quarterly newsletter of the ocky mountain egion of...
TRANSCRIPT
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—1
Contents
Vicar’s Aloha, 1
LOC, 2 CHF, 2-4 COB, 4
Pride, 5
Mobilization, 6-7
Open Forum, 8-9
MoM at Pine Ridge, 10
Co-Editors
Kerrie Anderson, Copy [email protected]
Fr. Michael Nicosia, Layout [email protected]
Several times in his letters, Paul says to
"greet one another with a holy
kiss." I'm curious if people do that? Do
you gather in your church narthex
before Mass kissing people? I know
that some people practice this. But
many of us don't. I'm not sure what is
the equivalent in our cultural context: a
handshake, a hug, offering someone
the song book that we use?
John Chrysostom, an early church
father said, "We are the temple of
Christ and when we kiss each other we
are kissing the porch and entrance of
the temple." This encourages us to
greet one another warmly, tenderly,
respectfully. And to greet with a holy
kiss is to recognize the sacred in each
other, to recognize God's presence in
one another. To greet with a holy kiss
is to be present to one another, and
the Divine that dwells within us. Even
if we don't actually kiss, it is to greet
one another with intention, with
caring, recognizing not only the
holiness in the greeting but in those
greeted. To greet one another with a
holy kiss is to love one another.
In Hawaiian, the cultural greeting is
Aloha. You probably know that Aloha is
not only a greeting of hello, but a
greeting of good-bye. It means that
love and affection is extended. Aloha is
the presence of breath, the breath of
love. Aloha shows giving and receiving,
hello and good-bye being equally
honored and holy in the journeys of our
lives.
And so, inspired by the Hawaiian
people and their Aloha, as my time as
vicar in the Rocky Mountain Region
comes to an end, let us also think of
this as a beginning. Dear sisters and
brothers, my family, I greet you today
with a holy kiss. Amen.
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION OF THE ECUMENICAL CATHOLIC COMMUNION
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—2
ECC—Rocky
Mountain Region
CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY
Fr. Scott Jenkins, Pastor
Mass: 10:00 am Sundays
16738 E. Iliff Avenue
Aurora CO 80013
Jennifer LaRochelle, Administrator
(303) 369-9000
www.churchofholyfamily.org
CHURCH OF THE BELOVED
Mother Kae Madden, Pastor
Mass: 5:00 pm Saturdays
10500 Grant Drive
Northglenn CO 80233
Mother Kae 303-426-5464;
pastor@churchofthebeloved-
ecc.org
Fr. Paul 720-254-2083
Fr. Len 303-776-1460
www.churchofthebeloved-ecc.org
The last week in June was Mission
Week for the Light of Christ (LOC)
“Grouth Youp”. This year, instead of
going off to help in another
community, they decided to stay home
and work locally.
Eight youth and eleven adults parti-
cipated; spending 268 hours helping
out in the Longmont community.
Organizations assisted include the
Round Pantry, Attention Homes, HOPE,
and the Red Feather Thrift Store. In
addition, they cleaned garages, decks,
and did other tasks for people in the
LOC community. Their theme this
summer was “How Can We Help You?”
And it turns out that not only were they
helpful to many people, but as is often
the case, they got a lot out of it as well.
LOC will hear more about the youth
group’s experiences in August.
There will be a golf tournament and
fellowship on Tuesday, August 2nd at
The Links Golf Course 5815 Gleneagles
Village Pkwy, Highlands Ranch, CO
80130. Tee time is 11:05am. After golf
there will be food and fun at Pat and
Linda Garrity’s home. The cost for the
event is $57 Seniors (60+), $60 non-
seniors. Prices includes Green fees, cart
and after golf food, fun and drinks at
Pat & Linda Garrity’s house. There are
signup forms in the office. See Frank
Schmidt for questions.
Non golfers who wish to make a tax
deductible donation can do so by
sponsoring a hole (or 2) for $ 50 each.
Kelci de Haas, a 2011 graduate of
Longmont High School, and a 2014
graduate of Coe College in Iowa,
recently gave a slide show presentation
on My Year Living in Turkey at Light of
Christ Ecumenical Catholic Community
in Longmont. The talk was sponsored
by the LOC Adult Formation
Committee.
The recipient of a Fulbright award, Kelci
has been teaching English in Zonguldak,
Turkey for the school year 2015-16.
During her presentation she discussed
the relationships between locals and
foreigners in Turkey based on her
personal experiences while living and
working there. She also shared stories
about her travels throughout Turkey
and the Middle East. Her Fulbright has
been renewed for the coming school
year and she will return to Turkey in
August to resume teaching. She and
her family are members of Light of
Christ ECC in Longmont.
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—3
PAX CHRISTI ECC CHURCH
Fr. Michael Nicosia, Pastor
Mass: 4:30 pm Saturdays
6th Avenue United Church of Christ
3250 Sixth Avenue
Denver CO 80206
Fr. Michael 720-218-1081;
Fr. Stan Manickam, Pastor Emeritus
720-323-2099;
Sue Kaessner, Administrator
www.paxchristi-ecc.org
LIGHT OF CHRIST
ECUMENICAL CATHOLIC
COMMUNITY
Fr. Jim Demuth, Pastoral Vicar
Fr. Teri Harroun, Pastoral Associate
Masses: 5:00 pm Saturdays,
11:45 am Sundays
and 9:00 am Wednesdays
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1000 W. 15th Avenue
Longmont CO 80501
303-772-3785;
www.lightofchristecc.org
10am Sunday
August 14th
at Utah Park
Church of the Holy Family will provide
pulled pork* and chicken, bread, and
serving ware (*gluten free). You are
invited to bring additional food and/or
non-alcoholic drink to share. There will
be a sign-up sheet in the gathering
space in the next few weeks.
Please mark the date and plan to join
us for a beautiful celebration of the
Mass followed by food, fun, and
fellowship.
The first weekend in June, our teen
group joined with other ECC youth in
the RMRC for a camping trip at Jackson
Lake State Park. There was hiking,
swimming, canoeing, campfires, and a
lot of time to make new friends. Our
girls were especially glad to meet other
ECC youth. It was good for them to
know they are not alone in not being
"Roman!"
Pictured are two photos from our
fundraising efforts for said trip. Our
youth wanted to give back to the
church that has raised them! In return
for a donation, they volunteered to do
odd jobs for folks within the parish-
including yard work, house work, and
car washes!
Two of our youth, Kaitlyn Thompson and Jackie Weil, also preached the homily on Sunday, June 26. In that week's Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples, "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." These young women wrestled with the text and found ways that it is relevant in their lives today. They reminded us that following Jesus can be difficult and encouraged us to live the unique life that God created us to live—with our own passions and to live without regret. We are so grateful for their presence and passions at Holy Family.
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—4
MARY OF MAGDALA COMMUNITY
Fr. Jim Demuth, Pastoral Director
Mass: 5:00 pm Sundays
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
1208 W. Elizabeth Street
Fort Collins CO 80521
970-217-3009
http://marymagdalafc.org
Also check out our friends of the
COMMUNITY IN DISCERNMENT,
BOULDER
Mass: 1:30 pm
every first and third Sunday
Community United Church of Christ
2650 Table Mesa Drive
Boulder CO 80305
Mother Sheila Dierks
303-449-4302
For more information about the
ECUMENICAL CATHOLIC
COMMUNION, visit
http://ecumenical-catholic-
communion.org
In our mission statement we at Holy
Family strive to be inclusive and to
share our gifts with the greater
community. In that spirit we have
begun a program of English as a Second
Language. Our classes are on Saturdays
from 2-3pm for beginners and on
Sundays from 12–1pm for intermediate
students. Classes are open to speakers
of any language but since our
surrounding neighborhoods include
many families from Mexico, Central
and South America, our present
students are all Spanish speaking. We
have been meeting in the
library/classroom of Holy Family for
about three months and we are having
fun! Several of our regular parishioners
have volunteered to practice with the
students which is making them feel
more comfortable and at home in our
congregation. Some of the students
have expressed an interest in the
sacraments for themselves or for their
children. They are all Catholic but are
just now learning what it means to be
ecumenical. It gives me great joy to
teach this class and make these new
friendships.
Copy to Kerrie Anderson,
Photos to Fr. Michael Nicosia,
Church of the Holy Family in Aurora,
Colorado has started a Transitional
Committee that will be responsible for
developing and managing the process
to understand the needs, desires and
concerns of the Church of the Holy
Family community as Fr. Scott
transitions to a new chapter in his life
away from CHF, June of 2017.
The Transition Committee will then
pass this information to Holy Family’s
Parish Leadership Team (PLT) for their
candidate selection process. Holy
Family expects this process to take
some time and that is why we have
started it now. Additionally, Church of
the Holy Family will be working with
the OPB office to help vet / identify
potential candidates that will meet
Church of the Holy Family’s needs and
desires based on feedback/input from
our community. We ask if individuals
are interested in inquiring about this
process and/or position that they work
with Bishop Francis who will be
collaborating with Church of the Holy
Family Parish Leadership Team.
Church of the Beloved
will celebrate our
Feast Day on
Saturday, September
17th with an outdoor
Family Mass at 5 p.m.
followed by a potluck meal and
games. The children and youth will
lead in ministry. All are welcome!
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—5
Rev. Denise Roberts-Graham writes:
On June 17th, Fr. Michael and I
attended a Pride service and gathering
of remembrance at the First Unitarian
Church in Denver. We commemorated
the 1st year anniversary of the
Charleston church shootings and the
Orlando Pulse Nightclub shootings,
which happened less than a week
before this gathering. The worship
service was organized by the
Metropolitan Community Church of the
Rockies, First Unitarian, 6th Avenue
UCC, Pax Christi EC, Christ Church
United Methodist, First Baptist of
Denver, and the Interfaith Alliance.
Assistant US Attorney General from
Colorado John Walsh brought a
message from US Attorney General
Loretta E. Lynch of mutual sorrow, a
blessing of peace and comfort, and a
determination to work with the LGBT
community to not only improve safety,
but also to help our community thrive
in Denver. Senator Pat Steadman, Dave
Montez from ONE Colorado, and
Amanda Henderson from the Interfaith
Alliance of Colorado were also present.
Rev. Beth Chronister gave a moving and
inspiring homily of the sufferings and
triumphs, of hiding and creating
sanctuary, of being knocked down
again and rising up even in the face of
evil.
Early the next morning at Denver’s
PrideFest on the grounds of Civic
Center Park, we set up our ECC Booth
with information about our Rocky
Mountain Region Communities. Our
ECC banner said, “Come add your voice
to the holy conversation.” We set up
our area with chairs and tables in little
groups for dialogue.
The weekend was filled with color,
unique personalities, creative dress,
and people being themselves. Many
stopped and picked up a flyer; others
sat and talked for a while. The booth
was staffed throughout the weekend
by members of several of the Rocky
Mountain ECC communities. They
shared their stories of how they came
to be in the ECC. Those who sat down
to talk with us told their stories, too.
It became evident as the weekend
went on that the ECC was present not
so much to inform as it was to listen
and to be present in the midst of so
much spiritual woundedness. We heard
stories of isolation and rejection,
confusion and anger, heartache and
shame. We also heard stories of
hospitality and acceptance, →
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—6
community, and love by people who found the ECC and now
call us their spiritual home. We shared handshakes and hugs,
tears and laughter. This was the holy conversation to which
we had invited others. This was a sharing of the Holy Word
of God and of the Body of Christ.
At our July 30th Gathering of Regional Leadership, numerous participants articulated a desire to collaborate more with our ecumenical and interfaith communities. Here are some possibilities! Acknowledging that we may not have universal agreement on some issues, the editors invite the people of the region to add their passions to an ever-expanding list of engagements.
Fr. Michael Nicosia of Pax Christi ECC attended a July 12th
SURJ training with Mthr. Kae Madden and Jim Burnik from
Church of the Beloved, and some 300 other people who
pledged to use their white privilege in support of Black Lives
Matter... over 500 actions were planned for around the
country that week. They are also collaborating with the
Muslim Community to combat Islamophobia. Visit SURJ-
Denver's Facebook page to learn about various actions.
Fr. Michael joined other local clergy and lay collaborators to support the SURJ-Denver action on the morning of July 20th at the Denver Police Administration Building. The group demanded transparency about the demographics of those
involved in policing activities, an end to policies that criminalize homelessness, and the reallocation of funding away from militarization of the force in favor of community-building investments like funding affordable housing and mental health support. Four activists were arrested for willful civil disobedience to stress the importance of this issue. To sign a petition in support of these demands, go to www.change.org/p/create-a-denver-that-s-free-of-racist-police-violence
Sounding the call to address the issues around racism in our society, see the National Council of Churches’ statements about http://newsletters.getresponse.com/archive/ncc _newsletter/NCC-Weekly-News-Christians-Promote-Peace-in-North-South-Korea-327462105.html?e=&u=xcQv).
Later that same day Fr. Michael and Pax Christi’s
administrator, Sue Kaessner, attended a social gathering of
Colorado Faith Communities United (CFCU) to End Gun
Violence, a legislative action group to which LOC and
Boulder’s Community in Discernment belong. Michael and
Sue got to know the group through their involvements with
Moms Demand Action to End Gun Violence (thanks, Mthr.
Sheila Dierks, for introducing us!). Michael, having met some
members of the 32-congregation group at a recent
demonstration, was asked to deliver the opening prayer at
CFCU’s July 20th social. As a cathartic lament after more
than a month of violence, he sang a song from the musical
1776, “Mama, Look Sharp,” exhorting the group to continue
their vigilance -- Look sharp! For more information about
CFCU and how to get involved, talk to Sue, and visit
http://cfcu-co.org/.
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—7
Who is my brother? Every time I hear
about a mass shooting, my heart
breaks a little bit more. When Sandy
Hook happened, my grandson was the
same age as those first graders who
died. I have a gay brother and he and I
commiserated about those parents
who lost their children in the shooting
in Orlando. And even though we may
not be directly affected, gun violence
does affect us all as evidenced yet
again by what happened in Baton
Rouge, St. Paul and Dallas. Ever since
Sandy Hook, I have been wondering
what I could do. Donating money I
know is helpful but it didn't seem to be
enough. I am trying to do more and so
far I have been to a gun control rally
and have protested to our local and
national legislators. Now at least I feel
like I am helping just a little bit.
As I write this, I can't help but think
about the latest shootings that
happened in Dallas, not to mention the
shootings we never hear about. There
are 3 Million guns in private hands in
the United States (NPR). We need to
do whatever we can to stop gun
violence. I have learned that there are
many anti-gun violence organizations
and have included some website links,
but if you believe in stopping gun
violence, joining any anti-gun violence
organization makes a difference. Who
is my brother?
Collation to Stop Gun Violence csgv.org
Everytown for Gun Safety everytown.org
Americans for Responsible Solutions - Founded by Gaby Giffords americansforresponsiblesolutions.org
Peace, Sue Kaessner
Administrator at Pax Christi ECC
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—8
Lara Martinez, RMRC rep from CHF,
posted the following on Facebook
and agreed have it posted here
as an encouragement for political
accountability across the region:
I have started to become cautious of
what I post politically as I don't want to
contribute to emotions already
heightened and frankly my statements
aren't going to change votes.....and a
conversation on Facebook is not a
conversation.
I grew up in the politics of one party
and was an activist in another party for
over half my life from county
commissioner races to Governor and
Presidential races, I have been involved
in government, I have sat thru
committee hearings and long votes, so
as an involved person I feel I have some
spot in saying this.....
To blame one person, one politician,
one government office local or
national, one government department,
or the racial discord in this country is
unfounded. Violence and racial discord
has never been solved in this
country.....this has not happened
overnight this has been the course of a
hundred years or more... we are all to
blame. ....every voter every citizen
every person. I think more people
need to stop blaming pointing fingers
and thinking the state of our country
has happened over night. ...because it
hasn't...all the time people didn't vote
in their local elections, every time
people said their vote didn't count and
became apathetic, every time we make
it look black and white instead of gray
and every time we spew blame instead
of compassion or don't come to the
table with open minds and ready for
reconciliation ....take hundreds of years
of that...and this is what you get. Yes
this country is in trouble....but every
citizen is to blame...not one office
holder and not one party.
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—9
when I was a kid
I went to Catholic school
and wore plaid skirts
watched my grandparents play pool
in their basement that smelled
like ivory soap
with books on the shelves
and a framed picture of the pope
I thought that Jesus was like that
surrounded by family and fun
healing and teaching
knowing he was God's only chosen one
anointed, messiahed, christed was he
coming from somewhere called Galilee
rejected by people I knew didn't matter
betrayed, crucified, his death would shatter
light beyond dark
life beyond death
resurrection would mean
he sighed a new breath
and that's what I thought
I needed to know
believe in this one thing
then to heaven I'd go
I'd be sheep, but not goats
I'd be wheat, but not weeds
I'd be good fish, not bad fish
I'd be good soil for good seeds
until one day I showed up
for the washing of feet
and instead of watching
I was expected to repeat
what Jesus had done
and told us to do
take care of one another
stranger, neighbor, and you
love yourself
love your God
love your enemy too
it’s easy to love the one who's loving on you
but Jesus crossed boundaries
with his loving and teaching
extending his hand
to those who needed reaching
he spent so much time
with those on the margins
and sharing and feeding
with those who were starving
that the religious authorities
grew to dislike him
and they were the ones who
plotted to strike him
they broke open his body
it bled and it shed
and they tried to silence the things
he knew needed to be said
take care of your brother
your sister, your other
take care of your father,
your neighbor, your mother
stop judging, stop fighting
stop hoarding in barns
stop looking away from
those who've been the most harmed
by systems of oppression
suppression
bull sessions
depression
possession
transgression
it’s time for confession
for how we're complicit
when we look away
for how we contribute
to the bull*** of our day
Jesus' body was broken
betrayed, and abused
it happens today
to Jesus who wears refugee shoes
to Jesus transgendered
to Jesus who is gay
to Jesus who divorced
to Jesus who strayed
to Jesus who is homeless
or worships in a mosque
to Jesus who is different
from whoever thinks they are boss
see it wasn't just Jesus anointed or christed
it was everyone God breathed life into on this earth
whose dignity has been heisted
and what I believe
is not about life after death
but what's happening here
how we offer fresh breath
gather the sheep with the goats
into one single pen
gather the wheat and the weeds
and bring them all in
no boxes to sort us
no lines to dissect
we all are humanity
we are dignity, respect
we each have been christed
we each are divine
we each can unfasten
whatever does bind
another, or limits
their potential and light
teach each other we are all
loveable
and love with all our might
it isn't going to be easy
it wasn't for Jesus
but it’s time that we learn
that this love is what frees us
get out the basins, the ivory soap
and wash, wash the feet
of the people who live
on the other streets
pray for each other
be ready to share your extra shirt
and bring along your pool stick
and wear your plaid skirt
(....that's who I say Jesus is….. )
April 26, 2016
©Teri Harroun, 2016
The Journey Shared—Summer 2016—10
Mary of Magdala’s outreach provided all the meals for the camp on Pine Ridge Reservation. Lisa and Tom Moos shopped for and prepared the food. They were joined by a Unitarian Church Youth Group from Salt Lake City.
The camp was organized and carried out by a non-profit organization out of Denver called Reservation Restoration. Their website is www.reservationrestoration.org/ if you would like to check them out!