May 22-28, 2024

Summer Service Time Change

THIS Sunday, May 26 through Labor Day our Sunday services will be held at 10 am only, in-person and online. Children's Summer Faith Exploration programming will take place during this time. Make a note on your calendar so you don't miss out!

Spring Congregational Vote

Voting is open through Monday, May 27. Use the button below to vote on:

• Election of candidates for leadership positions
• Approval of proposed 2024-25 budget 
• Adoption of the 8th Principle

Visit the Congregational Meeting Webpage for details, voting alternatives, and a video recording of the Congregational Meeting.

Thursday, May 23

• Affinity Group: Drumming Circle // 6:30 pm // 3rd Thursdays // south commons // Join fellow JUCers for an evening of ecstatic drumming, and possibly dancing. No drumming experience required, no age or physical limits, beyond the ability to stay up til 8 pm. Bring a hand drum if you have one, but we also have extra drums and other instruments to share. Dancers are always welcome! Contact: Bill Barr

Friday, May 24

• 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

• Affinity Group: Union of Unitarian Universalist Gamers // 5 - 9 pm // 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, May 26

• Abundant Harvest Table // 11 am // 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

• Spiritual Practice Group: Mindfulness Meditation // 9:15 am in person (M3/4) AND 5 - 6:15 pm online // The Mindfulness Meditation group is meeting every Sunday to meditate together. Sunday mornings: 30 minutes silent meditation. Come 5-10 minutes early for meditation instructions. Sunday evenings: meditate and discuss a mindfulness-related theme. Evening Meeting Link Contact: Tina Voelker

Wednesday, May 29

• New Here // 6 - 7:30 pm // online // Are you curious about Unitarian Universalism? Are you interested in becoming a member of JUC? In our New Here class, we will talk about our history, our covenants, our principles, and what it means to be a member. We will also cover what you need to know about our church programs, from worship to social justice, faith exploration, and caring for our people. To become a member, we ask that you attend the New here class. We hope to see you there! Sign Up Link

Thursday, May 30

• Yoga As You Are: A Spiritual Practice // 2 - 3 pm // chapel // This class is open to people of all abilities and levels of experience. There will be opportunities for people who aren’t able to get on and off the floor. Bring a yoga mat or a beach towel, plus any yoga props you already own. Contact: Martha Eastman

• Green Task Force: Home Electrification – How Much Power Do You Really Need? // 7 pm // sanctuary and online // The full electrification of our homes may sometimes require expensive upgrades to its electrical system. Luckily, this scenario can often be avoided with inexpensive energy monitors and other options. Our presenter is Shawn LeMons, who will also talk about his extensive experience installing modern heat pumps. Stay for drinks, food, and conversations. Watch Link

Friday, May 31

• Memorial Service: Jean Decker // 4:30 pm // Celebrate Jean's life with family and friends. Watch Link

Saturday, June 1

• Affinity Group: Creative Writers Circle // 10 am - 12 pm // 1st Saturdays // M1/2 (patio in good weather) // Whether you're beginning your writing journey or have written for years, the Creative Writers Circle is for you! Everyone is welcome to join our friendly, supportive group of folks eager to learn from, and laugh with, each other in a safe, nonjudgmental space. Not quite ready to share your work? Come anyway, we can't wait to get to know you! Sign Up Link Contact: Sharon Groten

Sunday, June 2

• After Service Celebration // 11 am // south commons, patio // Celebrate our bridging youth and the beginning of summer with yummy treats - cookies and baked goods! Want to show your skill with a skillet, your obsession with the oven, or your hobby with a hairnet? Bring your favorite treat and let's all celebrate this together! Make sure to get signed up so we make sure we have enough for everyone! Sign Up Link

June 2-9

• Family Promise Host Week // Four families experiencing homelessness will be living at JUC. Please join our loving community in welcoming them to our church by volunteering to drive the families, serve dinner, or host. Family Promise is an all church commitment as it takes 90 volunteers. We have detailed instructions for everyone who signs up and support from the JUC core volunteers and the FP staff. Sign Up Link

Tuesday, June 4

• Grief Support Group // 6:30 - 8 pm // M1/2 // If you are grieving a loss, please join our group led by Linda Whittenberg. The the first meeting will decide as a group how often to hold our next five sessions, bi-weekly is likely. Sign Up Link

• UU Liberal Christians // End-of-year Picnic // 6:30 pm // patio // Bring a dish to share as we wrap up and reflect on the past year. If the weather does not cooperate we will meet in the Chapel. Beverages and tableware will be provided. UU Liberal Christians meet on first Tuesdays to discover progressive Christianity through discussion, book study, presentations and occasional worship. Contact: Karen Custer

Thursday, June 6

• 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

• CUUPS: Earth Honoring Traditions 101 // 6 - 7:30 pm // Join us as we reflect on the Earth Honoring Traditions around the world. We will be learning about different traditions from Kemetism to Wiccan and more! Every meeting will be different and learning about our siblings in paganism. Bring a snack to share if you would like and an open mind. Sign Up Link

• Green Task Force: Will China REALLY save the Planet? // 7 pm // sanctuary // Countering some of the China-bashing on climate issues Robert Youngberg gives an overview of China’s coal use and CO2 emissions, contrasting it with their global dominance in solar PV, wind power, electric vehicles, and batteries. Robert has traveled to China often, working on the coal issue for over 20 years.

Sunday, June 9

• Memorial Service: Marie Schottler // 2 pm // Celebrate Marie's life with family and friends. Watch Link

Tuesday, June 11

• Unpacking Your Religious Baggage // 6 - 7:30 pm // online // Additional dates, June 18 & 25 // Some of us come to Unitarian Universalism from other faith traditions; others of us are lifelong UUs. No matter - religion can be tricky, and sometimes we experience our faith tradition of origin in less than life giving ways. In this 3-part workshop, we'll explore both the life-giving and the life-limiting ways we may have experienced religion in the past, and how our UU faith - and its theology - might help us to heal and live more fully. Sign Up Link Meeting Link

July 15-19

• JUC Summer Fun Camp! // 9 am - 3 pm // There are a few spots left! Join other JUC kids for a week of summer fun, UU style! Camp is open to 6-12 year olds. The cost is $100/camper for members, $150/camper for non-members After care will be available from 3-5 pm for an additional fee. We will have a few junior counselor and counselor spots for 13 year olds and up. Registration Link

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 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, May 26

• Transforming Lives: How an Arvada-based nonprofit, Seeds of South Sudan, is Educating Orphans in Kenya // 4 pm // JUC chapel // Presented by Arok Garong, who is one of the over 30,000 Lost Boys of Sudan and founder of the nonprofit. The Lost Boys (and some girls) were displaced or orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War, which began in 1983. Most were six or seven years old when they fled their villages to escape death or induction into the northern army. The speaker will tell his story of the escape and harrowing long walk to Ethiopia and eventually a refugee camp in Kenya, where he lived for nine years before coming to the US in 2001. He has a degree in Economics from CU Denver and is studying for a master's degree at Africa International University. In 2009, he founded Seeds of South Sudan to retrieve and educate fellow South Sudanese orphans from the refugee camp. The program 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.

Columbine UU Church Job Opening

• Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church in Littleton, Colorado is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Office Administrator. This part-time position consists of 12 hours per week, with at least 6 hours spent on-site and as many as 6 hours working virtually. Job Description Link

QUUest Camp

• QUUest Camp is a Unitarian Universalist summer camp immersion experience for youth from rising 6th-grade to 12th-grade graduates with age specific housing and programming. This year's camp is happening at Camp Wyoba & Allen H. Stewart Lions Camp outside of Casper, WY from Sunday, July 7 to Friday, July 12. Registration Link