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Weekly E-News
April 3, 2026
Love courageously. Inspire spiritual growth. Work for justice.
Guiding Theme for April:
"Embracing Possibility"
| | "When Hope Refuses to Die: Easter Sunday for Unitarian Universalists" | |
Join us for an Easter Sunday service that celebrates a fierce and relentless hope — a hope that survives and flourishes even in the shadow of death. Together, we will reflect on the story of the empty tomb on Easter morning and ask: What happens next? Where do we carry the good news of hope and love?
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Sunday Morning Worship
April 5, 2026, 10:00am
Worship Leader:
Rev. Jamie Boyce
Worship Associate:
Sheryl Guy
Chalice Lighter:
Erika Sueker
Music Ministry:
Kathy Kolbe and the Diversitones
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Next Week: "We All Get Free Together: A Promise of Our Faith" led by Rev. Jamie Boyce and Beth Connors
Sunday, April 12, at 10am MDT
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UUFD Summer Series: Call for Proposals!
This year, our theme is inspired by our exciting vision of building a new Fellowship Hall. We hope you will find stimulation from our beloved hymn “Building a New Way” (1017) and our tradition of “My Story” when we share personally from our lives. What have you done to create a new "possibility space" in your life? What worked to help you "build a new way" of being in the world? How did you find new ways to "feed your every need"? How can our deepest "cry" create possibility for "peace and freedom" in this world? You can fill out our proposal form.
If you have an idea or are simply curious to find out more, please reach out to Mary Ocken (blueboathome@yahoo.com) or Sheryl Guy (ptepte@hotmail.com) OR fill out our proposal form HERE.
Thank you for sharing your story with us this summer!
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Spring Landscape Cleanup
The City of Durango Spring Cleanup is April 20 for our neighborhood. We will trim shrubs, weed, and generally spruce up the landscape. Many hands make the task easy and fun. If you are available on Saturday, April 18, at 9AM to help out, contact Aline at aschwob@msn.com or Carroll at cgroeg@gmail.com. No experience necessary. Bring tools if you have them as well as gloves, hat, etc. We will have extras.
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Board Meeting Date Changes for April
The BoT Deep Chair meeting will now be held on April 14 at 6pm, and the Monthly BoT meeting will be April 21 at 6pm.
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COVID hasn't left, folks! UUFD COVID Reporting
Help protect your fellow UUs! If you have been in contact with others at a UUFD event in the past five days and have a positive COVID test, please contact the COVID Advisory Team directly at cat@durangouu.org, in order to simplify the reporting of a positive COVID test in the congregation. Please do not come to UUFD if you have a contagious illness.
Please let us know as soon as you test positive. Thank You!
| | Combined Capital Campaign - Breaking New Ground | | |
Our "Breaking New Ground" Capital Campaign Celebration on Sunday, March 22 was certainly CELEBRATORY!!
A majority of pledge forms are now in hand and are signaling that we can likely move ahead with a fellowship hall, lobby, and possibly some additional campus improvements. As of last Sunday, we'd received capital pledges for $2.34 million and hope to achieve at least $2.5 million. If you haven't already met with a Visiting Steward from the Combined Campaign Team, please contact Kathleen Adams (970-676-1022, kadams@mcw.edu) or Tim Miller (281-380-0410, president@durangouu.org) right away, so we can bring this critical phase of the campaign to a successful conclusion.
| | Building Engagement Task Force Update | | |
Check out the latest updates from the BETF by clicking on the "Potential New Building Updates" box in the lower right corner of the UUFD homepage or by clicking this link.
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Social Responsibility and Justice
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SIDE WITH LOVE TEE SHIRTS AVAILABLE
We have a few size small, medium, and large "Side With Love" tee shirts available for sale for $22. Stop by the social justice table in Bowman Hall after worship services.
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Postcards to Colorado Senators and Representative for District 3
Keep them coming! Let’s cover the desks of our congressional leaders with postcards that tell them what we value and expect from their actions on our behalf. Postcards, mailing labels, and stamps are available in Bowman Hall. Send one, or more than one, to Sen. Bennet, Sen. Hickenlooper, and Rep. Hurd. Every voice matters!
| | From the Environmental Justice Team | |
The EJT recommends starting Earth Week with "For the Birds" at Heartwood on April 11, 2PM.
The Local CCL is sponsoring two passionate climate activist musicians and poets, currently touring, featuring jazz performances of original music. Not just a free concert, the multi-media performance engages the power of artistic expression – live music, spoken word, images and poetry – to connect audiences emotionally to the scientific realities of our changing climate through the lens of birds. More info HERE.
| From the Basic Needs Team | |
Save the Date - "Issue Unaddressed: Forum of the Unhoused"
Thursday, April 16, 6:00-8:00pm
Join the Lived Experience Advisory Board for a night of stories, dialogue, connection, and community- building on the experience of living unhoused in Durango.
Panelists with direct experience will offer a moderated discussion and Q&A, followed by a community potluck. To bring a dish to share, contact Liz Volz at warmandwise@gmail.com.
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The Durango School District is doing good work with the 100+ housing insecure students enrolled in every grade from pre-school to senior. They would gladly receive gift cards to local grocery stores to give to these children and their families. Cards may be dropped off at the School District office, 281 Sawyer Dr, Suite 100, and designated for Student Services (Vanessa Giddings, director, 970-247-5411), or give them to Marilyn Leftwich for delivery.
The Manna Outreach Team is still in need of donated tents and sleeping bags, plus they have a need for water bottles to give to our unhoused neighbors. You can take clean used ones to Manna Soup Kitchen and indicate that they are for the Outreach Team, or contact Marilyn.
Finally, Housewarming Love (organized by the Interfaith Alliance) is in need of bedding and towels (gently used and clean) and hangers (bundled into groups of 10) to provide to people moving into housing after being unhoused. Please let Marilyn know, and they will be delivered to the program.
The Basic Needs team is grateful for your attention!
Please contact Marilyn Leftwich, 970-749-4143 or spiderango19@gmail.com, if you can help with any of these. Thank you.
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Immigration Support Needs
Apoyo, our immigration team that includes not only UUFD members but many from the wider Durango community, provides emergency legal support when a family is in danger of deportation. If you can help with the costs of lawyer fees, we have a UUFD-hosted account line item to accept tax-free donations.
Click “Donate Now” on this webpage. You will then see choices for donations; click on the “Immigrant Family Emergency Assistance Fund” box and follow the directions. Your help is greatly appreciated!
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April Share-the-Plate Gifts will go to:
Durango Early Learning Center
Durango Early Learning Center, established in 1978, is a non-profit, developmental school for ages 18 months through 5 years, serving approximately 70 children in La Plata County. DELC offers hands-on learning experiences through play, small class sizes, and a pro-social approach to discipline in a loving and caring environment. Families are an integral part of our DELC community and are required to do 12 hours of volunteer hours per year, utilizing their personal and professional strengths and abilities. We firmly believe that each child should be respected as an individual and that the education of young children is a three-way partnership between the child, the family, and the teacher.
DELC currently is in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds and supplies to replace their outdated and unsafe playground with a nature-based, outdoor learning environment. Donations will also be used to support teacher retention efforts and scholarships to support low income families.
This year, we are donating our Share-the-Plate collections to a different non-profit each month rather than donating to only 4 non-profits for the entire year. The need was so great for so many non-profits this year that we decided to step up for all of them.
You can donate to Durango Early Learning Center using the QR code or during the Sunday offering. Thank you for your generosity!
| | Spiritual Growth Ministry | | |
Circle Suppers have moved to the 2nd Saturday of the month!
Our next Circle Supper is coming up on Saturday, April 11! Circle Suppers are monthly dinners shared by UUFD members and friends in members’ homes. There are typically 6-10 people at each home. Click here for more information.
If you would like to attend, fill out THIS form or email Nancy Fisher at
circlesupperuufd@gmail.com by the RSVP deadline of 6pm, this Sunday, April 5. Please indicate if you can host in April and whether you prefer an adult-only evening.
| | From the Adult Spiritual Growth Ministry Team | | |
The Art of Social Change “Earth Day Edition”
A Workshop for All Ages!
Sunday, April 12, 2026 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Bowman Hall
Limited to 20 participants
Unleash your inner artist, and use creativity as a force for social change! Together, we’ll explore diverse forms of self-expression in service of a greater purpose. Design bold signs for our annual Earth Day celebration, write powerful poetry honoring the planet, or craft a collage from recycled materials that highlights today’s environmental challenges.
Come inspired. Come curious. Come ready to create meaningful change through art!
Bring a bag lunch - snacks and beverages provided.
Register with Rev. Jamie at minister@durangouu.org.
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Covenant Group
There are a few openings in a new Covenant Group that will be starting sometime in April. If you are interested, contact Julie Jordan at juliejane@mindspring.com or Bonnie Miller at yjmiller2@gmail.com
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TONIGHT! - Game Night - First Friday of Every Month!
First Friday of every month! Next Game Night is Tonight, April 3, 2026, in Bowman Hall at 6:30pm. Open to all, young and old. Bring games, snacks, drinks, yourselves, family and friends. Let's play games and be together for fun!
Contact Nancy Fisher (nfisher48@gmail.com) with questions and to RSVP. Or you can just show up!
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TONIGHT - First Friday Sing-A-Long for All Ages
Families are Welcome!
When: Tonight, Friday, April 3, 6:00-6:45pm
Where: UUFD Sanctuary
Who: EVERYONE is welcome to sing-a-long!
Join us for an evening of joyful song and music-making to nourish the spirit and renew the soul for a community Sing-A-Long. For April, we will celebrate Love Songs. What are your favorite songs for showing love to your fellow humans and the planet that sustains us? Do you have a song that helps you move through each day in love? We would love for you to submit your suggestions at THIS LINK (and even volunteer to song lead, too!). Help us build a stellar playlist to sing, dance, and HAVE FUN! Following the sing-a-long, you are invited to extend your fun at Game Night in Bowman Hall!
We look forward to singing with you! Submit a song for the Sing-A-Long!
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Soup Group - Third Tuesday of the Month!
The Soup Group will meet the third Tuesday of every month in Bowman Hall. Our next Soup Group meets April 20. Please email Elaine Collins at collinse2@verizon.net to tell her your intentions. We need to know if you are coming and if you plan to bring soup or bread and butter. We start setting up at 11:30 and are usually finished by 1 pm. This is strictly social, so come and meet people you don’t know or don’t know well. Plus, there is soup!
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UUFD Membership Information
Informational meetings will be held after service on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Inquiring minds are encouraged to gather at the Welcome Station right after service to meet our leaders and find a quiet spot to learn more about UUism and UUFD. Our next informational meeting is April 12.
On the 4th Sunday of each month, there will be a membership book-signing opportunity around the chancel right after the service. Please talk to Rev. Jamie or someone at the Welcome Station if you are interested. Our next membership opportunity is Sunday, April 26.
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Paint Chalices on Cloth Bags for UUFD
The Membership Team would like to do something special for our new members AND with YOU!! Come join us in painting creatively on cloth shopping bags. You will be amazed at the many varieties of chalices that there are - and we plan to be creative and make even more! I have the bags and some permanent paints for cloth. You do not need experience! If you would like to join in this project, please contact Carroll Groeger cgroeg@gmail.com ASAP.
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Did you request a Name Tag?
Check the Welcome Station and racks by the main entrance on Sunday for yours!
Don't see it yet? Please be patient, and check back soon!
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Scam Alert!
A reminder that Rev. Jamie and members of the UUFD staff team will never e-mail to ask for money, gift cards, or access to the congregational directory. Also, be aware of any suspicious emails that appear to come from other members of the congregation asking for financial assistance via gift cards. When in doubt, delete, and let us know that you received a suspicious email. Thank you!
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Please use our submission form by clicking here!
*Submission deadline is Wednesday at noon for Friday's announcements. Thank you!*
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Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango
Mailing Address: 435 San Juan Drive, Durango, Colorado 81301
Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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