logo
Happenings
In This Issue
Quick Links
Join Our List
Sundays at Hamilton
Join us Sundays! We gather at 10:00 a.m. for a Worship Service and Faith Formation and Religious Education programming. In the month of October, we explore the theme of "A Community of Healing." Get upcoming service information on our  homepage and learn how you can help.


Sundays, 10:00 a.m.
8600 E. Dartmouth Ave. 
Denver, CO 80231 ( map)


The Connections Fair is this Sunday, October 2
The mission of our church is "to offer community for connection, renewal and transformation." The Leadership Development Committee invites all to come for the 10:00 service on Sunday and plan to stay to learn about all the ways to connect in our community. Opportunities abound for discussion, meditation, art, music, leadership, learning,  social justice work and socializing. 

Feature Article:


Each fall, the First Universalist Singers gather for a day long retreat. This time is set aside for us to work on specific musical concepts, introduce new music and grow together as a community. This year, instead of having our own retreat, our choir joined with 170 Unitarian Universalists from all over Colorado from August 26-28 at Sunrise Ranch in Loveland to retreat and learn from Ysaÿe Barnwell ... a prolific composer and a former member of the acclaimed African-American female a capella group  Sweet Honey in the Rock .

If you are not acquainted with "Sweet Honey" yet, you need to stop what you are doing right now and get acquainted! 


"The people that participated in this blessed weekend are forever connected to each other through this unforgettable event."

Read the full article about the retreat by John Hubert  here.
Faith Formation and Religious Education
for Children and Youth


2016-17 FFRE Programming 
We have one education hour at 10:00 a.m. this year at Hamilton Middle School for all ages of children and youth. Learn more about the programming for each age group on our webpage. If you have children who have not yet been registered for the 2016-17 year, please do so now with our simple, fast online  registration form .

Have you heard about Soul Matters?
 
This year our whole church will be engaged in a national conversation with other UU congregations around monthly worship themes outlined in  Soul Matters
We are exploring these themes in our worship services and also bringing them into our children's classrooms. Each month Soul Matters offers children's RE lessons and ideas for children's chapel related to the theme. What this means is there will be a connection between what our children are getting each Sunday with what our adults are getting in worship and with what our children and their peers and around the state and nation are getting.
To learn more about connecting with Soul Matters in discussions at home, visit the  Soul Matters website or speak to Aaron Norris, Ministerial Resident.

Find FFRE Online 
To sign up for our e-newsletter, learn more about our classes and upcoming events, or to register your child, visit the FFRE ministry webpage
Children's Music


Come make music with us! Both choirs rehearse at First Plymouth Church on Thursday evenings. Contact Sarah Libert at sarah@firstuniversalist.org to learn more.

Chalice Sparks (Grades K-3)
Open to all children grades K-3. We introduce each child to the interactive wonders of music through games, songs, and experiences. We have fun learning all the parts that make up music and deepen the desire to sing! The Chalice Sparks meet on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:00 p.m. at First Plymouth Church.

Chalice Flames (Grades 4-7)
Open to all children grades 4-7. Our purpose is to continue developing the voice and to introduce children to melodic and percussive instruments. The Chalice Flames meet on Tuesdays from 6:00-6:45 p.m. at First Plymouth Church.

Fall 2016
Lifespan Faith Formation


In this very special year, we are excited to expand our resources in Lifespan Faith Formation. This part of our ministry is overseen by  Aaron  Norris, our Ministerial Resident, but it calls on the support and enthusiasm of all the congregation. Do you think we might offer a particular class, course or talk? Would you like to participate or deliver it? Want to help with the visioning? 
Aaron is looking for folks excited about the prospect in the coming year.  Please email him with the title "Lifespan Faith Formation:"  aaron@firstuniversalist.org 
Building for the Future


The building has been emptied and closed down in preparation for renovation work to begin. Look for an announcement soon of a special congregational meeting on the building project this fall. 

Staff gathered to close down the building and conduct a smudging.

Much of our work is behind us, and much of our work lies ahead. Follow along (and see more photos!) at the BFF homepage

EventsEvents
Lea rn more about recurring and special events and access the full church calendar.
Transform
Building a Beloved Community

Front Range UU Book Study: Just Mercy
Saturday, October 8, 8:30 a.m., Jefferson Unitarian (map)
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
Front Range UUs are invited to read Just Mercy and then participate in a discussion sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Faith Leader Council for Racial Justice.  Helping frame the conversation will be  Rev. Wendy Williams, Senior Minister of Jefferson Unitarian Church,  Rev. Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, Executive Director of ACLU Colorado, and our own  Aaron  Norris, Ministerial Resident. Please come to e ngage in conversations about race, mass incarceration, and the criminal justice system.

Social Justice Sunday 
Sunday, October 9 (Second Sundays)
Coinciding with our Second Sunday Potluck, on the second Sunday of each month, representatives of social justice task forces and working groups are available after the service to speak about ongoing work in our community and how you can get involved. On the second Sundays, we also collect highly-needed items on behalf of two of our community partners: Denver Rescue Mission and Integrated Family Community ServicesPlease bring your donations to Hamilton Middle School on October 9 and place them in the bin in the front entry way. 

What to bring on October 9:

The Homeless Justice Task Force
collects and delivers the items for Denver Rescue Mission, which offers services to men, women and families who are experiencing homelessness. Items that the Mission would like to receive include: diapers; new socks; unused toiletries (including shaving cream); unused hygiene items; household items, including blankets, towels, pillows and sheetsFor more information on the Homeless Justice Task Force, please contact Shelly Dill at 
shellrafiki@hotmail.com.

Non-perishable food items are best for Integrated Family Community Services, our long-time community partner. IFCS needs to keep its pantry stocked year-round to assist families experiencing unexpected financial hardship or long-term food insecurity. All shelf-stable food is accepted, and requested items include peanut butter & jelly, canned soups, beans, and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and condiments.

Social Justice Book Club (4th Mondays)
Monday, October 24, 7:00 p.m., Stella's Coffee  ( map )
 
This month, we will discuss the novel On Beauty by Zadie Smith. It is a comedy of manners addressing cultural and ethnic difference, political disagreement and what we consider beautiful and it won the 2006 Orange Prize for Fiction.  The book club meets monthly and discusses a different fiction or non-fiction title at each meeting, always connected to social justice matters. Newcomers are welcome. For more information, contact Phil Tatro: zharris70@gmail.com or 860-205-4243.

Online Auction Opens Soon!
heart Don ations are in! Thank you to t hose who submitted. We are workin on the catalog now and hope to have it ready for viewing by early next week. Watch for announcements on how to register to view the online auction, as well as buy tickets for the Live Auction and Dinner on October 22 at First Plymouth.

Saturday, October 22 at  First Plymouth Church
Ticket information and a link to purchase is coming soon. Our annual auction evening is one of the highlights of our church calendar, and it is also our biggest single fundraising event. This year, we will have a sit-down dinner in addition to the live auction and entertainment. Have a blast and at the same time help us build a home for our Beloved Community!

Contact:
Barbara Snook 720-363-3559
or Carole Duncan 303-868-0019

C onnect
Recurring Events


2nd Sunday Potluck: What's Your Comfort Food?
Sunday, October 9, 11:00 a.m., Hamilton cafeteria
salad2b.jpg
The worship theme in October is "A Community of Healing." Bring on the comfort food for this month's potluck! We gather for a potluck immediately following the service on the second Sunday of each month. Please join us for food and fellowship in the cafeteria of Hamilton Middle School. Desserts and beverages will be provided.  Please bring an entree or side dish to share. 

We invite  women to honor those who inspired them during a Day of the Dead Celebration.  The gathering will also include a discussion of  Legacy- How would we like to be remembered?  We meet monthly in a private home near church. Please RSVP to Ilene Kasper at
ilenekk@msn.com or 303-887-6688 (directions will be provided). For information contact Melanie Budd  at
mlbudd@comcast.net or 303-328-7545.

Friday, October 14, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.,
First Plymouth Church, Covenant Room
Halloween?  Day of the Dead?  Samhain?  Join us for a lively discussion on the history, rituals and customs of the end-of-October celebrations.  Please bring along a memory or two of your experience of these holidays!
Contact Ilene Kasper:  ilenekk@msn.com , 303-887-6688 or 
Ardis Westwood:  ardisjean@comcast.net , 303-952-9700.

Theology on Tap
Monday, October 17, 7:00 p.m., Location TBA
Please join us for food, drink, and conversation.  We meet at a different location each month for engaging discussion and fellowship. We love to hear fresh perspectives, so bring partners, friends, and acquaintances. This is coordinated by the Young Adult Ministry, but people of all ages participate. Contact Ian Jaffe: ianjaffe@gmail.com for the latest location and other details.

Tuesday, October 25, 6:30 p.m., Chapel, First Plymouth
Singing Meditation is a quiet, simple way of praying for peace in our community and the world through song. This meditative, hour-long service includes simple chants sung repeatedly; rich silence; short but profound readings; and guided prayers and meditations for peace. We meet monthly on the fourth Tuesday. All are welcome, and no experience is necessary.
Community Forum


Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medical Care:
Pros and Cons of ColoradoCare, Amendment #69
Sunday, October 2, 12:30 p.m., Room 212 (2nd Floor)
First Plymouth Church, 3501 S. Colorado Blvd.
Join Vincent Markovchick, M.D., Prof. Emeritus, Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Medical College as we explore a topic of major importance to all Coloradans, and one that is on the ballot. We hope this discussion will empower and inform voters.

Other forums are being planned for later in the month. Please contact Earl Staelin at estaelin@comcast.net for more information as it becomes available:

October 16: Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Kathy Kelley

October 23: Ellen Brown. Author of Web of Debt, Public Bank Solution and others.
Church Office and Mail
During the week, f ind us at our interim office suite located in Kenyon Valley Plaza II: 
 
9185 E. Kenyon Ave., #275, 
Denver, 80237 ( map ). 

This is also our mailing address.  Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Scheduling Events at Church
For help finding a location for church groups and events, please contact  susan@firstuniversalist.org or 303-759-2770 x23.
Happenings is a monthly e-newsletter of events and announcements. It is produced by the First Universalist Church of Denver and is emailed monthly. In addition, subscribers will receive a weekly update about Sunday services and major church news.Our list is secure; we do not share email addresses.
 
Submission Guidelines
Send announcements of  event title; date; time; locale; cost; and contact information to Happenings@firstuniversalist.org.  Event details will be published to our website and highlights will appear in the monthly event e-newsletter, Happenings. Submissions for the newsletter must be received by the 22nd of each month. As space allows, events are also listed in our printed Sunday program.