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Sunday Worship
August 23, 2026
at 10:30 am
The Call is Coming From Inside the House
Erica Trisler
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Join us on August 23rd at 10:30 am. First Unitarian has long sent ripples of courage, compassion, and change far beyond our walls—but what might we discover if, for a moment, we followed those ripples back home? Who are we, now, as a gathered community, and who are we becoming together? As we tend the relationships within our own house, honor what has brought us here, and make room for new ways of belonging, leading, and growing together, we may discover that looking inward is not a retreat from the work of changing the world, but an essential part of it. Perhaps the next chapter of our shared life begins by coming home to one another.
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We warmly invite you to join us in person, or if you prefer, you can also participate online. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our service streams at 10:30 am to YouTube and Zoom (meeting ID is 466-677-668 and the password is 454623).
Join us for coffee in the Community Room after the service.
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(Thanks to Rhonda Williamson for the post)
For the next two Sundays, a Lost & Found table will be set up in the Community Room. We have collected many water bottles and other miscellaneous items left behind.
Please stop by and see if any of the items belong to you. The Lost & Found will remain available through August 28. Any unclaimed items after that date will be donated.
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Children’s Religious Exploration Programming
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Religious Exploration News
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(Thanks to Leslie Harvey for the post)
Mark your calendars and RSVP for our start of the school year activities at First Unitarian:
*September 12th (4:00-700PM): ReUUnion- a fun, free, fabulous, all-ages community celebration. We’ll gather in the community room at 4 pm for drinks, snacks, face painting, and more. We’ll move to the sanctuary for PrevUU – a song-based preview of our FUSD 2026 – 2027 church year. Dinner will be provided! Around 6 PM, we’ll enjoy a taco bar with options for various dietary needs, followed by ice cream sundaes! Please RSVP
*September 13th: Intergenerational Service Ingathering/Water Ceremony. We will be back to two services at 9:15 and 11:00. All congregants are invited to bring water to add to the communal water jars.
*September 20th: RE classes resume during first service at 9:15 (Preschool-5th)– Please enroll your children here. Backpack Blessing: your child can bring their school backpack for a special UU tradition.
*September 20th: OWL Classes start for 2nd/3rd graders 10:45-12:00: You must enroll your child before Aug. 28 using this link.
Interested in serving on the RE Sunday Morning Team? Sign up here! We are looking for more volunteers to get involved in the following ways:
- greeter at the Family Sign-in table before the service
- teacher’s helper in Preschool, Primary, or Intermediate classroom
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First Unitarian Events Coming Soon
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Seeking Hosts for our next SoUUful Potlucks
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(Thanks to Leslie Harvey, for the post)
Interested in hosting a potluck in your home on October 24th? You choose the meal- BrUUnch, LUUnch, or SUUper- coordinate the plan with your assigned 4-6 guests, open up your home to others looking for connection over a shared meal, and let the magic unfold.
Sign up with this form by Sept 12th. We’ll reach out with details about logistics a few weeks before the October 24th date.
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Revised and Amended First Unitarian Church Bylaws
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(Thanks to Laura Mueller for the post)
The congregation will be voting on the revised by-laws on October 11th, 2026. In preparation for that meeting, educational forums will be held on August 30th, and September 27th of this year after the second church service. At least one member of the by-laws task force and of the board of trustees will be present for each of these sessions. Please review the attached revised bylaws, and bring any questions.
Proposed amended bylaws
Decision Rationale (Blue Book).
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OWL Offered to 2nd and 3rd Graders September to November
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Our Whole Lives (OWL) Program to be offered in the fall of 2026 for 2nd and 3rd graders. This program offers comprehensive, age-appropriate, and values-based sexuality education in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.
OWL is guided by the following two principles: parents and caregivers have primary responsibility for their children’s sexuality education and sexuality education happens through open and honest communication among adults and their children.
Please complete this form to reserve your child’s spot. Enrollment is limited to ensure a high-quality experience, with a minimum of 8 students and a maximum of 12 students per class. Early registration is encouraged, as classes will only be held if minimum enrollment is met.
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DON’T PANIC! It was time to clean up the name tag wall, as it was bursting at the seams. It looks very different and it might take you a minute to find your name tag on Sunday morning.
Blue name tags, based on the current list of members, are on the wall in alphabetical order. White name tags, for visitors and friends, were removed so that we can ascertain who is still attending regularly. All white name tags will be alphabetized on tables near the name tag wall. After the service, you can add your white name tag to the alphabetized name tag wall.
If you cannot find your name tag, we apologize in advance! Please email Leslie at msleslie@fusden.org and she will help you find it or will create a new name tag for you. Additionally, if you would like to update your name tag, you can reach out to Leslie for assistance.
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Sunday Stewards: Love In Action. Small acts. Big Impact!
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(Thanks to Leslie Harvey for the post)
Looking for a way to get involved, support this beloved community, and make some new friends? We’ve made it easier than ever! Instead of multiple SignUpGenius links, you’ll now find one Sunday Stewards sign-up where you can explore all the ways to share your time, talents, and heart on any given Sunday morning.
Join the Sunday Morning UU Crew! Because church isn’t something we attend—it’s something we create together. Every smile at the door, every cup of coffee, every lesson, every note of music—it all adds up. It takes countless volunteers every Sunday to create two meaningful services. And serving alongside someone is one of the easiest ways to make a new friend.
Whether you can greet someone with a smile at the Welcome Table, help set up coffee hour, or lend a hand at the Visitor’s Kiosk, every contribution helps build the welcoming, vibrant community we all cherish at FUSD. You don’t have to do everything—just one thing, once a quarter.
Take a look at our new streamlined Sunday Stewards signup genius, find something that sparks your interest, and join us in putting our shared values into action!
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Help Us Create Meaningful Intergenerational Experiences!
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(Thanks to Leslie Harvey, for the post)
What happens when children, teens, adults, and elders have meaningful opportunities to learn, laugh, wonder, and grow together? That’s what we want to explore this year!
Our Faith Formation Committee will focus on creating engaging, meaningful intergenerational activities that bring our whole community together. We’re looking for people with ideas, curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to imagine what faith formation can look like when everyone has a place at the table.
We meet for just one hour each month, so it’s a great way to help shape the future of our congregation without adding another huge commitment to your calendar.
You don’t need to be an educator or have all the answers. Just bring your ideas, your perspective, and your enthusiasm for building a vibrant, multigenerational community. Please email Leslie if you would like to join this important work at msleslie@fusden.org.
Help us imagine—and create—the kind of community we want to be!
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Pastoral Prayer Request Form
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First Unitarian is a church built on love and communal care. Each Sunday, we share aloud the joys and sorrows of our lives.
If you would like a joy or sorrow included in the pastoral prayer during our Sunday morning worship services, please submit this form.
By submitting this form, you give your permission to have your prayer request(s) read aloud by one of our worship leaders. Submitting this form also gives our worship leaders permission to lightly edit submissions or summarize items, if needed.
Note: All First Unitarian worship services are streamed and available for later viewing via YouTube. Do not submit any requests that contain compromising information!
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Last Chance for ‘Second Chance’ Auction Events!
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(Thanks to Helen Berkman for the post)
Three House Concerts and a Board Meet & Greet are still available, but not for long. Contact Helen Berkman to sign up through “Second Chance Auction”! We can’t keep public bidding open because we have closed the books, and the fiscal year, and we no longer check the website once the auction is over. But just ask Helen at h.berkman1@gmail.com and she will sign you up.
Featured Event:
Saturday August 29. Meet the Board – a Wine and Hors d’oeuvres Gathering. The Board wants to meet you socialize, and get your feedback! Only $20 (or $10 if you are a new member of less than two years). 4:00 to 6:00 pm. at Laura Mueller’s home, in Central Park.
House Concerts:
–Sunday, August 30 at 4:00 pm, Backyard Concert with “Lafayette”. Enjoy great music and delicious eats in Lila Laux’ beautiful backyard.
–Saturday, Sept 19 at 5:00 pm, Highline Crossing at Tess and Ed’s. A spirited night of music, remembrance, and shared purpose as we gather for an evening of classic music from the 60s and 70s.
–Saturday, November 7 at 5:00 p.m. at the Hahn residence in Central Park. Power Ballads Unplugged! Powerhouse singers Erica Trisler, Nichole Srott, Alisha Bashaw, and Lacey Hochman will deliver power and emotion as they sing some of the best power ballads from the past fifty years.
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Sunday Morning Volunteer Opportunities
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Looking for a meaningful way to connect with our community and support Sunday worship? We invite you to consider serving as a Coffee Host, Greeter Usher, Board Welcome or A/V Volunteer.
These volunteer roles are simple, rewarding ways to help create a welcoming and hospitable experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Whether you’re greeting visitors with a smile, helping people find their seats, or sharing fellowship over coffee after the service, your presence makes a difference.
Coffee Hour Host – Volunteer here.
Greeters and Visitor Table – Volunteer here.
Usher – Volunteer here.
Board of Trustee Sunday Morning Welcome – Signup here
A/V Volunteer (must be trained) – Signup here. For Training, contact Diane Hoffman or Greg Wimpey
We would love to have you join our team! Together, we create the warm and inclusive community that makes First Unitarian Denver a special place.
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Attention First Unitarian Drivers: Parking Pass Update
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Currently we are collecting all LAZ parking passes—including both rearview mirror hang tags and paper passes. Please bring your old parking pass to church this Sunday to exchange it for a new one. A parking table will be available in the Community Room to collect old passes and answer any questions you may have.
Due to a change in management of the Alta parking lot located across Lafayette Street, new parking passes for this lot will now be labeled “FUSD Church Parking.”
Please note that the approved parking days and hours remain unchanged:
Weekdays: Parking is permitted after 6:00 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: Parking is permitted all day
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(Thanks to the Connections Committee for the post)
If you would like to receive a weekly newsletter which is sent by email, please fill out this information for our records. The newsletter gives you information about the upcoming service and other events and activities at our church. Click here.
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City Wide Abolish ICE event
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(Thanks to Linda Nabours for the post)
Denver IPT and IDA, with the FUSD Immigrant Project’s endorsement, are asking community and church members to simply step outside their doors on September 3 @ 6PM! Declare “Abolish ICE!” , make signs, perhaps do some sidewalk art and choose from other suggested actions noted on the flyer. We would love if members wanted to distribute flyers before the event and a color quarter-sized 2-sided flyer is available if you email Linda. Remember colored copies are free at Denver Public Libraries.
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Freedom of Speech – Community Art Project
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(Thanks to Nina Nadeau for the post)
Presented by the Democracy Action Team
Artist: Nina Nadeau
The baby in the snuggy wrap was worked on. I brought out the arm and the babies shirt. I shorted the length of the snuggy giving the main character more length.
Once finished, the painting will be displayed at the church and auctioned to support legal organizations defending Freedom of Speech. For more information, contact Nina Nadeau at ninanadeau01@gmail.com or visit www.galdarastudio.com.
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Support Social Justice when Ordering Foods for Events!
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Local Unitarian Universalist Churches and Community
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The Larger Unitarian Universalist Community
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Pacific Western Region UUA – Newsletter – August 2026
View the August newsletter here.
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