
Music Offering
YouTube presentation: Eric Church - 2026 Commencement Speech at UNC Chapel Hill
Eric Church delivered a memorable and heartfelt commencement speech for the class of 2026, utilizing the metaphor of a guitar's six strings to outline six essential pillars for a fulfilling life. Drawing from personal insight and musical artistry, Church explained how life relies on tuning and maintaining these fundamental "strings" to create harmony rather than discord. The six strings represent faith, family, partnership, ambition/resilience, community, and individuality. Each string needs constant attention and balance because when any one is out of tune, the whole life chord sounds off.
Church emphasized the importance of faith as a foundation that sustains through hardship, urging graduates to nurture it in both good times and bad. Family was portrayed as unconditional love and presence—the warm body of the chord—that requires real investment despite life's busyness. Choosing the right life partner was described as pivotal, as a spouse either amplifies or distorts the harmony of life. Ambition and resilience live on the same string but pull in different directions; embracing both is necessary because failure and struggle are inevitable parts of growth. Community counters the modern temptation of superficial social media performance, grounding individuals in meaningful, local connections and generosity. Lastly, the high E string—individuality—demands protection from external comparison and pressure, encouraging graduates to bring forth their unique voice and original contribution to the world.
Closing with his own song, Church wove a sense of home, belonging, and identity, inspiring graduates to “play their song” authentically with all six strings tuned. The message is about self-awareness, humility, and perseverance to keep tuning life’s strings so that one's life resonates deeply and truthfully.
Sermon
The speaker begins with an update on the court case involving True Mother and other church leaders, noting the harsh sentencing requests from prosecutors and the uncertainty before the expected verdict. The speaker encourages the congregation to pray, remain steadfast, and remember that the church’s work continues despite injustice and hardship.
The central message is directed to young people, especially second- and third-generation members of the Unification Movement. The speaker reflects on True Mother’s statement that younger generations will carry forward the mission, then explains the importance of talking with parents about the Blessing. He emphasizes that parents’ hopes for their children and young people’s desire for happy families can work together when centered on God.The speaker describes a regional meeting where leaders reviewed a list of 49 potential Blessing candidates in the Triangle area. Rather than treating them as numbers, they discussed each person with care and prayer. This experience renewed the speaker’s sense of mission: to encourage parents and young adults to consider the Blessing as a meaningful tradition, a connection to faith heritage, and a foundation for building families centered on God.
The speaker also encourages young people not to pursue the Blessing merely to please their parents, but because it connects them to their identity, community, faith, and eternal purpose. The speaker acknowledges concerns about worthiness, finances, education, and uncertainty, but reassures listeners that God sees their value and that they should not face life’s struggles alone.
In conclusion, the speaker urges young people to speak honestly with their parents by expressing a desire for what their parents have: a God-centered family, a faith community, and a life connected to the church’s mission. The speaker closes with a prayer asking Heavenly Parent for strength, protection, gratitude, and commitment during a difficult time for the church and True Parents.
Sunday School: Bible Study - Mary Magdalene
Who Mary Was
Origin: From Magdala, a fishing town by the Sea of Galilee in Israel.
Healing: Jesus freed her from seven demons (Luke 8:2), which the deck thoughtfully explains to children as likely representing serious illness, trauma, or an unfair label — restoring her to dignity and freedom.
Role: She became one of Jesus' most devoted followers, supporting His ministry personally.
Her Faithfulness
Gave, Stayed, Loved — she used her own money to support Jesus and the disciples, remained even when things grew dangerous, and acted out of deep gratitude.
At the cross: When many fled, Mary stayed (John 19:25), modeling bravery and loyalty in the hardest moment.
The empty tomb: On Sunday morning she found the tomb empty; the risen Jesus appeared to her first, calling her by name — she answered "Rabboni" (John 20:16).
Her Witness
First messenger: Jesus told her, "Go and tell my brothers!" and she ran to declare "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18), becoming the first to share the resurrection news.
The lesson repeatedly ties her example to loving "Jesus and True Parents," indicating a Unification Church teaching context.
Application for Children
Four takeaways: Be Thankful, be Brave, be Helpful, and Share the News.
Discussion questions invite kids to reflect on how Mary felt when healed, a time they had to be brave, and why Jesus appeared to her first.
Closing charge: "Be Like Mary" — love, courage, and sharing the good news.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on July 5, 2026
Music Offering
Sermon:Our Messy I Deal Families
The speaker opens by reflecting on a recent wedding anniversary celebration marking 44 years of marriage, setting a tone of gratitude and reflection on family life. The core of the talk revolves around the concept of “messy ideal families,” emphasizing that all families experience imperfections and conflicts, yet these struggles are opportunities for growth and healing. The speaker introduces 12 practical methods to repair relationships and restore trust, such as learning new love languages, being intentional about acts of service, and praying together. This connects to a broader theological perspective that human selfishness and flawed original nature cause the harm we inflict on those we love most, yet this is the very challenge that can be overcome to create God-centered families.
The discussion expands from personal family struggles to the national stage, drawing parallels between family breakdowns and political divisions in the United States. The speaker highlights the importance of cooperating parties, representing “father figure” and “mother figure” ideologies, and the ideal of rising above partisanship toward unity. Veteran sacrifices and historical familial divisions are honored to underscore the recurring theme of conflict tempered by love and reconciliation.
Jesus’ family and his last supper are presented as biblical examples of family drama and betrayal, reinforcing that even sacred families faced brokenness. Against this backdrop, the speaker shares how current personal and communal challenges—such as ongoing legal battles—serve as tests of faith and unity, comparing current difficulties to the far harsher persecutions faced by early Christians.
A significant portion is dedicated to honoring “True Mother,” a spiritual leader who stood for truth and peace despite courtroom attacks and political opposition. Her courage exemplifies the warrior spirit combined with dignity and compassion, inspiring followers to seek healing. The talk moves towards the spiritual core of the message: embracing perfect imperfection (“wabi-sabi”) in families and individuals, accepting brokenness as a pathway to healing through the Holy Spirit.
The conclusion consists of a heartfelt prayer, calling on the heavenly parent for guidance, openness to change, and the courage to embody love, repentance, and unity. The speaker stresses that while the mission to heal families and the world is daunting, it is also a sacred calling that carries hope for eternal peace and transformation.
Highlights
- The concept of “messy ideal families” acknowledges that imperfection is natural and must be addressed with love and healing.
- Twelve practical ways to restore trust in broken relationships include learning new love languages, intentional actions, and praying together.
- National divisions are likened to family conflicts—true patriotism requires transcending partisanship and honoring collective sacrifice.
- Jesus’ last supper reveals family drama and betrayal, setting a biblical precedent for imperfection within even sacred families.
- True Mother’s courtroom testimony exemplifies dignity and resilience in the face of false accusations and political opposition.
- Embracing “wabi-sabi” (perfect imperfection) highlights the power of healing through acceptance and the Holy Spirit.
- The closing prayer emphasizes repentance, humility, and commitment to transform families and the world through love and unity.
Sunday school: Moral lesson from the folktale “The Fox and the Grapes
Story Arc and Core Message
The fable as anchor — A fox repeatedly tries and fails to reach high grapes, then declares them "sour anyway" to protect his pride. This becomes the springboard for every lesson.
The central idiom — "Sour grapes" is defined as acting like something wasn't good because you couldn't have it — an excuse that covers disappointment rather than fixing it.
Reframing desire — Wanting something good (food, success, a skill, a turn) is normal and not wrong; what matters is how we respond to disappointment when pride tempts us to make excuses.
Admit, Ask, Act — A memorable three-step response: Admit how you feel, Ask for help (or pray), and Act by doing the next right thing.
