We have arrived! The culmination of the campaign leading up to CFCU’s 10th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, September 22nd is upon us. We will now reveal the #2 and #1 Top Ways to Engage with CFCU!
If at all possible, be sure to do BOTH of these so we can build a stronger community and lay a firm financial foundation for another 10 years of faith-fueled action to end gun violence.
You can find all of the previous Top 10 Ways here.
So, here we go! Drum roll, please. . .
Top 10 Ways to Engage with CFCU #2:
Attend Our Anniversary Celebration!
RSVP nowfor CFCU’s 10th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, September 22!
We’ll gather for fun and fellowship while we honor our founders, acknowledge important accomplishments, build relationships with one another and get inspired for the next 10 years of empowering faith communities to address the gun violence epidemic in our country! (Special note: Attorney General Phil Weiser will be our keynote speaker!)
Sunday, September 22, 2024 3:00pm-5:00pm First Plymouth Congregational Church 3501 S. Colorado Blvd.,
Top 10 Ways to Engage with CFCU articles are submitted by Cheryl Fleetwood, Central Presbyterian Church.
Top 10 Ways to Engage with CFCU #1:
Join Our Flight of Friends!
In order to support our faith-fueled action into the next decade, we are launching a new fundraising initiative: CFCU's Flight of Friends! Individuals, congregations, businesses and individuals are invited to donate TODAY!
All who donate prior to September 7, will be recognized in the 10th Anniversary program and on our website, unless you ask to remain anonymous.
If you wish to support CFCU as a business or congregation, please donate using the link and also send your logo, official business or congregation name to communications@cfcu.org.
Moving forward, donations will accumulate annually and at the end of each year, our Flight of Doves will be recognized in a special way.
Longtime friends, Jerry Arca, Gene Drumm and Alana Smart gather to remember their first meeting, which resulted in a movement and an organization--Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence.
Send your personal greetings to wish CFCU a "Happy 10th Anniversary!"
Click the photo at the right to watch Pastors Anne and Alice from Calvary Baptist send greetings.
With our 10th Anniversary Celebration only weeks away, we are inviting you to make a short video of yourself. Talk about your relationship with CFCU, your congregation, or other organizational association if any, and why you are a member. Or gather your congregation together and make a group video. Then wish CFCU a Happy 10th Anniversary! All videos will be edited into one that will be shown at our event on September 22 and shared on social media after. Send your video of about one minute by September 20 to Communications,
Presentation by Lauren SinClair about Suicide Prevention at the PHS meeting on Sept. 18
Used appropriately, ERPO's (Extreme Risk Protection Orders) have the potential to help reduce firearm suicides which constitute over 70% of gun deaths in Colorado. But this powerful tool must be carefully integrated with best practices in suicide prevention to realize its life saving potential. Lethal means counseling combined with various safe storage strategies can even reduce the need for legal removal of firearms.
You can learn more about this approach from Lauren SinClair, Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator for Suicide Prevention with the Cheyenne VA at the next meeting of CFCU’s Public Health Strategies Action Team on Wednesday, Sept. 18 via ZOOM. The meeting begins at 10:00 am and Lauren will present at 10:30 am. After meeting with Lauren, members of our ERPO Public Education Work group wanted to share her insights on how to reach gun owners and their families. To receive the ZOOM link and meeting agenda, contact publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org
CFCU Members Cheryl Fleetwood, Molly Brown, Carol Young and Rita Niblack attended the Atwood Institute for Congregational Courage at Ghost Ranch.
Articles submitted by Stephanie Greenberg, Congregation Bonai Shalom
Be Sure You’re Registered to Vote
November 5th seems like a long way off, but ballots will be mailed to Colorado voters 2-3 weeks before the election. If you’re not registered to vote, now is the time to do it. It’s easy and quick to do online at the Colorado Secretary of State’s website: https://www.coloradosos.gov/voter/pages/pub/home.xhtml
If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can use the same link to check, and you can also find the nearest location for a polling place or drop box. The stakes in this election couldn’t be higher -- your vote is essential.
Local Challenges to the New Sensitive Spaces Law
The Colorado Sensitive Spaces law prohibits open and concealed carry firearms in voting locations, licensed childcare centers, schools, college campuses, and state and local government buildings. The law contains an opt-out provision for local governments to permit firearms in their government buildings. (That’s the only part of the law that allows for local opt-outs.) Following a public hearing by Arvada City Council on August 19, a proposed ordinance permitting concealed carry firearms at Arvada City Hall was defeated. In July, Westminster City Council also voted against the opt-out provision. However, a number of local governments have approved the opt-out, including Aurora, Castle Rock, Monument, Palmer Lake, and Douglas, Teller, Routt, Mesa and Morgan counties. We’ll continue to keep track of local op-out decisions and hope they’ll soon peter out.
Longtime CFCU member, Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren will be hosting an International Peace Day rally on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 2:00 - 3:00 on the west steps of the Capitol. Senator Rhonda Fields will keynote and CFCU has been invited to speak. Rev. Erisman-Valeta shared:
"When we are encouraged in so many ways to be a divided society, this peace rally encourages us to be a community that resists that, especially when division can encourage violence. During this election year, we especially want to encourage peace and our common humanity. And our keynote speaker, Sen. Rhonda Fields, has shown by example to Do Something Positive, even in the face of death and death threats. This is a Family Friendly event and peace with justice signs are encouraged."
Please let her know if you’ll be able to attend and bring any members from your congregation. Contact erismanvaleta@gmail.com
Article submitted by Alana Smart, Congregation B'nai Havurah
Our Featured Congregation of the Month:
1st Plymouth Congregational Church
Where It All Began
First Plymouth became involved in the issue of gun violence after the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012. Susan Oakes and Peter Fogg, both members of CFCU and of First Plymouth, remember the Sunday after the shootings when their Pastor Eric Smith preached on the terrible epidemic of gun violence and invited anyone in the congregation who wanted to talk more about the issue to meet after the service. That was the beginning of a ministry that continues at First Plymouth today. Susan explained "There are over 100 people who testify and email legislators through the rapid response network. We have two adult forums on gun violence each year." The annual CFCU gun violence awareness vigil, holds the south east regions' event at First Plymouth.
First Plymouth was founded in 1864. Its first location was on Lafayette St. in Denver. Since 1957 it has been at its current location at the intersection of Colorado Blvd and Hampden. The congregation is celebrating its 160th anniversary this fall. The Congregational church traces its origins to the Puritans in New England and has a long history of work for justice including work to abolish slavery. Denver's First Plymouth follows this tradition of justice. It has a membership of 480 families, with an average attendance of 80 people and almost as many attending on line. There are 24 standing ministries, gun violence prevention being one of them.
They are a welcoming and an open and affirming community. "Everybody is welcome," explained Peter, "Seriously, everyone...we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus."
Jerry Arca, long time member of First Plymouth, and one of the founding members of CFCU.
Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence held its first meetings at First Plymouth Congregational Church on June 12, 2014.
Susan Oakes, long time member of CFCU and of First Plymouth.
Gun violence is very personal for Susan. In 1993, when her life was turned upside down, when her sister-in-law was shot and killed at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant, where she was the manager. When the issue of gun violence surfaced at First Plymouth in 2012 with Sandy Hook, Susan and her husband had recently joined First Plymouth. "I was a congregation member, supporting what was being done for my family on Marge's behalf."
Peter Fogg, long time member of CFCU and First Plymouth.
Peter and his wife Nancy were married in 1991 and joined First Plymouth in 1994. "It was one of the best moves I've made. The friendships and the ministries have become a part of my life. " Sadly Nancy died in 2022, but Peter continues to find support and partners in ministry at his congregation. He remembers waiting until 2 a.m. for his turn to testify about gun legislation on zoom. "We are humbled and proud that a small spark has grown into what it is today through diligence and faithfulness to the work. We are in it for the long run."
Article Submitted by Rita Niblack, Most Precious Blood Catholic Church
CFCU provides both information and opportunities for congregations to participate in gun violence prevention as communities of faith. Your donations help us to do this work.
September 12: 10 AM - 12 PM. Communications Meeting in person at Calvary Baptist Church. For more information please contact Daryl Foelske (dfoelske@gmail.com)
September 17: 3:30 - 5:30 PM. Steering Committee Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
September 18: 10 - 11:30 AM. Public Health Strategies Meeting on Zoom. For more information please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org)
September 22: 3 - 5 PM CFCU 10th Anniversary Celebration. Watch for more information!
October 29, 2:00 PM. Advocacy Team Meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Stephanie (advocacy@cfcu-co.org)
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