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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Get RRRRReady For Service Sunday on 3/28!
The Justice League invites you to join us in a special Open Space Spring Clean Up. Before our congregational conversation and before the congregational meeting, please stop by between 8:30 to 9:30 to pick up trash, chat with one another in person, and partake in doughnuts!
Mask, gloves, and 6-foot distancing required.
Where’s our Open Space? Baldwin Gulch, trailhead at Twenty Mile Road and Ponderosa Drive.
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Sunday Morning Experience
Join us for Worship Online at 10:30 am
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Sunday Worship - Continuing Conversations
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Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 28, 10:30 am
Please join us this Sunday, March 28, for Continuing Conversations and the Congregational Meeting.
Join us for Conversation:
Beginning at 10:15 via Google Meet. This will be our space to chat and socialize before and during the service. We will also share Candles of Community immediately following the service in this same meet.
Stay with us after the service:
There will be conversation via the same Google Meet after the service and Candles of Community for coffee hour and fellowship.
Watch the Worship Service:
Our Sunday morning service will be available live
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Kids (and their grown-ups), join us this Sunday for our K-5 religious education program! All through the month of March, we will be exploring the theme of commitment. Our Soul Matters curriculum is specifically designed to keep kids engaged and curious over an online platform. So come along for stories, activities, and fun!
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PrairieUU Congregational Meeting
Sunday, March 28, 2021, 11:30 (after Candles of Community)
This is an important meeting. We will move to suspend the section of the bylaws referring to our nominations process so we can trial our new Leadership Development process and suspend term limits so elected members can stay in their positions this next year. Additional agenda items include: electing members to the COSM and sharing an update on plans for restoring right relationships and healing will also be discussed.
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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.
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Ralph Waldo Mouse Says:
"Speak your truth in ways that respect other peoples' truth."
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From the Board of Trustees... |
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Healing thoughts for you:
I am saddened by the pain and hurt that many of our members have shared with me. My hope is that our community will reach out to each other with love and care, seeking a new understanding about why others are hurting. Our Covenant says we are " a welcoming and loving community". We are of course individuals with our own perspectives and understandings. So we have to make daily efforts to be that loving community. Sometimes we get it wrong, sometimes right. I ask you to remember when our community got it right. Also, reflect on why we got it wrong recently and help suggest ways to get it right again.
Thanks to those of you who are staying at the table to help in the healing process. The Board, COSM and I are open to your suggestions. Share with one or all of us. Ideas we have heard for next steps will be discussed in the Board meeting on March 17, 2021. We will then take the ideas to the Congregational meeting on March 28, 2021. Please be there to guide us.
AJ, Susan E and I have written a letter of apology to all of our members. We have/will recognize/d the contributions of those who have left our community in candles. I personally apologize for not asking us to stop, breathe and reflect before continuing a discussion that was harmful to members of our beloved community. I will ask to meet with all those I know were harmed and hurting. I have appreciated those of you who have reached out to meet with me and share your concerns and ideas for returning to right relationships.
In love and covenant,
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From the Finance Committee ... |
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"Save on Your Taxes, While You Support Prairie."
Members of Prairie will soon have the opportunity to support the church financially with pledges for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in July 2021. The annual Stewardship Drive (Canvass) will begin on April 4. In planning how to support Prairie financially, you might be able to do this and also save on taxes. The requirement of taking a distribution from a traditional IRA, which everyone age 70.5 or older must do annually, may be met with a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD.) When the check for the distribution is made out to and sent to a non-profit organization, such as Prairie Unitarian Universalist Church, you do not need to pay taxes on the funds.
One should not take the distribution personally and then try to give it to the organization. Since deduction of charitable donations from the adjusted gross income of federal taxes is now more difficult, this is an easy way to avoid paying taxes on a required distribution and to support Prairie.
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Easter Eggs!
The Lifespan Team will again be distributing Easter Eggs filled with candy and small toys for at home egg hunts. Any PrairieUU members who would like eggs delivered to their home should email Kendra by Wednesday, March 31.
Easter Food Drive!
Lifespan will also organize an Easter food drive and pick up for the Parker Task Force as in previous years. Those who are interested should also email Kendra to arrange a pick up or drop off time and location.
Thank You,
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When our community calls, PrairieUU answers.
In the wake of last week’s massacre targeting Asian women, our AAPI neighbors are asking for support. For info on how to help:
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Visit StopAAPIHate.org to report incidents and for updates on response efforts, action items, and ways to stand in unity with the AAPI community.
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On Instagram, follow @Advancing_Justice_Atl and @StopAAPIHate for similar information.
Additionally, please consider joining a socially safe gathering next Saturday 3/27 at noon at the State Capitol to amplify AAPI voices in protest of anti-Asian violence and China-bashing. Contact Kim for additional information.
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Hi friend,
Join me in keeping Coloradans housed by emailing or tweeting your State Senator today and asking them to vote yes on SB21-173. This bill would limit late fees on unpaid rent, give Colorado renters more time to come up with their rent and avoid eviction, prohibit tenant evictions solely for owing late fees, and establish a financial penalty for landlords who illegally lock out tenants.
People are trying to provide housing and basic needs for themselves and their families. They must have transparency and stability around one of the biggest expenses of their lives - their housing.
Joining together across racial differences, we make the way. We can ensure all of us - Black, brown, and white - have a home to raise our kids, pursue our dreams, and make our memories.
Take Action Today! Email or Tweet your State Senator!
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PrairieUU Habitat Build Day 2021
By summer we should have somewhat of a return to regular life, so as PrairieUU's liaisons to Habitat Interfaith Alliance, we've signed Prairie up for a Habitat build day.
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Hours are generally about 8 am - 4 pm, but we'll provide details and a sign up link when it gets closer.
As they have throughout the pandemic, Habitat Metro Denver will be following all Covid protocols appropriate for the time.
Thank you for your help adding this to the Prairie calendar and newsletter. (We may only have 5 slots, in which case we should have no trouble filling them.)
Thanks, and stay well,
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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.
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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.
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If you are looking for more racial justice information see the following:
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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,
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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
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Support PrairieUU - King Soopers Rewards Program
Our assigned Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number is UC596.
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Core Team
Monday, March 22, 6:30 PM
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.
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Tech Talk
Tuesday, March 23, 4:00 PM
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.
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MUUved to Action
Tuesday, March 23, 6:30 PM
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 meet to address the urgent and immediate calls for justice action in our community. We have attended protests, written position statements, made phone calls and written letters to public officials and business owners, provided public comment, attended public meetings and had invited guests from the community to provide depth to our understanding of complex justice issues and solutions. We are joined by other Denver Metro UUs and community members. We currently meet virtually on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8 via Google Meet. All are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Melissa B.
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PrairieUU Men's Group
Wednesday, March 24, 6:30 pm
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.
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Wednesday, March 24, 6:30 PM
This is space for Middle/Senior High Youth and 20something Young Adults from our PrairieUU and local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.
Please join us on Wednesday, March 24 to view: Star Trek
The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.
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Healthy Living Small Group
Friday, March 26, 1:00 pm
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.
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MUUved to Action
Tuesday, March 30, 6:30 PM
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 meet to address the urgent and immediate calls for justice action in our community. We have attended protests, written position statements, made phone calls and written letters to public officials and business owners, provided public comment, attended public meetings and had invited guests from the community to provide depth to our understanding of complex justice issues and solutions. We are joined by other Denver Metro UUs and community members. We currently meet virtually on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8 via Google Meet. All are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Melissa B.
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Wednesday, March 31, 6:30 PM
This is space for Middle/Senior High Youth and 20something Young Adults from our PrairieUU and local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.
A witch tasks a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.
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LifeSpan Meeting
Thursday, April 1, 5:30 pm
Join us on the first Thursday of each month as we engage in planning education for all ages at PrairieUU.
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Sunday, April 4, 11:45 am
Welcome to our Middle and Senior High Youth from our PrairieUU and the local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.
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Children's Chapel for grades 1-7
Saturday, April 10⋅ 1:00 – 11:30am
As a part of our collaboration with the UU Church of Las Vegas, Rev. Gordon is offering Children's Chapel for grades 1-7. From Rev. Gordon:
Monthly on the second Saturday
1ST – 7TH Grade and Beyond?
Every 2ND Saturday through June we/UUCLV/Rev. Gordon Clay Bailey and possibly other UUs will offer a children’s chapel (virtually via zoom). This worshipful time offers our children and youth (maybe other UU congregations kids?) a chance to reflect on important life issues, feel uplifted through music, hold others in care, and have time to listen to the still small voice inside. A practice of worship for children and youth grounds them in their faith in such important ways as encouraging religious identity, a sense of belonging in our UU congregation/church community and a space to grow their spirituality.
We will begin our time together with:
Songs/hymns
Chalice lighting
Joys and sorrows
A short meditation
Offertory
A story followed by ritual, meditation, activity or Brief sermonette
Closing ritual
The themes for Chapel change each month. If you are able, please allow your child to have a coin for their collection basket. We as the Children’s Chapel community will decide how to share our collection come the end of the congregational year in June.
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Sunday, April 11, 9:30 am
Kids (and their grown-ups), join us this Sunday for our K-5 religious education program! All through the month of March, we will be exploring the theme of commitment. Our Soul Matters curriculum is specifically designed to keep kids engaged and curious over an online platform. So come along for stories, activities, and fun!
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Community
Information and Resources
If you have other community resources that we should share, please let us know.
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From the UUA President - You Are Held In Care
To view the announcement from Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUA President, click here.
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UUA Guidance on Gathering In-Person When COVID-19 Subsides
The UUA continues to carefully monitor developments with testing and vaccinations. Last May, we recommended congregations plan for virtual operations until at least May 2021. By now, we recognize this timeline will likely be longer. As the Biden administration develops a coordinated federal response, we expect it will be March before we have a reasonable sense of the vaccine horizon and timeline for when we might reach herd immunity. In the meantime, our current UUA Guidance on Gathering offers recommendations for specific metrics to monitor in your own community as you consider decisions about gathering when the pandemic subsides.
The full link to the UUA press release can be viewed here.
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Bill's Be-Cyber-Safe Box - Episode 4
Bill’s Be-Cyber-Safe Box, Episode #4. What is “security” in cyber world? Do you have enough? Who and where is my important data stored outside of my own devices?
A breach of cyber security happens when someone obtains digital information on groups of people, not just individuals – that’s cyber privacy. If you use credit or debit cards and the store’s security is hacked, your data may be stolen and used by others to extract funds from your accounts. Usually, this means you must obtain a new debit or credit card – annoying.
A helpful 7-minute YouTube video explains cyber security and how to avoid hackers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inWWhr5tnEA. Only the first 4 minutes pertain to most of us who aren’t interested in large system maintenance or career changes.
PrairieUU maintains data on members’ names, addresses, and pledge amounts, on Breeze ®. This cyber platform uses the same encryption as credit card transactions. It should be secure from outside viewing. Check your data stored on Breeze to make sure it is correct by going to https://prairieuu.breezechms.com/r/dashboard. You will be asked to sign in with your Prairie username and password. Then click on “My Profile”.
The next episode will show examples of unethical attempts to get your private information.
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.
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Hello Virtually Close Friends!
Those who are now eligible for the COVID-19 Vaccines in the current phase are:
(We are currently in Phase 1B.3). . .
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On Monday, March 8, CDC issued new recommendations for fully vaccinated people. These recommendations may be modified by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to be more in line with our current public health orders. In the meantime, please continue following local Public Health Orders and masking guidance.
Go to Tri-County Health Department's website for more information on vaccination, COVID-19 or to reach out with a question: tchd.org
Be well!
Yours (from at least 6 feet away),
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COVID Assistance Funds and Resources |
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Arapahoe County Rent and Mortgage assistance for Covid related loss of income, click here for more information.
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Douglas County is offering Covid-19 assistance funds to individuals and families. Please click here for more information.
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City of Aurora Covid-19 resources please click here for more information.
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Parker Covid-19 information and resources - please click here for more information.
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Support PrairieUU
Click on the images below to learn more!
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Follow and Connect with us! |
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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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To connect via a computer simply click the links provided.
To connect via a phone or tablet you will be prompted to download the Google Meet app.
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We Look Forward to Hearing From You |
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Newsletter & Announcement Contributions
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.)
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Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone/Text: 720-549-0530
Schedule an Appointment via Google Calendar
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General Office Hours
Mon-Thur - 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
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Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am – 4:00 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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