ISSUE 17                                                                                                                                                                                    NOVEMBER 2017
November Theme: Change
"Change is great," said one to the other. "You first."

This old joke summarizes how many of us feel about change. We want (or maybe just some part of us wants) to embrace change, knowing that it is a constant in our lives. And yet, we can't quite get there. "I'm all for it," we say. "But, you go ahead and go first."

There is no doubt that we are hardwired to feel threatened by change. Our forebears scanned the horizon and took any difference to be a threat to their own chance of surviving. Thus, our amygdala (our reptilian brain) is set to react - either by fleeing or fighting. Fortunately for us, other parts of our brain have evolved, gifting us with a wider range of options.

It is true that some of us may never be fond of change. Yet, we can learn how to better accept that it exists and we can deal with it from a more enlightened or evolved place.

On our ministry team, we are always asking the question how is our ministry equipping people to live better and more intentional lives. This month is no exception.

Eric kicks off our month with one of the most foundational questions in dealing with change: when to hold on and when to let go. In a religion that refers to itself as the "Living Tradition," there is an embedded mandate to be alive now. Tradition is important, to be sure, but so is being open to the reality that revelation is not sealed. We continue to learn and grow and our religion acknowledges that, as it tries to do the same.

On the second Sunday, as Keith's column unpacks, we embrace change by doing worship differently. I will offer spoken words, but music will be in the lead and we will have extended periods of music.

Bracketing Thanksgiving week will be Tom Andrews, who is the President of the UUSC, offering his reflection on how we might change the world and then our full-time intern, Kristen Psaki, who will invite us to consider changing our pasts, by reviewing and shifting the stories we tell about them.

Of course, these weekly reflections are modest indeed compared to the Big Hairy Audacious Goal the Board has put before us: "By May 1, 2018 we will have a viable plan to free JUC from the limits of our campus in order to live more fully into our mission." The pursuit of this plan will invite us and challenge us to look at ourselves anew. We have long said we want to be a convener for social justice issues. Increasingly, we have done that. Recently at the School Board Candidate Forum we experienced both success and the pinch of our space. Our sanctuary was full and our parking lot overflowed. The parking I witnessed within our lot, as well as on 32 nd and Gardenia, was, in a word, creative.

So, who will we be? How willing are we to live into long spoken dreams and claim a new reality that considers not just the present, but the next generation?

How fitting that our month on change follows the month on courage and precedes our month on hope! What a great time to be at JUC!
As a man I know I walk in the world with different concerns and different privileges than women, girls and all the great variety of folks who do not identify on the gender binary. And in the wake of the #metoo campaign that is now spreading on social media, I have joined with other men to say #wecommit. I have signed my name to this letter by my colleague, Rev. Rob Keithan, and I hope all the men of our church will make the same commitment. -

#WECOMMIT
A Declaration of Response and Responsibility from the Undersigned Men
To all the people--and especially the women and gender nonconforming people--who have publicly self-identified as experiencing sexual harassment or assault: We hear you. We believe you. We support you. And we know that there are countless others who choose not to or who cannot safely self-identify as having survived harm and violence. We understand that you should not have to share personal stories or re-experience trauma in order for men to take responsibility for our role in perpetuating sexual harassment and assault. And we know that we must do more than just acknowledge your experience with our words.
 
To all of you, known and unknown, we hereby commit ourselves to taking more responsibility-and more action-to end sexual harassment and assault .  Specifically:  
 
We commit to supporting survivors as you seek justice, accountability and healing in whatever ways you choose.  We commit to offering compassion and care without judgement if you choose to disclose harassment or assault to us. We will listen to what kind of support you want and do our best to provide it. We will advocate for public policies and programs that serve survivors. And knowing that women and gender nonconforming people from marginalized communities face emotional and physical violence at disproportionately higher rates, we will pay particular attention to understanding and supporting their needs.  
 
We commit to working with each other, and with other men, to recognize and take responsibility for any harm that we have caused.  We will urge the men in our lives to  consider how their actions might have contributed to rape culture. If we witness behavior that is or could lead to harassment or assault, we take action to stop it. If someone discloses that they have, or might have, engaged in sexual harassment or assault, we will encourage and support them in undertaking the work of apology, accountability, and restoration. In anything that we do, we will center the voices, needs and experiences of survivors.

We commit  to talking more with each other, and with other male-identified people, about how we can prevent sexual harassment and assault. We will proactively bring up these topics with each other, rather than only acting or reacting when you name them. We know that toxic masculinity doesn't just hurt women--it hurts everyone. But it is not your job to educate us or support us in unlearning toxic patterns. We must take responsibility for ourselves. And we must consider how our behaviors are impacted by-and reinforce-the personal and systemic abuse caused by homophobia, transphobia, racism, and other forms of oppression.  Finally, we commit to cultivating the knowledge, resources, and skills needed to fulfill these promises.  We commit to learning how to change our ideas and our behavior. And knowing that our commitments are only helpful to the extent that we are accountable to you--the women and others who have experienced sexual harassment or assault-we commit to seeking and receiving feedback. We know that we will make mistakes, and we commit to doing better.   
 
#WECOMMIT TO ACTION   CLICK HERE TO SIGN
When a child enters the Nursery, the JUC part of their faith development begins. Faith development, the development of an experience of having faith in something larger than oneself, begins with trust. Young children enter the Nursery with questions like, Will I be safe here? Are these people trustworthy? And parents wonder, Will my child be safe here? Will these people love and care for my child so I can attend to my own faith development? Will these people care for my child with the same values that underlie our family? So, the first Religious Education or Faith Development children take part in is in the Nursery.

Next, children move to the Preschool group where they learn the rituals of our faith. They learn that we take time to sit down together to celebrate our faith, we light a chalice and we greet one another with names and warmth, and we take time to joyfully learn together.

In the groups of Kindergarteners through fifth graders our children learn the stories of our faith. These teach them about Unitarian Universalism as well as giving them rich opportunities to reflect on their daily lives and the kinds of people they want to be. As the children grow in their mental abilities, they explore the stories in more metaphorical and subtle ways, but always we invite them to see themselves in the story and how it might equip them in their lives to live better and be their best selves. We draw from a wide range of sources for our stories. Some reflect our Unitarian Universalist history , some are biblical stories that equip our young people with powerful metaphors, parables, as well as giving them cultural literacy, so they understand references to Noah and the Good Samaritan, some come from other faith and cultural traditions and some are picture books, such as The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by by  Mark Pett  and  Gary Rubinstein .

Then, in the sixth grade our children explore Unitarian Universalism and compare it to other faith traditions. They develop a better understanding of our faith as well as respect for religious pluralism and everyone's right to practice the faith of their upbringing and choice.

Our seventh graders engage in the critical work of identity development in year long, Our Whole Lives comprehensive sexuality program. They learn about all aspects about sexuality as they ground themselves in a stronger sense of self, surrounded by peers who are practicing listening skills and respect for diversity within community.

Eighth graders take on their identity as a Unitarian Universalist as they enjoy rituals of community and do further exploration of what they personally believe and what experiences they have had that they might call religious or spiritual. This time throughout high school is all about the process of claiming Unitarian Universalism as their religion, their faith.

Our high school youth move into the part of Faith Development can last a lifetime. What do I experience that I consider holy, sacred and most valuable? Where and with whom do I belong? And how does Unitarian Universalism speak to who I am and who I want to be?

This early Faith Development work lays the foundation for living an authentic and connected life into adulthood.
Welcome Interns!


The Intern Ministerial Committee warmly welcomes our new ministerial interns-Kristen Psaki and Kim Mason. Kristen is a full-time, one-year intern who graduated from Union Theological Seminary. Kim, like our previous intern Emily Conger, comes to us as a two-year part-time intern while simultaneously taking classes on-line and in-person at Meadville Lombard Master of Divinity Program in Chicago. 

As a teaching congregation, JUC provides the opportunity for interns to practice and further develop their ministerial skills through giving sermons and prayers, designing services, helping with pastoral care, teaching classes, participating in and observing various committees, and learning about the operations of a large church from governance and budgeting to the nitty-gritty daily issues that arise. 

Our committee meets monthly and is tasked with providing them lay support, loving feedback, guidance and periodic formal evaluations as required by the UUA, and for Kim, by her seminary. We invite you to help them in their development as well. Please feel free to give them your own constructive feedback or speak with any of us to pass along your impressions, praise, suggestions, etc. (with your name attached).  We are honored to be a small part of Kristen's and Kim's journeys toward becoming UU ministers.

Kim Mason (intern), Brennen Flood, Linda Hartman, Tolani Finley, Meridee Cecil (chairperson), Kristen Psaki (intern), and Rex Nelson
In This Issue
The Online Auction is Open!


While you're there, check out the exciting live auction items and purchase your tickets for the big event on Saturday, November 11 at 6 p.m.

Tickets will also be available at the table in the north commons on Sunday. 

Join us for an evening of fun, food, libations, entertainment, fellowship, and of course fundraising! We'll have a photo booth, carnival games, and fabulous circus entertainment. Costumes always add to the fun. 
 
Children will have their own special auction! Food, activities, and entertainment just for them! 

We still need lots of helpers to make the night a success!
Please  sign up   to volunteer!

Contact: Carolyn Thomas
We Are Family
1st Wednesdays
3rd Fridays
5:30 p.m. Dinner
6:30 p.m. Worship

Join us twice per month for a fellowship dinner ($5 per person) followed by a lively and brief family-centered worship. We use ritual, song and story for a multi-age worship that fills the heart and grows the spirit. All ages are encouraged to attend. 

The November menu is Italian themed.
Planned Giving and Courage
It takes courage to make a plan for the last experience of our time on this earth. We know not how it will be, but only that it will be. Courage is a thing in us that calls us forward to take the next small step to overcome the block we have been resisting. Courage is to do the work to find our own truth and pass it on. Courage is knowing what is true without knowing what the outcome will be.

An estate plan can clarify your wants and wishes for your loved ones and JUC. It also gives them the gift of knowing what you want your end of life arrangements to be and what they need to do to make them so.

We invite you to remember JUC in your plans to pass your legacy on to future members of the JUC community. Visit the planned giving display in the north commons for relevant information.

  Contact JUC's planned giving coordinators:  Bud Meadows , Mike Kramer or Carol Wilsey .
Children's and Youth Choir: Wintertide
The Children's and Youth Choir  Wintertide  project begins Tuesday, November 7. All JUC kids grade K-8 are welcome to join us for a fun and festive early winter choir project! We will sing songs celebrating November and December holidays and will share music in the two morning Christmas Eve services.  

Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings, with Children's Choir (k-3rd grade) 6:30-7:10 p.m. and Radiance choir (4th-8th grade) 7:15-8 p.m.  

Contact: Sarah Billerbeck, Director of Music for Children and Youth
Green Task Force
The book "Climate of Hope" by Bloomberg and Pope emphasizes the role of cities in taking action to combat climate change.   Over the past three Sundays, our discussion group of ten thought about the ramifications of these ideas for Colorado and particularly for the cities of the western metro area.   Sparked by the question "What do I do?" we put our suggestions for taking action on a spectrum personal-local-city/county- regional-state-national.   In UU fashion, the conversation was lively and continuous.   Another session on a sustainability-related issue is being considered for the new year.

Join the Green Task Force Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m. for   Ethics, Principles, and Practice of Personal Sustainability... Beyond Net Zero. Presented by Steve Stevens, JUC Member.
JUC Community Knitters and Crocheters
If you are interested in crafting for a good cause, please consider joining JUC's Knitters and Crocheters. We meet on Thursdays at 1 p.m., generally in the Mills Building. We make afghans for the Family Tree Women in Crisis shelter. Our group started over 8 years ago at Recycled Lamb at 20th and Youngfield. When the store closed, we were delighted to find a home at JUC. Please feel free to bring your needles and hooks and help give a helping hand to those in need.

Contact: Fran Loft
JUC Scrip Program
Do you know that you can easily make big bucks for JUC by participating in our Scrip Program?! 

You can purchase retailer cards at the Scrip table in the commons on Sundays. For instance, purchase a King Soopers card, and when you use it to check out, JUC will receive 5% of what you spend! The card is reloadable, and check out when using it is quicker because you don't even have to sign your name! See Pat Emery and Jean Decker on Sunday.




14350 W 32nd Avenue
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-5282
www.jeffersonunitarian.org
The language of 'raising the sparks' speaks to an influential story rooted in Jewish mysticism. The Light at the beginning of creation shattered into countless glistening fragments that are housed within all beings. The work of life, then, becomes about nurturing one's own light fragment, or spark, and (re)connecting with the sparks of others. Recognizing the power of feeling connected to a larger movement, in this column each month and through the lens of our monthly theme, I will share a snapshot of how Unitarian Universalism in other parts of the country and world are raising the sparks.
 
Love resists. The magnificent and abundant well of Love at the center of all things is simply more powerful, creative, and resilient than fear and hate. Like many of us, leadership within the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) came together after last year's election with an increased sense of urgency and desire for focused and collaborative organizing. Guided by the aspiration to support existing and emerging resistance collectives across the United States, the UUA and UUSC launched a new campaign: Love Resists .
 
" Love Resists is a call for all people of conscience to join in solidarity with those communities directly affected by this administration's policies of fear and hate. By committing to this struggle, we can serve the growing resistance movement to advance more justice, equity and compassion in our communities and this nation," shared Taquiena Boston, director of multicultural growth and witness at the UUA.
 
The Love Resists campaign offers resources around expanding sanctuary for vulnerable communities, theologies of resistance, community organizing and more. During this year's November, we celebrate and wrestle with the theme of change. If you're feeling called - or tugged by your gut - to deepen, expand, or enter into for the first time this work of change, this work of resisting fear and hate, this work of Love and collaboration, know that you are not alone.
As a ministerial intern, I have an ever evolving set of duties and expectations. One of them is contributing to the newsletter. It was explained to me that each column has a fire-themed title and that I would be responsible for creating my own. As I mulled over ideas, I kept coming back to an idea from the field of Faith Development, that of Wrought Faith. The idea, developed by Joy Berry of the Fahs Collaborative at Meadville Lombard Theological School, is that over the course our lifetime, faith is Caught, Taught, Bought, Sought, and Wrought. It is a lifelong process of continuous development and refinement. In the Wrought stage we literally "work" our faith - the imagery here is that of the forge, of hot fire and cold water and a hammer that shapes. Our faith is shaped by the fire of life, of the hard places we find ourselves in, and the knocks that hone us down to our ultimate truth.  

As a religious educator and a ministerial intern, this imagery appeals to me. Seminary is most certainly a forge - as is this internship. I am being shaped by my learning and experiences and my faith is being honed. It is no mistake that being in seminary is also referred to as "in formation." However, I want to also note that being in formation is not just for seminarians or other religious leaders. Each of us is in formation. Formation happens throughout our lifetimes. We can look back over our lives and see that we have changed - whether intentional or otherwise. We can look back through the history of JUC and see how the congregation has changed - and even through our Unitarian Universalist history. The nature of the forge is to make change possible - to create something that is strong and useful.

Change is the nature of the world in which we exist and it is neither inherently good nor inherently bad. As we contemplate the theme of change this month, I hope you can find purpose in, and appreciation for, the fires that are shaping your life right now.
Parking at JUC
As you all know, parking is an issue here at JUC. I had planned to add Parking Attendant to our list of Sunday Shared Ministry positions, but have decided to try out the following for now:
  • The electronic sign will be scheduled between 10 and 11 am on Sundays to indicate that there is additional parking in the east lot at Maple Grove Park. (Just west of JUC.)
  • We are having a "JUC Overflow Parking" sign made for our particularly busy days when we have arranged to allow churchgoers to also park at Applewood Golf Course. (Just east of JUC.)
  • Please park at Maple Grove Park if you are able to make the walk over, in order to free up spots for our less able-bodied members and visitors. I have watched multiple cars circle the lot right as second service is starting and am not sure if they have been able to find other parking or if we are losing people.
  • If you are able, please park in the outer areas of the lot first, leaving closer spots for those who really need them. (And if you really need a closer spot, have no qualms about taking one! With my own disability, some days a walk is fine and some days it's not.)
  • Reach out to friends that live near you to see if you can carpool.
  • If you attend the 9 a.m. service please be mindful about leaving around 10:30 a.m. so that the 11 a.m. attendees who are arriving have spaces available.
Thanks so much for engaging in courtesy parking so that our elders and visitors feel especially welcomed! 
We Have Begun!

Your board has committed to our "big hairy audacious goal":
By May 1, 2018 we will have a viable plan to free JUC from  the limits of our campus in order to live more fully into our  mission.
At our fall congregational meeting, we shared information, data and dreams. Such as:
  • The current political and social climate calls us to live more fully into our mission and covenant
  • We want to be a convener for social justice and a center of cultural life in Jefferson County (for more then 300 people at a time).
  • Our membership is the highest it's ever been at 808 and we have had 1300 visits from newcomers this calendar year so far.
  • Our vibrant programming is limited by our space constraints, and
  • Unfortunately, we absolutely can NOT expand in our current space!
Then we reflected on three questions about this goal:
  • What feelings come up?
  • What seems right?
  • What seems risky?
The small group responses were shared with those who gathered, and we heard:
  • Feelings - enthusiasm, dread, excitement, fear, selfishness, commitment, grief
  • Right - expansion needed, live into our mission, can diversify, right time
  • Risky - uncertainty, taking on additional debt, fear of failure
Yes, we're continuing our noble journey of living into our values and in pursuit of our mission to nurture our spiritual community, grow Unitarian Universalism and transform the world outside out church walls.
 
If you were not able to attend the meeting on October 15, don't worry. You'll have many opportunities to participate in the movement to the realization of this big hairy audacious goal. We want to hear your thoughts. Let Rev. Wendy or a Board member know of your interest!
 
Keeping the Promise

JUC uses a year round pledge system in which each household is asked annually during their pledging month to renew. Pledging is a part of our regular work all year rather than just one big push, and so you will see some messages like mine over the course of the year.

When I first became a member of JUC in February of 2013, I had barely experienced this church and could hardly articulate how Unitarian Universalism had became my chosen faith. At the time, I was a student at MSU Denver studying non-profit administration and the idea of giving to organizations I believed in felt very natural. Now as a student, working part-time and racking up loans, I had a little extra money to give. I pledged anyway, starting out at $10 a month. While it went against everything my non-profit budgeting brain had been taught, I would pull extra money together and put it in an envelope marked "pledge" about two or three times a year. I know it wasn't the most ideal situation but I was fulfilling my promise. 

Even then, I didn't fully understand what promise I was making. And as the years went by I was able to increase my pledge little by little, partially due to circumstances and partially on the faith that the money would be there. I had a deep sense of volunteerism and felt what I couldn't give financially I could supplement with time. I joined committees and helped with rummage sales, welcoming, ushering and a few other tasks. All the things my volunteer coordinator brain knew were small, yet important. While these contributions felt sort of random at first, what I received in turn was a sense of community, a sense of belonging. 

Now that I'm fully invested and I am proud to say this is my religious home, I see how my financial contributions help carry forward the promises of suiting up and showing up into the future. It is much easier to take on the hard anti-oppression work, hosting families, growing spirituality folks of all ages, all the incredible things we do together; when the lights come on, the sanctuary is warm in the winter and cool(er) in the summer, when there is coffee on Sundays, and our wonderful staff and ministers are paid. I cannot fully express my gratitude for those who have fulfilled their promises before me so that could experience this church and this faith. 

Pledging for me has now taken on yet another meaning. The ever widening circle of this promise includes those who yet to be here, who have yet to answer the same call to love. Through my monthly pledge to JUC I promise to help provide the matches to keep the chalice lit, so that those who are yet to partner with us, those who are yet hear of our faith, and those who are yet to join our community can see our light.

I hope that when it is your turn to pledge that you will  think about what JUC means in your life and consider making an increase.
Let's Change the World

JUC is fortunate to have UUSC President and CEO Tom Andrews addressing the congregation on Sunday, November 19. Tom Andrews, a former Member of Congress from Maine and long-time activist, will talk about how religious communities may be key to major social change in the years ahead and what Unitarian Universalists in particular can do to make that so.

The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee has been advancing human rights throughout the world for 77 years. If you want to learn more about supporting communities affected by climate change, assisting families in immigration detention, helping LGBT persons seeking asylum, defying hate, or some of the other actions that UUSC is involved in, please join us as we hear an important message from a leader in social justice. The special plate on November 19  will be for UUSC and all of the important work it does.

In conjunction with Tom Andrews' sermon and the special plate, in November the UUSC Task Force will be promoting Guest at Your Table (GAYT), a long-held tradition in UU congregations. This year's theme , Small Change is Big Change , emphasizes the impact of our contributions, small or large, in creating positive change in the world. GAYT is for adults, families, and children. We hope that parents will pick up a collection box and participate with their children in filling it with coins and bills, and that they will have good discussions about how each of us can make positive change for other families whose lives are threatened by rights violations.  

The UUSC Task Force will have information available in the commons Sundays, November 12 and 19 about the important work that UUSC does. You can find out how you can be involved in UUSC through Guest at Your Table, and by giving generously to the special plate on November 19. Your involvement helps spread hope in the world!
JUC Craft Faire celebrates its 22nd Anniversary

The JUC Craft Faire is one of the longest running JUC traditions , celebrating 22 years this December 1 and 2 at JUC. The Craft Faire has always had three goals:
  • Building Community - the Craft Faire allows JUC's creative members to share that creativity with the rest of the JUC community. The Faire also involves close to 50 volunteers who also enjoy the festivities and celebrate how talented our members are. A special Children's Faire allows children to learn the pleasure of giving gifts that they have selected with the guidance of adult volunteers and then wrap them.  
  • Fundraising - 20% of all sales go to JUC for the general fund. Last year the Craft Farie contributed $6,000 to the fund for undesignated use, a cushion for other line items.
  • Support our crafters - vendors keep 80% of what they sell, rewarding both JUC and the Craft Faire.
A successful Craft Faire requires three things:
  • Crafters - deadline for crafters is Friday, November 3. Slots are filling up fast.
  • Volunteers - we need packers, greeters, bakers, and people to help serve food. Sign up on after services at JUC every Sunday.
  • Buyers - make up your Christmas list and bring it for unique and creative gifts, at all prices, for everyone in your family.
We have a great team working on the Craft Faire and expect this one to be bigger and better than ever!