The Longest Night Service, December 20
There is an Advent tradition within Western Christianity of inviting people to come together for the Longest Night, a night around the time of the winter solstice, when there are more hours of darkness than light. It’s a time to come together for prayers and laments, to mourn the losses and griefs of the year, to let the tears flow for the hurting places in our own lives, as well as for our country and our world. Known also as “Blue Christmas,” a Longest Night Gathering is a safe and sacred space to share anguish, to plead with God to remember us, to pray for justice and restoration, even to hope against hope, through our doubts and tears and fears, that “God will set things right all over the earth.” Please join us Sunday, December 20, at 8pm, via zoom. Please click here to rsvp, and you can click below for the zoom link. All are welcome!
Community Life During Pandemic
Dear All Souls Community,
We want to take a moment to continue our communication regarding how we are navigating this Covid season as a church. Many of you have had to engage in many transitions with school, work, and community life. It has not been easy but we have witnessed the resilience of this community. Thank you for the ways you have continued to show up for each other--whether through Sunday morning zoom services, outdoor small groups, bringing dinners to those in need, or serving with our city partners. This community is amazing!
Also, thank you for taking time for the survey and letting us know what you think and how you’re feeling--it meant a lot to hear from you. Most of you expressed a desire to be together. You also voiced your concern around the risk of gathering, the difficulty in following guidelines (particularly with kids), and the challenge and potential disappointment of gathering with restrictions. And some of you prefer continuing with our Zoom meetings. We hear you! We long to gather and we want to make that happen. We will also honor your needs and concerns and the safety of our city. And so to spearhead finding ways to gather we have developed a brilliant group we are calling the Reimagine Gathering team.
Our Reimagine Gathering team is focusing on our options for gathering outdoors, indoors, and online (for worship and socializing). Our leaders are actively exploring the safest and most meaningful ways to be together in-person. We are looking into beautiful outdoor locations and partnering with the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church (who are just now starting to meet in person and indoors). The team is working to ensure we are adhering to state and local guidelines, and learning best practices from other communities. Our plan is to mitigate risk, set a good example, and at the same time find meaning and comfort in gathering together. We are excited to start by celebrating All Souls (or All Saints) Day for our first gathering and special outdoor service on the afternoon of November 1st. Mark your calendars!
Please thank our Reimagine Gathering team: Leah Cousin, Kyle Gach, Susan Grant, John Patton, and Deb Pierce for their work. As they continue in this work please bring your questions to our leaders and to our October 25th Congregational Meeting. And as always, as your life is being affected during this season we want to support each other. If you have any needs or concerns don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you are interested, these are a few of the resources we are using to direct our guidelines.
https://www.bouldercounty.org/families/disease/covid-19/
https://covid19.colorado.gov/worship-guidance
Articles featuring Shelly Miller, SDA member and CU professor of mechanical engineering:
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/air-vents-coronavirus/
https://www.npr.org/2020/08/10/888945949/is-singing-together-safe-in-the-era-of-coronavirus-not-really-experts-say
All Souls Sunday Worship, October 11
Volunteer @ Prodigy
All Souls is looking for 6 volunteers to connect with our new partner, Prodigy Coffeehouse, and to help with some outdoor beautification and gardening at their shop in Denver. Volunteers will be asked to do some weeding, painting, exterior cleanup, and gardening to help with upkeep and to get to know and establish the beginnings of our relationship with Prodigy. Kids are welcome to join and help with the work! Tools, materials, and some refreshments will be provided.
"Prodigy Coffeehouse Fall Cleanup"
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: Noon-4pm
Location: 3801 E 40th Ave, Denver, CO 80205
If you would like to volunteer click here. The link will take you to a form to submit your contact info, and then you will receive an email in regards to how to sign up! Have questions about the event? Please contact Dave VanNoord.
All Souls Sunday Worship, October 4
Volunteer @ Prodigy
All Souls is looking for 6 volunteers to connect with our new partner, Prodigy Coffeehouse, and to help with some outdoor beautification and gardening at their shop in Denver. Volunteers will be asked to do some weeding, painting, exterior cleanup, and gardening to help with upkeep and to get to know and establish the beginnings of our relationship with Prodigy. Kids are welcome to join and help with the work! Tools, materials, and some refreshments will be provided.
"Prodigy Coffeehouse Fall Cleanup"
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: Noon-4pm
Location: 3801 E 40th Ave, Denver, CO 80205
If you would like to volunteer click here. The link will take you to a form to submit your contact info, and then you will receive an email in regards to how to sign up! Have questions about the event? Please contact Dave VanNoord.