Month: November 2024 (Page 1 of 2)

Important News from the Internship Committee

The job of the Internship Committee, in simplest terms, is to guide and support our ministerial intern during this portion of their training in the quest to become a minister, and to submit an evaluation to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee at the completion of the internship.

As many members of the congregation have expressed, having Cheyenne as an intern minister at Foothills has added value to our worship and small group experiences. We have benefited from their preaching and enjoyed their warm presence among us.

Cheyenne has submitted the following statement which we share with you now:

“Hi everyone, I’m sorry to say that I am leaving my position at Foothills this week. I’ve sincerely appreciated the warm welcome I’ve received from this congregation, but unfortunately I’ve realized that this was not the right moment for me to pursue a full-time ministerial internship. I look forward to seeing the ways your congregation will continue to meet the challenges of our time with love and commitment, and if our paths cross again I hope you’ll say hello.”

While we are sad to end our relationship with Cheyenne prematurely, the members of the Internship Committee support Cheyenne’s decision and encourage them to take the time needed to find their path in ministry.

Wisdom from Rev. Sean helps us understand Cheyenne’s decision in the context of the work of becoming a minister.

“Cheyenne has decided to end their internship with us.  This comes from recognizing where they are in terms of timing and readiness – both crucial parts of becoming a minister. Formation is a unique journey for everyone, and sometimes it needs moments of pause to make space for what is to come next. This isn’t uncommon, and it shows a level of discernment and integrity that are essential to any ministry.


You might be wondering what this means for Cheyenne’s path. This pause isn’t an end to Cheyenne’s journey towards ministry. It’s a step that will help them become an even stronger leader down the road. They can begin another internship at any time and continue along their formation journey.”

As for Foothills, though we have had many interns in past years, each experience offers us new learning. We remain grateful for the opportunities, past, present, and future.

If you would like to send Cheyenne a note, their email will remain open until Dec 7th.  

Thanks to the Internship Committee for preparing this post: Margie & Bruce Wagner (Co-chairs) Christine Engelen, Jonathan Sherwood, and Andy Myers

Choir Director Update

Dear Foothills Community,
We are excited to announce that, after thoughtful conversation and discernment, Benjamin Hanson will return to Foothills as Choir Director in a part-time capacity. 

Benjamin brings not only his musical expertise but also a deep understanding of our community and the vital role music plays in our shared life. As we prepare for the challenges of the coming year, we are confident that Benjamin’s steadiness and skill will help us continue to find strength, connection, and joy through music.

We know this news might come as a surprise, especially given Benjamin’s recent and unexpected departure as Music Director. To provide context, we want to share the process that brought us to this decision and explain how Benjamin’s new role fits into our evolving music ministry.

A Look Back: How We Got Here
Over the past six months, we have experienced significant changes in our music ministry, and we want to start by reviewing what brought us here:

  • April 2024: Benjamin informed Gretchen of his decision to step down as full-time Music Director. He stated that he felt his gifts and skills would be better suited to a position that focused only on the role of choir director, without any other music direction duties. At the time, a choir-focused role wasn’t an option, as we were in the midst of a search for a full-time Music Director. Benjamin began a leave of absence at the end of May. 
  • May–September: During the summer, Sophia Miller provided interim music leadership, coordinating instrumentalists and leading the summer choir. Benjamin wrapped up his time with us by leading several Sundays and choir rehearsals in September and early October.
  • October: When our Music Director search did not result in a hired candidate, we started to imagine new alternatives for how to move forward, informed by our experiences and feedback from many of you.  We ultimately hired Sophia as our Acting Music Director in a hybrid role, utilizing a new team-based model for music. This model emphasizes collaboration and expanded opportunities for diverse music offerings. You can review our communication about this plan here. We also posted the choir director position as a key part of the team, and shared this posting out in a variety of places and across our networks. 
  • Early November: Sophia reached out to Benjamin to reflect on his experiences and to establish open communication. They met in person during her visit in early November. During their conversation, Benjamin expressed enthusiastic interest in the Choir Director position, reflecting that this was what he had originally hoped could be a possibility, which led to further dialogue and reflection, and, ultimately, this decision.
A Team Model for Music Ministry
Our team-based model, led by Sophia, fosters collaboration, creativity, and diversity in our music offerings. With her leadership, mentorship, and alignment with Foothills’ mission and vision, this structure allows us to leverage the unique strengths of multiple talented musicians.

This team-based structure reflects lessons learned from the past year and feedback from the congregation. By separating the roles of Choir Director and broader music ministry leadership, we’ve created a sustainable model that better meets the needs of our musicians and the community as a whole, particularly during this time of transition.  

As Choir Director, Benjamin’s focus will be on:
  • Leading choir rehearsals on Wednesday evenings.
  • Conducting the choir on Sundays when they perform.
  • Collaborating with Sophia on music selection for the choir.
He will not oversee other music programs or provide general Sunday music leadership outside of choir-specific Sundays. This clarity of focus aligns with Benjamin’s passions and skills, allowing him to step into this role with enthusiasm and readiness.

With Sophia’s leadership, Benjamin can now be a key part of our incredible music team that is filled with amazing people who love Foothills and who are committed to our mission, and to making music together: Julie Koenig, Hsin-Hsuan Lin, Melissa Monforti, Christopher Watkins Lamb, Kara Shobe, as well as the steady volunteer team member we have in Katie Stieber on percussion. 
 
While we have had a lot of transition over the last seven years, when we reflect on this team, we see a group of people who have remained steady in their commitment to Foothills and our music ministry, even as their roles have needed adjustment to ensure they could continue to say yes. We feel so grateful! 

Moving Forward
Benjamin will hold his first choir rehearsal on Wednesday, December 4th, continuing weekly through May 21st (excluding Christmas and New Year’s Day). We will reassess the position in late March 2025 to plan for the following season.

In addition, Sophia has confirmed her commitment to serving as Acting Music Director through July 2026. This will ensure consistency in our music ministry for a longer arc of time. We are currently imagining we will start the conversation about the longer term future in January 2026, applying all of the good lessons we are learning through this time to help guide our vision. 

Deepening Partnership
Our music ministry thrives on collaboration and partnership —not only among our music team but also with all of you. Your voices, presence, and feedback are vital as we continue to strengthen and evolve our shared ministry. In that spirit, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Gretchen, Sophia, or Benjamin directly if you have questions or thoughts to share.

In the midst of transitions, one constant remains: the power of music to bring us together. We invite you to join us in welcoming Benjamin back and supporting this exciting new chapter for our music ministry.

With gratitude and partnership,
Rev. Gretchen Haley, Senior Minister 
Sophia Miller, Acting Music Director

Solar Panels Are Up and Running!

If you’ve visited the church in recent months, you may have noticed something new glinting in the sunlight—the solar panels on the western roof of Unity Hall and the sanctuary. With approximately 200 panels installed across these roofs, our system has a peak generating capacity of 100KW. These panels are part of Foothills’ ongoing commitment to climate justice and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

We’re waiting for the city inspection to activate the system in the next week, and once operational, these panels will provide renewable solar electrical energy to offset the rising costs of electricity from Fort Collins Utilities. This transition couldn’t come at a better time. Just this week, the Coloradoan reported on a 6.5% increase in electric rates starting January 2025, with similar hikes expected in the coming years. These rising costs make renewable energy not only an ethical choice but also a practical one for the long-term sustainability of our community.

Here’s what our new solar system means for Foothills:

  • Energy Efficiency: The system is expected to offset at least 50% of our electricity usage, and on some days, potentially more.
  • Community Impact: Any excess energy we generate and don’t use will be sent back to the grid, providing renewable power for others in Fort Collins. The church will also receive credits for this contribution.
  • Cost of Installation: With an anticipated final out-of-pocket cost of about $1/watt (thanks to rebates and credits), this project was not only an environmental investment but also a financially responsible one.

In the near future, we plan to install a real-time energy display in the Foyer. This will allow visitors to see the impact of our solar panels in action—a tangible reminder of the power of collective effort and sustainable practices.

This project was made possible by the generosity of 51 donors who contributed to support the installation. Their vision and commitment to climate justice have ensured that Foothills is not only a spiritual home but also a leader in sustainability. 

Thank you to everyone who made this project a reality. Together, we’re creating a brighter, greener future for our church and our community.

Submitted by Steve Tenbrink, Chair of the Solar Panel Committee

We are delighted to update this post with the news that we passed the City inspection on Thursday, and our Solar Panels are now running and fueling our building!

Steven Tenbrink shared the following graph with us from monitoring the City provides. You can see the immediate drop in external energy consumption! Thanks to everyone who made this project possible by giving! And thank you to the committee who worked hard to identify the right plan and installer!

The Courageous Love Boat Fundraising Auction was a splashing success!

The Courageous Love Boat Fundraising Auction was a splashing success! Thanks to our many donors, bidders, and 32 volunteers – the online and live auctions were AMAZING! And a special shout-out to our sponsors, At Home Realty and Hurr Vasa Sprinkler & Landscape – thank you for your generosity. We netted almost $37,000 – a $10,000 increase from last year’s auction. And for the Special Appeal, we raised $20,791 – also a huge increase! The Special Appeal was shared with Wellspring Health Access in Casper, Wyoming to support them in their reproductive justice work. Ahoy, Foothills – thank you so much!

Post-Election Offerings at Foothills

Thursday 11/14

  • Thursdays in November. Come together for a brown-bag lunch where we will sit & chat and eat together through the month of November. We are here for each other no matter what happens. Details can be found here.

Sunday 11/17

Join us Sunday for We Choose Hope for a message reminding us that no matter what happens we are a part of a longer arc of time, called to keep the work going.

Sunday 11/17

Join us after the services on Sunday, November 17 for 60-minute facilitated breakout groups. In these small, structured groups, participants will be invited to reflect on the themes of the service and our post-election reality.

Tuesday 11/19

We are hosting a film screening of Acts of Reparation a documentary film by Selina Lewis Davidson and Macky Alston. The film follows the filmmakers, Two friends – one Black, one white – travel South to their ancestral lands to explore what reparations means to them. More details can be found here

Sunday 11/24

In our final Sunday of this series, we’ll come together in collective courage and be reminded that even if it feels like the world is falling apart, there is also a world beginning. What threshold are we crossing? 

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