The west parking lot at First Cong will be closed from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18, due to a private event. Please make sure your car is not in the parking lot after 4:00 p.m. on those two days as they will be towed.

The FCC Fall Highway Cleanup will be on October 11 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. We will gather on Lefthand Canyon Dr. adjacent to the Greenbriar Inn to conduct this cleanup on Route 36 (FCC Adopt a Highway site). Covered toes and long pants are strongly recommended. Some work gloves provided. Orange vests and bags provided by CDOT. It's a beautiful area of the county and the cleanup is much-appreciated by bike riders passing by. Coffee and donuts will be provided by the Climate Action Team. Contact Allison Hamm to volunteer.

The Climate Action Team (CAT) is excited to announce that First Cong

is going solar! In the spring of 2023 CAT, with Jean Nelson as point person, began exploring joining a community solar farm being built by PIVOT Energy to go online in 2025. Through two years of behind the scenes work by Jean and the Board of Management, we are proud to announce the farm is going live. Join us for this forum with Matt Brenn from PIVOT Energy tells us how it works!

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.

With deep sadness, we share that our beloved friend and member, Rev. Gail McDougle, died on Saturday, October 8. Gail’s generous spirit and steadfast faith blessed our congregation and the wider United Church of Christ, where she served with wisdom and grace for many years. A Service of Thanksgiving for her life will be held soon; details will be shared as they become available. We hold her family in our prayers

with love.

Edvard Grieg and Scott Joplin are both musical innovators: Joplin revolutionized jazz by creating the immortal ragtime, while Grieg birthed a unique musical style, warm, edgy, and beautiful. Both composers gifted us with unique and memorable rhythms and melodies. Jessica Kressin, Chancel Choir Accompanist, and Marianna McLean invite you to an entertaining program mashup of music from these great composers. They perform together as Rhapsody Duo, a collaboration born years ago from their close friendship and frequent classical "jam" sesssions.

Deals for Meals Casino Night and Silent Auction – Meals on Wheels provides daily meals and personal interactions to our neighbors in need. You can take part in their fundraiser – and enjoy an evening of fun – at the Boulder Elks Lodge on 10/25/2025 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. See Meals on Wheels website for more information on the event, for tickets or to participate in the silent auction online. If you are interested in volunteering with MOW Boulder, check out that same website and click on "Volunteer Options"

Join us for an evening of games, food, and frightfully fun music. After games and pizza, a concert in the Sanctuary features scary organ music, haunting poetry, and spine-tingling visuals projected on the walls. Costumes are encouraged! Come dressed up and you might just get a treat (or two) at the door. Whether you’re a ghost, ghoul, or something less spooky, all are welcome to this family-friendly Halloween celebration. Contact Lianna or Kajsa.

So many of you came to the Ministry of Last Things (MLT) forums in August to give “The Gift of Planning” to your loved ones. Did you follow through? Do you need more help (or more of a “nudge)? MLT invites you to show us what you have done, share ideas of what you could do, help you get through the hard parts, answer questions, and more. Bring your notebooks and join us in Plymouth Hall to encourage one another to complete this project.

Hear from Martie as she shares the creative journey, inspirations, and spiritual insights that shaped her art in the current exhibit, “All the Way to Heaven is Heaven.” This is a chance to go deeper into the meaning and stories behind several of her art works.

In support of the Boulder Nablus Sister City Project, the Racial Justice Ministry is hosting a free screening of the documentary film A State of Passion. British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah spent 43 days under Gaza’s bombardment, treating the wounded without rest. Facing horrific injuries, targeted hospitals, and orphaned children, his work became a symbol of resistance. This film explores his 6th trip, his family’s fears, and the shared passion for Palestine that fuels his humanitarian mission.

Join us after the 10:30 a.m. worship service for the Fall Congregational Meeting. Come participate in our long and proud tradition of congregational government. Agenda items include a review of the 2026 Target Budget and the future use of the Carriage House. Everyone is welcome, and church members, in particular, are urged to attend. Childcare is available.

Sunday after Sunday through the summer and fall, Scott and Sue Allman have shared the floral bounty of their garden to make our worship more beautiful. Week after week, we’ve delighted in this bright harvest of plenty – pink, red, yellow, and green – a living offering of color and care. We’re grateful for their gifts, given so generously to the glory of God and the joy of the congregation.

Last Sunday after worship, we met to hear the outcomes of our Summer House Meetings and discuss our path forward. We reviewed key insights and explored next steps. As we continue to explore avenues of meaningful action, you can view the notes of collective concerns and insights here.

If you would like to join our Social Justice Coalition and be updated on opportunities to advocate for justice, click here to view the most Collective Action Email from 10/15/25. You can also lick here to sign-up start receiving our Collective Action Email.

Last weekend, the Crop Hunger Walk celebrated its 40th anniversary with 103 people from 18 teams gathering to raise $30,103.52. We had seven walkers and our church, championed by our youth participant Matilda Austin, collected $3,386! Thank you! The Boulder County Crop Hunger Walk will continue to collect contributions through the end of 2025 to try to reach its fundraising goal of 50K. Donate online here, or in the church office. Your financial support truly makes a difference in the fight against hunger.

You can still 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 – Watch online here

God of the Journey: A Biblical Theology of Immigration

PART 2 – Watch online here

Immigration 101: Understanding the Landscape

PART 3 – Read the story here.

Crossing Paths: Stories from Our Immigrant Neighbors

PART 4 – View the slides here.

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