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All Souls Unitarian Universalist E-Letter
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This week's editor:
Shawn Yasutake
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office hours
Administration office hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm.
Minister's office hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 10am-3pm and evenings and weekends by appointment.
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service this week
this month's theme: moving out of scare city
The sense that there is not enough drives greed, fear and exclusionary behavior. We begin to live in "Scare City" where it seems that death, starvation, feelings of being overwhelmed and swallowed up can lurk around every corner. The Good News is that this is an illusion. A spiritual journey into the truth of abundance of all that we need offers us an alternative vision of where to live our lives. This series, which also kicks off our annual Stewardship Drive, will have us "Moving out of Scare City" and traveling to the vast, open habitats of Abundance and Grace.
2/17 ~ on the other side of the tracks
In Scare City, people are divided in fear of the "other." This makes us over-protective fence-builders and hoarders. Is this any place to live? Rather than offering safety and freedom, we find ourselves trapped. The walls we build to protect become our own prisons. This week we will discover the abundance that comes when we draw the circle wide.
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all souls news
robson arena informational meeting
Colorado College will be holding its second community informational meeting regarding the construction of the Robson Arena across the street from ASUUC. This meeting will be on 2/16 from 10:30am-12pm, in the Colorado College Cornerstone Arts Center, 825 N. Cascade Avenue. If you are interested in having a voice regarding how this large construction project will impact ASUUC and its neighbors, please attend. There will be a gathering of interested community members afterwards in the Small Hall at ASUUC to discuss the implications from the meeting. If you can help with organizing the post-meeting gathering at All Souls, please talk to one of the board members for information, and if you can bring food for the potluck, please sign up here.
go green and clean with an asuuc beverage cup!
Our first order of reusable, earth-friendly, ASUUC-branded beverage cups has arrived, and they will be available for purchase in the Small Hall this Sunday after service. Price is $6 per cup or $10 for multiples of two. These cups are a great way to help keep the Great Hall clean by keeping drinks in spill-resistant containers. These cups sold quickly-only 27 of the original 72 are left. All the purple cups were sold last week, and only a few of the blue and green variety are left. There are about a half dozen each of the yellow, red, and orange lids, so get yours soon. We will probably be placing another order soon, but we would like to sell the first batch before committing to another purchase. Get yours this week before we sell out!
2018 giving statements are ready!
If you made a charitable contribution (pledge payment, Sunday collection, etc.) to All Souls in 2018, you'll soon be getting a 2018 giving statement in the mail. If you've made a pledge for the 2018-19 fiscal year, your envelope will also include a letter updating your pledge status through the second quarter. If your letter hasn't arrived by next week's e-letter, or if you want an electronic version, please contact A.B. at 719-633-7717 (phone) or by
email.
there's still room at the table (stewardship drive)!
We're kicking off the 2019 Stewardship Drive this coming Sunday evening, 2/17, 4:30 - 6:30 pm, at the church. We would love to have you join us! It's a potluck, so you know the food will be great, and the All Souls Choir will be performing as well. You'll hear from Rev. Nori and President Judie McMath about the direction we are taking and the vision we have for the future, and you'll get the chance to share what excites you about the church and what connects you to this community and your fellow All Souls members and friends. We'll have a conversation about pledging our financial support for the coming fiscal year and you'll have the chance to complete your pledge form (if you're ready) or take your pledge form with you to complete it later (if you want to think more about it). Oh, and you can bring the kids, too, because child care will be provided, free of charge! You can find the SignUpGenius link on the stewardship page on the ASUUC website.
fourth thursday returns!
ASUUC's Social Justice Action Team presents a movie and discussion series on the fourth Thursday of each month. The SJAT is cosponsoring the events with the El Paso County Democratic Party. This month's topic is the effects of racial and religious profiling on the community. Please see the listing in the Local Activism and Awareness
section below.
see a.b. in his first colorado springs theatrical role!
Our beloved Church Office Administrator, A.B. Lugo, is also an actor ... and he's performing in the play Anna in the Tropics at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center now through 2/24. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday, with ticket prices starting at $20. A preview of the play is in this week's Colorado Springs Independent.
we're making it really easy for you to come to church!
The automatic door opener for the ramp door is operational and awaiting your touch of the button! Please feel free to use the opener if you have your hands full of: food, bags, babies, children walkers, or wheelchairs. It has been installed to allow the easiest access to our lovely facility for all people. Please realize that the opener works only when the door is unlocked. The ramp door is normally unlocked during regular church services, large events such as life services, weddings, and sometimes during team meetings where the team likes to leave the door unlocked for late arrivals.
If you are coming to the church during the normal business hours during the work week the door will be locked as that is the standard procedure for security purposes. In that case, if you need help with the door, proceed to the top of the ramp, locate yourself on the level platform and push the doorbell. The church staff will open the door for you.
toiletry donations needed
Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence is looking for donations for small gift bags as well as a couple of door-prize items to go to survivors attending a healing retreat this spring. Toiletry items, especially toothbrushes, are very much appreciated. Donations must be received by March 30. Contact Rosie Love for more information and to submit donations. Thank you!
domestic violence and sexual assault women's support group
Connecting with fellow survivors and having a safe place to release emotion and share our stories can be an essential part of healing from domestic and/or sexual violence. All Souls is providing a safe space for a secular women's survivor support group 6-7pm every third Thursday of the month in the Small Hall. If you are interested in attending, please email ASUUC member Rosie Love
to be put on the attending list. Given the sensitive nature of this group and for the safety of our survivors, the church will be locked and attendees will only be permitted entry if they are on the attending list.
used car search
Looking for a 2000-2006 Honda Civic or Toyota with at least 30 combined MPG for $2900 or less. Contact Heidi at 433-6889. Thanks!
affinity groups
our affinity groups are open to all! There is no enrollment period and no fee required. Friends are welcome! These groups share a common interest and provide opportunities to connect and deepen our fellowship outside of Sunday Service. Perhaps one is for you? For more information, please
click here.
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religious exploration
menstrual product and sock drive
Most people walk an average of four miles a day, but our homeless neighbors average ten-a painful difference. Feet work overtime when there's no cozy home to return to each night. Many who are homeless wear socks until they are worn through and have to be thrown away. If you can put yourself in someone else's shoes, you can see how clean, warm socks are a true treasure. And as on the streets or sleeping on someone's couch isn't hard enough, imagine a person having her period without regular access to bathrooms or the menstrual products she needs. Many have been unable to afford menstrual products and end up having to improvise; using things like socks, t-shirts or tissue paper. For young people in school, not having access to menstrual products can cause them to miss school - an integral part of them getting ahead and making their place in this world.
As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every human. Our youth group asks that you please join them in supporting our neighbors in need. You can help by donating menstrual products such as maxi pads and super absorbency tampons, as well as men's white crew socks. You won't be able to miss the donation box in the Small Hall! You can also
purchase these items from Amazon and have them sent to us directly. Please reach out to
Laurie with any questions.
spark an idea!
Inspire others or perhaps be inspired! Check out our
Sign-Up Genius
for RE's 2nd semester.
Any size commitment is welcome. Experience not required. Everything provided. Various positions available. Join in the fun! Contact
Laurie
with any questions.
re registration
It is never too late to register for Religious Exploration (RE) at All Souls. Just check out our on-line registration. We ask that you fill out a new registration form EACH year. Please register your kids (babies through youth group) now so we can better plan, be informed, and keep you updated. There is no charge to register.
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children
Our Air Element class explored creativity in nature. We discovered the Bower Bird and the fascinating bowers they build. We learned a bit about nests and then we expressed our own creativity by building our idea of a nest complete with jellybean eggs! Thank you to Maureen Miller Witte for teaching and to Cathy Mathews for assisting. Our Fire Element class brain stormed needs vs. wants and discussed the various ways that people serve others. We finished by making buttons to help our youth group and their community service project to collect socks and menstruation products for those in need. Thank you to Jenny George for teaching and Linda Rossetti for assisting.
2/17
This will be a Team Game Day as we break out a little fun and play and grow together. Rosie Love and her sister Grace will be our leaders on this team building and bonding morning.
2/24
We will lead the congregation in song and celebratio
n of our 7th Principl
e and perform "We Got the Whole World in Our Hands." Then the Air Element class (for younger kids) will explore Kindness in Nature and the quote "The world is mud-luscious and
puddle-wonderful." - E.E. Cummings, 20th-century American poet and Unitarian, while the Fire
Element class (for older kids) will examine Privilege is a Blessing We Give Away to be in Co
mmunity and the quote "The tighter you squeeze, the less you have." - Thomas Merton.
we got the whole world in our hands
Please be sure to have your kids attend February 24th as we lead the congregation in song and celebration of our 7th Principle and perform "We Got the Whole World in Our Hands."
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youth
yruu youth group
We are ready to launch our community service project! We are asking for your help to provide menstrual products such as maxi pads or super absorbency tampons and another crucial item: "men's" white crew socks. You can drop off your donations in the donation box in the Small Hall. You can also donate money directly or
click here to purchase items from Amazon and have these products sent to us directly. Find anyone wearing a "Sock It to Poverty" or "Free Periods" button to learn more about this project!
7th-9th grade owl
Our next class on 2/17
is entitled Unintended Pregnancy Options as we continue our unit entitled STIs, Pregnancy, and Parenting. We will have one more class in this unit before we start our last unit, Communicating about Sexuality.
QUUest Camp (rising 9th graders to12th grade graduates) and Spirit QUUest (rising 6th to rising 8th graders) is back & early registration is open through St. Patrick's Day! QUUest and Spirit QUUest are Unitarian Universalist summer camp immersion experiences for youth. Youth learn about community, spirituality, justice, equality, and also have a ton of fun! The camp will be held at La Foret, 6/30-7/6. Registration cost is $650, $625 if registered by 3/17. $50 sibling discount for each additional child from the same family. Payment plans available, $100 deposit required. If you need financial assistance to attend, please complete Youth Scholarship Application by 4/30 (link available on registration page). Use the links for more information or to register for QUUest or Spirit QUUest.
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local activism & awareness
Editors' note: Occasionally, changes are made to these events after publication. Please click on the links provided if you are interested in attending something, to make sure the details have not changed. Thank you!
Ongoing, at Colorado Springs Rescue Mission,
blankets needed. If you would like to donate a blanket, quilt, comforter or throw, it would be much appreciated at the shelters. Besides individual people donating, a sewing or needlework group could also help.
Sometimes the shelter sends along a blanket
when a homeless person leaves, and they are also given out to those turned away due to lack of bed space. if you have a heart to help a person be warm, please consider donating a new or gently used blanket.
The Rescue Mission has a donation warehouse one block west of their campus at 111 West Las Vegas Street. Suggested times are weekdays from 9:30am-4:30pm and Saturday from 9-11am.
The Salvation Army accepts donations at their R.J. Montgomery Center, 709 South Sierra Madre Street, near Cimarron, behind the power plant. Best time to donate there is 9am-12pm on weekdays.
***new event***
2/28, 6:30-9pm, at All Souls UU Church,
Fourth Thursday Film Series: Four Short Films. Sponsored by
El Paso County Democratic Party and
ASUUC. Racial and religious profiling is a profoundly disturbing part of American life, present in our culture from the earliest days of our Republic. Join us for an evening of short films and discussion about how profiling based on race and religion has affected our history and and continues to impact people's lives in our community today. A panel discussion follows the films with representatives from the Colorado Springs Police Department, the NAACP and the Islamic Society of Colorado Springs.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Showing begins at 7 p.m. This is a free event, but donations are gladly accepted to defray the costs of hosting this event.
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community news
Editors' note: Occasionally, changes are made to events after publication. Please click on the links provided if you are interested in attending something, to make sure the details have not changed. Thank you!
Unity Spiritual Center, High Plains UU Church and Red Mountain Drums are offering a screening of the documentary City of Joy followed by discussion and Drum Circle, 1-4pm on 2/16. The documentary is the story of the profound resilience of the human spirit; City of Joy witnesses Congolese women's fierce will to reclaim hope, even when so much of what was meaningful to them has been stripped away. Please note that the film contains stories about sexual assault, rape and sexual and physical torture that may not be suitable for children. Love donation requested to support local organizations working to end domestic violence. RSVP here.
from the marian house website
"The Marian House Soup Kitchen offers hot, nutritious meals 365 days a year to anyone who comes to our doors, free of charge. Meals are nutritionally balanced as we recognize that for many of those we serve, this is their only meal of the day. Since 1985, the Marian House Soup Kitchen has been serving people who are hungry in downtown Colorado Springs. On average, the Soup Kitchen serves 600 meals per day. Guests include struggling families, seniors on a fixed income, the working poor, veterans, people with disabilities, unsupported teens, and those who are homeless. Only about a third of our guests are homeless."
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joys & concerns
joys
None to share this week
concerns
None to share this week
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all souls board of trustees
Judie McMath, President
Wendy Mike, Vice-President
Gary Harrison, Treasurer
Kate Harrison, Secretary
Rick Schwarz, Past President
Terry Schultz, Member-at-Large
Bruce Leeson, Member-at-Large
Jim Michali, Member-at-Large
Shawn Yasutake, Member-at-Large
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e-letter deadline
The deadline for each week's e-letter is Wednesday at noon, barring something truly unexpected, such as a last-minute cancellation. Other items submitted after deadline will run the following week. Please help us inform you by honoring the deadline. Thank you -- Tamsin & Shawn
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