Month: May 2024

Congregational Meeting – June 2, 2024

May 29, 2024 /

Foothills Unitarian Church will convene its 2024 Annual Meeting and potluck lunch from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM on Sunday, June 2nd.

If you haven’t already, please register for the Congregational Meeting in advance.

We also invite you to review the congregational meeting packet ahead of the meeting.

Unitarian Universalist churches are independent and self-governing, and our bylaws require a quorum of 10 percent of our membership to convene this annual meeting. Per our church bylaws, in order to vote in congregational meetings, you must be on the membership rolls at least 30 days in advance of the meeting. If you are unsure of your membership status, please contact the Foothills office at (970) 493-5906.

Meet Our Summer Musician-in-Residence

May 24, 2024 /
Sophia Miller is delighted to join Foothills Unitarian this summer. Sophia is a member of the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, New York, where she serves on the music team under the direction of Adam Podd, enjoying her role as a conductor, songleader, and singer, and filling in as substitute music director when needed. Sophia is a firm believer in the power of music to move and inspire hearts and minds, provoke thought and action, and offer an incredible depth of experience in the worship service.
 
Sophia is a conductor, clinician, singer, and music educator, who seeks to empower voices in her work, leading with a combination of artistic skill and a fully present heart. She works with all ages, finding great joy in working with children and adults alike. She is currently the Artistic Director for the Fieldston Choral Society in New York City, and served on the artistic team for the award-winning Young People’s Chorus of New York City (YPC) from 2007-2023, where she conducted young people ages 8-18. She has conducted in venues large and small throughout New York City, and has prepared choruses for recording sessions, television and radio performances, collaborations of all kinds, and performances on prominent stages nationally and internationally. In 2022 and 2023, she conducted YPC in Brundibár, a powerful and historical children’s opera written by Hans Krása and Adolf Hoffmeister before the start of World War II. Sophia has also served on the artistic teams of the Boston Children’s Chorus in Massachusetts, and the Savannah Children’s Choir in Georgia.
 
Sophia has furthered her impact as a widely sought-after guest conductor and choral clinician, bringing her expertise to choristers and choral conductors around the US and the world. Internationally, she most recently spent her time making music with children at La Escuela Municipal de Música y Danza de Cabanillas del Campo in Guadalajara, Spain, and young people from over 50 countries around the world at the Ingenium Music Academy in Winchester, England. This season, Sophia has been overjoyed to work with young people and music educators alike in Nebraska, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, Vermont, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Washington DC, and New Jersey.
 
Sophia also serves as Conductor and Clinician for the prominent music publishing company Hal Leonard, through which she is delighted to represent new works and offer professional development opportunities to music educators throughout the United States.
 
Sophia studied music education, voice, and conducting at the Ithaca College School of Music, where she studied conducting with Dr. Janet Galván and was recognized as an esteemed alumna for her work conducting young people and celebrating the voices of children. A performer as well, Sophia continues to sing regularly throughout New York City.

Transitions in Foothills Music Ministry

May 23, 2024 /

Dear Foothills Community,

We are writing to let you know that Benjamin Hanson has let us know that he will not be continuing in the role of Foothills’ Music Director. While he has deeply valued his time as our Music Director, he has realized that this position is just not the right long-term fit for him. 

Over the summer, Benjamin will be taking personal leave to discern his future both personally and professionally, beginning May 27th. During this time, both he and we will be considering if there may be another role for him at Foothills.  

Since beginning his work with us two years ago, Benjamin has brought immense joy and meaning through his leadership in worship and choir. His calming presence and generous spirit have deeply enriched our community, and he will be greatly missed. Before his leave begins, Benjamin will be available via email at benjamin@foothillsuu.org and we encourage you to reach out and express your appreciation for his time and work with us at Foothills. 

While we are discerning our own right next steps for the long term, we are extremely grateful that we have found a wonderful solution for music ministry at Foothills over the summer months in Sophia Miller, who will be joining us from mid-June through late August, as our Summer Musician-in-Residence.  

Recommended by Adam Podd, Music Director at First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn, NY (and composer of our new arrangement of Spirit of Truth), Sophia is a seasoned song leader and choral director, as well as a leader in the Association for Unitarian Universalist Musicians Ministries (AUUMM). We are excited for the energy and expertise she will bring to our summer services.

Read more about Sophia and her background!

As Sophia will be here on a short-term basis, we are hoping to help her find a housing solution. If you (or someone you know) has a “mother-in-law” apartment, or you will be out of town for a period of time over the summer and looking for a house sitter, or have any other ideas that may be a good fit for a single person from mid-June through mid-August (or a portion of that time), we’d love to hear from you.  

We are grateful to be able to both support Benjamin in his request for leave and time for discernment, as well as continue to support a strong music ministry at Foothills without interruption with Sophia’s leadership. 

As we talk through our next steps, we will both seek your feedback, and keep you informed.  Please send any of your immediate thoughts and questions to Rev. Gretchen at gretchen@foothillsuu.org. Thank you for your understanding and support during this time of transition. 

In partnership, and with gratitude,

The Foothills Executive Team
Rev. Gretchen Haley, Senior Minister
Rev. Sean Neil-Barron, Associate Minister
Katie Watkins, Director of Finance and Operations 

In consultation with Foothills’ Board of Trustees

Mary Klecan, President
Beth Adams, Vice President
Sue Bloomfield, Treasurer
Linda Kothera, Secretary
John Hill
Diana Hutchinson
Susan Williams 

The Nature of Being

May 10, 2024 /

Dear ones:

 

It is the time of year where being outside feels like sanctuary. When the trails call to us, and the rivers, and the garden. Even our new building can’t compare to the wisdom, healing, and renewal of the natural world (although our big windows looking out on the foothills do help!).


This has been a tension for Unitarian Universalists for a long time – from Transcendentalists to Pagans to Religious Naturalists – how to bring the spirituality we find in the natural world into the church. Church, as in the building, and also the institution.

Engaging this tension is at the heart of the Wild Church movement, which we have taken as a jumping off point for our new series, The Nature of Being, which starts this Sunday at 10 am (online and in person) and runs through most of June.

In these days where disconnection drags on us all – disconnection from ourselves, from one another, from a deeper sense of truth and love, let’s reconnect with our true nature. And most of all, let’s re-integrate our inside and outside spiritualities. Remembering that nature is not outside of us, and holiness is everywhere. With love, Rev. Gretchen

 

2024 Pacific Western Region Assembly Summary

May 2, 2024 /

The Pacific Western Region of the UUA held its Assembly this month in Denver, hosted by the First Universalist Church. Foothills was well represented at the two day event by twelve members and ministers. The Assembly was a wonderful opportunity to meet and “compare notes” with other UU’s from several Western states who attended from as far away as Washington and as close as Boulder.

The highlight of the Assembly  was the Friday night conversation between the UUA President, Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt and Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, the President of the United Church of Christ.  These two brilliant and inspiring women addressed the challenging issues of 2024 America. Rev Betancourt underscored that UUs always show up, that UUs can be counted on to be there in numbers at marches, rallies and all types of justice events.  But she also challenged us to verbally express our liberal theology in those same spaces. She stressed that our country is greatly in need of a religious counterpoint to the Christian Nationalism that is now capturing the bulk of media attention. We need to be bold enough to express our progressive theology that is inclusive, welcoming, justice-oriented, and centered in love.

Rev. Thompson spoke of the commonalities we share as UUs and Congregationalists.  She spoke of the importance of liberal religions to be both action-oriented in pursuing justice and interior-focused with a wide array of spiritual practices which nurture and give meaning to our actions. These two leaders, so obviously caring and respectful of each other, were so inspirational.

On Saturday, along with networking opportunities, there were several breakout sessions. Some of the topics included UU camps (like the WUULF camp in New Mexico that many of our members have attended), turning guns into garden tools, and a communal service centered on spiritual resources.

Among the speakers were some quite familiar to Foothills members: Kelly Dignan and Sarah Millspaugh. The opportunity to connect with UU leaders from other congregations, especially those from along the Front Range,  made the event most worthwhile.

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