TRUUTRUU

Save The Date: “The Cherry Orchard” at Thunder River Theater – March 3rd

truu — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:55:22 +0000

We will once again be partnering with Thunder River Theater Company, this time by attending a performance of "The Cherry Orchard," on the evening of March 3rd. The following morning, TRTC members will join Gretchen for a service examining the ways we survive in this difficult world; what keeps us going, what gives us strength - exploring the possiblities for life's underlying purpose.

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW!!

"The Cherry Orchard" is a Russian classic that is as important today as it was a century ago when first performed at the famous Moscow Art Theatre. This comic-drama presents themes of cultural futility: the aristocracy to maintain its status, the bourgeoisie to find meaning in its newfound materialism, and the rise of the middle class.

Words, Words, Words…

Gretchen Haley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:35:52 +0000

The Chance to Love Everything - January 2012 -- "Words, Words, Words…" ------- Before I started seminary, I wrote myself a mission statement filled with a number of promises. One such promise was to puzzle out what people meant by the word “God.” Not necessarily if I believed in such a thing, but just try to understand what other people meant by it. I wanted to stop having that pit in my stomach when people said “God.” That feeling that made me believe we could never really connect. I wanted to be able to really hear people, no matter how much difference there was in how we understood and named the universe. It wasn’t an easy mission. I had to listen deeply, turn off my “argue” instincts, and just try to hear through their words to their underlying experience. Some people expressed traditional notions of a deity. Others, it turned out, meant a life force. Others just meant to describe the mystery of life, the part of life that was always unknown and unknowable. And still others just meant to say Love. Big, unconditional, unstoppable love. There were all kinds of answers throughout my four-year journey, so much diversity, and so much joy. My heart opened through these conversations, and through my willingness to keep listening through that pit in my stomach (what is that - fear? confusion? fight or flight?!). Unitarian Universalists care a lot about words. We want to be authentic, we want to be true, we want to be heard for what we’re really trying to say. This care and concern over words has caused many a debate in our congregations throughout the years. In January 2003, then UUA President Rev. Bill Sinkford started the most recent large-scale conversation over words. He preached a sermon in Fort Worth, Texas, where he advocated UUs grow a greater “vocabulary of reverence.” You can find a summary of this sermon here: http://www.uuworld.org/2003/02/calling.html. He upset lots of people in doing this, people who wondered if he meant we should return to traditional Christian language exclusively and away from humanism. It was ironic that people reacted that way, because actually, Sinkford’s ideas were referencing humanist Rev. David Bumbaugh’s call for a “vocabulary of reverence” in his lectured called, “Toward a Humanist Vocabulary of Reverence” published in the journal, Religious Humanism, the year before. In that lecture, Bumbaugh argued, “We have manned the ramparts of reason and are prepared to defend the citadel of the mind. But in the process . . . we have lost . . . the ability to speak of that which is sacred, holy, of ultimate importance to us, the language which would allow us to enter into critical dialogue with the religious community.” The debate intensified for the next few years, with most ministers preaching sermons on the topic, and with most congregations finding themselves in a sometimes bitter debate within their congregations over how to grow, and also hold true to what they loved about Unitarian Universalism. Humanist and lifelong Unitarian Universalist Rev. Kendyl Gibbons responded to this debate in 2006 with what is considered one of the most influential pieces on the question of religious language. You can find the full text of her essay here: http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/4026.shtml. In summary, Gibbons thoughtfully asked that we consider creatively using the symbols and vocabulary of tradition to allow us to more fully connect the individual’s experience with the universal - and vice versa. She also argued that we can’t invent a new vocabulary of reverence “out of whole cloth,” and that we have much to learn from the wisdom of those who came before us who used these words in their religious communities. In a recent sermon, I suggested that words are containers for the imagination. They can prompt us to grow, to wonder, to change. And they can also be places that keep us stuck, scared, unchanging, ungrowing. You might have noticed, I’m a fan of using words that are “sticky.” Primarily, because I find that those words that cause us that feeling in our stomach, are great opportunities for growth. And Unitarian Universalists believe in growth - personal, societal transformation - in stretching our hearts, our souls. If it causes you to resist - lean into it. There’s probably something there for you to learn. Not to agree with or even use yourself, just to learn. And second, because I believe we are about connecting with people - all kinds of people. And in order to do that, we need to have a comfort and capacity to use words that all kinds of people use. Words can’t be a block in making those connections with people - whether in or outside of our congregations. Without squinting or squirming, we need to be able to offer words that comfort across multiple vocabularies, and we need to be able to invite in words that aren’t our own, and receive them fully into our hearts as another’s truth. And third, because I agree with Kendyl Gibbons that our religious ancestors have a lot to offer us, and we need to be able to engage with them, understand what they meant when they used some of those words we find confusing today, and be able to apply this as a source of wisdom and guidance in our lives today. And finally - and relatedly - I embrace those sticky words because conservative Christians didn’t make up these words, and they don’t just mean the things they’d like us to believe they do. They aren’t their words, and I won’t give them up to them - any more than I’d give up the word “love” to them. “Love” is a word conservative Christians use a lot after all, in ways I don’t always think is the right use of the word. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to keep on using it and helping clarify what it means to me to be loving. They don’t get “love,” and they don’t get “church,” and they don’t get “religion,” and they don’t get “God.” And they don’t get all kinds of other words they’d like to claim as singularly theirs to define and use. Look around on Sunday, this is what religion means. This is what faith means. This is what worship means. Claim it, it’s ours too. We come from a long and living tradition that has fought hard for our place in the religious landscape. And as one of our hymns says, “what they dreamed be ours to do.” As we continue to walk and grow together, continuing the long Unitarian Univeraslist tradition of taking words seriously, let us recall the words from nineteenth century Universalist minister Hosea Ballou: “If we agree in love, there is no disagreement that can do us any injury. But if we do not, no other agreement can do us any good. Let us endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace.” Keep on growing, keep on loving, stay with the “sticky” places - with love and with openness, for in those places, we will find the tools of transformation, the tools of changing ourselves, and changing the world. With love and in faith, Gretchen

SAVE THE DATES! FOR SPECIAL REGIONAL SUMMER CAMPS OR RETREATS

truu — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:26:46 +0000

1) Western Unitarian Universalist Life Festival at Ghost Ranch (northern New Mexico), June 18 - 24. Registration fees waived for 2012 for children 12 and under, if you register by May! Beautiful place, inexpensive family cabins, kids activities. For more info: http://www.wuulf.org/index.html 2) Four Corners UU Retreat, involving fellowships from southwestern Colorado. July 13 - 15. This is held on a beautiful private ranch near Vallecito Reservoir (near Durango). Bill Spence and Sue Edelstein went last year and would be happy to tell you more. Activities for the whole family. Friday night has no planned activities, just a time for campers to get set up, get to know each other, and spend the night. The retreat leader will be the Rev. Burton Carley. Burton, originally from a small town in west Texas, was a UU minister in Shreveport, LA a number of years. For several decades since then he has been at the First Unitarian Church in Memphis, known also as the Church of the River because of its view of the Mississippi River from its sanctuary. He was the Southwest district's trustee on the UUA board from 2000 to 2009.

Solstice Celebration a Great Success!

truu — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:00:06 +0000

We all had a fantastic experience as we welcomed the return of light at our Solstice Celebration, December 18th. We had between 175-200 people in attendance, about 40 of those children, and about 130 of them with little to no prior relationship to our congregation. The evening kicked off with an amazing puppet show from Soozie Lindbloom and OM Puppet Theatre that taught us all about Solstice, and then we proceded out to a roaring fire where Lisa Dancing-Light, Jimmy Byrne, Gretchen Haley and Rita Marsh (and other volunteers from Davi Nikent) offered a solstice ceremony. Cathy Schermer, Alyssa Reindel and Thelma Zabel worked magic on the Calaway Room, and there have never been more cookies in one place thanks to all the folks who brought in treats for the event. TRUU volunteers also offered warm hospitality and greeting to everyone who came, and all in attendance look forward to next year! Thanks to our Committee on Lifespan Membership and Ministry, especially Herb Feinzig and Mason Ingram for helping us to coordinate all those volunteers. Especially we should thank Amy Barr, Sue Coyle, Trina Haines, Alyssa Reindel, and Sue Edelstein who were the core Solstice committee, as well as Third Street Center our partners in making this event happen. We were also thrilled to get to know and support Soozie's work, and of course we were blessed by Lisa and Jimmy's beautiful music. It was truly a collaborative volunteer-driven event, and we couldn't have done it with every single person's time, energy and good will. We extend a big THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped make this happen! Also, check out Gretchen's letter to the editor from the PI which talks about the event. To watch a slide show of this fantastic event - click here.

TRUU Visioning and Values

truu — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:55:03 +0000

TRUU is currently engaged in a Visioning process that began when Deb Holder came to visit us in mid October. After the Sunday service she led those of us who stayed for her workshop in Appreciative Inquiry (AI), a method that we are using to engage as much of the congregation as possible, in the formulation of TRUU’s vision. The original visioning committee met after Deb’s workshop and was made up of Thelma Zabel, Cathy Schermer, Barbara Palmer, Nicolette Toussaint and Gretchen Haley. In order to broaden the responses from that first group of people who met in October we invited those in leadership positions at TRUU to respond to the AI questions at a gathering in November. Gretchen has made a “word cloud” that many of you have seen that summarizes the findings of our interviews. Hoping to get responses from at least 50 members and regularly attending friends, we are now meeting with the last few folks who’ve not had an opportunity to respond. This is an exciting time for TRUU as we determine the values, needs, opportunities, and possibilities that members of the congregation hold dear. This visioning process will show us how to strengthen the best of what we now have and build on those emerging areas of importance as we seek to fulfill our mission. As we identify projects and plans for next year we will also identify resources, both human and monetary, needed to actualize our plans. Gretchen continues to add to the word cloud and at our February meeting the Board will look at these findings and categorize responses in preparation for our all congregation celebration in March that will include next year’s budget and pledge packets. The Stewardship Committee currently consists of Pat Seydel, Bill Spence, Kate McGinniss-Feinzig and Gretchen Haley. If any of you would like to join this committee, please contact Gretchen or me. Thelma Zabel, TRUU Board President

Calling All Supporters of Public Radio

truu — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:36:02 +0000

Do you listen to either of our local public radio stations? Do you contribute to either KAJX or KDNK? Now is your chance to funnel that contribution through the MDD (Mountain Desert District) Public Radio Project. And you’ll hear TRUU mentioned as an underwriter of the station. The goals of this project are two-fold. We hope to help people who are looking for UU's find our congregation. And we want to help others get a clearer concept of who we are and what our core beliefs are. We hope that those who hear our messages will go to the TRUU website to learn more about us. This is the perfect way to double the impact of your contribution. Your dollars go directly to support public radio in our valley and make TRUU's presence known to local listeners. Pre-addressed envelopes are available at TRUU Sunday services or you can simply mail your check to MDD 2242 S. Albion St, Denver CO 80222. Be sure to put Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist in the memo line and then… listen for our name on the radio.

New Thrift Store Recycles Clothing

truu — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:55:36 +0000

Dear friends... There's a new thrift store at the south edge of Glenwood after the McDonalds on your way to Carbondale. It's called Thrifty Thrills Thrift Store and the really cool thing about this particular thrift store is that they will take clothing and shoes in ANY condition, NOTHING goes to the landfill. The owners have contracted with a company in Denver that recycles old clothing, torn clothing, stained clothing and old worn out shoes into NEW stuff. Each month this store designates a nonprofit to receive the proceeds and Hospice of the Valley was chosen for the month of December. They also take housewares and furniture. You can take ANYTHING to them except mattresses and TV's. It's so cool that there is finally a thrift store that will recycle all that not-so-perfect clothing that the other stores end up just tossing in the dumpster, so clean out those closets or throw that bag of stuff you've had sitting by the back door or in the garage for two months because the stuff in it isn't the right "season" for the consignment store and take it to Thrifty Thrills Thrift Store next to First Class Trash on Highway 82 in south Glenwood Springs.

Reflections on the TRUU Path

Gretchen Haley — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:43:37 +0000

"The Chance to Love Everything" - December 14, 2011

Grace and Ultimacy, Belonging and Transformation - Reflections on the TRUU Path -

If you are like me, you might still be wondering what happened to November even as we are facing the middle of December. The days have gone by quickly, and here we are, already facing the half-way point in the church year. When I last wrote a note like this, it was early-October, and I had just returned from Boston. I was reflecting on Belonging, noting my article as “Part 1,” implying of course, a Part 2 to follow....In the meantime, however, we’ve not only finished up our monthly theme on belonging, but also passed through November’s reflection on Ultimacy, and now are smack in the middle of December’s theme of Grace. Luckily, a month does not end in real life like it does on the calendar. The 31st of October is just the day before the 1st of November, and the 1st of December is just the day after the 30th of November. And so, we need not hold all these themes - Belonging, Ultimacy, Grace - or even Transformation, September’s theme - as separate and distinctly reflected upon - they are all pieces of the whole path we’re on, this TRUU spiritual path of love and life, community and justice, wholeness and healing. Transformation (personal, social) requires the confidence that comes from a deep sense of belonging (who are my people, to whom am I loyal, where do I belong). Further, transformation is not directionless - inviting a path of transformation asks us to consider what we are becoming, and by what means - and so responsible transformation goes hand-in-hand with questions of ultimacy - what matters most, what is ultimately true, for as Emerson says, “what we worship we are becoming,” And how else does one discern such big things except with the people with whom they belong? And these people with whom we belong are both the bearers of gifts beyond our doing or our deserving - as well as our helpers in responding to all of life’s grace, as together we bring healing and hope - transformation - to the world around us, which in turn transforms us as well. All of these themes are interconnected, asking that we deepen our connections and strengthen our commitment to growing ourselves, and growing our world. In truth, it’s the hope of all theme-based ministry, that we will hold all these concepts as one, that we will integrate our understanding and our questions, and that each new theme will deepen the reflections on the previous ones. I have experienced this myself as I have prepared worship and Bright and Spirited Path materials - I’ve noticed how each of these themes interrelate and ask similar questions just from different perspectives. For this month’s theme - grace - I have been thinking how it does - and does not - relate to questions of ultimacy. I have been hearing this song from Judy Fjell in my head all month, entitled, “If there is a god.” You can download it for just a $1 (click here to download.) It goes like this:

If there is a god, god is elusive

If there is a god, god is right in my face

If there is a god, I’m not so important

If there is a god, is that who’s givin’ me grace?

Cuz grace I see, and god I don’t

Sometimes I believe, sometimes I don’t

But grace I feel, and grace I know,

And grace is touchin’ my soul

In some ways, it doesn’t matter what we think of as the source of these gifts of life. It only matters that we acknowledge the ways we are blessed beyond our own effort, and respond to these gifts with our gratitude, and that we give back - spread the grace around. And yet even acknowledging that is a way to think about Ultimacy - that what ultimately matters is knowing we are blessed abundantly, and responding by bringing more life to more people. As the days continue to pass too quickly, through this holiday season and into the new year, may you find yourself blessed beyond belief, and may your life be a blessing to all you meet. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday - for our service at 10, reflecting on how we give voice to our blessings and needs - and for our big Solstice Event at 5 in the evening. And as always, I look forward to continuing this journey of transcendence, significance and belonging, with laughter, light, patience, and courage. With love and in faith, Gretchen PS: If you are ever in need of a personal conversation, for whatever reason, please feel free to get in touch so that we can schedule a time.

Report from the Mountain Desert District Meeting

truu — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:40:32 +0000

Report from Mountain Desert District Meeting ------ by Sue Coyle Trina and I, as well as Gretchen, represented TRUU at the Mountain Desert Dist. Meeting last October. For those of you who don’t know, the MDD includes member congregations from CO, ID, MT, NM, UT, WY and TX. There were so many workshops and meetings and conversations, I couldn’t possibly summarize it all, but what I took away was a new awareness of the Big Picture and the Big Work that is going on outside our little valley and beyond. It’s not just UU’s—it’s UU’s allied with interfaith coalitions who are working on behalf of immigration issues, Standing on the Side of Love, worker justice issues, and much more. I’ve been a Unitarian for over 25 years, but frankly, I didn’t have any real sense of the larger picture until I attended this conference and glimpsed the tip of the iceberg that is Unitarianism throughout the MDD and throughout the world. But more importantly than the designation “Unitarian” was the appreciation I gained for the humanitarian “web” that links not just UU’s, but all people of conscience and caring. I learned what is meant by “covenant,” and how it links us to each other here, but also to UU’s everywhere. I borrowed the following words from the First Universalist Church in Denver: “Without covenant, we are more a social club than a vibrant religious community. Without covenant, people have no idea what they are joining, or why. Without covenant, we lack the social cohesion and the collective purpose within our congregation to accomplish great things. Without covenant, our congregations are more a collection of autonomous, disconnected individuals than a religious community.” “Simply put, our covenant articulates the promises that we make as a congregation, with each other, and the world.” Trina and I took home piles of newsletters, hand-outs, brochures—but the main thing I took away was this sense of covenant and how important it is to understand that when you join TRUU, you are also joining the community and the promise of UU’s everywhere. Report from Mountain Desert District Meeting ------ by Trina Haines I have only been a Unitarian for a couple of years, and just right here in the valley. Because our local group is small and kind of isolated, I really wasn’t aware of the greater UU community and all the the dedicated, caring people that are involved, until I went to the MDD conference. The commitment and energy that UU’s invest in helping and supporting people in need especially impressed me. Before I went to the conference, I had only attended our local UU services, so it was amazing for me to attend the service at the conference, where there was a huge audience, numerous teenagers who were actively involved in the service, and a choir! It helped me imagine what our own UU community can become as we continue to grow.

What is “Fellowship Sunday”?

truu — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:07:03 +0000

Second Sunday at TRUU is called “Fellowship Sunday: An Open-Circle Conversation.” This event offers the opportunity to discuss monthly themes in a congenial, small-group setting. Gretchen Haley’s sermons on the first and third Sundays introduce and develop each month’s theme. November’s theme, “Ultimacy,” challenged each person in the congregation to consider their understanding of that which has “Ultimate Meaning and Significance” in their lives. Some comments included: “What has Ultimate meaning for me is caring for others;” “God is the Ultimate Mystery;” “The tie that binds us together in community is what defines ‘Ultimacy’ for me;” and “’Ultimacy’ is something more than what I can grasp or explain.” In her sermon Gretchen suggested, “God is not an idea to be believed in; God is work to be done in the world.” We explored what kind of work qualifies, based on our understanding of “Mystery.” For example, can we say God is the work involved in making weapons or transporting drugs across borders? In her sermon Gretchen also stated, “Divinity is everywhere, everything counts and creates holiness in its coming together, and all we have to do is notice, and be grateful.” We explored what is involved if “everything counts and creates holiness.” We tried to consider the role of personal and societal pain and suffering. Join us this Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Calaway Room for community-building and small group discussion of the meaning of “Grace” in our lives.