Our Mission:
“We gather as a welcoming, caring community to nurture mind and spirit, celebrate diversity, and work for justice.”

Have a friend who would enjoy our community? Invite them to join our mailing list.

Sunday Morning Experience

Join us for Worship Online at 10:30 am

Sunday Worship -
Intergenerational and Service Sunday

Sunday, May 30
An email will be sent out regarding this service soon!

Ralph Waldo Mouse Says:

"Home of the free, because of the brave."
What You Missed:
If you missed Worship over the last few weeks, you are invited to visit our Facebook page, YouTube or on our website to view our services.
From the Pastor...
Beloveds ....

It is hard to believe that here we are again closing out the church year. I want to thank all of you who attended the congregational meeting on 5/23. It was a long meeting with a conversation that was challenging, engaging and inspiring. I would like to give you some staff updates and some of our summer plans.

I will be starting my summer time off beginning June 1 but technically, I am off this weekend so my last day will be Thursday. As the song goes, "be not afraid" for you are in good hands. So here are some things to look for in the next few months.

Pastoral and Spiritual Care
I will be available for pastoral and spiritual care. If you are in need of any care please let me know. My number is 720-549-0531. You can call or text and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Also you can email, PastoralCare@PrairieUU.org and I or a member of the Pastoral Team (Melissa B, Michael M, and Lara H) will get back to you. If you have any needs such as meal trains, rides, etc please contact the Caring Circle at CaringCircle@PrairieUU.org. Finally, if you are in need of financial assistance, please contact the Committee on Shared Ministry at COSM@PrairieUU.org. I will be touching base with all of these teams over the summer.

Sunday Morning Experience
We have a wonderful variety of services set up for the summer. The CoreTeam has been hard at work. Most of our services will be live in Google Meet and we will have a few outdoor socially distanced services. As we have it scheduled now, the music team will be off for the months of July and August. I ask that you wish Paul E and Eric M a wonderful couple of months off. Lastly, Susan E has been co-chairing the CoreTeam with me over the last year or so. She will be taking the summer off for a much needed respite. If you are interested in taking a lead role in the CoreTeam or with Sunday Services over the summer please email CoreTeam@PrairieUU.org or attend our next meeting on Wednesday, May 26th at 6:30pm.

Communications
As of July 1st, we will be changing Mary's job description from Communications Specialist to Webmaster. This is going to mean a pretty big change in our social media, online, e-commerce setup and other communications. Over the next few weeks, Mary, Rhonda, and I will be working on a transition plan. We will be also looking for a liaison to work directly with Mary. If you would like to help in any of these areas. Please email the Communications Committee at Communcations@PrairieUU.org

Business Office and Hours 
Rhonda will be available to you during the week as usual. Please note that her hours are Sundays (3 per month) from 10am - 12 pm and Monday - Thursday from 11:00am - 2:00 pm. She is off Friday and Saturday and one Sunday a month. If you have any needs such as help with your PrairieUU Accounts (Breeze/Google), Pledges, etc please contact her via 720-549-0530 (phone/text) or email at Rhonda during her office hours. You can also schedule an appointment with her here Rhonda's Calendar.

Leadership
Please remember the Committee on Shared Ministry (COSM) and Board of Trustees (Board) are always available. If you have any concerns about Mission and Vision, Covenant and Right Relations, or the overall health of the Ministry, please contact the COSM at COSM@PrairieUU.org or attend one of their meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:30pm. If you have any concerns about the committees, operations, finances, safety of the congregation etc please contact the Board at Board@PrairieUU.org or attend one of their meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm

I want to wish all of you a wonderful summer. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns and don't forget if you need pastoral or spiritual care to please reach out to me or the Pastoral Care Team.

In Service,

AJ Blackwood, MDiv.
Pastor
From UURJ...
An Invitation to the UURJ Summer Series

Please join CO UUs for Racial Justice and the Mountain Top for our summer educational series, Reaching Deeper: Building Relationships at the Speed of Trust. The purpose of this online series is to continue the work of building a robust, inter-congregational coalition to explore what non-hierarchical and accountable anti-racism and anti-oppression work might practically look like, as we UUs do the work of dismantling white supremacy in our congregations.  
 
This series is for EVERYONE - and the more participation we have, the more effective it will be.  Now's your chance to sign up! Our kickoff event is the weekend of June 4th through 6th and will have events Friday night through Sunday - including an inter-congregational, joint Sunday worship service. After that, there will be meetings for various smaller cohorts over the course of the summer. See you there soon.

1) Event info and registration:

Hello, beloveds! I'm writing to invite you to register for this summer's UURJ kickoff event, a weekend of community building among the Colorado Front Range UU communities, congregations, and the Mountain Top! The dates are June 4th through 6th.

This weekend-long event is the beginning of our summer-long educational series, meant to create a robust, collaborative, and non-hierarchical coalition dedicated to dismantling white supremacy in our congregations and the wider community.

The relationships we build here and the work we do will inform the direction of UURJ in the coming church year. But more importantly, this series will create a culture among us that centers and is accountable to BIPOC, youth, and other historically marginalized people in our denomination and our congregations.

Sunday's programming will include the shared, inter congregational worship service being planned for June 6th!

This series is geared toward members of the Mountain Top and the 10 Colorado congregation/community sponsors of UURJ, but anyone may attend. BIPOC-only space will be available.  

Registration: click here 
FB event invitation: click here- please share widely
Video invitation from Jen: click here to view  

2) Youth Programming - What is your SUUperpower?

Join other Front Range UU youth (middle and high schoolers) for a superhero-themed weekend! Friday evening, we'll ask, "What is your anti-white supremacy superpower?" What do your unique gifts bring to our UU social justice work? Saturday, join us for social time at movie night! And Sunday, we'll imagine what we as a body of UU youth want to do to lead in anti-white supremacy work.

Please encourage your youth to sign up for this weekend! We are committed to centering youth voices and addressing childism as we do work of dismantling white supremacy culture. Youth will also join adults for our Friday welcome activities, Saturday discussions, and Sunday worship.

3) Info for the 6/6 service:

Building for Liberation
Join the sponsoring congregations of Colorado UUs for Racial Justice (UURJ) and the Mountain Top for this heartfelt, multi-community service of commitment and celebration! We will acknowledge the white supremacy culture that has kept us from living fully into our spiritual wholeness, both in our congregations and in our wider communities. We will center youth voices as we lift up the potential of Unitarian Universalism to be a powerful, liberative, anti-oppressive force. And musical collaborations will celebrate the new, crucial relationships, culture, and commitment we are building among individuals and congregations in UURJ and TMT in order to do the difficult, necessary, and joyful work of dismantling white supremacy culture among us!

This service will be the culmination of our UURJ summer series kickoff weekend, Reaching Deeper: Building Relationships at the Speed of Trust. Though you are highly encouraged to attend the whole weekend, all are welcome to this service.

Zoom login:
Meeting ID: 991 9657 2027
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99196572027# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,99196572027# US (Houston)

Prairie Garage/Bake Sale
Prairie Garage/Bake Sale

Hi Prairie Peeps!

Are you ready to contribute to a Prairie Garage/Bake Sale in a few months?

Thinking middle of August at Vivian Littlefield's home in Stonegate...thank you Vivian! This will be the 6th or 7th one over the years and I'm certain there's some STUFF you want to contribute!

Please find me, Brenda P, at 303-522-7988 by phone or text anytime with your interest and questions. I'll need some helpers in the days beforehand to help sort and price and set up. And I'll need several helpers in shifts during the Friday and Saturday Sale. Sunday is also a big day as I want to make sure to get everything out of Vivian's garage AFTER the sale, so someone willing to help that has an open bed truck is appreciated (and some muscles).

I have a cool Lemonade Stand 'prop' if there is a kiddo or two, with a parent, that would like to partake in keeping everyone cool and refreshed, including our shoppers.

P.S. if you have a large item you'd like sold with proceeds going to Prairie, let me know. I can possibly help.

Again, Brenda P at 303-522-7988. This is really something to look forward to!! Thanks ya'll.
Scrip Program
Hello Fellow Shoppers - Sign up for Scrip NOW!

Shop with Scrip’s gift card program makes earning money for PrairieUU easy! You buy full-value gift cards, and the retailers give a rebate of 2-20% back to PrairieUU.
With over 250 brands that offer gift cards, that can be sent right to your email INBOX or right to your home, this is a great way to purchase gifts for others, staying out of stores completely! Click here to sign up!
PrairieUU's Enrollment Code: 86B6427674556

Sincerely,
From the Justice League...
100th Anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre

We are approaching a somber date – the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa massacre – please take time to educate yourself on the pivotal tragic event fueled, in part, by UUs,
Please learn more by clicking here.
PrairieUU with Bridge House

PrairieUU joins Bridge House clients to plant a vegetable garden. Left to Right -- Slim, Joe F, Barney, Cory L, Drew, Jim R, Wicky, Deena L. The produce will be used to supplement summer meals.
Habitat for Humanity Build Days are Back! 

As part of our affiliation with Habitat Interfaith Alliance, Prairie UU has secured TWO build days this summer.  The June 5 build date is now full.  Thank you to the four Prairie volunteers who will be helping build a Habitat home that day!

There are still two open slots for the August 21 build day.
To sign up to build on August 21, click here.
7:45 am- 3:30 pm 
Minimum age is 16 years old.
Prairie members, spouses and friends of Prairie are all welcome to sign up. 
Questions? Never built before? Call either of Prairie's liaisons to HIA for more info: Deena 303.809.0661 or Jim 720.320.1636
pile_of_old_books.jpg
Reading Material

Need some reading material to get you through these next few months? Want to educate yourself on anti-racism and white privilege? Check out the new Justice League reading list here.
The Justice League needs YOU!

With the pandemic continuing to impact unemployment, eviction rates, and homelessness, our community needs information on rights and resources. We’re creating an informational flyer to be distributed at apartment complexes and need volunteers to help distribute. If you are able to help, please contact Kim or Melissa.
If you are looking for more racial justice information see the following:

  • Colorado UU's for Racial Justice - click here
  • The UUA - click here

Support PrairieUU...
Carpet Cleaning Proceeds Go to PrairieUU’s Duke Scholarship Fund

Long-term PrairieUU member Kimberly Pratt has graciously offered her company’s carpet cleaning services and will donate 100% of carpet cleaning proceeds to PrairieUU’s Duke Scholarship Fund in memory of Alan Duke. Here is how you can get your carpets cleaned and also help fund scholarships for high school summer camp and other PrairieUU youth outings. Phone Kimberly at (303) 718-3959, mention you are with Prairie and set up a carpet cleaning appointment. After your carpets are cleaned, Kimberly will give you an invoice. Simply cut and send a check to Prairie specifying “Duke Scholarship Fund”, or go to the Prairie website and make a donation for the amount of the invoice.  
Support PrairieUU - Amazon Smile

If you shop on Amazon, please remember to use the special link and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchases to PrairieUU! This is through the Amazon Smile program. http://ow.ly/8zJi50BOssx
Support PrairieUU - King Soopers Rewards Program
Contact: Calisse W


Our assigned Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number is UC596.
This Week's Calendar
PrairieUU Calendar - Check for ongoing weekly meetings
Tech Talk
Tuesday, May 25, 4:00 PM
Contact: Rhonda W

During this time that we may not be able to get out and be with our family and friends, communications via Video Conferencing, and social media are needed more than ever. If you have a question or can you help someone else with Tech? Computers, Phones and Tablets? During this hour we work through getting you up and running to be in better communications with our PrairieUU community and your other personal networks.
MUUved to Action
Tuesday, May 25, 6:30 PM
Contact: Kim M

MUUved to Action is a sub-group of our Justice League that meets weekly as a result of being called by our BIPOC community and members to "not sleep through the revolution". We are joined by other Denver Metro UUs and community members. We currently meet virtually on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8 via Google MeetAll are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Kim M.
Core Team
Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 PM
Contact: Pastor AJ

Ever wonder how Sunday mornings come together? You are welcome to come and find out and even join our Core Team. The Core Team is a compilation of individuals and representatives from the Justice League, Hospitality, Membership, Communications, and many more. All are welcome. 
PrairieUU Men's Group
Wednesday, May 26, 6:30 pm
Contact: Dave L

The Prairie Men's Group meets monthly online on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.  Topics vary from month to month. Check the Prairie website calendar to join the discussion.
Healthy Living Small Group
Friday, May 28, 1:00 pm
Contact: Pastor AJ

Join Pastor AJ and others in our community as we engage in a healthy(ier) living time together. We will meet once a week to share ideas, recipes, what works and what doesn’t about exercise. This will be a time to connect Mind, Body and Soul. If you are interested, please join Pastor AJ’s Facebook group UU Healthy Living. Finally, Pastor AJ is also joining Weightwatchers and is inviting you to join with him. If you are interested, there are a couple of special promos that are now running but end tonight. For more information, check with Pastor AJ or sign up with Weightwatchers directly.
Coming Soon
MUUved to Action
Tuesday, June 1, 6:30 PM
Contact: Kim M

MUUved to Action is a sub-group of our Justice League that meets weekly as a result of being called by our BIPOC community and members to "not sleep through the revolution". We are joined by other Denver Metro UUs and community members. We currently meet virtually on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8 via Google MeetAll are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Kim M.
Healthy Living Small Group
Friday, June 4, 1:00 pm
Contact: Pastor AJ

Join Pastor AJ and others in our community as we engage in a healthy(ier) living time together. We will meet once a week to share ideas, recipes, what works and what doesn’t about exercise. This will be a time to connect Mind, Body and Soul. If you are interested, please join Pastor AJ’s Facebook group UU Healthy Living. Finally, Pastor AJ is also joining Weightwatchers and is inviting you to join with him. If you are interested, there are a couple of special promos that are now running but end tonight. For more information, check with Pastor AJ or sign up with Weightwatchers directly.
Sunday Service
Sunday, June 6,
Meeting ID: 991 9657 2027
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99196572027# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,99196572027# US (Houston)

Building for Liberation
Join the sponsoring congregations of Colorado UUs for Racial Justice (UURJ) and the Mountain Top for this heartfelt, multi-community service of commitment and celebration! We will acknowledge the white supremacy culture that has kept us from living fully into our spiritual wholeness, both in our congregations and in our wider communities. We will center youth voices as we lift up the potential of Unitarian Universalism to be a powerful, liberative, anti-oppressive force. And musical collaborations will celebrate the new, crucial relationships, culture, and commitment we are building among individuals and congregations in UURJ and TMT in order to do the difficult, necessary, and joyful work of dismantling white supremacy culture among us!

This service will be the culmination of our UURJ summer series kickoff weekend, Reaching Deeper: Building Relationships at the Speed of Trust. Though you are highly encouraged to attend the whole weekend, all are welcome to this service.

Zoom login:
Meeting ID: 991 9657 2027
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,99196572027# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,99196572027# US (Houston)
Community
 Information and Resources
 If you have other community resources that we should share, please let us know
We will gladly share here and on PrairieUU.
Bill's Be-Cyber-Safe Box - Episode 12

Cybercrime soared in 2020 (from the AARP Bulletin for May 2021)
 
We have all been spending more time during the past year at home in front of our computers.
 
According to an FBI report, the pandemic has provided a good hunting ground for crooks. The report found that “…total consumer losses to online crooks in 2020 surpassed $4.2 billion, with almost half of that amount lost by people age 50-plus.” This is a 69 percent jump from 2019. 

Here are some key findings from crimes reported to the FBI in 2020:
  • The more than $1.8 billion in cyber fraud losses reported by men and women 50 and older represents a 27 percent jump from a year earlier.
  • The average dollar loss in this group was $9,484.
  • Tech-support frauds were a particular problem among those 60 and older. This is when criminals pose as technicians who will “resolve” your problem such as a compromised bank account or computer virus – if you pay them first. Or provide your credit card number. (Never a good idea!)
  • At least two-thirds of the 15,421 victims who filed tech-support complaints last year were older than 60.
   It pays to be suspicious of anyone who offers you help with a problem you didn’t know you had. Check first with a reliable source such as your bank or credit card company to see if there is really a problem.

The next episode will talk about routers in your home that provide access to the internet. They can be easy doorways into your smart devices and private records if not made secure.

You can get help with Prairie related tech issues by joining “Tech Talk” on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. with Rhonda. Check the church calendar for connection details using Google Meet. © 5/24/21
Big changes are in the air in the Mountain Desert District and throughout the Pacific Western Region. You are invited to hear more about them and to give your input. The MDD Board of Trustees will be holding two Zoom meetings to give more information and to hear input leading up to the Mountain Desert District business meeting on June 19.
 
The Zoom meetings will cover the same information, so feel free to pick which time works best for you –  Wednesday, May 26 at 7 pm MDT. The issue to resolve is no less than the future of the MDD. A statement from the Board follows. To register for either of these meetings, email Rhoda Whitney. Registration for the business meeting will open on the MDD website on May 19th.
 
Mountain Desert District Board of Trustees – current ideas on regionalization 
 
Regionalization was voted in at General Assembly in 2014 but has never been fully implemented in the Pacific Western Region (PWR). The Boards of the four districts of the PWR have been meeting together for almost two years now, working to support each other, align our goals, and find the vision of what full implementation should look like.
 
The Mountain Desert District (MDD) Board has spent a considerable amount of time and energy – both in coordination with the other district boards, and separately - on what the path to regionalization should look like, and what we think the end goal should be. 
 
There were, and are, many reasons for regionalization. The main reasons are:
  • Eliminating redundancies,
  • More chances to collaborate, and
  • Ability for staff to specialize.
 
At this point in time, it appears inevitable that the districts will dissolve. The positive reasons for this are the same as they were for regionalization in the first place, plus the fact that lay leadership within the districts has become strained over the past few years. As well, it seems clear that the UUA intends to operate through regions, not districts. Maybe it is time to accept this and work together to move forward.
 
MDD has an additional responsibility that the other districts of the PWR do not – we are the fiscal agent for PWR, and PWR only exists as a “doing business as” entity under the MDD. Therefore, the Board recognizes that we cannot responsibly recommend dissolving the district until there is either another entity to contain the PWR or the PWR can exist on its own. 
 
A possible path forward would be for the MDD to expand its geographic boundaries and change the makeup of its board to include directors from all of the current districts, change its name to Pacific Western Region, and have the other three districts combine with the “new” PWR. At that time, the new board could decide to turn over governance to the UUA and dissolve as a board, or possibly continue at least on a trial basis. This would greatly reduce the number of board members needed from the region, reducing the strain on volunteers. 

We need to remember that governance structure is not Unitarian Universalism, and that there is no one perfect way to organize.

In faith,
Your MDD Board
Calisse's COVID Corner:
Hi Prairie!

High-level vaccine talking points

  • As of 5/4/2021, 657,905 individuals (53.8%) have been vaccinated with at least 1 dose in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Of those, 458,207 (37.5%) have had all the doses needed to be fully vaccinated. Of all individuals who have had at least one dose, only 21.7% are Hispanic and 35.3% are African American or Black, emphasizing the need to continue to promote the vaccine in our communities of color.

  • The Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen vaccine is an available vaccine option in Colorado again as of April 23. Colorado has placed additional orders of J&J vaccine and will continue to do so in weekly intervals moving forward to ensure this vaccine option is available. The FDA has determined that the available data show that the J&J vaccine’s known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.

  • Finding a COVID-19 vaccination is easier than ever. TCHD is now offering vaccination by walk-in with no appointment needed. Vaccine scheduling is also more convenient with TCHD and our area vaccine providers offering evening and weekend hours. All state community vaccination sites and equity sites are also offering walk up/drive thru without appointments required.

  • The FDA is likely to authorize Pfizer vaccine for people as young as 12 years old as early as next week. TCHD is working with local pediatricians to help support their access to the vaccine in smaller quantities. (Pfizer comes in 1170 doses with time-limited storage in the freezer and fridge, so it poses logistical issues for health care provider offices.)

  • CDC estimates we need anywhere from 67 – 79% of the population vaccinated for community immunity. According to the latest Census data, that puts Colorado at about 3.8 - 4.5 million people who need to get vaccinated. Currently, 1.8 million Coloradans are fully immunized and 2.5 million are immunized with at least one dose. 

  • While most high-risk Coloradans are already vaccinated, we’re starting to see a concerning rise in cases among children — especially among middle and high school students. We want to remind everyone to continue to rely on mask-wearing, physical distancing, and healthy habits like handwashing to control the spread among children and all of our communities.

  • Please continue to utilize materials from CDPHE and CDC to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence. 

 
Statewide mask order talking points
  • The Colorado statewide mask mandate has been updated. Masks are no longer required in indoor public spaces if 80% of people in attendance have provided proof of COVID-19 vaccination or by restaurant employees if 85% of staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
  • In Adams and Arapahoe counties, the TCHD face covering order applies, and does not currently include these exceptions. (Douglas County has opted-out of the TCHD order.)

Thank you! Stay well, stay safe, and stay smiling
~Calisse
UUA General Assembly

General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Participants worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through a democratic process. Anyone may attend; congregations must certify annually to have voting delegates
The UUA Board of Trustees has passed a resolution making the 2021 UUA General Assembly a 100% virtual event. Let’s reach record-breaking attendance June 23-27, 2021!

PLEASE NOTE:

This year, there will be a contested election for a position on the UUA Board of Trustees (3-year term). Polls open June 1 and close on June 25.


See the election information guide (PDF, 2 pages) about voting in the election.

Learn more about the candidates in the contested election for Board of Trustees Position #8. The UUA will host two online candidate forums - one in late May or early June (date TBD), and one during General Assembly (June 24).
COVID Assistance Funds and Resources
  • Arapahoe County Rent and Mortgage assistance for Covid related loss of income, click here for more information.
  • Douglas County is offering Covid-19 assistance funds to individuals and families. Please click here for more information.
  • City of Aurora Covid-19 resources please click here for more information.
  • Parker Covid-19 information and resources - please click here for more information.
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Your contributions are always appreciated! All requests should be sent to our Communications Team.
All requests for the Monday newsletter and Orders of Service are due on Wednesday at 12 pm. (PLEASE NOTE: All submissions are subject to editing for content and space.)

Contact Us








Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone/Text: 720-549-0530
Schedule an Appointment via Google Calendar


General Office Hours
Mon-Thur - 11:00 am – 4:00 pm



Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Phone/Text - 720-549-0531
Schedule an Appointment via Google Calendar
Chat via Google Hangouts
Connect via Facebook & Twitter
Music Director - Eric Moon
Choir Director - Paul Ermisch
LifeSpan Coordinator - Jen Simon
 PrairieUU Board of Trustees:
Vivian Littlefield, President
Brenda Peterson, Vice President
Kim Murray, Secretary
Clark Huff, Treasurer
Committee Emails
Core Team - All Things Sunday Morning
Justice League - Social, Environmental Justice
LifeSpan - Religious Exploration for all ages
Membership - Visitors, becoming a Covenantal member
Mailing Address:
PrairieUU Church
P.O. Box 1684
Parker, CO 80134