April 17-23, 2024

Family Camping Trip Lottery Now Open

The family camping trip 2024 is at Pickle Gulch group campground, June 28-30.

Pickle Gulch is a group picnic and camping facility located just off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway/Highway 119. Visitors enjoy the area for its scenic and off-road driving, and nearby hiking and fishing opportunities. The lottery is open through May 8. Lottery Link

Thursday, April 18

• Family Ministry Team // 6:30 - 8:30 pm // All are welcome to attend. This month we will be focusing on planning summer events.

Friday, April 19

• Community Concert with Francisco Ruiz // 7 pm // sanctuary // Experience an unforgettable evening of uplifting music and community connection with our guest artist Francisco Ruiz, featuring Circle Singing. Join Francisco and the JUC choir as we weave together harmonies and melodies that inspire and uplift. Be part of the magic as our vocalist guides audience participation, creating a truly immersive and empowering experience. Watch Link

Saturday, April 20

• Singing Workshop with Francisco Ruiz // 9 am - 12 pm // sanctuary // This interactive workshop is open to any singers regardless of previous experience or choir membership. Participants in the workshop are invited to also sing with Francisco and the choir for the Sunday service the next morning.

• Affinity Group: Union of Unitarian Universalist Gamers // 5 - 9 pm // Saturdays, bi-weekly // This group uses the medium of tabletop roleplaying games (Dungeons and Dragons) to foster a space where people can build community, exercise creativity, and celebrate their unique voice. No prior roleplaying game experience is necessary and feel free to drop in and out as you see fit. Contact: Zack Schreiner

Sunday, April 21

• Ice Cream Social // 10 am and 12 pm // south commons // Celebrate the over 1,200 hours you JUCers tracked during our Social Justice Challenge with some treats after both services. The event is rescheduled from April 7.

• Abundant Harvest Table // 10 am and 12 pm // south commons // Nourish your body after worship each Sunday with healthy, delicious food lovingly prepared by fellow JUCers. Donations collected benefit Arvada Rising's Homeless Ministry. Volunteers are always needed to prepare food and staff the table. Sign Up Link

• JUC Community Action Network (CAN) meeting // 12:30 pm // online // (This is a rescheduled meeting for JUC CAN from April 7.) JUC CAN works on issues of affordable housing and the unsheltered with a racial justice lens. We also partner with Together Colorado in support of Colorado legislation. All are welcome to attend. Meeting Link

Monday, April 22

• Affinity Group: Great Books Discussion // 7:30 - 9 pm // 2nd & 4th Mondays // M3/4 // Great Books is based on the idea that by reading from the great books of our civilization and discussing them with other people – sharing your insights and questions you can reach a fuller understanding of these works than you could on your own. Dona Chilcoat is the Shared Inquiry Leader, 303-989-6945 This week's selection is “Nemesis” by Philip Roth.

Thursday, April 25

• WOMBATS Dads Group // 5:30 pm // The WOMBATS are here to create a community of people who identify as dads to connect authentically. Meetings consist of time to connect socially, share a meal, and a formal program based on listening and reflection. Contact: Erik Greensfelder

• Green Task Force: Monthly Speaker Series - How to Electrify Your Home and Why You'd Want To // 7 pm // sanctuary // Everyone needs power to heat, cool, and light their home and because of the climate crisis it makes sense to use electricity instead of fossil fuels for that. JUC member Eric Wilson, an electrification expert at NREL, has done this transformation for his own home and shares the Why and the How to inspire others to take this on. 2024 is the perfect year for such a project as the Federal Inflation Reduction Act offers massive tax incentives of 30% in addition to state and utility rebates. EVs also benefit. Sign Up Link Watch Link

Friday, April 26

• Community Game Night // 5 - 9 pm // 4th Fridays // commons // Let's play some board games together! Adults and kids welcome. This is a great time to meet other JUCers and maybe learn a new game. We will have a great assortment of games and we will have people there to teach in case you don't know how to play. Bring your favorite snack to share! Sign Up Link

Saturday, April 27

• Memorial Service: Steve Sargent // 11 am // Celebrate Steve’s life with family and friends. Watch Link

Monday, April 29

• Moms Group // 6:30 - 8:30 pm // 4th Mondays // chapel // The Moms Group is for people who identify as moms to share time and space. There will be a mix of faith-exploration activities and socialization time. To be added to the Moms Group email list, please email Laura Lizut. Sign Up Link

Saturday, May 4

• Death with Love and Dignity // 10 am - 12 pm // Just as we try to live a good and loving life, we can at least attempt to prepare for a death that is peaceful and spiritually fulfilling - for ourselves and our loved ones. Come learn about supportive end-of-life options to aid in a spiritually fulfilling, ethical death that honors connection with loved ones and with values - hospice, death doula, and natural burial options. Sign Up Link



• Multi-Generational Self Care Saturday for Moms // 3 - 6:30 pm // Self Care Saturday is a day dedicated to practicing how we care for ourselves in the fellowship of our intergenerational community of motherhood. JUC’s Self Care Saturday is a volunteer-led mini-retreat. There will be time to gather in community for spiritual practice, participate in activities that are social, crafty, reflective, and fun. Then we will share a meal together. Folks who identify as mothers and/or women of every age and stage. Empty nesters, new-mothers, grand-mothers, second-mothers, aunts, and sisters. Child care will be provided. Suggested donation $20 to help cover the cost of food and childcare. Sign Up Link

Sunday, May 5

• 8th Principle Small Group Discussions // 10:10 - 10:55 am // Join members of your racial justice team for small group discussions about the 8th principle! This is your opportunity to take part in more intimate, meaning-making conversations about the value that the 8th principle can bring to JUC, ahead of our vote in May! (This discussion is for those who are not already part of Circles of Connection, as they will be having similar discussions through the month of April.) Sign Up Link

• Theme Thing: Composting // 12:30 pm // patio // Concerned about climate change? Want to do something that benefits the planet and our local ecosystems? Come learn about the easiest and most impactful climate solution at our fingertips! Join neighbors, community members and Compost Colorado for an interactive session on the power of composting, and the do's and don'ts of this essential practice. Learn from expert facilitators about how a simple shift in our choices at the trash bin can have resounding benefits for our communities and the planet! Sign Up Link

Friday, May 10 - Tuesday, May 14

• Plant and Goodie Sale // Friday 1 - 6 pm, Saturday 11 am - 6 pm, Monday and Tuesday 1 - 6 pm // Gilla's Garden, 1017 20th St, Golden // Support Earthlinks while choosing from over 1,000 tomato and pepper varieties, herbs, flowers, veggies, groundcovers, berry shrubs, house plants, and of course, goodies! 

Support this fundraiser by donating baked goodies and extra plants you may have in your garden. Please bring your donations during sales hours or contact Gilla Lachnitt to make an appointment.

Saturday, May 11

• Auction Event: Springtime Staff Burrito Brunch // 10 am // patio // Join the JUC staff for a delightful Springtime Burrito Brunch on the JUC patio. We'll serve mouthwatering Santiago's breakfast burritos, fruit, coffee, and juice. All ages welcome for casual fun and fellowship. Ticket Link

• Auction Event: Boot Scootin’ Fun for Everyone // 3 pm // Wheat Ridge Active Adult Center (6363 W 35th Ave) // Yeehaw!! Grab that western wear hidin' in the back of your closet and learn yourself some good ol' country western line dancin'! A group of fun-lovin' JUC womenfolk has hired Deda Nelson's favorite line dancin' teacher to show us the boot scootin' dance floor ropes. We'll congregate for two-and-a-half hours of dancin', cavortin' and munchin'. All ages welcome. and kids are FREE! Yippee-oh-ki-yay! Ticket Link

Sunday, May 19

• Auction Event: Jude Markel in Concert // 4 pm // Classical! Gershwin! Popular! A concert for everyone! You’ve delighted in hearing our talented pianist play at Sunday services. Enjoy a fabulous afternoon concert showcasing Jude’s multi-faceted repertoire. Musical delights from the ivories will abound! Ticket Link

Adopt-A-Plot

• Spring is here! Do you like to garden? Can you spare some time over the "weed season" here at JUC? You can have your own slice of heaven (AKA small outside area at JUC) to care for. We can provide tools, encouragement, advice and gratitude! Sign up here or contact Carol Wilsey by email or call her at 303-279-5282.

General Assembly Delegates Needed

• JUC is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association and eligible to assign up to 14 delegates to the annual General Assembly, Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, 2024. This year's assembly is virtual. Delegates will have a choice of attending in person or to serve remotely. Any JUC member in good standing is eligible to serve as a delegate. Nomination Form Link

-- ONLINE MEETINGS USE PASSWORD JUC UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED --

Sunday, April 28

• Existential Climate Change: The Future of Humankind // 4 pm // Presented by Jonathan Stickel, Ph.D. He is Director of R&D at Carbon America, a startup company developing and deploying carbon-capture technology. Human-caused climate change poses a serious threat to humanity and Earth as we know it. For several decades, the accepted approach for mitigating climate change has focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What we need to do, climate activists claim, is to avoid using energy where we can, use existing energy more efficiently, and convert energy sources from fossil fuels to renewables. These conservation and technical solutions are not being implemented nearly fast enough. Stickel will examine the likely outcomes of climate change, why so little progress is being made to mitigate it, and what it means if we ultimately do not succeed. The program will be held at Jefferson Unitarian Church and is hosted by Jefferson Humanists, a chapter of the American Humanist Association. At 4 pm we have social time with light appetizers and wine (for a donation), followed by the program at 4:30 pm. Visit jeffersonhumanists.org to learn of coming programs and activities.