We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Sally McElroy, who died on Tuesday, September 16, following a long illness. Sally is the mother of Molly McElroy and mother-in-law of Marty Martell, beloved members of our congregation. A Service of Thanksgiving for Sally’s life will be held in the Chapel on Friday, September 26, at 1:30 p.m.

The Boulderthon road race is Sunday, 9/28. The church is a block west of the impact zone but access from North and West is affected. Broadway and Canyon are good options. Parking will be a challenge. If you are coming from the North on 119, we would suggest vehicles continue south on 157 to Arapahoe then head west to Broadway to access the church. You can view two impact maps online here.

Kathryn and Peter Oakes invite you to bring a wine you have recently discovered due to travel, dinner out, a friend’s recommendation or something you stumbled upon. Bring a bottle of wine and an appetizer to share (or one or the other if you are coming solo) along with the spirit of fellowship. Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided. All over 21 are invited. Newcomers welcome! Parking is on Spring Drive cul-de-sac. Walk up the shared driveway to gray house and come around the side of the house to the back patio.

The First Cong Mental Health Ministry with INMI (The Interfaith Network on Mental Illness) is sponsoring two events with Nationally Acclaimed Storyteller, Regi Carpenter. On Friday, 9/26 at 7:00 p.m. Regi will present “SNAP!”, the true story of her teenage mental illness and recovery. Admission is $15.00. Then on Saturday, 9/27, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Regi will lead a workshop entitled, “ReStorying Yourself.” Registration to the workshop is limited to 20 people. Both events are at Atonement Lutheran Church, Click here for tickets and more info.

If you haven’t yet donated your Food Drive grocery bag, today’s your last chance! Your shopping assists our neighbors through distributions by Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) and Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA). Contact your local coordinator to donate: Bob Matthias, SE Boulder; Roy McCutchen, North Boulder; Kristen Aldretti, Gunbarrel/Heatherwood; and Phil Braudaway-Bauman, Longmont/Niwot. Questions? Contact Don Reed, Drive Leader.

Explore the biblical roots of hospitality, learn the realities of immigration today, hear stories from immigrant neighbors, and discover ways to act with love and justice right now.

PART 1 – Now available to watch online here

God of the Journey: A Biblical Theology of Immigration

PART 2 – Now available to watch online here

Immigration 101: Understanding the Landscape

PART 3 – 9/28, 9:00 a.m. | Standish Room

Crossing Paths: Stories from Our Immigrant Neighbors

PART 4 – 10/5, 9:00 a.m. | Plymouth Hall

Love in the Neighborhood: Local Advocacy and Action

For more information click here.

Join the McMane Arts Ministry for two gatherings with Rev. Martie McMane, one for the congregation and the other extended to the wider Community. Greet Martie, our Senior Minister from 2000-2016, enjoy refreshments, and view her art exhibit inspired by Catherine of Siena’s words, “All the way to heaven is heaven.” Her work invites us to glimpse heaven in beauty, presence, and wonder, honoring what is and sharing the sacredness she sees in the world.

The 40th anniversary of Boulder's Crop Hunger Walk will take place on October 12 at Boulder Valley Universal Unitarian Friends Church in Lafayette, and we are searching for walkers and contributors. Register to walk and join our team or contribute to help Church World Service and Community Food Share. Both are lacking sufficient funding to help our undernourished friends in Boulder County. Please support our church youth who will be participating and available in the Link before and after church or coffee hour to help you register or answer questions. You may also contact Denise Cone with questions or assistance.

All women are invited to a transformative weekend retreat – a sacred journey from gratitude through grief to active hope. Following Joanna Macy’s Active Hope spiral, we’ll celebrate God’s creation, honor our pain for the world, discover new ways of seeing, and discern our call to respond. Through reflection, small groups, playful activities, community, and worship, discover how faith shapes us as agents of healing and hope.

What if the word “homosexual” was never meant to be in the Bible? Join us on Open & Affirming Sunday (ONA) for Lunch and A Movie to watch 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture. This feature documentary follows the story of tireless researchers who trace the origins of the anti-gay movement among Christians to a grave mistranslation of the Bible in 1946. The church will provide lunch. Invite your friends and family. Please RSVP here.

Exodus is the heartbeat of the Hebrew Bible, the defining story that shaped Israel’s identity and faith. As our Sunday sermons trace this wilderness road, a small group will gather to dive deeper into the story. Guided by video dialogues with biblical scholars and Yale Divinity School professors Joel Baden and John Collins, we’ll explore themes of liberation, covenant, and God’s presence on the journey. Come for as many of the eight weeks as your schedule allows. No biblical background required. Hearty snacks will be provided to sustain you over the dinner hour. Facilitators: Chris & Phil Braudaway-Bauman. Sign up, email Chris.

Join Director of Music Kajsa Teitelbaum every week to enjoy a midweek musical break in a peaceful setting. Each month will feature a seasonal theme, September's theme is Musical favorites. Bring your lunch, bring a friend, and and nourish your spirit through music and community. Lunch concerts will be around 30 minutes in length.

Join the Social Justice Coalition to hear Summer House Meeting outcomes and discuss our path forward. We'll review key insights, explore next steps, select projects for your participation or leadership, and connect with other members. Whether you attended summer meetings or not, your voice is vital to our collective response. Come ready to listen and contribute to meaningful action. Hearty snacks will

be served.

How is God calling our church to secure our future financially? This session kicks off the conversation we will have over the next 6-8 months exploring the feasibility of a capital campaign to strengthen our operating budget and sustain our shared ministry. Today’s topic: What does our financial future look like and how will this process work?

Are you new to First Congregational Church and hoping to get more connected? Join us after the 10:30 a.m. service on October 12 in the Heritage Room for coffee and conversation. You’ll have a chance to meet some of our ministers and leaders, ask questions, and learn about the many ways you can participate in our life together, including joining us

as a member.

At its meeting on Wednesday, September 17, the Church Council discerned that the Declaration by People of Faith in Support of the Lives and Rights of Immigrants is in keeping with our congregational Covenants. The Council therefore approved a request from the Racial Justice Ministry for our church to join other congregations and individuals across Colorado in signing the Declaration. You may read the letter here. If you are so moved, you are welcome to add your own signature.

Explore inspiring stories, fall worship series details, music, art exhibits, small groups, and upcoming events – discover faith, connection, and service for the road ahead in the latest issue of Conversation.

The updated Fall 2025 Small Groups Booklet is also available online (click here) and in the Narthex – see “New Groups This Fall.” Questions? Contact Susan Wilkinson or Linda Kowatch.

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