UUCGV SUMMER NEWS
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley — Newsletter
From Our Minister, Reverend Wendy Jones For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
July & August 2021
We are an affiliated congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Mountain Desert District of the UUA.
~ Steve Jobs Tips for a successful summer: Self-Care Reflection Change of routine Reset Slow Down Speed up Do things differently Try something new Think outside of the box Relax Play
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We are a Welcoming Congregation
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In This Issue
#grandvalleyuu
A Place for Liberal Spirituality
Diverse Thought and Community Action
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Among Us 1-3 Children/Youth Religious Education 6-9 Revelations 4 & 12 Leadership 13 Community 10-11 Worship Calendar 5 Calendar 14 & 15
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How often do you change your routine? This summer I invite you to allow yourself to get out of your routine. Do things a bit differently. Change your focus. Sometimes, along with a change of season, a change of routine can be quite beneficial. Occasionally it’s good to allow ourselves to “turn it all off” (in whatever way that means to you) so that we’ll be ready to turn it all back on when our next season rolls around. Sometimes jumping off the merry go round is just what the doctor ordered even if it’s only long enough to catch our breath and get reoriented so that we can jump right back on when it comes around again. With Love, Rev. Wendy
We might think we are nurturing our garden, but of course it’s our garden that is really nurturing us. - Jenny Uglow
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From UUCGV Director of Music, Miriam Deming Happy July & August Everyone! I hope you are also enjoying this month with celebration, family time, and/or rest. The choir is enjoying some rest as well, as we are on a brief hiatus this July and part of August. While you are enjoying your summer, I hope that some of you who haven't sung with us before will still consider joining us for our 2021 fall season. The choir will still meet most Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8pm to rehearse and record music together (starting back up on Wednesday August 25th!). We sure appreciate the new members who have joined us lately, and hope to have even more voices join! All levels are welcome. Though we read sheet music as we rehearse, I also provide practice tracks for those who learn better by ear, and I teach singing techniques so we can all work on improving our voices. We have some familiar songs planned for the year but also will add some lovely new music to look forward to. Another goal is still to start up a Modern Band/ Youth Choir this fall as well for kids ages 6 and up, which would likely meet Wednesdays before the choir, from 5:15-6pm. Please contact me if your child is interested in participating or if you are interested in volunteering to help with this endeavor! Making music together is such a powerful expression of human emotion. It definitely fills up my cup. I hope all of you are filling yours this summer and we hope to see you soon!
Miriam Deming UUCGV Choir Director music@grandvalleyuu.org
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Revelations
This is a monthly column helping us to get to know our friends and members in a deeper way. We thank Monte High for taking the time to do these in-depth interviews for us. This month Monte used his talents to create a beautiful poem for us. Over the years I’ve heard numerous people disparage the designation of wilderness areas by speaking on behalf of people with disabilities. They say that wilderness areas are unfair to the disabled because there are no roads allowed to take them there. I’ve heard it said that the designation of wilderness areas is like a slap to the face of the disabled population. As a person with a disability, I wholeheartedly disagree. In 1983, as a 20-year-old boy, I was driving along a small winding highway between Dolores and Cortez, Colorado when five horses ran out in front of me. The ensuing collision caused a spinal cord injury that left me paralyzed, a quadriplegic with limited movement below the neck. I have now lived most of my life navigating the Earth in a wheelchair. Before the crash I was very physically active, and spent much of my time in the Great Outdoors – hiking, hunting, fishing, camping – being. Some of my best memories are of traversing the tree line – hiking along rushing streams, through Mountain Meadows, Aspen and Pine, to come face to face with rocky outcroppings. Walking through the wild wonder. Otherworldly surroundings. The silence – there is sound, but no noise. Just the soothing sound of nature. I sit still and listen, and move on with a renewed sense of belonging. I am reminded of the connectedness of all things, that everything is one in God. I am awakened to reality, aware of my place on the sacred path I follow as a human being. O the beauty! O the Peace, the exaltation of my soul! Even now, as I write these words the beauty brings me to my knees in reverence, tears roll from my eyes. The tears come not because I can no longer visit these pristine places, but because these places exist – just knowing that such beauty exists within our world brings me joy. I still love getting out into nature. There are many beautiful natural areas that I can access in my wheelchair, places I can sit where it seems as if I am out in the middle of the wilderness, where I can recharge my connection to nature, experience a sense of immediacy and enter wholly into the moment. I live in Grand Junction, Colorado. I love spending time along the Colorado River front trails and the local State Parks. Wheelchair accessibility has come a long (Continued on page 12)
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Soulful Sundays July 4th Reflections on the Ware Lecture: Part 1 with Stacey Abrams July 11th Reflections on the Ware Lecture: Part 2 with Desmond Mead July 18th The Power of Discernment Rev. Wendy Jones July 25th Doing Nothing Rev. Darcy Baxter ~~~ Looking forward: August 8th Steve Brooks August 29th Sundae Sunday! All Ages Service
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Kindergarteners and 1st graders are invited to join our OWL program beginning this fall! OWL supports parents in educating children about birth, babies, bodies and families. Following a Parent Meeting and Parent/Child Orientation, the 8 sessions engage children with stories, songs, and activities and include a weekly HomeLink - a homework project for parents and children to do together. This structure promotes dialogue between parent and child. Classes will be held on Sunday afternoons from 12:00pm-1:00pm September 12th - October 31st. An informational meeting for parents will be held on Sunday, August 15th from 12:00pm - 1:30pm. Join us for a pizza lunch beforehand from 11:30am-12:00pm. Childcare will be provided during the meeting. For more information, contact dre@grandvalleyuu.org. 6
Message from the DRE By Chelsea E. Craine, Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth Although there is no official Soul Matters theme, my unofficial mantra for these summer months is “growth”. This theme is reflected in many aspects of our church at this time. Our children are learning about plant growth this summer through their weekly explorations in the Discovery Garden. By planting and tending a garden patch from seed, they are learning the work and dedication that goes into growing food and how the plants that sustain us in turn require sustenance from the sun, rain, and other strands of the interconnected web of life. The larger UUCGV congregation explores growth these months as we learn how to move forward in a multi-platform church setting. Staff, leadership, and congregants have learned and are still learning new technological and creative ways to connect with one another. We will all carry this growth with us as we move forward. As we look forward to further reopening in the fall, the reinstitution of the K-1 OWL program is another way the RE programs intends to continue its growth. Starting in the fall we will relaunch Our Whole Lives for younger elementary students and in the winter/spring semester we hope to offer OWL for junior high schoolers. Thank you for the nurturing soil, loving warmth, and soothing rain that is this congregation. I hope your summer allows you to grow in new and unimaginable ways. Love and Light, Chelsea 7
Important Dates in Religious Education RE Team Meeting Wednesday, July 14th, 5:30pm-6:30pm Join the team! RE teachers invited. Teen advisers are welcome. All members and parents who have ideas or input for the program are encouraged to attend. This month we will be discussing a potential RE curricula rotation schedule. We will be meeting via Zoom, email dre@grandvalleyuu.org for the link. Youth Group Game Night! Sunday, July 18th, 6:00pm-8:00pm Middle and High School aged youth are invited to UUCGV for pizza and game night! Bring a friend, a snack, and your favorite game to share. Let’s Go Bananas! Tuesday, July 27th, 11:00am-4:00pm Meet us at Bananas Fun Park (2469 Riverside Pkwy) for a day of play! Come to Bananas for Twelve Buck Tuesdays where $12 gets you unlimited miniature golf, bumper boats, laser tag, and indoor playland. Add go-karts for $5 a person. Come hang out with your UU friends and have a blast! RE Team Meeting Wednesday, August 4th, 5:30pm-6:30pm Join the team! RE teachers invited. Teen advisers are welcome. All members and parents who have ideas or input for the program are encouraged to attend. We will be meeting both in person and via Zoom, email dre@grandvalleyuu.org for the link. Youth Group Project: Mutual Aid Lunches Sunday, August 8th, 6:00pm-8:00pm All middle and high school aged youth are invited to join us for an evening of service and social activity. We will make bag lunches for the Grand Junction Mutual Aid distribution on Tuesday, August 10th. These lunches feed hungry community members in need as well as the volunteers who run the distribution. K-1 OWL Parent Meeting Sunday, August 15th, 12:00pm-1:30pm In this informational session parents will learn about the Our Whole Lives sexuality education program for kindergarten and first graders. The facilitators will answer questions and lead discussion about the program. Childcare will be provided. A pizza lunch will be available for families from 11:30-12:00 before the meeting. Sundae Sunday Sunday, August 29th, 10:30am-12:00pm Join us for an intergenerational service where we celebrate the start of the new RE year! Children, youth, and adults will participate in an interactive service followed by our annual ice cream social. Can’t wait to see you! Photo Challenge: Summer Fun What awesome adventures will you take this summer? Please photograph your summer fun and send pictures (with a brief caption if desired) to dre@grandvalleyuu.org by Wednesday, August 25th to be included in the slideshow during the service on Sunday, August 29th. are you committed to? What changes are you
committed to seeing in the world? 8 How does your conscience influence your commitments? March is our month of exploring what it means to be a people of commitment. As you consider this, take pictures inspired by the theme and send them (with a brief caption
Summer RE Schedule NO RE - Sunday, July 4th - Independence Day We will take a week off RE as many families are travelling for Independence Day. See you next week! Sunday, July 11th - Seeds We will learn about seed germination and how plants come from seeds. We will also weed and tend our pumpkin patch! Sunday, July 18th - Pollinators We will learn about the insects and animals that pollinate the garden plants and experience observing the plants in the garden and the pollinators. We will weed and tend our pumpkin patch and other areas of the garden. Sunday, July 25th - Soils & Decomposition We will learn that organic matter decomposes into new soil. We will also explore compost -how it works, how to make a compost pile, and the ecology of a compost pile. We will weed and tend our pumpkin patch and other areas of the garden. Sunday, August 1st - Bees We will learn about bees and beehives and how a bee pollinates flowers. We will weed and tend our pumpkin patch and other areas of the garden. Sunday, August 8th - Geography: Mapping the Garden We will learn how to read a map and each create our own map of the garden.We will weed and tend our pumpkin patch and other areas of the garden. Sunday, August 15th - Animals in the Garden We will learn about the animals that live in the garden and how to identify animal tracks. We will weed and tend our pumpkin patch and other areas of the garden. Sunday, August 22nd - Grocery Store Garden/ Garden Art Box Join us for the last day of summer RE! We will learn how to minimize waste from store bought vegetables by growing new plants. We will also create a supply box for making art and collecting future learnings about gardens and other outdoor spaces. We will weed and tend our pumpkin patch and other areas of the garden. Sunday, August 29th - ALL AGES SERVICE Sundae Sunday! Join us for an all ages service where we celebrate the start of the new RE year! Children, youth, and adults will participate in an interactive service followed by our annual ice cream social. Because the service is designed for all ages, there will be no RE this week. Can’t wait to see you!
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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. We meet monthly on the 4th Thursday, at 6:30 pm via Zoom. As women, we are stronger together through support and love. Each meeting you will expect sisterhood, exploration of various topics, a meditation and a whole lot'a love. For more information contact Barbara Beth by emailing works90@hotmail.com. Upcoming meetings: July 22 at 6:30 pm via Zoom August 26 at 6:30 pm via Zoom Go to www.grandvalleyuu.org/goddess-group for the Zoom link.
Black Canyon Discussion Group We will meet at 5:30pm on Wednesday, July 7th. The group will be meeting outdoors in the Cedaredge area. Bring your own food and drink. Topic will be: "How does one deal with the denial of racism? How can we advance out of institutional racism?” Address questions to E Heuscher 970-856-4226 epheuscher@gmail.com
Laughter Yoga!!! 8:30 am each Wednesday. We will be meeting at the NE section of Sherwood Park, across from 1460 E. Sherwood Drive. 10
Silent Meditation for Healing Our World * Meditation will not meet during the month of July, and will resume in August* Join us at the church on Wednesdays, beginning in August, 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.
Men's Cooking Group UUCGV’s Men’s Cooking Group is the longest - standing 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 July 15, 2021 at 6:00pm Host - Mark McKenney Theme - French Revolution For more info, contact Mark McKenney at 970-256-7907 or mckenneyd@qwest.net. Can you donate 50 sandwiches? Or 50 bags of chips? Or 50 pieces of fruit? Or 50 drinks? Help UUCGV provide sack lunches for Mutual Aid on 7/27/21 & 8/31/21 Items will be collected at UUCGV during office hours. Sack lunches will be assembled and distributed from 10am-2pm, during the Grand Junction Mutual Aid weekly distribution event. Thank you for contributing! 11
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way in recent years. I am grateful. Yet, I am aware of the need for designated wilderness areas and I am grateful for the wild places where wildlife can thrive. As a wheelchair user I have learned to adapt. There are many places that are not accessible to me, including many of my friend’s homes. I do not take this as a sign that I am not welcome. I do not expect my friends to spend thousands of dollars to remodel their houses just so that I can enter. There are many other places where we can meet, where my friends can welcome me into their hearts. Likewise, I do not expect anyone to build roads and trails over every square inch of wilderness so that I can visit in my wheelchair. Especially when I realize that my selfishness could lead to the demise of the very land I love. I love knowing that there are wild places where animals can room free without human disruption. Many species are going extinct. Some animals, such as elk, require large wildlife corridors for migration, and many species cannot survive around the noise and pollution of machines. These lands mean much more than how much money we can pump out of them – for much of God’s creation these wilderness lands are crucial for their survival.
2021/2022 UUCGV Leadership Board 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
Team Leadership Circle (TLC) Worship Robin Cyr
Compendium [I know that I always carry the wilderness within me, that the wild wonder is within me to be awakened any time I choose. I believe that human beings are created to be happy, and that to be happy I must be whole, and that to be whole I must realize that everything is One. All of God’s creation is One – I am a part of everything; everything is a part of me. I believe that we human beings lovingly need to return to nature, to realize our connection to nature. Nature can bring us wholly into the moment, into the holy instant where time turns to eternity.]
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Religious Education (RE) Abby Leinbach Membership Bill Conrod Celebrations Mary Delbecq At-Large Angie Ecker At-Large Ann (Angeline) Barrett
Living Into Leadership Enormous thanks goes to Elizabeth High for being our wonderful board president for two years, to Richard Hyland for serving on the board for many years, to Jan Hyland for serving as head of RE for several years, and to Janet Cummings who is going off of the board after being treasurer, president and past president for such a long time. We welcome Ann Barrett & Kitty Tattersall who are going on to leadership for the first time! 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. Below are the highlights of the Board meeting held on Thursday, May 13, 2021 Our UUCGV Board will meet again on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm. We welcome and seek direct dialogue with members and friends of our congregation. If you would like to discuss a matter at the Board meeting, please contact Board President Laurel Carpenter at cinnamon06@aol.com by July 2, 2021. COVID-19 Policy: The board continues to monitor CDC Safety Regulations and the UUCGV COVID-19 Policy. Finance: From a financial stand point our church has much to be thankful for. Without people attending services in person churches feared that donations would diminish and the church would not be able to pay its bills. Our main expense is salaries which makes up half our budget. All our staff are part time which is a high savings. Our revenue for the 11 months through May is $204,771 and our expenses are $175,566. This is a miracle ! We had a great auction and just had a great yard sale and our monthly contributions kept us in the black. The finance team had fears we would be in the red. So a huge thank you to all of our donors who kept us financially healthy. Our small congregation punches above its weight when you look at our impact on Grand Junction. It takes people like you who believe in our mission and want to see a liberal and compassionate voice in our area and who understand the importance of money in keeping it alive. And yes, I know, no one likes to talk about money. 13
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 Tuesday of the month at noon. TLC will meet again on Tuesday, July 13, 2021 at 12:00 pm. The following was discussed at the meeting. Email tlc@grandvalleyuu.org for questions and comments. Yard Sale: The yard sale was a huge success thanks to all of the hard work of the yard sale team and UUCGV community volunteers. Building Clean-up Day: Sat. July 17 8am-12pm will be the community building clean-up day.
UUCGV Calendar
July
Worship Schedule Worship Services are held Sundays at 10:30 am in person and via Zoom
2021 Sunday 27
Monday 28
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden 10:30 Worship 6:00 Youth Group! 4
5
Tuesday
Wednesday
29
30
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood
6
7
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
8
9
10
Chelsea on vacation
10:30 Worship 10:00 GJ Mutual Happy July 4th! 12:00 Finance Aid
8:30 UU Serves at the Soup Kitchen
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood
12:00 TLC
11
12
13
6:30 Adult Choir
7:00 Board
14
15
16
17
Chelsea on vacation
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden 10:30 Worship 18
19
20
8:00-12:00 Congregational Building Cleanup
8:30 Laughter 1:00 Aging Yoga @ Sherwood Graciously 5:30 RE Team 6:30 Adult Choir 6:00 Men’s Cooking 21
22
23
24
30
31
Maya on vacation
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden 10:30 Worship 6:00 Youth Group Game 25 10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden 10:30 Worship
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 6:30 Adult Choir
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27
28
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood
11:00 Let’s Go Bananas!
6:30 Adult Choir
6:30 Goddess Group via Zoom
29
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Please Remember that all meetings & events MUST be scheduled through the administrator (257-0772) or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org.
UUCGV Calendar
August
2021
See full calendar, renters and all, at grandvalleyuu.org/calendar.
Sunday 1
Monday 2
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden
Tuesday
Wednesday
3
4
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood
10:30 Worship
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
5
6
7
12
13
14
10:30 Meditation 5:30 RE Team
8
9
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden
10
11
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood
12:00 TLC
10:30 Meditation
8:30 UU Serves at the Soup Kitchen
12:00 Finance 10:30 Worship 6:00 Youth Group Project: Mutual 15
16
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden 10:30 Worship
6:30 Adult Choir
7:00 Board
17
18
19
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
12:00 K-1 OWL Parent Meeting 22
23
10:30 Children’s RE in the Garden
6:30 Adult Choir
6:00 Men’s Cooking
24
25
26
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood
10:30 Worship 12:00 K-1 OWL Orientation
29 10:30 All Ages Worship Service Sundae Sunday!
1:00 Aging Graciously
20
21
September Newsletter Deadline
27
28
3
4
10:30 Meditation
30
6:30 Adult Choir
6:30 Goddess Group via Zoom
31
1
2
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation 6:30 Adult Choir
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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 Director of Religious Education: Chelsea E. Craine 257-0772 x3 or dre@grandvalleyuu.org Music Director: Miriam Deming music@grandvalleyuu.org
536 Ouray Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501
One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter. - Henry David Thoreau
www.grandvalleyuu.org Find us on Facebook & Instagram @grandvalleyuu
We meet via Zoom on Sundays at 10:30 am for Worship
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