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Deepening Faith. Living Well. Enacting Justice.
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Volunteer Opportunities for Bridge House

1 – Computer Lab “proctors” needed at our BRAND NEW HOUSING building (4747 Table Mesa) for Ready to Work Trainees — we have a fully-stocked new computer lab at our brand new building and are looking for volunteers to be Computer Proctors for every time the lab is open for our Trainees.  These volunteers do not need to be computer experts, they just need to help answer simple questions and make sure our guidelines are being adhered to.  *What would be most helpful is for your group to “sponsor” one day a week to supply 1 – 2 volunteers to be proctors for that day* So, kind of like you sponsor one night a month to serve at Community Table, this would be 1 day/night a week to supply the proctors and you could rotate who in your congregation comes in to be the proctor each week.  A training will be provided.  Please let me know right away if you would like to consider this option and we can discuss it further…we’re trying to open our computer lab next week and need lots of volunteer support asap to make that happen!  Scott@BoulderBridgeHouse.org

2 –  Toiletries needed at the Bridge House ASAP!  We have been experiencing very high volume of clients these past couple of months at record numbers and we desperately need more small shampoos, soaps, razors, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, etc…  Perhaps you have some of these at home from hotels?  Or could ask neighbors and friends if they have some?  This is an urgent need for us, so if you do have some available, please bring them to the Bridge House any Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm (ring doorbell if it’s locked) – the sooner the better. The location is 1120 1/2 Pine St., which is on the alleyway running between Spruce & Pine going west from Broadway.  Please e-mail me before you drop off just so that I can let them know it’s coming:Scott@BoulderBridgeHouse.org   Thank you!

3 – On Oct. 19th – 23rd there will be a big push to connect homeless veterans with social services.  If you would like to volunteer for the VOA during this initiative, they are looking for volunteers.  Go to this link where you can sign up and request more information:  http://www.voacolorado.org/news_and_events/boots-on-the-ground-campaign

Thanks very much!  We will have more special volunteer opportunities coming in regards to our new Ready to Work Housing at 4747 Table Mesa.  This is a breakthrough step for us at Bridge House, where we are housing 48 people who are in our Ready to Work employment program…it is truly innovative and there will be various ways that volunteers can support later this fall.  For now, the Computer Lab is the project we have in front of us and would love you to join us in that endeavor.  Thank you!

Peace, Scott Medina, Volunteer Coordinator, Bridge House

Standing on the Side of Love – September 27

asset_upload_file488_143196September 27 is the annual Standing on the Side of Love worship service at the Colorado State Capitol. Join Rev. Kelly and Unitarian Universalists from congregations across the state. This year, we will stand for Racial Justice and Black Lives Matter.  More details and a specific time will be coming soon.  

Joni Mitchell Tribute Concert 

IssaWarm
 Issa Forrest & Sweet Bird
Friday June 12th at 7:00 pm
Greetings, UUCB community! My name is Lia Davis, I serve as the Worship Musician at First Unitarian Denver, and know some of you from past choir concerts (such as Jason Shelton’s Sources: A Unitarian Universalist Cantata). I am delighted to be performing a concert of Joni Mitchell’s music with my band Sweet Bird at UUCB on Friday, June 12th at 7 pm. The amazing Issa Forrest sings Joni’s songs with authority, honesty and beauty. Our band is full of exceptional musicians. I hope you will join us for this special evening of great music! (If you aren’t available on Friday, we will also be playing on Saturday evening in Denver.)

Unitarian Universalist Church of Boulder
5001 Pennsylvania Ave.
Boulder, CO 80303

$12.50 advanced tickets
$15 at the door (no one turned away for lack of funds)
$8 ages 12 & under

 

May 2015 Worship Schedule

Kelly April 2015small

Rev. Kelly Dignan

05/03, “Beginning Again”, Rev. Kelly Dignan, Diana Maiden

05/10, To be announced, Rev. Kiersten Homblette, Diana McLean

05/17, “On Ministry – Two Voices”, Rev. Howell Lind, Diana McLean

05/24, “Aloha and Mahalo”, Rev Howell Lind, Tom Denkenberger

05/31, Transitions – Full Church Worship Service, Janen Wright, Diana McLean

UUCB 2014-2015 Fiscal Year Pledges

Help wantedDear fellow UUCB Congregants,
We are rapidly approaching the end of another church year. The Finance Council and our Bookkeeper will close the books on the 2014-15 fiscal year on June 30th).  A great deal has been accomplished in this time.  You may have noticed the improvements in the Sky Room, the increased presence of the choir and special musicians, a highly improved sound system, the success of the All-Church Retreat, and the buzz of the Lifespan Faith Development programs. It truly has been a tremendous year– and we haven’t even learned the name of our ministerial candidate yet!  
All of those projects were undertaken based on the budgets we developed last year and approved at our Annual Meeting. That budget was created based on the results of last year’s pledge canvass and projections for other income, such as rentals and fundraisers such as the auction and grocery coupon sales. Unfortunately, it seems that income from all of those sources is lagging slightly behind where it should be at this time of the year. Now is the time to close that gap.
We have just three months to go to close out this period financially. The Finance Council and I would like to ask everyone to make sure that their contributions and commitments are fulfilled as soon as possible.  This is especially important because we would like to build on this year’s success for an even more rewarding 2015-16.  New ministry support and growth in other areas can only began once we are unencumbered by the closeout of the present year.
 
Steve Daudt
UUCB Treasurer

 

Our Initial Strategic Plan for UUCB is complete!

By Whitney Wheeless

Why did we prepare a strategic plan?

As part of the renewal of our Developmental Minister’s contract in the spring of 2013, the Board worked

with church committees and the congregation to update our five- to ten-year goals. The revised church

goals serve as the shared goals of our professional ministry team and our congregation. The goals are

reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees. One of our goals was to develop a strategic plan for the

church. The strategic plan provides a guidepost for the most important things that we are working on or

doing to support our goals and achieve the mission of our church.

How was the strategic plan created?

In the fall of 2014, the Board established the Strategic Planning Task Force to pull together our initial

strategic plan for the church. The Task Force consisted of Whitney Wheeless (Chair), Andy Burgess, Deb

Hoff, Will Kropp, Don Lilley, and Kitty Turner. The Task Force held two forums to gather input from the

congregation and worked with various committees and groups to define the key activities in the plan.

The draft strategic plan was presented to the Board at the January Board Meeting, and the initial plan

was finalized in February. It was rolled out through the Congregational Life Council and the

Administrative Council.

What is a strategic plan?

The strategic plan defines the important ongoing, current, and future activities that will help us to

achieve our broader church goals. The strategic plan helps guide current efforts in the church year, sets

a plan for the next one to two years, and identifies potential activities three to five years out. As a living

document, current and future activities will change each year and even within a church year. The Board

will formally update the plan annually at their annual planning meeting.

What is covered in the strategic plan?

The strategic plan is organized into five categories: spiritual life, community, outreach, property, and

general. Spiritual life, community, and outreach follow our simple church focus of Deepening Faith,

Living Well, and Enacting Justice. The plan presents the activities; description of tasks; responsible

committee, group, or staff member; and the fiscal implications.

The strategic plan also includes a staffing plan, which presents the projected changes and growth in our

church staff to accommodate growth in members and expanded programs for the church over the next

five years. The capital plan summarizes the projected expenses that are outside the current operating

budget. These projections are for planning purposes and will depend on how well we achieve our goals,

changing priorities, and our ability to increase our operating budget.

Where can I find the strategic plan?

You can find the current version of the strategic plan in the Member’s Area on UUCB’s website (UUCB

Strategic Plan Final date.pdf in category Church Goals). The plan is updated as needed.Sisters 2

Earth Room Hearing Assistance

UUCB has acquired four new and improved hearing assist devices. If you have been having trouble hearing Sunday service, stop by the Sound booth before service and check one out to try. It has a receiver which can clip to your belt or go in a pocket, and an earpiece that goes over the ear with a speaker that sits outside the ear. You can also plug in your favorite ear bud instead. Let us know how it works!

WUULF – Western Unitarian Universalist Life Festival

WUULF 1On June 22-June 28, UU families will gather at picturesque Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiu, New Mexico to

create a community called WUULF. Our theme this year is Enchantments, Secrets, and Sacred

Places, illuminating the magnificence of northern New Mexico. The week includes activities for all ages,

sometimes separate, often together – the riotous fun of multi-age square dancing has to be experienced

to be believed. Visit WUULF.org to learn more about WUULF and to register. Questions? Contact Jane

Everham -jeverham@frii.com or 970-222-9709.

Membership Matters

barbWe honor members, friends, visitors

Our thoughts and good wishes continue to be with:  Ruth Sanders, whose Sister died recently, and who also lost her Father in mid-January. Susan Riederer has recovered nicely from a benign tumor that was removed from her neck.  In January Steve & Sharon Daudt lost both a dear Aunt in Delaware, and an Uncle in Michigan.  Thus, a month of travel for them, to assist parents.  Hugh Matheson had a heart attack and is currently living in assisted care at Fraser Meadows.  His “Nurse Rachett”, Jane Smith is also missing, while offering her support.  Jim Rowe and family on the recent death of his Uncle in Minnesota.

Congratulations, Good Luck, Blessings, and Thanks to:  Laurel Etra Seppala and John Etra on the arrival Friday, February 13th of a granddaughter born in Portland, OR.  Paul & Susan Riederer celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary on February 17th.

Special Welcome to New Members:  John Bertin, Nicole deLorimier, Theresa Diaz, Kimberly Durham, Margaret Gelatt, Colleen Keller, Catherine Mercer, Bob Stewart and Emily Valerio.  We are glad you joined us!  The New Members Dinner, on February 18th was a great success — and I think this special recognition event needs to be continued on an annual, or semi-annual basis.  Will Kropp brought the concept, to us, from his previous congregation.

Random Thoughts:  I delivered our January Share-Our-Plate check to There With Care, which was received with great joy and appreciation to all of the UUCB community.  Part of their excitement is due to the fact that; through March 10th, any contributions they receive are being “matched” by an anonymous benefactor.  

Needed — : “A little help from my friends…”  Thank you to those who have already signed up!

Sunday Morning takes many hands to make our experience enjoyable!  It starts with our professionals: Rev. Howell Lind, Diana McLean, Janen Wright, Deborah Beriolli, and Judith King.  Next comes YOU, our incredible volunteers, and this is where I am asking for your assistance.  Needed every Sunday are two Ushers, two coffee “set-up” — and two Coffee “clean-up” volunteers.  I am the Hospitality Ministry Volunteer Coordinator.  In the next few weeks the demands of my work on the Search Committee will increase, along with those of my six favorite new best friends.  Thus my recruiting time is limited. YOU can assist by signing up on the sheet located at the front counter.  Please do so now, you don’t need to wait until I ask.  With my very grateful Thank YOU to everyone who says “YES”!

With Love & Care, Barb

Cake Auction

cake2It’s time for the annual UUCB cake auction in support of the front range UU ninth grade trip. This year we have 2 UUCB youth attending the trip, Sophie Hughes, and Ali Burgess. Get on your creative baking caps and join us March 15 at noon in the Earth Room, to buy yummy cakes and baked goods to support this annual trip to the Hopi and Navajo reservations.We need buyers and bakers!  Questions? Contact Lisa Hughes.

February 2015 Worship Schedule

marade402/01         “Salvation – Here and Now”

Diana McLean, Ministerial Intern

Lou Mazzola, Worship Leader

 

02/08         “Blessed Are the Children” – Full Church Worship

Janen Wright, Lifespan Faith Development Director

Diana McLean, Worship Leader

 

02/15         “Letting Your Life Speak”

Rev. Howell K. Lind, Developmental Minister

Danielle Fuller, Worship Leader 

02/22         “Unitarian Universalist Values and Climate Change”  – a Two Voice Message

Tom Denkenberger and the Rev. Howell K. Lind

Diana McLean, Worship Leader

Ministerial Search Committee Update

binocularsDeepening Faith, Living Well, Enacting Justice:  These goals continue to guide your Ministerial Search committee as we move in to an exciting and busy time as our search moves forward.  In early January we began the next phase of our search process, starting with the Beyond Categorical Thinking (BCT) workshop facilitated by Eddy Carroll.  We were thrilled by the turnout, 36 UUCB members and friends who accepted the challenge to examine our own biases and the ways in which they might affect the search process and cloud discernment.  Thanks to this experience, the Search Committee is confident that we are prepared to consider our applicants as complete, complex  people and evaluate them based on ministerial skills rather than our own assumptions. We are now fully engaged in evaluating candidates and will be moving to the interviewing phase over the next several weeks. 

As our chairperson Jim Rowe described to the congregation on January 11th, the numbers tell the story of both where we have been and where we are going.

104:  The number of you that met face to face with us as you welcomed the Search Committee to your various groups and Search Light gatherings…

159:  The number of members and friends who took the Ministerial Search Survey….

11,102:  The words used to capture the character and desires of our church in our Congregational description, known as the Packet—-Please read it on the website (can we add the link here?)…

38:  The number of Unitarian Universalist congregations seeking a full time, settled minister this year…

86:  The number of UU ministers that expressed interest in one or more congregations…..

21:  The number of ministers who have expressed interest in becoming our next minister, nearly one quarter of the ministers seeking a settled parish!

2:  The number of chalices we have lit during the search process. Our second chalice has remained lit to remind us of the important work we are doing and to hold a sacred space for our next minister…

May our hearts be open, our minds keen and spirits welcoming as we evaluate all our potential next ministers and move to our final number, One,  our new settled minister.

Yours in Faith,

The Ministerial Search Committee

 

 

 

 

Inquiring Minds Book Group

Book GroupThe Winter quarter book for discussion will be I Promise Not To Suffer: A Fool for Love HIkes the Pacific Crest Trail, by Boulder author Gail Storey. The session will run for three weeks (a fourth could be added, if desired) on Monday evenings, from 7:00 to 8:30, February 2, 9, and 16. As a special treat, the author will join us for our conversation on Feb. 16.

Gail’s third book, I Promise Not to Suffer: A Fool for Love Hikes the Pacific Crest Trail, has won multiple awards.
Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, writes: “Witty, wise, and full of heart, Gail Storey’s winning memoir of her hike on the Pacific Crest Trail at the age of fifty-six is a book for every one who ever dreamed of taking the road less travelled. I Promise Not to Suffer is as inspiring as it is hilarious, as poignant as it is smart. It’s one of those oh-please-don’t-let-it-end books. I’d carry it in my backpack anywhere.”

Beside the physical challenges Gail writes about, there are also themes of spiritual and personal growth, the inspiration of nature, marriage, aging parents, and the occasional life-and-death situation. Get your book and please join us to read and discuss this wonderful book.
We’ll read through page 71 for the first session on Feb. 2.

Sign-up in advance at the Adult Lifelong Learning Classes table at coffee hour.

Sunday Forum: Gender, Sexuality, and Faith

Nichole Garcia2February 15, 2015

Location: UUCB

Doors Open: 6:30pm

Program 7:00pm

Free of Charge – Open to All

Topic: “Gender, Sexuality, and Faith”

Presenter: Nicole Garcia (http://www.nicolegarciacounseling.com/)

Nicole Garcia has facilitated workshops and participated in panels concerning gender identity and spirituality in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Nashville, Duluth, Minneapolis, and throughout the Denver/Boulder area. Nicole has a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Colorado Denver and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. Nicole is in private practice at Nicole Garcia Counseling, LLC, in Longmont CO.  Nicole is also a pro bono mental health clinician at the Gender Identity Center of Colorado.  Nicole has been granted entrance to candidacy to ordained ministry in the ELCA and is pursuing a Master of Divinity through the Distributed Learning Program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul MN.

Reception and Meet & Greet in Sky Room following the presentation.

For Information Call UUCB @ 303 494 0195 or Forum Chair @ 720 987 3288

Images from Wise Elder Luncheon in January

Tessa Davis was the speaker for UUCB’s Wise Elder Luncheon in January. Tessa is our church’s defacto historian/archivist who spends 2 hours each week with fellow member and archivist, Ginny Black, organizing and inventorying the church’s growing number of documents and photos.  Tessa and Ginny developed and presented a slide show  highlighting church events, celebrations, buildings decor/additions and photos of past members of the congregation who are no longer with us.Wise Elders Jan 2015 010

Wise Elders Jan 2015 009

Wedding Photos Wanted

The Rental/Lease Committee will be creating a page on the UUCB website for the purpose of encouraging the use of the UUCB facilities as a wedding venue.  For this page the Committee is looking for pictures of weddings that have taken place in the Church which show how the Earth Room and Sky Room were set up.  If you have pictures you would be willing to have included on this webpage-to-be, please contact Rental/Lease Committee member Becky Martin at becky@TheCVD.com or 303-499-9344.

Letter from UUCB Members re: UU World Article on Breakthrough Congregation

The following letter, which the Board has given us permission to reprint in the CLM, was sent to the UU WORLD in response to the article in the fall 2014 issue about our church being selected as a Breakthrough Congregation.  I signed it, but the content was written with the input and support of several UUCB members.  We believe that it is important for our congregation’s historical record and that the factual errors in the article were a disservice to our congregation, past and present.  
I recently met with our President Jennifer Skiendzielewski to talk about the many issues that surrounded both the WORLD’s article and our response.   We both wish, with 20/20 hindsight, that we had had this conversation before I sent the letter.  If we had talked early on, Jennifer told me, an official letter correcting the factual errors and honoring the work and growth of our congregation,  especially under the leadership of Rev. Becky Gunn, might have been sent to THE WORLD by the Board.  Being open to each other’s perceptions and concerns has reinforced for me the importance of our Covenant of Right Relations and the direct communication it demands.   
Tessa Davis

 

RE: “Ready for Change:  UUA Breakthrough Congregation” in Fall, 2014 issue

While pleased to see our congregation honored, many long-time UUCB members were disappointed with the factual errors about us before Rev. Howell Lind arrived in fall 2008.  We rejoice in the growth and positive changes his Developmental Ministry has brought.  However,  church records do not support some of what the article reported.

*UUCB’s certified membership was 147 when Rev. Lind arrived — not the 110 the article states.   Nowhere in UUA’s or our records is there evidence that our membership ever “dwindled to eighty.”

*In 2007 UUCB gave notice to an elementary school in order to return to our long-time practice of renting fewer rooms to a preschool and reclaim space for our growing programs.

*During the mid 2000’s UUCB actively supported a strong social justice program and a thriving Young Adult group (14 members, not 3); spent $17,700 on building and grounds improvements; raised $23,000 to fund employee retirement accounts; and in 2007-2008, paid our fair-share dues and increased mortgage payments in order to pay down the principal.

Yes, we’d been through some difficult times in the early-90’s and 2000’s, but by 2008 we had created a solid foundation upon which Rev. Lind has helped us build so successfully.

Respectfully,

 

Tessa Davis, Archivist, and the following 24 UUCB members

Reed Bailey, Bill Belew, Ginny Black (as member of Archives Committee), Helene Bond, Jon Bond, Alan Davis,  Debbie Davies, Jeff Davies, Dianne Ewing, Mary Jean Ewing, Bob Ford, Julie Ford, Sam Fenzel-Alexander, Adrienne Hester, Jim Hester, Nancy Holt, Peter Holt, Judith King (as UUCB member, not as staff), Karen Morgan, Marge Maagoe, Kathleen Newton, Carol Saunders, Laurel Seppala-Etra, and Kay Stevens RE: “Ready for Change:  UUA Breakthrough Congregation” in Fall, 2014 issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Strategic Planning Session 11/15

The Board has approved a Strategic Planning Task Force to develop a three-year strategic plan for the congregation based on our broad church goals. If you were unable to participate in the session on 10/25 or attend on 11/15, please e-mail any comments or suggestions to Whitney Wheeless, Past President.

November Talk About

Please join Diana King and others for camaraderie and the post-service “Talk About” discussion on the Sunday, November 23 from 11:30 to 12:00 pm.  In nice weather discussions will take place outside on the benches in the front of the Church.  During inclement weather they will be at the back of the Earth Room (near the hearth).

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