All Souls Unitarian Universalist E-Letter |
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This week's editor:
Tamsin Cowdery
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office hours
Currently All Souls has no office hours, in keeping with the best health and safety practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Links to email our minister or office admin are provided above.
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Sunday Service Time: 10:30am |
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07/11 ~ we are on the road home
Join us on Zoom: As we begin a new chapter in our All Souls history book, we take a look around our “hometown.” We will wander through our gardens and local spaces that draw us into the summer sun. And we are all looking forward to moving back into our spiritual and physical home at All Souls. Members of Eclectic Voices will be taking us on this fabulous journey.
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all souls green sanctuary team is forming
Evony McKenna shared a bit about the Green Sanctuary process in the Congregational Meeting Packet and at the Congregational Meeting. This team will work on assessment and planning for mitigation of climate change as well as either working with an ecosystem or a front-line community impacted by climate change. This involves building a team and educating the congregation, assessing the congregation and community, creating an action plan, creating a final report, and ultimately becoming accredited as a Green Sanctuary. Would you like to be involved in moving our congregation to become a Green Sanctuary? We are forming a team to work on this. We hope to have an organizational meeting towards the end of July. Please email Evony McKenna if you’d like to be included in this important work.
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roger butts' book signing
July 8th, 6:30-8 pm at G44 Gallery. Y'all come or you guys come! Music, wine, art, and my book!!! We'll just celebrate, sign books, do a little reading. And see lots of good folks!
RSVP here, so they have a sense of how many folks can make it.
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reopening plan
The Board of Trustees is considering the option of resuming modified in-person Sunday services in August. COVID positivity rates have been low (around 3%), hospitalizations have dropped immensely, and vaccination rates are climbing. Before a final decision is made, the Transition Team will provide feedback, and the incoming Interim Minister (when that hire is complete) will be consulted. Resumption of in-person services, when it happens, would be with these guidelines: 1) wearing of masks would be required inside the church building; 2) socially distanced seating would be available in the Small Hall; 3) all Fellowship activities would occur outside the church building; 4) there would be no congregational singing; and 5) there would be no passing of baskets (for example, during the Offertory). In addition, steps would be taken to protect the health of the unvaccinated children attending RE classes; and Zoom and/or live-streaming options would be available for all who prefer not to attend the in-person service.
The Building and Grounds Team has been busily preparing the church building for a safe return to in-person services and other church activities. As noted before, the church is now available for use by existing affinity groups as long as those groups 1) follow safety protocols and 2) schedule their church use ahead of time through the church office. A decision is still to be made on the use of church spaces by outside groups; such use is still currently prohibited.
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city as venue: front range fables
The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College is presenting CITY AS VENUE: FRONT RANGE FABLES. These three fantastical fables based on historical events in the Pikes Peak region are written by local playwrights to entertain, educate, and foster empathy. By filtering these stories through the lens of fairytale and fable, we invite students to experience history in a very approachable manner. To allow for social distancing, there will be multiple performances of each play, providing groups with opportunities to see all three. Bemis School of Art will provide creative activities during the breaks between plays. The production will be performing on Saturday mornings from June 26-August 7, 2021. For more information (including how to reserve tickets), click here. To find out about other CITY AS VENUE events, click here.
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listening circles
Everyone's welcome to Listening Circles in All Souls' Garden, 8:30-9:30am, 7/11 & 8/8. BYO chair, hat, and water. We'll take turns and each be deeply heard. Betsy Rose sings the spirit of listening in "Welcome to The Circle." For more information contact Karla.
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community care team
The Place, which "ignites the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined, fulfilled lives" has a vision that "all Colorado youth have safe housing, supportive relationships, and the opportunity for self-sufficiency and success." Kaye Brabec, 719-434-2053, is happy to facilitate picking up and delivering donations at any time if needed. Click here to visit their website. Please look at their website where their immediate needs are listed with a synopsis of their history, mission, programs, and locations. They are always in need of new pillows, and large duffle bags, thereby avoiding the youth using garbage bags to transport their belongings. Contact information for donations and in-kind goods, with drop-off appointments, can all be explained through Fiona Bachoroski, Development Coordinator, 719-338-925. They have an updated list of current needs.
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affinity and covenant groups
It's been a while since our small groups have met! If your affinity or covenant group is interested in resuming meetings on Zoom, we currently have a church account that can be shared by multiple groups; meetings just need to be one at a time. If your group is interested in meeting on Zoom, please contact A.B. to receive instructions on proceeding further with our Zoom account.
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fuun in the summer
All July and August classes will be held in person at All Souls in the parking lot. Classes will be 9-10am, shifting 30 minutes to allow for travel time for parents to return for Zoom church service or get on with their day. With outdoor classes, masks are optional. If inclement weather hits, we will move to the Small Hall inside where masks will be required. We're looking forward to our hands-on summer having crafts and other activities!
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last week
We hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend!
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7/11
This groovy intergenerational class is welcoming to ALL ages! Join Ms. Sarah as we tie-dye! Handkerchiefs will be provided to tie-dye, but all are welcome to bring their own white cotton shirts to tie dye as well!
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7/18
This class is sure to be a fun production! Join Ms. Karla and Ms. Cathy for a drumming class!! Karla will lead us in a fun and musical class as we drum together.
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yruu
YRUU is on their summer hiatus, but are always welcome to join in FUUN in the SUUMER from 9-10am on Sundays! We're excited to get back to in-person events in September! Stay tuned for our plans and enjoy your summer!
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emerging adult con
All Pacific Western Region Emerging Adults are invited to the first ever virtual conference explicitly for 18 to 24-year-olds!
Title/Theme: HUGG's - A place for welcome and renewed connection.
Date/Location: August 13-15/virtual.
Cost: FREE
Sponsored by: PWR Emerging Adult Task Force
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joys & concerns
joys
If I am nearby, I always drive by the church and admire the view...the beautiful, uplifting gardens are really lovely again this year. I know that that huge garden space is not an easy task to maintain. Thanks to Becky Harrison and dear friend, Yolanda, and whoever else takes the time to pull weeds and attend to all the other necessaries that we admire. Thanks also to the Buildings and Grounds team who take their responsibilities quite seriously and follow through on all that needs to be accomplished each month, each season. Thanks to all. -- Kaye
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concerns
Please hold my husband in your hearts, as he was admitted to a mental health facility on Sunday, July 4th, and will not be discharged until Friday, July 9th, at the earliest. On top of this, we currently don't have health insurance. -- Anon
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local activism & awareness
Editors' note: Occasionally, changes are made to these events after publication. Please click on the links provided if you are interested in attending something, to make sure the details have not changed. Thank you!
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ongoing
COVID Mask Crafters, an international collective of stitchers making home-sewn masks for healthcare workers, needs your help. Needed: sewers, donations of material (sheets, pillowcases, etc), drivers to pick up and deliver masks, and financial support. If you are interested in helping, please visit visit the website or email the Mask Crafters.
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community news
Editors' note: Occasionally, changes are made to events after publication. Please click on the links provided if you are interested in attending something, to make sure the details have not changed. Thank you!
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peace camp
Pikes Peak Justice & Peace Commission’s Peace Camp is back. It runs 9:30am-2:30pm, 7/19-7/23, at the Knight of Columbus Hall by the downtown Penrose Library. Foster peace in ourselves, our relationships, our communities, our world, and in our planet through art, music, food, and non-violent communication. The cost is $150 and many scholarships are available. HS counselors (paid stipend) are sought. Register here.
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drive-thru garden market
The first weekend of every month, The Aquaponic Garden holds a garden market at the Mountain Springs Church. Their aquaponic system is a 5,000 gallon closed-loop ecosystem consisting of two fish tanks that are home to 300 Tilapia. There’s approximately 750sf of floating grow beds housing about 3,600 lettuce and leafy green plants of different varieties, 400 of which are harvested on a weekly basis. In addition, there is a rock media grow bed and grow towers providing a variety of harvestable herbs and seasonal vegetables. The fish waste is converted by naturally occurring water-born bacteria into vital nutrients that are absorbed by the plants which in turn clean the water for recirculation back into the fish tank. This type of system uses approximately 20% of the water used in traditional soil-based gardens. They sell their produce to support their donations of fresh produce to several local charitable organizations.
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drive-thru food pantry
Do you know someone or are you in need of FREE food, toiletries, etc? Join Chopcos on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 11am-1pm at 4360 Bradley Rd for a drive-thru pantry.
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free medical care & prescriptions
People sometimes face the stark choice between food and medicine. In Colorado's El Paso & Teller Counties, Open Bible Medical Clinic & Pharmacy also serves as a Community Pharmacy dispensing free prescription medication to our neighbors who are uninsured. Residents of the county can qualify for our services if they are at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. 10am-2pm every Thursday and 9am-1pm every Saturday.
people's grocery distribution
The Chinook Center holds a weekly free grocery distribution 12-2pm on Sundays.
food distribution
El Paso County has compiled a lengthy list of local food distribution locations here.
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all souls board of trustees
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e-letter deadline
The deadline for each week's e-letter is Wednesday at noon, barring something truly unexpected, such as a last-minute cancellation. Other items submitted after deadline will run the following week. Please help us inform you by honoring the deadline.
Thank you -- Tamsin & Beth
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