Mountain View United Church offers training to their community!
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Submitted by Amy Petré Hill
Director of Mental Health & Inclusion Ministries at Mountain View United Church in Aurora, CO
On May 21, 2017, the members of Mountain View United Church in Aurora, Colorado answered Spirit’s call to offer radical hospitality to all people living with mental health challenges, substance use issues, and brain differences.
During a special annual meeting, church members unanimously covenanted to become the nation’s sixth WISE—Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged—Congregation for Mental Health. Thanks to a generous RMC “In the Mud” grant, the church's new Mental Health & Inclusion Ministries have offered:
- Free Mental Health First Aid Certification Training for all who would join. The church is offering a second free Mental Health First Aid Training in Spring 2018; email Amy for more information.
- Training through "Take 5 for Mental Health," a quick 30-minute presentation on key mental health topics the first Sunday of each month.
- Opportunities for those with differences/disabilities to share their faith journeys, help lead worship, and participate in all aspects of church life.
- Accessible Blue Christmas Community Service that offered a place of respite and healing for anyone grieving or suffering.
- Christmas Day Worship Services at a local hospital’s behavioral health inpatient units. These were the first Christmas worship services offered to the patients on these units in over ten years.
- Legislative advocacy through participation in NAMI’s Annual Walk, Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walks, and Mental Health Colorado’s Brainwave advocacy program.
- Training from Aurora Mental Health Centers on how Mountain View can provide radical inclusion, spiritual growth, and emotional support to individuals and families living with mental health challenges or brain differences.
None of this would have been possible without the support of the Rocky Mountain Conference and UCC Mental Health Network. Thank you!
Want to join Mountain View in offering radical hospitality to the one in five people who live with a mental health challenge, brain disorder, or substance use issue? Connect with the UCC Mental Health Network or contact Amy to get involved!
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Submitted by Sandy Taylor
Moderator, Christ Congregational Church—Pueblo
Featured above is a picture of Judy Baillie of Christ Congregational UCC, Pueblo presenting funds from an "In The Mud" grant to the Out Front Youth group. The grant funds were awarded to the church and then disbursed to Out Front Youth, a teen advocacy group in Pueblo committed to creating Gay Straight Alliance groups at each of the Pueblo High Schools.
Youth Out Front is part of the Southern Colorado Equality Alliance that supports LGBTQ youth. These teens, along with adults from the church, will be attending a Leadership Training provided by One Colorado in Colorado Springs on February 17. This training will focus on how to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth feel safe, welcome, and empowered to make change in their schools.
There are also plans for them to interact with the State Legislature in Denver this spring. And, an unintended but very happy outcome of this "In the Mud" work: One of the Youth Out Front members was recently baptized, and opted to join the church!
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What is UCC–PIN?
The UCC's Global Ministries is proud to support the Palestine/Israel Network.
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Submitted by Priscilla Linsley
Member of Park Hill UCC, and Coordinator with CO Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP).
Like many of us who are seeking justice in the Israel/Palestine conflict, we were appalled when the President unilaterally declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel. This is a city that is home to the three Abrahamic traditions and contains sites that are holy to all three. In addition, this action goes against International Law and many UN resolutions.
The upside: The issue moved to the front page of our news, and was featured in many nightly news casts. Often, it is easy to ignore what is happening in Palestine—so we are fortunate that the UCC/Global Ministries supports the UCC Palestine/Israel Network (UCC PIN).
So, what does PIN do? Their Mission Statement:
"Gathered in the Spirit as the United Church of Christ Palestine/Israel Network (UCC PIN), we covenant in prayer and bold action for a just peace to end the conflict in Palestine/Israel. We seek to educate and motivate our churches on the issues within Palestine/Israel. Our actions are guided by General Synod Resolutions, consultation, reports, engagement with the Kairos Palestine document and our personal experiences. We strive to join in solidarity with our mission partners and with Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others who are prophetic witnesses and risk takers for human rights, security, and a just peace for Israel/Palestine."
The UCC PIN publication, Promoting a Just Peace in Palestine-Israel: A Guide for United Church of Christ Faith Leader, offers many resources, including current news, theological grounding, and political advocacy resources. Above all, it is meant to equip UCC leaders to study and discuss Israel/Palestine issues.
Additional information is available on the UCC PIN website (where you can sign up for their newsletter), and they also maintain a lively Facebook page.
To learn more, contact Priscilla at pmlinsleyden@gmail.com or 303-408-0078.
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Rev. Marta Fioriti will begin as Senior Pastor the Sunday after Easter.
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After much discernment, visioning, and prayer, Black Forest Community Church has joyfully called Rev. Marta Fioriti as their next Senior Pastor!
Marta was voted by the church as their next pastor on Sunday, January 21. She will begin her ministry on the Sunday after Easter. For several years, Marta has served as Associate Pastor with Broadmoor Community Church in Colorado Springs, CO.
We look forward to watching her Senior Ministry unfold, and are excited to see what awaits for this beloved community!
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Back Bay Mission, National UCC seeking new team members.
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Our friends at Back Bay Mission are hiring two part-time Church Relations Associates.
Back Bay Mission, located in Biloxi, Mississippi, is a UCC ministry whose mission is to strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives through housing rehab, volunteerism, and programming.
The job postings and application instructions can be found here. From the postings:
"Candidates should be passionate about Back Bay Mission and/or the kind of work that we do on the South Mississippi Coast. These part-time positions may be ideal for someone who is retired, enjoys traveling, and/or enjoys enlisting support for a great cause. Interested candidates can submit their resume to Alice Graham."
These positions are home-based, so even if you live in the RMC, you are eligible to apply!
Other jobs in the UCC
There are also a few new job postings at the National Setting:
For local and regional opportunities, please view these listings, which are updated continuously. Please note that you will have to contact the conference noted in the listing, as UCC National does not fill these positions. |
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The Colorado Council of Churches is seeking choir members for its Easter Sunrise Service.
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The 2018 Annual Red Rocks Easter Service is coming April 1st. If you like to sing and would enjoy performing at Red Rocks, please consider joining the choir!
Jubilate! Sacred Singers seeks a total of 70 vocalists, and welcome folks of all ages and ethnicities with choral experience.
Some particulars:
- Call time is 4:00 a.m. for the 6:00 a.m. service.
- Rehearsals will begin Thursday, February 1st from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. and will continue through March.
- You can join the choir during any of these rehearsals. Registrations will close after March 1st.
- The location for rehearsals is First United Church of Arvada: 7195 Simms St., Arvada, CO 80004.
- The music list includes Oh, Happy Day, Hallelujah, Celebrate!, Praise His Holy Name, and How Great is Our God. Click on these links for music and sound.
- A fee of only $30.00, payable by check or online to Jubilate! Sacred Singers, will cover rehearsal accompanist, music for singers, bus transportation to and from Red Rocks, and other incidental costs.
- There will be a dress rehearsal at Red Rocks Amphitheater on either Friday, March 30th or Saturday, March 31st.
If you are interested, please contact Dr. J. Arturo Gonzalez at
jubilate.redrocks@gmail.com. He will answer your questions and assess your placement in the choir.
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The event is open to the community and more vital than ever!
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On February 18, Bountiful Community Church (Bountiful, Utah) will host a kick-off talk on LGBTQ issues. George and Alyson Deussen will speak during the Sunday worship service about their personal experience of faith and family, and how this has led them to become strong advocates for the LGBTQ community. A lunch and discussion session, led by the Deussens, will follow the talk.
Alyson and George moved to Bountiful in 2008, and quickly became active members of the community. Their involvement with LGBTQ rights began in 2012 when their son, Stockton, came out at the age of 13. By Stockton's side, they became strong advocates and allies of LGBTQ persons, and partnered with local advocacy groups.
When Stockton died by suicide in 2016, their deep sense of loss reinforced an already wholehearted commitment to offering love without holding back.
Other Discussion Opportunities
Beginning on Wednesday February 21 and continuing each Wednesday through March 21, the church will host a Soup Supper at 6:30 pm, followed by a viewing and discussion of the docudrama miniseries, When We Rise. This series chronicles the personal and political struggles, setbacks, and triumphs of a diverse group of LGBTQ individuals who pioneered the gay civil-rights movement in the U.S.
All events are free and open to the community. For more information, please call 801-295-9439 or visit our website at www.uccbccchurch.org.
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Why OCWM Matters: An Infographic
You may often hear from us that OCWM is critically important. That it changes lives and furthers our ministry and makes this Conference possible.
But, how does it work? Where does this money come from, and how is it spent?
We recently created an infographic that gives an overview of how OCWM makes a difference in the RMC. You can view it here!
"Infographic: Help the RMC Turn Dollars Into Change!"
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