UUCGV NEWS Welcome to the month of
Integration Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley — Newsletter
August 2019
From Our Minister, Reverend Wendy Jones Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, spirit - - the realization that everything we do, think, feel and believe has an effect on our state of well being. - Greg Anderson
We are an affiliated congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Mountain Desert District of the UUA.
I was just outside listening to a thunder shower sweep through the Grand Valley, and I was taken in by the beauty of the clouds, the rain, and the water. And so I began to reflect on beauty and how beauty can be integrated into all aspects of our lives. What is beauty? It’s the lone little flower with a magnificent purple bud bursting through the concrete sidewalk. Beauty is tens of thousands of turtles on a beach in Greece able to head for the sea for the first time in decades as a result of the dedication of hundreds of humans working together, cleaning up the
We are a Welcoming Congregation
(Continued on page 2)
#grandvalleyuu
In This Issue
A Place for Liberal Spirituality
Diverse Thought and Community Action
1
Among Us 1-5 Children/Youth Religious Education 8-9 Revelations 3, 6-7 Among Us, 10-14 Worship Calendar 15 Calendar 15 Journey to a Green Sanctuary - see insert
(Continued from page 1)
beach and enabling these beautiful animals to survive once again. Beauty is thousands of teenagers refusing to go to school until we do something about our gun laws. Beauty is a human being who came into the world as Matthew and then became Abby and then turned herself into a gentle and graceful woman named Billie who spent her time writing poetry until an uninvited brain tumor took her away. Beauty is the woman who courageously approached me after one of my sermons on the “me too” movement, voice wavering with tears in her eyes and said “thank you, even my own family wouldn’t believe me.” Beauty was her willingness to express that vulnerability and the courage to say words out loud that hadn’t been spoken for six decades. Beauty is the individuated divine spark coming to life in each individual person as we open our eyes and look at the world and see it in a new way. And so, today I look around, and I realize that every person I see is an expression of beauty. Every person has a unique story of courage, vulnerability, joy, survival and each one of our unique individual stories are beautiful and holy. Beauty is found in the numerous extensions of love we offer one another in our darkest times. This year, it is all blending together as the needs of nature, the needs of human beings, the needs of animals are all being expressed in different ways. And they are all beautiful. ~ Rev. Wendy Jones
Adult Choir:
Beginning August 28 at 6:30 pm we will resume our weekly rehearsals at 6:30 pm at the church. For more info email music@grandvalleyuu.org.
2
Revelations
“The only way to have light is to be light. The only way to have love is to give love. The only way to have joy is to express joy.” ~ Rev. Wendy Jones
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. The theme of this story is music. Music is in the protagonist’s blood – it pulses through her heart and punctuates the rhythm of her days. From her core, the music plays. It moves her body with an uncommon grace and fills her mind with melody. Her soul sings. Amandalin. Amanda. Mandy. She truly has no preference. She is called by all three names within her family. She says she’ll answer to almost anything. Hey, choir director lady! Amandalin (a-mandolin) is a vibrant musical instrument. So, for the purpose of this article, the story calls out, sweetly, for Amandalin. Amandalin July Hunter was born on December 29, 1994, at St. Mary’s Hospital. The branches of her ancestral tree are far-reaching. Grandma Iva always said that Dad’s side of the family was mostly Irish. (However, Dad’s recent DNA test showed that, although the more recent history may be Irish, the ancestry is more evenly distributed between England, Scotland and Ireland.) This is where Fionna’s red hair comes from – her great-grandmother had red hair. Amandalin’s maternal side of the family hails from Japan. Grandma Helen was first-generation born in America. Amandalin didn’t grow up with many cultural traditions. Mostly just some yummy food cooked up with her mother and her mother’s sisters. Grandma always made sushi on New Year’s because that is a Japanese tradition. Amandalin, with a wink and a smile – “there is an old proverb that says – whatever you do on New Year’s Day, you will be doing for the remainder of the entire year. So, we always tried to have our cooking and cleaning done before New Year’s Day, so that we would not be cooking and cleaning all year long.” Her parents were not church people – religion and spirituality were not discussed within the family and were not a part of Amandalin’s upbringing. Dad’s name is Jim and Mom’s name is Jo but she goes by Ducky – yet they’ve always simply been Mom and Dad to Amandalin. When Mom and Dad were working, her grandma Helen would watch her. Grandma was amazingly kind and super witty. Amandalin also spent a lot of time in Loma with her aunt Mary. She was fascinated with the Dinosaur Museum. Family has always been a central part of Amandalin’s life. Her grandparents have passed away, 3
(Continued on page 6)
Black Canyon Discussion Group The next Black Canyon UU Discussion will be about "What particular music/lyric has affected your heart/soul the most?" The program will start at 5:30 PM on Weds. Aug. 7 in the Cedaredge area. For questions, call John at 970-856-6308.
Laughter Yoga
WHO ARE UU? Come get to know us! Do your friends or family ever ask you, “What is Unitarian Universalism?” Do you wonder what it means when we say that we are a covenantal church rather than a creedal church?
It's not really Yoga... come work out your spirit with laughter! Join us in this amazingly fun and energetic session! Every Wednesday 10 am at the church.
Men’s Cooking 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! The next Men’s Cooking night will be held on August 15 at 6:00 pm. For more info, contact Mark McKenney at 970-256-7907 or email mckenneyd@qwest.net
UUCGV Open Mic Night Each Wednesday, through August 21, UUCGV will host an open mic night at the church. Weather permitting we will setup on the patio. Plug in weekly on Wednesdays at 7:00 pm. Email admistrator@grandvalleyuu.org for details.
Have you ever wondered if there is a difference between being a "religious liberal" versus being a "political liberal?" Rev. Wendy leads a monthly informal gathering for friends, members and guests who would like to learn more about what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist. This is an ongoing conversation, usually on the second Sunday of every month after coffee hour. All people are welcome! All questions are welcome. Join the conversation on August 11 at the church.
4
UUCGV Meditation Groups:
Morning Meditation Join us on Friday mornings at 8:00 am for meditation with intentional breathing with Robintix at UUCGV. Contact Robintix for more info at
Goddess Group - Cakes for the Queen of Heaven Join us for a five-session religious education curriculum in feminist theology. If you are a goddess who identifies as a woman, you are welcome! You may join us for the last four sessions, or just join us for one. Either way, you are welcome! We will join in ritual, song, dance, meditation, learning of Goddesses in Ancient Times and more! Our next session is on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 6:30 pm. Our topic is "In the Name of the Mother and the Daughter." *Please bring a picture of your mother or of another woman who has been important in your life and feel free to bring a snack or a drink to share. Contact Miranda for more information: msricerichardson@gmail.com
Gentle Flow of Mind, Body, & Spirit An Introduction to Kundalini Yoga As Taught by Yogi Bhajan: Includes breathing, stretching, chanting, and movement to experience true balance in our lives. This class is taught by Ram Dhan Kaur Khalsa and for all physical abilities. The remaining classes will be held on August 3,10, & 17 from 9:00-10:30 am in the basement of the church. No commitment necessary/drop-ins welcome. For more info, email administrator@grandvalleyuu.org.
Soup Kitchen Saturday
Peaceful Meditation We meet the second Thursday of every month at 11 am. The next “vibration raising� will be on Thursday, August 8.
This is a reminder that Soup Kitchen Saturday is the second Saturday of every month at Catholic Outreach, located at the south end of 1st Street between Pitkin and Ute Avenues. We need your help on Saturday, August 10 from 8:30 am to 1:15 pm. We need 10-12 people from 8:30-10:30 am to help prepare and cook enough food for 150+ people. Another 7-8 people are needed from 11:45 to 1:15 pm to serve and help clean up the kitchen. Anyone with an interest in helping to prepare or serve this meal is welcome; teens included. Please contact Chris Jauhola (chrisjauhola@aol.com; phone 639-7616) for more information and to let us know that you plan to volunteer. Please bring a scarf or hat to cover your hair. Many thanks to the 18 volunteers in July who prepared and served the meal. A special thanks to Paul and Isaac who braved 90+ degree temperatures to grill chicken on an outdoor grill for 150 hungry diners. 5
(Continued from page 3)
yet her parents and several aunts and uncles still live in the area. Amandalin grew up as an only child, in a home full of art. Her grandfather was a painter: his creative work lived on the walls. Her father and her uncle were musicians: song rippled and swayed throughout the household. Her dad played piano and guitar – and bass guitar in the Hunter Brothers band. Her uncle, Dave Hunter, played guitar in the band, and is still one of the best guitar players Amandalin has ever met in person. Amandalin was always involved in music, starting with the piano at preschool age, and then dance a few years later. She studied ballet until she was 16. She was kind of a loner and did not enjoy school – except for the music classes. Amandalin was very shy. She wouldn’t sing with anyone. She would have her dad tune her guitar, and then take it back into her room and shut herself in for hours. Gradually, after much encouragement, her family convinced her to start playing and singing along with them. Amandalin started writing songs when she was 12 years old. It was also about this time, seventh grade, when her dad and uncle talked her into performing in a public place. She opened up for the Hunter Brothers Band at a coffee shop in the Redlands. She did not anticipate how stressful – and exciting it would be. And, until this performance, Amandalin did not realize how awe-inspiring the relationship between audience and performer can be. She experienced deeply the dynamic connection, the flow of energy between audience and performer. A family friend actually cried because she was so touched by of the beauty of Amandalin’s song. After this performance, Mandy began to understand the power of her gift – the gift of music that she receives, the gift of music that she gives – the interplay between audience and performer. The gift of song. In her heart, Amandalin has always known that music is the love of her life. Yet, in sophomore choir she met a music teacher named Marcia Kuhlman who greatly impacted her musical world. Marcia taught her professionalism. She helped Amandalin to see her musical performance as a craft. A work of art, yes; yet, also a set of many skills that can be broken down and practiced to improve craftsmanship and create an even more beautiful work of art. When Amandalin was 17, she got to meet and open a show for the YouTube sensation Danielle Ate the Sandwich, a folk artist that she admires. Marcia encouraged Amandalin to apply for entrance into the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. She was accepted on scholarship. Amandalin introduced herself to the Atlantic Ocean; she discovered big city life. She also encountered The Big Blizzards and the city shutting down after the bombing at the marathon. Amandalin learned a (Continued on page 7)
6
(Continued from page 6)
great deal at Berklee – everything from vocal jazz to music history. She also had magnificent experiences. She sang first soprano in a choir that performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It was an awesome experience to perform in front of a sold-out audience in her dream theater. She also performed in the Boston Opera House. Yet, Amandalin began to feel homesick, a very real and growing pain in the pit of her stomach. On top of everything else, the Boston Marathon bombing seemed to always be lingering in the back of her mind. It shook up the entire city of Boston. Amandalin needed her family. So, after completing three years of coursework she withdrew from Berklee and returned home to Grand Junction. Song still flows through every aspect of Amandalin’s life. She enjoys working with the wonderful folks in the UUCGV choir, helping them sing like angels, lifting the heart of the congregation. Amandalin also teaches voice lessons. She continues to work on her music, writing songs, practicing and performing. She has also begun to further empower herself by studying music production. Amandalin has had bad experiences with producers in her past. It would be fulfilling to work with young artists, and present them with a high quality product. Amandalin stopped dancing when she was 16 years old; but, rediscovered her passion for dance as an adult. She doesn’t practice ballet anymore – her new devotion is EDM – electronic dance music. For those of you who were fortunate to see Wendy’s July 14 sermon on “Frisson”, recall the video that showed how musical vibrations create geometrical patterns on water. The music playing in this video fits within the genre of EDM. Amandalin’s devotion includes community. The EDM community refers to itself as PLUR – which stands for peace, love, unity and respect. Dance as connection, with those experiencing the beat alongside you, yet also a deeper, more profound connection with the center of your being. When you allow the music to touch your center, allow the music to move your body, it awakens your true self. Dance can put you in touch with the essence that is your true self and, paradoxically, also much greater than your self. Dance into the awareness of your connection to the earth, the earth’s connection to the sun, the sun’s connection to the universe… God? Amandalin also fills up her days with workouts at the gym, fun concerts with her boyfriend Hunter, drawing and painting, supporting her artist friends, and just hanging with her family. And though she doesn’t often have time, she enjoys playing video games, which she thinks do not deserve the bad rap that they often get. Saving the best for last, Amandalin has a new joy in her life. On August 5, 2017, her daughter Fionna was born, also at St. Mary’s Hospital. Amandalin cherishes her time with Fionna. Fionna is at the age where she is beginning to get a mind of her own. No is now part of her understanding. Sunday last, Fionna grabbed Amandalin’s hand and led her all around the congregation. One of Fionna’s favorite activities is reading. Her favorite book is Time for Bed Elmo, which includes the lyrics to You Are My Sunshine. Amandalin doesn’t merely read this book to Fionna – she sings it! Life goes on…
in endless song… 7
Welcoming in a New Year and a New Religious Education Program! We are thrilled to welcome Chelsea Craine as our new Director of religious Education. In order to support her and create a thriving program for our families, here are a few ways that you can help:
Volunteer to help teach a Sunday morning class. Jan Hyland is recruiting teachers. If you think this might be fun—it is!!!!! We will be using a Soul Matters curriculum, so there is no reinventing the wheel. You will absolutely be supported, and you will not be doing this alone. Plus, you will get to know our younger generations in new and uplifting ways.
Get trained to teach an OWL class: Upcoming OWL Facilitator Training: August 17-19: Golden, CO. For more info email julieexcell@jeffersonunitarian.org
Join the religious education team: This is the group who will be the main support system for Chelsea, working with her to create a vision for our program and to help her implement it. The RE team does not necessarily teach classes, but will be the “behind the scenes” group helping the program run smoothly.
Middle School OWL Class taught by Joanie Leinbach & Kathleen Hedlund, beginning in September – Details coming soon
Upcoming Dates: Children’s Funfest Fair : August 10 Sundae Sunday: August 25 Ingathering BBQ: Sept 7 Ingathering Water Communion: Sept. 8 First Day of Classes Begin: Sept 15
UUCGV Childcare: Childcare for babies, toddlers and preschoolers is provided from 10:00 am to noon each Sunday. Childcare is provided by Robintix Perryman.
This Year's MDD Youth Events: Mountain Desert District (MDD) 8 Leadership Development Con. Nov 9-11. First Universalist, Denver, CO.
8
From Our New Director of Religious Education: My name is Chelsea Craine and I am thrilled to be joining UUCGV community in the capacity of director of religious education. I am originally from southwest Virginia where my mother and siblings still live. My family began attending the UU congregation there when I was eleven years old where I participated in the Neighboring Faiths RE curriculum. The friends I made in middle school RE and the experiences we shared through Neighboring Faiths provided the spiritual acceptance and affirmation I had not found elsewhere among my peers. Unitarian Universalism has been a major part of my life ever since. During my high school years I was active in our youth group, YRUU, as well as serving as a teen assistant in our RE classes. As a young adult I taught RE classes of all ages, including Neighboring Faiths, as well as singing in the choir and helping direct the children’s choir. The UU in Virginia has a special place in my heart as it is where my mother and her wonderful wife, Liz, were married several years ago. The love of that community has shaped who I am today. Two years ago I moved to Colorado to pursue my graduate degree in linguistics at CU Boulder with an emphasis in culture, language, and social practice. Although my studies were intellectually stimulating, I felt that there were very few paths toward practical application in a socially meaningful way in the segment of academia with which I was involved. This pursuit did not supply me with the sense of purpose, direction, and community which I craved. The UU in Boulder was a home away from home for me. I especially enjoyed teaching the preschool RE and participating in the phenomenal music of the congregation. As the end of my master’s program approached, I was not sure what I should do after school. My mother suggested that I may find the connection I was looking for within the UU community. After a wonderful conversation with the RE search team and an exceptional visit to the town of Grand Junction and to UUCGV, my partner and I felt that this community was one of which we would like to be a part. All the members we met at the Wednesday community dinner were very welcoming and our phenomenal hosts, Jan and Richard Hyland, made us feel at home right away. We will be moving to Grand Junction near the end of July and cannot wait to meet all the other amazing people at UUCGV. Thank you so much for the honor of joining your community. Best, Chelsea 9
9
Care News
Need Support Around Suicide?
We continue to hold Barbara Lee’s family in our hearts. Barbara passed away on July 8th. Barbara's sons are hosting a memorial service for their mother Saturday, August 3, 10:00 am at her home, 360 Northridge Dr. Food and drinks will be provided. We are continuing to surround Melissa and her family with our caring love as they journey towards health. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help them financially get through the next few months, as Melissa is drastically cutting back her working hours, so that she can spend time with her family. Meals are appreciated and financial support is received with deep gratitude. If you would like to contribute in either capacity go to the links below:
Go Fund Me: http://bit.ly/2y0JeIw
Meal Train: https://mealtrain.com/7w0ge1
UUCGV News Are you missing the smell of chemicals when you walk into the UUCGV building?! That's because we're going GREEN and have started exclusively using all natural cleaning products from Melaluca. And, the good news is that you can do the same thing! If you'd like to go green in your home, please consider getting your cleaning supplies from us. We currently have some products that are ready to be taken home today. We also have a catalog located in the middle office that you can peruse. If you'd like to order something, let Sterling know and he will happily include it in his monthly order. This also serves as an added source of revenue for UUCGV, in essence helping Green Sanctuary pay for itself. Technology Travails: We have been experiencing some new issues with the UUCGV email groups. We appreciate your patience as we trouble shoot with Google. Please let Maya know if you have any trouble sending or receiving group emails. Important FYI: A number of UU ministers have had their email accounts hacked. Those accounts have been used to solicit financial contributions from their members. Please know that Rev. Wendy does not ask for money via email or Facebook. If you receive any suspicious solicitations from Wendy’s email address, wjones@uuma.org, please let Maya or Wendy know. 10
You can join a peer support group for teens and adults who are affected by suicide. This group is for those who have attempted suicide, as well as their friends and family, and those who have experienced loss by suicide. This is a safe place where you can freely express your feelings and ask questions, a group where you can learn from others about their healing, and a place to learn new coping skills. This group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm at the church. This month’s meetings will be on August 13 & 27. For more info contact Janice at jcurtis@frontier.net or text (970) 216-6441
“Being Sacred” September 5 - 8, 2019 "You are perfect just as you are. And you could use a little help." ~ Suzuki Roshi Women’s Contemplative Retreat at St. Benedict’s Monastery, with author Sandra Dorr & yoga teacher Susan Crosby Come on a four-day retreat in the quiet of autumn to renew yourself, in a serene monastery at 8,000 ft. that leads to deep, magical work and much laughter. All levels of yogis and writers, and artists who wish to work on other art forms, are welcome. This is the tenth retreat we’ve led at St. Benedict’s, which always offers the emptiness and peace to find the sacredness within. Morning group sessions with Sandy, with exercises, literary and craft talks, optional read-arounds and discovering what moves you in your own work and others. Afternoons to work, make art, have an individual conference, rest or explore 400 acres of monastery grounds. Evenings to read to the group, meditate, or attend vespers. You may also meet with the resident monks or attend an unusual Sunday community mass. Early Morning Yoga Sessions with the gentle, radiant Susan Crosby. This year, she’ll also lead an Ayurvedic self-care session, learning foot massages, oils and foods for health, skin and hair care. High-quality food and retreat lodging, either in hermitages or main guest house (see www.stbenedictsretreat.com). Cost ($435) includes full retreat, lodging, & meals: $415 Early Bird (full payment by 7/31) $150 deposit to reserve room; pay balance at retreat start. Questions? Email sandydorr@bresnan.net or call 970.433-6800. Namaste.
11
From UUCGV Board President, Elizabeth High As we enter into this new congregational year together, I am excited to represent UUCGV as your new board president. As such, I will be sharing some of my thoughts here in our newsletter. Last December the board met for an all-day retreat during which we discussed the book “Governance and Ministry, Rethinking Board Leadership,” by Dan Hotchkiss. In this book (p. 70), Hotchkiss asks an intriguing question: “Who, then, is the owner of a congregation?...Not the members. Not the board. Not the clergy… All these are fiduciaries, whose duty is to serve the owner.” I was getting quite curious after reading these sentences to find out who Hotchkiss thinks owns a congregation. His answer was revelatory for me. “The specific ‘owner’ that the board must serve is this congregation’s mission… Or to put it differently, the congregation’s job is to find the mission it belongs to—the real owner for whose benefit it holds and uses resources.” Another clarification that Hotchkiss mentioned earlier in the book was also enlightening to me (p.49): “A congregation’s mission is not the same as its mission statement. The mission is what the mission statement tries to state. Even the best mission statement is an approximation… ” So, keep in mind that our mission is something huge and ultimately impossible to fully verbalize. I invite you to sit with our mission statement and see how it resonates with you: “We unite to create an accepting religious community which fosters lifelong learning, diversity, and spiritual growth. By reaching out to the larger community, by nurturing one another and the Earth of which we are a part, we live our Unitarian Universalist Principles of justice, reason, and compassion.” I invite you to contemplate in what ways you personally feel connected to that mission, either through being nourished by it or by contributing to it. Secondly, how well you think we as a congregation are serving that mission? Feel free to share your thoughts with Rev. Wendy and/or any of us on the Board. - Elizabeth High
Finance Report The Church ended it's fiscal year June 30 and we now begin a new fiscal year July 1 that will extend to June 30, 2020. We ended this past year with a surplus of $16,000. This was due to expenses being $10,000 below what we budgeted. The congregation should appreciate when an individual or committee spends less than what was budgeted for them. We also had an increase of $6,000 in income. One of the major factors was a very successful auction plus we had $2,000 more in offerings than we budgeted for. Offerings are money collected that had not been pledged. This coming year we budgeted for an $8,000 plus budget shortfall because of salaries for the office manager, the facilities manager and the new religious education director. These all saw increases. Hopefully we will obtain additional money to offset these increased expenses. We always encourage people to consider their ability to give to support the needs of the Church. We always watch our expenses very carefully. - Steve Watson, UUCGV Treasurer 12
THANK YOU, UU’s! What’s that in your mailbox? It’s a thank you card! Beginning in August, each month a few of our wonderful congregants will receive a thank you note from the Board of Trustees. We want you to know that your work is important, and that we value the heart you have for service. Thank you for all you do for our congregation and our community.
UUCGV Board Highlights Below are the highlights of the Board meeting held July 11, the first meeting of our new church year, and led by incoming President Elizabeth High. Our UUCGV Board will meet again on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 7:00 pm. As a reminder, members/friends of the congregation are welcome to come and listen in on Board meetings. Also, if you have something that you would like to speak about with the Board, you can contact our Board President, Elizabeth High, at elizabethahigh3@gmail.com, and request a time at the beginning of our meeting to present your topic.
We heard from SCR (Staff Congregation Relations) Team representative Joanie Leinbach about their ongoing work with our staff. We are excited to be welcoming new RE Director Chelsea Craine in August.
Treasurer Steve Watson reported that last fiscal year (July 2018 to June 2019) ended with a surplus of about $16,000 as expected. This will help us get through our new year (2019-2020) as we will be operating with a deficit budget.
The TLC (Team Leader Circle) also met on July 11 and Rev. Wendy reported on the activities they are working on, including having a booth at the Rocky Mountain PBS Kids' Fest on Aug 10th, and planning our own Community BBQ on Sept. 7th. We learned that the Community Garden just north of our church is growing food for anyone who would like some.
Rev. Wendy reminded us about the Lights of Liberty Vigil happening July 12 at the Old Courthouse in response to immigration issues at the U.S. Southern border. She will be one of the speakers at the event.
We set the date for a Leadership Retreat (Sept. 28) - location to be determined. 13
Sunday Hospitality
Change for Change
The Worship Team would like to invite our members and friends to bring snacks and goodies to share after the service on Sundays. We have many requests for healthy items like fruits and veggies but cookies and cakes are always welcome too! Since we do not have a signup sheet for Sunday Hospitality, sometimes we won’t have anything. And that is ok! We all enjoy “just” coffee, tea and conversation too!
Interested in Becoming a Member of Grand Valley UU? Every now and then we are asked, "How do I become a member of this congregation?" It is a fairly simple process. If you are new to Unitarian Universalism, it is recommended that you go to one of the “Who are UU?” talks that Rev. Wendy facilitates once a month after the morning service. If you decide this is for you, then you can talk to Rev. Wendy, Peg Oswald or Bill Conrod of the membership team about becoming a member. For more information, contact Bill Conrod at 970-7128684.or bcconrod@yahoo.com.
Presentation by a Geriatric Social Worker The Aging Together group invites any senior citizens in the congregation to attend our August 22 meeting, 1:00 pm at the church. Our speaker will be Paula McCormick a Geriatric Licensed Social Worker who has worked with the elderly and their families since 1985. Paula’s undergraduate degrees are a Bachelor’s Of Social Work and a BA in Sociology. Her Master’s degree is in Geriatric Social Work with a certificate in Gerontology. Paula has worked in various settings including: Hospice, Home Health, Nursing Homes, Physical Rehabilitation Hospital Units and Case Management. We will get useful information on what a geriatric social worker can do to assist the elderly in coping with their infirmities, issues, and problems.
Big thank you to our greeters in July! Lynn deBeauclair, Bea Conway, Maggie Eagleton Duane Carr, Pooka, Will Harman, & Joanie Leinbach Don’t you love seeing that beautifully friendly UU face handing you the order of service each Sunday morning? Being a greeter at UUCGV is a simple way you can contribute to the life of the congregation. On Sunday mornings, our greeters pass out hymnals and the Order of Service and collect and count the offering. If you’re looking for a short term commitment, please sign up on the clipboard in the foyer, or use administrator@grandvalleyuu.org to let the office know your preferred dates! 14
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 July Change for Change went to Grand Valley Coalition for the Homeless, a coalition of organizations and individuals who work to address the issue of homelessness in the Grand Valley. Our August Change for Change will go to the Mesa County Libraries Discovery Garden, a series of interactive demonstration gardens that provide education, food, respite, and community engagement. A variety of gardening techniques are modeled in the garden, including xeric, raised bed, inground farming, pollinator, and permaculture design.
UUCGV Calendar
Worship Schedule
August
Worship Services are held Sundays at 10:30am August Theme: Integration
2019
August 11: Rev. Wendy Jones – Integration: The Connection Between Body, Mind, & Spirit August 18: Rev. Wendy Jones
August 4: Steve Brooks and his dog, Molly – Joy of Animals
August 25: Rev. Wendy Jones & Chelsea Craine - Sundae Sunday Religious Education
Please Remember that all meetings & events MUST be scheduled through the administrator (257-0772) or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org. See full calendar, renters and all, at grandvalleyuu.org/calendar. Sunday 28
Monday 28
Tuesday 30
10:30 Worship 11:45 Green Team
Wednesday 31
Thursday 1
10:00 Laughter Yoga
Friday
Saturday
2
3
8:00 Morning Meditation
9:00 Mind, Body, Spirit Yoga
9 8:00 Morning Meditation
10
7:00 Open Mic 4 10:30 Worship
5
4:00 Property Team
11 10:30 Worship 11:30 Who Are UU?
18 10:30 Worship
10:30 Worship Sundae Sunday 11:45 Green Team
7 10:00 Laughter 12:00 Finance Yoga Team 10:00 Care Team 5:30 Black Canyon 7:00 Open Mic
12:00 TLC 6:30 Board Meeting 15
7:00 Social Action
6:00 Suicide Support
19
20 September Newsletter Deadline!
21 22 23 10:00 Laughter 8:00 Morning Yoga 1:30 Aging Meditation Together 6:30 Black (closed group) Lives Matter 6:30 Goddess 7:00 Open Mic Group
24
26
27
28 29 10:00 Laughter 11:00 Newsletter Yoga Folding 6:30 Adult Choir
31
7:00 Social Action
16 8:00 Morning Meditation
8:30 Soup Kitchen Saturday 9:00 Mind, Body, Spirit Yoga
13
6:00 Suicide Support
14 10:00 Laughter Yoga
8 11:00 Peaceful Meditation
12
12:00 Worship Team
25
6
17 9:00 Mind, Body, Spirit Yoga
6:00 Men’s Cooking 7:00 Open Mic
15
30 8:00 Morning Meditation
Journey to a Green Sanctuary I love nature. I love the soothing effect that nature has upon my being, how it quiets and restores my peace of mind. Merely sitting, silently, in the presence of a tree helps bring me to awareness, returning me to the center – in touch with the essence that I believe is my true self, and paradoxically, also much greater than myself. I love the earth. I am “of” the earth. The earth is my home, as my body is my home. I am the earth. When I lose touch with myself, I lose touch with the earth: when I lose touch with the earth, I lose with myself. When I sing, the earth sings: when I dance, the earth dances. I grow from the earth as a tree grows from the earth. The earth sustains me. I am a part of the earth. I am the earth. When I dance, the earth dances, and everything that is a part of the earth dances. I am a part of the Green Sanctuary Project because I think it helps to create a nourishing mindset. Why bother with recycling? With composting? With growing a garden? It can seem like a silly waste of time when you consider, for instance: that whole forests with their intricate ecosystems are being destroyed for cattle or palm trees; that we cannot curb the consumption that feeds the fossil fuel industry that is burning us all at the stake; that the world population is projected to be 9,038,687,000 by the year 2040… Yet, what can be more powerful than creating a more mindful way of being? Within myself, a more mindful way of being. Change myself and I the change the world. One small step at a time, because nothing is harder to change than a human mindset. My hope is that my participation in our congregation’s process of seeking Green Sanctuary accreditation from the UUA will nudge me forward, into a more nourishing mindset. Sometimes it may seem like a game for its own sake; yet, games can be fun, and playful teamwork might help me to take steps that I may not otherwise have taken. I hope that playful teamwork moves our congregation forward to take (joyful) steps that we might not otherwise have taken. I think the Green Sanctuary project will help us change our culture. I slow down my mind. I quiet my mind. I find my center and my true self emerges to the surface from the depths where all things intersect. I awaken, one with all things. The music of creation fills my senses and I begin to dance. ~ Monte High, UUCGV Journey to a Green Sanctuary Team
16
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”
Office is open Tuesday-Thursday 9 am-2 pm Minister: Rev. Wendy Jones Tue 9-1, Wed & Thu 9-12 or by appointment 257-0772 x2 or minister@grandvalleyuu.org Church Administrator: Maya Kraushaar Tuesday—Thursday 9-2 257-0772 x1 or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org Director of Religious Education: Chelsea Craine 257-0772 x3 or dre@grandvalleyuu.org Music Director: Amadalin Hunter music@grandvalleyuu.org Facilities Manager: Sterling VanWagoner
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
www.grandvalleyuu.org
Find us on Facebook & Instagram @grandvalleyuu
We meet Sundays at 10:30 am for Worship