News for the Week of June 8th-14th

What's happening at the UUCG? June 8th-14th

Tuesday, June 9th- Building your Own Theology with Rev. Kelly 7pm

Sunday, June 14th- The Synergy of Spirituality by Mariah Foster
An examination of how spiritual practices within religious community become catalysts for everyday transcendence.
RE: Spirit Centers- Play Sunday


Other News and Reminders

Click HERE for the slideshow that was presented at the Congregational Meeting that was held on May 17th! 


The budget forum went well! Click here for the program budget for 2015-2016!


Serving with Grace- It is time to discern how you will serve the congregation in the coming year. It takes all of us to do the work of the church, so please consider getting involved in at least one area.  There are sheets of paper on the table in the foyer where you can mark your name. If you decide you want to change how you are involved, make a note to that effect on the sheets.  You can also contact Rev. Kelly to discuss your gifts and brainstorm ways you can offer them to the church. Email: minister@greeleyuuc.org


Spiritual Photography Project: Great news! The deadline to submit your spiritual imagery has been extended! If you have something you would like displayed, contact Michael Free at church or by email (Michael.John.free@gmail.com) If you have already submitted your art, be sure to write your submission on the registration sheet kept in the Chalice Arts room along with a few sentences explaining why this image is spiritual to you. The deadline is now June 21st. Thanks!


We are thrilled to be partnering with Foothills!
The board at UUCG and Foothills Unitarian have decided to partner to create a ministerial team for the coming year.  The goal for us, is to have excellence in worship every Sunday and consistency in ministerial presence.  The goal for Foothills is to help spread the UU Faith.  We will both benefit from “Economies of Scale” as three ministers will be in relationship with one another, and both churches.  This will leave more time to spend with congregants and other ministries.The board voted for Bill Gotchey and Hollis Berendt to be on the joint search committee with Foothills for hiring of our Lead Minister.  Nancy Bowen, our district leader, will help us through the process.  This first year we will explore developing a formal relationship between congregations (i.e. “dating”).  We  may find that we “fall in love” and want to take the next step forward in the partnership by sharing other aspects of ministry the following year, or decide to “break up.” We do believe this is a positive step toward growth of the UU faith.

 
The RE Ministry is planning for the summer.  We are looking for volunteers to be guest leaders Sunday May 31- September 6.  This is where you get to use your gifts with our church children. And it only requires a one-time commitment.  Come lead the kids in crafts,music, games, art, social justice projects, woodworking, etc.  It's your choice!  There is a sign up sheet in the foyer, and we can't wait to see how you participate.  Don't miss this chance to interact with our kids. Michelle Noftsker is the contact person.


Learning Space and Playground Will Transform Youth RE
The RE Ministry of 2014-2015 thanks the congregation for its loving support and financial backing.  With the approval of the group, the RE Ministry will begin the outdoor learning-center and play-space transformation within the next few weeks. The space is located south from the Barbara Bowles room to the street sidewalk and from the driveway to the south entrance sidewalk.  This space will have a four foot ornamental black steel fence with a gate leading to the east end door of our building.  The grassy area and the tree will remain.The shrub will be removed and the iris and monarda relocated. The mulched area will be reworked with weed fabric and small, smooth gravel.  We envision adding a raised garden bed and a meditation corner to the mulched area. The addition of this safe and attractive outdoor area for our youth will only magnify our positive image within the community. Thank you for this generous and principle-oriented physical representation of our commitment to each other.  Additional thanks go to our members who have generously donated personal monies to this project.
If you would like to be involved in this spectacular transformation, please contact Kelly Dignan, Kathy Vaughn, or Shelley Gotchey.  There are many ways to participate.
Your 2014-2015 Youth RE Ministry was comprised of Michelle Noftsker, Josette Schaffer, Marcia Free, Kelly Dignan, Kathy Vaughn, and Shelley Gotchey.


Viewing and discussion of the documentary film, BIDDER70, June 28, 2015, at Foothills Unitarian Church, 1815 Yorktown Ave., Fort Collins.
Time: 5:30 pm for refreshments, 6:00 pm for Film, followed by discussion.  Hosted by Foothills Unitarian Church, Climate Justice and Sustainability Group.

BIDDER70 is the story of Tim DeChristopher, who in 2008, as a University of Utah economics student, derailed a widely protested Bush Administration oil and gas lease auction of Utah public lands.  DeChristopher bid on and won thousands of acres of Utah wildlands adjacent to Canyonlands and other National Parks, with no intention of paying for them or drilling.  He and others considered the sale to be illegal, a position later validated by the Secretary of the Interior.  But for his act of civil disobedience and conscience, he was arrested, tried, and served 2 years in prison for fraud.  His actions and trial sparked a groundswell of support for him and from his Unitarian Church community and helped ignite the climate justice movement.  In the course of his trial, DeChristopher decided to study to become a Unitarian Minister, and is currently in Seminary. He continues his work as a charismatic leader for climate justice activism thru the organization he founded,Peaceful Uprising.
Contacts: Misti Sharp: mistisharp@gmail.com and Rose Lew:rosemlew@gmail.com.


July 9-12, 2015- Big Horn Mountains Annual UU Camp Out, South Fork Campground for tents and campers (15 miles west of Buffalo, WY) and South Fork Lodge, across the highway from the campground for dining, lodging, guided horseback riding, fishing and store.Reservations at recreation.gov.  Search for South Fork Compground (or Lodge), Big Horn National Forest.  Follow reservation prompts.  More information:  Rev. Leslie Kee, UU Community of Casper: lkee@wyoming.com


If you have weekly announcements you'd like to submit,  be sure to email them to the Office Manager (office_manager@greeleyuuc.org) by 10am on the Tuesday of the week you'd like them to be in the announcements!