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Sunday Worship, March 10th, 2024
at 10:30 am
The Well-Tempered Temper Tantrum
Rev. Mike Morran
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Join us on
Sunday, March 10th at 10:30 am.
This morning will consider anger: the what, why, how, and misunderstandings of being ticked off.
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With great sadness, we note the passing of
Ed Wasson
on
February 29th
. Ed is survived by his wife Jane Wasson, daughters Kate, Page, Maria, and son John. No date has been set for a memorial service yet. Cards and condolences can be sent to Jane Wasson, 440 Monroe St. Denver, CO 80206.
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Featured at Miriam’s Book Table…
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(Thanks to
Kathy Aguirre
for the post)
“Active Hope : How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power” by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone (2022)
The challenges we face can be extremely difficult even to think about. Climate change, war, political polarization, economic upheaval, and the dying back of nature together create a planetary emergency of overwhelming proportions.
About this book Tara Brach Phd writes “More than any book I’ve read, Active Hope shows us the true dimensions of this crisis, and the way our heart and actions can be part of the Great Turning toward healing. Please read this book and share it with others — for your own awakening, for our children, and for our future.”
Find this helpful, hopeful book and more at Miriam’s Coffee Hour Book table.
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Annual Evaluation of First Unitarian Ministry
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(Thanks to
Alisha Bashaw
for the post)
The Committee on Ministry respectfully requests your feedback for the annual evaluation of First Unitarian Society of Denver ministry/Rev. Mike Morran. We have altered the format of the survey even more this year to follow up on last year’s feedback and actionable items, to streamline and simplify it, and make it easier for you to provide input. We have also worked with Rev. Mike to ensure that the feedback we’re requesting is helpful and ideally, actionable. That said, we need your responses to make it meaningful! Please
click this link
and fill out the brief survey by
March 24
.
It can be as brief as a couple of minutes or as long as you want to spend on it. Survey responses are confidential unless you request a member of the COM to reach out to you. There will be members of the COM in the community room after services on
March 10 and 17
if you have any questions, or if you would like to fill out a paper copy of the survey instead of a digital one.
With gratitude – Committee on Ministry
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Endowment Application Open!
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(Thanks to
Nellie Stagg
for the post)
The endowment grant application is now open! Please consider projects and apply
before Monday, April 15th
. The goal of the endowment is to enhance the permanent facilities and capabilities of First Unitarian Society of Denver. Projects will be selected that are visible to the congregation, will impact the work of the church for more than one year, will further the mission of our congregation and cannot be funded through our normal operating budget. To receive the application or ask any questions, please email the committee at
endowment@fusden.org
.
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Put Your Hand Up! Put Your Hand In!
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(Thanks to
Nan Wigington
for the post)
Our
annual auction
, “Joining Hands for Justice”, will be
Saturday, April 27, 2024
. Mark your calendar for an uplifting evening with a dinner, live auction, and an all new awards ceremony where we will honor Dr.Rosemarie Allen (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8nkcRMZKV4
), this year’s community champion.
BUT, right now we need your volunteer time and your donations! Join up and join in. Help fill our catalog with exciting items, experiences, events, and services. Try something different. How about donating a basket from the Women’s Bean Project or a gift card from your favorite independent bookstore or an ethical, public good corporation like
bookshop.org
? Online bidding will begin in April, so please stop by the auction table on Sunday for more info on donating and volunteering. You may access the donation form right here (
https://firstunitariandenver.breezechms.com/form/d4541263
).
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New Congregational Projects and Initiatives
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(Thanks to
J
ohn Vivian for the post)
Your Faith In Action Council members are available to discuss ideas for Projects to be considered and potentially be officially proposed for a vote at First Unitarian Congregational Meeting
Sunday June 2nd
. The other possibility is an Initiative which still is a worthy endeavor, however does not have the same process or level of benefits of a Project. Please reach out to us via
fiac@fusden.org
. We look forward to answering your questions, hearing about your ideas and exploring the possibilities!
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First Unitarian Events Coming Soon
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Friday Lunch Bunch – March 8th at 11:30 am.45
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Everyone is invited to the return of our monthly potluck, Lunch Bunch, on the second Friday of the month. We gather at First Unitarian Society of Denver around 11:45 a.m. to set up, and we generally ring the lunch bell at 12. If you don’t have more than an hour, just come at noon and join us. The food is always delicious, and the company is stimulating.
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Finding Yourself At First Unitarian
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(Thanks to
Rev. Mike Morran
for the post)
A time for seekers, the curious, and those wishing to connect with the 1st Unitarian Denver community, this participatory class of three hours will provide an introduction to Unitarian Universalism and First Unitarian Church. Facilitated by Rev. Mike Morran, we will meet on
Saturday, March 16th
, from
9:00 a.m. to noon
. All are welcome, but you must pre-register with Rev. Mike (
revmorran@gmail.com
).
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A Movie Series for Grownups: Let’s Talk About Sex (and its consequences), Baby!
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(Thanks to
Jane Ashley
for the post)
Join us for a movie, and the deep dive into a thoughtful discussion. We’ve been moved to tears and lots of laughter at our first two screenings, especially in the conversation after the movie, when we have shared some of our own stories. The film “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” (winner of the Palme d’Or at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival) will be shown as the third offering in the RJ Initiative’s film series. Not Rated, Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%. It will be shown at the home of Jane Ashley in Denver. There’s room for 12 people in her TV room, with a large screen for viewing. It will be shown on
Tuesday, March 12, at 6 pm
. Please RSVP to Jane at
jane.ashley52@gmail.com
. She’ll send you her address.
The fourth movie in the series will be shown on
Tuesday, April 2
: “Lingui.”
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Come Craft with FUSD Craft Circle
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(Thanks to
Julie Meyers
for the post)
We meet at FUSD on the second Wednesday of the month (
March 13
) at
7:00 pm
and on the third Wednesday of the month (
March 20
) at
2:00 pm
(this is a new time). All are welcome to come to one or both sessions. No RSVP needed unless you’re new to knitting and want me to bring some needles and yarn to get you started. I’m happy to teach you to knit!
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Justice in Israel and Palestine: An Introductory Course
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This community course aims to give participants an introduction to Palestine, Israel, and the current crisis in Gaza. Our sessions will include small group discussions, critical examination of text and media, short lectures, and creative ways to reflect and internalize our learnings. Through learning together, we aim to build a community capable of deep conversations and informed decision making around the current crisis in Gaza.
Class will be held at First Unitarian, Denver (1400 Lafayette St, Denver, CO 80218) on
Monday nights from 7-9pm on March 11th
. Please expect an additional hour of reading, watching, and reflection to prepare for each session.
Register for the class at:
https://forms.gle/emxEts5wyYZ6SuD37
Instructors include professors of Middle East Studies, activists, and community members.
Contact Eric Kollwitz at
kollwitz.professional.solutions@gmail.com
for more information.
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Climate Justice Book Discussion
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(Thanks to
T
aylor Chang
for the post)
Please join Climate Justice Project in reading “The Water Knife” by Paolo Bacigalupi. The story is a dystopian thriller set in a future southwestern United States ravaged by water scarcity and revolves around Angel Velasquez, a water mercenary navigating a treacherous landscape of political intrigue and violence in a desperate quest for control over the region’s dwindling water supply. We will be
reading throughout March
and a
discussion will be held in April
, with dates TBD.
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Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom Ballot Initiative
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(Thanks to
T
yler Watlington
for the post)
A coalition of Reproductive Justice nonprofit organizations have drafted language for a ballot initiative that would put to vote a constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot that would protect abortion from government interference in Colorado. FUSD Reproductive Justice Committee has endorsed the ballot initiative and is working diligently to gather enough signatures to get it on the ballot. You can help protect the Right to Abortion in Colorado by joining us.
Learn more here:
https://coloradansforreproductivefreedom.com/
If you would like to be trained to get petition signatures for the initiative, you can attend an upcoming training – sign up at this
link
.
To donate directly to the initiative, please click here: Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom —
Donate via ActBlue
.
Please contact Tyler Watlington (
atwatlington@comcast.net
) if you have questions or need additional assistance AND if you do decide to get trained as a signature gatherer, please let Tyler know as well.
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Sunday Funday with Soul 2 Soul Sisters
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We’re excited to invite you to participate in another season of Facing Racism. Join us this Spring as we give you the tools to heal and become a part of this movement to dismantle anti-Black racism.
Register today for Facing Racism
and be a part of the magic>>>
Join us in four sessions to unlearn racist behavior, develop intellectually and emotionally, and practice self-liberation. Registration includes;
💜1:1 Private Session with Rev. Tawana Angela Davis, PhD, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Soul 2 Soul Sisters. Reverend Dr. Davis is a Womanist, thought provoker, speaker, preacher, and community leader.
Read more on her here
.
💜Expansive list of resources for continued learning.
💜Access to our Facing Racism Alumni Network for continued service, workshops and community.
Virtual Session Dates: April 7th, April 14th, April 21st, April 28th
Session Times: 4:00 – 7:00 PM (MST)
Registration Fee: $599
Link to Register
A portion of your tuition will be used to sponsor Facing Racism for Black women, femmes, and gender expansive beloveds at NO COST.
The deadline to register is March 31st and spots are limited, so share it with your networks TODAY to make sure those important to you can join this journey with you!
In Divine Peace, Love, & Power, Your Facing Racism Facilitators,
Courtney Anika, Associate Director of Organizational Wellness
Rev. Tawana Angela Davis, PhD, Co-Founder & Executive Director
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Social Justice Film Series Presents – “The Monk and the Gun”
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(Thanks to Holly Fulton from First Universalist for the post)
Social Justice Film Series presents “The Monk and the Gun”,
Friday, April 5th, 2024
First Plymouth Congregational Church, Room 212
3501 S. Colorado Blvd. Englewood, CO
S
nacks and visit at 6:30, film beings at 7 pm
This film captures the wonder and disruption as Bhutan becomes one of the world’s youngest democracies. Known throughout the world for its extraordinary beauty and its emphasis on Gross National Happiness, the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan was the last nation to connect to the internet and television. And if that weren’t enough change, the King announced shortly afterwards that he would cede his power to the people via their vote and a new form of government: Democracy. An elderly lama, recognizing that extraordinary change is about to sweep through his country, is troubled by the possible outcomes. He instructs his young disciple Tashi to set forth into the kingdom and bring him two guns before the full moon to “set it right.” The young monk is perplexed by his guru’s request, and his familiarity with guns is based solely on images from the only film available on television: James Bond. His quest brings him into contact with a scheming American gun collector Ron (Harry Einhorn), leading to a most unexpected outcome.
Watch the trailer for
The Monk and the Gun
here
.
The Social Justice film series is co-partnered by First Plymouth and our neighbors, First Universalist Church.
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The Larger Unitarian Universalist Community
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Registration Open for Pacific Western Regional Assembly – April 19th and 20th
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t’s time to get together!
Registration is open for our Pacific Western Regional Assembly this
April 19th and 20th!
People can attend either in person, at
First Universalist in Denver
, or remotely. We are planning a family friendly event and children are welcome. This is a great chance to connect with our larger faith and connect with new and old friends.
Stay up to date on all the PWR RA Plans
here
.
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2024 General Assembly Registration is Now Open!
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Represent us at the UUA General Assembly!
The Unitarian Universalist Association’s (UUA) national meeting of UU congregations is an all-virtual event this year. You can participate from the comfort of your own couch from
June 20-23, 2024
.
As a member congregation of the UUA, First Unitarian Society of Denver (FUSD) sends “delegates” to this event, which includes worship, workshops, lectures and the annual UUA business meeting. FUSD delegates will participate in the business meeting and vote on items that impact all member congregations.
If you are interested in serving as an FUSD delegate at the 2024 General Assembly, please reach out to Coral Cosway at
President@fusden.org
.
Adult registration is $280 and includes access to the live sessions, on-demand programming, featured speakers and major worships. There is also an option to register for only the annual business meeting portion of the event for free (or a donation amount of your choice). You can review the
program and schedule
and visit the UUA’s
General Assembly webpage
for more information.
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Pacific Western Region – March Newsletter
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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 March newsletter.
Additionally, you can visit the Unitarian Universalist Association web site at
https://www.uua.org/
for information at the association level.
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Side with Love
is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. It is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and all are welcome to join.
Subscribe
to get updates.
After closing out this year’s
30 Days of Love
, Side With Love is looking forward to exciting opportunities for faith-filled action this spring. Starting March 6, we have a range of offerings that we hope will ground you and help sustain your commitment to liberation, democracy, and justice. Please join us and share with your congregation!
The link for the March newsletter is
here
.
If you haven’t already heard,
we’re getting ready to activate every corner of our faith for UU the Vote 2024
. This year, we will mobilize our friends, our neighbors, and our fellow UUs to generate a groundswell of democratic action and leadership towards a thriving future beyond November 5. If you aren’t already subscribed to our UU the Vote newsletters,
you can sign up for updates here
.
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First Unitarian Information
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First Unitarian – Calendaring and Room Reservations
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(Thanks to
Rhonda Williamson
, Congregational Administrator, for the post)
To Request
an event addition to the First Unitarian calendar and to request a room reservation:
- To add a meeting or event to the Church Calendar and reserve a room:
- Check the church calendar on the website to see if there are any conflicts. There is a link on each page of the website in the black area at the bottom, under ‘Useful links’
- Complete the following form to request that your event be added to the calendar and to request a room reservation.
https://firstunitariandenver.breezechms.com/form/45698258
Click
here
to access the First Unitarian Committee Handbook.
Feel free to dive in and let us know if you have any questions or thoughts!
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First Unitarian – Communication Methods How To’s
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(Thanks to
Rhonda Williamson
, Congregational Administrator, for the post)
First Announce
: A weekly church newsletter sent out by blast email Thursday evenings. (Also found on the website.) Deadline for entries is Tuesday end of day.
Order of Service
: The handout given at each Sunday service – giving service details, and upcoming church events Request deadline is Thursday at 8:00 am.
Please complete the form at the link below to submit announcements for either or both First Announce and Order of Service
– select both options on the form.
https://firstunitariandenver.breezechms.com/form/e50206
Click
here
to access the First Unitarian Committee Handbook.
Feel free to dive in and let us know if you have any questions or thoughts!
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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.
- Monday through Friday, 6 pm to 8 am
: (22 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.
- Friday 6 pm to Monday 8 am
(22 parking spaces, except Sunday morning, see above. 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.
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