Weekly Email Blast         
APRIL 23,  2015
IN THIS ISSUE:

 

WORSHIP SERVICES

 

8:00 a.m.
Traditional

9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
Contemporary 

 

Thanks to This Week's Ushers:

8:00 a.m.    

Eve Trumpore

Pat LaMoe

 

9:30 a.m. 

Dan & Lucy Ellerhorst

 

11:00 a.m.  

Dick & Susan Knox

 

 

Thanks to This Week's

Acolytes:

 

8:00 a.m.

Patrick Trumpore

 

9:30 a.m.

Tyler & Tanner Michael

 

11:00 a.m.

Noah Graber

 

 

Thanks to This Week's Ambassadors:

 

8:00 a.m. 

Ginny Anstine

 

9:30 a.m.

 Richard  & Carol Boorom

  

11:00 a.m.   

Sam & Michelle Noyes

  

Join us for Breakfast!  Between worship services, we offer breakfast in Biel Hall.  It's a different menu each week!  We're always in need of individuals and groups to assist with serving, so sign up to help as soon as you're able.  Recommended donation for breakfast is $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children.

 

 

  THIS WEEK @ CUC

 

Sunday, April 26

8:00 am  Traditional Worship

9:30 am  Contemporary Worship & Sunday School

11:00 am  Contemporary Worship & Sunday School

 

Monday, April 27

6:00 pm  In the Light


 

Tuesday, April 28

9:30 am  Faith Forum

 

Wednesday, April 29

6:15 p.m.  Middle School & High School Youth Groups

6:15 pm  Chancel Chimes

7:30 pm  The Band

7:30 pm  Choir

 

Saturday, May 2

9:30 am  Fitness Bootcamp

 


CUC GENEROSITY 

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Fiscal Year to Date
thru April 19, 2015

ACTUAL
Identified Giving        $  635,765
Plate Collection         $    11,447
Grocery Card Net     $      5,417

BUDGET
Identified Giving        $  653,477
Plate Collection         $    11,653
Grocery Card Net     $      4,488
  
SURPLUS OR (DEFICIT)
Identified Giving         $  (17,712)
Plate Collection          $       (206)
 Grocery Card Net     $        529

YTD AVERAGE PER WEEK Identified Giving         $   12,715
Plate Collection          $       229
Grocery Card Net      $       108


Donation Envelopes can be found in the Black Friendship Books in each row at the church. If you wish to contribute cash (it is not necessary to use the envelopes for contributions made by check) and would like it applied to your identified giving, please place the cash in the envelope and put your name on it. Your cash contributions can then be allocated to your annual statement from CUC.

 

If you would like to make a donation or catch up on your pledge using a credit card, see Josie on Sunday morning, or call the church office!

 

Want to know where you stand with your pledge year-to-date?  Call Lee Ann in the church office, or email her at [email protected].

King Soopers Cards.  Don't forget that you can donate to CUC simply by purchasing a King Soopers card at the Information Desk.  Each time you reload the card at the store, CUC gets a percentage!

 

 

 

 
WELCOME REV. JANE RITTERSON!

We're excited to introduce you to Rev. Jane Ritterson, joining our CUC staff May 1 as the Pastor of Care and Visitation.  Play the video to learn a little more about Jane:  

 
See Jane Pastor - Week 3
See Jane Pastor - Week 3



 

CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

  

This week in Sunday School... Doubting Thomas!

This week we are continuing to learn about the disciple Thomas, who needed to see Jesus and feel his wounds in order to believe he had risen.  We will be playing a game wherein we decide if we should doubt answers to questions or not.  We will also be making peaceful paintings while listening to peaceful music.  We will think about what feelings we would have if we were with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them and said "Peace be with you." 


 

How You Can Help

Parents, have you signed up to help our Sunday School program?  It's easy!  As a Teacher Katie will email you the lesson plan the week so that you can familiarize yourself with the lesson and ask questions.  As a Shepherd you can assist the Teacher by keeping kids engaged and distributing the tickets for participation.  We need a Shepherd at both 11 a.m. on May 10th!  We also need someone to teach Godly Play (children 3-5) on May 10th at 9:30 a.m.  Please send an email to  [email protected] or check out the Sign Up Genius www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0C4EABA929A13-20151/26498660.  The Sign-Up for the summer months will be out soon!

 

Vacation Bible School Registration is Ready!

All the forms for children to register for VBS on June 15, 2015 through June 19, 2015 are available in the Narthex as well as downstairs on the prize cabinet, or you can sign up ONLINE!  Forms for adult volunteers and youth Crew leaders are also available.  Cost for the first child is $25 and a second child is $20, maximum cost per family will be $50.  If your family is interested in a scholarship please email Katie at  [email protected]  There is also information about items we need donated in the Narthex.  All forms can be turned in at the table in the Narthex, to Katie's box in the office or can be scanned and emailed to Katie.  

   
Children's Sunday School Check-out Procedure  Parents, please remember to be diligent with picking your kids up from the Sunday school classroom. Teachers and Shepherds are being reminded of this protocol as far as only releasing kids when parents are present. Safety is always an expectation and we would like to continue to have a safe and secure place for our children. PLEASE remind your children that they are to wait for you before they can leave the classroom at the end of Sunday School.


YOUTH MINISTRY

Wednesday Youth Groups  Middle School and High School groups meet Wednesdays, 6:15 - 8:30 p.m. at CUC.  

 

2015 Youth Summer Mission Trips  Trips have been announced for both High School and Middle School for next summer!   The trips are a great way for Youth to connect, serve others, and explore their faith in the world around them.  Check with Carla for details about the trips and how to register!


 

Questions about anything "CUC Youth" related?  Contact our Youth Director, Carla Randle at [email protected].


 

VOLUNTEER CORNER

 

Prayer Shawl Ministry You have an opportunity this Sunday to support the amazing Prayer Shawl Ministry.  Stop by the Welcome Spot or talk with one of the ministry members to find out how you can help with this beautiful gesture of faith. 

 

Calling all Friendly People!!  If you are interested in making Columbine United Church a more welcoming place, please consider being an usher.  You pick your service and how often you'd like to usher.  You smile, greet people, hand things out and collect things back.  If you are interested, please contact [email protected] or 720-341-0484.

 

  
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ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 

Faith Forum Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. April 28th

 

Advanced Spirituality Tuesday, May 19th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, in the Fireside Chapel. Spirituality is a journey, rather than a destination. Join fellow seekers as we find and share our path of pilgrimage. Rev. Dr. Steve Poos-Benson facilitates this class. 

 

In the Light  CUC's alternative worship service is the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. The next meeting will be Monday, April 27th, at 6:00 pm in the Fireside Chapel. Please join us for worship and a message from Steve.

 

The Men's Room  May 5th (first Tuesday of each month), at 6:30 pm. Join the pastor and other men from the church in an informal setting to discuss relevant issues. The meeting is held at Romano's in downtown Littleton.

 

Forks and Faith  Did you know that of the total amount of food provided to the Hungry, 95% comes from government assistance and 5% comes from private charities?

 

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CUC MISSIONS 

  

 

Project Linus is Saturday, May 9th from 9:00-1:00 p.m.  We will be cutting fleece for the Knotty Sunday project supporting Project Linus.  Contact Barbara Rudolf at [email protected] or at (303) 358-3410 to reserve your table.  Bring good cutting scissors, your sense of humor and prepare to "cut up" with us.


 

Feed the Need  The next scheduled Feed the Need campaign will be Saturday, June 13th from 10:00 - 2:00 p.m. and we are committed to 7 King Soopers in the area.   Come help us support Inter Faith Community Services by being a food gatherer, driver, or someone who can take the food to Inter Faith on Monday, June 15th. Check your calendars and come volunteer your time with us. Contact Barbara Rudolf at [email protected] or at (303) 358-3410.

  

CUC Collects Items for Different Missions

  • Throughout the year, we collect toiletries for Network Coffeehouse. There is a basket on top of the brochure stand to the left of the new welcome desk.
  • We continually collect non-perishable food items for Jeffco Action Center and Interfaith, which can be placed in the grocery carts located near the welcome desk in the Narthex. Thank you for your generous support of these worthy missions.

This month, our food donations go to The Action Center.  They are in need of boxed potatoes, canned fruit, boxed or bagged rice, bagged noodles, canned peas, tomato sauce, crackers, cookies, pudding, Jello, canned chicken, and SPAM.  Anything you can do will help and be greatly appreciated.  Place items in the marked grocery carts.

 

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CUC MUSIC
 

 Music, Music!  Do you love music?  Is music part of how you worship and experience God?  The Chancel Choir is a friendly group looking to make new friends.  We are currently in need of female voices!  Vocalists of all levels of experience are welcome.  We rehearse on Wednesday evenings and sing at the 8:00 a.m. service. For more information, call Karen Wenzel at (303) 618-3099.

 

Can You Sing?  Can You Play an Instrument?  Email Mitch at [email protected].  

 

5 Minute Piano Lesson.  Check out our own Mitch Samu's newest big deal!  We all know he can play the piano like nobody else.  Now you can learn how to play!  Check out www.5mpl.com 

      

 

GROUPS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
  

Kiwanis Food Rescue will take place on Saturday, May 2nd at Jeffco Action Center from 11:00 until 3:00.  Call Ken Sweet at (303) 973-8253 or Susan Markley at (720) 363-3049.

  

Family Promise  Thanks to all who supported Family Promise this past week at St. James.  The families are truly grateful.  Our next rotation is the week of July 5th.  Watch for sign-ups in June.


 
What's a Presbyterian?  Sunday, May 3rd at 9:30 a.m., in Fireside Chapel, the Moderator for Denver Presbytery, Elder Diane Ritzdorf, and Pastor Justin will facilitate a class on why CUC is part Presbyterian, how we relate to the Denver Presbytery, and the vision of the Denver Presbytery.  Join us for the class and conversation.


Walk MS  On Saturday May 2nd, 2015 Carla and Wally Keesecker will be participating in Walk MS at Denver's City Park to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.   They are asking for your fundraising support with a tax-deductible donation to the National MS Society.  Funds raised are used for cutting-edge research to end MS and for educational programs.

 

Nationwide, MS affects one in every 500 people.  In our congregation alone, at least 10 people have MS.  It is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system.  Its symptoms vary widely depending on which nerves and areas of the brain or spinal cord are affected.  Currently, there are 14 treatments, but no cure.
 
To donate online, simply visit Carla's page and make a tax-deductible donation on her behalf or you may click "join the team" if you wish to participate in the walk.  Any amount, great or small, makes a big difference.  Carla and Wally will also be at the Welcome Spot after church to accept donations for this cause during April.  Please make checks payable to the National MS Society (NMSS). On the memo line write "Carla Keesecker / Moving Forward".  If you miss them at church, you can mail checks to 8216 S Marion Way, Centennial, CO 80122.

 

The Job Network is changing again, moving to a new evening time slot.  We will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings of each month, at 6:30 p.m. If you, or someone you know, is unemployed, under-employed or ready to make a change in their career or job, please join us.  All church and community members are welcome.  The job network offers assistance with resumes, cover letters, networking, job hunting through social media and interviewing.  If you prefer to work with someone one-on-one or would like more information, please contact the Job Network Coordinator, Laura Morris by phone at 303-885-2998 or email [email protected]. If you are an employer with a job opportunity, please email Laura Morris with the announcement and it will be shared with all Job Network participants. Please join us to support one another in the emotional and challenging work of job hunting.

 

CUC Millennials Group  Are you a CUC Millennial (21ish to 39ish)?!  Join the newly created group to connect with other Millennials and learn about upcoming events!  Contact Rebekah Adams at [email protected] for more information or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/CUCMillennials/.

 

Need a Ride?  We are trying to compile a list of people who would be willing, from time to time, to offer rides to church for members who are not able to drive themselves.  Contact Betsy Rehling at (303) 932-0226 or [email protected].

 

Women's Spring Retreat  will be offered May 1st, 2nd & 3rd at Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center in Allenspark, CO.  The keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Gretchen Hope Wilson, presenting Letting Go: Forgiveness as a Path to Personal Wholeness.  The retreat begins at 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 1 with a social hour and ends approximately 11:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Please stop by the kiosk  next to the Welcome Spot and pick up a brochure.  If you need a ride to the retreat, make a note of that on the brochure before you mail it in.

  

Prayer Shawl. The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Parlor. If you would like to knit, or if you would like to learn to knit, please feel free to join them at 7:00 p.m. This ministry has been providing comfort to those in need for many years.

 

Notary Public.  Don't forget that Josie is a Notary Public.  If you need this service, call the church office.
 

CUC Global.  You can see videos of our sermons and some of our music on YouTube each week. Check it out at youtube.com/user/columbineunited.

  JOYS & CONCERNS

JOYS:     

 

The 9HealthFair held Saturday April 18, 2015 at Columbine United Church was a great success.  We were able to help 670 people take charge of their health, because more than 100 people volunteered their time and skills.  Many of the volunteers came from our congregation.  Thank you to all the volunteers; without you we could not have a successful 9 HealthFair.  We had many positive comments about the quality and friendliness of our volunteers.  Please remember the 9HealthFair has happened every year since 1980 and can only continue with community support....The Health Fair Coordinators

 

Carl Hanson and Tom & Lisa Schandle want to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to the entire congregation of CUC for the many cards, flowers, calls and general outpouring of love they received after the death of Nellda Hanson.  "It meant the world to us."

 

We are so thankful for the many varied and meaningful worship experiences offered at CUC.  April 12 was a special treat as we were uplifted by the wonderful voices and musical direction from the cast of Godspell currently performing at Miners' Alley in Golden.  For those who want to hear more, Godspell runs at the Alley through May 3. 

 

We send a special thank you to Carol Boorom's third grade class at Wilder Elementary School.  They pitched in and collected three full carts of canned goods to donate to our collection!  Job well done, kids!  Thanks!

 

CONCERNS:  Please keep these people in your prayers.

 

Prayers for Jan Vaughn, who will be having the first of two outpatient surgeries for carpel tunnel issues April 27.  

 

Prayers for Pam Weimer who had eye surgery on April 13.  She is at home recovering and expects a six week recover period.  

 

Prayers for Sally Porter, who is Ann Nicholas' sister-in-law.  Sally recently had surgery related to Parkinson's Disease, and is recuperating at home.  

 

Prayers for Peggy Applebaum, the daughter of a dear friend of Jan Clayton's.  Peggy will be having surgery at Sky Ridge Medical Center this week for colon cancer.  

 

We extend our sympathy to the family of Barbara Ponds, who died April 9 at the age of 88.  Her funeral will be held May 3rd at 2:00 p.m.


 

We ask that you keep the following in your prayers. Although the immediate crisis may be over, we want our church family to know they continue to be in our thoughts and prayers:  Ken and Heather Beckey, Lori and Chuck Beckey,  Jeff and Kathy Barenberg, Lola Edgell, Marian & Ed Hollingshead, Jeff and Linda Veres, the Leach Family, Karen Teter, Ruth Teason, the Dye Family, and Billie Johnson.  There are other unnamed members and friends of CUC, who have also requested prayers as they deal with unemployment, financial challenges, significant health issues, illnesses, anger management, etc. 

 

Please pray for all our brothers and sisters in the military and those who are serving our country around the world.

COLUMBINE UNITED CHURCH

6375 S. Platte Canyon Rd.

Littleton, CO   80123

(303) 798-1845

[email protected]

www.columbinechurch.org