Sunday
Studying the Lord’s Prayer 9:30 am, Parlor
This will be a discussion facilitated by Alice Silver, drawing from the book “Becoming the Jesus’ Prayer” by Palmer, McCalmont and Milford. We will use it as a guide to understanding and praying with more depth. How better to deepen our prayer life than using the model Jesus gave his disciples? The book will be available for $10 in class or at Amazon online (click here).

Wednesday
Survey of the New Testament, 9:30 am-11:30 am, Fireside Chapel
This class is led by Rev. Steve Poos-Benson, and explores the books of the New Testament through the cultural context of the early church.

Brown Bag Bible 1:00 pm,  Fireside Chapel
Brown Bag Bible, a women’s bible study class, will be using the book, A Walk With Christ to the Cross, by Dawson McAllister, as the focus of their Lenten Study. All women are invited to join us. Please call the church office if you have questions: 303-798-1845.

Everything You Wish You Knew… but missed while sleeping ….during your high school and/or college history classes, 7:00 pm, Fireside Chapel
Rev. Laurene Lafontaine is teaching this fun and interactive class exploring European Western Civilization and the development of the church. You won’t be sleeping through this one! Each class is self-contained, no book is required and materials will be provided. Meets from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.  We will be exploring Scottish History, 1400-1700.

Join us on March 19th for a Leprechaun party at CUC. You can get your fill of corned beef and cabbage! GREEN IS THE COLOR FOR THE MARCH NIGHT! Cost for this event will be $5.00 and we’ll each bring a side dish or dessert to share. “The Group” is a happy and fun opportunity for adults to get together at CUC. Come and join us!

Are your arms ready for some paddling? We are planning a 3 day, 2 night trip down the Gunnison River 
August 6, 7, and 8th. This is a very mellow river and even an inexperienced “canoer” would have fun on this trip. We all stay together and have water fights. We are going through Centennial Canoe and Charlie Simmons will be one of our guides. If you are interested, call the church office, 303-798-1845.  WE need at least 15 but have room for 23. The price is $300 for adults and $270 for children under 12. The price includes all meals and beverages with wine in the evenings (for adults only). The food is excellent, the service amazing, and the ambiance outstanding.

The Columbine Men’s Group meets Saturday mornings at The Egg and I on Belleview, between Federal and Santa Fe.  Meet with other CUC men to chat, share thoughts, discuss current events, community, and personal needs, and of course get a good breakfast.  We are reforming, so here is your change to give your own thoughts and direction to the group.  Please contact church office for more information.

This new group is being formed to explore how CUC might reach out to young adults in our church community. This is a ground floor opportunity to assist in developing a much needed new ministry at CUC.  If you are interested in more information,  please contact the church office, 303-798-1845

The awesome Prayer Shawl Ministry at CUC has begun a new initiative for 2010.  As we knit and crochet beautiful shawls, we are intentionally directing our gathered energy to praying for friends and enemies.  It’s a powerful prayer practice.  We identify, who we want to pray for and then write their names on a piece of paper.  We put the piece of paper in the center of our circle and then each person chooses a personal item (ring, watch, keys, etc.) and places it so it touches the paper.  The preparation is complete.  In silence, we pray with this focus for 20 minutes.  It truly gave new meaning to the old sayings of  “A peaceful easy feeling” and “Good Vibrations.”  The CUC Prayer Shawl Ministry meet the first Tuesday of every month in the Fireside Chapel at 7:00 pm.  Newcomers and newbie knitters are always welcome.  As of 1/1/10, we have made and given 250 prayer shawls.

From Rae Bird, RN
CUC’s Parish Nurse

It seems as though Vitamin D is the supplement of the week.  I’ve talked with several church members and was surprised at the number of folks who said they had blood work done at their doctor’s office and found out they were Vitamin D deficient.  The season may have something to do with that finding since we obtain most of our Vitamin D through sun exposure.  Sun screens with a SPF higher than 8 eliminate any absorption of Vitamin D. This fall and winter have not been great for sun exposure because of the cold temperatures and frequent cloudy days with snow.

The three sources of Vitamin D are sun exposure, supplements, and food.  The foods with the highest levels of Vitamin D are canned salmon, fresh salmon, canned tuna, whole eggs, and fortified foods like fortified orange juice with calcium, fortified milk, and fortified cereals.  The main function of Vitamin D is to aid in calcium absorption to strengthen bones and prevent or reduce osteoporosis.  On going research shows that it may also reduce the risk of some cancers (particularly colon cancer), help regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and  greatly reduce chances of dying from a stroke.  Low levels of Vitamin D can cause muscle weakness and bone pain.  Before rushing out and buying a bottle of Vitamin D, I would recommend that you check with your physician, and perhaps have a simple blood test to check your level.  If you have a history of para-thyroid disease or kidney stones, it is imperative that you check with your physician.  Increased calcium absorption would be contraindicated with those conditions unless your levels were very low.

If you would like more information, check out this website http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov

White Elephant Gift Exchange Party and Dessert, 7:00 pm on January 15th in Biel Hall
On December 13th, forty of us attended the Denver Brass Holiday Concert and then went to the McElroy’s for dessert as part of the new adult social group called simply “The Group.” We had a fantastic time together! Our next event is a White Elephant Gift Exchange on January 15th. We’ll begin with a dessert potluck at 7:00 in Biel Hall. Bring your wrapped gift
to the Fireside Room that evening and place it under the tree. You may have recently received a gift you wouldn’t have chosen for yourself … a set of tire chains, a mink toilet seat cover, a rubber chicken, maybe even a gruesome tacky lamp. Prepare for an evening of laughs and giggling. Come and join us! Bring a dessert to share. No reservations, just come and
join the fun. Be sure to put our Valentine’s Day dinner out together on February 12th and Leprechaun Party on March 19th at CUC on your calendar! If you want further information, please contact Sandy Sexton, Jan Clayton, or Marie Schreiber.

Sunday, October 25th

Jesus Wants to Save Christians Sunday, 10:45 am in the Parlor
Led by Tim James, this 7-week class will explore the book, “Jesus Wants to Save Christians” by Rob Bell and Don Golden. Come for a lively discussion of relevant topics. Purchase book at Barnes & Noble, Zonderan.com or Amazon.com

Wednesday, October 28th

Where is God Beyond the Church Walls?  9:30 am in the Fireside Chapel and 7:00 pm in the Adult Ed Room
Using Barbara Brown Taylor’s latest book, “An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith”, we will explore that question and others, looking beyond those walls to become more human and develop a richer spiritual life. One class meets on Wednesday mornings with Steve and Carol is leading the evening class.

Brown Bag Bible, 1:00 pm in the Fireside Chapel
Brown Bag Bible will be selecting our upcoming book. All women are invited to join us. For more information, please call church office 303-798-1845

Everything You Would Like to Know Now, but Missed while Sleeping…, 7:00 pm in the Fireside Chapel
during your high school and college history classes. Laurene will be leading this weekly fun and interactive class exploring Western Civ as it relates to the church. We promise you won’t be sleeping through this one! Each class is self-contained. No book is required as materials will be provided as needed. This week, we will look at the English Civil War/Glorious Revolution.

Everything You Would Like to Know Now, but Missed while Sleeping…during your high school and college history classes. Laurene will be leading this weekly fun and interactive class exploring Western Civ as it relates to the church. We promise you won’t be sleeping through this one! Each class is self-contained. No book is required as materials will be provided as needed. This week, Wednesday, October 21st at 7:00 pm, we will look at the impact of Scientific Revolution

On Wednesday, October 21st, the Brown Bag Bible group will meet at the church at 11:15 am for a trip to the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Sedalia. We will be spending the afternoon in prayer. Bring a lunch. All women are invited to join us. On the 28th, we will be selecting our upcoming book. For more information, please call church office.

Sunday, October 11th
Getting to Know Jesus, 9:30 am in the Parlor
A 4-week class led by Linda Tafoya. Bring a bible and your curiosity to learn more about Jesus.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians, 10:45 am in the Parlor
Led by Tim James, this first of a 7-week class will explore the book, “Jesus Wants to Save Christians” by Rob Bell and Don Golden. Come for a lively discussion of relevant topics. Purchase book at Barnes & Noble, Zonderan.com or Amazon.com

Wednesday, October 14th
Where is God Beyond the Church Walls? 7:00 pm in Adult Ed Room
Using Barbara Brown Taylor’s latest book, “An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith”, we will explore that question and others, looking beyond those walls to become more human and develop a richer spiritual life. Carol is leading the evening class.
**The Wednesday morning Class will not meet Wednesday, October 14.

Brown Bag Bible, 1:00 pm in the Fireside Chapel
Brown Bag Bible are studying “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver. All women are invited to join us. For more info, please call church office 303-798-1845

Everything You Would Like to Know Now, but Missed while Sleeping…, 7:00 pm in the Parlor
during your high school and college history classes. Laurene will be leading this weekly fun and interactive class exploring Western Civ as it relates to the church. We promise you won’t be sleeping through this one! Each class is self-contained. No book is required as materials will be provided as needed. This week, we will briefly look at the Age of Discovery, War of the Three Henrys and begin to explore the impact of the Scientific Revolution upon our worldview.

If you are interested in joining CUC, you are invited to the new members classes . You will meet with Rev Steve Poos-Benson and CUC lay leaders, hear about our church history and polity, staffing, ecumenical relations, and the council structure. The group will explore how to respond to God’s call to share your gifts at CUC. During the last class, you will be able to decide if you wish to join CUC during the October 25th worship service.
Classes will be
Sundays, October 4, 11, 18th 10:30-12:30 pm
Mondays, October 5, 12, 19th 6:30-8:30 pm
If you are planning to attend, please call the church office at 303-798-1845. If you have child care needs, let the church office know by giving your children’s names and ages.