November 2020 295 N. Lena Street, Ridgway, Colorado Phone: 970.626.5803 Volume 17, Issue 11 Worship Remembering the Saints Sundays at 10 and 11 AM 2020 has been an Mailing Address: incredibly difficult year P.O. Box 295 for everyone, there’s no Ridgway, CO 81432 doubt. But for those of us Email: [email protected] who have lost loved ones this year, the pain is Website: www.ucsjridgway.org particularly acute. Not Facebook: being able to be at the www.facebook.com/ucsjridgway bedside of our loved ones ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ at the end of their lives, UCSJ Staff Photo credit: Hakan Erenler; (from a free site—Pexels) not being able to gather Rev. Pamela Stofferahn— Pastor in large groups to memorialize the ones that we loved as we had hoped, not Rev. Dick Engdahl — Pastor Emeritus feeling safe to be present at the funerals of those we have lost . or having had Deacon Bob Larson — Minister of Missional Outreach to attend memorial services on Facebook or Zoom instead of in person . all of Deacon Kathy Graff— Minister of Spiritual these things have left us feeling bereft and have exacerbated our grief. Formation Perhaps that’s why, more than ever this year, remembering together the Nicole Lovesky — Administrative Assistant Katy Kristoffersen — Director of Music saints we have loved and lost will give us comfort and balm in the healing of our Sue Stern — Treasurer broken hearts. On November 1st, we’ll commemorate the saints we have lost this Laura Hagert — Custodian year at The United Church of the San Juans; and we’ll each have an opportunity ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ to remember the saints in our own lives who have died. I invite you to come to UCSJ Council worship (at 10 or 11 o’clock) to light a candle in remembrance of your beloved Pastor Pam Stofferahn who have died. You might also want to bring a photograph of the one(s) you are Rob Datsko remembering to help you bring them to mind more clearly as we honor their Floyd Day memory among us. Dennis Eliason Alice Goertz As scripture tells us, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every Linda Ingo matter under heaven.” All Saints Sunday will invite us into a time of mourning and Joan Moyer (Secretary) a time of rejoicing for the gift that these saints have been in our lives. Their Jen Parker (Vice Chair) witness is a part of our family heritage, and for that, we will give God thanks. As Carolyn Snowbarger (Chair) you remember your loved ones, you may also want to take time to reflect on the Donna Whiskeman Dave Young particular gifts that were bestowed as you shared life with them. Part of the work of grieving is to acknowledge the blessings we’ve been given, for grief is simply ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ the burden we bear out of having loved and been loved. Newsletter Editor— Barb Eliason Newslink Editor — Administrative This is my All Saints Day prayer for all of us who are grieving. Assistant ([email protected]) Lord, External Publicity — Kate Kellogg As we remember the saints who have gone before us, may we find comfort ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ in the gathering of your living saints and in your living word. Sustain in us UCSJ Office Hours the promise that we will one day see you face to face . and on that day, Tuesday — Friday be reunited with all our loved ones. Let us cling to that promise, that it 8:30 AM — 1:30 PM may give us hope for the future. Comfort our hurting hearts with the glow of light from our candles that reminds us of how brightly each one shined as a reflection of your light and love in this world. Let us also be bearers of your loving light as we honor the memory of our beloved. Amen. Pastor Pam Page 2 Volume 17, Issue 11 — November 2020 Calendar for November What’s Coming in Worship at UCSJ (For more information, see page #s) Sunday, November 1 Sunday, November 1 — All Saints Day Turn Your Clocks Back One Hour Bring a photo to remember your beloved saint(s) who All Saints Day (pg. 2) has(have) died as we commemorate the saints who have Tuesday, November 10 — 10 AM gone before us in a candle-lighting ceremony. UCSJ Coed Book Club (pg. 5) Note: Daylight Savings Time Ends. Be sure to Wednesday, November 11 turn your clocks back. Sunday, November 22 — Thanksgiving Worship Come and give thanks for all of God’s blessings in your life and receive a special gift in honor of our thankfulness for you. Thursday, November 12 — 4 PM Council Meeting Saturday, November 28 — Hanging of the Greens Friday, November 20 — Noon Starting at9 AM, we’ll begin hanging the greens and decking the December Newsletter Deadline (pg. 7) halls for the Advent and Christmas seasons. Join us and be treated Sunday, November 22 with Pastor Pam and Ken’s “walking tacos” when the work is done. Thanksgiving Worship (pg. 2) Sunday, November 29 — The First Sunday of Advent Thursday, November 26 We begin the season of anticipation and waiting with the lighting of the first Advent candle. Thursday, December 24 — Christmas Eve Worship services at 4, 6 and 8 o’clock, with outdoor caroling and candle-lighting. Saturday, November 28 — 9 AM Hanging of the Greens (pg. 2) Sunday, November 29 Worshiping With us Live on Facebook? The First Sunday of Advent (pg. 2) If you would like to participate in communion with us during livestreamed worship, please stop by the church office to pick up ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ communion cups to use at home. Weekly Activities Council Chair Report UCSJ Council met on October 8 via Zoom with nine members present. Sue Stern shared our financial report and noted that contributions are lower than a year ago. She and Floyd Day will continue to closely monitor our budget over the next few months. Pastor Pam updated council on the Habitat for Humanity Ridgway project on SUNDAYS — 10 AM and 11 AM Laura Street. A crew from Americorps may be arriving soon to work on the Worship Services project. Due to limited seating please sign up here or call the church office. Council unanimously voted to approve a new contract for Pastor Pam. Sunday worship is also LIVE-STREAMED Dave Young shared that the Powers are vacating the trailer on the church’s on Facebook here, for you to worship at property. Council will be discussing next steps at our November meeting. home, or through our website here. Linda Ingo asked if people are regularly reading Newslink since it’s quite long WEDNESDAYS — 7 PM (Via Zoom) now. Pastor Pam has scheduled a communications meeting. Community Learning (pg. 5) Jen Parker reported that we have 20 callers who will be reaching out to our THURSDAYS — 10:30 AM (Via Zoom) church family monthly. Women’s Bible Study (pg. 5) Dave Young is creating a new schedule for snow shoveling this winter. SATURDAYS — 8:30 AM (Via Zoom) Next meeting isThursday, November 12 at 4 PM. Men’s Bible Study (pg. 5) Carolyn Snowbarger, Council Chair The United Church of the San Juans Page 3 Treasurer’s Report Sunday Worship is Live-streamed at If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me by phone 970.626.4397 or email [email protected]. Thank you all for your continued 10 AM on Facebook support of our church and missions. Month End Report — As of September 30, 2020 YTD Actual Year-to-Date Income BELOW Annual ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Goal Goal Budget Prayer Requests or Income $ 46,822 $ 53,250 <$ 6,428> $213,000 Announcements Expenses $ 48,060 for the Sunday bulletin Net LOSS <$ 1,238> (deadline is Wednesday at noon). Remember: If you plan to make a stock or cash donation from a brokerage Address, Phone, Email Changes account, PLEASE notify me or have your broker send a contribution letter to UCSJ. Please email These transactions rarely include the name of the account holder making it [email protected] or leave a difficult to determine who sent the donation. Thank you! detailed message on the church Sue Stern, Treasurer phone 970.626.5803. Have You Ever Been on Top of the World’s Largest Flat Top Mountain On Friday, September 25 our Congregational Life Ministry (CLM) sponsored a fall colors road trip to tour the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway. Unlike previous road trips, this one was a 2WD adventure and many of the friends who joined in were different from the gang who typically participate in our 4X4 adventures. We titled this trip a “Deluxe” road trip, because 95% of the driving was on paved road surfaces; the remainder (4- 5 miles) were on a hard-packed dirt road, but suitable for 2WD. We were joined by 8 vehicles and 16 participants, who rendezvoused at the Starbucks coffee shop in Montrose for an 8:30 AM departure. Our destination: the Grand Mesa and the Grand Mesa National Forest; traveling S to N through Cedaredge then following the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway—The Grand Mesa National Forest encompasses 541 square miles, covers most of the Grand Mesa, contains 300+ lakes, and has elevation that varies between 5,000 and 11,000 feet. We stopped for lunch at Land’s End Observatory, a decommissioned USFS Ranger Station, perched on the south rim of the Mesa (built by the CCC 85 years ago). The views from this spot, on a clear day, are spectacular: The Gunnison and Grand River Valleys, 5,300 feet below; the Uncompahgre Plateau, to the SW; and the San Juan and La Sal Mountains, both 75 air miles away.