UUCGV NEWS
Welcome to the Month of
Awakening Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley — Newsletter
April 2022
From Our Minister, Reverend Wendy Jones
We are an affiliated congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Mountain Desert District
Be kind to yourself as you proceed along this journey. This kindness, in itself, is a means of awakening the spark of love within you and helping others to discover that spark within themselves ~ Tsoknyi Rinpoche Many times, when we think of awakening, we think of a spiritual awakening. However, we can awaken to anything. We awaken into the world of science as we begin school. We awaken into the world of literature when we read our first novel. We awaken into the realm of nature when we go to the beach for the first time, watch a beautiful sunset or enter onto a beautiful mountain trail for the first time.
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We awaken when we allow ourselves to experience something new, something different, something beautiful or magnificent; when our eyes are opened to as yet unexplored possibilities, or a new way to see the world. This month, I invite you to take the time to think about areas in your life that might be ready to awaken, as awakening can be a joyful journey
We are a Welcoming Congregation
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#grandvalleyuu A Place for Liberal Spirituality Diverse Thought and Community Action
The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. ~ Eden Philpotts 1
In This Issue
Among Us 1-3, 10-11
Green Sanctuary 5-9
Leadership 12
Worship Calendar 4
Community 9, 13-14
Calendar 15
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into the unknown. It can be as innocent as a baby who slowly opens her eyes from a lovely nap and quietly, peacefully looks around, sees her mother’s face and then smiles. Awakening can be an idea, a concept, an “aha” moment that brings a new way to look at something. It is an expansion, a gentle awareness that whispers, “there is no going back.” Awakening doesn’t have to be scary. It can be slow and gentle, happening over many years or even lifetimes. There is no hurry. There is no rush. It can happen in the blink of an eye, with a moment of insight that leads to a full transformation. Or, it might simply be a beginning, a first step, a nudging or confirmation that you are on the right path. True awakening can happen quietly over time, and then one day you look back and realize just how far you have come, which just might be an awakening in and of itself. What is it that you are ready to awaken to this month? With Love, Rev. Wendy
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From Kitty Tattersall, Head of Stewardship The Stewardship Campaign continues. Stewardship brochures, vocabulary and pledge cards went in the mail on February 17, and extras are available at the church. You might have already pledged by now. If so, many thanks! If you are hoping to talk with a steward, that will be happening in April. Our goal is to have received most of the pledges by the end of April so that the leadership team can create a preliminary budget. The budget will be voted on at the yearly congregation meeting in June. What’s in the budget? The money paid on pledges makes up about two thirds of the expected income of UUCGV. The rest is from offerings, grants, and fundraisers such as the service auction. In addition, part of our mortgage is paid from a special fund set up when we bought the building. As we withdraw from the fund, that money is counted as income. The advantage of having pledges as opposed to receiving all donations as offerings is that we can plan ahead. If pledges are lower than usual, we can reduce expenses or look for grants and other ways to raise money. If pledges exceed expectations, we can budget for projects that have been put on the back burner due to lack of funds. Currently, salaries and benefits for our talented staff (the minister, administrator, facilities coordinator, and (when filled) the RE Director and Music Director) make up about two thirds of our expenses. Mortgage and interest, utilities, maintenance, insurance, supplies, and contributions to the UUA and District comprise the rest of the expenses. If you haven’t pledged yet, please consider doing so. You may mail or drop off your pledge cards, email Maya with your pledge amount, or wait for a steward to contact you. Thanks again to everyone who has already submitted their pledge for the July 2022 to June 2023 church year.
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Soulful Sundays Upcoming Sunday Services & Children’s Programming Please join us virtually or in person at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. View the Order of Service at www.grandvalleyuu.org/sunday-services Children’s Programming provided downstairs.
April 3rd Awakening Rev. Wendy Jones Children’s Programming: Waking Up to Wonder and Beauty April 10th Palm Sunday ~ The Awakening of Hope Rev. Wendy Jones Children’s Programming: Waking Up to What Really Matters *Join us following the service for our RE Visioning Meeting* April 17th All Ages Easter Service ~ The Awakening of Spirit Rev. Wendy Jones *Join us following the service for a potluck picnic and egg hunt at Sherwood Park* April 24th Earth Day ~ The Awakening of Mother Earth UUCGV Green Team Children’s Programming: Waking Up to the Interconnected Web Join us on Zoom: www.grandvalleyuu.org 4
Next Green Team Meeting – Thursday, April 7th at 7:00pm via Zoom All Are Welcome
Green Team Tip of the Month Often washing dishes by hand can use more water than using the dishwasher. Washing by hand with the water running can use 2 GALLONS of WATER PER MINUTE. Most dishwashers use only 2-8 gallons of water per cycle. Do try to wash only when your dishwasher is full for maximum savings. Instead of rinsing off your dishes, keep a dishwasher safe spatula in the dishwasher to scrape them off. Return it to the dishwasher to be cleaned along with the dishes. If you are washing by hand, create a soapy container or sink and a clear rinse container or sink. Dunk and rub to wash, then dunk to rinse. This method can save gallons of water. Why is water so important? Come see the film: H2O the Molecule that Made Us on April 23rd at 3:00pm at the Central Library, presented by the UUCGV Green Team, and find out. With discussion to follow. 5
From Debbie Buchele, UUCGV Green Team Arbor Day, Earth Day, and Richard Nixon!?! Arbor day: In the 1840’s when Nebraska was still a territory with few trees for fuel, building, shade or protection from the wind, J. Sterling Morton moved to that treeless prairie, from Michigan. He and his wife began planting trees on their property immediately. Morton, a journalist, and later an editor for Nebraska’s first newspaper, advocated for planting trees and orchards to improve Nebraska’s economy and landscape. In the early 1870’s he proposed that the new state set aside April 10th as a day to plant trees. He also suggested offering prizes to communities and organizations that planted the most trees properly. The idea was enthusiastically welcomed, and on April 10, 1874 the people of Nebraska planted about one million trees. In 1882, Nebraska declared Arbor Day a state holiday and changed the date to April 22., Morton’s birthday. The idea spread quickly through the United States, and around the world. Today National Arbor Day is officially the last Friday of April, but is often celebrated at different times in different locations based on the local climate. Arbor Day...is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future. - J. Sterling Morton Earth Day: With the publication of “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, in 1962, awareness of ecological neglect and damage was rising. Damaging ecological effects were becoming more frequent, noticeable and concerning to Americans. A few examples: Ohio’s Cuyahoga river caught fire in June 1969, not for the first time, as a result of industrial pollution being legally pumped into the river. Solid waste was being dumped into open trenches and unlined landfills, where it was often burned or leached pollutants in to ground water. Between 1947 and 1977 it is estimated that General Electric dumped 3 million pounds of PCB’s ( polychlorinated biphenyls into the Hudson River. This was just one of the companies legally dumping toxic waste into rivers across the country at the time. Birds, particularly birds of prey were being decimated by the effects of the use of DDT. Acid rain caused by emissions from power plants was reducing fish populations, and effecting crops, natural habitat and humans around the country. People were being harmed by the high level of lead in our air due to lead in gasoline. (Continued on page 7)
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But until the early 70’s protecting the environment was not part of our national political agenda. In the fall of 1969 Denis Hayes, a Harvard graduate student, managed to schedule a 10 minute meeting with Gaylord Nelson, US Senator from Wisconsin. Nelson had been talking up an idea for a national “teach-in” about environmentalism. That 10 minute meeting stretched into 2 hours. Hayes, looking for an internship or class project , ended up quitting school to become the coordinator of the student volunteers and a few of Nelson’s staff members to organize the first Earth Day. Nelson’s vision was for a bipartisan effort and he recruited Republican Senator Paul McCloskey to serve as co chair. Nelson insisted that it be a decentralized event using the energy of schools, churches and community groups around the country to construct their own celebrations and actions. Minimal organization came from the DC based office, now dubbed “Environmental Teach -in”. April 22 was chosen as the date for the first Earth Day partly because it fell between Spring break and final exams, offering a greater chance of for involvement of young college and school age students. Coincidentally this was also Arbor Day, and many thought that the date may have been chosen for that fact as well. According to the ‘Gaylord Nelson Collection’ at the University of Wisconsin: “A commonly cited attendance figure for all Earth Day 1970 gatherings is 20 million. Realistically, the work of 9 people over 4 months could never have organized 20 million people. The accumulated estimates for public events in major cities amount to only a fraction of that figure. In truth, it would have been impossible to count Earth Day participants. Earth Day happened in so many corners and took so many forms that to capture its extent would have been as difficult for journalists in 1970 as it is for historians today.” Not everyone was happy about this event. In fact President Richard Nixon became very paranoid about it, worrying that would be a bunch of anti war protesters getting together. According to Senator Paul McCloskey, he was so worried, that he had the FBI engage in surveillance of many 7
of the events. McCluskey: “I was friends with John Ehrlichman at that time, who was an environmental lawyer.” (referring to Nixon's domestic policy chief, who approved the Watergate break-in.) "And he called me after Earth Day — he was laughing as hard as I'd ever heard, and he said, 'Pete, I've got this report from [FBI Director] J. Edgar Hoover to deliver to the president tomorrow,' because the president was so paranoid that Earth Day was going to be a bunch of anti-war kids gathered that he had put them under surveillance by the FBI," "He read me part of the report: ‘There's a bunch of girls with flowers in their hair, and they're wearing only three garments, no bras, And it was very benign. They were a little drunk, [there was] a little pot, maybe a little love out under in the bushes, but these girls sat in the grass patting their dogs, and it was a very benign affair." "He was laughing about having to give this report to Nixon," ….McCloskey said. Though the report was benign, its effects were not. On April 14, 1971, Nelson and former Senator Edmund Muskie, both Earth Day organizers, released copies of the FBI reports, revealing the surveillance. The reports were the latest in a series of stolen or released documents detailing FBI surveillance of U.S. citizens through a program called COINTELPRO. After the resulting Senate hearings, Hoover said he would severely curtail such FBI surveillance.) The enormous and enthusiastic turn out for the first Earth Day, was estimated to be one tenth of the United States population at the time. The resulting calls for change by the public, lead to the Congress passing the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, as well as, President Richard M. Nixon, a Republican, creating the Environmental Protection Agency. According to Ralph Nader, consumer advocate, “this is the major thing that turned Nixon around, it scared the hell out of him”. Today Earth Day is celebrated around the world. Perhaps not with the enthusiasm of the first celebration but the spirit continues. New environmental dangers are being recognized, people continue to be educated and, hopefully, issues are addressed. This year UUCGV Green team will be showing an environmental film addressing the importance of clean and abundant water, on Earth Day, at our local library, We have secured interest and sponsorship from the ‘Grand Valley Interfaith Network’ . This is a FREE event. The hope is to turn this into something of a film fest or series in the future, to inspire not only awareness and action in our community, but joy for the wonderful earth we live on. We hope that you will attend: ‘H2O: the molecule that made us’ April 23, 2022 at 3:00 pm at Mesa County Central Library. Written by Debbie Buchele, who is proud to have possibly been under surveillance by the FBI when she helped plan and organize a two day Earth Day celebration, as a student at Fargo South High School, including speakers, panel discussion and some great films. 8
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Silent Meditation for Healing Our World Join us at the church on Wednesdays at 10:30am for 20-30 minutes of silent meditation for healing our world. We will have chairs arranged six feet apart and we ask that you please bring a mask.
Goddess Group Join the UUCGV Goddess Group as we discover the hidden forces within. All who identify as women are welcome to join us at any or all of the dates below. Typically we meet monthly on the 4th Thursday, at 6:30 pm via Zoom, however will meet on the 3rd Thursday for the month of April. For more information contact Barbara Beth by emailing works90@hotmail.com. Thursday, April 21st at 6:30 pm - Cakes for the Queen of Heaven: Volume II Go to www.grandvalleyuu.org/goddess-group for more info.
Men's Cooking Group UUCGV’s Men’s Cooking Group is the longeststanding group in the church. We meet and cook the third Thursday of the month. If you’re new to the church and are male-identifying, please join the fun! Meeting next on April 21st at 6:00pm Host - Floyd Joramo Theme - Finger Food For more info, contact Mark McKenney at 970-256-7907 or mckenneyd@qwest.net.
Laughter Yoga!!! Wednesdays at 9:30 am It's Not Really Yoga... Come work out your spirit with laughter! Remember to wear a mask, bring something to lie down on. We'll meet at NE section of Sherwood Park across from 1460 East Sherwood Drive. For more info text or call Mary at (708) 552-1537 10
Aging Graciously Open to everyone of all ages! The discussion will be lead by Rev. Wendy on Thursday, April 21st at 1:00 pm Join us virtually or in person. Go to www.grandvalleyuu.org/aging-graciously for the Zoom link.
Soup Kitchen Saturday The UU congregation has been cooking at Catholic Outreach’s soup kitchen for many years on the second Saturday of every month. Anyone with an interest in helping to prepare or serve this meal is welcome; no experience is necessary; recipes and direction are provided. This month we need your help on Saturday, April 9th from 8:30 am to 1:15 pm. We need 8-10 people from 8:30-10:15 am to help prepare and cook. Another 4-5 people are needed from 11:30 to 1:15 pm to serve and help clean up the kitchen. Please let us know in advance if you plan to volunteer this month so that the shifts can be balanced. Contact Chris Jauhola (chrisjauhola@aol.com; phone 703-216-6479) for more information or to volunteer. Please bring a scarf or hat to cover your hair and a face mask to meet state health department Covid-19 protocols.
Black Canyon Discussion Group The next Black Canyon Discussion Group will be held on April 6th at 5:30pm in the Cedaredge area. Topic will be: "How do we attain wisdom? With age? With time? Other factors?” Host will offer the main dish, and then side dishes are provided by the participants. COVID vaccination is required to participate. Questions? Call 970-856-4226 E Heuscher or email at epheuscher@gmail.com 11
Living Into Leadership Board
Team Leadership Circle (TLC)
President - Laurel Carpenter Vice President - Melissa Humphrey Past President - Elizabeth High Treasurer - Sue Brown Stewardship - Kitty Tattersall At-Large - Laura Jeffries At-Large - Jeanie Hendricks
Religious Education (RE) - Abby Leinbach Membership - Bill Conrod Celebrations - Mary Delbecq At-Large - Angie Ecker At-Large - Ann (Angeline) Barrett
Board Highlights
TLC Highlights
The Board's primary responsibility is to carry out the UUCGV mission through wise governance of the physical, financial, administrative program, and operational resources of the Congregation.
Team Leadership Circle, TLC, maintains the Programs of the church and the church calendar which live into the Mission, Vision, and Principles of UUCGV. TLC communicates with the board about the day-to-day operations of the church and provides support to the teams if they need it. TLC meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:00pm.
Below are the highlights from the last Board meeting. Our UUCGV Board will meet again on Thursday, April 14th, 2022 at 7:00 pm. We welcome and seek direct dialogue with members and friends of our congregation.
Email tlc@grandvalleyuu.org for questions and comments.
If you would like to discuss a matter at the Board meeting, please contact Board President Laurel Carpenter at cinnamon06@aol.com by Friday, April 8, 2022.
March 10, 2022 TLC Meeting Highlights Present: Angie Ecker, Mary Delbecq, Bill Conrad, Jeanie Hendricks, Kitty Tattersall, Abby Leinbach, Wendy Jones
March 10, 2022 Board Meeting Highlights Present: Rev Wendy Jones, Laurel Carpenter, Jeanie Hendricks, Elizabeth High, Kitty Tattersall
RE: A search for a new Director of Religious Education is beginning. If you would like to be part of the visioning or search team please let Rev. Wendy know.
Stewardship: Stewardship is running smoothly. The stewardship team will begin making phone calls to reachout to people in April.
Green Team: Earth Day: The green team will be hosting a community screening of the movie H2O at the library on Sat. April 23rd.
Auction: The Auction did not bring in as much revenue as was budgeted for, and there was discussion about possibly having an in-person auction next year.
Worship: Hybrid services are going well and running smoothly. It is about equal with the people who show up in person and those who zoom in. There will be an Easter potluck and Easter egg hunt following church on April 17th.
Board approved the staff to get bids for the price of installing shade coverings on the back patio.
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Our local Together Colorado Faith Leaders Table will be hosting a series of book discussions this year. The titles will be chosen from books which have recently been banned in communities throughout the United States. Koinonia will be hosting the second conversation, reviewing the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson which will take place on Monday, April 25th at 7:00 p.m. As Dave Edwards who represents the local synagogue says: Reading MAUS or any other banned book doesn't mean we agree with or promote anything whatever in the book. It only means that we believe that actually reading these books informs us of their contents and allows us to form our own opinions of them, which will be for or against. If for, we would recommend others read them, if against, we wouldn't. This will be a hybrid conversation with the option to join in person at Koinonia or virtually on Zoom. A link will be sent out a week before the discussion. We hope to see you there, and happy reading!
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Change for Change Each month we collect change (coins) from the offertory baskets and donate it to a local charity. This effort usually brings in about $100/month. Our April Change for Change will go to The Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC). WCCC is a program of Mesa County Partners, a nonprofit organization based in Grand Junction, Colorado. As a 21st Century Conservation Corps We are accredited by the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and The Corps Network (TCN) and we work with AmeriCorps to provide education awards for our AmeriCorps Members. We work closely with land managers in scenic western Colorado including, Mesa, Delta, Montrose, and Gunnison Counties to collaborate on land improvement projects. Learn more at www.wcccpartners.org Our March Change for Change went go to The House.
The path of awakening is not about becoming who you are. Rather it is about unbecomin g who you are not. ~
The Care Team is a vital part of our congregation. Our goal is to stay connected and reach out to you throughout the year. Among other Care Team services, we will be reminding each member and friend, adults and children, just how special you are to our congregation. We would like to send each person in the household a birthday card, as well a greeting on your UUCGV anniversary. If you would like, please furnish us with the date of birth for each member of your household in order to receive our greetings. You can email this to me at jeanie2299@gmail.com Thank you, Jeanie Hendricks, UUCGV Care Team 14
Albert Schweitzer
UUCGV Calendar
Please Remember that all meetings & events MUST be scheduled through the administrator (257-0772) or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org.
April
See full calendar, renters and all, at grandvalleyuu.org/calendar.
Sunday 27
Monday 28
10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program
3
4
10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program
10 10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program 12:15 RE Visioning Meeting
17
11 12:00 Finance
18
10:30 All Ages Worship Service 12:00 Potluck Picnic @ Sherwood Park 12:30 Egg Hunt
24
25
10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
29
30
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
9:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
5
6
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
9:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation 11:00 Care Team 5:30 Black Canyon 7:00 Green Discussion Group Team Meeting via Zoom
12
13
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
9:30 Laughter 6:00 TLC Yoga @ Sherwood 7:00 Board 10:30 Meditation
19
20
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
9:30 Laughter 1:00 Aging Yoga @ Sherwood Graciously 10:30 Meditation 6:00 Men’s May Newsletter Cooking Deadline 6:30 Goddess Group
26
27
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
9:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
Saturday
1
2
7
8
9
21
28
15
Friday
31
14
7:00 Banned Book Discussion @ Koinonia
2022
8:30 UU Serves at the Soup Kitchen
15
16
22
23
29
30
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley P.O. Box 1053 Grand Junction, CO 81502
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 118 GRAND JUNCTION, CO “Return Service Requested”
“Vitally Inclusive Justice-Centered Spiritually Alive”
Minister: Rev. Wendy Jones 257-0772 x2 or minister@grandvalleyuu.org Church Administrator: Maya Kraushaar 257-0772 x1 or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org Facilities Coordinator: Jimi Blevins facilities@grandvalleyuu.org
Office Hours: Tuesdays: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Wednesdays: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Thursdays: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Fridays: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep. ~ Rumi
www.grandvalleyuu.org Find us on Facebook & Instagram @grandvalleyuu
We meet via Zoom and inperson on Sundays at 10:30 am for Worship
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