ISSUE 73

JULY 2022

What will we do for worship this summer? I ruminate on that question each year. I like to do something a bit different in July and August to center the voice of one of our members each Sunday. I like to have a theme or a question to pose. What will it be this year? I just let that question percolate and bring whatever thoughts it will.

About a thousand years ago, Stevie Wonder released an album called “Songs in the Key of Life.” I always loved that title. Music touches us in places mere words don’t reach. We can hear a song that seems to perfectly hold something we are in the midst of or have been through. We are moved and seen. As I began to imagine our summer worship series, this reality kept popping up for me.

A more refined shape began to emerge as I listened to the Unlocking Us Podcast hosted and produced by Brené Brown. If you’ve never listened, she ends every interview with a ‘rapid-fire’ set of five questions. One of the questions addresses the guest’s previously submitted list of five favorite songs. At the end of the interview, the guest is asked “what do those five songs say about you?”

It’s an interesting question met generally by a fascinating answer. Often the responses speak to the ways in which songs keep us afloat. Always it makes me reflect on songs that have kept me going or named something I couldn’t quite name or gave me hope or in some way made sense of an experience. There was something about the song that pulled me in and guided me forward.

Stories often have the same affect. Whether from children’s books or teaching stories or fiction or biographies or family lore, stories offer a way of seeing our lives and a world through a different lens.

So this year’s summer speakers have been invited to share a song AND a story that buoyed their spirits in this pandemic time. Each will reflect on how those things served as a balm. Then, as always, the ‘preacher’ will offer a short reflection on how that message is reflected in our tradition (whether principle, source, prophet or history).

I’m so excited to hear what our members have to say. I know it will be a gift to us all. It always is. So, join us to learn how others have gotten through this time. My guess is we will not only be lifted up, we will learn something about ourselves and each other.

Blessings,

Rev. Wendy

Upcoming Sundays:

July 3 - General Assembly is the largest annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists. This morning, we share Sunday morning worship from 2022 General Assembly in Portland, OR, with a sermon from Rev. Gretchen Haley, the Senior Minister at Foothills UU Church in Fort Collins.
July 10 - Songs & Stories - Mary Le Beouf
July 17 - Songs & Stories - Ben Teschner
July 24 - Songs & Stories - Dan Matlock
July 31 - “A Look Ahead” As Rev. Wendy heads out on a four month sabbatical (August - November), she offers a look ahead at the work that will happen while she is away. You won’t want to miss a first look at the work the Board has been doing and how it will be engaging the congregation in conversation this fall.

Transitions

Bruce Smith died in late May. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 15 at 4 p.m.

A memorial service for Nancy White will be held Saturday, July 16 at 1:30 pm.

Board of Trustees Report

New lay leaders with terms beginning July 1 and the 2022-2023 budget were approved by the congregation.

Celebrating Blessings and Planned Giving

This month at JUC we have focused on counting and celebrating our many blessings in community together.

The power of this spiritual community is based on growing our hearts together, giving and receiving blessings and spreading blessing to others and the wider community.

Remembering JUC as a beneficiary in your estate plan, will, trust, insurance policy, or retirement account can be your lasting blessing to this community and to future UU generations.

Contact our Planned Giving team: Bud & B.J. Meadows, Mike Kramer or Carol Wilsey

We Remember

A story was told recently

About a dear departed soul

A pillar of community

Whose impact echoed on.

The people gathered soulfully

To share a memory and song

Bright colors, flowers, family

One hundred hearts to share.

“She told me,” said one congregant,

“To quit the job which in my view

Was good enough for me, she gave

Me courage to move on.”

Another said in matching tone

How she had asked about his life,

And waited, paused, would not condone

An incomplete response.

And one by one, the lessons came,

Inquiring was her sure technique,

Encouraging in such a way

To lead a fuller life.

I’ve had some teachers, bad and worse,

But some who spark the future more,

With questions, nods, and silences

That open paths ahead.

When she or others look into

Your eyes and call you forward, then

Please take a moment, meet their gaze.

Breathe deeply and speak true.

We sang for her, yes, “Edelweiss.”

And for ourselves remembering

The singing, mothering, the times

Of leadership, companioning,

The conversations,

Meetings…

“I want to be a mommy when I grow up so I can go to meetings!”

Beloved one of memory,

Your legacy is present now,

Is joined with all,

And we remember,

We rejoice.

Amen.

Case Collard, President

For the board, this year at JUC was still marked by the pandemic. Thankfully, our congregation began to gather again in person. As a board, we remained remote (due to the convenience of Zoom meetings in addition to the uncertainty of trying to plan around the pandemic). Yet we still made meaningful connections, especially around the Following Our Spirit of Love project. For me, this board year will always be associated with that work. The congregation engaged in a series of meaningful workshops to discuss what they value most about our church community. The board collected and distilled that information, then spent many hours poring over it and working with Laura Park of Unity Consulting to craft revised values, mission, and ends statements that will reflect who we are now. Those hours were some of the most touching I have had in community with other church members as we focused on what truly binds us together. This process had not been undertaken at JUC since 2014, and our congregation has been remade anew many times since then. The board is currently in discernment about the process for sharing this work with the congregation and we excitedly await that unfolding.

The board also held steady through other transitions including the replacement of two board members during the year, one due to the death of Craig Williamson and another due to the resignation of Paula Reed so she could focus on her responsibilities as a newly elected member of the Jefferson County School board. As I mentioned in the year-end video, having Craig and Paula on the board was a blessing. We were so pleased to have two wonderful new members, Brooke Maddaford and Elizabeth Duhegraham join us during this year. The board also provided support for our staff as they navigated significant transitions, including the departures of Rev. Eric and Jules Jaramillo. We continued to review and monitor the JUC budget and the potential building swap with Lakewood Church of the Nazarene. As we turn the page on this year, we say goodbye to board members David Fleck, Ken Andrus, and Derek Bassett and thank them for their dedicated service. We are delighted to welcome our new board members for next year Martha Johns, Mary Le Boeuf, and Linda Ropes, as well as our new president, Chris Sealy and new secretary, Stacie Amaya.

Thank you for letting me serve as the JUC board president for the last two years. I appreciate the trust the congregation, board, and staff have put in me over the last two years. I’m proud of the work the congregation and board have done on Following Our Spirit of Love, the 8^th principle, a reconsideration of our name, and all the other stewardship necessary to maintain this vibrant and loving community.

Celebrating JUC's CAN-Do Attitude

Jill Armstong, JUC CAN

The past two months at JUC have been full of celebrating – honoring Rev. Wendy’s 10+1 anniversary, celebrating Rev. Eric’s contributions to the church as we said goodbye, and a number of sermons on celebrating various blessings – commitment, belonging and so on.

In justice work we all too often focus on what needs to be done – needs that aren’t being met, laws that need to be changed, problems that need to be solved, and always, all of the actions that still need to be taken. And we don’t take time to think about what we have accomplished.

On Tuesday, July 19, JUC’s Community Action Network (CAN) will host a special event at JUC to take time to celebrate and acknowledge what has been done, even while we recognize what we still need to do. For the past two years, we’ve provided information to mobile home park residents throughout Jefferson County to make them aware of the rights and protections that the Colorado legislature has put into law, and we’ve supported webinars to give folks the chance to ask a lawyer about specific issues. As a result, some parks formed resident associations; and, residents testified in front of the legislature in support of new laws, gained confidence and saw that change is possible.

JUC CAN will do one last distribution of information to all the parks in Jeffco the beginning of July; it will include a summary of their rights under the law, a refrigerator magnet with links to resources to use in the future, and an invitation to our July 19 special event.

As part of our JUC CAN special event on the evening of Tuesday, July 19, there will be a screening of A DECENT HOME at JUC. Our screening is part of the Colorado tour for this award-winning feature-length documentary about mobile home parks. This thought-provoking documentary tells the story of the struggles of mobile home park residents for stable housing. The main story focuses on the fight to save Denver Meadows in Aurora; the film has been called “an intimate yet scathing” look at mobile home parks and the wealthy investors buying them up. The film’s director, Sara Terry, will be there and will have a Q & A/Discussion after the film.

Before the film screening, JUC CAN will host a reception with light appetizers at 5:30 p.m. The main program will begin at 6 p.m, followed by the Q & A/Discussion. Our special event is free and open to the public, so please share with your friends and share the Facebook event. We’re asking folks to RSVP so we have enough food.

If you 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.