Please consider taking the survey (see survey button) if you are interested in participating in Sabbath and Learning Opportunities for Church Leaders (rostered and lay leaders) in the mountains of Grand County, Colorado. We value your feedback through this survey on what would be most appealing personally, fruitful for your leadership and ministry, and how we might help create sabbath and continuing education opportunities. Please complete the survey and share this link with other colleagues who may benefit from such an opportunity. 

Recreation & Revelation has provided an annual winter continuing education retreat in Winter Park, Colorado for many decades. At this time, we are considering providing further opportunities throughout the year to gather with small groups in the mountains to rest, learn, and grow.

We take seriously both parts of our name: (1) Recreation is an important part of being in community with others and with creation, especially for opportunities of rest, learning, and being re-created by God as leaders; (2) Revelation is the intentional work to grow together with others as the people and leaders God has called us to be. We know that time, money, and other resources are limited for some, so we are looking for ways to provide these opportunities as affordable and life-giving opportunities.

Thank you for sharing your input,

Pastor Joel Pancoast

Reflection by Pastor Joel Pancoast

Lord of the Valley Lutheran Church

Granby, Colorado

Being less than 3 months into a new call at Lord of the Valley in Granby, I don't know people's routines and schedules here in Grand County, but since daylight ended early on Ash Wednesday I decided to offer time throughout the afternoon for people to drop in at the church and receive ashes with a prayer and blessing. A family with three young children came by, and as they came in, the mom "warned me" that their oldest (probably about 10 years old) had a lot of questions. So we sat in a circle in the front of the sanctuary, and his questions came tumbling out of his mouth, but of course the most important questions were about the significance of the day: 

Why do we put ashes on our heads?  

Why would God let us die? 

Having worked with children for over 30 years and having raised two of my own, my preference is usually not to dance around an issue with euphemisms, but since I wasn't familiar with the child or his family, I decided not to start by talking about death as the first thing I said to him. I asked him if he remembered the fires that spread through the valley almost 6 years ago. He thought for a moment, then his mom said, "We live on the Troublesome Ranch, where the East Troublesome Fire of 2020 started." As she said that, the boy's eyes lit up as he remembered the fire.  

What he said next reflects the wonder of children who are more comfortable with mystery than most "rational adults." He said, "We walk through the area that was burned all the time, and it's more beautiful than it was before the fire. I think that's what it's like to die. It's hard at first, but it's going to be more beautiful when we live again." Sermon. Done. This child understood Ash Wednesday more than he knew.  

I marked his forehead with an ash cross, followed by his younger brother and sister, mom and grandma. "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Receive these ashes as a sign and a reminder that you belong to Christ. God has created you and claimed you, so through any hardship - even death - you are a beautiful and beloved child of God."  

We are excited to share that Advent Lutheran Church in Westminster, CO, will serve as a host site for the National Faith + Climate Forum 2026 on Saturday, April 25, and this year promises to be the most inspiring yet.

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is the keynote speaker for the National Faith + Climate Forum. Dr. Johnson is the acclaimed author of What If We Get It Right?, co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab, and co-editor of All We Can Save.

Her visionary leadership at the intersection of climate action, justice, and community makes her an extraordinary voice for this moment.

With the theme “The Future We Choose: Faith in Action for a Thriving Tomorrow,” the 2026 Forum invites us to imagine and build the future our faith calls us to create. Through dynamic workshops, energizing conversations, and powerful storytelling, we will explore how communities of faith can lead with courage, compassion, and hope.

Whether you’ve joined us before or are stepping into this movement for the first time, your participation is vital. Together, we will learn, connect, and catalyze action toward a more sustainable and equitable world.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
• Time: 10:00 am - 3:30 pm MT
• Venue: 7979 Meade St., Westminster, CO, 80030

Registration is easy and free:

1. Register at https://nationalfaithandclimateforum.org
2. Fill out the required registration fields.
3. Select the “Attend in person at a designated host location” Ticket Type.
4. Then select your specific location.
5. Submit your registration and look out for a confirmation email with your registration details!

We hope you will join us for this transformative day.

Questions? Contact Pastor Alena Lamirato (pastoralena@yahoo.com)

• Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey (she/her), Synod Minister for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, bberry-bailey@rmselca.org
• Rev. Quirino Cornejo (he/him), Director for Evangelical Mission-South & Synod Minister for Multicultural Witness, qcornejo@rmselca.org
• Rev. Chris Davis (he/him), Director for Evangelical Mission-North and Synod Minister for Generosity, cdavis@rmselca.org
• Jon Johnson (he/him), Synod Minister for Finance and Human Resources, finance@rmselca.org

• Rev. Diana Johnson, Synod Minister for Rostered Ministry, dlinden-johnson@rmselca.org
• Kurt Rager, Synod Minister for Advocacy, New Mexico, krager@rmselca.org
• Deacon Mary Stoneback (she/her), Synod Minister for Strategic Communications and Events, mstoneback@rmselca.org
• Yvonne Wilken (she/her), Synod Minister for Adminstration, office@rmselca.org
• Pastor Sara Wirth (she/her), Synod Minister for Transitions and Healthy Ministries, swirth@rmselca.org