Minister's Message
As I look at the sun glistening on the foot of snow in my backyard, I am reminded of the themes of winter solstice and winter -- dark and light.
In the darkness and quiet of winter, we take time to reflect -- we may even sit in vigil, as we learned at our solstice service. The darkness and cold offer our souls their seed time, their time of gestation.
We need times of darkness, peace and quiet, calm and vigil. My prayer, though, is that as we reflect, we not get lost! The sun always does come out and spring and new green are always around the corner.
For the past two years, my personal spiritual development has focused on the practice of kindness. I have purposefully tried to practice right speech and right action. I may not have completely succeeded, but I have become better. This year, as I reflect on the state of my soul and heart, I intend to add the practice of gratitude.
For me, remembering to be grateful each day is the same as remembering what a gift life itself is, no matter how much heartache and pain come along as well. The beauty of nature -- the sun glistening on snow, the sounds of the geese, the mountains all white, gray and purple -- is my reminder in this winter season to practice gratefulness.
May your hearts, as well, be filled with gratefulness in this new year.
In Peace,
Jann
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How to reach the minister:
303-840-5928
(church number)
Jann's day off is Monday, so please only contact her on this day if it is an emergency or critical. Her sermon writing and study day is Friday.
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The Board's Message Board
The Board met on Tuesday, December 18th, our first meeting with our newest At Large Trustee, Brendan Egan. The majority of our meeting was dedicated to reviewing the first draft of our 2008 / 2009 Goal Budget. We'll be making some refinements to the Goal Budget based on discussions in that meeting, and will have one last look at our meeting on January 15th. I appreciate the feedback from the Committee Chairs regarding our Goal Budget.
I also wanted to let everyone know that we collected over $950 for the Parker Task Force Food Bank from the offertory at our pre-Christmas services. Coupled with the change we've collected, we will be able to make a significant donation to the Food Bank.
I hope you will make plans to attend the Annual Winter Congregational Meeting on Sunday, January 20th, 2008. The meeting will begin immediately after our Sunday Services. We'll be presenting the Goal Budget to the Congregation, and will have time for any questions related to the Budget, or any of the other activities going on this year.
The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15th, at Prairie Crossing, at 7:00pm. As always, please let me know if you have any business that you'd like the Board to consider.
Yours in service,
Mike
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Board Members 2007-2008
Mike Spooner,
President
Mollie Cullom,
Vice President
Linda Eller,
Secretary
Mike Rodman,
Treasurer
Peter Faris
Maria Galloway
Cory Leddy
Eric Jorgensen
Brendan Egan
Trustees-at-Large
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Prairie Book Club
Our featured small group / committee this month is the Prairie Book Club. It meets once a month in a member or friend's home, and facilitation of the discussion is also rotated. It is one of the most popular groups at Prairie, and discussion is always wide-ranging, lively, and thought-provoking. All members and friends are welcome. Even if you can't come every month, come when you can. Contact Alice Kober, Carole Furnish, or Chris Zanoni for more information.
Upcoming meeting dates and titles:
January 10
Political book of your choice
Host - Rose Duhaine
February 7
The Blind Assassin
by Margaret Atwood
Host - Diane Wachter
March 13
The Glass Castle
by Jeanette Walls
Host - Connie Berrett
April 10
The Gate to Women's Country
by Sheri Tepper
Host - Sue Goodhard
May 8
The Happiness Myth
by Jennifer Hecht
Host - Carole Furnish
June 12
Three Cups of Tea
by Greg Mortenson
Host - Amy Phillips
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Prairie's Covenant
We covenant to be a welcoming and loving community,
Offering each other fellowship, sanctuary, and a joyful spirit.
We seek justice and peace in all our deeds and relationships,
And we respect and honor both the individual and the collective search
For sacred meaning and truth.
We revere and celebrate the diversity of our Earth
And are guided by the Spirit that connects all life
As we reach out to offer our best to ourselves,
Our community and our world.
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Our Meeting Space and Mailing Address:
Most of our meetings and classes are held at the Prairie Crossing Conference Room:
11605 S. Bradbury Ranch Dr., Parker.
Please contact Diane Long to reserve it. Please also contact Pam Olmstead 2 weeks prior to a meeting if childcare is needed.
Our mailing address is: 17011 Lincoln Ave., #205, Parker, CO, 80134
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| Dear Member,
Happy New Year! Here's hoping your holidays were wonderful and everything you wished for...
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Sunday Services
All services are at 10:30 a.m.
January 6
"New Year's Burning Service"
Prairie member Diane Long will lead this traditional New Year's service where we let go of those things we wish to leave behind.
January 13
"Deepening Our Ministry"
The Rev. Jann Halloran and members of Prairie's Caring Circle will offer a special service on how we meet the pastoral care needs of our members and friends. A new Lay Ministry program will be introduced and those who want to consider their service to the church as a ministry will learn how to join this new team. Our Prairie Band will provide special music.
January 20
"Will the Good People Stay Silent?"
The Rev. Jann Halloran will address this charge from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at this service of recognition of the MLK Holiday. What can we do to address the racism that still permeates our society? -- "We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people." --Dr. Martin Luther King
The Annual Winter Congregational Meeting will be held immediately after the service.
January 27
"Compassion: The Foundation for Justice and Equity"
The Rev. Becky Gunn, interim minister for the UU Church of Boulder, will speak to our Second Principle. Compassion comes last in the list, but in Rev. Gunn's perspective, it should be listed first as it is the foundation for all justice, equity and community relationships. Let us consider what compassion is and is not and whether we can do it. The Prairie Band will provide special music.
On this Sunday, Revs. Jann and Becky are doing a "pulpit exchange." Jann has been invited to deliver a sermon to kick off the Boulder Church's annual pledge drive.
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Religious Education - Youth
Each week we will be profiling one of our wonderful teachers so that you can get to know them!
MEET GAIL BARR!
Teaches Prairie's Middle School (6th-8th grade)
Hobbies: reading, photography, travel, gardening and singing
My Sweet Adelines chorus fills a lot of dates on my calendar with performances, competitions, workshops and volunteer work. I also serve on the regional board for Sweet Adelines.
Why teach Religious Education? Like so many of our members, I enjoy our Prairie youth and children but don't have much opportunity to spend time with them. Teaching RE is a wonderful way to get to know them. They really are just as smart, articulate, and thoughtful as they appear.
Favorite Religious Education Experience: There are so many! Watching them stand up firmly for what they believe; watching their kind and patient interactions with the younger children at the Halloween carnival; seeing how well they work together.
THE PRAIRIE UU TIME CAPSULE
On December 30th, 2007, our Prairie youth started our first-ever Religious Education Time Capsule! This new tradition will be opened and re-planted every two years. Don't miss our New Years 2009 celebration when we open our Time Capsule to see how much our children have changed!!
If your children were not able to participate, please have them bring a small item or letter to their future self, on January 6th. Some things to include in a letter: current favorite movies, books, music, food, and important events that happened this year.
After January 6th, our Time Capsule will be "buried" until 2009!!
JUST ONCE!
Prairie's 2008 New Years Resolution is to have a volunteer moderator EACH Sunday this year. Please help us keep our resolution! We need one volunteer each Sunday to open up our classrooms and bring our storage boxes to our teachers. Please sign up with Kristin Famula or Susan Ermisch. No experience necessary!
YRUU MEETING
There will be a YRUU (high school) parents and youth meeting THIS Sunday, January 6th from 11:45-12:30 in the conference room, to discuss our summer trip.
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Caring Circle
Our thoughts remain with Jenny Rodman who continues to recover from knee replacement surgery and infections.
Congratulations to Al Begin who got a great job in the corporate world after years of struggle with illness and part time jobs.
Happy birthday to Samantha Bishop (she turned 6) and Cori Kozar (who turned 7)!
Our thoughts are with Patti Kyne and family, and hope that Aisling will continue to feel better!
Chuck Wheeler celebrated 20 years of sobriety!!
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In this space every month, we want to remember and think about Prairie members and their families who are going through some particular difficulty. Please contact Diane Long, head of the Caring Circle, or Jann Halloran.
Needs and concerns of the Prairie community are coordinated through Prairie's Caring Circle, chaired by Diane Long. If you would like to write cards, visit people in the hospital, make telephone calls or bring dinner to families and persons as they go through life changes, please contact Diane to join the Circle. Also, if you know anyone with an illness, a death in the family or other loss, or if there is a significant anniversary or celebration, please contact Diane.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
All of Prairie's committees are open to members and friends and new members are always welcome!
Most of Prairie's committee meetings and classes will be canceled if there is inclement weather conditions, especially icy roads that often develop in the evenings or visibility problems. Please double check with the committee chair, the minister or your facilitator when in doubt. When possible, cancellations also will be noted on our church phone and by email.
Board Meeting: Tuesday, January 15, 7:00 p.m., at Prairie Crossing
Book Group: Thursday, January 10, 7:00 p.m. (Second Thursdays) Political book of your choice. This month at the home of Rose Duhaime. Contact Chris Zanoni or Carole Furnish.
Buddhist Group: Planning meeting, Monday, January 14, 7:00 p.m., at the home of Sue Goodhard. Contact Cindy Hanna.
Building Your Own Theology: Wednesdays, January 9, 23, 30 and Februrary 6, 7:00 p.m., Prairie Crossing
Caring Circle: Thursday, January 3, 6:30 p.m. (NEW TIME), at Prairie Crossing (First Thursdays)
Circle Suppers: January 12. Second Saturdays. Contact Jenny Rodman for details.
Committee on Ministry: Thursday, January 10, 6:00 p.m., at Karen Bacon's home
Habitat Soup Dinner: Saturday, January 26, 6:30 p.m., Christ the King Catholic Church
Path to Membership Class: Saturday, January 19, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Prairie Crossing
Religious Education Council: Sunday, January 6, 8:30 a.m., at Panera Bread in Parker (NEW LOCATION)
Social Justice Council: Sunday, January 13, 12:45 p.m., at Tea Leaves in Parker
Wine Tasting Event (auction item): DATE CHANGE - This event has been moved from January 26 to June 7
YRUU (high schoolers) Parents and Youth Meeting: Sunday, January 6, 11:45 - 12:30, Prairie Crossing Conference Room
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Path to Membership Class
We will hold a fun and interactive Path to Membership Class Saturday, January 19, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Prairie Crossing. Child care will be provided and we will have a light lunch and refreshments.
The Rev. Jann Halloran leads this class with help from several leaders in the church. It's a great opportunity to get to know one another better and learn about our church and our Unitarian Universalist history.
For those who are ready, there will be an opportunity to sign our Membership Book at the end of the class, as well, and talk about the meaning of membership in our covenanted community.
Sign up during Fellowship Hour or contact Jann if you are interested in more information or attending.
A New Member Recognition Ceremony will be held during the service Sunday, February 10. If you are ready to join Prairie, please let Jann or Diane McMahan, the chair of our Membership Committee, know.
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Habitat Fundraiser
Habitat Interfaith Alliance will hold it's annual soup dinner on Saturday, January 26, 6:30 p.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 830 Elm St. in Denver.
Make a batch of soup and join your Prairie friends while supporting a good cause. More information to follow soon!
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| Share the Care
Greetings one and all,
As the community educator for the Life Quality Institute and the Rocky Mountain Regional Director for Share The Care, I would like to invite you to our upcoming workshop that addresses the growing need for caregiving in our nation and the resultant stress experienced by primary caregivers. Creating Communities of Care via Share The Care is a 1/2 day workshop designed to explore a model of caregiving that reduces the demands on any one person by dispersing the responsibilities of care among a community of caring people.
At a time when our healthcare systems are stressed, families are geographically scattered, technology serves to isolate and insulate, Share The Care is a refreshing and relational approach to caregiving. Family members, friends, colleagues, neighbors, and volunteers unite to create a community of care, a community offering time and talents to meet the needs of the patient and their family. Whether facing the challenge of cancer, ALS, Alzheimer's, AIDS, MS, or other serious illnesses. Share The Care provides a pragmatic approach to caregiving resulting in compassionate, competent care for the patient while alleviating the overwhelming stress of the primary caregiver. By sharing the care, the likelihood of the primary caregiver succumbing to serious illness is reduced while the quality of life for the patient and family is enhanced.
If you are interested, please register early as space is limited. I would encourage you to forward this email to friends, family, and co-workers who might be interested as well. The workshops are open to the public, and we welcome anyone interested in learning more about creating communities of care.
I hope to see you on January 19, 2008!
Blessings,
jane
Jane W. Barton, MTS
Community Educator
Life Quality Institute (established by The Denver Hospice)
501 South Cherry Street Suite 700
Denver, Colorado 80246
303.398.6230
Life Quality Institute
January 19, 2008
8:00 - 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 - 12:30 p.m. Workshop
Space Limited - Register Early!
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church
Parish Center
2200 S. Harrison Street
Denver, CO 80210
Registration $34 by January 14
(includes snacks & training materials)
Contact Susan Anderson 303-398-6326
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
(Editor's Note: Jane has spoken at Prairie and has visited us several times. This workshop is highly recommended.)
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Love and Logic Parenting
A seven-session parenting class using a win/win philosophy. Parents show love in a healthy way and establish effective control. Children win by learning responsibility through solving their own problems, and they acquire tools for coping with the real world.
Love and Logic helps parents establish relationships built upon love and trust.
Facilitated by UU minster, Rev. Todd Strickland
Wednesdays, 7 sessions
January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27 & March 5, 12
6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
$160/person or $235 for couples
(childcare provided)
First Universalist Church
(corner of Hamden and Colorado)
Room 4
You can register at the website here.
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UU Bed and Breakfast
Do you dream of inexpensive vacation travel to interesting destinations where you can stay in the homes of friendly people who share your ideals and are happy to provide directions and advice for their area?
The UU bed and breakfast directory UU're Home (formerly Homecomings) can fulfill your dream. For 28 years, we've provided a network of hosts in the United States (and a few abroad) who enjoy meeting new friends and who are happy to open their home to like-minded people.
You can also become a host and be listed in the directory. Contact us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or at 828-281-3253, and we will gladly send you information about listing your accommodations.
Host listings on the UU're Home website at www.UUreHome.com are updated whenever changes are made or new hosts are added. The paper edition is published every year in April (and has some listings different from those on the website). For a copy of the 2008 directory and a year's access to the website listings, please click on "become a member" to pay by credit card or send a check for $25 and your e-mail address to UU're Home, 43 Vermont Court, Asheville, NC 28806.
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