May 12, 2024 – FirstAnnounce

 







Sunday Worship,

May 12th, 2024

at 10:30 am

The Ultimate Pluralist Practice: How Music Shifts Our Perspective

Brian Stone

Join us on
Sunday, May 12th at 10:30 am.
Music can be a way in, a way forward, a way to different understanding. Hans Christian Anderson is credited with the famous quote: “where words fail, music speaks.” In this service, we hope to think of it more as: where words explain, music enlightens. This year’s Music Sunday will show how music can supply additional understanding to well known words, while also giving a clarity and foundation to new ideas. Please bring a flower for our annual flower communion ceremony.

We extend a warm invitation to you to join
us in person, or if you prefer, you can also participate online.

Our service streams 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.

Flower Communion – this Sunday, May 12, 2024

You are invited to bring a flower (or several) this Sunday to exchange in our Flower Communion.

Featured at Miriam’s Book Table…

(Thanks to the
Nan Wigington
for the post)

On Repentance and Repair by Rabbi Ruttenberg. Is it best to forgive and forget? Be the bigger person and move on? Or is that just a way of remaining a victim and letting a perpetrator get away with it? Ruttenberg’s book offers a tutorial on managing conflict. It teaches us to name and own harm, to commit to change, to accept consequences, to apologize, and to make different choices. Find out why On Repentance and Repair is a UUA common read. Pick it up at Miriam’s Book Table during coffee hour.

Have you downloaded the Breeze app? Do you still write checks? Miriam’s book table is considering going cashless. What do you think?
.

Contact Nan Wigington for more information. (
booktable@fusden.org
).

Upgrading Our Sanctuary Piano at First Unitarian

(Thanks to
Lia Davis
for the post)

Did you know that the Yamaha grand piano in our sanctuary is 55 years old and has never been overhauled? Be a part of replacing this piano with a younger, higher quality, more resonant instrument that will be a joy both to play and to listen to for years and generations to come! 
Read more about this project and how to make a contribution
. Thank you!

Announcements

OPPORTUNITY – Family Promise

(Thanks to the
Kate Fox
for the post)

We need your help hosting families experiencing homelessness who will stay at our church during our next rotation
June 9th – 16th
. Cook a meal, host at the church to make people feel welcomed, set up a room, stay overnight, make a meaningful difference – opportunities for everyone! Plus, it’s a great way to meet other members of First Unitarian who are motivated to help families in need. Sign up to help TODAY by clicking
here
!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094AA4AF2AA6FAC43-49507900-fusd

or scan the QR Code. Contact Kate Jones at FUSD.Family.Promise@Gmail.com with questions. Learn more about Family Promise
www.fpgd.org

Slate of Nominees for Election for 2024/2025

(Thanks to the
Leadership Development Committee
for the post)

The Leadership Development Committee has submitted a proposed slate of nominees for each of the Board and committee positions up for election for the 2024/2025 year, to be voted on at the annual meeting on
Sunday, June 2nd
. You can view the bios of the proposed slate of nominees
here
.

The First Unitarian bylaws require the slate of nominees be published at least 6 weeks before the date of the meeting.

First Unitarian Events Coming Soon





Friday Lunch Bunch – May 10th at 11:45 am

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.

First Unitarian is Hosting a Blood Drive! – PLEASE REGISTER to Donate!

(Thanks to
D
anica Larson
for the post)

Join women’s health advocates and the community to honor and support women who have experienced pregnancy-related complications. Donate for Mothers( and Others) is a meaningful way for individuals and groups to honor, support and celebrate the diverse mothers in their lives by donating blood.

The First Unitarian drive is
Tuesday, May 14th from 9 am – 1 pm
in the Community Room. Register to donate
here
!

To find out more about Donate for Mothers, and register to donate blood click
here
. (Or scan the QR Code below).
So far there are no blood donors registered, so please register!

Additionally, Vitalant served as the lead research organization and coordinator of the ADVANCE Study that helped convince the FDA to modernize blood donor eligibility criteria.

For the first time in decades, blood donor eligibility is evaluated independent of gender or sexual orientation while maintaining the safety of the blood supply.

Call Danica Larson if questions. (303)941-8271.

First Unitarian Craft Circle – May 15th at 2:00 pm

(Thanks to
Julie Meyers
for the post)

FUSD Craft Circle meets on the
3rd Wednesday of the month from 2:00-3:30 pm
in the Community Room. Please consider joining us. Bring your own project and enjoy meeting other crafters. No RSVP needed.

Climate Justice Book Discussion

(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.

Discussions will be facilitated by Peggy Ulrich-Nims on
Wednesday, May 15th at 7p.m. via Zoom and again Sunday, May 19th in the library after service
. Please contact Peggy at
ulrichnims@gmail.com
for the Zoom Meeting ID.

Brad Goode Quartet
at First Unitarian Denver

(Thanks to
Lia Davis
for the post)

Capitol Hill Concerts is excited to offer a “bonus” show this spring! Please join us
Sunday, May 19th

at 1 pm
for an afternoon of creative and communicative music. Colorado’s extraordinary jazz musicians –
Brad Goode
on trumpet, Paul Romaine on drums, and Gonzalo Teppa on bass – join forces with a special surprise guest from New York for an afternoon of fine music. This concert will feature brand new arrangements and compositions for an album to be recorded the following day. 
Tickets are now on sale.
Please note that this show is NOT included in the Capitol Hill Concerts Season Subscription or Sponsorships, and you will need to purchase individual tickets.

Volunteer Work Day at Lincoln Hills

(Thanks to
Julie Meyers
for the post)

Save the Date –
Saturday, May 18th
. One of the recipients of FUSD’s Reparative Grants, Lincoln Hills, has invited us to come visit their site in Gilpin County. We will help with a service project to get the site ready for their summer programs (outdoor and environmental educational opportunities for city kids). Our visit will include a tour of this historic site (the only leisure destination created in the 1920’s by and for African Americans West of the Mississippi). We will carpool from Denver,
leaving FUSD at 9am and returning by 4pm
(it’s about an hour’s drive each way). Bring your own lunch. This is a family friendly event. Let Julie know if you’re interested or if you have questions.

Imagine Camp! July 22-26th

The First Unitarian Summer Day Camp is an exciting opportunity for children rising into K through rising into 5th grade to engage in activities centered around taking action in their communities. The camp will run from
July 22nd to July 26th
, starting at
9 am and concluding at 3 pm
.

During the camp, participants will explore various ways they can make a positive impact in their communities. They will learn about social issues, engage in interactive workshops, and develop skills that empower them to take action. Through fun and educational activities, the camp aims to inspire young minds and cultivate a sense of responsibility towards creating a better world.

Limited spots are still available, so interested families are encouraged to register online promptly. The cost for the first camper in a family is $250, with each additional camper costing $100. For those in need of before and aftercare, there is a limited availability option upon request. To inquire about before and aftercare or for any additional questions, please reach out to Rev. Mike at
revmorran@gmail.com
.

Imagine Action! Summer Day Camp promises to be a memorable and impactful experience for children, empowering them to become active contributors to their communities. Register your child today and let their imagination ignite positive change!

Community

The Larger Unitarian Universalist Community

Monologue Performance – at First Universalist

(Thanks to
Dan Moen
for the post)

Buried Secrets in Paradise. A monologue performance by Holly Fulton, Saturday, May 11th 7:00 pm at First Universalist Church of Denver.

Peter Mayer at Boulder Valley UU – May 18 at 7:30 pm

(Thanks to
L
ia Davis for the post)

Returning to Boulder Valley UU,, acclaimed singer-songwriter, Peter Mayer!
Saturday, May 18, 7:30pm

1241 Ceres Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026

LINK FOR TICKETS

Composer of Blue Boat Home and Holy Now, Pete has been singing and songwriting full-time for over 20 years, performing in venues across the United States and beyond. He writes songs for a small planet–songs that celebrate life on earth and the mysterious and wondrous fact of our existence–songs about the vast cosmos that surrounds us and how we are a part of it all. He also writes songs about dress hats, pumpkins and pajamas, and even love and freight trains just like a good folk musician should. His music has been performed by artists like Kathy Mattea, David Wilcox, Claudia Schmidt, Anne Hills, Priscilla Herdman, Darryl Purpose, Billy Jonas, and Ronny Cox, to name a few. His work has been included in song books, church hymnals, and folk radio playlists across the country. Peter has eleven albums to his credit, and has sold over 100,000 of them. He lives in Stillwater, Minnesota with his wife and two daughters.









2024 General Assembly Registration is Now Open!

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.





Pacific Western Region – May 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 May newsletter.

Additionally, you can visit the Unitarian Universalist Association web site at
https://www.uua.org/
for information at the association level.









First Unitarian Information

First Unitarian – Calendaring and Room Reservations

(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:
  1. 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’
  2. 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!





First Unitarian – Communication Methods How To’s

(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!









Parking

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.





QuickDirectory

Questions About Pledging? Jason Marsden –
stewardship@fusden.org

Candles of Community – 
candles@fusden.org

Caring Committee – 
caring@fusden.org

Volunteer Greeters – 
greeters@fusden.org

Connections Ministry – 
connectionsministry@fusden.org

Office/FirstAnnounce/Rhonda Williamson – 
office@fusden.org

Religious Exploration – Rev. Mike Morran
-revmorran@gmail.com

Giving in Action – 
givinginaction@fusden.org

Mental Well-being – 
wellbeing@fusden.org

Car Donations
 – 
877-999-8322

FirstAnnounce is a compilation of news items sent to us from many different sources. Items printed in FirstAnnounce are for your information only and do not necessarily represent the views of First Unitarian Society of Denver or its members.
Publication deadline is 5:00pm on Tuesday.



About the Author