ISSUE 57                                                                                                                                                                                            MARCH 2021
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes identifies as Mestiza Latina. She was raised in a rural town on one of the Great Lakes as a first generation American. For her familial elders, English was a second or third language. Reading and writing was not shared. Still, stories were enormously important and were passed through the now nearly lost oral tradition.

She shares some of this in her book "The Faithful Gardener" and even describes one of their rituals. "In my family," she writes, "the old ones practiced a tradition called 'Make-Story,' this being a time - often over a meal rich in aromas of fresh onions, warm bread, and spicy rice sausage - when the elders encourage the young to weave tales, poems, and other pieces. The old ones laughed with one another as they ate. To us they said, 'We are going to test you to see if you were gaining any knowledge worth having. Come, come now, give us a story from scratch. Let us see you flex your story muscles.'"

I have long loved these words. For me, this practice entrusts children to embody their gifts of unvarnished enthusiasm, expansive creativity, and openness to play in ways that make them partners in imagining a new world that can be shared across generations.

This month, I love this passage because of the way in which it bridges our first three themes this year: Imagination, Beloved Community, and Commitment.

There is an old story that has held sway for so many years. It centers scarcity and narrow and oppressive power structures. It sees the planet as a resource to fuel endless consumerism and it privileges white bodies which should be comfortable, entertained, and protected. The political tumult and racial reckoning that has echoed across the country these last months tells us that this story has run its course. It's a story that now hurts us more than helps us, tears us apart more than brings us together, and threatens our planet in apocalyptic ways.

Who can doubt that we need a new story? Why wouldn't we include more voices? What might happen if we were to invite voices to the center (like those of children and people of color) who start from a place of possibility, creativity and enthusiasm. What if the voices of those whose lives were on the margins began a new story? In essence, this is imagination and beloved community combined, which leads us nicely into our theme this month of commitment. 

We need a new story and we need to make that story real. Professor Otto Scharmer, in his book "Theory U," wrote: "The real battle in the world today is not among civilizations or cultures but among the different evolutionary futures that are possible for us and our species right now. What is at stake is nothing less than the choice of who we are, who we want to be, and where we want to take the world we live in. The real question, then, is 'What are we here for?'" 

In other words, what are our commitments? I look forward to being with you this month to explore that important question.
When I was just an intern minister one of my supervisors, Tamara, looked at me and said "You should get yourself trained in Prepare-Enrich." What she was really saying was that she was a trainer and that I should take the course at her upcoming workshop. Everyone has their motivations. What I quickly learned was that it was a program that allowed couples, often couples planning to get married, to answer a series of questions separately so that they could have some structured conversations together about what exactly it was they were about to commit to.
 
I still use that tool when couples come to me to talk about a wedding. And it's not because it's perfect, but because it opens up a set of conversations about expectations that too often go unspoken, until someone has their feelings hurt. Given that getting married is, often, the biggest commitment many of us will ever make, it's striking how frequently people unintentionally fall into the assumption that because they love one another everything else will just work itself out.
 
It's a reminder about commitments that I know I often need, and have found that most of us do. Falling in love is fun and exciting, it's bright and sparkly, and it just feels good. Here's this person who gets you, who you get, who it's just good to be around. But, as American Buddhist writer Jack Kornfield put it in the title of one of his books, "After the ecstasy, the laundry."
 
The specifics of Prepare-Enrich are tied up in intimate relationships, so topics like leisure activities and sexual expectations, issues like financial management and how close or distant you might be from each other or from your families are key. And yet, there are other topics that matter in any long-term commitment. How do you talk about difficult topics? How often, and in what ways will you share time? What are the long-term goals you have together, and are they the same?
 
The point of the inventory, as I tell people every time I share their results, is not for people to be the same. While that is one model for being a couple, it's hardly the only one. One point is for people who are committing to one another to name and surface their often unspoken expectations for how they will work together. The other point, I think, is to prepare people for the reality that conflict and disagreement will happen, in any relationship we give of ourselves to. Many of us internalized the idea that a disagreement is a sign of failure, when in fact it's a sign that communication and negotiation is essential in all our lives.

That kind of understanding is part of what commitment takes. When we make commitments, it helps to know that we've started out with a shared understanding of ourselves and each other, then at least we can pick ourselves up, together, and head on down the road to a future that is yet unfolding.
In This Issue
Board of Trustees Report
The Board is currently reviewing the process of leadership selection with the Leadership Nominating Committee.
 
The Board is finalizing the 2021 ministerial reviews.
 
The Board is discussing with the Safety Team what it will take for JUC to resume in-person gatherings.
 
Don't miss the Board's vocal performance in the JUC COVID 19 Follies Auction!

Beloved Community and Planned Giving
Building Beloved Community, a community of communities, takes a vision of action and hope that spans generations. It is a spiritual process that instills in all, the love of all, without consideration for culture, race, religion, political party, wealth, level of education or any other type of oppression.

Your legacy gift to JUC will keep our community strong so that the collective vision of Beloved Community may become the new way. 

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to make JUC a beneficiary of an individual retirement account.

Contact JUC's planned giving coordinators: Bud & B.J. Meadows, Mike Kramer or Carol Wilsey
Maundy Thursday 
The UU Liberal Christians will host a virtual Maundy Thursday Service for JUC on Thursday, April 1 at 7 p.m. 

Coming from Shadows into the Light is a contemplative service observing one of the holiest days of the Christian year. Music, readings and communion will be included. All are welcome to participate by clicking here.   
 
What is Maundy Thursday?

On the Christian calendar, the Easter Season begins with the observance of Lent, which is a 40-day period of fasting, and culminates with Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, followed by Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and ending with Easter Sunday.
 
Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) is the Christian holy day which commemorates Christ's Last Supper, which was actually a Passover Seder meal with his Disciples. Most scholars agree that the English word 'Maundy' comes from the Latin word for commandment 'mandatum,' which Jesus gave his disciples when he told them that he was leaving them. John 13:34: "A new commandment I give unto you: That ye love one another, as I have loved you." The liturgy read on Maundy Thursday initiates the Easter Triduum, the period which commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ; this period includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and ends on Easter.
 
The Only Way Forward
As our March theme arrives, let us take the time to renew our commitment in faith formation and remember that Unitarian Universalism invites us into a deeper relationship with racial justice, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. 

For JUC's beloved parents committed to raising antiracist children: you are your child's guide to anti-racism as parents offer the foundation for children to develop their own identity. How you engage your children around race can make all the difference. You can bring these key points into your daily lives and conversations, supported in our religious education classes and activities every week.
  • Acknowledge white privilege is real. Remember, privilege is not to say that a white person will not have struggles or adversity, but instead, it is viewed as an inherent advantage that a person has without doing anything other than having white skin.
  • Skin color does exist. Race does matter. Children can begin to differentiate race as early as three months old and can classify others by race between the ages of 6 and 8 years. By teaching about race, you celebrate with your children the identity of all people and teach the importance of knowing who each person truly is.
  • Answer questions about race honestly and factually. If your child asks questions about race, avoid silencing these inquiries as this can lead to the erasure of differences. Instead, answer questions about race and differences calmly and honestly. 
  • Start talking to children about racism early on.  Avoid sheltering your children from the harsh reality of what racism is. Be deliberate in teaching them about racism and bias. Being honest that we are all learning and growing in this together is a beautiful place to start.
  • Be a role model. Children are always watching their primary caregiver for guidance, and they understand more than you might think. They look to you for not only what you can provide for them and teach them, but they pay attention to how you do or do not respond to discussions specific to racism. 
  • Know it's OK to feel uncomfortable. Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable. Modeling how you embrace this discomfort permits your children to do the same. 
This month we will also focus on adult faith formation around the proposed 8th Principle of Unitarian Universalism. It reads: "We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions." Our ministry team and staff will be holding numerous forums for us all to engage in these learning opportunities.  

In the meantime, we invite all of JUC to spend time visiting our 7 principles and asking themselves important questions about our existing principles before we consider our commitment to the 8th Principle. 

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person
How are we decentering ourselves and white culture to ensure the worth and dignity of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)?

2nd Principle: Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
In justice and compassion, how are we working for equity in our human relations? What is equity? Are we working for equity for BIPOC and for their liberation?

3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
How do social justice and spiritual growth go hand in hand? How are we accepting and encouraging the spiritual growth of BIPOC in our congregations or faith? How might it be different than the needs of white people?

4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
Where do we make room for Black, Indigenous, People of Color's truth and meaning in their search for truth and meaning? How do we listen to People of Color's reflections on their truth and meaning?

5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large
How do we decenter white culture to be sure that BIPOC voices are heard in our and society's democratic process?

6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
What is the world community? Who does it include? How can there be peace if liberty and justice are not provided for all? What do peace, liberty, and justice mean for BIPOC?

7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
How are we respecting the web of life when the tears and wounds of BIPOC have yet to be healed?

We look forward to deepening our commitment to racial justice with all of you in March. Ijeoma Oluo, a Nigerian-American writer, offers us these encouraging words, "The beauty of anti-racism is that you don't have to pretend to be free of racism to be an antiracist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it's the only way forward." May we lean into one another on this journey forward.

The Hearth of the Matter
Karey Sutton, Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Coordinator

The hearth of the matter is that commitment, this month's theme, can feel daunting at any age and in any situation. Making a firm decision to do something takes willingness and perseverance. My father passed away two days into the new year; it has taken all of my commitment to engage in this apprenticeship with sorrow as I deal with his estate. I know that too many of you can empathize. Fortunately, our commitments do not exist in a vacuum. I have been blessed to feel my Beloved Community wrap its arms around me, fortifying me with support and gratitude during this difficult time. May we all take solace in the words of Theresa I. Soto: "You will prevail if you commit. Do the next thing because it is next. Move toward greater strength; build the skills it takes to heal the aching world." Remember: that includes yourself.    

So, over these past months, I have lived my way into my commitment by doing the next right thing. In light of the pandemic, isn't that what we've all been doing for a year now? Our repeated tiny actions and daily steps have moved us toward greater strength. May they also remind us that we are here; we are still present.

To truly live and be are optimistic commitments we must consciously make. JUC invites us to do so in many ways. For example, in February, our Family Ministry Team hosted a Scattergories game night. This month, we invite you to join us for a virtual movie night; keep your eyes out for the date and time. We'll also be hosting a "stuffed animal sleepover" during the last week of March for Spring Break. In April, we hope you'll join us by participating in a virtual talent show. Finally, Jules and Wendy will offer another couples tune-up workshop, similar to what they did last spring.  

In the meantime, know that JUC offers many daily ways to honor your commitment to your faith and spiritual practice and our Beloved Community: the Full Week Faith packet (posted on Facebook and our website) offers chalice lightings, music, stories, activities, and discussion questions for all ages; and the new JUC Virtual Commons page on Facebook offers a place to connect and engage, which nourishes our commitment to one another.  
Commitment to Bless the World
What has it been like for you since last March? Front line essential worker? Health care provider? Parent with nonstop responsibilities including being your child's teacher? Alone in your apartment for almost a year? Together with the same group of people for just as long?

I've been thinking and learning about all of the ways that people have impacted others during this time, whether in families or in workgroups, in study sessions or in schools or on social media. Imagination and creativity have been in full show as folks have gathered online, signed petitions, shared stories of living, and even have made music together (as so happens in my life). Between innovative education and pod game nights and socially distant hikes, all of these are ways for people to lift one another up.

Each person touches another, whether in the other's physical presence or not. UU Theologian Rev. Rebecca Parker calls attention to this kind of connection, entreating us to make the commitment to use mind, heart, hands, and speech to welcome the stranger and to tear down the prison wall.

Inspired by Parker's words, UU educator and composer Nick Page created a choral work that acknowledges humanity's power to bless - or curse - the world. Like bells pealing, the music repeats a chorus of blessing, culminating in a joyful "Jubilate Deo."

This performance by the Denver Women's Chorus and Denver Gay Men's Chorus beautifully captures the invitation to commit: "You who light the world, you who love the world, choose to bless the world, be the light today, be the love today."  Rebecca Parker's poem goes even further, as it names some of the fruits that grow when a person commits to use their gifts for blessing. Those fruits include many aspects of connection, such as friendship, shared struggle, and being welcomed into the chorus of life.

As you continue to be in others' presences - whether in person, on the phone, online, at work, distant, remote, right next to one another, in whatever way - may you commit to blessing the world.
Why Me?
Ken Andrus, Trustee
 
We all remember well those certain milestones in our lives, when we get that tap on our shoulder to step up and make a difference, to make a commitment that will change our lives. I got that tap - in the form of a phone call - early in 2019, asking if I would accept the nomination to be a member of the JUC Board of Trustees. I was shocked and humbled. I said yes. I couldn't think of a good reason to say no off the top of my head.  
 
I hung up the phone, and the doubts began creeping in. Do I have the right skills for this? Am I smart enough? Am I UU enough? Why me? 
 
It had been just a few years since I had begun waking up from the self-induced hibernation that was my former life, oblivious to social responsibility. Sure, I was a good dad and husband, made an honest living, coached my son's basketball team and picked up litter on occasion. I donated a few dollars here and there. But a member of a Church Board of Trustees?  
 
We lived near JUC back in the 90s and attended services on occasion. Soon we began attending services on a regular basis. A few years back we became members, and so began a whole new life for us, of connection, engagement and depth. And I was a project, to say the least.
 
Early in my Board experience, I found myself struggling at times with a lack of confidence and belonging. It took me a little while to get my Board legs, but I became actively involved in projects early on, which helped a lot. I gradually began to sense a transformation, from a passive observer to an active, contributing participant, working side by side with our talented and resourceful ministers, staff and fellow Board members.  
 
I now look forward to our Board meetings, and enjoy the bond we share. And although at times I still feel out of place, I accept this as a challenge to be my best self, in a role of leadership, to help our church forge ahead with the important work of social justice.  
 
This experience has taught me so much about myself. I've learned that it's OK to be myself. It's OK to make mistakes, OK not to not be an expert in everything. It's OK to have nothing to add to a particular conversation other than to listen (I also learned the importance of being a good listener!).  
 
And I have changed, for the better, permanently, mindful of the work yet to be done, and aware of the challenges ahead. I know that I will never return to my mindless slumber of the past. I've always been a work in progress, and I always will be. But I've transformed myself from one who avoids conflict and commitment, to one who will commit without hesitation.
 
I belong on this Board, and I will always treasure my time on it.
 
JUC is always looking for new leaders. If the opportunity arises, I suggest that it is one not to be missed. It is an honor and a privilege to serve and represent this congregation. I will always be grateful for this opportunity.
The Kaleidoscope of Commitment
I've come to think of commitment as more of a kaleidoscope than a telescope. Commitment is a little bit trickier to generalize about than some of our other themes that serve as values or visions (like Beloved Community). Commitments are only useful if they are the right commitment for us at the right time. For example, being committed to someone who undermines our power or doesn't treat us with respect can be damaging to our souls. Sometimes we make a commitment to something and then find that channeling our energy in that direction is not the best for us, or we change our minds about what we believe is important.

I was raised to believe that there is objective truth that comes from outside ourselves, good and evil, sin and virtue, the "right" way to do things and the "wrong" way to do things. Commitments were to be fulfilled no matter what the obstacles. This type of thinking left me unwilling to commit to anything. 

But, as I've grown older and more experienced, I've learned to use commitment as a tool that serves my evolution, rather than being a servant to a promise made, even when my understandings or needs have changed. 

Does this mean we shouldn't make solid commitments to people and projects, to causes, and ways of being? No, I still take commitments very seriously, but I also have learned to continually reexamine to make sure a commitment hasn't gone from serving me and the world to being an obstacle to my growth and service. 

I've also come to discover the nuance of commitment that mandates, "I am committed to this person or path, but I will not let that person or path cross the boundaries that keep me safe and healthy." In other words, my first commitment is to loving and protecting myself and that alone allows me to discern how to be in relationship with others and the world. 

Along with commitment, I would suggest we think about discernment too. How do we know what to commit to? How do we know when to rethink a commitment and change direction? Even though commitment may seem like an absolute or immutable promise, I no longer think that way. Things change, people change, situations change, and most importantly, we change. 

Commitments are the containers that allow us to be most effective and keep us going when we want to give up. If we keep our commitments to our core values (collective liberation, justice, peace, self-discovery) at the core of all we do, they give us the fuel to do good work. As long as we remember to keep discerning, keep our minds open, love ourselves, and be alive to new learning and understandings, commitments can help us to focus our energy and grow as people. 

I am excited for the conversations we will be having in our small groups and the explorations we  will have in our worship services this month as we go a little deeper into considering our relationship with commitment.
The Leadership Nominating Committee: Election by Selection
Brad West

The Leadership Nominating Committee (LNC)  is the group responsible for recruiting volunteer leaders for several key positions at JUC: Board Trustees (BOT), Endowment and Memorial Gift Trustees (EMGT), Shared Mission Team (SMT) members, Auction Chair, as well as new members for their own committee. Nominees are first approved by the BOT, and in the case of BOT, LNC and EMGT are then also approved by the Congregation in the spring. 

There are five members of LNC each serving three-year terms. The committee works to find church members who are interested and qualified for each position. Searching for the right candidates, they look for members who are active in church activities. Some members may be in a leadership role already.  Others may have responded on a talent or volunteer survey that they have an interest in church leadership. For the last couple of months our committee has been making phone calls to try to get to know people we don't already know. We would usually do some of this in person, but...pandemic!
 
Whatever method the LNC uses is bound to miss members who might be willing and able to serve in a leadership role. If you feel such a calling, let us know of your interest. Each year we need to fill about a dozen positions. One of these might be right for you and we would love to talk to you. Call (303-279-5282 x 11) or email Carol Wilsey and she will put us in touch with you.

This is an election and there is a vote. Yet unlike other elections there are no campaigns, speeches, or television advertising. For each position there is one candidate selected and added to the slate. Each candidate has qualified for the position and has agreed to serve. We are so grateful for those who step into these leadership positions. It is a very meaningful way to support JUC!

Current LNC members:
Zack Schreiner (chair), Katie Wheeler, Amanda Trosten-Bloom, John Hambright, Brad West
UU the Vote
Jessy Hennesy
I'm currently sitting in my living room, thankful to have electricity and above zero temperatures, while that is not the case for so many people in other places throughout the country. I'm also thankful to live in a state that actually supports the right to vote. Dozens of state legislatures reacted to last November's substantial voter turnout by introducing laws that, if passed, will make it even harder to vote. Passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and HR 1, the For the People Act of 2021, will be steps towards ensuring better access to the right to vote throughout the country, along with reducing the impact of money in politics and gerrymandering. Gerrymandering will almost definitely be more severe this cycle than the last, unless we do something to limit it, since the preclearance requirement of the 1965 Voting Rights Act was still in effect during the last redistricting (it was struck down in 2013's Shelby County vs Holder).

You can help work towards the passage of these bills: 
Call Senators Bennet (202-224-5852) and Hickenlooper (202-224-5941), and your congressional representative (it's probably Ed Perlmutter, phone is 202-225-2645) and let them know you support passage of both HR 1 and the Voting Rights Act. Ask your friends and family elsewhere (and here!) to do the same with their Senators and Representatives. 

Additionally, this year marks both Colorado's redistricting and elections for most local offices. UU The Vote at JUC will be hosting an event in April on both of these. Be on the lookout for information on our Democracy in Colorado event. 

This article from The Atlantic, is useful for information about the bills I mentioned here. It frames this as partisan, but equal representation and access to the vote is far more than a partisan issue. 

The delay in census results will likely cause some challenges for Colorado's redistricting process. The Colorado Sun has a good write up on that available here.

Stories of Hope: Guest at Your Table 2020-21
Stephanie Wells

UUSC first started collaborating with Mark Stege in 2017 through a project he was working on with the Marshall Islands Conservation Society (MICS) to develop flood risk maps in his home atoll of Maloelap. 
Mark Stege (pronounced STAY-gee) is an indigenous climate scientist from the Marshall Islands. Years ago, he grappled with the painful truth that the world was not taking the necessary measures to prevent certain climate impacts from becoming irreversible, including forced relocation due to sea level rise. Prioritizing self-determination for communities, Mark bridges together Indigenous and Western methodologies, promotes Indigenous-led responses to climate change, and advances
Mark is pictured with Chloe Bulles, one of his community elders.
self-determination for Marshall Islanders facing sea level rise, severe flooding, and other impacts. Through the project with UUSC, Mark interviewed his elders about past flooding events and natural ocean dynamics that may have contributed to them, and collaborated with his peers to build models to project future flooding scenarios given sea level rise. 
With support from various partners including UUSC, Mark, MICS and community members in Majuro, Mejit, Wotho, and Maloelap Atolls successfully developed flood risk maps for these four of 24 municipalities in the Marshall Islands.
In this 4-minute video, Mark describes his relationship between the science and the culture of his people.

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) will be the beneficiary of the special plate collection on Sunday, March 21. Please attend and learn more about UUSC's worldwide missions.

Habitat for Humanity Update
Andy Melick

New Construction Site
Habitat Metro Denver plans to build 28 homes in a mixed-used development called Aria, located one block east of Regis University, just north of Denver's Highlands neighborhood. Construction is scheduled to start in March. Jeffco Interfaith Partners (JIP), a coalition of churches of which JUC is a member, has raised almost $40,000 to sponsor one of these homes in 2021. Our volunteer build days will take place in June and July. The current plan is to limit volunteers to four per day and to work outdoors only to minimize risk of Covid-19 transmission. Stay tuned for details regarding registration for JUC's build days. The project is expected to take 18-24 months, so we should be working at Aria in 2022 as well.
 
2019 and 2020 Homes
JUC and the other churches of JIP sponsored and helped build a H4H house each of the past two years at Swansea Homes, a Habitat Metro Denver development in the Elyria/Swansea neighborhood. The pandemic delayed the sale and occupancy of the houses, but our 2019 home (4354 Columbine Street) has been earmarked for Robert and Rachel, who have been living and working remotely in a 600 square foot apartment with unreliable heating and a leaky stove for several years. Their dream of buying a house and raising a family in Denver seemed out of reach until they partnered with H4H. Hareb and Djamila and their little girl closed on our 2020 home (4353 Elizabeth Street) on Tuesday, January 19. Both of these hard-working families look forward to the safety and stability of home ownership. Everyone deserves a decent place to live. Thank you to the many JUC volunteers who help make that possible.

Breakfast for Humanity
Save the Date! Habitat Metro Denver's annual breakfast fundraiser will take place Wednesday, April 21 at 8 a.m. Like last year, the event will be virtual. You can register at Breakfast for Humanity and designate Jeffco Interfaith Partners as your host. "See" you there!

Volunteer Opportunities
Habitat Metro Denver continues to take individual volunteers on a limited basis at their Restores and Production Shop. Work is structured to prevent potential Covid-19 exposure and to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and staff members. If you're interested, please visit habitatmetrodenver.org.