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Sermon Archives
Sacred Solidarity: Labor in Faith Spaces
September 15, 2024
For the past two years, Colorado congregations of all faiths have dedicated a service around Labor Day to invite a labor leader into their worship time and build a bridge between faith values and economic justice. There is a call to action at each service, an invitation to engage more deeply in workers rights. By building connections between the faith community and labor movement, both movements grow in their understanding and power. We hope you’ll join us this Sunday as we hear from voices in the labor movement about the struggle for dignity, democracy, and collective voice on the job to the fundamental values of all faith traditions.
Ingathering
September 8, 2024
Join Rev. Jenny as we gather to begin our new congregational year with the heartwarming Ingathering service. This is a time of joy, reflection and looking forward with hope. After the service, let’s continue the celebration with a potluck lunch! This is a perfect opportunity to share delicious food and great company.
Water Communion
September 1, 2024
As our new church year begins, we gather back together for our beloved annual water communion ritual. Please bring water from a place that is meaningful to you, whether because of summer adventures, or as a constant in your life. Mandy Barton will lead us through our traditional time of sharing. This is an all-ages service; hearing our children share is one of the best parts every year!
Power of the People: UU the Vote
August 25, 2024
For Unitarian Universalists, the right to democratic rule is foundational to our theology and also to our self-governance. While the United States government was built on these values, our current system is not fair in allowing equal access to all. Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we explore how we as a democratic faith community can support a more fair and just system for our fellow citizens. We will have a presentation on UU the Vote after the worship service.
How Our Beliefs Shape Our Reality
August 18, 2024
Science is beginning to prove what some spiritual seekers have long known - that the beliefs we hold have a strong influence on our lives. Join us as returning guest speaker Patrice Spitz shows us ways we can shift our beliefs to more productive ones, using intellect and spiritual connection to increase our well-being and live the lives we were meant to live.
Patience and Compassion as Building Blocks for Beloved Community
August 11, 2024
The mission of local non profit Dementia Together reads "no one has to walk the dementia journey alone". Join Rev. Jenny and her sister Amy Threewitt as we consider how our care for people in cognitive decline is an expression of our UU faith.
Imagination in Faith
August 4, 2024
Let's explore the role imagination plays in how we think of and treat one another. How can we use our imagination toward the liberation of people? UUA Video sermon series. Presented by Annie Scott, CRE, Congregational Life Staff in the Pacific Western Region.
Connecting Through Humor
July 28, 2024
To continue our summer theme of "Building Beloved Community," we explore one of the best parts of connecting: Humor! Come and laugh at ourselves with skits about being a Unitarian Universalist in today's world, acted out by members of our congregation. Presented by Laurie Pribbeno and Cheryl Pilatzke. Laurie Pribbeno wrote and directed 15 years of skits and plays for the "Columbine Home Companion." including the Wizard of UU, CUUC Noir, and the UU Files.
Sikhism
July 21, 2024
Sikhism is the world's fifth-largest religion. The word 'Sikh' means 'learner' or 'seeker of truth'. Sikhism advocates equality, social justice, service to humanity, and tolerance for other religions. Hey... doesn't that sound like another spiritual community you know about? Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we take a quick dive into a centuries old spiritual tradition that shares many of our UU values.
Rainbow Sunday
July 14, 2024
Queer Theory is an interdisciplinary field that encourages one to look at the world through new avenues. It is a way of thinking that dismantles traditional assumptions about gender and sexual identities, challenges traditional academic approaches, and fights against social inequality. If you think about it, UU's have been queering theology for a long time. Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz for a special Rainbow Sunday where we consider the blessings that rain down upon us when we open our minds and hearts to all people in their unique and divine expressions of gender and identity. We will also be welcoming new members at our Joining Ceremony during the service.
Ancestral Healing: Moving Beyond Inherited Limitations
July 7, 2024
It was, unfortunately, common for our ancestors to have lived through difficult circumstances which caused them to take on limiting beliefs and unhealthy patterns. Sometimes our personal challenges are directly linked to what we have inherited from them, though we may not be aware of it. Patrice Spitz will expand on different aspects of ancestral healing, how there is always hope for healing, and offer a guided meditation to connect to unconditional love (which some people call God) and gently open to the possibility of ancestral healing in your life.
Caregiving and Renewal
June 30, 2024
Do you know someone who is caring for a parent, sibling, child or friend? Is that person you? The forecast is that by 2030, over 2 billion people across the world will need care. 10,000 people per day turn 65 in the United States. 84% of respondents in an AARP survey of caregivers reported that they feel moderate to high amounts of stress due to their caregiving responsibilities. The caregiving crisis is being widely acknowledged with more conversations taking place at the local, regional and national levels. We invite you to join us at today's service to raise your own awareness about the spiritual, financial, and personal toll of caregiving.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving:
Reverend Tawana Davis
June 16, 2024
"When our lived experiences of theorizing is fundamentally linked to process of self-recovery, of collective liberation, no gap exists between theory and practice. Indeed, what such experience makes more evident is the bond between the two - that ultimately reciprocal process wherein one enables the other." - bell hooks
Flower Communion
June 9, 2024
On this June morning, we celebrate the Unitarian Universalist Flower Communion. This simple ritual, symbolizing the diversity and beauty of our community, is celebrated by UU congregations around the world. Bring a flower of your choice to this much loved UU ceremony. You will take home a flower brought by someone else; our shared celebration in community.
The Renewal of Our Faith:
Revising Article 2
June 2, 2024
In her reflection on the revision of our UUA bylaws, Rev. Dr. Sheri Prud’homme writes, “I believe that the clearer we are about our shared theological perspectives as Unitarian Universalists, the easier it is for us to come together across differences in shared purpose in our religious communities.” Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we catch up on the latest perspectives of UU thinkers and dreamers working to revise Article 2 of our UUA bylaws by a democratic vote to be held later this month.
Letters from War
May 26, 2024
Letters from Andrew Carroll’s book “Selections from War Letters" will be read by members of the congregation as Kathy Derrick shares stories about the letter writers. These poignant letters highlight how critical it is for those serving in the armed forces to stay connected to their loved ones back home. The letters are about relationships and the courage shown by the writers in their letters is sometimes deeply humbling. This service is dedicated to them – and to all men and women who served in past wars, or are now serving their country in these very troubling times.
Auction Sermon: Is There Power In Prayer?
May 19, 2024
As UU’s we often struggle with the idea of prayer. Who are we praying to? Do we really have the power to make the Universe do our bidding? Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we explore the thoughtful questions of Michele and Chuck Oseroff, top bidders who won the Auction Sermon topic this year, in an exploration of the power and possibilities of prayer.
Mother's Day for Peace
May 12, 2024
In 1872, Unitarian Julia Ward Howe began advocating for the creation of a Mother's Day for Peace, envisioning mothers worldwide banding together against war and in pursuit of peace and connection. Please join us as we consider this beloved holiday's roots, and examine what it means to parent, to nurture, and to love without surrender.
Non-attachment: How Being Spiritually Nimble Can Help Us Build Beloved Community.
May 5, 2024
Psychologist Mick Cooper says that pluralism is “a capacity to detach ourselves from our agendas, our beliefs, our commitments, and to recognize that there may be other ways”. Join Rev. Jenny as we explore this month’s theme of “The Gift of Pluralism” as we consider how the Buddhist concept of “non-attachment” can help us embrace the diversity of beloved community
Welcoming the Newcomers
April 28, 2024
Join us on April 28th as the Columbine Migrant Support Team Leaders share about the work of this important group. Sue Zloth and Chuck and Michele Oseroff will tell the story of how they got involved in this work, what the activities have been to date, what they have learned and how you can get involved.
Threads that Connect, Stories that Inspire
April 21, 2024
Ecologist Baba Dioum said, "In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught." This Earth Day we invite you to join congregations across our Pacific Western Region in writing Love Letters to the future.
What do you want to tell the generations ahead? What do you want to remind yourself of in the year to come about your deep love for the earth, and our shared desire that all living species thrive? In doing this work, we begin by imagining a hopeful, just, and thriving future – a future we are in love and relationship with – and then we set a path to work for it.
The Traveler's Mindset
April 14, 2024
When we travel, we take only what we need for the journey. As a result, we feel lighter, freer, and more flexible. Adopting a traveler’s mindset that seeks to carry only what we need for the journey provides the same benefit—not just for a weeklong vacation, but in everything we do. Join Rev. Jenny this Sunday as we consider the spiritual practice of reducing our consumption and reusing and recycling what we have.
Easter and the Rebirth of Spring; A worship service with musician Jim Scott
March 31, 2024
Jim intersperses songs and readings with personal reflections on the season, pre-Christian celebrations of Easter and a spiritual, ecological awareness. Life is rekindled in our turn toward the sun, longer days, another spring and transformation. Jim’s songs and poetry reaffirm our place in the amazing, continuing web of life. Former Co Chair of the UU Ministry for the Earth, Jim helped create the "Green Sanctuary" program now undertaken by many UU congregations. He makes the case for our "spiritual response" as we are facing a crisis of the life spirit of the earth.
The Cult of Busyness
March 24, 2024
No matter what tradition you grew up in, if you grew up in the US, you are influenced by our “Protestant work ethic” culture. As UU’s we love to help and serve and it’s part of our spiritual practice. However, sometimes we forget what every athlete knows; that the highest performance comes when we balance work and effort with rest and renewal. We are able to sustain ourselves best physically, spiritually and emotionally when we remember to recharge our batteries and be gentle with ourselves. Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we remember the blessing of sacred rest.
I'm Not Your Racial Justice Project
March 17, 2024
Pastor AJ Blackwood, with our support, serves as the Community Minister for The Mountain Top: A BIPoC UU Community and UUs for Racial Justice. By extension, he provides service to our community here at Columbine UU Church, and will be offering a reflection on the difference between creating a welcoming space, and a ministry for racial justice, and the need for both.
The Six Pillars of Gratitude
March 10, 2024
Australian educator and author Dr Kerry Howells identifies the six pillars of gratitude as: relatedness, sincerity, empathy, self-regard, integrity, and humility. Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz this Sunday as we explore the power of centering ourselves in gratitude. We will be putting these ideas into action as we thank our volunteers who give generously of themselves to support and sustain our community.
Spiritual Imagination
March 3, 2024
Our imagination is a powerful tool. It can drive our creativity, fuel our hope, and deepen our faith. What if we engaged imagination as a spiritual practice?
Stewardship Sunday
February 18, 2024
What is Stewardship and why is it in MY hands? Once a year we explore the concept and the various avenues to being good stewards of our Columbine UU Church. Join Stewardship Chair Susan Stein and Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we consider the stewardship of our little church that does so much good work in the world.
Who We Are: Testimonal Sunday
February 11, 2024
Who are we here at Columbine? What makes us special, and what leads us to serve our community and our wider world? Please join us for Testimonial Sunday, where we welcome Columbine members and friends to our pulpit to share their answers to these questions and more.
"From the Tidepool to the Stars"
February 4, 2024
More than 150 years ago, Charles Darwin published a work that continues to rock the world, "On the Origin of Species." As we approach his birthday next week, what might we be reminded of that matters in our own lives, as we live them somewhere between the tidepools and the stars?
We Are Going: Exploring our Journey Towards Liberating Love
January 28, 2024
The word “Woyaya” comes from the Ghanaian Ga language and translates as "We are going". The beloved song we sing in our UU churches was written by Ghanaian drummer Sol Amarifio to express our human desire for hope and faith, even when the going gets rough. Join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we consider where we have come from in the last couple of years and how our commitment to liberating love can help us keep the faith, even when “the road is muddy and rough”.
Don't Sleep Through the Revolution
January 14, 2024
In 1966, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr delivered the Ware Lecture at the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Hollywood, Florida. As we enter this new year and our theme of Liberating Love, join Rev. Jenny Amstutz as we explore Dr. King’s call to “remain awake through the revolution”.
Cradle and Coffin
January 7, 2024
Coffin and Cradle Ritual
As we come into the New Year there is a sense of newness and rebirth. We plan what we want from our year, some of us make goals. On this day we will ceremonially put to rest anything we wish to let go of, or "bury" in our coffin, and use the cradle to give birth to any new ideas, plans or goals.
As part of a New Year's ritual, please come with something you would like to bury/release from 2023, and something you would like to bring to birth in the coming year. We will have a symbolic coffin and a cradle for you to place your object or note into. Welcome 2024!