By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The Carolina Hurricanes’ championship parade starts late Saturday morning at the intersection of Hillsborough and St. Mary’s streets, right on the doorstep of Hillyer Memorial Christian Church.
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The Caniac spirit is alive at the church, with a banner congratulating the Carolina Hurricanes on the church’s lawn.
“Being from Michigan, hockey’s pretty important in my life,” said Rev. Dr. Daniel U’Ren.
He and the members of the church are getting ready for Saturday’s Stanley Cup championship parade. They’re looking forward to having it start just outside their doors.
U’Ren is excited to see the Carolina Hurricanes, especially those players from Michigan, for himself.
“The Sunday before their final victory, I mean, I was lifting them up in the pulpit and just saying, you know, really hope that they make it and let’s all pray for them,” U’Ren said.
It appears that prayer worked.
Hillyer Memorial Christian Church plans to open its doors on Saturday as a place to escape the heat if needed. They’ll also hand out cold waters featuring a custom Carolina Hurricanes label reading “Caniacs worship at Hillyer.”
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During the Christmas parade, the church’s youth group offers breakfast items, coffee, and hot cocoa.
“We wanted to open our doors and to allow people that are going to be here probably a long time waiting for the parade to begin and they need a place to use the restroom. But also it’s going to possibly be pretty warm out,” said U’Ren.
U’Ren said it’s important to meet the needs of neighbors even if they don’t worship at Hillyer.
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“Church isn’t in the building. It’s out there meeting the needs of the people, and so it’s important to us to be serving our community,” he said.
As they prepare to welcome the public, U’Ren can’t wait to see this historic moment on the church’s doorstep.
“We just want to celebrate, with all of Raleigh, this great achievement,” he said.
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