All Souls Church of Boulder All Souls Church of Boulder

Common Good Forum: October 25th-27th

Life After Doom:
Wisdom & Courage for a World Falling Apart

A Weekend with best-selling author, activist, and public theologian Brian McLaren

October 25th - October 27th

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of Life After Doom directly from event Co-Sponsor, Trident Booksellers & Cafe

Tapping into the themes of his new book, “Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart”, Brian McLaren invites us to engage in the catastrophic failure of both political and religious leaders to address urgent realities of our time: ecological overshoot, economic injustice, and civilizational collapse. Come explore the complexity of hope, the necessity of grief, and discover new ways of thinking, becoming, and belonging for the common good.

All Events held at Pine Street Church

Friday October 25:
Lecture 7pm-8pm (Book signing to follow) *Free and open to the public

Saturday October 26:
Life After Doom Workshop *All-inclusive ticket $40 (Scholarships Available, Contact Andrew@pinestreetchurch.net)

8:30am - Light breakfast + coffee and conversation

9:00am - 10:15am Lecture + Question and Response

10:15am -1030am Break + Conversation

10:30am - 11:45am Lecture + Question and Response

2pm - Interview with Brian McLaren (Hyphenated Life podcast)

Sunday October 27:
*Free and open to the public

9:00am - Wisdom and Courage through The Arts

10:00am - Worship Gathering (Brian McLaren preaching)

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Elder & Deacon Leadership Cohort

We are excited to share some changes to the Elder & Deacon Nomination process. All Souls leadership recently attended a small conference with a diverse gathering of churches, and the statement was said, "Can your Elders and Deacons confidently say, this was a season of spiritual growth in my life, when describing their time serving the community?" We were grieved to realize how untrue this was for many of our Elder and Deacons at All Souls. And so we wanted to make some changes and move closer towards this vision of leadership.

What if serving as an Elder or Deacon wasn’t just about the gift of serving your community but was also a transformational gift to your own  soul?

What if with a committed cohort of other leaders you could journey together, creating a sacred circle that leads to inner depths and outward expansion?
 

We are excited to introduce this invigorated vision to our new Elder & Deacon Leadership Cohort. The Elder & Deacon Leadership Cohort seeks to be a formational community cultivating personal and spiritual wholeness together, and will be offering their personal leadership gifts to serve All Souls and the greater community. Each team will meet twice a month for two hours each time. At one monthly gathering Elders and Deacons will join together in a spiritual formation circle where we will seek to cultivate a deep inner life with God, discover spiritual practices to support our journey and offer sacred space for one another. The second monthly meeting will be a meeting consisting of leadership responsibilities that help the All Souls community to live into its Vision, Values, and Goals.

 

This will be a self-nominating process. Please click below to view and complete the Elder and Deacon Leadership Cohort application. Before applying for the cohort please review Elder and Deacon Job Descriptions and All Souls Vision, Values, and Goals.
 
Nomination applications will be accepted until Wednesday, June 28. Applications will be reviewed and prayerfully considered over the summer months, before a consistory slate is presented in early August. Any person who has been actively and regularly involved in All Souls for at least 6 months is eligible for the cohort; we are hoping for a diverse consistory of Elders and Deacons.
 
If  you have any questions or want to discern if this cohort is a good fit for you, please email staff@allsoulsboulder.org. We are beyond excited about this opportunity and look forward to you being part of the journey.

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Summer Rhythm & Worship Schedule

At All Souls, we love to enjoy summer life in the Boulder area. We recognize that this season can be very busy with travel, adventures, friends, work, family, and life. There is not much time for rest, and that’s why, each year, we keep our summer church calendar purposefully quiet.
 
The summer has its own unique and distinctive rhythm, and our summer worship schedule reflects that. In the midst of summer’s unique opportunity for rest, we also want to offer times to experience church and remain connected with the community. After each worship service, we will gather at North Boulder Park. Come for some games, bring a picnic, and enjoy a beautiful space together. All Summer Worship Services will begin at 4pm.  Please see the summer worship and gathering schedule below! 

 
June 5: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
June 12: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
June 19: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
June 26: Community Potluck (location TBA)
July 3: no worship service
July 10: no worship service
July 17: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
July 24: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
July 31: Community Potluck (location TBA)
August 7: no worship service
August 14: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
August 21: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
August 28: Summer Worship @ Pine Street
September 4: no worship service


Questions? You can reach out to staff@allsoulsboulder.org. We look forward to connecting with you this summer!

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Sister Carmen Community Center Food Drive

It’s time for our annual food drive for Sister Carmen Community Center! Let’s love and support our neighbors with the food and household items they need. 

Goal:
Donate 1000 pounds of goods during the month of March. 

How to donate:

  • Drop off directly to Sister Carmen Community Center M-F, 9:00am - 12:00pm
    655 Aspen Ridge Drive, Lafayette, CO

  • Drop off at Pine Street Church (1237 Pine St, Boulder) anytime during the week or on Sundays before or after the worship service.

When dropping off donations at Sister Carmen, tell them you’re from All Souls! They’ll track our donation amounts. 

What to donate:

High Demand Items:

  • Pantry Items: olive oil, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, sprinkles

  • Condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, sauces, herbs, spices, vinegar

  • Household Items: DISH SOAP, laundry soap, cleaners, sponges

  • Baby Items: formula, wipes

  • Nut Butters: peanut, almond, cashew

  • Fruit: jelly, jam, preserves

  • Canned Tomatoes: diced, paste, stewed, spaghetti sauce

  • Canned Beans: black, pinto, refried, garbanzo, white beans

  • Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body soap, bar soap, lotion, toothpaste

Regularly Needed Items:

  • Fruit: canned fruit, applesauce

  • Protein: tuna, salmon, canned chicken, KETO items

  • Grains: rice, gluten-free items, pastas, quinoa, cereals, crackers

  • Canned Soups & Stews: pastas, chicken soup, broth, stews

  • Snack Items: granola bars, small chip bags, protein drinks, etc

  • Over the Counter: pain relievers, vitamins, cold medications

  • Cleaning Items: soaps, detergents, bleach, sprays, disinfectant wipes

    Any questions? Email deacons@allsoulsboulder.org


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Sunday Worship Update

Dear All Souls Community,

As we transition toward a new worship space at Pine Street Church, we are striving to balance safety and care. We see a need for being together in community; however, we also know that there are still many in our city who are ineligible to be vaccinated. We consider safety to be one of our top priorities, so we have chosen to worship outdoors for the month of August. In preparation for our regular afternoon worship services at Pine Street Church, all of our outdoor services in August will be at 4pm. We will no longer be holding our worship services on Zoom.

Once we're settled into our new space at Pine Street Church in September, we fully anticipate that we will have the capabilities to livestream our services. It is our priority to include those who have been worshiping with us virtually in, around, and far from the Boulder area. Being called as followers of Christ to protect the most vulnerable in our community and city, we will continue to follow all local and state COVID-related protocols for in-person gatherings.

With this transition, we continue to welcome all ages to join us in worship. The Mission and Vision of Children’s Ministry at All Souls remains the same, but the structure of in-person services will look different as we step back into church in September. We are making changes based on safety, space, ages, inclusivity, and the creation of “whole church” culture. We are eager to bring vibrant opportunities for kids to worship, wonder, and play.

Beginning on September 12 (our first indoor worship service), there will be a nursery (ages 0-3) with vaccinated adult supervision. Elementary and youth gathering spaces, both during and outside of Sunday worship, will be coming as we move through the fall months.

If you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the leadership at All Souls.

Important dates

Here is the Sunday worship schedule from August 1st through September 12th:

Outdoor Worship Services at Boulder Valley Church of Christ, 4pm:
August 1
August 8
August 15
August 22

Open House at Pine Street Church, 4pm-6pm:
August 29

No Sunday Worship Service:
September 5

First Worship Service at Pine Street Church, 4pm:
September 12

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Summer Rest

At All Souls, we love to enjoy summer life in the Boulder area. We also know that this season can be very busy with travel, adventures, friends, work, family, and life. There's not always much time for rest. That's why, each year, we keep our July church calendar purposefully quiet. To begin the month of July with intent for rest, we will not be having a zoom service Sunday, July 4th. We hope you'll take some time this month to reflect, breathe, and rest in Christ's love.

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Adam Bailon Adam Bailon

Pastoral Transition Update

Dear Friends,

I’m writing about an upcoming change in my role at All Souls. Over a year ago I began to feel a growing curiosity stirring about my vocational journey. Over the next months I engaged in much prayer, sacred conversation and deep listening, straining to hear that still, small voice deep within me. Through that process I began to hear that voice more clearly and trust it as God’s voice in me. Through months of listening and trusting and waiting, it became clear to me that my journey is leading away from pastoring. As a result, I’ve decided to step away from my role as a pastor at All Souls. As you might expect, I have many mixed emotions about this decision, but feel as confident as I have ever felt that this is God’s path for me.

Emily and I don’t have any plans to leave the area or the All Souls community. Our family will take some time after our sabbatical this summer to find a new rhythm with you all.

When we return from sabbatical, my plan is to continue training to be certified working with the Enneagram and integrate that learning with the justice work I’ve been engaged in. I’ve met with the Elders and we are exploring if there are ways to bring that work to the All Souls community.

I’m looking forward to a time to share my gratitude for you all and get to celebrate together at our outdoor service on the 23rd. The following Sunday, May 30th, will be my last Sunday as a pastor and mark the beginning of our sabbatical.

I am so grateful for how you all have walked with me as a pastor. Through your courageous and careful listening for God’s leading in your own lives you have taught me to do the same. Thank you!

With Gratitude and Love,

Adam

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Prodigy Work Day & Plant Drive

All Souls is continuing to grow our relationship with Prodigy through a project to refresh and expand Prodigy’s outdoor space in northeast Denver. We need a volunteer crew that includes a little muscle and carpentry skills for building planter boxes and/or willingness to garden, paint, clean up and whatever else is needed. 

Prodigy Spring Work Day: Saturday, May 15, start at 10a or 1p and work 3-4 hours. 
Click
here to sign up.

We are also holding a plant drive for the new Prodigy landscape design. Sign up to buy a specific plant, then deliver it to Prodigy between May 8 and 14. While you’re there, have a copy of coffee, meet an apprentice, and experience Prodigy’s spiritual hospitality. 

Prodigy Plant Drive: Saturday, May 8 through Friday, May 14
Click
here to sign up for a specific plant.

Prodigy Coffeehouse
3801 E 40th Ave., Denver, CO 80205

Questions? Please contact Susan Grant.


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Building Update

Dear All Souls,

We want to take a moment to share our hopes and dreams for the future of our church and to let you know about a change we have decided to make.

As the Elders have prayerfully reflected on the dreams of our community shared in the Focus Groups this past Advent we have heard overwhelming affirmation of our values of Tradition and Imagination. We value tradition in our liturgy and the sacred space of worship and life we hold together while also inviting imagination through flexibility in outdoor gatherings and connections with service partners. Although this last year has proven to be difficult in many ways, it has also provided space for our church to dream of what longings, hopes, and visions we have for the sacred future of All Souls. Many of you shared a vision of finding a “home” for All Souls—a sustainable space of invitation and intimacy that deepens our connections with our city and community seven days a week.

In light of this shared longing, the Elders and Staff of All Souls have decided not to renew our contract with the Boulder SDA church whose building we currently share one day a week. When we do gather again in person, we will not be meeting at that location. We are beyond grateful for the space that the Boulder SDA building has served our community for the last 13 years. We are also listening to the dynamic needs of our community and staff, and assessing the changes in the physical space of the SDA property. We are seeking a sustainable financial future for All Souls and longing for a deeper church and city partnership. Our vision and values, reaffirmed so poignantly in the recent Focus Group meetings, lead us to the conclusion that our community’s “home” is elsewhere for now. We are holding the grief of saying goodbye to the SDA space with the hope of new ways of living into our vision in a new home.

In the midst of this decision we are continuing conversations with our partner Pine Street Church in downtown Boulder about options for sharing worship and office space. We have partnered with Pine Street Church for years now—renting office rooms and holding special events in the church building—and we have established a healthy partnership with their leadership. Pine Street is interested in deepening connections with All Souls and is willing to offer worship and gathering space with an emphasis on partnership and sustainability. We will be continuing conversations with Pine Street in the next few months as we look toward re-gathering in person.

We want to continue to listen to our community throughout this time of transition. We plan to offer open forums for discussion of how this decision lands on all of our hearts. As always, we also invite anyone to reach out to the All Souls Elders and Staff for one-on-one conversation and space to know and be known.

With love,
The All Souls Elders and Staff

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The Gyedi Project

We invite you to support The Gyedi Project, headed by our friends, Dr. Kweku Hazel, MD, and Dr. Cynthia Hazel, Ph.D.!

The Gyedi Project is a grassroots community group aimed at empowering minority and underserved people to collaborate and tackle health inequities to improve community wellbeing. “Gyedi” originates from the Akan tribe in Ghana and means “belief or confidence in oneself”.  

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Gyedi Project has educated community members in Aurora about COVID-19 and is currently hosting community-based pop-up vaccination clinics to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Dr.’s Hazel have worked closely with local community leaders to build support, offer education, and address the specific needs that exist in their community in order overcome historic and contemporary barriers to vaccinations. The local news ran a story including their work HERE.

There are significant costs associated with this kind of effort. Each clinic costs approximately $18,300 to run. Funds raised will be used to cover costs for things such as community outreach, promotion, staffing, location rental, and volunteer support (meals, childcare etc.).

We were thrilled to be able to fund the $1,740 in volunteer support needs from the Deacon Fund for the 2nd clinic, which occurred on March 20th. That day, 891 people - 75% of which were Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) - received their vaccines in a safe environment run by volunteers they trusted from the community.

Through our Easter week offering we are hoping we can raise at least $2K to support the upcoming clinic on April 17th. Please click below to give.

Dr. Cynthia Hazel is a behavioral health specialist and a researcher at the OMNI Institute where she leads and supports projects focused on public and behavioral health. Her research interests are in global health, cultural adaptation, health equity, economic evaluation, and digital health technology. Dr. Hazel received her Master’s degree in Public Health Policy from Durham University in the United Kingdom, and her Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of Colorado School of Public Health, where she specialized in Community and Behavioral Health. Originally from Ghana, Dr. Hazel has also been involved in health promotion efforts targeted at the Black community in her city of Aurora, especially the African immigrant community. Her recent collaboration with her husband Dr. Kweku Hazel is focused on reducing COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in communities of color.

Dr. Kweku Hazel is a general surgeon and a surgical fellow in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital. He received his medical degree at Texas Tech School of Medicine in Lubbock, where he also started the Barbershop BP program which is aimed at educating communities of color about high blood pressure and diabetes. Dr. Hazel completed his general surgery residency in 2019 and has been involved with educating community members in Aurora through churches and community organizations since moving to Colorado in 2012. His recent efforts have been focused on promoting vaccination equity and vaccine acceptance, while reducing hesitancy in communities of color.

Both Drs Hazel are members of the Colorado Vaccine Equity Taskforce and serve on the community outreach and policy committees. 

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Sister Carmen Community Center Food Drive

It’s time for our annual food drive for Sister Carmen Community Center! Let’s love and support our neighbors with the food and household items they need. 

Goal:

Donate 1000 pounds of goods during the month of March. 

How to donate:

  • Drop off directly to Sister Carmen Community Center M-F, 9-4 (655 Aspen Ridge Drive, Lafayette, CO)

When dropping off donations, tell them you’re from All Souls! They’ll track our donation amounts. 


COVID PRECAUTIONS:

Drop off your donations at the Food Bank by entering at the south parking lot entrance and following the cones. To maintain social distancing standards, please wear a mask and pop your trunk when you come to a stop. Staff and volunteers will wear masks and unload your items from your car. 

What to donate:

  • Fruit: canned, applesauce, jelly, jam, preserves

  • Protein: tuna, salmon, canned chicken, pinto or white beans

  • Canned Soups & Stews: pastas, chicken soup, broth, stews

  • Nut Butters: peanut, almond

  • Grains: rice, gluten-free items, pastas, quinoa, cereals, crackers

  • Canned Tomatoes: diced, whole, paste, stewed, spaghetti sauce

  • Pantry Items: cooking oil, sugar, flour, spices, vanilla extract, salt

  • Snack Items: granola bars, small chip bags, protein drinks, cracker snacks

  • Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.

  • Household items: dish & laundry soap, trash bags, paper towels, pain relievers, vitamins, cold medications

  • Cleaning Items: soaps, detergents, bleach, sprays, disinfectant wipes

  • Baby Items: formula, newborn & size 1 diapers, wipes, food

Any questions? Email deacons@allsoulsboulder.org


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Pastor Reflection

All Souls community, this has been a wild and tragic week for our country and all its people and we want to take a moment to connect and reflect on this week with you all. Let us first say, if for any reason you are in need of pastoral care or simply a listening ear, we are here to support you and one another. We need each other in moments like this as we are called to journey together and not in isolation.

The attack on the capitol this week reveals so much deep disease in our society. As we reflect on what we witnessed we are compelled to name the long and deep foundation of white racial power supporting these extremists. As it so often has, it drove crowds to violence. Because we are committed to God’s vision of a just and peaceful community of belonging and because we’ve clearly stated a goal to embrace, develop, and sustain anti-oppression we must speak out. White racial power has long relied on the support of white Christians to further its goals. We must actively work together to sever those ties.

If you are a white person this is a time to examine your relationship to white power. Today is a day to ruthlessly face the privilege that we have because of the color of our skin and today is a day to press ourself and on how we wield that privilege. We must face that white power feeds on injustice and violates the just and equal way of God. We must lament that the Church has been a part of this destructive disease.

We may not have been in that crowd but the privilege and power white people in our community enjoy is tied to the privilege and power that was on display at the capitol. We cannot simply shake our heads at, “those people.” We are invited to a deeper journey and we can do the work to recognize our connection, and examine how white power has effected our lives and community. To disentangle ourselves from white power is part of our discipleship to Christ. It is where we learn to let go of the power we’ve grasped, relax our compulsion to control and define reality, and are more free to love like God loves.

We encourage you to take sometime today to pray, reflect with others, to name and lament white power- how we’ve used it, how it has diminished us and how it opposes the good news of Christ. And again if you are looking to take a journey of examination, please know we are here to walk together.

If you haven’t already, start humbly listening to faith leaders of color who are faithfully and prophetically calling us all towards the coming kin-dom of God.There are lots of amazing organizations leading in this work if you’re looking for a place to support. Here are two of them https://freedomroad.us/ and https://bethebridge.com/

Remember All Souls are a people on a journey together, we are not called to engage in the work of anti-oppression alone, this is an invitation to collective liberation. So wherever you are in this internal and external journey, may this be another opportunity to actively engage in humble learning, honest relationships, and deeper discipleship to Christ. As pilgrims of peace-seeking may we lament, pray, examine, seek God, and act for love of our neighbors and God’s collective and sacred community.

Grace and Peace,
Adam and Will

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Christmas Eve Service

Join us for a beautiful and simple online candle light service at 5pm. We will sing a lot, dream together, open our heart to the birth of God within and all around! Please bring a candle. You can click below for the zoom link and worship guide.

Join Here

Worship Guide

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