The Week Ahead at Community Spirit Church (UCC) Thursday, January 28, 2021
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A few words from our pastor
The other day, I took part in an online conversation with UCC clergy from across the Rocky Mountain Conference. Our focus was on the resources and strategies we had each employed that had helped us navigate the many challenges of the last ten months.
One person lifted up his swimming practice, something he has managed to do almost every day of the pandemic. Another person spoke of how his daily walks had shifted from being purely exercise excursions to simple meditations on being present and grateful in the moment. I shared my gladness for having had the wisdom to adopt a cat months before the pandemic hit; believe me when I say that having another living thing to touch and talk to (and even sing to!) has made all the difference for me.
Something I didn’t share with my conversation partners but will offer up here is that I’ve found a lot of help from a free app called Insight Timer. The app features thousands of simple-to-access meditations, some as brief as a couple minutes and others as long as half an hour. I’ve used these recordings for stress relief, support when I wake up in the middle of the night, and one even resulted in a significant healing experience. While some who offer their meditations and talks have Buddhist ties, nothing I’ve listened to is at odds with my Christian faith.
If the idea of drawing upon an online resource interests you but you’d prefer to rely on content created for Christians, let me point you to the Abide Bible & Sleep Meditation app. Although I’ve not yet explored what is available there, a colleague on the Front Range swears by it.
With the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines, we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Even so, the challenges before us continue to stress and strain. Belonging to a “bootstrap” culture like ours, some of us are quick to insist to ourselves that we must tough it out on our own. But nothing could be further from the truth. With resources literally at our fingertips, we need not be shy about using them.
Don’t forget, too, that there are Zoom gatherings happening tonight and for the two Thursdays following. These hour-long sacred conversations help us know we’re not alone; they also build on one of our congregational strengths—creating safe space to be vulnerable. Also know that I am always available for private conversation—it’s a holy privilege to listen and offer support.
With you on the journey,
Be the Church, wherever you are
working for the common good of the whole
as faithful followers of Christ
in community with one another and others.
(Community Spirit Church Guidepost)
Worship With Us This Sunday
Community Spirit UCC gathers each Sunday morning for an online worship service via Zoom. Log in between 10:15 and 10:25 AM. Worship begins at 10:30 AM.
All you need is a phone or a computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone AND a weekly email invitation from Pastor Karen with the link to follow. (Reach out to her at revkaren@communityspiritucc.org if you're not receiving these invitations.)
Please check your email inbox on Saturday to make sure you’ve received your worship link for worship the following day. This will give you time to be in touch with Karen if you need help. If you’re running late on Sunday morning and run into trouble, please reach out to a fellow church member who may be able to forward their Zoom link or help you troubleshoot. After 10:15 AM., Karen does not check her email or texts.
Conversations in Challenging Times
Your Inreach/Outreach Ministry Team invites you to gather online for three more Thursday nights at 7:00 PM including tonight, January 28th. Our intent is to spend up to an hour in conversation about the realities we find ourselves facing, the feelings we have, the hopes we are entertaining, and the questions we are asking as we traverse uncharted terrain. These gatherings are meant to draw us closer to one another, give us a safe space to say or feel things we might not otherwise, and to send each of us off with renewed energy and focus. Each session will be facilitated. As with Sunday worship, Pastor Karen will send out Zoom links a day or two prior. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Joan Dilts, Mary Hoch, or Mary Loncar.
Karen has already sent out the link for tonight's gathering. If you didn't receive it, please contact her at revkaren@communityspiritucc.org or text her at 970-275-1725.
Our Prayer Team Stands Ready
Community Spirit affirms the power of prayer and wants to support you in times of need and uncertainty. Please know that when you reach out to our Team, your prayer request is held in sacred confidence.
Also know that when you communicate with the Team, you will not be asked for additional details or updates on whatever has you seeking prayer. If you have a prayer request and are not comfortable elaborating, we understand! All you need to do is say “I need prayer,” or “A friend needs prayer,” and our Team is on it! We know God knows your need, and we’re good with that.
VIRTUAL Montrose City Council Meeting
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 • 6:00 pm
After conversations with over 100 people, the Uncompahgre Valley Alliance (UVA) Childcare Caucus began to meet in January, 2020 because we had heard a lot of stories about the challenges to finding quality and affordable childcare in Montrose. After meeting with a number of people in Montrose who are directly involved and/or affected by childcare needs, it was clear that in order to begin to find solutions, first, we need to understand the current situation. What do parents want for their children? What barriers are they experiencing? What challenges are childcare providers facing running their small businesses?
In August of 2020, we began to partner with Bright Futures for Early Childhood and Families to raise the money for a professional Montrose Childcare Needs Assessment to be done by Root Policy Research that will answer those questions and more.
We then held a second round of conversations focused on listening to a more diverse group of parents across Montrose County to inform the questions we need to ask in order to gather accurate data about the whole of our community. We are grateful to the Hispanic Affairs Project (HAP) for supporting this work.
We have secured $20,000 towards the cost of this study, $15,000 of that has been committed by the Montrose Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). $5,000 was previously secured from the Colorado Trust by Sarah Fishering. We have asked the City of Montrose to invest the balance: $18,950. They will consider and vote on our request at their next VIRTUAL City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 2 at 6 pm.
If you would like to support this work, contact Carol Keeney (carolkeeney8@gmail.com) and she will send you directions for how to register.
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