Kick Off Sunday 2025
2025-09-07 10:00 - 13:30 (America/Denver) | CO
Kick-Off Sunday is almost here! Join us on Sunday, September 7, where we will welcome back our music programs, faith formation, Youth at Church (YAC) program, and more! There will be music, fun, and good food! We will celebrate Kickoff Sunday with our annual potluck lunch following the service. If you would like to bring a dish, please bring it in by 10:00 am with a list of ingredients. That lets us get set up while you enjoy community time before service! We will have the oven on WARM if your dish needs to stay warm, but not high enough to actually cook your dish. As always, Lakewood UCC is a nut-free facility.

Pre-Choir Rehearsal Pastries & Coffee
2025-09-28 08:30 - 09:30
The Chancel Choir will be hosting any interested prospective members for pastries and coffee at 8:30 on September 28th in the conference room (if the conference room isn’t available, we will meet in the downstairs music room). We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about potentially joining the choir as we enjoy a lovely breakfast! We hope you join us for our rehearsal at 9:00 am, and afterwards for our anthem for that Sunday’s service! It will be tons of fun, please join us!!

Blessing of the Animals
2025-10-05 15:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-05 15:00 - 16:30
Care for Creation Committee invites you to bring your beloved creature, pet, or stuffed animal to be blessed at our annual Blessing of the Animals. To better accommodate pets and creatures, this year we will offer blessings from 3:00 pm-4:00 pm, instead of a sit-down outside service. This is an all-ages event, done in the spirit of St. Francis, who cared for all creation!

Sand Creek Run – Ceremony at Colorado State Capitol Building
2025-10-26 10:30 - 12:00
The Sand Creek Massacre Spiritual Healing Run is an annual 3-day event. Beginning with a sunrise ceremony Thursday morning at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, survivor descendants of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe people run in relay teams from the Site to Denver, culminating in a public ceremony Sunday morning, October 26, 2025, around 10:30 am at the Colorado State Capitol Building. We have the opportunity, in furtherance of our Indigenous Land Acknowledgement, to attend the ceremony in order to show our support for the Cheyenne and Arapahoe survivor descendants.
Please sign up HERE for those interested in meeting at the Church to carpool to the event.

Trick-Or-Treat-Street 2025
2025-10-26 11:30 - 13:00
Kids of all ages are invited to dress up for our annual Trick or Treat all-ages event on Sunday, October 26, following worship. Trick or Treat Street will be throughout Fellowship Hall and the Courtyard. The
congregation is invited to sign up at the link in your midweek or on the Welcome Center to decorate tables and hand out goodies as kids “trick or treat” from table/station to table/station. We invite you to dress up, decorate your station, and pass out goodies to the kids!
You can dress up and decorate your station/table as much as you want! Please, no scary or violent
decorations or dress for the kids or adults. More details are in the sign-up below. Please see Rev. Mollie or Faith Formation Board members Shelly Wahl-Nair, Jessica Rice for more info.

Interested in signing up to pass out treats? Please click HERE!!

Open and Affirming 2.0 Part 3
2025-11-02 11:30 - 12:30
Please join us for the third in a three-part series about deepening our understandings of what it means to be an Open and Affirming community. Sunday Nov. 2, we will be joined by two presenters, Rev. Candace Woods and Terra Greer from Juniper Formation (a local UCC community), who will lead us through specifically what it means to create a safe and welcoming space for our trans and nonbinary community members. To find out more about Candace and Terra, please see their bios below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Curt or Rev. Mollie.

Interested in signing up for this event? Please click HERE.

Rev. Candace Woods (she/her)

Rev. Candace Woods (she/her) serves as Minister of Gender + Sexuality Liberation at Juniper Formation UCC. She holds a Master’s in Divinity from Iliff School of Theology with a certificate in Social Justice + Ethics. She spends her days doing work around the wild intersections of gender and sexuality, faith and spirituality, and bodies and nature. Personally, Candace lives in Colorado Springs with her dog and flock of feminist chickens on a little urban farmstead. She loves to be outside, whether hiking, foraging for medicinal plants, or in the garden, and she also loves connecting in community over coffee or a beer, dreaming up how to cocreate the future with God and her neighbors.

Terra Greer (she/he/they)

Terra graduated from Candler School of Theology with their Master’s of Divinity in 2020, with a Women’s Studies in Theology and Ministry Certificate and a Justice, Peace, and Conflict Transformation concentration. She is a trans person, and is passionate about inclusion in various forms. He is part of the IDEA committee in Wheat Ridge, as well as the Disability Committee for the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church, and a member of Affirmation, the founding organization of the Reconciling Ministries Network in the UMC. They have volunteered with the Transmission Ministry Collective, which is a worldwide online community of Trans People of Faith, and she does ongoing inclusion work as part of Juniper Formation in the ONA 2.0 workshops. She brings her experiences from all of these into his preaching, always approaching the texts with an eye to lifting up marginalized communities and stories. They enjoy singing, writing, and experiencing stories of all kinds. She loves to go for hikes and long walks outside, and is always learning new things about the world around him and the people in it. She lives with his spouse, Faryn, and their dog, Selah, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.

Stewardship Sunday Luncheon Celebration
2025-11-16 11:30 - 12:30
Beacon of hope…. this is the Stewardship theme for 2025. The theme of Lighthouses, radiant light shining forth, and how we become the symbol of hope for the world, is our focus. We turn faithfully to Matthew 5:16;
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to God.”
The stewardship campaign will be held on three Sundays, November 2, 9, and 16. Our pledge cards will be dedicated during the church service on November 16, followed by a celebratory luncheon. This year, we will be hosting a Chili luncheon provided by the committee and special congregational helpers. Please plan to join us as everyone is invited!
Please connect with us as we talk about our beacon of hope for the weary world, the amazing ways our church works in the community, and our planet. Praise God for all our cherished members/friends of this wonderful church. We thank each of you for your continued support, both financially and prayerfully, to help us make our budget goals.
If you have any questions, please email or call Nancy Jorgenson, chair of Stewardship at chousecat81@gmail.com or 303-886-7093. You may also email or call Sheila Wiese at sheilamwiese@gmail.com or 303-589-1851. You will be able to email Sheila with your pledge if that is more convenient.
How will we be the Beacon of light in the World in 2026?

Click HERE for the 2026 Narrative Budget
Click HERE to access a digital Pledge Card!

Pine Ridge Service Learning Trip Information Meeting
2025-11-19 18:00 - 19:00
If you are interested in the 2026 multi-generational service learning trip, please join for a brief information meeting. We will be going to Re-member on the Pine Ridge Reservation from June 20-26 of 2026.

We will meet via Zoom (click for the link to join) on Wednesday, November 19 (TONIGHT), from 6:15 pm-6:45 pm, just before Church Council. This Zoom will be recorded and available if you are unable to attend.

We will go over the cost, fundraising, and what the trip will look like. We will also identify a lay leader to co-lead logistics and planning with Rev. Mollie. Please also check out Re-member’s website for more info by clicking HERE.

ALL AGES Advent Decorating
2025-11-23 11:30 - 12:30
Join the Faith Formation Board & Board of Congregational Care for this yearly tradition of decorating the Sanctuary, Narthex, and other parts of the church for our Advent and Christmas season. This will be an ALL-AGES event, with cookie decorating, an Advent project to take home, and of course, decorating for the season ahead.

Listening and Learning Session: Pride Flags
2025-11-30 11:30 - 12:30
As we seek to continue to live out our Open and Affirming Covenant, the Love Leads Team brought a proposal to the November 19 Church Council meeting to move the pride flags, currently in the windows, to a more prominent place on the columns. As Church Council considers this proposal, we would love to hear the thoughts of the congregation. Please join us for a listening and learning session on Sunday, after worship in the conference room. If you’d like to view the video from our most recent ONA session regarding trans and nonbinary inclusion, please click HERE. We intend to have a second conversation opportunity in the New Year.

Incredible Edibles and Heifer International in Person!
2025-12-07 11:30 - 12:30
SAVE THE DATE! Incredible Edibles is back on Sunday, December 7. It’s that time of year again-Incredible Edibles bake sale led by those wonderful sisters: Janet Hehr, Linda Royval. Who benefits from the Proceeds? The Action Center is a non-profit organization that provides a continuum of services for people facing challenges. Their services include, but are not limited to, free food and clothing, financial assistance, and family services. How do you participate? Besides shopping on December 7, we encourage you to bring nicely presented baked goods that will sell! Presentation is important and as Janet likes to say….Bring your A game.

Heifer International Donations In-Person on Sunday, December 7, at 11:30 am. Because of Lakewood UCC’s long-standing tradition of donating to Heifer International, Glenda Bobby will once again be receiving donations after church on December 7 in the Fellowship Hall. If you are wondering what you can do this Christmas to help people throughout the world, this is your chance. You can give a share of an animal or the whole animal to a needy family, but much more is available. You can also give a gift of clean water, biogas stoves, a family solar kit, or send a girl to school. Please stop by the Heifer table to find out more. You will receive credit for your donation through your Breeze account. Cash or checks will be accepted, but no credit cards. There will also be holiday cards available for you to donate in someone’s honor. What a great gift for that person in your life who has everything, a wonderfully meaningful gift for a friend or relative!

NoEnemies Song Circle
2025-12-07 14:00 - 15:00
Join NoEnemies monthly song circle, which is being held at Lakewood United Church of Christ this December. These monthly gatherings are an opportunity to raise our voices, learn simple chants and song verses. NoEnemies is not an organization or political party, but a space we create together, share songs, and practice our power. Questions? Contact nancy.gruschow@outlook.com.

Blue Christmas Service 2025
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:00
The holidays and Christmas in particular can be a difficult time of year to find the space to feel emotions other than joy & cheer. Grief and pain know no season. Join us for the Blue Christmas Service on Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 pm. We will gather in person only to hold space for grief, uncertainty, and the fullness of what we may be carrying this season. Please see one of the Pastors for additional support or resources.

Delores Project in December
2025-12-16 11:00 - 13:00
Feeling the Christmas spirit? Please join us on Tuesday, December 16, and serve at the Delores Project. This month, we are serving at lunch. Plan on being at church at 11:00 am, and we will head back around 1:00 pm. We need food contributions as well.
The menu is as follows:

Turkey Breast and Gravy
Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Christmas Cookies

You can sign up to serve the meal this month with the link HERE and get recipes by clicking on the items above. For questions, please contact Pauline Nunez at paulinenunez40@gmail.com or Joan Campbell at joanvilshofen@gmail.com.

Messy Pageant Multi-Generational Service
2025-12-24 16:00 - 17:00
Join us for this all-age service on Christmas Eve. Together with song and scripture, costumes and collaboration, we will tell the story of Christ’s birth through our Messy Pageant. No rehearsals, costumes, or story provided (and other costumes are welcome). Participation is by choice, as we share the joy of the story of God-with-us. Childcare will be available during this service.

Christmas at Lakewood UCC!
2025-12-24 16:00 - 20:00
Messy Pageant Christmas Eve: Wednesday, December 24, 4:00 pm
Join us for this all-age service on Christmas Eve. Together with song and scripture, costumes and collaboration, we will tell the story of Christ’s birth through our Insta Pageant. No rehearsals, costumes, or story provided (and other costumes are welcome). Participation is by choice, as we share the joy of the story of God-with-us. Childcare will be available during this service.

Carols and Christmas Eve: Wednesday, December 24, 7:00 pm
Join us on Christmas Eve at 7:00 pm for pre-service music, with the worship service starting at 7:30 pm. Together, with songs, scripture, and prayers, we hear and celebrate the story of Christ’s birth. The service ends in the sharing of the Christ-light with one another and an invitation to take the light into the world. We hope to see you there, in-person or online!

Candlelight Christmas Eve Service
2025-12-24 19:00 - 20:30
Join us on Christmas Eve at 7:00 pm for pre-service music, with the worship service starting at 7:30 pm. Together, with songs, scripture, and prayers, we hear and celebrate the story of Christ’s birth. The service ends in the sharing of the Christ-light with one another and an invitation to take the light into the world. Childcare is available for this service! We hope to see you there, in-person or online!

Advent Undecorating
2026-01-04 11:30 - 12:00
After we celebrate Epiphany in worship on January 4, we’ll need many hands to make light work of undecorating the Sanctuary from our Advent season. Thank you, we hope to see you there!

Listening & Learning Session 2: Pride Flags
2026-01-18 11:30 - 12:30
As we seek to continue to live out our Open and Affirming Covenant, the Love Leads Team brought a proposal to the Oct. 19 Church Council meeting to move the pride flags, currently in the windows, to a more prominent place on the columns. As Church Council considers this proposal, we would love to hear the thoughts of the congregation. Please join us for a second listening and learning session on January 18, after worship in the conference room.

Lakewood UCC Book Group in January
2026-01-18 11:30 - 13:00
The Lakewood UCC Book Group will meet on Sunday, January 18, in the Conference Room after the service. At this meeting, we will be selecting what books we will read throughout 2026. Please bring one or two book titles you would recommend. If you are interested, this is the perfect time to join the group. Hope to see you there!
