Mark Your Calendars
(events are located at the church, unless listed otherwise)
Choir practice--each Wed @ 6:45pm and Sun @ 9:45am
FOCUS mailing party--Wed, Feb 1 @ 1100
MDD Young Adult Ministry Conference--Sat, Feb 4 @ 9am at Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO
Great Decisions--Sat, Feb 4 @ 1pm
Family Promise Rotation-Sun, Jan 29 - Sun, Feb 5
Harvest the Power Leadership Training--Thurs, Jan 26 @ 6pm
Harvest the Power Leadership Training--Thurs, Feb 9 @ 6pm
Mindful Monday Meditation--Mon, Feb 13 @ 6pm
Interfaith Speed Dating Potluck--Tues, Feb 14 @ 6pm
Great Decisions--Sat, Feb 18 @ 1pm
COMEA Shelter dinner--Sat, Feb 18 @ 5:30pm
Harvest the Power Leadership Training--Sat, Feb 25 @ 9am
Great Decisions--Sat, Feb 25 @ 1pm
Path to Membership Classs--Sat, Mar 3 @ 9am
Great Decisions--Sat, Mar 3 @ 1pm
Great Decisions--Sat, Mar 10 @ 1pm
UUCC Service Auction--Sat, Mar 10 @ 5pm
Great Decisions--Sat, Mar 17 @ 1pm
Great Decisions--Sat, Mar 24 @ 1pm
UUCC Stewardship Campaign/2nd International Food Festival/Talent Show--Sun, Mar 25
Family Promise Rotation-Sun, Apr 1 - Sun, Apr 8
Earth Day Clean-up Pizza Party--Sun, Apr 22 @ 12 noon
May Day--Tues, May 1 @ 6pm
Special Congregational Announcements
SOCIAL JUSTICE REQUEST
As you probably know, UUCC gives one offertory collection each month to a local non-profit organization working to make a difference in our community. These have included Family Promise, Comea Shelter, CASA, Day of Giving, Safehouse, and others. If you know of a local group that you would like to recommend for this donation, please contact Sandi Gaulke at stgaulke@openvistas.net
Harvest the Power-Leadership Training Course
Lea Grubbs, Dana Lightsey, and other leaders from the church will co-facilitate this three-session course in leadership for all current leaders, facilitators, committee chairs, staff, etc. and for anyone interested in become a leader. We are using the UUA's new curriculum from the Tapestry of Faith called Harvest the Power. Dates for the trainings are: Thursday, January 26, 6:00-8:30 p.m.; Thursday, February 9, 6:00-8:30 p.m.; and Saturday, February 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Please sign up in the lobby or call the church at 638-4554.
THE APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY PROCESS IS ALIVE AND MOVING FORWARD!
The Strategic Planning Team met recently to review updates on the progress of the Design Teams and plan for the next steps in the Appreciative Inquiry Process. As you may know, there are currently four Design teams that started meeting after the special service on September 25th, 2011. There has been much excitement as the groups work to incorporate and build on Dream Summit input.
The Teams, Warm and Welcoming, Nurturing Diversity, Enthusiastic Outreach, and Growth are generating ideas to promote and improve and inspire our UU community. Stay tuned as the Teams, working along with other existing groups and committees start rolling out their ideas in the near future!!
Fun and Fellowship By Brenda Lyday
If you haven't heard already, I am the new Fun and Fellowship Committee Chairperson! We have been having a lot of fun lately and want to make sure that you are not missing any of it. We enjoyed the Cheyenne Interfaith Council Picnic, went to the Pancake Breakfast during Frontier Days and threw a Block Party. We have many activities planned for the coming year such as a Halloween Festival concluding with a Samhain Ceremony, Thanksgiving Dinner in November, and a December Holiday Party including caroling, dreidel spinning, tree decorating and jumping over a Yule log! If you are interested in planning or helping out with any of these events, we would love to have you join us. We will be having a meeting during coffee hour on the 23rd. If you are unable to attend the meeting and you still would like to be involved, please contact me at brendalyday@gmail.com
ENHANCING THE SUNDAY SERVICE
The job of the Worship Committee and Reverend Dana is to plan our Sunday services to best meet the needs of our congregation. Recently, we reviewed the comments we received about Joys and Concerns. Based on the input we have gathered, we have decided to continue having Rev. Dana share the joys and concerns during the service. We are also adding a new element.
Beginning on February 19, a set of candles and a basket will be available at the front of the church. Those wishing to share a joy or concern are invited to light a candle and, if they wish, write down the joy or concern on a card and place it in the basket. Individuals may participate prior to the Sunday service and through the opening hymn. Reverend Dana will incorporate these joys and concerns into the Prayer and Meditation segment of the service.
***Please note, since there will be live flames both before and during the Story for all Ages, we ask that parents and the adults be especially watchful with the children at this time.
The Worship Committee appreciates everyone's input and continues to encourage your feedback about these and any other changes. Please place your written comments in the box provided at Clipboard Corner or mention them to Rev. Dana or one of the Committee members, Marian Bursten, Sandi Gaulke, Luanne Gearhart, Beth Howard, Charles Junkin, Kathleen Petersen, Joe Raucci, Tim Thorson or our new member, Karin Skinner.
Thank you to everyone for your input as we work to make our Sunday service the best it can be for all the congregation!
Coffee Hour--The success of this important aspect of fellowship depends on the members of this congregation, the many volunteers are greatly appreciated!
When the first letter of your name falls on the assigned Sunday, please come early, help set up, bring a snack to share or devote a few minutes after to help clean up, as budget and time permit of course!
February 5th A-F 12th G-L 19th M-R 26nd S-Z
Forums:
2/5 - “Meditation, Prayer, and Falling into God” with John King.
This will be a discussion about the spiritual practices of meditation and prayer. It will be a discussion to follow-up John’s sermon.
2/12 - “Immigration Justice”
This forum will bring to light the many facets of the issues with immigration and the work of the UUA to bring a more humane approach to the treatment of undocumented workers.
2/19 - UU Principles in our Lives
The Enthusiastic Outreach design team in conjunction with the Committee on Ministry have developed a self-assessment tool for members to reflect on one’s own personal ministry. How are you living out our 7 Principles? Are they are a part of your daily life? Come take the assessment; you might be very surprised!
WinterMart 2011 was a superb fund-raising success with 24.5 booths bought for a record in booths fees sold.
Exceptional work featuring 24 artists & crafters from throughout the Front Range offered a plethora of wares from functional to pure decorative Art. The work ranged from knitted/crocheted hats & scarves to unique spaulted maple wine cabinets and carved wood bears to exquisite photography in the form of nature and wildlife photo cards besides the usual offerings from Cheyenne's finest.
A very warm thank you goes to Kathleen Peterson for all her assistance this year, especially her exceptional promotional skills and her insightful connections with the media that garnered us the best exposure to date... setting the tone for WinterMart's success.
Volunteers are requested for this year's Spring into the Arts Festival - Arts & Craft Show & Sale for end of April. Please contact Terry Kreuzer or Kathleen Peterson @ 638-4554 to help make this spring event the best Spring fest yet !
Food for The Soul--Be Part of the Interfaith Cookbook!
Submit your favorite recipe or helpful hints and you will be entered into a drawing to win a free cookbook. Recipes are being collected from the various members of the Cheyenne Interfaith Council and will be a treasured collection of multi-faith, multi-culture cuisine.
Books will be available hardcopy or on CD. Business advertisement space is also available. This collection will be sent off for print February 10th, so send all your favorites by email, or drop off hardcopy to Andrea at the Administrative Office.
For questions or to submit your contribution: SharonKKelley@aol.com or Janai Robinson, Ascension Lutheran Church, jamairobinson82@gmail.com
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE 2012 SERVICE AUCTION SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 2012
The festivities begin at 5 p.m. Everyone is welcomed for a WONDERFUL time. Lot of socializing, a great dinner and great deals! Free childcare and exciting entertainment provided (more about this later.) Think about how to help; donating an item or service, decorating the social hall, bringing an appetizer, helping with set-up, being one of the cooks for the dinner, or helping to clean-up. Questions, to help, suggestions for the entertainment or to talk about what to donate, contact Mike Shonsey shonseym@aol.com.
"Harvest the Power… of your time, talents, and dreams"
Our UUCC Stewardship Campaign begins on Sunday, March 25, with our second annual International Food Festival potluck luncheon in the Social Hall followed by a TALENT SHOW featuring you! If you have a talent (all ages welcome) that you are willing to share in a short presentation after the luncheon, please call Sandi Gaulke at (stgaulke@openvistas.net)or Terri Johansen at terrijo7@hotmail.com Watch for more details in the March Focus and weekly emails.
PASTORAL CARE
Pastoral Care at UUCC exists to support our members and friends in times of need as well as times of joy and accomplishments. We work together to keep in touch with members who are home-bound, provide food or transportation to those who are ill, visit people in the hospital, assist each other through the grief process, and keep the minister aware of the pastoral needs of the church. If you would like to be part of this caring team, call Sandi Gaulke at 638-4554.
A new addition to our Pastoral Care Committee! Joan Brennan and Ria Brownlow have recently completed coursework certifying them as Pastoral Care Nurses. They, and other members of our community who work in health care, will be joining with Sandi to expand the services offered through our Pastoral Care Committee. Look for a Health Care Survey to fill out, and a table some Sundays during coffee hour to learn more!
Faith Community Nursing: Is the specialized practice of professional nursing that focuses on the intentional care of the spirit as part if the process of promoting wholistic health and preventing or minimizing illness in the faith community.
Thanks,
Joan Brennan
Interim Ministry Timeline
Jan.-Feb. 2012– SC requests interpretive file summaries from Transitions office. SC interview references in congregations in which the pre-candidates have previously served.
Feb.-March 2012– Pre-candidating weekends!
March 15, 2012- SC decides on proposed candidate and makes offer! No earlier than noon Eastern time.
March-April 2012– SC conducts background check and finishes references interviews. Personnel committee concludes ministry agreement with candidate. Board and candidate accept agreement, subject to congregational approval. Board announces candidacy.
April-May 2012– Candidating Week. Congregation extends call and minister accepts. SC submits Notice of Call to Transitions office.
June 2012– Farewell to Dana.
