Year: 2023 (Page 2 of 8)

You’re Invited to Celebrate Anyway!

October 25, 2023 /

Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and sometimes, we find ourselves in situations we never anticipated. But here’s the thing – even when the road is bumpy, the journey is worth celebrating. This Sunday, October 29th, we invite you to join us for a unique celebration that exemplifies the spirit of finding joy in life’s unexpected twists.

In a world where we’re often told to wait for the perfect moment to celebrate, we say, “Celebrate Anyway!” When your plans go awry, and you find yourself stuck in an in-between, that’s the perfect time to raise a glass and dance to the rhythm of life. Why? Because every moment, even the half-done, the complicated, the filled-with-questions, and the disrupted, is worthy of celebration, affirmation, and gratitude.

This Sunday, we had originally planned to move into our new sanctuary, but sometimes life has its own agenda. Our community, for over 125 years, has embraced this perspective – facing challenges head-on, persevering through struggles, and never letting the tough times overshadow the joy. We are a community that knows how to “Celebrate Anyway!”

We encourage you to come dressed for your favorite celebration! It could be a prom, a wedding, a special date, a birthday party, or even a Halloween bash. Perhaps you want to wear your costume to church or opt for a fancy hat and special shoes. Whatever makes you feel celebratory, wear it with pride and join us in embracing the unexpected with a smile.

To top it all off, we’ll be celebrating our Building Expansion Team for all their hard work and dedication with sparkling cider toasts following each of our services. Join us in raising your glass and toasting to the wonderful and often unpredictable journey of life.

We gather at 8:30 AM in-person and again at 10:30 AM in person and online. This Sunday, let’s remember that life is a beautiful and ever-unfolding adventure, and that the best moments are often the unexpected ones. So, let’s come together and “Celebrate Anyway!”

Online Auction 2023

October 9, 2023 /

Bidding is open for the 2023 online auction opens Tuesday, October 10 at noon! 

This year’s online auction is HUGE – there’s something for everyone across all price points. Here’s how to participate:

Step One: Register on the auction site. Registering for the Online Auction is simple – you don’t need to enter a credit card to bid. 

Step Two: Explore the auction catalog! There are so many wonderful items and experiences in the auction catalog, check them out and place your first bids. Be sure to review the Auction Tips page and be sure to check your email regularly throughout the week!

There’s also an app for our Online Auction on your smartphone (called Auctria). It’s available for iOS and Android. After you’ve registered on the website, you can scroll and bid on the items on your phone, tablet or computer! 

Bidding for the online auction closes Tuesday, October 17 at 8 PM.

Step Three: Donate to the Special Appeal! We once again have the chance to fund critical work through our Auction Special Appeal, a set-aside fundraising effort during the Annual Auction.

This year, the funds raised through the Special Appeal will be shared equally between upgrading Foothills Unitarian’s security and supporting important community events in celebration of Black History Month. 

Black History Month Events – Our friends and partners at The BIPOC Alliance are hosting important community events in celebration of Black History Month in January and February of 2024. We need your support to help us raise $7,500 to make these events possible. From thought-provoking discussions to captivating performances, the celebration promises to deepen our community’s understanding of Black history, while fostering unity, joy, and appreciation. Donate today and be a part of this meaningful celebration!

Foothills’ Upgraded Security – At Foothills, your safety and well-being are paramount to us. We take pride in fostering a warm and welcoming environment while also prioritizing your security. To enhance our commitment to your safety, we are excited to announce significant improvements.

We are installing multiple security cameras inside and outside the building, implementing door alarms, and introducing panic buttons for your added peace of mind. Additionally, we’re expanding our monitoring capabilities by partnering with a trusted third party. Your support in investing in these security measures ensures that our church remains a place of refuge and community, where you can worship and connect with confidence. Join us in building a safer and more secure future together. 

If you need any help registering for the Online Auction or navigating the site, please reach out to the Auction Team at foothillsauction@gmail.com. We’re happy to help!

Team Tubular – Kay Williams, Lindsay Tearman, Laurie Cullor, Carri Ratazzi, Kate Peterson, and John Connors

First Times: Fall 2023 Series Invitation

September 22, 2023 /

Dear ones,

I was thinking the other day about my first time being a supervisor.

I was 23, and the closest experiences I had to draw on for supervision were one of three things: being the oldest sibling, group work in school, or being the director of a play. As the oldest sibling, my entire childhood prepared me to direct, instruct, and orchestrate my mostly compliant sisters. Group work, on the other hand, taught me to distrust my partners and ultimately do or re-do all the work myself. And theatre direction taught me to expect a creative and collaborative process (instead of deliverables and a chain of command). None of these were all that great analogies to the supervision of other adults, who were, in most cases, much older and more experienced than I was.

This is all to say my first experience of supervising others was a total disaster. Unless, of course, you gauge success as a matter of how much you learned, in which case, as a first-time supervisor, I won all the prizes. 

I only wish that someone would’ve told me that this was completely normal. First times are often total disasters! …Unless learning is our measure – which, of course, it should be. Because first times are awkward, messy, disorienting, slow, and often embarrassing. And also, they are the best opportunity we have to really learn something we didn’t know before. They are the best chance we have for growth and for change. 

On the other hand, once you hit middle age, you start to realize that, in a lot of cases, you aren’t a newbie anymore. You know some things and have some skills, comfort, and ease. What a relief! Until suddenly, you realize you’re not a newbie in a lot of things, but you are a newbie in being exactly “here.” 

For me, that “here” is things like having a child who is also somehow, incredibly, technically, an adult. Or, having very real conversations with my parents about their end-of-life plans. Or contemplated empty nest realities. These are all complete first times for me. And just like being a supervisor for the first time, sometimes I feel like a total disaster. But also, just like then, I am constantly learning so much. I am trying to hold on with intention to my values. And I am trying, most of all, to keep my sense of humor and a lot of self-compassion. 

Brené Brown calls this experience of “firsts” TFTs, or Terrible First Times. Because first times are usually not at all what we were expecting. Especially when we spent a lot of time looking forward to the first time! Whether we’re talking the first time we say our truth, the first time we leap into justice work, the first time we fall in love, or the first time we do something without someone we love. First times can make us feel insecure, incompetent, and out-of-sorts. We start to doubt ourselves globally. When really, it’s just a TFT!

As we prepare to move into our new sanctuary for the very first time, join us for a series exploring all of our first times. We’ll share strategies to help you stay present to the joy and the wonder of the first time and to help us reconnect with our bigger why that inevitably and beautifully fills our life with TFTs. Rev. Elaine will bravely go first, Sunday, September 24th – see you then! 

We gather in person at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. We also gather online at 10:30 AM. You can find details about our services at foothillsuu.org/sunday and helpful information on our FAQ page.

With love,

Gretchen

The Building Bulletin: September 2023

September 21, 2023 /

HERE IT IS!! The long-awaited part for the HVAC system (the coil) is installed and ready to go!

The five HVAC units have arrived, were installed on the roof, and are running. The arrival and placement were a fascinating production. Thanks to Peg for documenting the process!

The crane and a flatbed truck arrive early in the morning. Note the dark clouds in the background.

Large discs were unloaded to serve as support for the extendable legs of the crane. 

Once the legs are extended, the wheels of the crane truck are lifted, and the legs fully support the crane.

Several large, heavy metal blocks were placed on the back of the crane to serve as a counterweight. The crane begins to extend. The crane extended into six sections.

The crane begins to extend.

Finally extending far enough to pass over the patio and oak tree to reach the flat roof that will hold the HVAC units. A practice run with an empty hook was used to verify correct placement.

Ductwork being delivered to the roof.

One of the units being unwrapped.

And delivered to the roof.

Another unit ready to go.

And lifted.

There are five units in total. All were placed in about three hours with no mishaps, and the job was completed before the rain hit.

In other news…
 
Our beautiful new carpet installation started last week, along with wood trim and the stage flooring in the Sanctuary. Installing the new carpet required the removal of the half wall separating the existing social hall from the new construction. It is wonderful to get a sense of how large our new entry hall is. This is still a construction area, so please honor the temporary barriers.

One of the problems we’ve encountered along the way is the drainage from our detention pond/rain garden. The original plan was to build a drain out into Drake Ave. Unfortunately, a concrete conduit for high voltage was discovered when the hole was opened into the street—this required redesign and reapproval from the city, and thus a delay. We are now draining under the sidewalk directly into the gutter. The city required a special galvanized plate to put over the sidewalk. The plate has arrived, and the sidewalk work started last week.

We are still waiting for the final approval of our Fire Alarm Control Panel design. The drawings have been sent to the Poudre Fire Department, and we await a response. Once approved, all required parts are in stock and available so the installation can begin immediately.

We still expect approval to occupy in early October, clearing the way for our first service on October 29th.  

This has been a long road for all of us. We appreciate the excellent nature and flexibility of the entire congregation and staff. We can’t wait to see everything come together for our first service in the new Sanctuary!
 
The Building Expansion Team (BET)
Chirs Bettlach, Margaret Cottam, Jerry Hanley and Peg MacMorris

UUs Just Wanna Have Fun: Foothills Annual Fundraising Auction!

September 19, 2023 /

We are thrilled to share that the Foothills Annual Auction is coming up on Sunday, October 15, from 5-8 PM! Register today!

The Foothills Auction is a significant driver of our impact! At our 2022 Auction, we raised $25,962 to support Foothills Unitarian’s mission to unleash courageous love and $6,202 to support the mental health of LGBT+ children and youth on the Western slope – all because of people like you!

There are three main ways to be part of our Auction impact:

1. Donate an item, experience, or social event. The possibilities are endless, from a delivery of homemade muffins to a ride to the airport, from a vacation rental to hosting a themed dinner party! Donation forms are available at foothillsuu.org/auctiondonation – This form also has more information and donation ideas.  

2. Bid High and Often! There is a Live Auction on Sunday, October 15, from 5-8 PM. There will also be an Online Auction from October 10th to 17th. This year’s Live Auction theme is UUs Just Wanna Have Fun (80s costumes encouraged!). We’ll have a bodacious buffet dinner. Beer, wine, and sparkling water will be available for donation. Some of the Online Auction items will be displayed for you to check out, and you can even bid on your phone right there! Then, we’ll enjoy the Live Auction with auctioneer John Clatworthy. You won’t want to miss this night of fun, so save your spot before October 8th!

3. Become a Business Sponsor! We’re excited to announce the return of business sponsors to this year’s Auction. Please consider sponsoring if you have a business or sharing if you work for or have a relationship with a business that might want to sponsor! We would be honored to have your business’s support and have curated a range of sponsorship levels to accommodate your contribution:

  • $100: Recognition as a sponsor (your business is listed on our dedicated sponsorship page)
  • $250: Quarter-page acknowledgment in our event program
  • $500: Half-page acknowledgment in our event program
  • $1,000: Full-page acknowledgment in our event program

Your sponsorship will amplify your commitment to building a just and compassionate world and provide you with exposure to a diverse and engaged audience.

To confirm your sponsorship or ask for more information, please email auction@foothillsuu.org with your name, business name, and selected sponsorship level! 

Haven’t had a chance to donate to the Auction yet? Get all the details on how to donate here!

Have Questions? Email foothillsauction@gmail.com and stay tuned for details about our annual online Auction happening the same week!

Thanks for participating in the epic Auction!

Team Tubular – Kay Williams, Lindsay Tearman, Laurie Cullor, Carri Ratazzi, Kate Peterson, and John Connors 
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