Youth Mission Opportunities Available with Scholarships from Cultivation & Innovation

The Youth Mission Co Mission Scholar program is a year-long intensive program for 9th-12th grade youth from around the Denver Presbytery area who are interested in diving deeply into mission, service, the root causes of social injustices, and discernment regarding God’s call in their lives.

Through the co-leadership of Rev. Doug Friesema (First Presbyterian Aurora) and Rev. Blair Buckley (Minister at Large), youth will have the opportunity to:

• learn about topics such as homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, healthcare, and other social concerns in the Denver and mountain areas. Together we'll learn about the root causes of these issues, their history, and the systems that perpetuate them.

• learn through our experiences, working among neighbors who are marginalized and working within agencies throughout Denver and the mountain region.

• look to our faith tradition and the Bible for insights of God's call to support and stand with the marginalized.

• listen for God’s call in our lives to help marginalized and oppressed people, through the exploration of our interests and life goals.

• have the opportunity to connect with youth from around the Presbytery of Denver, with leaders of community agencies (locally and nationally), and with community organizers and theologians.

WHO WILL BE PART OF THE COHORT?

Youth! This cohort is for high school youth in 9th - 12th grades living in the Denver and mountain areas. This cohort is capped at 10 participants.

• Facilitators: Rev. Doug Friesema and Rev. Blair Buckley both have a heart for mission and a passion for youth. They will be organizing and leading this group over the course of the year. Learn more about them at our YouTube Page.

• Youth Mission Co (YMCo): Youth Mission Co is a youth mission organization based out of Asheville, NC. YMCo has developed this program out of their experiences of hosting and leading mission opportunities for youth. YMCo's executive director, Bill Buchanan, and staff will join via zoom from time to time. While we won't see them much, they will accompany the facilitators and youth along the way and play a big role behind the scenes.

• Guests: Throughout the year the cohort will be joined by community and agency leaders engaged in justice work in our local area. YMCo has relationships with youth and community leaders from around the country. There may be opportunities to connect with similar cohorts in other parts of the country and to be joined by guests via zoom.

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

An initial group experience of Mission Immersion with fellow mission scholars and facilitators.

Monthly zoom and/or in person meetings with the mission scholars, including special guest speakers and planned discussions.

Ongoing mission engagement throughout the year, as determined in a mission immersion plan set at the beginning of the process.

Monthly connection with a designated mentor to debrief and discuss your local engagement.

A midpoint weekend mission immersion with fellow mission scholars and YMCo Facilitators

A creative project or presentation that the scholar chooses and develops throughout the year on a particular concern that is meaningful to them (homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, etc.) This project is shared with their fellow scholars and home congregation and includes their personal experiences engaging in this issue, the history of this issue, the systems and dynamics that perpetuate the issue, keys to solving the issue, and their theology related to the issue.

A closing gathering and celebration of Mission Immersion with their fellow mission scholars and YMCo Facilitator.

DATES

This cohort will begin with a Mission Immersion Day on Saturday, September 11, 2021. The deadline to sign up is August 21, 2021. You can apply online HERE!

COST

$100/month

Cultivation and Innovation, a workgroup of the Presbytery of Denver, will sponsor each youth participant for 1/3 of the cost. It is recommended that churches help offset the costs by 1/3, so that participants are responsible for 1/3 of the cost. This would amount to $400.00 for the year. Youth who are interested should apply regardless of finances.

Cost includes:

• Initial Mission Immersion Day

• Mid-year Mission Immersion Weekend

• Closing Mission Immersion

• Staffing and guest speakers

• Consultation for creative project

• Individual consultation with Youth Mission Co staff, including the Executive Director, Bill Buchanan

COVID CONCERNS

As formal health guidance and projections continue to change, we will continue to adapt our plans for this cohort to ensure the well-being of cohort members and our community. We anticipate a hybrid of zoom and in person gatherings over the course of the year together. Any in person gatherings will follow current guidelines for social distancing and health screenings.

In the face of this uncertainty, there is only one thing we can all do to prepare for the unpredictable—and that’s be flexible.

While this creates certain challenges, it also creates opportunities! We're hopeful that this makes it easier for youth in both mountain communities and the city to participate together via zoom. It also opens up the possibility for connecting with youth and leaders from around the country.

CONTACT

For questions or to express interest in participating in this cohort contact Denver.Mission.Scholar@gmail.com.

225th General Assembly Commissioner (and YAAD) Applications now available!

The 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA will meet in Louisville, Kentucky, June 18 – July 9, 2022. Denver Presbytery sends four Commissioners (two Ministers of Word and Sacrament and two Ruling Elders) and one Young Adult Advisory Delegate (YAAD) to each General Assembly. We are searching for a Minister of Word and Sacrament and a YADD to join three previously elected Commissioners. It will also be necessary to elect one alternate minister and elder.

In 2019 four Commissioners, two alternates and one YAAD were elected to represent Denver Presbytery at the 224th General Assembly, held virtually over four days in June 2020. Due to the abbreviated nature of that General Assembly (COVID-19 precautions), Presbytery asked the same commissioners to represent us at the upcoming 225th General Assembly in 2022. One of the previously selected Commissioners and the YADD are not able to participate next year.

Next year’s General Assembly will be a hybrid meeting, with committees meeting in-person between June 18 and July 4. Plenary sessions will be held virtually and in-person on June 18th and virtually between July 5 and July 9th. There will be a total of 10 days of committee and plenary service. Commissioners elected by the Presbytery are asked to place a tentative hold on their calendars from June 17-July 9, 2022, until committee assignments are made (by late February 2022). Once assignments are made, participants may clear any days their assigned committee will not be meeting. All commissioners and advisory delegates are expected to attend the worship and plenary sessions scheduled during the week of July 5-9. See the full docket here.

Being a Commissioner or YAAD is a wonderful opportunity to serve Christ’s church and to enrich your theological, social and spiritual life. However, it will entail some hard work. There will be extensive advance preparation for the General Assembly, possibly as much as 80 hours of reading and study. Nearly all reports, agendas, dockets and other documents will primarily be available electronically. You will need the skills and electronic devices to access these materials. We will also expect Commissioners and YAADs to report on the General Assembly activities at an appropriate meeting of Presbytery and speak upon request to forums, congregations, and Sessions.

There are eligibility criteria for each type of commissioner. Ministers should be an active or at-large member of the Presbytery for at least two years by the time of the election by the Presbytery to the General Assembly, and must have been ordained for at least three years by the time of the General Assembly. A minister should have attended six out of the last ten Presbytery Assemblies. Ruling Elders must have been a member of a church in the Denver Presbytery for at least two years by the time of the General Assembly. The church of the elder’s current membership should have had commissioner representation at six of the last ten Presbytery Assemblies.

All church Sessions will be invited to submit an endorsement of a young adult, who is age 18-23 years on the date the General Assembly convenes and who meets the General Assembly age eligibility. The young adult will also submit a self-nomination.

We ask that you give prayerful consideration to seek becoming a General Assembly Commissioner Alternate or Young Adult Advisory Delegate. Commissioners and the YAAD will be elected at the October 2021 Presbytery Assembly. The Presbytery of Denver policy governing applications can be found at this link.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 17, 2021.

What is my time commitment for the 225th General Assembly?
In conversations across the church, many are asking that question as the hybrid General Assembly will cover a three-week period, June 18 – July 9, 2022. Commissioners and Advisory Delegates will spend 10 days in plenary sessions and committee work.

In this special edition of “On the Road to GA”, the Office of the General Assembly breaks down the schedule to give potential commissioners and advisory delegates a clearer picture of their time commitments.

¡Si, se puede! Connect with the Vision Construction Team Rev. Lemuel Velasco

¡Si, se puede!

Toda persona, grupo familiar u organización debe de tener una visión. Quizás uno comienza con un principio, por la razón de que en todo principio uno es impulsado por lo que uno desea, sin pensar en ninguna visión, sin embargo con el transcurrir del tiempo se va creando una visión dentro de nosotros.

Considero que uno de los dones que Dios nos ha dado como individuos para visualizar las cosas, no ha sido nuestra vista sino la visión. Nuestra vista trabaja en función de los ojos pero la visión es la función del corazón. Podemos ver y no tener visión, pero gracias a Dios porque podemos mantenernos viendo aún teniendo los ojos cerrados.

Recuerdo la historia bíblica de los discípulos que caminaron con Jesús resucitado en el camino hacia Emaús (Lucas 24:13-35).

“…Para entonces ya estaban cerca de Emaús y del final del viaje. Jesús hizo como que iba a seguir adelante, pero ellos le suplicaron: «Quédate con nosotros esta noche, ya que se está haciendo tarde». Entonces los acompañó a la casa. Al sentarse a comer, tomó el pan y lo bendijo. Luego lo partió y se lo dio a ellos. De pronto, se les abrieron los ojos y lo reconocieron. Y, en ese instante, Jesús desapareció. Entonces se dijeron el uno al otro: «¿No ardía nuestro corazón cuando nos hablaba en el camino y nos explicaba las Escrituras?».”

Quiero darle gracias a Dios por todas aquellas personas que nos han antecedido. Todos aquellos que tuvieron y que han tenido la visión y la misión de llevar a cabo la obra de Dios en este Presbiterio de Denver. “Eben Ezer” hasta aquí el Señor nos ha ayudado (1º. Samuel 7:12).

Y le agradezco a Dios por esta oportunidad de participar, por cada uno de mis colegas de servir en su Reino a través del Vision Construction Team (VCT) del Presbiterio de Denver. Es un llamado, una bendición y un compromiso.

Dios está gestando en nosotros una necesidad que el desea llenar, Dios tiene palabra profética para nosotros y nos da fe. La fe produce paciencia, confiamos en que los tiempos de Dios son perfectos para su honra y gloria.

“… porque ustedes saben que, siempre que se pone a prueba la fe, la constancia tiene una oportunidad para desarrollarse. Así que dejen que crezca, pues una vez que su constancia se haya desarrollado plenamente, serán perfectos y completos, y no les faltará nada.” Santiago 1:3.4.

Pedimos que oren por nosotros, la oración es clave para sostenernos enfocados en la visión y mantenernos conectados con Dios. Sin duda alguna es la única manera de recibir fortaleza, ánimo y obtener todo lo necesario para proseguir hacia el objetivo.

Que la visión provoque en nosotros pasión y acción. Como dice el dicho popular: Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente. Cuando veamos, que el corazón comience a palpitar en nosotros, que nos motivemos y nos volvamos activos en dirección de la visión. Dios tiene una visión para el Presbiterio de Denver, que es sobrenatural, extraordinaria y eterna.

¡Si, se puede! Presbiterio de Denver

Rev. Lemuel Velasco
Pastor de la Comunidad de Adoración Divino Salvador

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

!Si Se Puede! (YES WE CAN!)

Every person, family group and organization should have a vision. Perhaps the place to begin is with a principle, because every principle is motivated by what one wants and with time a vision begins to emerge within us.

I believe one of the greatest gifts God has given us, in order to visualize, is not our sight but our vision. Our eyesight is a physical reality, but vision is a function of the heart. It has been proven that at times one can have sight and yet have no insight and vision. Thanks be to God that even when our eyesight fails us, we can see with our heart.

This brings to mind the story in the Bible where 2 disciples were traveling on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.

Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”

I want to thank God for those believers who have come before us. I thank God for all those who have had the vision and the mission to proclaim the Gospel in the Presbytery of Denver. “Eben Ezer” “God has helped us This far.” (1 Samuel 7:12).

In addition, I thank God for the opportunity to participate in this current visioning process. I thank God for each of my peers as we have worked in the Vision Construction Team (VCT) of the Denver Presbytery. It is a call, a blessing, and a commitment.

God is making us aware of His will for this presbytery, with this revelation God also empowers us with faith to do His will. I am confident that God’s timing is perfect, to His honor and Glory!

Pray for us that we may continue focused on God’s will and vision for this presbytery. May we continue connected to God that we might find the strength, creativity, and fortitude to continue until our task is finished.

May this emerging vision provoke in us passion and action for without a vision we will perish! Friends, let us see not just with the eyes but with the heart as well. And may our hearts warmly and eagerly beat in us that we may be motivated and actively participate in God’s vision for this presbytery. If the vision is of God, than we can be sure that it is supernatural, extraordinary and of eternal value!

As was the rallying cry of the United Farm Workers, so to it should be ours, “!Si Se Puede!”

Rev. Lemuel Velasco
Pastor New Worshiping Community Divino Salvador

Pathways Prayers for Citizenship

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has advocated for a pathway to citizenship for many years. At the General Assembly in 2012, the assembly passed “On Advocating for comprehensive Immigration Reform,” which urged church members along with other community members to advocate for immigration reform that included “making family unity a priority” and “providing a reasonable and inclusive path for undocumented migrants presently living in the United States to eventually gain citizenship.”

Learn how you can urge your Congressional leaders to act courageously and justly in passing legislation to make pathways to citizenship accessible to undocumented community members!

_______________________________

Each Monday during August (9, 16, 23 and 30), the Interfaith Immigration Coalition is hosting a Prayers for Citizenship event. Join by Zoom at 10 am MDT for a time of prayer, a time to hear from at-risk communities, and a time to learn how to participate in actions.

On Monday, August 16, the PC(USA) Office of Immigration Issues will host the Prayers for Citizenship event. The office has invited a person who holds Temporary Protected Status and who is seeking a call in the PCUSA to tell her story. Please join to hear her moving story which clearly points to the reasons we need pathways for folks to access citizenship.

Register for the weekly August events at here. Spanish interpretation will be available.

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) is a 55-member coalition consisting of faith-based organizations focused on just and humane immigration policy. The PCUSA is a steering committee member. The IIC has created a Pathways Prayer toolkit that provides weekly prayers and actions. There is also an action toolkit for citizenship that includes more information, ways to get involved, and ways to invite others to join the efforts.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19th @ 3 PM MDT

The Presbyterian Church (USA) continues its webinar series, Welcoming the Stranger Webinar Series, with a Pathways to Citizenship episode on Thursday August 19th at 5 pm ET/2 pm, PT.

In this webinar, we will hear from national and local leaders about why citizenship for all is important and how you can engage. We will hear from national leaders engaged in national efforts to gain Congressional support, and we will hear from local leaders who are engaged in local efforts directly tied to community support.

PRESENTERS
Jung Woo Kim, Organizing Director for NAKASEC (National Korean American Service & Education Consortium) is a national leader in the Citizenship for All campaign hosting the first 100 days efforts to draw attention to the need to pass a legislative solution for the undocumented community.

Joseph Fleming, Senior Advisor, Faith Leadership Strategies for Faith In Action is an interfaith organization lifting the voices of faith communities in support of this work. They have state and local affiliates that work directly with at-risk communities. They have led the #WeAreEssential campaign and Fast for Freedom effort.

Iolando Spinola, Immigration Team Co-Chair of Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC) is a local affiliate of Faith in Action in Brockton, MA. BIC includes many immigrant and migrant members who continue to urge the organization to focus on advocacy efforts for pathways to citizenship. They will share how they work to address issues more locally.

———————————————

With the Congressional August Recess upon us, the Office of Immigration Issues has released Immigration Asks for 2021 to help you advocate for immigration policy with your elected officials.

Some of us are hesitant to call our elected officials because we have not reached out to them before. Presbyterian Church (USA) Rev. Heidi Worthen-Gamble, Mission Catalyst for Presbytery of the Pacific, provides step-by-step instructions on how to do this well. Watch her video to gain tips for calling your Members of Congress. And then be sure to call urging them to vote for pathways to citizenship!

Our Stories: Mountain View United Church has been working on a plan!

For the last 3.5+ years Mountain View United Church has been working on a plan on how to use our 2-acre vacant lot next to the church to provide affordable for working families. As we all know, there is a critical shortage of affordable housing across the entire metro area. Believing that this land is a gift given to us by God to be used in love of our neighbor and not for our own profit we embrace the vision of the prophets, a vision of Shalom, where "everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid." A vision of where all have homes. A vision further affirmed by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights which declares housing as a human right, like the right to food and clothing.

In the fall of 2017 we were the first faith community to begin working with the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado's "Congregation Land Campaign" (CLC). The CLC was formed to work with congregations and nonprofits to provide technical assistance to utilize the over 5,000 acres of undeveloped congregation land to address the affordable housing crisis.

After 18 months of visioning, investigating numerous possibilities, and designing several different options we entered into a formal partnership with Habitat For Humanity Metro Denver to construct 20 owner-occupied affordable homes for working families, many of whom are essential workers. on the property. See the attached info sheet. Please visit our web site at https://mountainviewcommunityhomes.com to see the details of the proposed development.

We are now in the midst of gaining approval from the Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission for the rezoning of the land to make this vision a reality. That will be followed by approval from the City Council, we hope, sometime in September.

As both we and Habitat expected there is strong opposition from the surrounding neighbors that we are working through. To that end, we are asking faith communities, faith leaders, and individuals who share our vision of providing affordable home as fulfilling the command to love our neighbor to lend their support to the project by writing letters of endorsement / support to Aurora City Council. I am happy to provide instructions on how to craft the letters and who to send them to, sample letter templates, and talking points. I can be contacted at pastorwaynelaws@comcast.net. In addition, we will be sending out a call in late Aug/early Sep for people of faith to testify in support of the project at the City Council hearing.

Scripture teaches us that it takes community to build and nurture Shalom and we invite our kin folk in the faith community to join us in our vision to take what is now a weed covered vacant lot and transform it into place of God's vision for society.

In Peace,

Rev. Wayne A. Laws
(He/His/Him)
Minister of Social Justice & Mission
Mountain View United Church

O' boy, what kind of commitment would be required of me?

When I was asked to participate with the Vision Construction Team, my first thought was, "what kind of name is that for a church committee?" Then my thoughts went to, "O’ boy, what are they constructing?" Now, here is the bigger O’ boy, "what kind of commitment would be required of me?"

After a few conversations with Pastor Amo and others from Presbytery, I said "yes," still wondering about this Vision Construction Team concept.

Well, I believe this is now my 15th Saturday morning meeting “Faithfully” -- and I do mean faithfully-- attending our meetings. The Team even has two Denver Presbytery Assemblies under our belts. This Vision Construction Team has created a surprising amount of work for me to do, but that is what a “vision” does. It requires a lot of imagination, a lot of revealing of the heart, mind and soul. Visioning, exposes and uncovers the hard work it takes to be a follower of Jesus Christ, because...let's face it...as a human, I like things simple and uncomplicated. But, between the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit “easy” was not part of the plan.

Our VCT forages forward "to encourage, equip, and challenge congregations, broader faith expressions, covenant partners, and their leaders, as they share the love and shalom of Jesus Christ." And the vision to become a "diverse, hospitable, innovative presbytery where ministries can thrive, servant leaders grow, and communities are engaged."

We encourage you to read, devotionally pray with, and discuss with your fellow disciples, the Mission, Vision and Values we shared with the DenPres Assembly on May 25 and are moving forward with.

We are always open to comments, questions, hopes, and aspirations. You can message us at VCT@denpres.org

Together in Christ,

Ruling Elder Daphne Rice-Allen
Vision Construction Team