Conversation FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BOULDER
VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 3
FA L L 2 0 2 6
Welcome to Conversation SENIOR MINISTER R E V . C H R I S B R A U D A WA Y - B A U M A N
D
ear Friends,
As summer gives way to fall, we return to familiar rhythms and begin again the work of being church together. This fall, we look both backward and forward as we launch Embracing Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future, our capital campaign. We give thanks for what has been entrusted to us across the generations, even as we listen for God’s call into the future – gathering and investing resources to strengthen our church’s financial foundation, and a discernment process that will help us imagine a new social justice initiative. Fittingly, our fall sermon series asks the very question this season poses to us as a congregation:
For the Life of the World, a look at the purpose of the church itself. And the pages ahead hold much more – worship and learning, art and community, conversation and concerns for justice. Through all of it, we continue to discover what it means to be the church for the life of the world. With gratitude and hope,
Chris Braudaway-Bauman
Cover art:1979 church picnic to celebrate church’s 115th anniversary, and 2024 All-Church Picnic.
Celebration Sunday September 13, 2026 We return to a full Sunday morning schedule! 8:15 a.m. Early Worship | Chapel 9:00 a.m. Pastors’ Forum | Standish Room 10:30 a.m. Worship | Sanctuary and Online 11:45 a.m. All-Church Picnic | Foothills Comm.Park Worship We return to two worship services at 8:15 a.m. in the Chapel and 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. The Chancel Choir returns from summer break, and ARTS Campers will sing a reprise of two songs from their summer musical, The Big Fish. Community Forum There is so much happening in the life of our church this fall! Join us at 9:00 a.m. in the Standish Room for a conversation with the pastors and others about the Capital Campaign, Social Justice Initiative, Unity Table, Associate Minister Search, Dinner Church on September 27, and ways to stay connected through the church’s communication channels. Come hear what’s taking shape and find your place in it. All-Church Picnic After the 10:30 a.m. service, join us for our AllChurch Picnic at Foothills Community Park, 800 Cherry Avenue. Picnic food will be catered by Tocabe, a Denver restaurant serving authentic Osage recipes. The menu features golden housemade frybread piled with chicken, bison, beans, gluten-free rice, and toppings. All are welcome for food, fellowship, lawn games, bubbles, face painting, and a playground for the kids.
Join a Small Group
Visit the Small Groups Fair
Sunday, September 20 Chapel, 8:15 a.m. Sanctuary and Online, 10:30 a.m.
Boulderthon Sunday Finding Our Way to Worship Sunday, September 27
Join a Small Group and Come to the Fair Sunday, September 20, 11:45 a.m. | Plymouth Hall
The Boulder Marathon brings thousands of runners and spectators to downtown Boulder, along with road closures and traffic impacts. We’ll still gather for worship, with a modified schedule:
In a congregation our size, small groups are the heartbeat of connection and spiritual growth. They are places where faith deepens, friendships grow, and life’s journey is shared. When we gather intentionally with one another, we experience something of the relational love of God revealed in Jesus, who promised to be present wherever two or three are gathered. We invite you to explore our 2026/2027 Small Groups Booklet and discover a group that might be a good fit for you. From Women’s Spirituality, Wonder Women, and X Women to Men’s Breakfast, Sunday Bible Study, Book Groups, music ensembles, and ministries focused on Social Justice, Arts, and Last Things, there are many ways to connect. Come to the Small Groups Fair on Sunday, September 20, at 11:45 a.m. in Plymouth Hall, following 10:30 a.m. Worship. Meet group leaders, learn more about the offerings, and find a place to connect, grow, and share the journey. Pick up the full 2026/2027 Small Groups Booklet in the Link at Church or see it on the Membership Dashboard of our website firstcong.net
8:15 a.m. – No Early Service 9:00 a.m. – Soup Kitchen Soup Kitchen meets as usual, with a simpler meal in case volunteers arrive late due to road closures. 10:30 a.m. – Worship | Sanctuary & Livestream Join us for Scripture, sermon, hymns, and special music. No choirs, children’s programs, or youth programs this morning. 5:30 p.m. – Dinner Church | Plymouth Hall Come share a meal, sing, pray, and celebrate community around the table. By evening, road closures should be lifted and travel back to normal. Whether morning or evening, we look forward to finding our way to worship together. Planning your trip to church? See the Boulderthon street-closure map for road closures and alternate routes.
Capital Campaign
Embracing Our Legacy – Shaping Our Future
This fall, we invite our whole congregation into a season of gratitude, imagination, and possibility as we embrace our legacy and shape our future together. A church is always receiving something from those who came before us, and always discerning what we will entrust to those who come after us. For more than 160 years, First Congregational Church has offered a place where faith takes root, questions are welcomed, music and art flourish, people of all ages find community, and the call to love our neighbors becomes a way of life. Our capital campaign is an invitation to carry that legacy forward – not simply by preserving what we have received, but by preparing for the generations ahead. At the heart of the campaign is the creation of a Legacy Endowment Fund, strengthening the long-term financial foundation of our church and helping sustain the ministries we cherish. And because our faith has never been confined to our walls, we will discern a new Mission and Social Justice Initiative, an opportunity to imagine how our shared resources might meet the needs of our neighbors in the wider community.
But this campaign is about more than dollars or an endowment. It is about who we are, what we value, and the kind of church we want to continue becoming. It is about trusting that what we do together now can create possibilities for people we may never meet. As we prepare for the campaign we invite you to listen, dream, pray, and consider what part you might play. We look forward to a Campaign Kickoff on October 4, the week you will receive your invitation to consider how God is calling you.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. Now, we are the shoulders.
Discerning Together
Our Mission & Social Justice Initiative
As part of our capital campaign, 3% of the funds raised – equaling $120,000 if we reach our $4 million campaign goal – has been set aside to strengthen our church’s mission and social justice work. Rather than having a committee decide on our behalf, we’re walking through a congregation-wide discernment process to determine together how these funds can best serve our calling. Our congregation has never treated social justice as separate from our faith. It’s part of how we understand what it means to follow Christ. Deciding together how to steward these funds is one more way of living into that calling. We hope you’ll stay engaged as this process unfolds – bringing forward a proposal by October 18, continuing the conversation on November 1, and participating in the congregational meeting on November 15, when we will make this decision together as one body. We are grateful to the Discernment Team for all their thoughtful and prayerful leadership: Marci Leveridge, Bob Matthias, Louisa Matthias, Margot Pickett, Deborah Raessler, Kathy Wade, Scott Wade, and Linda Kowatch.
Sunday, August 30 Beginning the Conversation Members gathered in Plymouth Hall after worship to talk about the needs we see, the values we hold, and the possibilities we might begin to imagine. Friday, October 18 Proposals Due Any member, regular visitor, or ministry is invited to bring forward a proposal for consideration. Proposals are due by October 18. A discernment team will then review and cluster the ideas that have been submitted. Sunday, November 1 Continuing the Conversation The congregation will gather again to respond to the ideas that have begun to take shape and help discern which possibilities most closely reflect our shared values and calling. Wednesday, November 11 Church Council Review The discernment team will bring its recommendation to a special Church Council meeting for review. Sunday, November 15 Congregational Decision The whole congregation will gather after worship for a Congregational Meeting to vote on how these funds will be used.
Celtic Christianity
Story, Spirit, and Pilgrimage
Four Sunday Mornings September 20, October 4, 11, and 18, 9:00 a.m. Standish Room
Celtic Christianity at Dinner Church Sunday, September 27, 5:30 p.m. Plymouth Hall
What happens when the Christian faith encounters an ancient spirituality deeply rooted in the land, the sea, the sky, and the rhythms of creation?
The exploration continues around the table.
This fall, we’ll explore the rich spiritual tradition of Celtic Christianity, which emerged in the early fourth century as Christianity took root in the ancient Celtic lands of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Galicia – lands at the very edge of Europe’s western civilization. This ancient spirituality was inextricably tied to creation – the land, the sea, the sky – where the Divine was revealed in goodness, grace, and abundance. Early Christianity met this love of the Holy and affirmed its expression even as it introduced the Celts to the love of God through stories of Jesus and the Hebrew scriptures. We inherit that legacy, and the continued revelation of Celtic Christianity still speaks profoundly to our 21st-century world through its emphasis on creation care, original blessing in human nature, justice in human community, and the living presence of God in the world. Join Rev. Hal Chorpenning and Rev. Jane Anne Ferguson, retired pastors and members of our congregation, for this exploration. Hal and Jane Anne have traveled extensively in Ireland and Scotland, exploring Celtic Christian traditions and have led pilgrimages to Celtic sacred sites in both countries.
Join us for Dinner Church, where we’ll enter more deeply into the Celtic Christian tradition through a shared meal, worship, conversation, and story. Together, we’ll consider the ways Celtic spirituality invites us to see the sacred in the ordinary, in the food we share, the stories we tell, the beauty of creation, and the people gathered around the table.
A Celtic Pilgrimage to Scotland
A Celtic Pilgrimage to Scotland May 6-18, 2027 Departure May 6 – Arrival in Scotland May 7 In May 2027, we are planning a First Congregational Church Boulder pilgrimage to Scotland, led by Hal Chorpenning and Jane Anne Ferguson. Together, we’ll visit some of the ancient places where Celtic Christianity took root and continues to leave its mark. The pilgrimage will include time on Iona, where St. Columba founded a mission to the Picts; St. Andrews, a place central to Scotland’s Christian history and the Scottish Reformation; Lindisfarne, the ancient monastery founded by monks from Iona; and Edinburgh, where our journey will conclude. We’re still putting the journey together. Information about pricing and registration will be available as plans are finalized. Come explore the Celtic Christian tradition with us this fall – and consider joining us as we follow its ancient paths in Scotland next spring.
Fall Events
Music. Learning. Prayer. Community. From UCC to FCC An Inquirer’s Luncheon Sunday, October 11, 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Standish Room Newcomers, visitors, and new members are invited to lunch and conversation about the United Church of Christ and our particular expression of it at First Congregational Church. This deeper dive than our Newcomers Coffee will explore the UCC and the story, values, and covenants that shape FCC. Bring your questions, hear others’ stories, and discover your place in this community. Please RSVP to churchoffice@firstcong.net for food and childcare. Women’s Retreat Sacred Time: Finding God in the Seasons of the Soul Friday–Sunday, October 23–25 Highlands Retreat Center, Allenspark Step away from the usual routine to rest, reconnect, make art (without pressure), worship, and renew your faith amid the beauty of the autumn mountains. Together we’ll explore practices of resilient faith - waiting with hope, living with wonder, embracing renewal, receiving the gift of rest, and finding dancing even in the darkness. Begins Friday with dinner and concludes Sunday morning after worship. Saturday-only option available. Register by October 5.
Those Who Sing Pray Twice An Evening of Prayer, Song, and Beloved Community Sunday, November 1, 5:30 p.m. Sanctuary As the midterm elections approach on Tuesday, November 3, join us for an evening of prayer, song, and reflection. Through Scripture, silence, prayer, and special music, we’ll make space for our fears and hopes and remember that we do not face uncertain times alone. Together, we’ll renew our faith and place our trust in the God who holds us through every season.
Fall Events
Music. Learning. Prayer. Community. Sawyer Organ Concert Friday, November 6, 7:00 p.m. Sanctuary Our annual Sawyer Memorial Organ Concert features Clarion, an organ and trumpet duo focused on contemporary music. Organist Melody Turnquist-Steed is an active recitalist who has performed at regional and national conventions of the American Guild of Organists. Trumpeter Keith Benjamin teaches at the University of Missouri– Kansas City Conservatory.
Louder Than Guns A Film and Conversation on Gun Violence Monday, November 9, 7:00 p.m. Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder What might it take to find common ground in America’s deeply divided conversation about gun violence? Peter Marty of The Christian Century Christian Faith and Character Formation Sunday, November 8, 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:45 a.m. Conversation & Lunch What kind of people is our faith forming us to become? Peter Marty, editor and publisher of The Christian Century and a longtime Lutheran pastor, will preach and then join us for a congregational conversation about how Christian faith shapes who we are and how we live – cultivating wisdom, compassion, courage, humility, and concern for the common good. Come for worship. Stay for the conversation.
Our Gun Violence Prevention Ministry invites you to a screening of Louder Than Guns, a documentary created by Ketch Secor, founder of Old Crow Medicine Show, following the Covenant School shooting in his hometown of Nashville. Joined by NPR host and filmmaker David Greene, Secor brings together people with different perspectives, looking for moments of connection and a way forward through conversation, music, and unexpected encounters. Following the screening, David Greene and filmmaker Doug Pray will lead a conversation about gun violence as a profoundly American public health issue—and what it might mean to keep talking across the divides that so often separate us.
Benevolence
Making a Difference Together Benevolence is central to the life of First Congregational Church. Each year, the Board of Missions and Justice in Action (MJA) receives a distribution from the Benevolence Endowment to support ministries within our church, our denomination, and the wider community. MJA funds all five of our Social Justice Ministries— Climate Action, Gun Violence Prevention, Mental Health/Accessible to All, LGBTQ+ & Allies, and Racial Justice—as well as Social Justice Coalition events and actions supporting democracy and rights for all. Benevolence also supports our Soup Kitchen, Friday evening meals for unhoused neighbors, and Pastors Purse, which helps people with utilities, rent, and other essential bills. Our giving extends beyond FCC through national UCC campaigns, including the Christmas Fund, which supports retired clergy, and Strengthen the Church, which helps local UCC congregations expand their ministries. The largest share of benevolence funds supports our community partners (see the list on the next page). This year, 19 organizations received more than $47,000 in grants. Congregation members also join these partners in projects and service, extending the impact of our financial support throughout the Boulder community. Another 12 organizations receive support through special offerings, the Advent Alternative Gifts Market, and other creative ways of giving. This year, for example, we collected 34 backpacks and $2,185 for Family Learning Center school supplies and held a successful food drive. Our Christmas in August offering supports RISE Against Suicide; in 2026, it has raised more than $3,000 for free counseling for students at risk of suicide.
Thank you for honoring our church’s long tradition of community support through your generous giving. Together, we are making a difference in God’s world. Coming this fall: An updated Missions brochure will be available in September. The CROP Walk is October 18 in Lafayette. Benevolence Grants to Community Partners This year, the MJA Board awarded Benevolence Fund grants to 19 community partners whose work aligns with our church’s covenants. Each organization described its programs and impact as part of the grant process. The following page represents the organizations that are receiving grants this year.
Benevolence
Grants to Community Partners Association for Community Living to protect the rights and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) to provide HIV care services and financial assistance for basic needs. Boulder Food Rescue to support their Food Redistribution Program and No Cost Grocery Program. Bridge House to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with housing, employment, and other services. Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition to support their 2026 statewide Member Assembly serving 170 immigrant leaders. Community Food Share to make additional healthy food purchases for Feeding Families and Mobile Pantry programs serving Boulder residents. Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) to support general operations helping EFAA to adjust resources to respond to emergent needs. Faith4All to work with UCC churches to encourage consideration of becoming Accessible to All (A2A) and to lead weekly Christian worship services at two local nursing homes. The Family Learning Center to help offset the cost of materials, supplies, and educational activity fees for their STEAM Summer Learning Program. Growing Gardens of Boulder County to support low-income and other historically marginalized community members to access fresh, locally grown produce.
Intercambio de Comunidades to provide group and one-on-one English language classes to 850 adult immigrants from Boulder County over 12 months. Meals on Wheels of Boulder for nutritious, tasty, ready-to-eat meals provided to vulnerable and often invisible populations, e.g. seniors and disabled, in Boulder. Mindful Works to provide social and job skills training that enable individuals with mental health challenges or who live with various neuro-diversities to enter the traditional labor market. Right Relationships Boulder for educational and community-building events centered on building “right relationship” with Native peoples and the land. Rocky Mountain Equality to provide professional, 60-minute therapy sessions for folks who are struggling under the weight of a discriminatory government and hateful cultural rhetoric. St. Benedicts Health and Healing Ministry to support free health clinics held at our Soup Kitchen for people who are unhoused and most vulnerable in our community. Wildlands Restoration Volunteers for general funding to help with restoration projects that make a tangible difference on the land. YWCA Boulder County to fund “AskY,” their new racial equity conversation and action group.
Abundance
The McMane Arts Ministry
The McMane Arts Ministry, in collaboration with Mary Horrocks of Open Studios, presents Abundance. From August through early November 2026, Abundance explores the many meanings of richness, generosity, and plenty. Abundance is found in nature’s beauty, flourishing gardens, and bountiful harvests. It is also found in family, community, creativity, knowledge, compassion, time, and the countless experiences that enrich our lives. Through vibrant color, intricate detail, expansive landscapes, symbolic imagery, sculpture, and deeply personal narratives, the artists in this exhibition offer their own perspectives on abundance. Together, these works invite us to delight in the natural world, see the familiar in new ways, and notice the beauty that surrounds us. They offer a generous harvest of imagination and expression – a reminder that there is always more to see, more to notice, and more beauty to share. On view through early November in the Heritage Room and Chapel Hallway. Join us for the First Friday Art Reception Friday, October 2, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Sales of artwork from this exhibit will benefit the artists, themselves, and a portion will also go to the Virginia Wood Fund for Artists in Need.
Member Art Show Creativity is Alive and Well at First Congregational We are blessed with countless artists whose work inspires and delights us. We hope you will share your creativity in our Fall Member Art Show, on display from early November through early January. We will enjoy works from all mediums, including pastels, watercolors, oils, acrylics, drawings, photography, fiber, textiles and fabric – and the list goes on. There are no size limits, and larger pieces show very well. (Please note that our hanging system requires artwork to have a frame with D-rings or hanging wire.) Interested in participating? Contact Melody Fuller (melodyfuller@comcast. net) for details and submission information. Join us for the Special Brunch in Honor of our artists on Sunday, November 15 at 9:00 a.m. in the Heritage Room. About the McMane Arts Ministry The McMane Arts Ministry is honored to host exhibitions featuring artists from Boulder and beyond – individual artists, groups, and organizations with exhibits rotating every three to four months. Our Heritage Room and Chapel Hallway provide welcoming spaces for community viewing and artist receptions.