Minister's Message
Summer is here. It comes, as always, after the rush of graduations and end-of-year celebrations, including our own fun Volunteer Appreciation Picnic. This was a great way to end our year.
(Jennifer Drybread, chair of the Committee on Ministry, has some very nice framed Mother Teresa sayings for all of our volunteers, so please contact her to receive your gift, if you missed our picnic.)
In the summer, I take a bit of a break, like many of you. This year, I will be teaching the leadership portion at our district's weeklong Russell Lockwood Leadership School in Alta, Utah at the end of July. This should be a great experience for me as I continue to work on my ministry skills.
Diane Long, our tremendous church administrator, newsletter editor and worship chair, is coordinating some wonderful services while I am gone in the middle of the summer. Religious Education Coordinator Kristin Famula also has organized some great fun shops for our children.
So, summer at Prairie should be fun, inspirational and relaxed, all in the best ways.
We have many visitors during the summer so, as a growing church, I hope many of you will continue to make Sunday morning a part of your routine. Our visitors need to be welcomed and given a sense of our warm, accepting, liberal religious church.
Our church and community is truly about each of you -- you each create what we are, especially by your attendance and presence, Sunday after Sunday.
I will miss you in July (my official vacation month), but I know that our community will remain strong and committed.
We also have much to look forward to as we rest, play and prepare for the fall. Think about how you want to contribute and let me know in August. We will restart our small groups (and form new ones) and reform all our working groups, including the Prairie Choir, the Worship Council, the Religious Education Council, Adult Education Committee, the Caring Circle, Membership Team, Canvass Team, Roadie Crew, Welcoming Congregation, and Social Justice. There are so many ways each of you can be a part of our church, and, whatever you do, it should grow your heart and soul.
Have a great summer. Stay present, as you can. And let us dream summer dreams of what we will do together when harvest time comes.
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
As we head in to the final month of the fiscal year, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Executive Officers and At-Large Trustees of the 2006 / 2007 Board of Trustees. Carol Morrison is completing her term as Vice-President, after having served in prior years on the Board as Secretary and At-Large Trustee. Pat Clifford is completing his term as Treasurer, and Kerry Romano is completing her second year as Secretary. Don Furnish is completing his time on the Board after having served this past year as At-Large Trustee, and in prior years as Treasurer. Cory Leddy is completing her first two-year term as At-Large Trustee, and will begin another term in that role for the next fiscal year. Mike Rodman is completing his first year on the Board as At-Large Trustee, and will take over the role of Treasurer for the next fiscal year. Eric Jorgensen is completing his first year as At-Large Trustee, and will begin his second year in that role. Amy Phillips-Haskett served the first portion of the year as At-Large Trustee, and Laurie Schneyer is completing her interim term on the Board in that role. Each of these individuals has been very generous in their donation of time and energy to helping tend to the business of Prairie. I hope you will all join me in letting each of them know how much their generosity is appreciated.
The 2007 / 2008 Board of Trustees were elected at our Annual Spring Meeting, which was held on May 20. I'm looking forward to a second year as President, and will be joined by Mollie Cullom as Vice-President, Mike Rodman as Treasurer, and Amy Phillips-Haskett as Secretary. Eric Jorgensen and Cory Leddy are continuing on as At-Large Trustees, and will be joined by new At-Large Trustees Maria Galloway, Peter Faris, and Ross Walker.
I'll be hosting the June Board Meeting at my home on Saturday evening, June 16th. This meeting is traditionally a transition point, with the members of the outgoing and incoming Boards meeting together.
I'm especially grateful to Gail Barr, who has offered to coordinate Prairie's participation in this years Pridefest activities. Jan, Taylor and I regret that we will not be able to join you in marching in the Pridefest Parade on Sunday, June 24th, as Jan and I will be in Portland, Oregon, attending General Assembly.
And finally, I'd like to say a special Thank You to the anonymous donor who donated $2400 to our 2007 / 2008 Budget. As I mentioned at our Spring Meeting, the consensus opinion of the current Board is to reinstate Jann's Professional Expenses to last year's level, if and when the opportunity presented itself. I will be consulting with the rest of the Board, and will recommend that we use this special donation in that manner. Again, thank you for this special gift!
Yours in service,
Mike
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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.
(adopted April 15, 2007)
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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 Jann 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,
Please make a note that Prairie's email address will be changing to
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. This email has features that will allow for fewer missed messages and has other benefits for mass mailings.
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Sunday Services
All services are at 10:30 a.m.
June 3
"What If We Really Are Born Good?"
The Rev. Jann Halloran will discuss a recent scientific finding which suggests that we might be "hard-wired" for altruism. This finding could shed light on the age-old question of whether human nature is good, evil or neutral. What would it mean if we really were born good? Some theologians fear that it threatens the idea of free will. But Jann will argue that it would be a positive gift which should lead to more optimism toward life and meaning.
June 10
"Peaceful Communication "
The Rev. Jann Halloran will explore practical, peaceful communication skills developed by Marshall Rosenberg. A small group of Prairie leaders recently attended a workshop on this approach, and Jann will suggest some ways to implement nonviolent communication into the life of our community. Prairie member Connie Berrett will provide special music: "What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love."
June 17
"T-shirt slogan: "Separation of Church and Hate"
The Rev. Jann Halloran will present a special Father's Day sermon on how to create a better world through a faith of love and justice. A baby dedication for Ashley Egan also is scheduled.
June 24
"Tears and Laughter"
In his sermon, member Dave Lavinder discusses his existentialist approach to living. He encourages us to recognize the opportunity we all have to create meaning in our lives, rather than to try and find some transcendent or ultimate meaning "out there" to which we must conform. Dave asks us to embrace life's fullness, not just its blessings, but its absurdities and sorrows as well.
July 1
"Hymn Service"
Paul Ermisch and Sheldon Berrett will lead us in our annual hymn service - a chance to learn new hymns and/or sing old favorites.
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Religious Education - Youth
Summer Fun Shops have started! Members and friends of the church will be sharing their hobbies and interests with the youth of our congregation.
June 3 - Connie Berrett will lead the youth in music and movement
June 10 - Joe Francis will be sharing information on paper recycling
June 17 - Cory Leddy will lead drumming
June 24 - Pam Olmsted & Susan Ermisch will encourage the bringing of pets to class
July 1 - Susan Ermisch will lead the youth in a 4th of July celebration |
Caring Circle
Our thoughts are with Susan Roberts as she recovers from surgery.
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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
All of Prairie's committees are open to members and friends and they always welcome new members or those who are simply interested in attending their meetings. (Members of the Board, the Committee on Ministry and the Nominations Committee are elected, but you are also welcome to attend these meetings by contacting their chairs.)
Green Team: Friday, June 1, 7:00, potluck at Magers home
Front Range Church Cluster: Tuesday, June 5, 7:00 p.m., First Unitarian, Denver
Caring Circle: Wednesday, June 6, 7:00 p.m., at Prairie Crossing
Committee on Ministry: Thursday, June 14, 1:30 p.m., at Cindy Hanna's office conference room
Book Group: Thursday, June 14, 7:00 p.m. (Second Thursdays) I Feel Bad About my Neck by Nora Ephron. Contact Chris Zanoni or Carole Furnish.
Board Meeting: Saturday, June 16, 5:30 p.m., potluck at Mike Spooner's home
Welcoming Congregation: Pridefest - Saturday & Sunday, June 23 & 24
Buddhist Group: (2nd and 4th Mondays) at the home of Sue Goodhard. Contact Cindy Hanna.
Circle Suppers: There will be no Circle Suppers until September.
Pridefest: Saturday, June 23 - Sunday, June 24 Meet at First Unitarian
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New Board & Committee Members
At our Congregational Meeting on May 20, the proposed budget was passed and there was an election for Board and Committee members. These are the new members (listed in bold type - the others are those people whose terms are continuing and were not up for election):
Officers
President: Mike Spooner
Vice President: Mollie Cullom
Treasurer: Mike Rodman
Secretary: Amy Phillips
Board of Trustees (two-year terms)
Eric Jorgensen
Peter Faris
Maria Galloway
Ross Walker
Cory Leddy
Committee on Ministry (two-year terms)
Jennifer Drybread
Karen Bacon
Joe Francis
Gail Barr
Bill Hanna
Nominating Committee (two-year terms)
Ladd May
Susan Langley
Claudia Van Buren
Brenda Peterson
Lew Dunlap
Endowment Committee (two-year terms)
Dave Craig
Sharon Thompson
Kevin Singel
Congratulations, and thank you for being willing to serve our church!
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Honoring our Volunteers
Thank you to everyone who volunteered this year. We could not be successful without your help. Please contact Jennifer Drybread if you have not received your gift.
Adult Education: David Lavinder
Board of Trustees: Mike Spooner, President; Carol Morrison, Vice President; Pat Clifford, Treasurer; Kerry Romano, Secretary; Cory Leddy; Don Furnish; Eric Jorgensen; Mike Rodman; Laurie Schneyer; (Amy Phillips)
Caring Circle: Diane Long, Chair; Susan Langley; Tonia Graves; Karen Bacon; Pam Olmsted; Donna Randazzo; Cory Leddy
Child Care: Erica Blumer; Rachel Simpkiss; Alena Simpkiss; Kathy Heenan
Choir: Sheldon Berrett, Director; Paul Ermisch, Music Director; Karen Bacon; Connie Berrett; Jim Cullom; Mollie Cullom; Jennifer Drybread; Linda Eller; Dawn Magers; Marty Magers; Ladd May; Carol Morrison; Andrew Paschetto; Kerry Romano; Laura Simpkiss; Jan Spooner; Ross Walker; Dierdre Thompson; Lew Dunlap
Church Administrator: Diane Long
Circle Suppers: Jenny Rodman
Committee on Ministry: Jennifer Drybread, Chair; Susan Roberts; Bill Hanna; Joe Francis; Karen Bacon
Fundraising/Canvass/Public Relations: Jan Spooner, Chair; Lisa Stull; Laura Hoeppner, PR Chair; Kevin Singel; Claudia Van Buren; Dawn Magers; Teague Van Buren; Don Furnish; Susan Rogers; Jim and Sharon Thompson; Jane Craig; Jeanne Sanderson; Andrew Paschetto; Gail Barr; Cory Leddy; Phyllis Welles; Suzan Kannapel; Paul Ermisch; Susan Ermisch; Lew Dunlap; Phyllis Dunlap; Carol Morrison
Habitat Interfaith Alliance: Eric Jorgensen, Liaison
Membership Team: Diane McMahan, Chair; Gail Barr; Jenny Rodman; Susan Langley; Eric Jorgensen; Don Furnish; Carole Furnish; Brenda Peterson
Newsletter Editor: Diane Long
Nominations Committee: Chris Zanoni; Susan Langley; Carole Furnish; Ladd May; Claudia Van Buren
RE Council: Susan Ermisch, Chair; Susan Langley; Laurie Schneyer; Pat Clifford; Mike Spooner; Pam Olmsted; Theresa May
RE Teachers: Kristen Gentala; Janita Mann; Marcy Hampton; Laura Hoeppner; Andrew Pashetto; Kathy Heenan
Roadie Crew/Set Up and Down: Carol Morrison; Mike Rodman; Don Furnish; Linda Eller; Donna Randazzo; Pat Clifford; Jennifer Drybread; Jan Spooner; Mike Spooner; Diane McMahan; Taylor Groves; Susan Ermisch; Paul Ermisch; Frank Haskett; Marilyn Scherer; Judy Green; Joel Schneyer; Laurie Schneyer; Isabelle Schneyer; Julia Schneyer; Marlene Waite; Suzan Kannapel; Maria Galloway; Andrew Paschetto; Bob Rogers; Joe Francis
Small Group Leaders: Kathy Heenan; Cindy Hanna; Carole Furnish; Chris Zanoni; Amy Phillips; Sue Goodhard; Deborah Wells; Neal Simpkiss; Mike Spooner; Elizabeth Hancock; Kristen Gentala; Susan Ermisch; Patti Kyne; Pam Olmsted; Alice Kober; Laura Hoeppner; Kevin Singel; Laurie Schneyer; Phoebe Stayton
Sunday Meditation: Mitch Albert; Kathy Albert; Kevin Singel; Andrew Paschetto
Welcoming Congregation: Chris Zanoni, Chair; Gail Barr, Chair; Joe Francis; Susan Dyroff; Susan Langley; Carole Furnish; Tom Zanoni
Worship: Diane Long, Chair; Paul Ermisch; Sheldon Berrett; Pete Faris; Susan Roberts
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Denver Pridefest
June 23 & 24
Bring your family! Wear your bright yellow Prairie t-shirt! Come and enjoy the festive atmosphere!
Volunteers are needed to staff the UU booth. If you are available to take a 2 hour shift on either Saturday or Sunday, please contact Gail Barr.
The Pride Fest PARADE begins at 9.30am, Sunday, June 24, and proceeds down Colfax Avenue. Marchers are invited to meet at First Unitarian Church downtown for a brief service and light breakfast and proceed together to the parade route.
Prairie is proud to be a very visible presence at this event! Recognized as one of the top ten Pride events in the country, Denver's Pride Fest is a celebration of community and culture. More than 200,000 people from Colorado and surrounding areas come out to enjoy the parade, rally, music, entertainment, food and much more.
Contact Gail Barr for more information.
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Tea Dinner Openings
Kerry Romano has had 2 cancellations for her Tea Dinner that was auctioned off last fall. The dinner is at Kerry's home this Saturday, June 2 at 4:00 and are $30 per person. Contact Kerry for more information, or if you're interested in attending.
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Prairie Auction
Mark your Calenders!
This years annual Auction is on September 15,2007.
Keep your eyes open for things to donate!
Watch your email for more info later this summer.
If you are interested in helping with this year's event,
let me, your fundraising chair, know.
Thanks, Jan Spooner
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Habitat Fundraiser - Golf Classic
Green Valley Ranch Golf Club
4900 Himalaya Road
Denver, CO
Friday, June 22, 2007
7:30 AM Shotgun
Four Person Scramble
100 Players Maximum
All money raised through our 3rd Annual Golf Classic will go directly to the cost of building a home for the Luna family in Denver at 3511 Williams Street.
Ways to participate:
Be a tournament sponsor
Play in the tournament
Donate an auction item
Make a tax-deductible cash donation
Sponsor a corporate "Build Day" -- a terrific team building event!
Prizes and Gifts:
Complimentary items for all players
Team prizes for top 5 teams
Longest drive contest for men and women
Closest to the pin contest for men and women
New car giveaway or $25,000 cash for a hole-in-one!
Random drawings during lunch for awesome prizes!
Silent Auction Items:
Foursomes at some of Denver's finest private golf courses
Sports memorabilia and collectibles
Restaurant gift certificates
Much, much more!
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| Fellowship Hour Schedule
Don't forget to bring treats as you are attend over the summer to help keep our Fellowship Hour alive!
June 3: A - D
June 10: E - H
June 17: I - M
June 24: N-Z
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| Small Group Ministry
An important part of Prairie's community is the offering of small groups to our members and guests. Anyone is welcome to contact facilitators at any time if you want to join or learn more about a group. Everyone is encouraged to find a group that meets their needs. In September, the congregation will have the opportunity to start new small groups. Please contact Jann for more information.
Our groups include:
Day-time small group, Phoebe Stayton
Men's Group, Neal Simpkiss
Spirituality for Busy Lives, Kristen Gentala
Buddhist Meditation Group, contact Cindy Hanna or Chris Zanoni.
Small Group for Parents, contact Patti Kyne, (with child care)
Spiritual Circle Group, contact Jan Spooner or Kathy Heenan
Book Club, contact Carole Furnish, Chris Zanoni or Amy Phillips-Haskett
Woman's Group, contact Elizabeth Hancock
Musical Group, contact Paul Ermisch
We also have Circle Suppers on the second Saturdays of the month (starting again in September) which are open to everyone, contact Jenny Rodman.
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| Worship Team
We are looking for readers and others interested in participating in Sunday morning worship or working on our Sunday Worship Team. Part of growing our community is to continue to create excellent worship services. There are many opportunities and possibilities for members to participate in this effort and we welcome your ideas and suggestions. Please contact Diane Long, worship chair, or Jann Halloran if you would like to join our team and grow the spirit of our worshipping community.
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Bulletin Board
Phoebe Stayton is in need of help with yard work including digging, weeding, and fertilizing. She would like to have a teen, and is willing to pay $8.00 per hour. Contact her for more info.
A new feature open to MEMBERS ONLY and/or UU related positions. Post skills or talents you have to share, help with a job search, etc. Items will be posted for a maximum of three months. Items WILL be edited for space. Send postings to
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Newsletters 
