Year: 2021 (Page 13 of 23)

Reopening, Camp Recap & The Many Hands Project

June 18, 2021 /

We are so glad to have taken a big step toward reopening last week with the first session of Chalice Camp! Having kids back at the church was a breath of joy. From animal blessings to yoga, learning about Courageous Love to face painting, and science lessons to sing-alongs, campers built new friendships, learned about Unitarian Universalism, and connected with our Foothills community. 

As we’re exploring in our June Worship Series, IRL, returning to being together in person can feel joyful, overwhelming, thrilling, confusing, exhausting, and even downright awkward. On Tuesday, we were so happy to connect with 18 of you at the FoCo Food Truck Rally for the first group gathering of Friends Night IRL, our IRL series practice. As our Communications Manager Kelsey shared: “I forgot what to do with my face after months of being covered by a mask.” And you know what? That’s okay! We’re all bound to have our “strange face” moments. That’s why we’re embarking on the IRL journey together – to practice those social skills that may have grown rusty, to embrace the uncertainty, to find belonging and acceptance even and especially when it’s awkward.

If you couldn’t make it on Tuesday (We get it. It was HOT!), you have two more opportunities to join us at the Food Truck Rally for Friends Night IRL. We’ll be there Tuesday, June 22nd and 29th, starting at 5:30 pm in City Park. You can also participate in Friends Night IRL on your own time. Learn more by clicking on the image below!

Being together for flower communion, camp, and other small get-togethers over the past few weeks has made us even more eagerly anticipate the return to our beloved church for regular gatherings and services. After over a year of being away, though, we recognize that some places on our property could benefit from some TLC. In keeping with our dedication to serve, Foothills’ Program Coordinator, Amy Gage, is organizing The Many Hands Project so we can work together to spruce up our space.

We invite you to serve our church and each other by taking on some of the identified projects to help fix up our grounds. Together, we can help beautify this safe space for ourselves and each other as we slowly transition back together again.
 
Please CLICK HERE to register for one of the listed projects, and we will get ahold of you to discuss the details and schedule a date and time. Some projects are more appropriate for groups, and some are more appropriate for individuals. 
 
Some of these opportunities you can do in your own time. Others will be done in small groups where there will be a chance to gather afterward and socialize. You can indicate your preference in the registration questionnaire.
 
If you have a special skill set that might be well-suited for a specific project, please let us know by emailing Amy at amy@foothillsuu.org.
 
You can also learn more about our plans for reopening by visiting foothillsuu.org/reopening.
 
We look forward to setting you and your family soon!
 
In love, joy, and partnership,
 
Rev. Gretchen

How Busy Is Your Summer?

June 17, 2021 /

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last week we asked you to share with us how busy you were feeling this summer. Here are your responses:[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”43314″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Being Together IRL

June 10, 2021 /

During Sunday’s service, I asked how many of you typically have at least one awkward moment a day. The majority of you raised your hands. After 15 months of profound caution, social distancing, and, for many of us, long stretches of isolation, those awkward moments are more frequent than ever. And that’s okay! It’s normal to have awkward moments. As we explored on Sunday, awkward moments can open the door to deeper connection and, in turn, belonging. It’s also okay to feel like you’re out of practice when seeing others IRL (in real life) – I know I am.  

With vaccination rates rising and cases of Covid-19 declining in Colorado, we’re excited to announce several upcoming opportunities to be together in person – opportunities where you can feel confident that your Foothills family will embrace awkward moments and create a space for you to stretch those social skills that may have taken a backseat during the wild and exhausting ride of the past year. 

For our first IRL series spiritual practice, we’re not only exercising our social skills and embracing the awkward. We’re also supporting local restaurants – so many of which have struggled over the last year. Check out two ways to participate in Friends Night IRL HERE. And stay tuned for information about our second series practice, which will create space for small groups to gather at each other’s homes for pot luck dinners and conversation.

We’re also thrilled to announce the following IRL gatherings:

July 18th: Open House at the church with the ministers
August 21: Summer Picnic at Rolland Moore Park
September 19: Water Communion, outside at church
October 17: Our first, in-person, all-congregation service (Location TBD)

Additionally, there are two service opportunities and a Summer Solstice celebration coming up in June and July! Check out those chances to be together IRL below! 

And remember, as you make this huge transition to life post-pandemic, you aren’t alone. We’re right here with you every step of the way. 

In partnership,

Rev. Sean

Service Opportunities IRL

We have two upcoming opportunities for you to join fellow Foothills congregants in serving the broader Northern Colorado community.

First, join us on Saturday, June 26th for a day of service with Poudre Wilderness Volunteers! We’ll head up to the Comanche Peaks area to clear trails and do ecological restoration work. (The clean-up area about a 90-minute drive away, and we will help coordinate carpooling!) Please CLICK HERE to sign up!

Second, join us on Saturday, July 24th for Habitat Volunteer Day! Foothills is again one of the sponsor churches for the Habitat Multi-Faith Build. This year we will be providing both financial and volunteer support to build a home for Karen. There are two ways to participate (longer and shorter shifts), but spots are limited, so please register soon! CLICK HERE to learn more and sign-up.

Summer Solstice Celebration

Summer Solstice is the time when the Sun is at its zenith.  It is a time of high energy, passion, and growth. The earth is in full bloom. Summer Solstice is also the time when the sun stops its northward movement and begins to slip southward.  

For us in the northern hemisphere, it means we begin to experience the shortening of our daylight and the return of more nighttime hours. So though we celebrate the strength and power of the sun, we also must acknowledge the return of the dark.  

We will mark this occasion on the church’s patio with a traditional solstice fire of cleansing and gratitude. We will also welcome the return of the dark.  All church members and friends are invited to attend and participate. We will practice social distancing according to church guidelines, and masks will be optional. If you would like to share food after the ritual with others in attendance, please bring food to share. Salads and finger foods are encouraged. CLICK HERE to register!

Our Favorite Local Food

June 10, 2021 /

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]People are starting to return to their favorite restaurants! What restaurant(s) do you like to support in town?

  • 415
  • Austin’s (3)
  • Back Porch Café
  • Bann Thai
  • Blue Agave (2)
  • Cacciatore
  • Canino’s
  • Charcoal Broiler
  • Dazbog
  • Domenic’s (near Harmony and Lemay)
  • FOCO Cafe
  • Genoa Coffee and Wine
  • Green Light Café
  • Himalayan Bistro
  • Inca
  • Jeju Japanese Restaurant
  • La Creperie (2)
  • Little Bluebird Café
  • Locality
  • Los Camales
  • Los Tarascos (2)
  • Moot House
  • Mt. Everest (2)
  • Mugs
  • Music City Hot Chicken!
  • Pizza Casbah
  • Rainbow Room (2)
  • Rise (2)
  • Scrumpys
  • Silver Grill (2)
  • Simmer
  • Slyce
  • Snooze
  • Star of India
  • Starry Night
  • Suehiro
  • Taco Stop!
  • The Rio (2)
  • Tom Kha Thai (2)
  • Torchy’s Tacos
  • Uno Mas Taqueria- our neighbor owns it!
  • Vincents

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

What We Are Growing In Our Gardens (Or In Our Lives)

June 3, 2021 /

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What are you growing in your garden this season? Or (for the non-gardeners) what hobby are you currently pursuing?

  • About 18 years ago my wife and I completely replanted our yard, front and back.  Recent heavy snowstorms have seriously damaged several small trees and bushes.  The three maples we planted in the back yard have finally grown together, providing lots of shade.  Unfortunately, between these two, I’m having to dig out and re-design the planting areas, some things just are not happy with all the shade!  So, no garden but I’ll have lots of fun picking out new plants.  Lots of other projects to work on, going to be a busy summer for me.
  • As a condo resident, I have no garden, so I scratch that itch for dirt under my fingernails garden. Iris are at their peak. Beautiful!
  • Basil, parsley, chives, mint, thyme, oregano, spring onions, peas, strawberries, raspberries, cucumbers, lettuce.
  • Basil, thyme, rosemary, chives, cilantro, tomatoes and the three sisters.
  • Biking
  • Carol’s husband is growing a wide variety of veggies: corn, tomatoes, squash, carrots, onions, beans and others. Carol will do most of the freezing and canning.
  • Cherry tomatoes, Plum tomatoes, Red Peppers, Eggplant, Basil
  • Currently, arugula, lettuce, and spinach. Basil, pole beans, and cosmos seedlings I hope are on their way, then tomato, eggplant, chard, kale and cucumbers. Assorted annuals and flower baskets in June.
  • Drought resistant everything : )
  • Garlic
  • Got herbs in and my pots filled with flowers..hurrah..now for glass of wine and enjoy evenings with them on deck….
  • Herbs, shishitsu peppers, eggplant, flowers.😊
  • I have 3 large pots in my apt.: Purple has unknown Hawaiian plant, sky blue pot  has a 3 yrs old amaryllis & sprout of Hawaiian plant, blue pot has a night blooming Cereus & soon a sprout of Christmas cactus. My cats have their own pot for grass, ate their cat grass down, then ate the roots
  • I have a porch garden & have a few flowers, tomato plants, cilantro & attempting a white eggplant
  • I’m enjoying weeding our flower beds, believe it or not
  • Jon’s the gardener. He’s growing strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, pumpkin, zucchini, beets, tomatoes, basil, jalapeños, bell peppers, cucumbers, peas, green beans, cilantro & dill. We also have perennials; rosemary and chives.
  • Kale, broccoli, peas, peppers, carrots.. whiten pumpkins for my daughter. And lots of herbs!!!
  • Lots of great flowers, tomatoes & rhubarb. 😊
  • Lots of veggies – tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, kale, carrots, beets, beans, squash, kohlrabi… want to add some flowers too.
  • Not sure just yet
  • Painting flowers
  • Purple and yellow flowers and playing pickleball
  • Raspberries.
  • Singing
  • Swiss chard
  • Taking it easier than last year when I had so much lettuce and so many carrots it seems I just spent all my time taking care of those two veggies.  Only doing a few veggies this summer.
  • Thyme, cilantro, lettuce, pansies, rosemary
  • Tomatoes, onions, eggplant, beets, carrots, shallots, leeks, summer squash, winter squash, lettuce, cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, ground cherries, peppers, tomatillos, peas, beans, dill, basil, cilantro, and flowers
  • Tomatoes 🍅, I hope.
  • Tomatoes, peas, spinach, peppers and flowers.
  • We joined a local neighborhood pool and will start swimming again after decades.
  • Weeds. Oh and veggies: peas, spinach, arugula, lettuce, onions, garlic, eggplant, broccoli whew, and more. And flowers 💐
  • 🍅, kale, turnip greens, collards, cukes, squash, sweet potatoes, & cantaloupe.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2025 Dispatches from the journey of Foothills Unitarian

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑