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The Whole Souul Living Theme for November is Change
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Sunday Worship –
November 20th 10:00 am
Threads of Reformation
by Rev. Mike Morran
By request, this Sunday we will explore the theological/historical roots of Unitarianism and Universalism.
We have coffee hour after the service and would love for you to bring snacks (healthy and otherwise) to go with our coffee!
Multiplatform Worship at First Unitarian Denver
Join us on Sunday at 10:00 am, in person or online. At this time, masks are optional but highly encouraged for those who might have been exposed, might be at higher risk for severe illness, or have weakened immune systems. Our service streams to Youtube and Zoom (meeting ID is 466-677-668 and the password is 454623).
Join us for virtual coffee hour on Zoom after the service. The meeting ID is 912-1732-1324. Come see familiar faces and meet new people.
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Giving in Action – Native American Housing Circle
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(thanks to Colleen Bryan for the post)
FUSD’s Giving in Action Team invites the Native American Housing Circle (NAHC) to receive our third Sunday offering on Sunday, November 20. Homelessness in Metro Denver has seen sustained increase since 2018, reaching a 14-year high in 2022. Native peoples are among our unhoused neighbors at more than 6 times their share of the larger population.
The housing circle was formed in 2019 as a community coalition of Native-led and Native-serving organizations, community members, and allies. NAHC advocates for and creates culturally responsive, affordable housing opportunities and provides direct services for Native American people experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the Denver Metro area. The housing circle engages collaboratively and focuses on innovative transformation to advance economic and racial justice in Native American housing.
Lucille Echohawk, a founding board chair of the housing circle, will be in our pulpit to receive our donations. You may also donate online at https://firstunitariandenver.breezechms.com/give/online by scrolling on the first line to select Giving in Action. Please be as generous as you can. Thank you.
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November Family Newsletter
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(thanks to Erin Kenworthy, DRE for the post)
Please click here for the November Family Newsletter!
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CORE (Creative Open Religious Exploration) Circles
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(thanks to Beverly Bravo for the post)
CORE (Creative Open Religious Exploration) Circles are small groups which foster spiritual connection and friendships within the larger FUSD community.
Most of these lay circles meet monthly in members’ homes and explore a wide range of topics. Many deep friendships and much support has grown out of these circles.
If you’re interested in exploring a circle or two or starting a new one, please contact Beverly Bravo at 303-921-2684 or bravodenver@gmail.com.
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Miriam’s Book Table Returns!
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(thanks to Nan Wigington for the post)
Sisters and brothers, are you ready for a resurrection? Coffee hour is back, and now Miriam’s Book Table is returning. The table’s mission is to provide a welcome station for visitors, members, and friends. It offers pamphlets and books from the UUA’s Beacon Press and Skinner House. It should be back in business this December. The table needs you! Would you like to help woman or man the table on Sunday morning? Contact Nan Wigington at missprothero@gmail.com.
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Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving – November 24th
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This year’s 146th annual Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving is on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, at 10am. Start your day with Interfaith partners from all over Denver in a meaningful service of gratitude. This service is at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, Colorado 80220-1239.
Here are is everything we have for the Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving:
- Livestream link: https://youtu.be/2IXTV8I21sQ
- Webpage: https://www.montview.org/interfaith-service-of-thanksgiving/
- Bulletin: click here
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FUSD Black Reparations Fund
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(thanks to Steve Brainerd, Patrick Whorton and the FUSD Racial Justice Project)
FUSD is now more than a full month into a second round of congregational dialogue about the development of a reparations fund for the benefit of the Denver Black community. The Racial Justice Project (“RJP”) has compiled information and ideas from a variety of sources, including:
- The independent research, study, and discussion of RJP members.
- The input of a Steering Committee comprised of Rev. Mike Morran and representatives from the Board of Trustees, Finance Council, Stewardship Council, Faith in Action Council, and RJP.
- Individual and group discussions with many members of the congregation.
Based on all of this, RJP proposes to conduct a two-month campaign, beginning in late November, to solicit pledges from FUSD members for a “FUSD Black Reparations Fund.” Whatever contributions are received by January 15, 2023 will be set aside in a temporary account of the Church, under the supervision of the Board and Finance Council.
Funds raised by FUSD will then be delivered to the Denver Black Reparations Council (“DBRC”) – a Black-run 501(c)(3) organization created to oversee grants issued by the Denver Foundation’s “Reparations Circle Denver” Reparations Fund. Apart from its alliance with the Denver Foundation, the DBRC is able to receive donations and make its own grants to a broad spectrum of reparative ventures and organizations. RJP and the Steering Committee have found the DBRC to be a committed and estimable group that understands the Denver Black community and is well designed to put FUSD’s donations to appropriate use. (The DBRC also has constructed education programs that they will make available to FUSD to further the congregation’s work in racial repair.)
In giving thought as to whether and how you might contribute to this fund, please consider:
- Reviewing the reference materials here that were sent to all members of the congregation in June and September – ;
- Visiting the FUSD Reparations table in the community room, where you will find a listing of self-study resources and additional literature, including an FAQ sheet — linked here — that offers answers to several common questions;
- Signing up (at the FUSD Reparations table) for a group or one-on-one conversation about racial repair.
- Joining discussion sessions that will be held after certain Sunday services in November and December.
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Distance Walk at Swallow Hill on November 26
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(thanks to Barry Osborne for the post)
FUSD members Seth Fine and Barry Osborne play in Denver folk quartet Distance Walk. Their sound is a mix of old-time folk, indie, Celtic, and baroque, and they have a concert at Swallow Hill Music on Saturday, November 26 at 8:00 pm. With Seth on guitar and Barry on banjo and vocals, they are joined by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Niki Tredinnick, and Olivia Shaw on fiddle. If you’re in town over the holiday weekend it’s a perfect reason to get out of the house! Also on the bill is Denver’s Fables of The Fall. Get tickets by clicking here or at swallowhillmusic.org, or get details by emailing Barry at barry.osborne@gmail.com.
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Our Whole Lives (OWL) Info Session Night for Families & Youth – Friday, December 9th!
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(thanks to Lena McCain, Youth Programs Coordinator, for the post)
It’s happening! Join us for an evening info session on the Our Whole Lives (OWL) programming that we will be offering beginning in January 2023 for middle school and high school youth. Together, we’ll go over what OWL is, scheduling, and registration.
Event Info:
Friday, December 9, 2022
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
4101 E Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80222 (First Universalist Church of Denver)
Youth are encouraged to attend this info session as well. We will provide separate, interactive programming for youth while the adults go over scheduling and registration.
This event and programming is brought to you by First Universalist Church of Denver, First Unitarian Society of Denver, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, and Park Hill United Methodist Church.
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CO Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence – Lawn Signs
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(thanks to Julie Meyers for the post)
It’s hard to believe that December marks the 10th anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting. FUSD has been involved with CO Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence (CFCU) and CO Ceasefire for many years. We participate with them in contacting state legislators when firearm bills (good and bad) are introduced at the State House. If you’re interested in learning more about that, contact me at julie.meyers.md@gmail.com.
In December, to heighten awareness about the growing threat to community safety posed by gun violence, congregations active with CFCU and Ceasefire, including FUSD, will be displaying lawn signs that say “Protect Children, Not Guns”. So when you see the signs outside our building, you’ll understand that FUSD is part of this effort.
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PBS Rocky Mountain News Coverage of Record Sealing Event
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(thanks to Trudy Glidden for the post)
PBS Rocky Mountain news published an article covering the Record Sealing event on October 15. Their article is here.
At this legal clinic there was a record turnout of attendees, with over 100 people who went through the intake process. Continued work is in progress to determine every person’s eligibility for sealing their records; then to prepare and file court petition forms at the various Colorado Courts.
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Racial Justice Film Series – “This Is (Not) Who We Are”
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(thanks to Erica Stetson, First Universalist, for the post)
“This is [Not] Who We Are” is a documentary film exploring the gap between Boulder, Colorado’s progressive self-image and the lived experiences of its small but resilient Black community. Its throughline is the story of Zayd Atkinson, a university student who was performing his work study job cleaning up the grounds of his dorm when he was threatened by a police officer and, soon, by eight officers with guns drawn. He lived to tell the story many Black men don’t survive to tell.
It took a three-year collaboration of two Boulder-based filmmakers, Beret E Strong and Katrina Miller, to fully illuminate how that incident fits into the panorama of Boulder’s racial history and compels you to reflect on us and who we are. The film explores the gap between Boulder’s progressive self-image and lived experience.
This is an in-person event. At the conclusion of the film, Katrina Miller, Co-Director will comment and answer questions along with the film’s protagonist, Zayd Atkinson.
Friday, December 9th at First Universalist of Denver
4101 E. Hampden Ave, Denver, 80222
Film starts at 6:30
Doors open at 6:00 for light refreshments
Suggested donation $10.00
RSVP tickets at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/this-is-not-who-we-are-documentary-screening-tickets-460836834377
Trailer at https://youtu.be/o7Nv4CbS6Rk
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