Welcome to the month of
UUCGV NEWS
Cultivating Relationship Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley — Newsletter
October 2021
We are an affiliated congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Mountain Desert District of the UUA.
From Our Minister, Reverend Wendy Jones THE MEETING Once, in a contested place, I met a soldier face to face. We stopped and turned and walked away, Both to live another day. I often wonder who he was And where he is and whom he loves, And if he ever sees, like me, A soldier in his memory, Or if before the end he fell, Leaving only me to tell Of our meeting, face to face, Once, in a contested place
:
We are a Welcoming Congregation
~ Phil Ellsworth (Continued on page 2)
#grandvalleyuu
Love does not In This Issue
dominate; A Place for Liberal Spirituality
it cultivates.
Diverse Thought and Community Action
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1
Among Us 1-3, 10-11 Aging Graciously 6-7 Revelations 4, 6-7, 12 Leadership 13-14 Worship Calendar 5 Calendar 15
(Continued from page 1)
The theme for this month is “Cultivating Connection.” Connection happens in so many different ways, both overt and very subtle. As I was looking at my past sermons this month to see what I have written about relationship and connection in the past, I came across this segment from one of my previous sermons titled, “No Soul, Sings Alone” inspired by the beautiful song that our friend Paul Teerlinck wrote and shared with us for the first time a few years ago. I was moved as I reread what I wrote in regard to the wisdom of two of our beloved elders who are no longer with us this year; the wisdom that comes with age and experience; the deep understanding of connection that both Duane Carr and Phil Ellsworth shared with us through their own words and sermons a few years ago. As we think about connection in this world we live in, I realize that it is time to truly embrace the truth of the deep connection that we are invited into both with other human beings and the world around us. This is what I wrote a few years ago, based on the stories of Duane and Phil. Their wisdom stirs my soul in a beautiful timeless way. “We have been given two poignant examples over the past few weeks of two souls making life defining decisions to let another live. On Memorial Day, Phil Ellsworth offered us such a beautiful example of how one 19 year old German commander made the “time standing still” decision to let Phil’s platoon pass by when they very easily could have and should have been ambushed. This German soldier chose human connection instead of human fear, and Phil came home and was able to share his beautiful poetry with the world because of it. And then a few weeks later, Duane offered the beautiful story of being a young man coming face to face with a magnificent buck, making eye contact with the animal, and putting his rifle down and watching it walk away.” They both described that transcendent moment when time stands still while a life defining decision is being made. I was changed by both of their stories and their lived examples. When we understand that we are truly interconnected with another being, and we choose life (a split moment in time, and an eternity at the same time) we enter into eternity in that split second. That is what true connection really is. Life and death. A moment of decision. A divine connection. A universal knowledge. A karmic connection. A recognition. No soul sings alone. No soul shines on its own. We need more of more of these stories shared and told and role models of Divine Connection. This is what the world needs, the understanding that “No Soul Sings Alone.”
With Love, Rev. Wendy 2
From UUCGV Director of Music, Miriam Deming I love that October is the month of cultivating relationships. Personally, this month is dear to me because my husband and I celebrate our anniversary on October 5th. But in the broader musical world, I believe that music gives us a powerful way to cultivate relationships. There is something so special about the bond between people who create music together, as I am sure the UU Adult Choir can attest. There is also the relationship between the performers and the audience, as everyone shares in a meaningful experience that happens between the music making and the music receiving. We sure enjoyed this relationship on September 12th, when we were able to sing live for many of you once again. We look forward to singing outdoors and in person again on Sunday Oct. 3rd and hope many of you will join us. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the recordings that we will make and share with you. We always welcome new members, no matter what your musical background. We rehearse on Wednesdays from 6:30-8pm. In other news, the Modern Band / Youth Choir is currently a small group of kids, but they are learning a lot: we have played a song with a singer, a drummer, and a keyboard player, and are currently learning a piece in Hebrew! We are welcoming more school age students on Wednesdays from 5:20-6pm. Finally, there are a couple of upcoming events that we need your assistance with as we cultivate relationships in the choir and beyond: On Sunday Oct. 3rd after the service, the choir will be selling baked goods to raise funds to use for special music. Are there any bakers among you who would like to donate baked goods? If so, please bring something with you to the service! We would especially appreciate items like pies, cakes, and breads that could be sold as a whole item. Or help out by bringing some cash and buying some of these baked goods after the service. We will do all this again for our Halloween service on Oct. 31st, so we would again appreciate baked goods then as well. Thank you! Happy Autumn! Miriam Deming UUCGV Choir Director music@grandvalleyuu.org
3
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. A Story of Laurel, In One Breath Life is so mysterious, not long ago nobody could’ve imagined that I, Laurel Carpenter, would be sitting here, risen from my sickbed with an achy body and sore throat, looking into a device connecting me with another human being in the web of all existence, Zooming through space for a screen-time face to face conversation about a story of my life, the stories of my life (while columnist Monte imagines me thinking – “what is he thinking?! how can he possibly take my story, make my story into a neverending prose poem?”) Life is so mysterious, beautifully wonderfully I am not living the life I thought I would be living, oh my life surprises me all the time, at no time did I think I would be a nurse and a farmer, or that I’d live here in the Grand Valley I am from Miami where I lived for over 20 years, yet my family – five generations of my family are from here, when I was a toddler my family moved to Miami where my dad’s from, and I lived there until I went off to college it’s a strange in between feeling, like living in two worlds I didn’t grow up here yet I have all this history here, I’m living in the family farmhouse that my grandfather built yet I’m not from here, my cousins all grew up together – I grew up apart Beautifully wonderfully I’ve come a long way in my 17 years of living here I married a man from rifle – to Jake, Grand Junction is a big city and for me it’s a small town, so this is our middle ground, our best balancing act and we’re perfecting the art of juggling. It is a considerable part of my identity doing the splits between urban and rural – I’ve learned to farm, to irrigate, keep animals And Can – the first year we moved onto the farm Jake said he was going to plant a garden and I thought oh that sounds nice, and he planted an acre! the vegetables were overflowing thankfully the gardens have gotten smaller yet the property has gotten bigger and we have sheep and chickens and ducks and dogs and cats and Hi Mom, I’m Zooming with Monte, come say hi [hi Laurel’s mom (Ruth)] she is marvelous, it is fabulous raising my kids intergenerationally my mom has lived with us for eight years and my dad lived with us for the last few years of his life, so my kids know what it’s like to be cared for and to care for elders, and to support people through the end of life – life is mysteriously so, beautifully wonderfully so in high school Laurel was in the Boy Scout Explorers so she had many adventures in the wilderness Florida is ecologically diverse so she experienced and learned about the specific ecology of different places, various wild spaces swamps to old world forests camping kayaking hiking listening Laurel was also the president of the environmental club and became the president of the countywide Congress of environmental clubs in Miami, Dade County 2 million students organizing beach cleanups organizing workdays organizing workshops (picking up leadership skills, setting her foundation so throughout her life leadership roles often find her) Laurel assumed she would study environmental science yet no – surprise! – It was time to visit colleges so Laurel got on a plane with her father flying to Hampshire College in Massachusetts 4 (Continued on page 6)
Soulful Sundays Upcoming Sunday Services Please join us virtually or in person at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday. Children’s Programming provided downstairs. https://zoom.us/j/383905626? pwd=amdBd3NU cUtQWG5hbUFRTHBVNWI4UT09
October 3rd Animal Blessing All Ages Outdoor Service Rev. Wendy Jones October 10th Cultivating Relationship Stephania Vasconez October 17th Wisdom through the Ages Rev. Wendy Jones October 24th Relationships & Healthy Communication Rebecca Mullen Do you have magazines that you are no longer reading?
October 31st Intergenerational Halloween Service Rev. Wendy Jones
Our Children’s Program is looking for magazines to use for the Inner Portrait projects. Donations can be left in the middle office at the church. Thank you! 5
(Continued from page 4)
life is beautifully wonderfully mysterious – she didn’t know it at the time that Hampshire College is renowned for activism so Laurel found out about this protest that she wanted to attend and convinced her dad to switch their tickets to Miami, instead fly to Washington DC so suddenly she found herself standing in a mass of 10,000 people gathering flyers and posters and buttons and it was like she had found her world a world of social justice, thoughtful Movement Oh the powerful feeling of finding yourself in the midst of an active movement, 10,000 worker bees buzzing Oh feel the energy vibrating people power pulsing, hearts united to awaken the masses to right a wrong to create a better world Laurel left college after two years, followed her heart to backwoods Montana for a wildlife conservation campaign to protect the last remaining herd of wild bison she lived in a commune 60 people cozy in a three bedroom cabin every day snowshoeing and cross-country skiing into the wild documenting and disrupting the harassment the trapping the slaughtering of ancient bison, the fog of their mingling breath One alive with the Great Beasts in the pristine winter wilderness beautiful wonderful the passion the purpose this was her new world and she loved it Laurel hopped the peace and justice train and became a traveling activist, she joined the struggle to expose the moneymaker worshipers of wealth, spotlighting the economic malignancy that tramples everything and everyone that gets in its way – she organized protests, large mass mobilizations all across the country, her favorite memory returning home to Miami to take a stand against the Free Trade of the Americas Treaty, trying to prevent the exploitation of Central and South America, 30,000 people marching Oh! the movement of energy and emotion the sense of accomplishment marching she would usually get arrested and often hurt, but then she would be released and the charges dropped because the arrests were never lawful and she would sue them and she would win and they would give her money funding her activism marching Oh the motion the emotion, engaged in the work devoted to the struggle the deep bonds you form with your brothers and sisters in arms, linking arms Speaking Out beautiful wonderful – one-of-a-kind life-changing experience and then, when you come out of these giant protests and into the real world the general population just doesn’t understand – the force the force for good pulsing through your veins, and they don’t seem to understand the power the people have the power to create a better world they don’t seem to understand what is happening and how the world needs the heart’s power and they look at you like you’re the crazy one with your idealist mindset attempting to heal the world so – Laurel is protesting at the Republican National Convention in New York City and she gets arrested and all the arrestees get stored in a decommissioned bus depot with petroleum spilled on the ground and the fiberglass ceiling coming down so they spend three days sitting and standing in fiberglass and petroleum My God! (though she didn’t meet them at the time, didn’t know this at this time she would later find out that Jacob Richards and Connie Murillo – her people – were present in that jail and smuggled out pictures which they sold to CNN making national news) so, Laurel gets out of jail and Ben, her husband at the time, tells her that her grandfather fell out of a tree and broke his leg so they get on a plane with Laurel’s clothes still soaked in petroleum and fiberglass heading to Grand Junction to aid her grandfather and they are living in the countryside and they don’t know anyone and they have a lot of spare time so Laurel is scrapbooking yes you heard that right Laurel is scrapbooking for eight months until one day they are walking by a coffee shop on Colorado Avenue and notice a flyer about the showing of a documentary called “The Miami Model” – what the what?! life’s is so mysterious Ben and Laurel look at each other like are you the one that put up that flyer because, because, because it is a documentary about the protest Laurel helped organize and she is featured in the film (Continued on page 7)
6
(Continued from page 6)
and she hasn’t yet seen it so they decide to attend the screening and as they turn into the parking lot Laurel is unaware of the magnitude of the occasion, that she has truly arrived her lifeline is shifting as she walks into the small building on Grand Avenue into the Unitarian Universalist Church! And obviously they recognize her hey aren’t you in this movie?, and watching the movie brings out pent-up emotions because the Miami arrest was extremely traumatizing and of course the lights come on and they ask her to speak so she blubbers all puffy-faced and teary-eyed through her words, wonderful beautiful so thus is she introduced to The Church and her best friend Connie a room full of people viewing the movie and among them the few who would become Her People like kindred souls they connected and started sharing their stories and within a few months they moved into a house together forming the Confluence Collective – a place where people were encouraged to stop by and share their ideas, safe to say even the most radical ideas and they began planning and organizing, building people power within the Valley, Speaking Out against injustice spreading the word of a better way wonderful beautiful to be a part of a community so close together sharing their space and their lives and organizing locally to affect the larger community [Elizabeth and I were working with them through a local activist group called A Voice of Reason] Connie and I weren’t that close at first, we were kind of competitive in the beginning yet we became closer and closer over the years and then boom! Connie had Nicolai and Cohen, and I had Ramona all in a span of 18 months , so, we moved out of the collective and into a house and we started raising the babies together, it was just the babies Connie and I and our partners living together and it was Amazing the babies shared a nursery together Connie and I both breast-fed all three of them they grew up together the children became our activism our way of changing the world, creating a better world. (so when people approach me to thank me for taking in Connie’s children, saying things like you’re amazing it’s amazing what you’ve done I know they mean well, yet they are missing something – we were always a family, already a family, kids and parents enmeshed in each other’s hearts, we’re just missing a family member now) several years later Laurel’s next story, the one we’ve all been awaiting (members of our congregation who’ve been around a while) holding our breaths because our hearts play a small part in this grieving story of mourning yes, Connie got cancer, no, no, no! Connie got cancer at the time Laurel was a doula, a professional childbirth coach who walks you through a harrowing, intimate medical experience which is what cancer is so she became Connie’s personal doula holding her hand every scan every imaging every surgery every everything and Connie did the treatment grueling debilitating harrowing to buy some earthly time, Connie let Laurel help shape how the boys were going to know about it Laurel bought children’s books about how to understand your loved one’s cancer she showed and explained Mama’s (she was Mama, Laurel is Mommy) scans and x-rays and procedures and Connie went into remission, she grew her huge heart impossibly larger living in the moment she celebrated life (she sits in a circle singing – may we be filled with loving kindness, may we be well may we be peaceful and at ease, may we be whole) she quit work homeschooled Nicolai spent all of her time with he and Cohen, and when the boys were with their fathers, she would go on adventures everything from rock climbing to concerts, dancing, dancing, dancing she got 11 months free from cancer – Connie collapsed at a concert Laurel got a call from an ICU 7
(Continued on page 12)
Beautiful aged hands
“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” ~ Franz Kafka
This monthly Aging Graciously Newsletter is written by Ernie Stech, UUCGV member Graciously Beautiful and Handsome “Beauty is in the eye of beholder” is a cliché. In fact, judgment of beauty or handsomeness are dictated by social and cultural norms. Most of those norms are based on the appearance of young adults to perhaps those in their 40s. Older adults, at least some, try to maintain the looks they had back in those earlier days. That is total denial of the effects of aging. There is an alternative A design aesthetic borrowed from the Japanese, Wabi Sabi, takes a different stance regarding beauty in design whether it be interior design or architecture. Wabi Sabi arose among Taoist Monks who lived in humble abodes. They found beauty in the simple and ordinary. What then is Wabi Sabi in humans? Signs of age - wrinkles, sags – are Important because age represents experience. Perhaps some degree of wisdom. Wrinkles have been earned. Fingers bent with arthritis are symbols of hard work. A cane is a sign of miles and miles of walking. Gray hair in man or woman helps to look distinguished. These signs of aging are marks of beauty! Revel in them. Don’t hide them or apologize.
Small Sacks The renowned tenor Luciano Pavarotti wrote in his autobiography that stage performers must carry with them “a small sack of encouragements.” We could enlarge that and apply it to older adults. All of us should create and carry along with us - the remainder of our lives - a small sack of good deeds done, “thank yous” and compliments received. Then we can dig into the sack – when needed – to feel good.
Minimizing Tumor and Cancer Risk Back in the 1930s, Otto Warburg investigated the difference between healthy and cancerous cells. He found that cancerous cells no longer depended on oxygen for metabolism but instead fermented glycogen which is the way the body stores carbohydrates and is the basis for blood sugar, glucose. He won the medical Nobel Prize for the discovery. Recently there has been increased interest in this “Warburg effect.” Studies have been done on animals and humans that indicate a way to minimize the risk of cancer or tumors. Short intensive exercise is the answer. It is also termed anaerobic exercise and is the 8
opposite of aerobic exercise which takes place over longer periods. The difference is between sprinting or running a marathon. Seniors need not worry about having to sprint! Anaerobic exercise only requires raising the heart rate enough for a period of 10-30 minutes. A brisk walk will do this. Hiking uphill will do it. Walking on a treadmill at a setting of 2.5-3 MPH also is sufficient. And swimming laps works. Pick one that suits your body, health, and fitness. All you need to do is know the target heart rate. Your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. Your target heart rate is 70-80% of maximum. Here are the numbers: 70 years old, target HR 105120; 75, 102-116; 80, 98-108; 85, 95-108; 90, 94-104. This kind of exercise also increases bone strength, helps maintain weight, increases metabolism, protects joints, and boosts energy.
Ponder “The unwise wonder at the unusual. The wise person wonders at the usual.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson * *Emerson was an ordained Unitarian Minister but spent most of his life writing essays and giving talks.
9
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 offers 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 meeting: October 28, 2021 at 6:30pm via Zoom Go to www.grandvalleyuu.org/goddess-group for the Zoom link.
Black Canyon Discussion Group The next Black Canyon Discussion group will be held on October 6th at 6:00pm in the Cedaredge area. Topic will be: "What other person or event has positively changed the trajectory of your life?" The format for the meeting is changing back to the traditional dinner discussion manner: 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
Laughter Yoga!!! 8:30 am each Wednesday. We will be meeting at the NE section of Sherwood Park, across from 1460 E. Sherwood Drive.
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. 10
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 October 21, 2021 at 6:00pm Host - Richard Hyland Theme - Comfort Food: Your favorite comfort food from childhood or other part of your life. For more info, contact Mark McKenney at 970-256-7907 or mckenneyd@qwest.net.
Soup Kitchen Saturday 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, October 9th from 8:30am to 1:15pm. We need 8-10 people from 8:3010:15am to help prepare and cook enough food for up to 100 people. Another 4-5 people are needed from 11:30am-1:15pm to serve and help clean up the kitchen. Anyone with an interest in helping to prepare or serve this meal is welcome; no experience necessary, but please let me know in advance if you plan to volunteer this month. Please contact Chris Jauhola (chrisjauhola@aol.com; phone 703-2166479) 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. Many thanks to volunteers in September! 11
(Continued from page 7)
in Arizona so Laurel drove down to get her brought her back home, the cancer was back had moved into her brain, soon they moved her and the boys into their house like they had lived for so many years one big family (“you know, it’s strangely paradoxical, some ways our family grew yet it also shrunk because we lost her”) Connie opted not to do the treatment, chose to cherish the rest of her life, they set her up with a sunny plant filled music filled healing room, love poured into her room beautiful wonderful while Laurel tended Connie’s sickbed she worked full-time on her second bachelor’s degree, a five-year commitment, graduating two months after Connie’s death, sometimes I regret that it took me 15 years to graduate with my first bachelor’s degree yet I wouldn’t be the person that I am today if I hadn’t driven out into the woods in Montana beautiful wonderful I have a husband Jake and I are crazy busy yet we are happy Jake got a Masters degree in education and his dream is to be a middle school civics teacher yet now he’s living his other dream as a whitewater flyfishing guide and also works as a counselor at the mental health hospital – I am an RN working in home health I also deliver babies at a birthing center I also teach nursing classes at Colorado Mesa University and I still do a bit of volunteer organizing both locally and nationally and I’m the president of the Board at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley my little community I am a spiritual person I had a religious upbringing I went from Methodist to Episcopal to born-again Baptist and became a Buddhist in college until I studied Comparative Religion and realized there isn’t a right answer, there is sacred wisdom in all of it my mother is now a Methodist minister so I am a fine fit as a UU I am a spiritual person I love my little community it means so much to me and my family I’m so grateful will never forget how the UU’s supported us during Connie Murillo’s passing, I love knowing that my kids are being raised in a church environment where they can believe whatever they want to believe and still be supported and loved My kids mean the world to me, are the world to Jake and I they are happy kids I love how they get to play in open country spaces catching snakes and frogs, exploring, wild life is so mysterious my kids don’t have sidewalks or a neighborhood we have soil and trees, so different from my childhood it boggles my mind how I came to so love chickens Jake teaches the kids flyfishing and bow hunting they can all tie flies and shoot a bow and arrow, whenever we get spare time it is often an adventure in the Great Outdoors beautiful wonderful Jake and I have four beautiful wonderful kids (two from Connie and two from Jake and I – all ours) I’m simultaneously humbled and filled it’s an honor to witness the type of people my children are becoming Ramona is 13 in eighth grade wants to be a surgeon and a writer she’s already working on her first novel she is an avid reader and makes jewelry and art beautiful wonderful Ramona though Nicolai is no longer living with us we lost the court battle he’s living with relatives in Denver he still talks to Cohen on the phone and they text back-and-forth every day he’s a good soccer player is playing flag football now attending a private Catholic school is 13 in 8th grade beautiful wonderful Nicolai Cohen is 12 in sixth grade is learning the clarinet wants to be a mathematician and videogamer he enjoys video games is saving money to buy a gaming PC beautiful wonderful Cohen Emmett is nine in third grade is really into archery, plays hockey and likes anything to do with trains and visiting model train museums beautiful wonderful Emmett and so is Laurel’s unexpected life, living in the moment, taking one more breath Life flows on... In endless song... 12
From UUCGV Board President, Laurel Carpenter What a privilege it is to step into the role of UUCGV President! My years serving in the leadership of our congregation have been a great balance of joys and challenges, and *this* year promises to level up the fun! For those of you who I haven’t gotten to know closely yet, here are a few details about me. I’m a mom of elementary & middle school kiddos, a Registered Nurse, a 5-generation GJ native, a Miami girl at heart, a writer & artist, a serial entrepreneur, an activist, a fly fisher, a crazy chicken lady, a Unitarian Universalist, and a dreamer. Our congregation has filled spaces in my life that I didn’t even know needed filled. The faces & voices & arms of our congregants have been my lifeline during some of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. Now, as a leader, I look forward to embodying that steadfast love for each of you, in return. Just as UUCGV lifts each of us up as an individual, our congregation is also a leader in our community. We’ve often been the one to speak out with our collective voice, open up our campus and our resources, and problem solve the challenges that evolve anew each day, for our broader Grand Junction community. My highest commitment as your new president is to continue all of these outstanding traditions of living into our Unitarian Universalist values. Together we’ll grow and thrive in whatever ways our congregation chooses. As we enter this new church year, I encourage each congregant to envision what our church could accomplish this year, how our church can contribute to your life, and how you can invest yourself in our church. Now that you have that vision in your mind, what are the action steps to make it happen? What do you need in order to make those action steps possible? I can’t wait to hear what ideas and needs you have, and to work together for each of us to live our best lives, together. Thank you for trusting me to help steer our church family through whatever comes next. ______________________________________________________________________________ P.S. I can’t wait to get to know you (yes you!) better. I may not always be available for in-person events, due to the nature of my work and my commitment to my family, but if you’d like to connect online, find me at https://www.facebook.com/laurelripplecarpenter or http://www.laurelcarpenter.com or cinnamon06@aol.com. 13
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
Worship - Robin Cyr 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.
Below are the highlights of the Board meeting held on Thursday, September 9, 2021 Our UUCGV Board will meet again on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 7:00 pm. We welcome and seek direct dialogue with members and friends of our congregation.
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.
If you would like to discuss a matter at the Board meeting, please contact Board President Laurel Carpenter at cinnamon06@aol.com by October 7, 2021.
The following was discussed at the meeting. Email tlc@grandvalleyuu.org for questions and comments.
Fall Leadership Retreat – The leadership will be planning its annual fall leadership retreat for sometime in October or November. Afghanistan Support – The board is paying attention to what is happening in Afghanistan and is hoping to invite a guest speaker with first hand knowledge of what some of our local families are going through. COVID-19 Policy - Voted unanimously to adopt new changes to the Covid-19 Policy as they are found at: https://docs.google.com/document/ d/1zlHXDe_5L_m9GhowMw1kJoSOm9bdtNnpvUh32O wF27Q/edit. GVIN Thanksgiving Interfaith Service - UUCGV is hosting this service for 2021. This will be a live zoom service on Tuesday Nov. 23rd. Front Entry Awning - Discussion of possibly doing this project before the winter weather. Finance - The Finance Committee wish to inform the membership that the finances are in the black and the trend has been good for months now. Please continue to donate to the church as you can. We thank you! 14 - Sue Brown, Treasurer
Green Team is ready to begin meeting again. If you would like to be part of the green team please contact Angie Barrett at angelinebarrett2@gmail.com. Religious Education: Religious Education classes are up and running again on Sunday mornings. We are in need of volunteers who would like to teach a class on an average of once a month. If you are interested in spending time with the children on Sunday mornings please let Rev. Wendy know. Celebrations: We are planning a Halloween party for the children on Sat. Oct. 30th . There will be a number of fun games complete with a “what’s that ‘gore’ table. If you would like to help plan or participate in the party please let Angie Ecker or Abby Leinbach know. Worship: Hybrid worship services are going well with about ½ of the people attending in person and ½ attending virtually via zoom.
UUCGV Calendar
Please Remember that all meetings & events MUST be scheduled through the administrator (257-0772) or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org.
October
See full calendar, renters and all, at grandvalleyuu.org/calendar.
Sunday 3
Monday 4
10:30 Worship All Ages Outdoor Service 11:30 Choir Bake Sale 12:00 K-1 OWL 10 10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program 12:00 K-1 OWL
Tuesday
Wednesday
5
6
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
2021
Thursday 7
Friday 8
Saturday 9 8:30 UU Serves at the Soup Kitchen
5:20 Modern Band 6:30 Adult Choir 11
12
13
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
12:00 Finance
14
15
16 9:00 Fall Food Drive @ the Vineyard Church
5:20 Modern Band 6:00 TLC 6:30 Adult Choir 7:00 Board 17
18
10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program 12:00 K-1 OWL
19
20
21
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
November Newsletter Deadline
22
23
Uptown Art Colony Art Show
6:00 Men’s 5:20 Modern Band Cooking 6:30 Adult Choir 24
25
10:30 Worship 10:30 Children’s Program 12:00 K-1 OWL
26
27
28
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation
29
3:00 Sanctuary Spooktacular Halloween Party!
6:30 Goddess 5:20 Modern Band Group via Zoom 6:30 Adult Choir 31 10:30 Worship All Ages Halloween Service 11:30 Choir Bake Sale 12:00 K-1 OWL
1
2
3
4
10:00 GJ Mutual Aid
8:30 Laughter Yoga @ Sherwood 10:30 Meditation 5:20 Modern Band 6:30 Adult Choir
15
30
5
6
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
Let us be grateful to people who make us
Church Administrator: Maya Kraushaar 257-0772 x1 or administrator@grandvalleyuu.org
happy, they are the
Director of Religious Education: Chelsea E. Craine 257-0772 x3 or dre@grandvalleyuu.org
charming gardeners
Music Director: Miriam Deming music@grandvalleyuu.org
who make our souls blossom.
536 Ouray Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501
~ Marcel Proust
www.grandvalleyuu.org Find us on Facebook & Instagram @grandvalleyuu
We meet via Zoom on Sundays at 10:30 am for Worship
17
