While some things have taken time for Community Spirit to get clear about, when we were first forming almost eight years
ago, those present agreed that church membership would be declared every year at Pentecost — our birthday and that of the
church universal. This practice has become a valued tradition, even though last year, the newness of our pandemic separation
interfered with it some.
In this week’s mail, you will find an invitation to a series of three congregational gatherings taking place between
now and Pentecost—and I heartily encourage you to attend each one. These will serve as a lovely opportunity to deepen our
sense of what covenantal life looks and feels like, and what that life calls us to do and be as we journey together with
God. These sessions will also draw us closer one to another as we live into our calling to be Easter people.
In addition to these three well-planned, engaging sessions, I also want to encourage you to take part in each of the
worship services leading up to our day of covenanting on Pentecost, May 23rd. Each Sunday, we
will focus on one or two commitments related to covenanted membership at CSC, facets that were articulated early on and
which continue to shape our expectations for ourselves. (These commitments are currently posted on our website and will be printed on the membership covenant
card that will be provided to you in May; you’ll be asked to return yours by mail.)
Below you’ll find the themes for each Sunday between now and Pentecost, when those who wish will joyfully enter into
covenanted membership. (If you’re unable to attend a service, know that
each sermon will be posted on our website for you to review later.
Each service will be recorded; reach out to me and I will send you the link.)
I look forward to journeying through Eastertide with you as we learn together, grow together, and become even more the
people God has created us to be!
Yours on the journey,
April 18 We promise to pray regularly for Community Spirit and its pastor. We promise also
to participate regularly in worship.
May 2 We promise to participate in Community Spirit’s programs, ministries, and missions.
May 9 We promise to serve in life-giving ways and as the Spirit leads.
May 16 We promise to support the church financially.
May 23 Pentecost Sunday! We make our membership covenant promises as we celebrate CSC’s eighth
birthday and the birthing day of the church universal.
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.
Be On the Look-Out
Pastor Karen will have one of her occasional columns in the Saturday edition of the Montrose Press this week. It will
likely appear in the second half of that day’s religion section. (It will also be posted on our website shortly after
Saturday at communityspiritucc.org/news.)
Earth Day Rally & River Cleanup
On Saturday, April 24th, the community will gather at 11:00 AM in Demoret Park on
the corner of Main Street and Townsend Avenue. Bring your signs and posters to a rally for the protection of the
earth for our future generations.
At noon, they will move to the Main Street River Trailhead to clean up along the Uncompahgre River. Bring your
own work gloves and trash bags.
It's road cleanup time again! As is our practice every spring and fall, we will be gathering at Loncar Park (15236 6165 Road, Montrose) on Sunday, April
25th at 2:00 PM to clean up along our two-mile stretch of Springcreek Road. Bring hats and work gloves... the In/Out
team will take care of the rest.
Please plan to stay afterwards and we will spend about 30 minutes assembling more homeless care kits (containing personal
and hygiene items) for our friends at the Lighthouse Shelter. We will then reward our hard work with refreshments
and lively conversation. What a wonderful way to spend a spring afternoon!
30-Minute Sanctuaries
Beginning on Monday, April 12th at 6:00 PM, LaForet is sponsoring 30 Minute Sanctuaries
on every other Monday. Step away from the noise and enjoy a structured time of short reflections and intentional silence.
Featuring Rev. Karen Winkel, Rev. Roger Butts, Rev. Logan Bennett, Rev. Erin Gilmore, Rev. Sue Artt, and Spiritual Director
Robin Stretch-Crocker.
We are just 60 days from the 47th Annual Celebration of the Rocky Mountain Conference!
CHURCH ANEW
This year as we gather we will explore what it means to be Church Anew. The dictionary defines anew this way: "in a new or different and typically more positive way.” This year we want to share stories of how we are living into a new and different church. What experiments have we tried? What has worked? What has failed? What have we learned about being church? How have we changed? What does it take to sustain innovation and imagination? What is needed from our faith tradition in this particular moment? What is our unique contribution? We are eager to be in these questions and others as we gather together in multiple ways during our Annual Celebration as a Conference.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
We are thrilled to announce our keynote will be presented by Valarie Kaur, a civil rights activist, lawyer, award-winning filmmaker, founder of the Revolutionary Love Project, author of See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, and Sikh American voice. You can view her latest TED Talk here. The first 125 voting Church Delegates to register will receive a free digital copy of Valarie Kaur’s book.
REGISTRATION & TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Registration is now open! Please complete your registration as soon as possible. This year, we will ask each RMC church to contribute $100 to share the costs of the Annual Celebration; each church will receive information on this in the near future. No cost will be due to participants at the time of registration. All events will be held virtually again this year.
Please see the Tentative Schedule for details about session dates, times, and topics. While this schedule is still subject to change, this is a fairly complete outline of our events this year. Stay tuned for a more detailed schedule.
BUSINESS ITEMS
You can see and download documents for the Annual Business Meeting on our website at rmcucc.org/annual-celebration-2021. All documents will be posted on this site by May 12, 2021.
Your RMC Staff
Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ www.rmcucc.com
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