- Description
- UU Connection
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Longmont Unitarian Universalist Presence is an emerging ministry initiated jointly by the UU Church of Boulder and Boulder Valley UU Fellowship of Lafayette in 2016. Together, we are growing our UU presence in Boulder County, Colorado.
Our goal is an innovative, multicultural, and multigenerational spiritual community for families. We are committed to intentionally creating opportunities that are engaging and collaborative. We are exploring a new model of church beyond bricks and mortar, using a multicultural ministry model, and grounded in strong lay and ministerial leadership.
With care, we have nurtured relationships between Longmont members of our two root congregations, tending to the joys and challenges of our shared histories. We are now including Namaqua Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Loveland into our leadership and reach. Our members gather around poetry, meditation, books, and meals. We deepen our connections at monthly community gatherings which are soulfully moving and meaningful. Social media is helping us reach new people familiar with Unitarian Universalism but unaffiliated with a congregation.
It’s time for the next step. Time to reach out in love and involve people new to our UU movement and searching for a deep and spiritually grounded community. We are ready to partner with other community groups and serve Longmont’s families.
This fall, LUUP will hold focus groups with local families to explore their longings and hopes, struggles and wisdom. Our programming will evolve and reflect our new learnings about the families and current opportunities of Longmont. We will continue to gather, make friends, and care for each other. Your donations will fund increased time for our ministerial organizer, space rental, community outreach, and curriculum. Donations of all amounts are valued. We have set a participation goal of 150 people. Show your support!
New programming possibilities:
- Covenant groups for parents
- Parenting and spirituality seminars
- Our Whole Lives lifespan sexuality education classes
- Summer youth camp
- Harry Potter as a Sacred Text group for youth and parents
Since our first meeting together, we have known that relationships are at the heart or our work. We are learning along the way together. What does it mean to be a UU in this time and place? Our strength comes from the efforts of many, past and present, directly and indirectly, who have opened their homes, engaged in challenging discussions and showed up for others in countless ways.
LUUP Facts
- Emily Conger serves as our current ministerial organizer for 15 hours per month.
- We receive ministerial support from Reverends Kelly Dignan, Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry, and Laurel Liefert.
- We receive financial support from BVUUF and UUCB.
- We received a Mountain Desert District Chalice Lighter Grant in 2016.
- In addition to our ministers, the following people have generously supported us by leading our Monthly Community Gatherings and providing music: Rev. Julia McKay, Rev. Cindy Pincus, Kim Mason, Christopher Watkins Lamb, Cole Hart, Tracy Bush, and Clint Brown.
- We have collected over $1,000 in offerings and given half of that to groups that support our values such as BLUU.
- We have sought support and guidance from Pacific Western Region consultants Rev. Tandi Rogers and Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kwong.
- Leadership attended denominational gatherings, including the Intercultural Development Inventory Workshop and Mosaic Makers Conference in San Diego.
- Our monthly newsletter reaches over 200 people.
- Find us on Facebook and Meetup. Contact us at info@theluup.org
Project UU Connection
“As Unitarian Universalists, we believe that the sacred arises from the interdependent web of which we all are a part. As we build deeper connections and break down the walls between us, a powerful and holy creativity arises that enables us to transform the world and each other. This is a theology of interconnection and covenant. The Longmont UU Presence is about living our theology. It taps into the transformative power found not only within each congregation (UUCB, BVUUF, and NUUC) but also between our congregations, and it is beautiful to see the three working so well together. Additionally, LUUP is spreading Unitarian Universalism in Boulder County! We have a powerful message to share, and that is getting done by the LUUP. Thank you for supporting this creative and important endeavor.”
- Rev. Kelly Dignan | Lead Minister | UU Church of Boulder
“The heart of Unitarian Universalism lies in covenant. The promises we make to one another are powerful, especially when we live it out in partnership with one another. The Longmont Unitarian Universalist Presence provides an opportunity to serve a community that has a sizable Latinx population and is already an innovative way of building Beloved Community centered on mission. Join our three Boulder County congregations in growing our faith to new levels by amplifying our UU presence in Longmont.”
- Rev. Dr. Jonipher Kūpono Kwong 鄺立達 | Congregational Life Staff | Pacific Western Region
“In this beautiful partnership, Boulder Valley UU Fellowship and UU Church of Boulder lifted their gaze from their individual congregational health to begin working together to expand Unitarian Universalism in our region. In these fractured times, we are modeling collaboration as we bring our historic covenantal values of interdependent congregations into the diverse and growing Longmont community. Namaqua UU Congregation to our north is now joining our efforts. Our congregations are proud to extend ourselves for this grander vision of Unitarian Universalism, in what we hope can be a model for future UU collaborative ventures.”
- Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry | Senior Minister | Boulder Valley UU Fellowship
"LUUP represents the glory that is Covenanting Communities. Covenanting Communities go where traditional congregations just can’t go by design, and yet by our interconnectedness, they inspire us all to a new margin, a new way of being. Working with LUUP has fueled my hope as they go so deep with each other the meaning, the blessings and the responsibilities of both membership and of covenant. What does it mean to make living, dynamic promises to each other, the congregations in our relationship and with the wider community. They have held their mission nimbly as it is informed and reformed with each new relationship and partner in their wider community. I want that for every single one of our congregations, too! LUUP is showing us how! It is my delight to sponsor this Faithify initiative!"
- Rev. Tandi Rogers | Congregational Life Staff | Pacific Western Region
"As the Namaqua congregation in Loveland joins in the efforts begun by Boulder Valley UU Fellowship and the UU Church of Boulder, we are grateful for the vision and labors of love that have given birth to this emerging LUUP community. What a wonderful project, bringing together a diverse group of creative, committed, thoughtful, fun-loving UUs to nurture a UU presence in Longmont. The spark of the chalice flame of LUUP has been lit. Now let us continue in this bold adventure and see where our synergy can lead us. We are living in a place and a time when it feels urgent to grow into our potential as a liberal faith, working together to bring more love, connection, and justice into our world."
- Rev. Laurel Liefert | Minister | Namaqua Unitarian Universalist Congregation
2 thoughts on “Families and Faith: Next Steps for LUUP”
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08/13/2018For our loco friends!$10.00
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07/20/2018Past learning fellow$25.00
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07/19/2018$100.00
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07/19/2018Joint donation from Fred Cole and Barbara Richards$300.00
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07/18/2018$100.00
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07/16/2018$25.00
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07/16/2018Spread that Abbitt love!$50.00
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07/14/2018Congratulations on the progress you hve made$25.00
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07/12/2018$100.00
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07/10/2018It's been exciting to watch the LUUP grow and bring UU values into this part of Boulder County. A tribute to our faith.3772$30.00
Emily Conger
I am so thankful to J. Randolph, Stephanie, Elena, Linda, Natalie, UU Church of Boulder, Kimberley, James, Kathy, Sharon, Robert and Janet, Jean, Sharon, Carol, Whitney, Jonipher, Eleanor, Lauren, Susan, several anonymous donors, and the attendees of our June LUUP Gathering who have contributed in this first week!
Your financial support has helped us achieve 2/3rds of our fundraising goal already!! Thank you for your commitment to the present and future of Unitarian Universalism!
Emily Conger
We are so thankful for our most recent donors: Cory, Nadine, Tandi, Toby, Laura, Susan, Alison, Judy, Marilyn, and more who are anonymous! Thank you for your commitment to this innovative ministry!