As leaders within Colorado’s Christian community, we are deeply disturbed by the State’s decision to revise its COVID-19 phased vaccination schedule,[i] effectively keeping some of her most vulnerable citizens in harm’s way. We echo the Psalmist’s prayer: “O God, let the groaning of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve those who are doomed to die” (Ps 79:11).

The impact of COVID-19 has cast darkness upon the nations, and many of us feel as if we are prisoners of the pandemic. With news of effective vaccines, light fills us with hope—but our true redemption cannot be achieved apart from the demands of justice.

4:00pm:  Introduction of Augustana Arts City Strings and Pueblo Indian Cultural Center 

6:00pm: Opening Songfest with Sky Ranch, Rainbow Trail, and Bishop Eaton

7:30pm: Happy Hour & Community Games: Peter Severson & Rev. Zach Parris

9:00pm:  Evening Prayer: Rev. Kent Mueller

Saturday, January 9

6:00am: Dwelling in the Word: Scripture & Photos with Rev. Michael Tekrony

7:00am: Family Cartoonfest

8:30am: Morning Yoga, Rachel Bass Guennewig

10:00am: Youth Songwriting Session, Tangled Blue

11:30am: Cooking Class, Rev. Rose Mary Sanchez Guzman & Cristo Rey Community

1:00pm: Mid-day Devotions and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

2:00pm: Creating Art Together

4:00pm: Artist Demonstration: Pueblo Indian Cultural Center

5:30pm: Happy Hour with Bishop Gonia

7:00pm: Evening Concert: Augustana Arts

8:00pm: Evening Prayer and Epiphany Blessing

8:30pm: Bedtime Story with Bishop Gonia

7:00am:  Prayerful Baking, baking together with Rev. Nicole' Ferry

9:00am:  Synod ZOOmfest Worship

10:15am: Community Conversation: Young Adult Ministry/Young Adults in Global Mission

1:00pm: Community Conversation: Creation Care Team

2:15pm: Queer Prayers for Ordinary Moments, Revs. Asher & Leslie O'Callaghan

3:30pm: Community Music, Community Song, Daryl J. Walker

5:30pm: Community Meal, Adrian Miller, Colorado Council of Churches

Join us via zoom:   https://zoom.us/j/98084210913 

Join via Facebook Live:  www.facebook.com/rmselca 

Sunday Worship Link: https://zoom.us/j/93121810023

The 13 bishops of the class of 2019 will be leading a joint synodical Epiphany of Our Lord service today, Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 6:00pm MST, 5pm PST. This worship service will air via the Southeastern Synod’s Facebook page, YouTube channel, and website.

Join in as we confess, lament, lean into the light of God shining brightly in Holy Scripture, proclamation of the Word, and musical offerings from across the church.

The following synods and bishops, representing the class of 2019 will be participating: Bishop Laurie Larson Caesar (Oregon Synod), Bishop Shelley Bryan Wee (Northwestern Washington Synod), Bishop Laurie Jungling (Montana Synod), Bishop Lorna Halass, Western Iowa Synod), Bishop Michael Lozano (Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod), Bishop Bill Tesch (Northwestern Minnesota Synod), Bishop Susan Candea (Central States Synod), Bishop Yehiel Curry (Metropolitan Chicago Synod), Bishop Leila Ortiz (Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod), Bishop Regina Hassanally (Southeastern Minnesota Synod), Bishop Constanze Hagmaier (South Dakota Synod), Bishop Paul Egensteiner (Metropolitan New York Synod), and Bishop Kevin L. Strickland (Southeastern Synod).

Glory of God - Wheat Ridge, CO

Good Shepherd - Glenwood Springs, CO

Highlands - Denver, CO

Asher O'Callaghan

Holy Cross - Wheat Ridge, CO

King of Glory - Arvada, CO

On January 8 and 9, you are invited to attend Winter Talk--a time to hear from our Indigenous siblings about their historical and present-day experiences with colonialism. Through this online event, we will learn more about the Doctrine of Discovery, promulgated by the church in the 1400s to pave the way for Christian monarchies' dominions over lands outside of Europe. The Doctrine has been cited to support legal actions in our own time, notably in the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision Sherrill v. Oneida Nation.

We will hear from Jon Ghahate of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque; clinical psychologist Dr. Kayt Whitebird Orange, affiliated with the Mescalero Apache Nation in southern New Mexico, and the Rev. Cornelia Eaton of the Navajoland Episcopal Diocese. They will discuss the policies of church and state that have impacted their communities from the 1500s to the present day. The event will include talking circles so that participants can reflect on what the presenters have shared.

To learn more about Winter Talk and to register, go to the New Mexico Conference of Churches website: https://www.nmchurches.org/. Registration is free. Donations of any amount are appreciated but not required. You may register at any time prior to the conference.

We are ten months into an unfolding disaster that worsens even as it promises to resolve. Help is riding in, in the form of a vaccine cavalry, yet as with everything COVID-related, there is no certainty. We have lost so much and we are fatigued with the struggle to stay safe. Let's examine the human toll manifest in our anxiety and depression and talk about our experience this far, the cost we’ve paid, and what we need going forward. In our togetherness we will tap the reservoir of endurance we need to persevere. Dr. Vicki K. Harvey is a psychologist in private practice in Southern California. She and her husband are currently fostering two brothers, ages 7 and 13. On a local level she is an advocate for political access and transparency through organizing town halls, running a community media page, and gathering citizens to agitate for change.

Hosted by Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder and the Interfaith Network on Mental Illness (www.inmi.us).

Join Zoom Meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4264420220

We’ve been taught by neurobiologists that we’ve inherited the “fight/flight” wiring evolved from a long lineage of ancestors who survived the threats of famine, disease, wars, weathering a multitude of evolutionary life storms. 2020 has indeed been quite a turbulent ride for us all. As we transition into a new year of hopeful political possibilities and attainable vaccinated security, what is that parasympathetic rebound that provides healing? Borrowing from early Buddhism, we will explore practical mechanisms and methods, applicable in our everyday lives. Barry Erdman, LCSW, DCSW is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in Boulder helping adults, couples and families for many decades.

On Sunday, January 17, 2021, at 7 p.m. Adrian Miller will moderate an online conversation on race and racial justice with faith leaders from several faith traditions. Please click here for more details.

The Community Organizing for Transformational Ministry is co-led by a team of four including Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Dr. Ray Pickett, Deacon Kelly Marciales, Director of the ELCA Organizing for Mission Network, and Mary Lim-Lampe, Director of Genesis, a community organizing affiliate in Oakland. It is an innovative model that incorporates theological and biblical reflection, and attention to beauty and art as well as training in more traditional arts of community organizing (power analysis, organizing cycle, self-interest, and of course more).

The course/training is for graduate students as well as practitioners of community organizing and leaders of faith communities. Download a flyer which includes the registration link.

Many congregation leaders are asking how they can take advantage of technology to continue to hold necessary meetings to conduct the business of the congregation. Even in the current pandemic crisis, the rules have not all gone out the window, and state law, as well as your constitution, bylaws, and continuing resolutions, must still be respected.

The RMS insert for your annual reports is available here along with other resources to share about our life together as church:

2020 Annual Report covers are now available for download in two versions. One is individual pages. The other is a two-page spread across 11x17 paper. Both can be downloaded at Stewardship resources: https://www.elca.org/Resources/Stewardship#Leadership, or below.

Lakewood UMC is seeking a part time "Community Curator" who will aid the church in growing in relationship with the people of Lakewood, and the organizations doing important work in our neighborhood. This is a part-time, (20 hour/wk) position. Download job description here.

Part-time: $20K-$23K/yr

If interested, please contact Rev. Ben A. David Hensley, ben@lumc.net.

St. John's Lutheran Church in Thornton, Colorado is seeking a bi-lingual candidate for our Community Connection ministry to develop relationships in our local community through our Early Learning Center and technology ministries. We're a welcoming and inclusive community that fosters connection to God, each other and the community.

This part-time (20-25 hrs/wk) position reports to the Pastor and works with the Office Manager, ELC Director and Technology Team to support the congregation’s ministry.

Job description here. For more info, write to: gracepastor2@gmail.com.