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I’m told that this image of laughing, dancing young Black demonstrators was taken by Charles Moore, one of the most prominent photographers of the Civil Rights era, and is on permanent display at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Alabama.
I’ve not yet had the privilege of visiting the Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham—perhaps some of you have—but I’m told the photo is displayed in the museum alongside pictures of KKK rallies and white police officers using firehoses and attack dogs to silence black protesters.
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I first saw this image in seminary, in a class called “Religions of the African Diaspora,” which was taught by Dr. Rachel Harding. Dr. Rachel Harding is the daughter of another Dr. Harding— Dr. Vincent Harding, who served as one of Dr. King’s speechwriters and later as president of the Iliff School of Theology. Dr. Rachel Harding offered the image as an example of what she termed the “ludic-prophetic” tradition in African diaspora religions—and as we know, Black religion played a huge part in the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. What she meant by this was that, even as Black folks in the U.S. and other parts of the world have been forced to do the work of fighting oppression, both overtly and covertly, over the last several hundred years, this struggle has always been inseparable from these moments of profound joy and fun in community. Even when, as Nap Ministry founder Tricia Hersey reports from her research, enslaved Africans in the American south only got four hours of sleep per night on average, they still found the time to dance, to swim, to play, and to worship together.
What enslaved people knew, and what the brave children in this photo also knew, is that reclaiming our humanity in the face of oppression—taking the time to celebrate one another, to experience joy together, to do nothing “productive” except in the sense of strengthening our bonds together—is one of the strongest ways we resist oppression. That protecting our inherent worth and dignity as human beings, and celebrating the interconnected web of which we are a part (those sound familiar!) are THE priority if we are to survive and thrive. The children in the photo knew this, even in the face of police and dogs and fire hoses.
And make no mistake—though the burdens fall harder on marginalized populations, we are ALL negatively affected by the oppressive systems of racism, patriarchy, and capitalism in this country. We all need practice at liberation.
So, as we begin our October theme of courage, I want to emphasize that courage is exactly that: knowing the dangers, and the odds—but dancing anyway. And not just dancing anyway, but dancing because… Because we’re still here. Because we have hope for a different future. Because no matter what injustice we face or will face, we are going to face it together, and it is these bonds of support and solidarity that are unreachable by those who would try to take away our humanity.
As we continue to step forward into so many unknowns, I’d like to invite you to continue to dance together—both literally and figuratively. If you haven’t yet, consider how you might best do the work of community-building that JUC folks have been so faithfully engaged in, whether that looks like pastoral care, or social justice, or religious education, or…
Continue to celebrate who we are, even as we explore ever-newer, ever-expanding definitions of “we.” And continue to celebrate regardless of whatever nonsense the Supreme Court hands down—not because the consequences of injustice aren’t serious, but because claiming our bodies, our communities, and our joy is an act of resistance that cannot be taken away unless we choose to give it away.
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Courage to Follow the Call
There I was—in the midst of 1,200 music leaders, band players, and tech experts, all gathered together at a church music conference for a few days of shared learning and inspiration. Most of the music professionals who were present had a different theology than I; it was probably good that the lunch tables weren’t divided by denomination, otherwise I would have surely been at a table of my own.
And the songs… although there were dozens and dozens of songs sung at this conference that I didn’t know, there was a strong and passionate shared experience by those who were attending, a deeply demonstrated and felt sense of community and commitment that I appreciated.
Some things that JUC shared with the churches represented there was that all of us had been required to innovate, to increase our technical capabilities, and to come up with new ways of being together and making music since March 2020. Many of these churches—like JUC—took steps forward in live-streaming and online community building during this time, and were and are imagining further how to move into this new future where some are in the room and others are online.
One notion that was expressed at this conference, an idea that resonated with some longings that I have had, is the idea of helping young seekers and church goers to find their way into music ministry. I recall myself in my early 20s, grateful for the experiences I was having in my local Unitarian Universalist church (UU Church of Urbana-Champaign, IL), thankful for the affirmation that the church had for me as a young gay man, surprised about the importance of music in the church, and soaking up the values that the church was prioritizing in the world. I know that for me, Unitarian Universalism and my church helped me to connect to myself and others. When I realized that I might actually have a future in helping to strengthen UU congregations through music, it was a tremendous awakening. I have been lucky ever since that time to have served UU congregations, using the tool of music to enhance worship, create meaning, and continuously support UU values and principles.
Attending this recent conference, with the importance of teaching and sharing knowledge, makes me wonder…I wonder if there are young people in our near our community who are musical, who have music as an important part of their lives, who may have never considered moving into music leadership in a UU congregation. Young adults who are seeking a way to connect the meaning in their aspirations with an impactful and meaningful way to serve and promote a path of heart and purpose. Youth who consistently receive a message about the importance of making money while hearing little about living a life of depth.
With all of this in mind—and I’m speaking directly to those people who are wondering how to begin or move into a path of meaning and service through music—I invite you to a conversation. An exploration of what your hopes are for your music. A curiosity of what Unitarian Universalism can offer—both the challenges and opportunities—in the areas of songwriting, performance, leadership, and spiritual growth. Our faith, Unitarian Universalism, is one that equips people to live lives that resonate with their deepest values. Music Ministry is a path to move congruently through the world in a way that aligns your gifts and your ideals, not necessarily easily, but in a way that offers deep satisfaction.
If this call speaks to you, my door/phone/inbox are all open to you. If you know a young person who is expressing musical interests, you are invited to connect them to me. Whether hearing a distinct call, or simply wondering about one’s future, it takes courage to step onto a path that is not clear. Your church—and I—are here in part to help discern and explore, to illuminate anything that can be made clear, and to companion through the many uncertain aspects of this life. All are invited to take the next step on your own journey. Take heart—courage is here for you.
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Fiscal 21/22 Financial Results
I'm pleased to report that we ended the Fiscal year (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022) with a surplus (we had more income than money spent) of over $100,000. Our income was above what we budgeted, and our expenses were below what we budgeted. I have zillions of numbers I could share, but here are some highlights:
Income
- We had some extremely strong fundraising. Together, the matching gift campaign in December and the Auction and Craft Faire raised over $100,000.
- Pledging was $60,000 below what was budgeted (93%). This is largely because of reduced membership through the pandemic. We have lost a "normal" number of members, but we were not able to add a "normal" number of new members.
- Plate receipts were also less than budgeted ($12,000 vs. $20,000) as we were only open part of the year.
- We received some COVID relief funds ($94,000) during FY 20/21 through the Employee Retention Credit. You might recall that the previous year we received COVID relief money through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). These funds have helped tremendously to ensure financial security in an extremely uncertain time.
Expenses
- Spending was $75,000 below what was budgeted, mostly due to changes related to the pandemic.
- Groups and Councils spent $12,000 less than budget.
- Church Operations were under budget by $26,000.
- Personnel Expenses were $37,000 lower than expected.
Remember that our budget is presented to the congregation in the spring for a vote. Our FY 22/23 information is here (approved in June 2022).
I welcome your questions regarding the church finances. Call me (303-279-5282 x 11) or email me if you want more information.
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Tracy Nolan, trustee
It has been so gratifying to commence our 2022-23 church year, especially for the families with kids who are participating in the Faith Exploration program lead by Director of Faith Exploration, Sarah Billerbeck. At service last month, she marked the important beginning of the year by thanking and recognizing the Faith Exploration teachers. At the same time, the congregation agreed to support the teachers as they undertake this meaty job of sharing Unitarian Universalism with our kids.
As I write this, I am coming off of an intense training in the Unitarian Universalist curriculum in human sexuality: Our Whole Lives (OWL). JUC’s theme of the month, courage, was particularly resonant for me as I commenced this training. To attend it, I needed courage to move through the discomfort of my own inevitable ignorance and my fear of messing up. While I attended, I marveled at the courage of the attendees hailing from small conservative towns in South and North Carolina, and Tennessee as they prepared to grow this progressive OWL program in their hometowns. As I begin my own facilitation, I need ongoing courage to guide our participants through discussions about friendship, consent, gender identity, gender expression, accurate anatomical terms, social media use, creation of babies and much more.
However, as is often the case when we put our wholehearted authentic selves in to work at JUC, my courage this weekend was rewarded tenfold. My well-founded fears of my own ignorance and messing up in front of strangers were met with the support of a comprehensive, researched, peer-reviewed and robust OWL curriculum. My need for ongoing courage was met with a brilliant and brave co-facilitator. In addition, I am now connected with a national community of OWL facilitators who are at the ready to support my own development as a facilitator.
Our church community is bolstered by our members having the courage to bring their wholehearted authentic selves to grow together with our youth. I invite you to find that courage to support and continue the creation of the community we love by volunteering to teach by reaching out to Sarah Billerbeck.
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Who Decides?
Pam Moser
Who makes the laws here in Jeffco to decide if we have a recycling program? How do we handle wildfire mitigation? Do we give firefighters a raise? Do we expand public transportation? Who provides services for residents of unincorporated Jefferson County?
ALL of these issues are decided on a local level.
Local elections have real consequences. Most of the quality of life issues that people complain about are discussed and handled at the local level. Childcare, our roads, our parks, and policing are all things that local lawmakers directly impact.
We are so fortunate here in Jeffco to have one of the easiest and most transparent voting systems in the United States. In mid-October, if you are a registered voter in Jefferson County, you will be receiving a ballot with several issues and candidates to choose. How does a person decide for whom and what to choose?
UU the Vote, along with JUC CAN and the League of Women Voters, will be sponsoring a Jeffco Candidate Forum on Tuesday, October 18 from 7 to 9 pm at JUC. The evening will focus on local elections specific to Jefferson County with a live forum featuring candidates for County Commissioner, Clerk and Recorder, and Sheriff with an opportunity for questions from the audience. In addition, candidates for Treasurer, Coroner, and Assessor positions will be available to talk to voters, and you will be able to obtain information about the ballot issues. Every election matters, and your participation is important. Get involved!
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Habitat for Humanity Update County
Andy Melick
Turning Pumpkins Into Houses
JUC has been selling pumpkins in coalition with Jeffco Interfaith Partners every October for 23 years. All proceeds go toward the sponsorship of a Habitat for Humanity home in metro Denver. This year’s sales will sponsor the home which JUCers will help to build next year.
We run two pumpkin patches (one in Lakewood, one in Arvada) and it takes LOTS of volunteers to unload the delivery trucks and cover sales shifts. Details can be found at the following sign-up links:
The Lakewood patch is located at Mile High Church, 9077 West Alameda Avenue (Alameda and Garrison). The Arvada patch is located at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 7755 Vance Avenue (Wadsworth and 78th).
Habitat for Humanity’s mission is to put love into action by bringing people together to build homes, community, and hope. Everyone deserves a decent place to live. Thank you for supporting this tremendous work by volunteering and/or buying your Halloween pumpkins at one of our pumpkin patches.
Core Volunteer Positions Available at New Restore
Habitat Metro Denver has opened a new ReStore at 5045 Robb Street. Core volunteers are needed in the following positions (Core volunteers work one or two half-days/week):
- Merchandising Assistant
- Appliance Tester
- Dock Assistant
- Customer Service and Loss Prevention
- Cashier Assistant
- Floor Assistant
For information, contact Charlotte Sorum
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YOUR Vote is Needed!
Kathy Smith
Yes, it’s almost time for the midterm elections.
In addition to the national and statewide elections, we’ll also be voting for most of our Jeffco elected officials and our local representatives at the state legislature. And there will be 11 statewide ballot measures and 3 Jeffco ballot questions. Our Jeffco elections and ballot measures are VERY important because they impact our daily lives. JUC’s Community Action Network (CAN) has been working for several years on housing justice and equitable taxation. Our UU values are reflected in our support of the ballot measures below.
JEFFCO QUESTION 1A
One of our Jeffco ballot measures is Jeffco Question 1A. Our JUC CAN group supports this ballot question, which would allow the county to obtain more state grants and retain other non-property tax revenue and would exempt these funds from Jeffco's revenue limit.
Jeffco has been having funding challenges for several years. Some examples of grants that currently put Jeffco over their revenue limit include state grants for wildfire mitigation, for mandated body worn cameras for the Sheriff’s Office, as well as numerous human services and housing grants. User fees, such as funding through the Colorado Department of Transportation for road maintenance, and development review fees also currently count towards Jeffco’s revenue limit. YES on 1A would allow these state grants and fees to be exempt from Jeffco’s revenue limit, and allow Jeffco to pursue more state grant opportunities.
PROPOSITION 123
One of our statewide ballot measures is Proposition 123 (Dedicate Revenue for Affordable Housing Programs). Our JUC CAN group supports this ballot measure, which would create a sustainable source of funding for affordable housing in Colorado without raising taxes.
Proposition 123 would dedicate 0.1% (about $300 million next year) of Colorado’s income tax revenue each year to fund statewide affordable housing programs without raising taxes. An individual taxpayer would receive about $86 less in their annual TABOR refund next year. The new programs would provide grants, loans, and financing to local governments and nonprofits to create and preserve affordable housing, from homelessness prevention to first-time homeownership, with a special program that shares equity with tenants so they can build wealth.
Check Your Voter Registration Information and Learn About Your Ballot
Ballots will be sent to your mailbox in mid-October and are due on Tuesday, November 8 at 7 pm. Register to vote and update/check your voter registration information at GoVoteColorado.gov (through Monday, October 31 to receive a ballot in the mail). You can register to vote and vote in person until 7 pm on Tuesday, November 8 (Election Day).
Learn what’s on YOUR ballot at VOTE411, a non-partisan website provided by the League of Women Voters.
If you have questions and/or would like to be added to the JUC CAN Action Alert list to receive occasional important alerts and updates about housing issues and legislation, please send an email to communityaction@jeffersonunitarian.org.
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