 |
|
Sunday Worship, December 17th
at 10:30 am
The Friendly Beasts
Erin Kenworthy, DRE
|
Please join us on Sunday, December 17th at 10:30 am for annual no-rehearsal pageant! This festive all-ages service features a joyful telling of the traditional Christmas story from the perspective of the stable animals and lots of congregational singing. Join us at 10:15 am for some festive pre-service welcome music!
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Community is invited to a music-filled, contemplative service on Thursday, December 14th at 6:00 pm. This service features 5 vocalists from our community, Lia Davis on piano, and guest cellist Phil Norman. Blue Christmas is for everyone, though especially for those whose memories or experience of the holidays has been incongruous with the typical, superficial expectations of the season. Our service streams to Youtube or you can click here.
|
|
Middle East Discussion Group – Sunday
|
(Thanks to Arne Carter for the post)
The Middle East Discussion Group will have letters to our congressional representatives simply asking them to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Please come by and sign one during coffee hour
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Thanks to Nan Wigington for the post)
Miriam’s book table had a very successful sale on December 3. Thank you for supporting us. Now we want to replenish our inventory and need your suggestions. Do you have a title you’d like to see at the table? Stop by during coffee hour and let us know what it is or send a note to booktable@fusden.org. We’ll do our best to honor your request. The table will be closed 12/24 and 12/31. You’re welcome, however, to email us at any time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December TUUrnout! At First Unitarian Denver
|
(Thanks to Rev. Mike Morran for the post)
Keep your eye out for a monthly flyer with 1st Unitarian activities listed (see below). This is an effort to include everyone in the ministry of welcoming. The idea is that every month, everyone, and every visitor, gets personally invited to something. Find a flyer, find a fellow human at 1st Unitarian Denver, and invite them to go! Especially, invite them to go with you!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join us for Solstice Eve!
|
(Thanks to Lia Davis for the post)
Gather with the First Unitarian Denver community Wednesday, December 20th for Solstice Eve! Everyone is warmly invited to this fun, free, family-friendly community event, which begins at 5:30 pm with a potluck dinner, warm cider and cocoa, and crafts. EVERYONE is welcome even if unable to bring a potluck item. The dinner hour will feature live music by SPECTRUM String Ensemble, the advanced ensemble of the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra. At 6:30 pm, we’ll enjoy lively carol singing in the sanctuary, accompanied by Lia Davis on piano, bassist Domi Edson and drummer Bobby Weins. At 7:30 pm, we’ll head upstairs to the chapel for a delightful spiral ritual illuminated by soft lights and accompanied by live music, guided by Erin Kenworthy.
You are welcome to join us for any portion of the evening, or all of it! Although not required, your RSVP by December 18 will help us know how many to expext. We hope to see you there!
Please consider signing up to volunteer at this event.
|
(Thanks to Randle Loeb for the post)
Each December, the Denver community comes together on the shortest day of the year to honor those neighbors who passed away in the preceding year while experiencing homelessness. This year’s We Will Remember: Homeless Persons’ Memorial Vigil will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21 outside the City and County Building of Denver. For 33 years, the Coalition has hosted this event in honor of those who have died in the previous year. For many, this will be the only service to mark their death.
For the December 21 event, luminary memorials will be placed outside the building, each with the name of an unhoused neighbor who passed. In addition, the names of the deceased will be read out loud and broadcast throughout the event. Denver partner organizations serving people experiencing homelessness will join Coalition President & CEO Britta Fisher in reading names.
Please join anytime from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21 outside the Denver & City County Building located at 1437 Bannock St.
To honor someone who has passed at this year’s vigil, please email individual names by Dec. 5 to Shannan Webster, Digital Communications Manager for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless at swebster@ColoradoCoalition.org. You can also email Shannan if you’d like to volunteer for the event.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 25th Potluck Gathering
|
Get ready for some Christmas magic! Join us on December 25th at First Unitarian for a festive gathering filled with good cheer, delicious food, and tons of fun.
We’re kicking things off at 11:00 am when the doors swing open, and the potluck buffet extravaganza begins at 11:30 am. We’ll be indulging in the holiday spirit until around 2:00 pm. Can’t wait to celebrate the joy of the season with you!
Contacts for this event are Karen Ray and Lynn Palma.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Still Time to Give in 2023!
|
(Thanks to Jason Marsden, Stewardship Coordinator, for the post)
Seasons Greetings! As 2023 wraps up, you’re probably getting polite reminders from all your favorite charities that this is a great time to make a donation. So, here’s one from your FUSD community!
If you haven’t completed all your giving for the year, First Unitarian would be grateful for your consideration. We continue to stretch your generously-given dollars to deliver the programs and sense of community that you value. You can make a one-time or recurring gift here: https://fusden.org/giving/
And if you are new to the processes for completing a retirement distribution, securities transfer or other complex giving arrangement and need a hand — or want to check on your progress fulfilling your annual pledge — please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at stewardship@fusden.org and I will be delighted to help!
Finally, you can expect your 2023 giving summaries to be delivered (by email) beginning January 15. If you’d like a printed copy, let me know and I will be happy to provide it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Searching for Assistant Treasurer
|
First Unitarian is on the lookout for a volunteer Assistant Treasurer to begin training with our very own Sally Isaacson. Sally has been doing an incredible job as the Assistant Treasurer for almost four years now. For more details about this role, swing by the Opportunities Table! If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you! You can also contact Janet Kennedy or Kate Raabe for more information. To view the job description click here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Giving in Action Generosity!
|
(Thanks to Carol Ruckel for the post)
Thanks to all of you! We raised almost $6400 for our six Giving in Action recipients in the first quarter of this fiscal year – July 1 – September 30. What wonderful support for nonprofits in our community whose work is compatible with our values.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Climate Justice Project – Book Discussion – Save the Dates
|
(Thanks to Peggy for the post)
The FUSD Climate Justice Project is holding a book discussion opportunity in February. We will be reading Where The Water Goes by David Owen about the Colorado River from its northern Colorado origins to its end at the sea…where it is dry. The book is both informative and accessible and lays an important foundation for our understanding of the River that is the lifeblood for much of the West. Books will soon be available in the Community Room.
Please put the dates on your 2024 calendar. The dates are Wednesday, February 7 at 7:00 pm and Sunday, February 11 at noon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Make an Impact On Gun Violence
|
(Thanks to Julie Meyers for the post)
For many years, First Unitarian has participated with Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence in advocating for legislation to help prevent gun violence. Each legislative session, we send emails to interested congregants when it is time to contact the Colorado legislature to vote for or against gun related bills. If this is something that interests you, please email me and let me know and I will add you to FUSD’s Rapid Response Network. Julie Meyers at julie.meyers.md@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rev. Mike’s November Blog
|
Amid the heartbreaking events unfolding in the world today, in Rev. Mike Morran’s latest vlog, he shares the five things everyone needs to hear every now and then. Listen as he shares these uplifting messages that provide a source of inspiration and reflection during challenging times. Click here to watch.
|
|
Reproductive Justice Initiative – Movie Series
|
(Thanks to Jane Ashley for the post)
A Movie Series for Grownups: Let’s Talk About Sex (and its consequences), Baby.
The Reproductive Justice Initiative will offer 10 movie screenings and discussions afterward that explore stories about pregnancy, families, teenagers, abortion, adoption, relationships, men and women, the full catastrophe. We’ll watch dramas and comedies, heart-breakers and uplifters, but all great films. The screenings will be shown throughout 2024 at the home of Jane Ashley in Denver. There’s room for 12 people in her TV room, with a large screen for viewing.
The first movie will be a comedy: “Obvious Child.” It’s rated R, and has a 90% rotten tomatoes score. It will be shown on Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 6 pm. Please RSVP to Jane at jane.ashley52@gmail.com. She’ll send you her address.
The other films: “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days”, “The Surrogate”, “Lingui”,
“Sometimes, Always, Rarely, Never”, “Vera Drake”, “Gimme Shelter”, “Call Jane”, “Women Talking”, and “Philomena”
Dates will be announced and posted on First Announce a month before screenings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Climate Justice Project – Assist Park People
|
(Thanks to Ray Burdett for the post)
The Climate Justice Project of First Unitarian has committed to assisting the Park People in their tree planting mission by canvassing a low-resource Denver neighborhood to solicit interest from residents in getting a free or low cost tree. We have agreed upon Saturday morning, January 20th, from 9:00 AM to noon for the canvassing, but we have not yet been assigned a neighborhood. We will be walking the neighborhood in teams and placing door hangers on door knobs or other accessible areas, but we will not be knocking on doors. This is an easy way of “Thinking Globally but acting locally”. Please consider this volunteer opportunity, and thank you to those who have already volunteered. Contact Ray Burdett at rgb@pitt.edu if you are interested or have questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Racial Justice Project – Book Reading/Discussion
|
(Thanks to Steve Brainerd for the post)
We will offer a book reading and study sessions this Spring, using Daniel Black’s Black on Black — an intersectional, Black/queer perspective on racial issues. The discussions will be held on the 4th Wednesday of the month, at 7:00, via Zoom: February 28 (Intro – p. 88); March 27 (pp. 89 – 158); and April 24 (pp. 159 – End). Participants must register in advance, beginning in January. The Racial Justice Project will make 6 copies of the book available at a discounted rate at Miriam’s Book Table.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Do You Have A Bed to Donate?
|
(Thanks to Julie Meyers for the post)
First Unitarian members have been involved with a Venezuelan family who arrived last December. They are currently looking for a full mattress (and boxspring, frame) for their 2 teenage girls. Please let me know if you have a bed or ask around to your network. I can arrange to have it delivered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pacific Western Region – Newsletter
|
The Pacific Western Region of the Unitarian Universalists, publish a newsletter every one to two months. This newsletter will keep you up to date on all things UU that are happening in our region.
Click here to view the November/December newsletter.
Additionally, you can visit the Unitarian Universalist Association web site at https://www.uua.org/ for information at the association level.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White Antiracist Spirituality – Online Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finding a place to park when you come to visit our urban sanctuary can be a bit of a challenge! We recommend the following tactics/locations:
- Sundays 6a-1p: 3 blocks of the north side of 14th Avenue (Marion St. to just before Franklin St. – please abide by the street parking signs)
- Sundays 6a-1p: The Center at Colfax and Lafayette
- Sundays 6a-1p: (42 parking spaces) The Alta Court lot, across Lafayette from the church. Cars with a First Unitarian Church (FUSD) hangtag or paper parking pass on the dashboard, may park in the spaces farthest away from Colfax.
- If you have any questions or need a parking pass, contact Rhonda at office@fusden.org. Parking passes can also be obtained from the Greeters on Sunday morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
