What's New

Sunday, February 26 - The First Sunday of Lent

Sunday Schedule for Sunday School for all ages at 9:00 am

Child care for children under 3 in the Nursery
Godly Play - Pre-school and K-1st graders in Room 12
Sunday School activities - Grades 2-12 and adults meet in the Fireside Room for the scripture reading and a song before choosing a learning opportunity in a classroom.
Discussion group meets in the Fireside Room following the gathering.

Worship and Children's Worship at 10:15 am
Fellowship Time in the Library Lounge follows the worship service

Young worshippers (4 year olds-3rd grade) meet following the Time With Young Worshippers during the service at 10:15 am on most Sundays. Children return to the Sanctuary for the last hymn and communion on the first Sunday of the month. Communion bread baking for 4th grade and older youth is on the last Sun. of the month at 10:15 am.

Please see Church Happenings for weekly updates.

Worship, Reflection & Formation in Lent

Our journey through Lent together begins on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 5:30pm with a meal and a traditional ritual of ashes. Please see Lent Brochure for a full description of the five Sundays of Lent and Holy Week events. New this year - a prayer & meditation service on Wed. mornings at 8am beginning on Ash Wed., Feb. 22.

The 2012 Lenten Devotional Booklet theme this year ties in with the church-wide theme: Hospitality. From Hebrews 13:2 - “Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it!”

Friday Night Movie

We are planning to show the film, "The Help" this Friday, Feb. 24 at 7 pm. Please RSVP to Bill and Marilyn Decker at 303-774-9597.

Beverage and Brats

Join this men's fellowship group next on Feb. 29 at 6 pm, at the home of Steve and Karen Henderson, 2251 Mariner Dr., Longmont. Please call Steve at 303-772-7703 to RSVP. The program will be a slide show of nature photographs and wildlife taken by Dr. Peter Hartlove.

Church Newsletter and Artist of the Month

Check out the church newsletter - please see Courier. The February featured artists are Katy Diver and Charlotte Zink. See Featured Artists for more information.

Community Events

Empty Bowls - March 10 at Longmont High School

The OUR Center Empty Bowls lunch ( two bowls of soup, bread & dessert, plus a ceramic bowl) will be Saturday March 10, 2012, at Longmont High School. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from Carol Matheis-Kraft every Sunday in February in the library lounge. All proceeds benefit the OUR Center food program. Let's support this great fundraiser!

Library News

Stop by the library during Fellowship Time and check out a book or video.

Featured this month are a number of our titles supporting spiritual growth - the theme of this year's Women's Retreat March 2 -4. They are available for checkout now as well as at the event. Both men and women will find them to be a wonderful source and helpful guide as we each travel the path of our own "journey." —Julie Nosek, Library Coordinator for the Christian Education Board

Stewardship Message

Stewards of Our Relationship with One Another

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. – Luke 10:27

We belong to God; we belong to one another. In his book, Reaching Out, Henri Nouwen tells of a reunion with a former student, an experience that revealed to him the meaning of community: “It is the Christ in you, who recognizes the Christ in me… From now on, wherever you go, or wherever I go, all the ground between us will be holy ground.”

During February, let us walk on holy ground, practicing the radical hospitality Jesus modeled. Starting with our most personal and intimate relationships and moving through expanding circles – of friends, relations, church family, co-workers, and others with whom we come in contact – we tend to the quality of our interaction in these relationships using spiritual practices of forgiveness, reconciliation, justice, openness, honesty, hospitality, shaping communities. We widen our circle, reaching out to unknown neighbors through local and ecumenical service organizations and UCC programs and networks.

We participate in the One Great Hour of Sharing special mission offering, typically promoted in churches during February and received the first Sunday in March. As centers of hope and transformation, local churches guide people onto holy ground.

A message from Stewards in the Household of God: a Resource for Holistic Year-round Stewardship available from United Church of Christ Resources.

February 2012

For more monthly Stewardship messages: