Our Mission:
“We gather as a welcoming, caring community to nurture mind and spirit, celebrate diversity, and work for justice.”
Sunday Worship:
Have a friend who would enjoy our community? Invite them to join our
mailing list.
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Candles of Community
If you have a pastoral concern to share, please let us know at
Pastoral Care
.
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The Suggestion Box
If you have a kudos, suggestion or concern. Please let us know.
Suggestion Box
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Join Us for Worship, Sundays at 10 a.m.
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January 12 –
The New Suffragettes
Worship
Join us as we celebrate and prepare for the 2020 Denver Womxn’s March on January 18th. Pastor AJ will be delivering a message entitled “It’s Not Just a Pink Hat.” We will be engaging a conversation about the role of women of color in the women’s movement from 1920 to 2020.
Fellowship
Join us in the fellowship hall after coffee and conversation. Please be sure to sign up for setup and cleanup.
Learning Hour
Reading with Pastor AJ. Join Pastor AJ as we engage UUA Curriculum “
What Moves Us
” by Rev Dr. Thandeka. You are welcome to read the entire curriculum but we will be focusing our discussions on Margaret Fuller (Wk5), Sophia Lyon Fahs (Wk6), and Thandeka (Wk10).
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1/12: 9:15 am,
Rehearsal
1/19: 9:15 am,
Rehearsal & Performance
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Ralph Waldo Mouse Says:
"If the woman demand votes...it must not be refused ..."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Notes from Pastor AJ
I would like to thank all of you who attended the Congregational Safety discussion this past Sunday. You offered some terrific feedback to this important ongoing conversation. If you were not able to attend, out of the discussion came a call to develop some processes and procedures for how to handle an emergency situation. If you have any experience with this type of work, please let me know.
Some of you may have noticed that we have been experimenting with some new branding and marketing with our social media, announcements, etc. We would like to remind you all to follow us on social media for the most current updates and information on
Facebook
,
Twitter
,
Pinterest
,
and
Instagram
.
In Service,
Pastor AJ
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Looking Forward
The Committee on Shared Ministry (COSM) and Prairie Associates will be meeting on Monday, 1/13 at 630pm at the Parker Library to discuss integrating the Associates program with the Appreciative Inquiry Visioning Prairie did as a congregation last year. By bringing these two factions together, we will continue the tremendous visioning work that has already been done and tap into the wealth of energy, wisdom, and passion of our Associates. If you are interested in becoming an Associate please contact Pastor AJ prior to 1/10 and plan on joining us on 1/13.
In Faith,
Michael Meads and Marjorie Bezdek
COSM Co-chairs
Marjorie B or Michael M, COSM Co-Chair
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President's Corner
The winter Congregational Meeting required by the Prairie By-Laws will be held after the service on Sunday, January 19. Please plan on attending. Click here to view the
Congregational Meeting Agenda.
Thank you,
Clark Huff, President
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Rhonda’s Ribbons
New Hours - My office hours have changed to M-Th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This change is to better meet the workflow needs for Prairie.
If you have any announcements that you would like included in the weekly newsletter or announcement please email our
Communications Team
by Tuesday at 12:00 pm.
Thank you,
Rhonda W
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Fellowship and Hospitality
Happy New Year! 2020 is already here and so are the new Hospitality Signup sheets. All twelve months of 2020 will be available at the Hospitality table. Potlucks and some Holidays have been marked for convenience. There are 2 slots for setup and 2 slots for cleanup. Setup includes
setting up our beverage table (everything provided in totes) and sets paperware out on the snack table. There is a checklist in the totes for guidance and help. Time commitment is about 30 minutes for each set-up or
clean-up if you are solo, but far less if both slots are filled. If you have questions, please contact
Cindy W
.
If your last name begins with A-G, please bring a snack to share with the community.
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Childcare
Providers Needed
We are happy to welcome Bobby and Katie to our team of providers. We are well on our way with our new team but we are still looking to hire 1-2 more childcare providers for Sunday mornings and other events. If you know anyone who would be interested, please have them email our
Search Team
. Until we have recruited the team, we may need volunteers to assist on Sundays, if you can help please contact
Susan E
.
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Multimedia and Hospitality Crews
Looking for something to do Sunday Morning?
The hospitality team would welcome your help. We are looking for volunteers to help one Sunday a month. Please contact
Cindy W
and
Fran L
if you can help.
Pastor AJ
and the
Core Team
are looking for help with our running our multimedia slides, sound, and video/audio recording our services. Please contact
Pastor AJ
if you can help in any of these areas.
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Calendar & Upcoming Events
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Social Justice Film Series:
The Public
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First Universalist Church
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Constructive Theology & Creative Expression
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Parker Library, Event Hall A
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Pine Grove Elementary School
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Learning Hour
(Reading with Pastor AJ)
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Pine Grove Elementary School
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Parker Library, 2nd Fl. Conf. Rm
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Committee on Shared Ministry & Associates Mtg
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Parker Library, Event Hall A
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PrairieUU People of Color
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Parker Library, 2nd Fl Conf Room
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Pine Grove Elementary School
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Constructive Theology & Creative Expression
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Parker Library, Event Hall A
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Parker Library, Event Hall A
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Parker Library, 2nd Fl Conf Room
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Habitat Interfaith Alliance Soup Cook-off
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First Universalist Church
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Constructive Theology & Creative Expression Workshop
January 11 - Apr 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Parker Library, Event Hall A
Are you a movie buff?
Are you interested in digging deeper into your understanding of your theology, and world view? Are you looking for a creative outlet?
If you said, “yes” to any of these questions then this is a wonderful opportunity to do just that. During this workshop series led by Pastor AJ, we will each look to determine a social need, issue or good that we would like to effect in the world and then reflect on how our personal theology and worldview motivate us to make change in the world based on own personhood.
The workshop will be interactive and come to a conclusion with an Art Show on April 19th during Sunday morning worship. Don’t worry you don’t have to be Picasso, just have a desire to change the world and have some fun while doing it. (Actual Dates: 1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/15, 2/15, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/21, 4/4)
We will be providing a number of resources online. You can access these Resources via
Google Classroom
using Class Code: bmw2iye
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Learning Hour (Reading with Pastor AJ)
January 12, 11:30 am - 12:30 am
Pine Grove Elementary School
On Sunday, January 12th, Pastor AJ will facilitate a discussion about the role of women of color in connection with the women’s rights movement. As part of the continuing conversation about women of color, you are invited to read the three sections about women of our UUA Curriculum “
What Moves Us
” by
Rev Dr. Thandeka
. Please note this is a link to the entire curriculum. You are welcome to read the entire curriculum but we will be focusing our discussions on stories of Margaret Fuller (Wk5), Sophia Lyon Fahs (Wk6), and Thandeka (Wk10). Pastor AJ asks you to come prepared to discuss their stories.
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Justice League Meeting
January 12, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Parker Library, 2nd Fl Conf Room
Please join us for the first Justice League meeting of the decade - and some delicious decadence to kick it off! After Fellowship 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, at the Parker Library. All are welcome and please bring a snack to share! We’ll catch up, prep for Service Sunday, share IDP progress, and so much more! Visit our
website
to learn more about our passions and initiatives. Contact the
Justice League
or
Nancy
,
Melissa
, or
Kim
if you have any questions!
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Committee on Shared Ministry & Associates Mtg
January 13, 6:30pm - 8:00 pm
Parker Library, Event Hall A
The Committee on Shared Ministry (COSM) and Prairie Associates will be meeting on Monday, 1/13 at 6:30 pm at the Parker Library to discuss integrating the Associate's program with the Appreciative Inquiry Visioning Prairie did as a congregation last year. By bringing these two factions together, we will continue the tremendous visioning work that has already been done and tap into the wealth of energy, wisdom, and passion of our Associates. If you are interested in becoming an Associate please contact Pastor AJ prior to 1/10 and plan on joining us on 1/13.
Are you interested in the direction of the mission of PrairieUU? Is long term mission and vision important to you? If so we would like to hear from you. The Committee on Shared Ministry and Pastor AJ have consulted with several members of congregational leadership as well as the former Appreciative Inquiry Visioning Team to assess how to move forward with both of the Appreciative Inquiry process and the Associate's program. Join us as we will roll out the new re-envisioned Associates program that will be rooted in the 5 priorities established by the congregation through the
Appreciative Inquiry Visioning
process (ie. Impactful Social Justice, Spiritual Growth, Thriving, and Engaged Community, Engaged Youth, Stable and Inspired Home of Our Own).
Being an Associate will remain a two-year commitment to one of these areas through a deepening of your understanding and spiritual growth. The Associates will then also assist the Committee on Shared Ministry and Pastor AJ on setting ministerial priorities. If you are interested in becoming an Associate please contact
Pastor AJ
before 1/10 so that we will have enough materials for the meeting.
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PrairieUU People of Color
January 15, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Parker Library, 2nd Fl Conf Room
Pastor AJ will be leading a discussion on the formation of a PrairieUU People of Color group. The goal of the small group will be to develop a space for members of the congregation to explore UUism and spirituality in a People of Color centered space. At this initial meeting, we determine what the group will look like. We will address the focus and needs of the group whether it be social, spiritual, discussion or other? If you have questions or would like to be a part of the formation of this group please let
Pastor AJ
know.
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Prairie Stitchers
January 18, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
TBD
The Prairie Stitchers meets on the third Saturday of each month to stitch and chat. Whether you knit, crochet, spin, embroider, cross-stitch, quilt, loom knit, or would like to learn any of these needle arts, you are welcome to join. We meet from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm and locations vary. Learn more about
Prairie Stitchers
or join our
Facebook group.
Contact
Emi D
with questions.
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Music & the Spirit
January 18, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Ermish Home, Parker
Come join an impromptu sing-along of fun & favorite songs with Paul. No rehearsal required - just bring your voice, your spirit, and a song or two to share. If you play an instrument, bring that along too. For more information and address please contact
Paul E.
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Congregational Meeting
January 19, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Pine Grove Elementary School
We will be sharing reports from Pastor AJ, Committee on Shared Ministry, Board of Trustees, and Finance. Please join us! You can find the
Congregational Meeting Agenda
here.
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Youth Nite
January 22, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Parker Library, Loft
Let’s hangout? Game Night? Pizza and a movie? Just do some homework? Join us for a night away from your parents and home. Let’s chill in the Loft. All High and Junior High youth are welcome. For more information contact
Molly E
or
Pastor AJ
.
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Prairie Quilters
January 25, 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Parker Library, Event Hall A
We are excited to announce our new Prairie Quilters group. Anyone interested is welcome to join us! We will be starting a beginner's project using 10" squares. Please contact
Carol F
for a supply list or more information.
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Circle Suppers
January 25, 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Various Locations
The 4th Saturday of every other month, (January, March, May, July, September, and November) is the time to get together with friends from church and enjoy an evening of good food and friendship. Circle Suppers are a wonderful way to get to know each other in a more personal way and to create a support network of lifelong friendships. We take turns hosting a pot luck dinner in our homes with 4 to 10 other PrairieUU friends.
To join us this month or to get on our mailing list, email
Gerry B
or call at 303-495-0765. Locations and times will be provided by our hosts.
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Core Team Meeting
January 27, 6:30 pm
Parker Library, 2nd Fl Conf Room
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. Please let
Pastor AJ
know if you have any questions or would like more information.
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Supporting Cory
Our dear friend Cory L loves to attend church and otherwise get out to socialize, but can't do so without our help. She has her own wheelchair van, so just drive your car over to her place and then go out with her in her van. Click here for more information and/or to
sign up
for a Sunday.
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Prairie Men's Group Forming
We will be starting a special Prairie men's group.
We are hoping that members of this group would be willing to get into conversations about what's important in our lives...what's going on that we'd like to get off of our chests...what problems are we facing in our daily lives. The hope is that we can share at a deeper level than just talking about sports, politics, ailments, etc. We need, sometimes, to tell our own stories about our issues, our successes, our failures, and our worries. Guys have emotions, too...and it's healthy to talk about them in a trusting, confidential setting. Please email
Dave L
or call 303-895-5771 if you're interested.
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Small-Group Ministries Forming
If you are interested in forming a small group ministry please contact
Pastor AJ
. Groups now in discussion and forming are a men’s group, people of color, Wiccan/Pagan group, environmental group (under the Justice League), and a healthy eating/living group.
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High School Summer Camp Rang out the Old Year with an All Camp Reunion
Former and current summer campers and staff gathered for a reunion on December 31. The group enjoyed reconnecting with old friends, meeting new people, and reliving camp experiences. Music videos produced in 2013 and slide shows from many summers were shown to the delight of the group.
Prairie’s High School Summer Camp is open to Prairie youth going into freshman year of high school to just graduated seniors. This year’s camp will be June 17-23, 2020. For more information contact
Joe F.
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Caring Circle
The
Caring Circle provides compassionate support to members of PrairieUU during life transitions, hospitalizations or other crises.
If you have a pastoral concern to share, please let us know at
Pastoral Care.
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Restorative Listening Circles
We will be engaging in a new process that will be available to our members, a Restorative Listening Circle. Based in UU values, the goal of the spiritual Restorative Listening Circle is to facilitate deep listening, learning, and trust, promoting living in covenant as a community.
The underlying goal for PrairieUU’s culture is to maintain loving relationships, respect, listen, hear, understand perspectives of all by truly understanding grievances, compassionately identifying agreement, compassionately identifying disagreement; seeking consensus, developing a mutually respectful action plan which maintains/restores loving relationship, implements the action plan, and evaluates the effectiveness of the plan for achieving the goal.
Please contact
Pastor AJ
or the
COSM
with any questions or to request a circle.
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Justice League Library
Prairie's Justice League Library is now available. We have a wide variety of
Justice-related books are available to check out during Fellowship. Please see a
Justice League
member for details and recommendations. Be looking for a growing Children's Section!
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Individual Intercultural Development Plans
Prairie has committed to learning about and working toward eliminating systemic white supremacy and the culture that perpetuates it. To that end, we are encouraging our community to create Individual Intercultural Development Plans (IDPs.) The purpose of IDPs is to develop actionable goals and to work toward them by supporting and holding one another accountable. It’s an important first step in our justice work together. Please contact our
Justice League
member for more information.
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We Believe Survivors Fund
Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church is committed to centering the needs of survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Prairie has established a dedicated We Believe Survivors Fund to assist survivors with crisis support to navigate the various systems they may come in contact with legal, organizational, healthcare, etc.
If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault or abuse at the hands of someone in a position of trust, please contact our Fund Administrator and fellow survivor
Melissa B
.
Donations are tax-deductible and will be distributed by our Fund Administrator. Survivor and donor anonymity will be protected.
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Upcoming Justice League Events
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Social Justice Film Series:
The Public
January 10, 5:30 pm
In this 2018 drama, a large group of homeless library patrons in Cincinnati refuse to leave the downtown library at closing time during a brutal cold snap. What begins as a nonviolent sit-in and ragtag act of civil disobedience quickly escalates into a standoff with local riot police, led by a no-nonsense crisis negotiator and a savvy district attorney with lofty political ambitions, all as two librarians are caught in the middle. Join in a robust conversation during the potluck and film discussion at First Universalist, 4101 E Hampden, Denver 5:30 to 9.
Bring something to share! Contact the
Justice League
for more details or if interested in carpooling.
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Womxn’s March
January 18, 8:45 am
Civic Center Park
Let’s join other Denver-area UU congregations on the steps of the Capitol facing Civic Center Park at 8:45 a.m. Look for the Prairie banner! “We march in solidarity for social justice, human rights, and equality for women and
all marginalized
people nationwide.
IMPORTANT NOTE: We are in need of a mobility scooter to borrow for the day. Please contact
Kim
if you know of any options and with any questions regarding the march.
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MLK Marade
January 20, 9:30 am
City Park
Now, more than ever, we must keep Dr. King’s vision alive! Let’s gather with other Denver-area UU congregations at City Park (begins there, ends at the Capitol) at 9:30 near the MLK statue. Just look for our BLM banner! Contact
Nancy, Melissa
, or
Kim
at
Justice League
if you have any questions!
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Service Sunday – Meal Kit Assembly
January 26, 11:00 am
For this month’s service, we will gather during Fellowship to prepare meal kits to distribute to our homeless community members living outside during the winter.
Everyone – all ages– are invited to help assemble the kits and write/illustrate uplifting notes to include in the kits! A list of what we need is below. Sign up to bring supplies via
Sign-Up Genius.
Contact Nancy, Melissa, or Kim at
Justice League
if you have any questions!
- Bio-degradable bowls
- Plasticware
- Hand wipes
- Kleenex packets
- Mints, cough drops, gum
- Juice boxes
- Tuna pouches
- Granola/cereal bars
- Fruit/applesauce cups
- Canned soup with tab lid
- Mac and cheese cups
- Oatmeal pouches
- Fast food gift cards
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Habitat Interfaith Alliance Fundraiser
Soup Cook-Off
February 1, 6:30 pm
To attend, carpool there with friends and buy tickets at the door ($15/person or $35/family) Questions? Contact
Deena Lawrence
or
Jim Rogo.
(Prairie's liaisons to the Habitat Interfaith Alliance).
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New King Soopers Rewards Program Benefits PrairieUU
PrairieUU is enrolled in the King Soopers or City Market Community Rewards Program. Our assigned NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number
is
UC596
.
To Use the King Soopers or City Market Community Rewards Program:
Please visit the appropriate link below..
Once logged you can search for Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church either by name or UC596 and then click Enroll. New users will need to create an account which requires some basic information, a valid email address and, a
loyalty
card.
*Customers must have a registered King Soopers or City Market
loyalty
card account to link to your organization.
*If you do not have a King Soopers or City Market
loyalty
card, please get one at the customer service desk at any King Soopers or City Market.
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We Look Forward to Hearing From You
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Newsletter & Announcement Contributions
All requests for Weekly News, Sunday Morning Announcements, and Orders of Service are due on Tuesday at 12 pm.
(PLEASE NOTE: All submissions are subject to editing for content and space.)
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General
Office Hours
Mon-Thur - 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone/Text: 720-549-0530
Schedule an Appointment via Google
Calendar
Office Hours - M-Th 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Phone/Text - 720-549-0531
Schedule an Appointment via Google
Calendar
Committee Emails
LifeSpan
- Religious Exploration for all ages
Membership
- Visitors, Greeters, and becoming a Covenantal member
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Sunday Worship:
Pine Grove Elementary
10450 Stonegate Parkway
Parker, CO 80134
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Mailing Address:
Prairie UU Church
P.O. Box 1684
Parker, CO 80134
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