Our Mission:
“We gather as a welcoming, caring community to nurture mind and spirit, celebrate diversity, and work for justice.”

Have a friend who would enjoy our community? Invite them to join our mailing list.

Sunday Morning Experience

Join us for Worship Online at 10:30 am

Sunday Worship - The Passing of Time

Sunday, March 14, 10:30 am  
Contact: Pastor AJ

Please join us this Sunday, March 14, as we continue exploring this month's theme of commitment.

Join us for Conversation:
Beginning at 10:15 via Google Meet. This will be our space to chat and socialize before and during the service. We will also share Candles of Community immediately following the service in this same meet.

Stay with us after the service:
There will be conversation via the same Google Meet after the service and Candles of Community for coffee hour and fellowship.

Watch the Worship Service:
Our Sunday morning service will be available live
Sunday, March 14, 9:30 am  
Contact: Jen S and Kendra P

Kids (and their grown-ups), join us this Sunday for our K-5 religious education program! All through the month of March, we will be exploring the theme of commitment. Our Soul Matters curriculum is specifically designed to keep kids engaged and curious over an online platform. So come along for stories, activities, and fun!
Sunday, March 14, 11:45 am  
Contact: Denard T or Calisse W
Welcome to our Middle and Senior High Youth from our PrairieUU and the local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.
LifeSpan Adult - Soul Matters Small Group
Sunday, March 14, 11:45 am 
Contact: Janet S

All are welcome. The March theme is commitment. It is helpful to do one spiritual exercise from the monthly packet, prior to the group meeting so you can share your experience. Here are the Commitment spiritual exercises:

  • Five Commitments to Yourself
  • Commit to Creating a Helpful Habit (or Ending and Unhelpful One)
  • Deepen Commitment to Allyship
  • Commit it to Memory
  • Find Commitment in our Recommended Resources

Below you will find information to get the monthly Soul Matters small group packet.
  1.  If you have an active PrairieUU gmail account click here to access the March small group packet.
  2.  If you do not have a PrairieUU gmail account, or can’t access it, please contact RhondaW@Prairieuu.org to get this set up.
  3.  If you are unable to get the documents and want to start using them, email JanetS@prairieuu.org.

Questions: contact JanetS@PrairieUU.org 
Justice League Meeting
Sunday, March 14, 1:00 pm
Contact: Melissa BKim M or Justice League

We’ll prep for Service Sunday, share IDP progress, and so much more! Visit PrairieUU.org to learn more about our passions and initiatives. Contact the Justice League if you have any questions!
What You Missed:
If you missed Worship over the last few weeks, you are invited to visit our Facebook page, YouTube or on our website to view our services.
Ralph Waldo Mouse Says:

"Everything passes, but nothing entirely goes away."
From the Committee on Shared Ministry...
PrairieUU family and friends.....

We lit candles on Sunday as a new tradition to thank members who have chosen to leave PrairieUU, Susan and Bob Rogers, Cindy Williams, and Fran Lukaszewski. Samera Baird has resigned this weekend and we will honor her contributions during Candles next Sunday, March 14. To these five friends, we thank you and will welcome you back with open arms if you choose to rejoin us.

The Committee on Shared Ministry (COSM) has three open positions. We will be exercising (testing) our new election process this month to fill these open positions. Please look for a separate email outlining the job responsibilities and request for "statements of interest" to anyone interested in joining the COSM. We will be holding elections during our congregational meeting on March 28th. 

This role on the COSM team affords an opportunity to care for our community in deep and meaningful ways. If you have questions about COSM, please contact Allyson Gunn, Jan Cruz, or Susan Ermisch.

From Pastor AJ...
Dear Beloveds,

I am writing to you today to acknowledge that I and we as community leadership in the COSM, Board, and Staff are very aware of the concerns you are having with regards to the recent resignations of several Covenantal members. 

We are doing our best to hear your and their concerns. Several members of the leadership teams have reached out to all of these members over the past week and have had personal conversations with them and many of you. We have invited each of them into conversation formally with church leadership, COSM, Board and/or myself to discuss their concerns. We as leadership also are encouraging you to come to us with your concerns. 

As you all know, the COSM has a Suggestion Box available for your comments available since shortly after I have arrived. It is on the website and on the bottom of the COSM Page. Here you can make recommendations to COSM, Board, Me or various other committees and leadership teams. Please let us know your thoughts, and suggestions. Also, the COSM holds their monthly meeting on the 2nd Monday of each month and the Board on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Both meetings are at 6:30pm and you are always welcome. I am available throughout the week. You can find my open office hours on the website, or I am available via email or phone/text at 720-549-0531. I am generally available throughout the day from 10am to 9pm Mon-Thursday and Sunday from 12pm-3pm.

Please know that we are working diligently to hear your needs and concerns. Please let us know how we can be of assistance.

In Service,

From LifeSpan
Calling All Youth and Grownups!

Your LifeSpan and youth staff and volunteers are, as you read this, planning a summer program for middle and high schoolers with our counterparts at First Unitarian, Jefferson, Columbine, and First Universalist! This program in June/July will allow our youth to form teams with each other and their friends from school for friendly competition, games, and fun!

So youth - please start thinking of who you'd like on your team this summer - 5 people on a team, maximum. Registration information is coming soon!

And everyone else? Watch this space for opportunities to volunteer and have a blast with our youth and youth from across the Denver metro area. There will be long term opportunities and one-time opportunities of all sorts. Come and help make this summer a blast for our fabulous youth and their friends - and have a blast yourself!

In Love and Resistance,

Jen Simon (they/them she/her)
LifeSpan Coordinator
From the Justice League...
The Justice League says THANK YOU to all who showed up in the bitter cold for Open Space Clean Up, ME postcard pickup, and bread exchange!! Ya’ll volunteered to write 50 postcards and picked up a huge orange bag of garbage. Postcards still available – contact Kim M if you want some!
Major Developments in Elijah McClain Case

Read more by clicking here.
Attention Douglas County Residents!

The Douglas County School District is considering the adoption of a new Board policy regarding Educational Equity. You may have read about the struggles of Black Students in DCSD or of Black administrators. No one in our community should be having to deal with racial slurs and demeaning behavior with few or no disciplinary action or consequences. The policy was created by a newly reformed Equity Advisory Council made up of students, community members, teachers and school district leadership. They know the district has a lot of work to do. After a work session a few weeks ago, the Board of Education had their first public reading of the new Educational Equity Policy on Tuesday night. It is a policy that commits to leadership and support for students, staff and our community to ensure that we are authentically and meaningfully inclusive.

Please take time to read over the policy and ask any questions you may have and/or to give feedback here. It's an easy way for Prairie to live out our principles in the community. If you would like to join us in calling the Board to action and amplifying the voices of Black Students and staff please consider giving public comment at the next Board of Ed meeting on March 2nd.

Please let Melissa know if you have any questions.

Please click on the links within this announcement or find out more here:
IMPORTANT JL Meeting Coming Up 3/14 – Be there or be square!

Justice League Meeting
Sunday, March 14, 1:00 pm
Contact: Melissa BKim M or Justice League

We’ll prep for Service Sunday, share IDP progress, and so much more! Visit PrairieUU.org to learn more about our passions and initiatives. Contact the Justice League if you have any questions!
Rethinking Thanksgiving

In a follow-up to the Congregational Meeting- be sure to read Melissa’s important message here.
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Reading Material

Need some reading material to get you through these next few months? Want to educate yourself on anti-racism and white privilege? Check out the new Justice League reading list here.
The Justice League needs YOU!

With the pandemic continuing to impact unemployment, eviction rates, and homelessness, our community needs information on rights and resources. We’re creating an informational flyer to be distributed at apartment complexes and need volunteers to help distribute. If you are able to help, please contact Kim or Melissa.
If you are looking for more racial justice information see the following:

Scrip Program
Hello Fellow Shoppers - Sign up for Scrip NOW!

Shop with Scrip’s gift card program makes earning money for PrairieUU easy! You buy full value gift cards, and the retailers give a rebate of 2-20% back to PrairieUU.
With over 250 brands that offer gift cards, that can be sent right to your email INBOX or right to your home, this is a great way to purchase gifts for others, staying out of stores completely! Click here to sign up!

Sincerely,
Support PrairieUU...
Support PrairieUU - Amazon Smile

If you shop on Amazon, please remember to use the special link and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchases to PrairieUU! This is through the Amazon Smile program. http://ow.ly/8zJi50BOssx
Support PrairieUU - King Soopers Rewards Program
Contact: Calisse W


Our assigned Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number is UC596.
This Week's Calendar
PrairieUU Calendar - Check for ongoing weekly meetings
Committee on Shared Ministry
Monday, March 8, 6:30 pm
Contact: Fran L or Susan E
 
The COSM is dedicated to growing our Vision, ensuring we live together in Right Relation, and conducting ministerial oversight and connection. All of our PrairieUU community members are welcome to join us for the first 30 minutes from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. If you are unable to make it to our meeting, you can always leave a message in our Suggestion Box.
Tech Talk
Tuesday, March 9, 4:00 PM
Contact: Rhonda W

During this time that we may not be able to get out and be with our family and friends, communications via Video Conferencing, and social media are needed more than ever. If you have a question or can you help someone else with Tech? Computers, Phones and Tablets? During this hour we work through getting you up and running to be in better communications with our PrairieUU community and your other personal networks.
MUUved to Action
Tuesday, March 9, 6:30 PM
Contact: Melissa B

MUUved to Action is a sub-group of our Justice League that meets weekly as a result of being called by our BIPOC community and members to "not sleep through the revolution". We meet to address the urgent and immediate calls for justice action in our community. We have attended protests, written position statements, made phone calls and written letters to public officials and business owners, provided public comment, attended public meetings and had invited guests from the community to provide depth to our understanding of complex justice issues and solutions. We are joined by other Denver Metro UUs and community members. We currently meet virtually on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8 via Google MeetAll are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Melissa B.
Life-Transitions Support Group  
Wednesday, March 10, at 6:30
Contact: Dave L or Fran L.

This new Prairie online support group meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. You can access this meeting from the Prairie Calendar, on our website.

If you, or a friend or relative of yours, would like to attend our support group, please contact either Fran or me, before the group's normal meeting time, so that we know how many attendees to expect. If we don't hear from anyone by the 2nd Tuesday of the month, we won't bother to initiate the online meeting for that month. Thank you for your understanding.
Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 PM  
Contact: Denard T or Calisse W

This is space for Middle/Senior High Youth and 20something Young Adults from our PrairieUU and local community to gather together. Join us for conversation, spiritual growth, and social activities.

Please join us on Wednesday, March 10 to view: Selma

A chronicle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in 1965.
LifeSpan Meeting
Thursday, March 11, 5:00 pm
Contact: Jen S.

Join us on the first Thursday of each month as we engage in planning education for all ages at PrairieUU.
Healthy Living Small Group
Friday, March 12, 1:00 pm
Contact: Pastor AJ

Join Pastor AJ and others in our community as we engage in a healthy(ier) living time together. We will meet once a week to share ideas, recipes, what works and what doesn’t about exercise. This will be a time to connect Mind, Body and Soul. If you are interested, please join Pastor AJ’s Facebook group UU Healthy Living. Finally, Pastor AJ is also joining Weightwatchers and is inviting you to join with him. If you are interested, there are a couple of special promos that are now running but end tonight. For more information, check with Pastor AJ or sign up with Weightwatchers directly.
Children's Chapel
Saturday, March 13 from 11:00 – 11:30 am MT
Monthly on the second Saturday
1st – 7th Grade and Beyond

Every 2nd Saturday through June we/UUCLV/Rev. Gordon Clay Bailey and possibly other UUs will offer a children’s chapel (virtually via zoom). This worshipful time offers our children and youth (maybe other UU congregations kids) a chance to reflect on important life issues, feel uplifted through music, hold others in care, and have time to listen to the still small voice inside. A practice of worship for children and youth grounds them in their faith in such important ways as encouraging religious identity, a sense of belonging in our UU congregation/church community and a space to grow their spirituality.

We will begin our time together with:

Songs/hymns
Chalice lighting
Joys and sorrows
A short meditation
Offertory
A story followed by ritual, meditation, activity or brief sermonette
Closing ritual

The themes for Chapel changes each month. If you are able, please allow your child to have a coin for their collection basket. We, as the Children’s Chapel community, will decide how to share our collection come the end of the congregational year in June.

Please RSVP to The Reverend Gordon Clay Bailey at minister@uuclv.org and for the password.  
----------

Rev Gordon Clay Bailey,
Minister (he/his/him)
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas
3616 E Lake Meade Blvd
Las Vegas NV 89115-6306
To UU Churches of the Mountain Desert District: We think your members will enjoy participating in the upcoming virtual Peter Mayer Concert, hosted by the High Plains Church UU Fellowship Team in Colorado Springs. We invite you to share the attached html file, jpg file -- or the email below in your weekly communications and your March newsletter.  Questions? Please contact us at fundraisers@hpcuu.orgMany thanks!
Coming Soon
MUUved to Action
Tuesday, March 16, 6:30 PM
Contact: Melissa B

MUUved to Action is a sub-group of our Justice League that meets weekly as a result of being called by our BIPOC community and members to "not sleep through the revolution". We meet to address the urgent and immediate calls for justice action in our community. We have attended protests, written position statements, made phone calls and written letters to public officials and business owners, provided public comment, attended public meetings and had invited guests from the community to provide depth to our understanding of complex justice issues and solutions. We are joined by other Denver Metro UUs and community members. We currently meet virtually on Tuesday nights from 6:30-8 via Google MeetAll are welcome to attend. For more information, please contact Melissa B.
Finance Committee
Wednesday, March 17, 5:30 pm 
Contact: Clark H.

Our Finance Committee is vital to the life of the congregation. The committee with the Board of Trustees oversees the overall financial health of the congregation as well as fundraising, canvass (pledge drive), and auction. If you would like more information or to RSVP please contact us.
 
Agenda items this month will include the current state of Prairie's finances, potential ways to generate additional income, and a discussion of initial plans for the preparation of a draft budget for the next fiscal year.
Our Finance Committee is vital to the life of the congregation. The committee with the Board of Trustees oversees the overall financial health of the congregation as well as fundraising, canvass (pledge drive), and auction. If you would like more information or to RSVP please contact us.
Board of Trustees
Wednesday, March 17, 6:30 pm 
Contact: Vivian L

This Board Meeting is now from 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm. The Board will open the meeting to members/friends at 6:45 pm. All are invited to attend the entire meeting.
LifeSpan Adult - Soul Matters Small Group
Sunday, March 21, 11:45 am 
Contact: Janet S

All are welcome. The March theme is commitment. It is helpful to do one spiritual exercise from the monthly packet, prior to the group meeting so you can share your experience. Here are the Commitment spiritual exercises:

  • Five Commitments to Yourself
  • Commit to Creating a Helpful Habit (or Ending and Unhelpful One)
  • Deepen Commitment to Allyship
  • Commit it to Memory
  • Find Commitment in our Recommended Resources
Below you will find information to get the monthly Soul Matters small group packet.
  1.  If you have an active PrairieUU gmail account click click here to access the March small group packet.
  2.  If you do not have a PrairieUU gmail account, or can’t access it, please contact RhondaW@Prairieuu.org to get this set up.
  3.  If you are unable to get the documents and want to start using them, email JanetS@prairieuu.org.

Questions: contact JanetS@PrairieUU.org 
Community
 Information and Resources
 If you have other community resources that we should share, please let us know
We will gladly share here and on PrairieUU.
From the UUA President - You Are Held In Care

To view the announcement from Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, UUA President, click here.
UUA Guidance on Gathering In-Person When COVID-19 Subsides

The UUA continues to carefully monitor developments with testing and vaccinations. Last May, we recommended congregations plan for virtual operations until at least May 2021. By now, we recognize this timeline will likely be longer. As the Biden administration develops a coordinated federal response, we expect it will be March before we have a reasonable sense of the vaccine horizon and timeline for when we might reach herd immunity. In the meantime, our current UUA Guidance on Gathering offers recommendations for specific metrics to monitor in your own community as you consider decisions about gathering when the pandemic subsides.

The full link to the UUA press release can be viewed here.
Looking for ways to have some fun with others?
Sign up for this upcoming Auction Events!
 
Jackbox Game Night
$50 per Family
 
Julie and I will host a night of Jackbox games (see jackbox.tv) on Saturday, March 13th at 7:30 PM until no one is left who wants to play.
These are interactive on-line games appropriate (or perhaps almost appropriate) for all ages.
People participating need one device per household to use for a Zoom call, and then one device per participant to play.
It is super fun and easy 
There will be a prize for the highest and lowest score!

Saturday, March 13, 2021at 7:30 pm
Sign up by emailing Jan S at Jans@prairieuu.org 
Bill's Be-Cyber-Safe Box - Episode 2

Bill’s Be-Cyber-Safe Box, Episode #2. Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of unsolicited notices of winning something if you only give up something – like your credit card number! A good rule is “Only share financial information with those you trust.”  

So, to avoid hackers sneaking into your digital devices and finances, you should know that all connections to social media, email, and the internet open you to outside eyes. How careful you should be depends on how much you can afford to reveal or lose. If you use online banking, be very careful of sharing usernames, passwords and account numbers. Check activity often and watch for things you didn’t authorize. Debit cards are handy, but transactions result in immediate withdrawals from your account. It’s much harder to get money back from misuse of debit cards than abuse of credit card numbers. Both types remain “open” even if you cut up the card. You must cancel the account with the bank or credit card manager.

Email messages you sent never go away even if you delete them from your device. And they can be traced back to your device months or years after you thought they were gone.

The next episode will address what privacy means in our digital world and why it matters.

This box will not discuss phone calls, mail offers, or persons at your door offering things you didn’t know you needed. Those are for other forums, but still require careful checking.

Calisse's COVID Corner:
Hello Virtually Close Friends!

 Click on this link, for answers to some very commonly asked questions about the vaccine. If your question isn't answered, there are also further links given to explore: 
  • So far, 158,253 Tri-County Health Department residents have been vaccinated. This information continues to be updated daily on our COVID-19 Data page.
  • Educators and those 65 years and older are eligible for the vaccine as of Feb. 8, 2021.
  • TCHD clinics are open for healthcare workers, first responders, and licensed childcare workers and pre-K-12 educators. Our open scheduling appointments are primarily for licensed childcare workers since they have not had the same opportunity as school district employees to be matched with a COVID-19 vaccine provider.
  • We ask that all school district employees go with their district plans and vaccine partners to obtain an appointment. Most districts are now matched with vaccine providers.
  • Community-based organizations can apply for funding to provide community clinic space or navigation to vaccine opportunities. Interested partners should complete this google form. Email questions to COVIDvaccine@tchd.org.
  • Walmart and Kroger pharmacies are now vaccinating Coloradans as part of a program at the federal level for national pharmacy chains. Please see TCHD’s website for an up to date list of COVID-19 vaccine providers: https://www.tchd.org/866/COVID-19-Vaccine

Yours (from at least 6 feet away),
More COVID19 Vaccination Information

UC Health has additional Covid19 vaccination information, click here.
COVID Assistance Funds and Resources
  • Arapahoe County Rent and Mortgage assistance for Covid related loss of income, click here for more information.
  • Douglas County is offering Covid-19 assistance funds to individuals and families. Please click here for more information.
  • City of Aurora Covid-19 resources please click here for more information.
  • Parker Covid-19 information and resources - please click here for more information.
Support PrairieUU
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We Look Forward to Hearing From You
Newsletter & Announcement Contributions
Newsletter & Announcement Contributions
Your contributions are always appreciated! All requests should be sent to our Communications Team.
All requests for the Monday newsletter and Orders of Service are due on Wednesday at 12 pm. (PLEASE NOTE: All submissions are subject to editing for content and space.)

Contact Us
General Office Hours
Mon-Thur - 11:00 am – 4:00 pm







Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Phone/Text: 720-549-0530
Schedule an Appointment via Google Calendar

Office Hours - M-Th 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Phone/Text - 720-549-0531
Schedule an Appointment via Google Calendar
Chat via Google Hangouts
Connect via Facebook & Twitter

Music Director - Eric Moon
Choir Director - Paul Ermisch
LifeSpan Coordinator - Jen Simon
 PrairieUU Board of Trustees:
Vivian Littlefield, President
Brenda Peterson, Vice President
Kim Murray, Secretary
Clark Huff, Treasurer
Jan Cruz, Mission & Vision
Susan Ermisch, Mission & Vision
Allyson Gunn, Right Relations
Committee Emails
Core Team - All Things Sunday Morning
Justice League - Social, Environmental Justice
LifeSpan - Religious Exploration for all ages
Membership - Visitors, becoming a Covenantal member
Mailing Address:
PrairieUU Church
P.O. Box 1684
Parker, CO 80134
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