Members and friends of Denver Presbytery gathered for our August Assembly Meeting at Elizabeth Presbyterian Church.
It was a beautiful day and the church was warm and welcoming. Thank you to the Rev. Bruce Spear, Angela and Marc Grivas, Pat Mersich and Phil Wood for all your extra help making the meeting go so smoothly.
Special thanks to Rev. John Yu of True Light Community Church for sharing his words, listen to his sermon below.
A message from Executive Director, Maria Shupe:
We are very grateful to Geoff Nobel, Gary Forbes, Michael Hanratty and members of our international summer staff who have all been working hard on our deck repairs! It has involved many hours of building support structures, removing nails and screws, and preparing the beams.
I’m happy to report that this project is going very well! Today, with the help of a crane, the beams on the decks for both Longs Peak Dining Room and Meeker Dining room were pulled out and replaced with the new beams. Now the work is to replace all of the joist hangars (Michael anticipates 360 for the entire project), cap and protect the beams and replace the decking. Then we will move all of the support that has been built under these two sections and move it the section of the deck outside Hidden Room Dining room.
We could use volunteer help with this project! Do you have folks in your congregations who might give a day or two to help pull nails, reinstall joist hangars and build support structures? We’d be glad to provide meals and overnight accommodations.
If you can help, please contact Maria Shupe at Highlands, 303-747-2888
On Saturday, July 21st, over 70 people joined members of the Immigration Task Force of the Denver Presbytery for an Experiential Day of Exploration around Immigration issues with the experts from Borderlinks. We had over 17 churches, 4 presbyteries, and 4 non Presbyterian churches represented and participated. Xavi, Cathie, Tania, and Josue led us through many explorations around immigration.
We started by creating safe containers and agreements for our conversations knowing we had divergent points of view. All enjoyed an enlightening exercise reviewing the historical perspectives of immigration since the beginning of our country. Many were surprised to discover the patterns through the centuries, as well as what was happening during their own ancestral immigration to this country. We were led through a process of immigration simulation, that highlighted how complicated, broken, and random the existing system is. For instance, sponsorship into citizenship is now backed up to 1995 requests. There was an engagement of understanding around the border towns and the extreme costs of living imposed in these cities by companies that serve American outsourcing yet exploit the workers into unending debt and servitude. We participated in many other interactions and ended with creating a prickly pear cactus of life sharing publicly what we can do as we move forward to create something new in our world and around these justice issues.
The Presbytery of Zimbabwe's Central Fund continues to expand the agricultural operations at Vimridge Farm in partnership with the Denver Presbytery. A recent investment by the Denver Presbytery, through the PZDP Committee, enabled expansion by building a second greenhouse. Current crops include tomatoes, cabbage, and onions. The vegetable production is one of a number of business projects utilizing the land resources of the Presbytery of Zimbabwe and supporting their congregations' missions.
Precious Jesus, we hold the image of you interrupting the important adult agendas to bring the children into your lap with loving care. As you embrace them and give them your loving attention, you remind us it is these precious ones to whom the kindom of God belongs.
Loving Parent, our hearts break open hearing the desperate cries of babies, separated from their parents, not knowing when or if they will be reunited. We pray for your comfort for them and for those who are providing care for them. We pray for your wisdom to show us ways to engage in solutions for reunification for those already separated.
Compassionate Creator, we stand before you aware that as mothers and fathers, as aunts and uncles, as grandfathers and grandmothers, our hearts stop in fear, even considering the possibility of losing a young one for only a moment of distraction. We cannot imagine the terror and trauma of being separated in a country where we don't know when we would be reunited. God, use our fears to motivate us to bring change, to be a voice for these parents and children.
Holy and Just God, we turn our lives to you for your divine wisdom. We know the issues around immigration are complicated and complex, and we lift up the lawmakers and leaders of our nation as they discern a way forward. We pray for more than quick fixes that still imprison children and families who are seeking shelter and safety. May the decisions be infused with your spirit of grace and love.
Disruptive Spirit, we ask that in the midst of the inconceivable, we do not become immobilized or close our hearts with indifference. We ask you ignite within us a fire to move us toward actions that make a difference. We ask as you infuse us with your spirit, to move us to action that sees all those in our lives as your children. We call upon your prophetic justice that all these tears and anger will flow down creating mighty waters of change and righteousness will flow like a never-ending stream.
We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus, who also knew the fear of escaping genocide , fleeing to Egypt with his family searching for a safe place to call home. Amen.
Rev. Dee Cooper
Moderator of Immigration Task Force
The 223rd General Assembly (2018) will be held in St. Louis, Missouri - June 16 - 23. Denver Presbytery was represented by Commissioners: Ruling Elder Georgia Comstock (South Park Community Church), Ruling Elder Cleve Dixon (St. Paul Presbyterian), Rev. Ruth McCollum Huff and Rev. Jason Whitehead. Claire Wineman of Central Presbyterian church was our Young Adult Advocate Delegate. Rev. Carol Fisher served as an alternate.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meets biennially in even-numbered years. It consists of commissioners elected by each of its 173 presbyteries. The GA is full of activities: business sessions, committee meetings, an exhibit hall, daily worship services, and mission tours sponsored by the Committee on Local Arrangements.
The assembly acts on hundreds of items of business, which it receives through the reports and recommendations of various assembly entities, and through overtures from synods and presbyteries.
