Introducing Rev. Elizabeth Vincent

During the next four weeks, while Pastor Karen is away, Rev. Elizabeth Vincent will lead our online worship service each Sunday at 10:30 AM. She shared this with us so we can get to know her before we "meet" her on Zoom this Sunday.

The call to ministry first came to me in my teens, but it was not until an early retirement from a 30-year career in engineering consultancy that I stepped forward to accept it. I earned an MDiv from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston, MA, with emphasis on cross-cultural studies and the Hebrew scriptures. Then as an ordained UCC minister, I served churches in Rhode Island and western Colorado. Now living in Colorado Springs, I provide chaplaincy services to persons residing in assisted living facilities and also tutor in math, English, ESL, science, and music (piano).

As a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, I serve as a Stephen Minister, member of the Minister in Discernment Committee, and coordinator for the Visitation Ministry. This past summer, I filled the role of Interim Associate Minister through the three-month sabbatical of FCUCC’s Minister for Pastoral Care.

In addition to pastoral service, I have developed and led retreats and service projects for both women and youth and facilitated group discussions on topics such as white privilege and church restructuring. Additional professional experience includes teaching, project/program management, management of citizen participation programs for large infrastructure projects, business development, contract management, and project correction. Issues related to social and environmental justice have been and continue to be a primary interest.

On the personal side, I enjoy reading, writing, painting, hiking, camping, golfing, skiing, and traveling, as time permits. Most of all, I am incredibly grateful for my three children, their spouses, eight grandchildren, and having had the opportunity to live, work, and experience the people and cultures in nine states and three other countries.

I look forward to getting to know the people of Community Spirit Church over this month. A huge “Thank you” to Pastor Karen for her thorough preparation and to the worship team who make the Zoom services possible. In addition to Sunday worship, I am available for pastoral care, questions, your thoughts, or to simply chat. You may contact me by email at ealav.6893@gmail.com or by text/telephone at 646-345-5357.

Continuing the Conversation

As a way of continuing the conversations we have started about what it means to live in covenant one with another, CSC Leadership is planning a 4-part series of informal conversations on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of June and July before worship (9:50-10:20 AM).

Each of these conversations will focus on a topic related to living in covenant and will use a reading for us to reflect upon during these half hour conversations. The link to each reading will be shared in our weekly Community Spirit Matters newsletter and will also be sent out with its own Zoom link.

We invite you to read and come to share your reflections and insights. And, if you haven’t read the article, you can still come and participate. It is our hope that across these four conversations, we will continue to deepen our common understanding of what it means to be a covenantal church.

We look forward to seeing you.

To begin:
Sunday, June 13, 2021   9:50-10:20 AM
The Liturgy of Abundance, The Myth of Scarcity by Walter Brueggemann
Conversation to be led by Carol Keeney

Special Offering: Strengthen the Church

In hopes of receiving more donations, CSC will continue our annual Strengthen the Church offering for a couple more weeks. (To date, we have received $25.)This UCC all-church offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. Conferences and the national setting equally share the gifts given by members and friends through their local congregations. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations. By your generosity to this offering, you build up the Body of Christ.

As God calls our congregations to be the church in new ways, your generosity will plant new churches, awaken new ideas in existing churches and develop the spiritual life in our youth and young adults.

You can donate online at communityspiritucc.org/give or mail a check payable to Community Spirit Church, in care of Kim Floyde, 1516 Barbara Street, Montrose CO 81401. If you want to drop a check off instead, please call ahead (970-765-6615).  Be sure to include "STC" in the memo area to ensure that your donation gets to the right place.

Editor's Note

While Pastor Karen is away from us, I'm sure that she would appreciate cards and letters. Her mailing address is 2625 Cirque Way, Montrose CO 81401-5343 or you can email her at jedditoisland@gmail.com. If you have any pastoral needs, please contact Pat Riddell (970-275-0687) and she'll be happy to get you in touch with someone who can address them.

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