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.
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We are dedicated members who make hospital visits, provide meals, send cards
and notes, make phone calls and provide rides to church and doctor’s appointments.
If you have a need
please let us know.
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You are invited to share with us anything that is bringing you personal joy or sorrow such as a new addition or loss in your family, or a life transition.
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If you have a kudos, suggestion or concern. Please let us know.
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Join Us for Worship Online at 10 a.m.
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April 5th – Defying the Nazis
Join us online! In honor of Passover, Pastor AJ and our PrairieUU Core Team will be leading a service reflecting on the 2016 Ken Burn's PBS documentary, Defying the Nazis: The Sharps' War which is the story following Waitstill and Martha Sharp as they travel Europe undercover, saving refugees from Prague to Paris during the Holocaust. The movie is currently available on
Netflix
.
Beginning at 9:45 am via
Google Meet
or by phone at 1-361-360-8585 PIN: 992 842 341# you can join us for service and conversation.
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To connect via a computer simply click the links provided.
To connect via a phone or tablet you will prompted to need to download the Google Meet app.
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Fellowship
Join us after our Service for small group discussion and gathering online on our
Calendar at PrairieUU.org There you will find five general small group Fellowship areas available and three identity small groups for Parents, for People of Color, and one for Middle and High School Youth.
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Learning Hour: NewUU Pathways to Membership
Apr. 11:30 pm (Sun)
208-715-5822 PIN: 306 485 189#
Pastor AJ and our membership team will be hosting a conversation with newer members of the community to discuss PrairieUU, Unitarian Universalism and more. Our focus this month will be on the intersectionality between Unitarian Universalism and other Abrahamic faith traditions. All are welcome but we do ask that we intentionally make space for questions for our newer community members.
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Ralph Waldo Mouse Says:
"To deny the Holocaust is to ignore evil."
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Join our New Discussion Groups on
Facebook
.
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Get the most out of G Suite in your workplace with training guides, tips, customer examples, and other resources.
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Notes from Pastor AJ
We are here for you and ready to help in any way we can in this pandemic. We are working hard at keeping us all connected. We are in the process of refining our tools but we need your feedback. If you have any concerns or suggestions about other ways to connect we are happy to hear from you.
The Caring Circle and I are doing our best to reach out to all of our members on a regular basis but I want to remind you to feel free to contact me if you have any type of financial, physical, emotional, or spiritual need for support.
I am available from M-Th for video and phone calls from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm. You can schedule a time via my
Google Calendar
or call/text me at 720-549-0531. If you are not able to meet during these hours please let me know and I will be happy to schedule a time that works for us.
In Service,
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From the Committee on Shared Ministry...
As part of her role as one of the Right Relations liaison and also just because she wants to, Samara Baird has been checking in on folks by phone to make sure you are doing ok. She wants to remind us to please check in with your PrairieUU friends to make sure they are doing ok and to let them know you are ok as well. We're all in this together!
Members of our PrairieUU community that may be experiencing financial hardship should contact the COSM co-chairs or
Pastor AJ
. Prairie UU has a Community Fund that provides temporary financial aid in small amounts to our community.
In Faith,
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From the Board...
Members of our PrairieUU community are encouraged to give funds to our Community Fund, which provides temporary financial aid in small amounts to members who are in need. Any donation to Prairie designated for the Community Fund will be added to this fund.
Members of PrairieUU will soon be presented with the opportunity to support PrairieUU financially with pledges for the upcoming fiscal year. The annual Stewardship Drive (Canvass) will begin on April 19. In planning how to support PrairieUU financially, we ask that members who qualify consider a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from their traditional IRAs. When taking the required minimum distribution from an IRA, which everyone age 70.5 or older must do, one option is to have the check for the distribution made out to and sent to a non-profit organization, such as PrairieUU. One cannot take the distribution personally and then try to give it to the organization. The transfer of funds done in this manner is tax-free. Since most tax-payers can no longer deduct charitable donations from the adjusted gross income of federal taxes, this is an easy way to avoid paying taxes on a required distribution from a traditional IRA and to support PrairieUU. If any member of PrairieUU has any questions about a QCD, ask me or any member of PrairieUU's Board of Trustees.
In covenant,
Prairie UU Board of Trustee
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Rhonda’s Ribbons
Two things for this week in our new reality:
1. It is very important that you use the PrairieUU G-Suite account,
FirstNameLastNameInitial @prairieuu.org (ex, MaryJoL@PrairieUU.org) email as soon as possible. This will allow you to participate fully in online meetings and other events and classes that may be held using the G-Suite applications. If you have any questions, please contact me.
2. Meetings for the church calendar should be scheduled through the office. We can set up the event on PrairieUU.org as well as to make sure that the event is publicized. We want to make sure that each event has the correct Google Meet/Hangout and phone call information readily available.
The reason we are doing it this way is that when you set up an event on your calendar, the office cannot change information or location or delete the event if we need to if you are unavailable.
When attendees accept attending the event, it will show up on their calendar, they can then go to their calendar and access the meeting either by the phone only information or by clicking on the Google Hangouts/Meet information.
You can also include the access link to your meeting at Google Hangouts/Meet in the body of an email.
Our sudden new way of doing church comes with a learning curve, please contact me when you have questions.
Thank you,
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Breeze Software for PrairieUU
Breeze is our new church software program that will be used to track member information and keep you all connected. We're very excited with the new functionality and opportunities Breeze provides. I have worked with this software program for the past 5 years at another church and we are very happy with its functionality, security, and confidentiality. Breeze uses the same encryption as credit cards and operates with the highest level of security in their data centers (Tier 4).
Thank you!
PrairieUU Accountant
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PrairieUU should receive all mail at the PO box in Parker:
PO Box 1684
Parker, CO 80134
The old mailbox on South University will be closed out in June. Since the old box is in a package store, not a post office, mail sent thereafter June will not be forwarded. This change is most important for those members who have checks for pledges sent to the old mailbox; checks for pledges should be sent to the new PO box as soon as possible.
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Learning Hour: Living Wills, End of Life Options Act
Thanks to our wonderful advancement in technology PrairieUU members can access our Learning Hour sessions via Google Drive. You can watch ‘
Living Wills, End of Life Options Act
’
anytime. Note: You will need to be logged into your PrairieUU G-Suite account.
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Easter Egg Hunt Children Needed
The traditional Easter Egg hunt is still on with a twist - because of social distancing, it will be at your home and not with the congregation at PrairieUU. If your family would like to participate, please let us know how many children will be hunting eggs at your home. Eggs will be dropped off on your doorstep Saturday morning (April 11) before Easter (April 12). Eggs will be washed and stuffed responsibly to comply with all CDC recommendations.
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Multimedia &
Camera Operator Needed
Looking for something to do Sunday Morning?
Pastor AJ
and the
Core Team
are looking for help with streaming our Sunday morning services.
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Inventory Help
We need a few people to help inventory and clean out the materials in the storage unit.
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Calendar & Upcoming Events
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The Breakroom
Weekdays, 10:00 am
636-324-2592 PIN: 888 918 721#
Where do the best conversations often happen? In the Breakroom!
Let's meet in our PrairieUU Breakroom to have a morning chat and a cup of coffee together. No agenda! Let's just get together for casual conversation.
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Our UU Ancestors with Kelly
Thursdays, 12:00 pm
417-719-7627 PIN: 622 241 523#
Our UU Ancestors. Gather around the virtual and imaginal fire with Rev. Kelly Dignan to hear stories about our UU ancestors and how they overcame struggle. Then chat about how those folks can support and inspire us today. We’ll engage with some of the well-known historical figures and some that are not so well known. The time will include a chalice lighting and meditation that centers and grounds us.
Kelly is a Unitarian Universalist Community Minister serving our faith tradition through teaching, spiritual companionship, and justice chaplaincy. Her home church is Prairie! Before becoming a community minister, she served three congregations (First Universalist of Denver, Greeley, and Boulder).
More about Kelly here.
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Queer-LGBTQ+ (Identity Space)
Thursdays, 4:00 pm
513-970-0805 PIN: 548 994 360#
As UU's, we value and affirm the lives and experience of queer people of faith of all ages, races, ethnicities, income levels, and abilities.
This is space for Queer (LGBTQ+) people from our PrairieUU and local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.
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Happy Hour
Tuesdays & Thursdays
5:00 pm
910-556-3316 PIN: 974 337 181#
Where does everyone know your name? Happy Hour!
Join us for conversation and chat. No agenda! Let's just share a virtual appetizer and beverage together.
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PrairieUU Pagans or Curious
Fridays, 4:00 pm
845-293-0667 PIN: 348 096 631#
A place for all our Earth worshipers and Pagans to check-in and find out what's going on in our Pagan world and current events with our Great Mother. We will be chatting how we want our group to look when we are back in a building! Curious? Come ask questions!
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Tech Talk
Mondays, 3:00 pm
406-838-3077 PIN: 766 299 180#
During this time 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.
Do you have a question or can you help someone else with Tech? Computers, Phones, and Tablets? Doing this hour we work through getting you up and running to be in better communications with your community.
Also if you can help with providing tech support let Pastor AJ Blackwood and Rhonda W know or just pop-in we would love to have your help.
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People of Color (Identity Space)
Tuesdays, 6:30 pm
720-259-3386 PIN: 891 759 219#
As UU's, we value and affirm the lives and experience of People of Color of all ages, races, ethnicities, income levels, and abilities.
This is space for People of Color from our PrairieUU and local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.
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Candles and Conversation
Apr. 1, 2:00 pm (Wed)
601-514-2029 PIN: 489 905 600#
You are invited to light a virtual candle with Pastor Aj Blackwood and members of our Caring Circle community. The foundation of our community is built on caring for each other. Candles of Community allows us to share with our gathered community. Join us and share with anything that is bringing you personal joy or sorrow It is a reminder that none of us here walks alone.
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Music & Spirit
Apr. 4, 7:00 pm (Sat)
651-560-6181 PIN: 513 156 955#
Come join a discussion of music and its connection to our spirits. In the past, this has usually been a sing-along affair but doing this over the internet makes that more difficult. So this will be a sharing of your favorite music and sources (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) and your personal experiences around music. I hope that everyone will be enriched by our sharing. If you're not a performer, singer, musician - no problem, everyone is welcome.
"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it a rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul." - Anonymous
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LifeSpan Team
Apr. 6, 6:30 pm (Mon)
620-750-2124 PIN: 741 188 279#
Are you interested in working in our religious exploration program? Our LifeSpan Education Team is composed of two groups of volunteers. Our Team Leads and Team Facilitators. Team Leads - coordinate and support the educational programming for our community. Team Facilitators - support the educational programming by facilitating weekly learning hour sessions on Sunday mornings. All are welcome to join us at any time.
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Finance Committee
Apr. 8, 6:00 pm (Wed)
413-402-0221 PIN: 782 596 897#
Our Finance Committee is vital to the life of the congregation. The committee with the Board of Trustees oversees the overall financial health of the congregation as well as fundraising, canvass (pledge drive), and auction. If you would like more information or to RSVP please contact us.
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Board of Trustees
Apr. 8, 7:00 pm (Wed)
941-254-3670 PIN: 355 445 884#
The April Board of Trustees' major agenda items will include how we keep the Prairie community connected during these trying times, the budget, the Stewardship Drive (Canvass), and possible changes to the Prairie By-Laws.
The meeting is listed on the PrairieUU
calendar
and can be accessed by clicking on the event or clicking the link ‘Google Meet' above.
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Justice League – How To Help
To honor community wellness, the Justice League cannot organize in-person service activities at this time. We are working on a virtual strategy. In the meantime, please consider supporting our community partners as you are able - needs and links for contributions are located on their websites:
Also, please consider visiting
Help Colorado Now
for opportunities to provide service specific to COVID-19.
- Laptop Drive - The Department of Higher Ed just launched a laptop (and related technology) drive. No Lapse In Learning Laptop Drive
- Kind Connection Telephone Volunteers. Click here for more information.
JL Reminders
- If you are not registered to vote, please do so!
- Participate in the 2020 Census!
- Next virtual JL Meeting will be on April 19th. Stay tuned for more information!
Suggestions, comments, questions? Please contact Melissa, Nancy, or Kim!
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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 Monday 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
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Committee Emails
LifeSpan - Religious Exploration for all ages
Membership - Visitors, becoming a Covenantal member
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Mailing Address:
PrairieUU Church
P.O. Box 1684
Parker, CO 80134
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