We are very privileged to have a full time interim minister, Rev. Mary Wellemeyer.

Due to the variety of our Services, we urge visitors to come a few Sundays in order to hear a variety of topics.

As You Enter
When you arrive, a Greeter will greet you in the foyer, hand you a welcome packet, which includes information about the church and our faith. Our Greeters will ask you to fill out a nametag so that we can remember your name next time we see you. Families are often greeted by Martin Blue-Norton, our DLRE -- Director of Lifespan Education (Sunday School Director) -- who can answer questions, tell you about our age appropriate classes and answer your questions.

Order of Service
A Greeter will offer you an Order of Service with details of the day’s Service, Announcements, and Information. The Minister or lay leader conducting the Service will advise you when to stand or sit (as you are able) and announce when silence or meditation is appropriate. The Worship Committee encourages everyone to show their appreciation with smiles and nods rather than by applause.

Greeters will advise you when to enter if you arrive late. Sound is available in the Lobby so you don’t have to miss part of the service or if you need a time out place with a fussy child. You may leave during the Service but please do so quietly.

A typical Service includes:

• Welcome
•  Greeting
•  Sing Children to Religious Education classes
•  Announcements
•  Prelude
•  Call to Worship
•  Opening Affirmation or Covenant  Reading
•  Hymn
•  Chalice Lighting
•  Lay Testimonial
•  Candles of Joys & Sorrows*
•  Pastoral Prayer
•  Offering
•  Sermon
•  Hymn
•  Extinguishing the chalice
•  Benediction (all are asked to stand and join hands where they are.)
•  Musical Postlude

* Candles of Joys and Sorrows in our time for people who choose to light a candle in silence or share their joy or sorrow with brief words. Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult.

Children need to be picked up from their classrooms as soon as the service ends. Children can play in the fenced backyard as long as there is adult supervision. We want our children to be safe.

Holidays
We celebrate the traditional holidays in a manner appropriate to the UU faith. These holidays include Christmas and Easter, as well as Passover, Summer and Winter Solstices, Day of the Dead, Chanukah, and Kwaanza, etc. We also note secular events such as Mother’s Day or Martin Luther King Day. Religious ceremonies include marriages, memorial services, child dedication/ naming ceremonies, and coming of age ceremonies. In addition, we have our own annual traditions, such as intergenerational services, flower or water communion services, etc.

RE (Sunday School) for Children and Youth
Members serve as teachers who follow a UU curriculum which includes well planned lessons designed to help children understand our faith and  how to live UU values in their daily lives. The nursery and one classroom are adjacent to the front lobby. All other classrooms are behind the sanctuary. Children are generally grouped by age and grade:

• Preschool (toddlers through age 5)
• Primary Class - grades K-1-2,
• Intermediate Class - grades 3-4-5,
• Middle School Class - grades 6-7-8
• High School discussion session
• We have regular intergenerational, team building, and mentoring event so the children have chances to interact.

Children are free to stay with their parents for the adult service; however, most children get bored and find the RE classes better meet their needs.

Infant Care
Every Sunday a trained child care provider is available for infant care in the nursery. A changing table is located in the nursery. Parents are always welcome to stay with their infant, toddler, or preschooler during the service.

Offering
We take a weekly offering by passing baskets during the service. Visitors are invited to let the basket pass on their first visits. Returning visitors may feel free to make a donation in cash or by check made out to CUUC. Members make annual pledges that are paid during our fiscal year; pledges and offering basket amounts are used to support the church operations, our programs and activities, and the Unitarian Universalist Association. Occasionally, we take a special designated collection.

Music
Our services usually include a Prelude, 2 hymns, and music in the Service including during the Offering played by live musicians – members, friends, or invited guest musicians. We have two UU hymnals distributed amongst our seats. Our Choir usually sings twice a month. If you have musical talents, please introduce yourself to our Choir Director, Matt Fisk.

Coffee & Conversation
After service, we invite you to join us for coffee, snacks, and conversation. This time provides an opportunity to meet Members, the Minister or Speaker, and other visitors, to learn about church programs and activities. This is also a good time to check the bulletin boards or activity sign-up sheets on the back ledge, and to make friends in our church community.

Welcoming Congregation
Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church is a Welcoming Congregation, welcoming lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people to our community. The rainbow sticker worn by many members and friends on our nametags is a symbol of our commitment to diversity. We also support GLBT community activities such as PrideFest in Denver.

Ways to Get Involved and Meet People
The week’s activities and contact people for our committees and groups are listed in the Sunday Order of Service. Our monthly calendar of events is online here.  Our Groups include Church Committees, Women’s Circle, Men’s Group, Book Club, Prayer Circle, Biking Group, Women’s Hiking group, monthly family events. Social Action programs are organized under the Just Act Committee, and include Interfaith Community Services donations and programs, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee programs, tutoring at a local schools, and Green Teams. We also have  Fellowship dinners, potlucks, parties, and occasional classes, and seasonal events. In many cases, childcare is provided at no charge at our activities, but it is best to verify in advance.

Parking
Parking is available in our lot or on Webster Street. Handicapped parking is available next to our main door. New visitors are encouraged to use the designated Visitor spots.

Handicapped Access
All our rooms are on one level. We have a handicap accessible ramp to the front door and a handicapped accessible restroom located at the back of the sanctuary.

Dress
Feel free to come to our church in comfortable clothes – jeans are okay -- while other people may wish to dress up a bit. Ties are rare but welcome. Children should dress comfortably in outfits that allow them to move and do class craft projects.

Air Conditioning
Our rooms are air conditioned.

Questions
Talk to a Greeter, a Member (blue nametags), the DLRE (Director of Lifespan Religious Education), a teacher, or ask a Member to introduce you to the Membership committee representatives or a church Officer. You may also email us at cuuc@columbineuuchurch.org .