Dear Congregation, 

I hope you enjoy summer's warmth with the occasional refreshing downpours. I know that I am. And, how about that double rainbow over COS on the 4th of July? It was gorgeous. 

I am writing to give you all a few updates and let you know that I will be on vacation from July 11-July 31.  I will be back at work on Tuesday, August 2.  Most of my vacation, I will spend in Delaware with my family and enjoy the local beaches.  

You will be in good hands with our Ministry Coordinator, Leslie Sheley, and some guest preachers and worship leaders during this time.  During the three weeks, we will not send the regular e-mail blast. You can make your way to the website for information at any time. It will be updated. Here is the link: Here's What's Happening this Week! Perhaps this email and the link can serve as access to information! 

I hope to see you this coming Sunday. We will welcome Inside Out Youth Services this Sunday, July 10. IOYS will present on creating safe spaces for the queer community.  We are incredibly excited about this work in our neck of the woods. This Sunday will be a fabulous prequel to the Pikes Peak Pride on Sunday, July 24! Remember, no worship at the church on the 24th; we hope to have a group marching in the Pride Parade with other United Church of Christ congregations in downtown Colorado Springs.  Please reach out to Cindy Halsey for more information: halsey49@q.com. 

Missions abound at the church this summer.  We have two families living in two of our buildings.  You might have met Amanda and her two boys or Lady and her family. Hosting both families this summer has been incredible as they transition to permanent housing. They both plan to move into new apartments in the coming weeks.  There is a list of household items that each family will need to move into a permanent residence; you can find the list here: The Apartment Project NEEDS 

Podcast happenings! With the help of Mandy, we won another round of grant money from the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ to continue with our church podcast, Jesus Has Left the Building . We are excited about this additional funding and will drop Season 6 this Fall. The season's theme will coincide with my Doctoral work on a feminist approach to worship. While Mandy has left her position as Director of Worship and Arts, she will continue in this role as podcast co-host.  You may also see Mandy as she trains our accompanist in worship music and liturgy.  

In addition, the Board of Trustees has been working hard. Here are a couple of ways you will notice their hard work.  The new church and preschool outdoor signs are ordered! We will see those in a few months.  Our main building's front doors are being refurbished this week. I am excited to see this little facelift.  Last month the board met and was led in a mini strategic planning by Steve Murtagh as they grapple with the realities of this post covid season and what comes next for BFCC. If you are interested, I encourage you to reach out to a board member in the next several weeks: JJ Halsey, Brad Carroll, Ann Cushman, Cindy Halsey, Robin Stretch-Croker, Levi Murray and Ian Stone and Janet Burns. They will meet again on Sunday, July 17, to continue the conversation.  

Also, a few board members are working closely with SocialSEO to create google ads using a grant we won this past winter.  The hope is that this work will make virtual “front doors” as people seek out an open and affirming, just/peace congregation in Northern COS.  

All of this is to say, the church will be in good hands this month, and I know the faithful work of the ministry will continue.   In closing, I want to celebrate two people that are amazing volunteers at BFCC.  Corina Hurst shows up every Sunday to serve the church by leading worship.  She gives of her time and talents freely, and I am grateful for her presence and love of the church.  Cindy Halsey, works tirelessly to ensure that we continue to live into our purpose and vision through the work of missions. She does much more than that, but her leadership with the Sanctuary Coalition, The Apartment Project, Pride Parade, and Inside Out Youth Services has not gone unnoticed.  I hope you join me in celebrating both of them and their ministry. 

Thank you all for being a beautiful community and beacon in Northern Colorado Springs, and I will see you soon.  

Peace, Marta