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All Souls Unitarian Universalist E-Letter
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This week's editor:
Tamsin Cowdery
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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
Rev. Rost will explore how the words and deeds of prophetic women and men challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love. When the road is blocked with barricades of injustice, these powerful guides show us the way around to justice and truth.
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all souls news
newcomer covenant group
There is a sign-up sheet, at the visitors' table of course, if you are interested in participating in small group discussions designed to help us get to know each other, our denomination, and All Souls. We will meet twice a month for three months on a day and time to be agreed upon by participants. For more information contact Jo Winn.
Due to other commitments, Becky Harrison won't be available to work in the garden this coming week and again 10/11. She will be working in the garden on Monday, 9/24, and through Monday, 10/29, when the church's gardening season ends.
garden news
The garden is overgrown with germander! Our germander plants have grown into two levels of our herb garden-well past its allotted single level. Becky Harrison will have several boxes of germander, which is a hardy ground cover, available after church on September 16. Look for them under the Spruce tree by the back choir porch on the northwest corner of the church.
Also, be reminded that if you need some filler sand (not completely clean of sticks and gravel), please contact Becky or any of the Buildings and Grounds team. There is a fair amount that can be given away, so gets yours now!
buildings and grounds
Thanks for all the hard work by the B&G team in getting our unisex bathroom ready for use. They also painted the Great Hall and are in the process of getting the new audio-visual system up and running. Please give Bob Armintor, Mike and Kaye Brabeck, Dan Brau, Gary, Becky and Kate Harrison, Jay Hatfield, and Jim Michali a hearty hug or a handshake for their hard work and dedication in keeping our beautiful facility in tip-top shape.
Also, give Gay Harrison a big thank you. She has been hard at work getting the wooden table from the Small Hall refinished. That table has seen years of use, and Gay has been sanding, scraping, filling, staining, and refinishing the table. Look for its grand re-introduction soon, and make sure you let Gay know how much you appreciate all her hard work!
Strengthen old acquaintances and make new friends with like minded artists. This gathering is meant to be friendly, relaxed, and fun. Bring in your favorite art supplies and a brown bag lunch. 2nd & 4th Thursdays at ASUUC. Creative time will be from 10am-11:30am, followed by a social lunch. Please
email Pam Brown with your contact information (name and phone number) if you are interested. Please note that the group will be limited to 10 people, so sign up early if you are interested!
identity search committee
One of the goals of our church is to continually make positive changes in our vision, mission, structure, and facilities. With this in mind, the Board of Trustees feels that we must explore more fully exactly what we want the identity of our Church to be. We have a mission statement, but does it need to be updated to reflect not only who we are now, but whom we want to grow to be? To help explore this, we want to set up an Identity Search Committee. If you would like to help shape the future identity of ASUUC by being on this committee, please contact Tamsin Cowdery. Thanks!
We're working to keep All Souls a safe and welcoming place for all on Sunday mornings. One way to do this is to improve our awareness of members' and visitors' food allergies and dietary restrictions. As of last Sunday, 9/2
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we're making our social hour nut-free (e.g., no bowls of snacking nuts).
Please label your food donations with major food allergens and dietary restrictions (i.e., milk, soy, eggs, almond flour, gluten-free, vegan). Reusable food ID tags are available in the kitchen for your use. Thank you for your help. Bon appetite!
This year's auction is coming up soon, so mark 5pm on 10/20
on your calendar right now!!!
This year's theme is "Reach for the Stars" and costumes are encouraged, so come dressed as your favorite alien, Jedi warrior, astronaut, Star Fleet officer, or astronomer.
Check out the
Auction page
on our new website for more information about this fantastic-and free-FUNdraising event. You can now pre-register, as well as donate an item or event, online. Donation submissions are due Saturday, 10/13
to allow time to organize and print the Auction catalog. Need help or have questions? Talk to Judie, Rick, Marguerite, Becky, Kate or Terry after service on Sundays or
email them
. And Volunteers are still needed!
SignUpGenius
for all the ways you can help
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
shout out
Many thanks to Jane Tucker for volunteering to fill a much needed slot! Thank you to Rev. Ellen Johnson-Fay for her donation of RE supplies. Thank you to Lynne Casebeer for presenting our Story for All Ages last Sunday. Thanks to Richard Stettler for helping heat up, monitor, and serve the OWL luncheon. Woot-Woot to Justin Lincoln, Tess Powers, Mac Sergeant, and Morgan Chavez for agreeing to chaperone the overnighters in 7-9th Grade Owl. You all rock!
We are in need of volunteers to help in RE in October for Contemplate This! on October 10/7 and teaching our Earth Element class for our younger kids on 10/14. Many others slots are available through January. Check out our Sign-Up Genius and volunteer in RE today! Sign up for the topics and dates that interest you most and help grow our young souls.Any size commitment is welcome. Experience not required. Everything provided. Various positions available. Make a difference and join in the fun! Contact Lauriewith any questions.
re registration
Have you registered 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
This was a Team Game Day as we played a series of games designed to introduce everyone and engage with each other. There was sharing, mini marshmallows, tag and join in, and some classic games.
I have never seen such a competitive round of musical chairs!
Many thanks to James Rosario for playing the piano and a big thank you to Julie Brady, Rosie Love, and Lisa Kreidel for a fun filled and LOUD start to our fall season!
9/23
T
oday marks the start of our
Being UU curriculum. Our Air Element class (for younger kids) will be exploring
World of Wonder. It's introductory quote is
"If I had the influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life." - Rachel Carson, 20th century environmental activist and author.
Our Fire Element class (for older kids) will be reflecting on Windows and Mirrors which starts with the following quote, "
Mirrors in which they can see themselves, windows in which they can see the world."- Lucille Clifton, African American poet, writer and educator.
blessing of the backpacks
At this time most of us have settled into our back to school routine. Let's take a deep breath together and reflect on the importance of resiliency and the benefits of raising a resilient child. Children are invited to bring in their backpacks and receive a small gift during the Story for All Ages as a reminder of the blessings we hope they remember to carry with them always.
9/30
Our Being UU curriculum continues as our Air Element class wonders about the world around them and our Fire Element class reflects
on the metaphor of a window and a mirror to help better understand themselves in relation to others.
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youth
This Sunday marks the official start of Fall Youth Group. Bring your stories and share your truth as we do a check-in about summer and school, catch up with old friends and make some new ones. Then we will work together to establish our expectations for our time together and write our Youth Group covenant. Of course there will be snacks!
7th-9th grade owl
Our first class for OWL enrolled 7-9th graders will be 12-1:30pm on 9/23. The session is entitled What is Sexuality. You can check out the Sign-Up Genius snack schedule here. Be sure to get the OWL sleepovers (10/13 and 1/26) on your calendars. This will be epic!
fall, mlk, & spring cons
The schedule is out for Cons for our 9-12th graders so mark your calendars! The first is the Fall Con, 10/19-10/21. It will be held at 1st Unitarian in Salt Lake City with a bus provided for transportation. The next is the MLK Con on 1/19-1/21. It will be at 1st Unitarian in Denver. The last one is the Spring Con scheduled for 4/12-4/14. It will be held at Foothills in Fort Collins. We also will be having a Con for middle schoolers. That date has not been finalized yet. Remember, anyone wanting to attend a Con must regularly
attend Youth Group and notify Laurie first before registering so she can send her approval and make sure we have a chaperone who can attend.
calling all 9th graders
9th Grade Trip Orientation is tentatively planned for in the evening on 10/1. It will be held at the High Plains church at their new location at 1945 Mesa Rd. 10th graders that did not attend the trip last year are also welcome. Look for finalized details to come out soon. More information about the program can be found here.
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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!
9/22, National Public Lands Day. You have two options:
- 8am-12pm, at Red Rock Canyon, come work alongside City of Colorado Springs staff to restore and close an illegal trail in Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Please wear closed-toe shoes, long pants, and work gloves. Bring snacks and water. We will be meeting at the Red Rock Canyon pavilion at 8:00 am. Red Rock Canyon Open Space is located at 3550 W High Street. After entering the park, proceed straight through the first stop sign and continue to the picnic area lot. Proceed uphill on Red Rock Canyon Trail to the pavilion. The work day will run until 12:00 pm. After lunch join us for guided hikes along with other activities. Registration required.
- 8am-2:30pm, at Garden of the Gods Park, celebrate public lands with a day of stewardship and recreation in one of our region's most iconic public parks, the Garden of the Gods! Kick off the morning by giving back to this park we all love with a stewardship project focusing on trail maintenance and restoration. After work, enjoy lunch and then go enjoy the park on a group excursion of your choice with one of our recreation partners! Pre-registration is required!
Recreation opportunities include:
-- Interpretive hike led by the Friends of Garden of the Gods - 12:30-1:30pm
-- Rock climbing with the Pikes Peak Climber's Alliance - 12:30-?pm
-- Horseback riding with Academy Riding Stable - 1:30-2:30pm
-- Group bike ride - 12:30-?pm
After-party at Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort starts at 1:30pm! Keep the celebration going with volunteer drink specials and prize drawings!!
Now the fine print: Minimum age for the stewardship project is 16, or 13 with an accompanying parent or guardian volunteer. Bring your own climbing equipment and permit or bike if participating in either of those activities. Helmets are required! For new climbers, CityROCK will offer free and discounted rental equipment to volunteers! Climbing permits are free of charge and can be obtained through the City of Colorado Springs Parks Department website.
***new event***
10/24, 6-7:30pm, at Wild Goose Meeting House, Edwidge Danticat Reading Group. In conjunction with the final Converge Lecture program of the year, All Souls is co-sponsoring an Edwidge Danticat book reading group in the weeks leading up to her appearance here. The group will meet each Wednesday, from10/24 through 11/14 from 6-7:30 PM at the Wild Goose Meeting House. in preparation for her November 4, 2018 lecture, the group will work through two short stories from the book The Dew Breaker and the memoir Brother, I'm Dying. We will kick things off with the short story Waterchild. Edwidge Danticat, a Haitian-American, is the author of numerous books, including Claire of the Sea Light, a New York Times notable book; Brother, I'm Dying, a National Book Critics Circle Award winner and National Book Award finalist; Breath, Eyes, Memory, an Oprah Book Club selection; and Krik? Krak! Drinks, conversation, and relationships will be had.
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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!
day of peace through food
Pikes Peak Justice and Peace "Day of Peace Through Food" is coming up this Friday, 9/ 21, at the downtown Clarion Hotel, 7am-9pm! Start the morning with the Annual Peace Breakfast with the theme this year of "Activating Activism"! Lisa Villanueva, former director of the local NAACP and a co-founder of LaTegro, a non-profit empowering marginalized youth, will be keynote speaker at the breakfast 7:30-8:30am. Lisa has been a teacher with District 11 and City Center for the Arts, and currently serves as a board member for Empowerment Solidarity Network. Our own Heidi Cooper will also be lifting hearts and spirits with music at the breakfast. Later in the day will be the International Student Luncheon, and the day will end with a Solidarity Dinner and Gala. The event is free but it would be helpful for planning if you could RSVP at this link.
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j
oys & concerns
joys
It's great to see Deedle Murray here again. -- Barb Kohlhaas
My beautiful transgender daughter, Tommi, was asked to (and will be attending) homecoming at Doherty High School at the end of this week! So proud of her! -- Angel
concerns
Concerned a person will be confirmed to Supreme Court who opposes the right and democracy of 99% of U.S. citizens. -- Anon
My father is having surgery to remove cancer of his pancreas. He is 82. Please pray for him and all of us, as we go thru this journey with him. -- Anon
My beloved brother, Jimmy, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a lung embolism - blood clot to the lungs. He was 57. -- Mike Lee
Please keep my brother, Thom Cafferty, in your thoughts. He is in the hospital for a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs). -- Tim
Several members would attend regularly if they had a steady ride Sunday morning. Please look around, talk to our administrator about sharing a Sunday morning ride. -- Anon
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all souls board of trustees
Judie McMath, President
Wendy Mike, Vice-President
Gary Harrison, Treasurer
Kate Harrison, Secretary
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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