This Sunday at Common Flame (9 & 11 am): Social Justice & Guatemala Celebration! | Rev. Jen Simon

As we celebrate our justice work and our relationship with the Maya Achi of Guatemala, how does Common Flame's justice work fit with the direction of our larger faith as it radically reimagines its future?

BondFire Tonight! Pasta Dinner provided at 5:30 pm. Programming at 6:30 pm: Vespers Mid-week worship & Universalist History with Rev. Jen (click to sign up).

Next week: Dia de los Muertos Potluck! And a presentation by Jan Ashford: "How to do difficult things, and why you should!"

Featured events you don't want to miss!

Guatemala Fiesta

Sunday, October 25 | 12:30 - 2:30 pm | Stay after the 11 am service to celebrate our scholarship program, the amazing scholarship students, and the donors who make it possible. Join us for Guatemalan food, fun, music, and dancing. Of course there will be tamales!

Wildwood Movie Field Trip

Sunday, October 25 | 1 pm | Harkins Theater, Olde Town Arvada | Join Laura & friends for a showing of the new movie Wildwood this Sunday. Please sign up by Friday, October 23! Note: the Wildwood book club originally scheduled for tonight is cancelled.

Tour of the Election Center

Saturday, October 31 | 11 am - 12:30 pm | 3500 Illinois Street, Suite 1100 | We need 20 sign ups for the private tour! Join us for a tour at the Laramie Building on the Jefferson County campus. If you can’t make the private tour, sign up for a public tour here! 

Litany of Names 2026

Sunday, November 1 | 9 am & 11 am | If you would like to have a loved one's name read during our annual Litany of Names service, please fill out the form below. Deadline: this Sunday, October 25 at midnight.

New Here

Sunday, November 1 | 12:30 pm | Discover the welcoming spirit of Common Flame! This class helps you understand the heart & soul of our community. New Here is required for becoming a member. Childcare is available during this class.

Golden Circle Luncheon

Thursday, November 5 | 11 am - 1 pm | Common Flame members 70 or better are invited to enjoy a meal, fun & great conversation! A $5 donation is requested.

Common Care Brunch

Saturday, November 7 | 10 am - 12 pm | Join your Common Cares teams for a brunch to celebrate what we've accomplished over the past year, learn more about what the team offers, and have a fabulous brunch and a fun time! 

Fall Congregational Meeting

Sunday, November 8 | 12:30 pm | Agenda to include:

• Interim process - Rev. Wendy Retirement
• Revised Covenant of Respectful Relationships
• Capital Campaign

There will be time for Q&A too!

2026 Holiday Market Vendor Application!

Deadline: Tuesday, November 10 | Calling all artists, crafters & creators: apply to be a vendor for our 30th annual Holiday Market! (December 4 & 5, 2026).

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Friday, November 20 | 6 pm - 8 pm | Help us honor our trans siblings who have died in the past year. We'll read names of those who are no longer with us (most of whom were victims of transphobic violence) & provide space for grief, reflection & hope. 

One-Service Sundays This Winter

Sunday, November 29 & Sunday, December 27 | 10 am | Save the dates! On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and the Sunday after Christmas, we will only hold one worship service at Common Flame at 10 am. Happy holidays!

Deepen in relationship with people of all ages.

Parent's Group

Wednesday, November 11 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm | Take the night off from cooking! Bring the whole family & eat together at BondFire, then enjoy parent-only time getting re-connected with familiar church friends & meeting new ones! Childcare is provided. 

Community Board Game Night & Potluck

Friday, November 13 | 5 - 8 pm | All are welcome to the Community Game Night and Potluck! Bring your favorite board games, share your favorite card games, and bring a dish to share! See you there!

Annual Thanksgiving Potluck

Thursday, November 26 | 4 - 7 pm | Hosts will bring the turkey, and everyone else is invited to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Bring a serving spoon if you can and label any common allergens. All are welcome to share in good food and community!

Ballot & Candidate Forum Recordings!

Click the links below to watch:

• Ballot Issues Explained
• Jeffco Commissioners Candidate Forum
• Jeffco Office Candidates’ Brief Statements (at 39:00)
• Education Focused Ballot Issues

Abundant Harvest Table

Sundays at 9 & 11 am | Volunteer at the harvest table on in October for our Social Justice Challenge! To make room for the Fiesta this Sunday, the Abundant Harvest table will close at 10:30 am, prior to the second service. Donations benefit our homeless ministries.

Altar for Victims of ICE: We do not Forget Them!

Anytime this October | Visit the altar in the chapel hallway to honor 63 people who have died at the hands of ICE in 2025-26. Read their names on the wall, write a note and/or add a candle to let their families know we are holding them.

Dancing with Deadpool: The 27-year-long Colorado River Crisis

Thursday, October 22 | 7 - 9:30 pm | The CO River provides water for 40 million people. Flows are down dramatically & big reservoirs are headed for ‘deadpool.' What does this mean? Presenter Brad Udall is a Colorado River expert at CSU.

Queer Social Justice Group

Monday, October 26 | 6:30 - 8 pm | We're a group of queer people & allies committed to raising awareness of issues that affect the queer community & fostering communication between queer folks and our allies. We then turn that awareness into action. Join us for a meeting!

Save the Farm, Save the Future!

Friday, October 30 | 6:30 - 8:30 pm | Green Task Force | Dinner & film screening of “Save the Farm, Save the Future." Farms are disappearing. Solar energy is rising. Could combining the two help save farmers & the planet? Jordan Martin leads the discussion; she works on agrivoltaics at NREL, which is the solution proposed in the film. We’re making soup and bread so please sign up!

Family Promise Hosting!

November 15 - 22 | Sign up & log your Social Justice Challenge hours now! We still need Drivers (pickup & drop off families) and Overnight Hosts (answer questions, provide contact with Family Promise staff or emergency services if needed). Contact Pam Moser with questions!

Faithful Resistance: take action, get resources, podcast episodes & more. Visit our website.

Next Common Flame CAN Meeting: Sunday, October 25 | 4 pm | online | We'll discuss the election & continue work on Vote Your UU Values.

UUSC Support for the Vulnerable: support our immigrant neighbors! Contact Gretchen May for info about meetings & projects.

Immigration Fact Sheet: New fact sheet every two weeks! Not all have time to volunteer, but we can all be informed about what is happening in our community. Check out this fact sheet and test your knowledge!

2026 'Vote Your UU Values' Ballot Guide: Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 3! Our Justice Teams thoughtfully researched & compiled a guide to help you better understand the measures on your ballot this year. View the digital ballot guide here.

Answer the question of what it means to be UU.

Charla

Sunday, October 25 | 3 - 4:30 pm | Come enjoy conversational Spanish practice while exploring the rich traditions & culture of the Spanish-speaking world. Beginners welcome. Come for the language, stay for the friendship! Contact: Ruth Hund

Great Books Discussion

Monday, October 26 | We read from the great books of our civilization & discuss them with others, reaching a fuller understanding of these works. This week's selection is “Anna Karenina” (Pages 353-669; Parts 4-6) by Leo Tolstoy. Contact: Carol & Clint Flynn

Golden Satsang

Sunday, November 1 | 1 - 3 pm | We read & study spiritual writers while supporting each other’s efforts to lead balanced, loving lives. Our current book study is The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer. Contact: Margie Robinson

Being an Elder

Thursday, November 12 | 10 - 11:45 am | Being an Elder is a support group for members and friends 70+ and other older adults who feel called to join. We help each other deal with the challenges of life as we age, and we seek to grow into Elders. Contacts: Barry Bloom & Betty Lynn Ferguson

Braver Conversations

Sunday, November 15 | 12:30 pm - 2 pm | Deepen your spiritual practice and peacemaking: through practicing Nonviolent Communication together, we will nurture heart-to-heart connection, speaking your truth with compassion, and fostering belonging across differences. Contact: Holly Storm

Disability & Neurodivergence Group

Monday, November 16 | 6 - 7:30 pm | online: meeting link | Join our online disability identity group! If you are a person with a disability and/or you identify as neurodivergent, please join us monthly for discussion, support, and joy! Contact: Jen Simon

Faith Exploration Class Registration is now open!

Register your youth and children now for our 2026-27 Faith Exploration classes. There are opportunities for infants all the way up to 12th grade. Classes begin Sunday, September 13, 2026.

Click on each box to explore group events.

Common Care: If you need to speak with a minister, email cares@commonflameuu.org or call 720-CHURCH9 (720-248-7249). Learn more here.

Scams and Spam: Please ignore any "church" emails asking for information, money or gift cards. If you ever have a question about an email, call Carol at 303-279-5282 x 708.

Publicity notice: Photos and videos taken at church events may be posted on our website and social media channels. Contact ray@commonflameuu.org with concerns and questions.

IGNITE November Deadline:

Monday, November 23 | 11 am | Submit an article by replying to this email, or emailing Ray Grosser.

Overflow Parking at Maple Grove Park: Please don't block our fire lanes & dumpsters! You can park at Maple Grove Park (about a half-block west) when our lot is full.

Jeffco Canvassing with Together Colorado

Saturday, October 24 | 9 am - 12:30 pm | 100 Carr St., Lakewood | Join Together Colorado Jeffco Chapter to help get out the vote. No canvass experience necessary. Snacks & materials will be waiting for you at the canvass site!

Privacy in the AI Age

Sunday, October 25 | 4 pm | Jefferson Humanists | Ryan serves as a part-time CTO for early-stage startups. He'll present on how AI brings new advances in privacy invasion & accelerates existing problems. He authored the 2022 book "Intelligent Workloads at the Edge." At 4 pm, we offer snacks, beverages & conversation; the program will run from 4:30 to 5:30.

Colorado Environmental Film Festival Free Film Screening

Tuesday, October 27 | 1 - 3 pm | Come to the Windy Saddle Room at the Golden Community Center for a free viewing of "Half Life of Memory: America's Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory". This is a film about the Rocky Flats Nuclear Facility and the toxic legacy left behind. 55 minutes with a post film discussion.

Filling Out Your Ballot?

Ballots have arrived in the mail! Check out Golden United's nonpartisan election information website for a valuable resource as you're looking through & filling out your ballot.

Knock Your Block!

Add your address to the sign-up below & Together Colorado will give you a list of neighbors who you can visit to encourage them to vote! More information at Together Colorado’s Civic Engagement webpage.