During this month, we’ll be exploring the idea of covenant, which is central to our faith as Unitarian Universalists - and how it helps us create communities that hold our values. A covenant is an agreement we’ve made as a community about how to be together. We have at least 3 now at JUC - the church covenant, which we read some Sundays, stating our broader intentions for the congregation; the covenant of respectful relationships, which defines more precisely how we want to interact with each other; and the 8th principle, which defines our intention and promise to be an anti-racist, anti-oppressive congregation.

Covenants are particularly important to UUs because we do not have a particular creed that is required for membership. We can believe a whole host of things - as long as we act in accordance with the agreements of our community. But the best thing about covenant is that it allows us to realize when we (or others) have failed to live into our values, to make amends, to learn, and to RETURN to community. Because if we take our Universalist theology seriously, then no one is irredeemable. No one is disposable. And so September’s theme is covenant: the practice of staying and restoring. Because the agreement is only part of the story.

In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about how I’ve learned to inhabit the in-between spaces of identity - in race, class, gender, sexual orientation. Hybridity is my jam. But I want to share a secret with you: we’re all constantly in the in-betweens. We, individually and collectively, are ALWAYS in a state of moving, becoming, changing, from one thing to another. As we know from quantum physics, stasis is an illusion. Of course, this only becomes noticeable - and somewhat anxiety-inducing- in communities - when we don’t know which points we’re in between. That is, when we’ve left a known reality and are heading for one we can’t yet define. We don’t know, after all, what fresh, hateful nonsense this administration will come out with next. And in the case of our anti-oppression work, we’re working toward building a world where everyone is valued, without ever experiencing that world ourselves. And yes, friends - that can be worrying.

The good news is that we have covenant to guide us. We don’t have to know everything that’s before us. We don’t have to navigate all of the choices perfectly. Which is good, because we won’t. But we can keep living into our values. We can make the choices we think best at the time. We can course-correct when necessary, guided by our covenants. And having this flexibility and this faith in one another? It can turn the in-betweens from scary, threatening places into places full of potential, creativity, and excitement!

Coming up, there will be plenty of opportunities to do just that - learning and doing and connecting the best way we know how. At the end of this month, we’ll launch our annual Social Justice challenge. You’ll have the opportunity to plug in with our justice task forces to live our UU values in the world. Our goal this year is 2000 hours, by at least 250 people, and there will be plenty to explore!

Also, in the coming months, we’ll be asking you to fill out a questionnaire on anti-racism. This is not meant for judgment, but rather as a gauge of where we are as a congregation in our anti-oppression work, which we can compare with similar surveys at a later point in time, to be able to understand our growth in this area and determine the next good steps in our journey.

And in the next calendar year, we’ll be challenging you to join a racial justice cohort group. These groups won’t replace Going Deeper groups, which you are encouraged to join in order to create the intimate relationships that allow for vulnerability and deep discussion of our monthly themes. But I ask you additionally to consider an anti-racism cohort. These will be small groups who learn the tools of anti-racism and anti-oppression together, who have space to form longer-term relationships and trust, and who then go into the wider community to do the work together. Whether you have been doing this work for decades or it is brand new to you, there will be space for you in these groups, where we will help each other do the important and exciting work of finding our next steps. Watch this space.

Melissa Colegrove

The theme of “As Unitarian Universalists, we…” brings up a lot for me, as a Trustee, mother, wife, and congregant. At this phase of my spiritual growth, what has been most powerful for me is my connection to self, my becoming, and our collective efforts, which brought three of our principles to mind: 

As a Unitarian Universalist, I work to uphold the inherent worth and dignity of all people by generating authentic connection with everyone with an open heart. For me, this looks like befriending strangers wherever I go. It feels real for me in the connections I have made with the people at my local grocery store, where I know people by name and snippets of what’s going on in their personal lives. 

As a Unitarian Universalist, I work to honor how difficult the journey of elevating justice, equity, and compassion in my human relationships is because it begins with developing a greater awareness of our own being in time and space. For me, I lean into grace and self-compassion for the unlearning that must happen alongside a willingness to embrace new perspectives and understandings from others. 

As a Unitarian Universalist, I work to embrace the challenges of envisioning a world community of peace, liberty, and justice for all when all I hear and see in our current political climate makes me want to escape into an alternative reality.  I know that it will take all of us promoting our values, our principles, and our vision to combat the oppressive regime we see unfolding. 

I feel a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation that I have found a community of people who also desire to see these things come to fruition, in large and small ways. I cherish the individual conversations we strike up together in the commons or on the patio after services. I am continually humbled by my service on this Board, as it allowed me to shine my light while also providing me honest reflections of my own areas of growth. Having been a member for almost 9 years, one thing does feel true for this community, that as Unitarian Universalists, we engage in a faith that encourages us to open ourselves up to others in the pursuit of our own search for truth and meaning. For that I am forever grateful.

Hey! Compost!

I hope you all had fun at the JUC picnic a couple of weeks ago. I spent a good bit of my time maniacally guarding the waste receptacles, so it occurred to me that an(other) article on composting is in order. When you throw it away in the wrong bin, we are paying our saintly caretaker, Ric, to go through it piece by piece and separate properly. He has better things to do! We have three waste streams at JUC:

• Compost - anything that was alive (all food scraps) and all of our servingware (cups, flatware plates, bowls), Remove fruit and veggie stickers! Those are leading contaminants.
• Recycling - cans, bottles, cardboard, paperboard, paper, plastic containers (not plastic film). Our compostable items don't belong in recycling.
• Landfill - everything else.

Please check before you toss and think about where your item should go. Don't hesitate to ask for help! It's really yucky to have to pick through our bins, so please try to dispose of your items properly. Handy displays and pictures on our bins will help you.

Personal Compost: please don't bring it to church! It seems some of you are bringing your personal compost and putting it in our stream. If you want to compost at JUC, please sign up for the community drop off with the company that handles out compost. Our bins are not for personal use. Sign up here: Compost Colorado | Customer Registration. There might even be a more convenient location for you find out here!

Kindling is essential to start a proper fire. We use it as a bridge to send flame from the ignition source to heat the larger elements, thereby growing a sustainable flame. We need that spark. In Faith Exploration, we ignite flames every time we gather together. I can attest that our children, youth, and lifelong learners continually light the spark that keeps this congregation going. Again and again, we kindle one flame. Again and again, we come back. 

I hold the theme of covenant close to my heart—this practice of returning and restoring. As we embrace this season of school starting, new beginnings, changes in leadership, and name changes, we are called to come back through covenant. To return to our agreements that we have made with each other. 

I have come back again and again to this church over the course of eight years, changing titles and responsibilities. From playing piano for the choir, assisting Sarah in the Children’s Choir, making and creating music with the “Quarentet,” to directing the children’s choir, becoming the Coordinator of Faith Exploration, to becoming the Director of Faith Exploration, and always returning. 

Why do I return in covenant with this church? I return to this church because it is a beloved community. I witness how you hold and are held by each other. I hear the thoughtfulness that goes into each joy and sorrow said by our children and youth. I know that we are a fortress for those who feel unseen, othered, and discounted. We return in covenant because we will continue to hold all our people in love. 

So, we start this journey kindling the flame and embracing the sparks of our children, youth, and lifelong learners. I am eager to help lead this journey with all of our excellent teachers, mentors, and youth. As we live into our tradition, let us return in covenant, together.

Jeffco Interfaith Partners (JIP) Update

Cathy and Bruce Martin

Hello JUC,

JIP is still active and going strong with our support of Metro Denver Habitat for Humanity (MD H4H). Our financial support was further enhanced after the annual Breakfast for Humanity in late April (over in Glendale). We will be able to significantly help out with financing the new affordable housing build sites at 52nd and Carr in Arvada. Our usual summer congregational build projects for 2025 have been delayed. Work on our prior supported High Street homes has been wrapped up. But the new work site in Arvada has been delayed by both the necessary infrastructure installations and by the cuts to Americorp programs. MD H4H relies on Americorp staffing to supplement their paid staff and core volunteer program and to provide additional supervisory staff at construction sites. The federal cuts to the Americorp program have resulted in a significant decrease in current MD H4H staffing available. We will be looking to provide a congregational workday on the new habitat site in Arvada either this fall or in the spring. Stay tuned…

For those individuals who wish to get out on a habitat work site in the meantime feel free to go to the MD H4H website and volunteer for construction projects, home remodels, production shop (painting) shifts or helping to staff a Restore facility locally. Most of the current new construction projects are over on the east side of Denver. And since school has started up again that can only mean that JIP’s biggest fundraiser of the year is just one flip of the calendar away. That’s right, the Arvada and Lakewood pumpkin patches are in October. If you wish to mark your calendars for the big unloading days the pumpkins will arrive in Lakewood on Friday, October 3 and Sunday, October 12. And the Arvada pumpkin truck unloading will occur on Friday, October 10. Pumpkin patch shift work will be available though Friday, October 31. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.

Donations at the Abundant Harvest Table support the JUC Homeless Ministries

Laurie Scholl and Gilla Lachnitt

For many years the Food & Nourishment Task Force has organized the Abundant Harvest Table, open every Sunday after services. We offer soups, baked goods and other snacks to the congregation. All goodwill donations that we receive at the Table completely finance our homeless ministry. These donations pay for the food our cook teams need to prepare 60 - 70 healthful, hearty meals 6 times a month for Mission Arvada, the homeless day shelter run by the Rising Church. We also help the Mission financially to run the shelter as best we can when they have emergencies, such as when their dishwasher broke. 

We support the First Methodist Church of Golden’s "Home in Golden Safe Parking" UMC Recovery Works which allows homeless folks living in their cars using their parking lot. They provide services and meals.  

We have been partnering with Earthlinks of Denver for many years, coordinating the Plant & Goodie Sale on Mother's Day weekend and donating all the funds we raised, this year $6,000, to help their budget. Some funds are transferred as well to help their homeless clients. 

The support for these three organizations is possible ONLY because good folks help to fill and staff the Sunday Table, cook and serve meals for Mission Arvada, and because you donate generously when you enjoy the food. No extra money comes from the regular church budget. 

We hope that with the support of our many volunteers and your generous donations we continue to be reliable partners for these three very deserving groups. 

Immigrant Support Team Update

Gretchen May

Remember January 2025, only eight months ago this week? Our worst fears were realized. The most vulnerable members of our community: trans people, immigrants regardless of status, people who dared to criticize, were all immediately threatened. June Lecrone and I felt very strongly that this was a time for JUC to reach out to our broader community to provide support for those threatened, when needed and where we as a faith community could make a difference. As co-chairs of the UU Service Committee task force, we could build on the Service Committee's dedication to protecting vulnerable people wherever their rights are threatened. June and I worked with Rev. Jen to form the UUSC Committee to Support the Vulnerable, also known as the Immigrant Support Team. Our purpose is to participate in support actions and to engage the broader JUC community. We are working with the the Colorado Immigrant Protection Teams (CO IPT) to connect to trainings, direct actions, and other opportunities. Whether you can easily leave your home or not, there is an opportunity to provide support. For example:

• Participation in Court Watch and Court Accompaniment provides vital support and confidence to individual immigrants.
• Writing to an individual detainee let's them know they are not forgotten and can be done from home.
• Call or write your elected representatives at every level. The policy landscape is constantly shifting. Most immediate, as many as 6 new detention centers are planned in Colorado alone.
• Distribute KYR (know your rights) information to local businesses. Look for a workshop in early September.
• Participate in trainings and make sure you know your rights when ICE shows up. 
• Join rallies, protests, and vigils to let the community and our leaders know that we care about what is going on and we want a change.
• Specifically, join the weekly vigil outside the GEO detention center in Aurora to demand the release of all the detainees. 

These are just some of the actions that we have taken in the last few months. As examples, two members of the Immigrant Support Team have written about their experience below. Paris Thomas has been participating in court watch for the last 10 weeks. Margie Robinson is connecting people with the detainee pen pal program and has begun correspondence with a detainee. For more information and to get involved, contact Gretchen May or June Lecrone.

Court Watch: “Boring” Can Be a Good Thing

Paris Thomas

My first day of Court Watch began just before noon on Tuesday, June 17. I arrived in downtown Cowtown, Colorado and met two women who appeared to be court watchers. I carefully approached them and introduced myself as being a fellow court watcher from Jefferson Unitarian Church. They smiled cordially and handed me some Know Your Legal Rights flyers to hand out to immigrants on the public sidewalk before they entered the plaza (handing out flyers on federal property is prohibited). Before we could get to know more about each other, the group of court watchers assigned to be inside the courtrooms emerged from the building, and the expression on their faces told me that something was wrong. It was immediately known from the group lead that four ICE agents in plain clothes had assaulted 33-year-old Cesar Landazuri-Marmolejo, his wife, and their young son. Cesar was detained and taken into custody by ICE. His wife had been pushed down onto the floor.  Both she and her son were crying. I introduced myself to the Court Watch Lead, Patty.  She said, “You’re just in time for the s*** show.” She took care to comfort Cesar’s wife and son, and to escort them home.

Reporters from Colorado Public Radio were there, and the channel 9 news staff arrived soon after. Senator Hickenlooper’s office was contacted. The Court Watch volunteers were not allowed back in until much later. I remained outside observing and handing out flyers to arriving immigrants. The Denver Court Watch began on Thursday, May 29.  A total of 10 known detentions have occurred since then. Cesar was the last known detention in the Denver US courtroom. I would describe the eight weeks that have followed as somewhat “boring,” but positive and rewarding. As Court Watchers, our presence has made a difference that I have witnessed in the smiles and words of appreciation of immigrant men, women, and children as they leave the courthouse. Court Watchers give families moral and logistical support, and bear witness to ensure that their legal rights are protected. As Dennis Merritt Jones has written “…if we are willing to look deeply enough into one another, getting past all of our judgements and fears about our differences, we are able to see what we have in common. In short, we’ll remember to remember there is only One of us here.”

Cartas de Paz Pen Pal Program

Margie Robinson

Would you like a way to support an immigrant in detention? Being detained is a very frightening and isolating experience. Cartas de Paz is a volunteer run program that matches concerned people like you with a person in detention through a pen pal program. By being a pen pal, you can offer hope and support to someone who feels alone and forgotten.  If you would like to know more about the program, watch a 30 minute training video here, then follow their instructions to sign up for a pen pal. I have found that you do not need to write in Spanish. You may be matched with an English speaking detainee. Or, you can use Google Translate to write in English, which is then automatically translated to Spanish. Each pen pal is assigned a number, and you send your letter to him/her using their name and that number to the address given in the training. Your pen pal writes back to you at a Casa de Paz address using the stamped addressed envelope which you have provided. Volunteers will then scan the letter sent by your pen pal, save it in pdf format, and email the pdf file to you. The pen pal will not have access to your address. If you do receive a pen pal, it is very important to correspond consistently. This commitment is explained in the training video. For more information, use the link above or email Margie Robinson