Holy Week Schedule
Maundy Thursday April 18th Soup Supper 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Easter April 21 Taizé Sunrise Service on the labyrinth 6:15 am All-ages Easter Celebration 8:30 am Egg Hunt 9:15 am Spirited Traditional Easter Celebration with the choir 10:15 am
From the Minister
Since the story in the Daily Camera came out last month, I have been pondering all of the ways our stories can be told -- the parts that are left out, the parts that are highlighted. Some of us women have been reflecting on how the local journalist might have told my story differently if he was a woman. Would my academics have been more celebrated? My organizing? This is also true with the stories we have inherited from the Christian tradition about Easter. While the women were first to see and understand what was unfolding with Jesus, their version of the story is basically left out. We are left with fragments that we piece together, building worlds with only pieces. How different might Christianity be if all of the perspectives had been included? Join us for our second Soup Supper on April 3rd as we dive more deeply into the question, why religion? And come on Sundays for the beautiful music and stories leading to Palm Sunday on the 14th and Easter on the 21st. This year, we will have a sunrise Taize service in addition to the usual Easter Sunday celebrations.
This month’s Community Office Hours: Tuesday April 2nd from 9:30-11 a.m. in the Mountain Vista Room @Frasier Meadows Thursday April 18th from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at BreadWorks in north Boulder
Progressive Christian Education
in Just- spring when the world is mud-
luscious the little lame balloonman
whistles far and wee ~e.e. cummings
Spring is magic! The words of the poem [in Just-] ring through me every year when I see the first crocus blooms along the sunnyside of Darley Ave. Right about now it seems impossible to keep the mud from splashing the cuffs of my jeans and I love it. The world feels miraculous when it goes from harsh, frozen winter to mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful, as e.e. cummings describes it.
Some might believe close scrutiny of the miraculous diminishes the wonder. I would disagree. Maria Merian(1647-1717 C.E.) certainly found that close study revealed great wonders. As an adolescent, her close observation of silk worms and other caterpillars, which she documented through detailed paintings, revealed to European science the process of metamorphosis. Until her documentation of the miracle, scientists had no concept of the amazing transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.
The Bible story of Easter’s miracle deserves similar scrutiny. In Sunday School, we have wonderful freedom to scrutinize the documentation. The four Gospels offer a window into how Jesus was perceived after his crucifixion. If there was a teacher named Jesus, whose teachings we follow 2,000 years later, then this is what those who loved him wanted the world to know. Every Gospel account tells us that his friends experienced the miracle of his presence beyond his death. I don’t pretend to know the facts of how that manifested for them but I do believe that they passed down to us their own observations of the Easter miracle.
Easter at CUCC is always a joyous celebration. I hope to see you all at our Easter morning services and the Community Egg Hunt on April 21st. Together we will celebrate all the miracles to be observed in our midst.
Peace and love,
Heather
Social Action News
GREEN NEW DEAL RESOLUTION – WHY AND WHAT
In October, 2018 the U.S. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report concluded that global emissions need to be slashed in half in less than 12 years and that the U.S. as the world’s largest economy should play a game-changing leadership role in reducing global emissions. While this was yet another wake up call to environmental activists, the political right denied there was such a thing as climate change with global warming caused by human activities.
On Feb. 7, 2019 U.S.House of Representatives member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and U.S. Senator Ed Markey introduced the Green New Deal Resolution, modeled on the 1930’s FDR New Deal. It calls for sweeping changes at all levels in this country in the next ten years envisioning “a forward-looking society of broad opportunity, equal justice, productive prosperity and environmental sustainability.” *
In summary the Green New Deal Resolution has five goals: "1. Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, 2. Create millions of good, high wage jobs, 3. Invest in the infrastructure and industry, 4. Secure clean air and water, climate and community resilience, 5.Promote justice and equity.” This will include four projects; “1. Replacing or upgrading every U.S. building to achieve maximal energy efficiency, safety, and durability. 2. Meeting 100 percent of our power demand through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources. 3. Making massive investments into U.S. manufacturing industries to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. 4. Overhauling U.S. transportation systems to eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.” *
More and more politicians and social activists are supporting the Green New Deal Resolution including U.S. 2nd District Representative Joe Neguse. In a March 11, 2019 letter sent to me he stated;”I am proud to cosponsor the Green New Deal Resolution, which lays out a framework for a full federal transition to renewable energies by 2030…we see today because of greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy must be a part of the solution”.
*GND,The GREEN NEW DEAL from newconsensus.com, February 2019.
Boulder Community UCC members and supporters as environmental activists and mindful of future generations should educate themselves about the Green New Deal Resolution.
Rev. Harriott Quin for Social Action Commission
Social Action Fundraiser Did you know that Social Action Commission doesn’t have a budget for small and unexpected needs? All of our budgeted money is meant to pass through to local organizations that are doing the work of justice that we support. This is great, but sometimes we need to get a banner, or organize an event that has some costs! You can help support our discretionary fund by buying a CUCC t-shirt! These are great for wearing to community events or work projects! They are printed on demand, so you can just click the link to order. We will have samples available at the upcoming Commission Fair.
Our short-sleeve Social Action T-shirts now come in Royal Blue, Purple, and Green, and White! Show our welcoming spirit! https://teespring.com/tiny-planet-cucc-boulder-dark