epiphany masks of safety and celebration

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January 2021 Monthly Newsletter

Pastor: Michael Blackwood; Associate Pastor: Andi Fox 825 Kohl Street, Broomfield, CO 80020 303-466-8355

broomfielducc.org

an Open & Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

Epiphany Masks of Safety and Celebration

One year ago, as we began a new year and a new decade, I quoted from Walt Whitman’s, Song of the Open Road, which spoke of the road before … “it is safe … be not detain’d.” It alluded to that sense of carpe diem, get out there, be adventurous out in the world and with life, because it was safe to do so.

Then COVID struck and the world changed. Instead of getting out there on the road before us, if we wanted to survive, it required (and still does) that we do exactly the opposite; hunker down, wear a mask and isolate.

With this new year before us however, despite all that has happened, I feel confident in reiterating and proclaiming a message of LIVE LIFE! Whether you are literally “out there” on the open road or just spiritually, live, laugh and love (to steal a cliché).

The “Star of Bethlehem” shone for us this year – the first time in over 700 years! Is it in fact the same “star” that shone for the Magi? Unlikely, but its presence seems to be timely and prophetic. As with the Magi, it has reminded us of God’s incarnate presence with us and the brightness and hope needed for a new year and a positive future.

It’s January and the season of Epiphany is upon us. As we look to the sky in quiet contemplation, let the brightness and hope of Epiphany, settle into your soul. Let the “star of wonder” guide you in making resolutions, planning celebrations, serving humanity and loving all of creations. We can still do all of this and vibrantly and majestically as we have before - and for the time-being, we’ll do it with vibrant, expressive and protective masks.

Pastor Michael

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Your2020ChurchLeadershipMichaelBlackwood‐LeadPastor

AndiFox‐AssociatePastorJonathanWade‐ModeratorJennieBelval‐ViceModerator

KimJones‐ClerkEdBunetta‐FinancialSecretaryGaryMcKee/PeggyStevens‐

TreasurerBobWathen,JeffJones‐MembersatLarge

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Commi ee Chairs Ma Davis ‐ Trustees Alice Kidney ‐ Worship

Jane Shelton / Kathy Wathen ‐ Spiritual Care Vacant ‐ Chris an Educa on Mary Beth Jones ‐ Mission

Emily Joo ‐ Fellowship

If we missed your Birthday or Anniversary please contact the church office.

Our Mission Statement

Pat & Laura O'Kelly

1/12/1980

Tom & Heather Ottem

1/10/1998

8 Emily Joo

9 Nancy McKee

20 Steve Brecheisen

21 Glen Hopson

25 Ed Bunetta

26 Tom Ottem

28 Tom Belval

29 Rachel Vorwerck

31 Rhonda Davis

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This is a summary of the prayer requests for December:

Prayers of joy and celebration

for our church family

Prayers of comfort and support

Glen & Bev Hopson

Bette Erickson

Jennie Belval

Attendance

12/6 - (75) VIRTUAL 12/20 - (74) VIRTUAL

12/13 - (65) VIRTUAL 12/27 - (51) VIRTUAL

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Please donate items to Broomfield FISH the 1st Sunday of each month. You can also donate monetarily to FISH by:

mailing a check to the church with FISH in the memo go to the donate button on our website

broomfielducc.org & charge to your PayPal account or credit card - please remember to put a memo in that says FISH

https://www.coloradogives.org/index.php?section=organizations&action=newDonation&fwID=27508

The Adult Sunday School class that meets in the front part of the Steele Commons Room will not be meeting until further notice. At that time she will reach out to everyone and let them know when we will begin meeting as well as the guidelines. Those of you that have been in the class the class do have worksheets to study. Watch for any emails to come out concerning this class. For more information, please contact Pat James.

Rock of ages On walks, I enjoy searching for heart-shaped rocks. One day in 2020, I spotted a broken heart, which seemed fitting as illness, racism and suffering domi-nated the headlines. I thought of Psalm 34:18, NIV: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Humans can be hard-hearted — pointing fingers, as-suming the worst and failing to extend compassion. We often reject people who look, think or act differ-ently from us. All these things break hearts, including God’s. Only with his help can we rise above hatred, learn to listen more than we speak, and express kind-ness, empathy and a willingness to learn.

Jesus, be our rock as we face life’s brokenness. Stay near and start the healing. Amen.

—Julie Lee

Dear Members at United Church of Broomfield,

Thank you so much for helping feed families and fuel hope in Broomfield! We cannot tell you how much we appreciate your generous donation to FISH of $655.00. It means the world to us!

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Are you helping? Please register your King Soopers Loyalty

Card at www.kingsoopers.com/communityrewards

Look for United Church of Broomfield

number VR015

Live in the light

Often we want to be able to see into the future. We say, “How will next year be for me? Where will I be five or 10 years from now?” There are no answers to these questions. Mostly we have just enough light to see the next step — what we have to do in the coming hour or the following day.

The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark. When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go. Let's rejoice in the little light we carry and not ask for the great beam that would take all our shadows away.

—Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

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The following are proposed changes to the United Church of Broomfield Bylaws and will be voted on at the Annual Meeting January 24, 2021: A. Associate Pastor (if applicable)

The Associate Pastor shall be called for an indefinite term by a two-thirds vote of members and associate members present at a duly called business meeting of the church. When a Senior Pastor has been elected and has accepted that call, the association to which the church belongs shall be invited to sit as an ecclesiastical council for the purpose of installing the Associate Pastor. The Associate Pastor shall become a member of the church (if permissible) and shall secure ministerial standing of the association of which the church is a member.

The Associate Pastor shall, in conjunction with the Senior Pastor:

Serve part-time (20 hours per week) and organizationally report directly to the UCB Church Council.

Work with the Senior Pastor to lead the church in providing Christian education and spiritual growth experiences to children, youth and adults. Advocate for youth and educate the congregation about the hopes, concerns and needs of youth in the local church and community.

Demonstrate effective use of social media platforms; using them for communication, promotion and engaging the church and the community and to develop brand recognition in the wider community and beyond.

Work in concert with the gifts and talents of other staff members and lay volunteers, maintaining a collaborative teamwork environment.

Educate and mentor children and youth in developing their leadership skills.

Work with the Senior Pastor to support key lay leaders to vision and execute our mission programs, engaging all ages in deepening their understanding of the church's call to care for "the least of these."

Work with the Senior Pastor to engage with the community-at-large and provide a positive and active ministerial representation of the church, effectively reaching youth and families in the community and developing a strategic youth and young adult ministry outreach plan.

Be aware of resources for developing youth and young adult ministry programming and participate in continuing education events and training opportunities.

Communicate in a timely manner and as effectively as possible using all available resources (email, website, social media, bulletins, newsletters, bulletin board, etc.). Ensure accurate communication with church staff and leadership, parents, youth and the congregation as a whole.

Work with the Senior Pastor in planning worship, preaching, leading small groups and inspiring missionary outreach.

Proactively make yourself available to congregation members in a variety of ways (i.e. attendance at extracurricular activities, visitations, times of crisis, etc.).

While the term of the Associate Pastor shall be indefinite, the church may, at any time by a majority vote at a meeting called for the purpose, request his or her resignation with the expectation that it will be presented within sixty days. The Associate Pastor shall give sixty days’ notice in case he or she wishes to leave of his or her own volition. In the case of loss of ministerial standing on the part of the Associate Pastor, all employment relations shall cease immediately.

B. Officers of the Church All members of Church Council as listed below shall be elected for a one-year term at the annual meeting. After serving two full terms, no Church Council member shall be eligible for re-election to the same position until after the lapse of one year. An exception to this is the position of Treasurer who will serve at the discretion of Church Council and the Congregation without a two year term limit. Family members (parents, spouses, siblings, children, etc.) of a pastor or senior pastor shall not serve as an officer of the Church.

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If you see something on our website, Facebook, newspaper that you like - please tell others … ‘like’ a Facebook post … forward to your friends, neighbors. Help more know why you like our church.


epiphany masks of safety and celebration

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