Happy New Year! Yes, it's true. Today marks the new year of the church as the Advent season begins.

CLICK HERE to learn more about this years Close to Home Advent Message Series

And also, be sure to register for one of our Christmas Eve Candlelight service HERE

CLICK HERE to download a copy of Sunday's worship guide. I look forward to seeing you in-person or online this morning at 10am MT.

With hope,

Andrew

In the final presentation in the series, The Art of Spiritual Awakening, we will explore the historical use and contemporary potential of psychedelics for spiritual experience and healing. After a flood of scientific interest, during the 1950"s and 60's, in the therapeutic and medical potential of psychedelics, research ended due to illegalisation. But in the last two decades, research has begun again, and several popular books have appeared touting the potential health benefits of such drugs. But ancient art, and other historical evidence, indicates that humans, spanning thousands of years of practice, have used psychedelic substances for their spiritual effects. With the rise of mental and emotional struggles in the western world (due in part to our loss of traditional religious and spiritual practice), is the time ripe for following our ancient ancestors in using psychedelics as a tool to meet our spiritual needs?

Join us as we explore the spiritual and therapeutic potentials of psychedelics. This is both a virtual meeting (9:00 AM MST) - CLICK HERE to join via Zoom - and an in-person meeting (11:15 AM MST) taking place at 1237 Pine Street, Boulder, CO - Pine Street Church Art Salon, first floor.

This Advent season you're invited to participate in what we're calling the "Let's Bag Hunger Advent Food Drive". Pine Street Church community partner, Community Food Share, has a vision of a hunger-free community, and seeks to eliminate hunger in Boulder and Broomfield Counties through engagement, collaboration, and leadership.

Beyond the highly visible affluence prominent in Boulder and Broomfield counties, Community Food Share Studies show that 33,730 people are hungry in Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 12% of children are food insecure — that’s 7,310 children, and $3.90 is the average cost per meal — 26% above the national average of $3.09.

One reason is lack of sufficient income: it’s expensive to live in this part of Colorado. In Boulder County, a family of four needs to earn at least $86,000 annually to make ends meet without public or private assistance. Comparatively, the majority of families served by Community Food Share and its Partner Agencies survive on an annual income of $50,196…or less.

Beyond income, however, people may need to access food assistance for a variety of reasons. Whether they lost a job, experience terminal illness, or have become a caretaker for other individuals, Community Food Share and other local hunger relief organizations are here to help.

Help us collect food for this critical ministry at the heart of our community during this Advent season. We'll be accepting donations each Sunday in Advent (through 12/19). Items most needed are:

Please donate packaged, non-perishable items, and avoid glass containers. We are always in need of healthier options (i.e. low sodium, whole grains, and fruit in 100% juice).

SAVE THE DATE

Pine Street Church AB Women’s Ministries invites all Pine Street Church to a Christmas Celebration by Zoom

Featured speaker: Rev. Maren C. Tirabassi, a pastor, poet, and blogger, will read from her latest book, Christmas Eve at the Epsom Circle McDonald’s and Other Poems, “a seasonal opportunity to celebrate the ways the holy arrives in the midst of the ordinary.” She will also share little-known info about other Christmas stories and books. Plan now to attend this enjoyable virtual get-together. The event is free, but offerings to support the mission work of ABWM will be welcomed. The Zoom link will be provided closer to the event.  

Contact Mary Beth Mankin, 307-399-7769, for more information or if you would like to purchase a copy of Maren’s book.

Check out the video below to learn about Chase House and have a virtual tour of the home! Pine Street Church has been providing monthly meals for the youth at Chase House, part of TGTHR, a non-profit dedicated to ending youth homelessness. TGTHR is a Community Parter of Pine Street Church. If you are interested in participating in these monthly meals contact Debbie Setlock: setlockdebbie@gmail.com

CLICK HERE to learn more about TGTHR, (formally Attention Homes).

Three ways you can still make your financial commitment for 2022 to PSC's mission and ministry.

Thank you to all those who have already offered their pledge cards. This action is critical for our leadership's planning of all that Pine Street Church will be in 2022 and beyond!

May 6--May 20, 2022

You are invited to join us not as a tourist, but as a pilgrim.

Along the way you will be encouraged to approach each experience with contemplative awareness and each sacred site with care.Time will be given for learning, integration, meditation and interaction. As we journey together, we will focus on major themes in the Irish spiritual tradition.

Time will be spent exploring how those themes can be integrated into our lives. Optional meditative sessions will include the music of the Taizé community, Celtic music, mandala work, journaling, small group interaction, discussions with our leaders, Irish music and prayer. Because registration is limited to 20 participants, group size will encourage personal interaction in style and content.

When we are joined by local specialists, mythologists, archaeologists, artisans, musicians and storytellers to share experiences and offer guidance to us, there will be opportunities for interaction. We are confident that your journey will be a fulfilling one.We have gone before you, having traveled to Ireland many times to meet with those who will join us as we go.

Questions about the tour itinerary?

Contact Brad Berglund: Phone: 720-489-8073

1-877-489-8500 toll free

E-mail: brad@illuminatedjourneys.com

This is a new section of the Pine Street Post intended for that holy experience of laughing. as Mark Twain said, " Humor is Mankind's Greatest Blessing". There is nary a time in our lives where at least a little humor couldn't improve our day. Come to this section each week for a little laughter that will come in various forms from week to week.

Enjoy!

Showing hospitality takes a team. And we need a few more players on our hospitality team for Sunday mornings! Can you help?

We're looking to fill out our online signup form for being a greeter on Sunday mornings. It's both easy and important! And even more so, FUN!

All We Can Save has been selected as this year’s “One Book, One Boulder”, and we are one of the registered book circles to share insights from the book. There’s still time to gain a lot from this book study.

We started on October 5 to meet by Zoom on Tuesday evenings, 7:00 - 8:30pm, for nine weeks. To learn more or sign up, contact book circle leader, Mary Beth Mankin, mbmakin545@gmail.com. Let us encourage one another in making a positive difference for our earth.

The Men's Fellowship Group has a new meeting schedule. Beginning immediately they will meet in person for Breakfast at the Parkway Cafe on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:30 a.m. They will also hold a monthly Zoom gathering at 9:00 a.m.on the third Tuesday of each month. Please contact Bill Mankin for more information on how to join these meetings: mankin@ucar.edu

Check it out, and register today, HERE. There's a church directory, updates from the PSC Leadership Council and much more. Email admin@pinestreetchurch.net if you have any trouble registering and gaining access.