1/9/26 CRFUMC Email Blast

Matt Franks
5 days ago
6 min read

Join us this Sunday Morning

9 a.m. Worship

10 a.m. Community Faith Time

Join us online in one place in our Connection Point

https://www.fumccr.org/connectionpoint

Here you can access our bulletins, prayer requests, and several other resources to connect with us.

Upcoming Events

January 15th

11:30 a.m. Men’s Lunch at Pegasus

January 31st

G.R.O.W Retreat 9 a.m-1 p.m.

February 12th

12 p.m. Leah Circle

February 18th

6:30 p.m. Ash Wednesday Service

Ashes To GO TBD

April 1st

Stations of the Cross

April 2nd

A Holy Potluck 6 p.m.

April 3rd

Good Friday Service 6 p.m.

April 5th

Easter Services

6 a.m. Sunrise

9 a.m. Modern

11 a.m. Traditional

May 31st-June 7th

Red Bird Mission Trip

October 8-17th

Wesley Tour of England

Every Wednesday

4 p.m. Bell Choir Practice

5:30-7 p.m. Chancel Choir Practice

Marvelous Monday’s

10 a.m. @ Coff33 in Downtown Castle Rock

Sunday’s

9 a.m. Worship

10 a.m. Community Faith Time

Our Monthly Newsletter Can Be Found Online or underneath the TV in the Welcome Area. https://www.fumccr.org/newsletter

Community Faith TIme Break Community Faith Time will take a break on Dec. 28 & Jan. 4 . We will start back on Jan. 11 following worship. It reimagines Sunday School as an intentional space for connection and spiritual growth where we journey together. We offer environments for every age and stage: a nurturing Nursery for little ones (newborn–4), the intergenerational LIFT Group (ages 5+) for shared learning, Soul Café for adult sermon reflection, and Common Grounds for casual coffee and fellowship. Whether you are looking to participate or volunteer—especially in the Nursery—please email Pastor Matt to get connected.

THE GIVING TREE WAS BLESSED! A host of angels removed ALL 71 tags from the Giving Tree, purchased and wrapped the gifts for the children and their siblings of South Ridge Elementary School which were distributed to 31 families. The donations received for the grocery store gift cards given to the families and the two nursing homes—Silver Heights and Brookside Inn—were generous. The need was great and CRFUMC met the challenge. Thank you to all our volunteer and donor angels!

Tuesday Morning Bible Study Meets 9:30 a.m. in the Library

We will resume Bible Study on Jan. 6, 2026 and will begin a 6 week study using the the book by Rueben Job, Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living

Contemporary Studies New Study

Join us for a new study of Richard Rohr’s The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage. This study explores the ancient wisdom of the Jewish prophets to find a compassionate path through the injustices of the modern world. Sessions run from 6:30 to 8:00 PM via Zoom (Friday's, Jan 9 – Feb 6) or In Person (Monday's, Jan 12 – Feb 9). Come discover a life of empathy and enlightenment through Rohr’s insightful pastoral guidance.

King Soopers/Safeway Gift Cards:

Did you know that 5% of your grocery purchases can be returned to our church if you have a Safeway gift card to load and reload OR have signed on with King Soopers and designated FUMCCR as your nonprofit organization? Did you know these funds help fund projects in and around the church? Would you like to help bring us back into the $2-3K column?

If you frequent Safeway, simply purchase a grocery card from Theresa Kepple and add money. That card becomes the card you use to purchase groceries. If you wish to use King Soopers, go to KingSoopers.com/CommunityRewards and follow Step #1 to create an account and Step #2 to register our organization (FUMCCR). You will need to add our NPO number which is NPO#QM168.

Wesley Trip to England – October 8-18, 2026 -

This exciting trip to England will visit many sites from the lives of John and Charles Wesley and bring the history of Methodism to life. It will also include some other fun sites, such as Stonehenge, a West End show, Windsor Castle and a dinner cruise on the Thames River. Brochures and sign-ups are located at the Welcome Desk

The holiday season, often portrayed as a time of joy and celebration, can be a particularly challenging time when coping with loss. If you are grieving, please know that you are not alone. We warmly invite you to join our new Grief Recovery Group for support and shared healing.

This initiative is thoughtfully timed to begin shortly after our Blue Christmas Worship Service on December 17th and before Christmas Day, offering a focused space for reflection and support during this busy and often difficult season.

Group Details at a Glance

First Meeting: Monday, December 22, 2025
Time: 1:30 PM (Meetings will last approximately one hour)
Location: The Library
Focus: The group will be guided by the book and workbook, "Removing the Sting of Death," with a strong emphasis on weekly shared conversation and compassionate support.

Meeting Dates

December 22, December 29, January 5, January 12, January 19, January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 3

We understand that taking the first step to address your grief can be difficult. Please know that this group offers a confidential, compassionate, and welcoming place to process your loss with others who understand.

If you have any questions, or would like to let us know you plan to attend, please contact Charlene Smythe directly:

Phone: 719-459-3101

Email: gncsmythe@gmail.com

GriefShare – New Session Beginning January 26, 2026

Our next GriefShare session begins Monday, January 26, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at AdventHealth Castle Rock Hospital.To register or learn more, use the link below and select the AdventHealth 1/26 group listing:

Castle Rock, Colorado GriefShare Groups – Grief Recovery Support – GriefShare

If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact me at the phone number or email listed below

Clarence Hughes

720.218.0072

clarencehughes@yahoo.com

Red Bird Intergenerational Mission Trip, May 31st - June 7th,2025

If you are interested in joining the intergenerational mission trip to Red Bird Mission in Beverly, Kentucky this summer, please make a deposit of $150 per person by the end of January to secure your spot. Once we have a final list of attendees, airline tickets and transportation will be confirmed along with a fun activity for our last day. This will likely be to Pigeon Forge or attractions in Knoxville, Tennessee depending on cost. If you have any questions, please reach out to Courtney Hay at haycourtney@gmail.com. Thank you!

Blast and Link Submissions

If you have church photos, a related project or event to promote, or a card of thanks or invitation to share with our church, please email your copy no later than Tuesday morning to Julie Bailey at juliesings@gmail.com

G.R.O.W. Retreat January 319 a.m.-1p.m. in Fellowship Hall st Learn about the Methodist Social Principles led by Pastor Matt. Sign up at the Welcome Center. Cost is $20.

VIPP - Very Important Point Person Volunteers are needed to spearhead activities that take groups to museums, concerts, the mountains, educational events, etc. It is a one-time commitment. Previous events have included the Colorado History Museum, Indian Paint Mines in Calhan, viewing the fall colors, Flying W Ranch. Is anyone up for a trip to Breckinridge to visit the Father Dyer sites?

Weekly Reading

Monday: Matthew 3:13-17

Tuesday: Acts 10:34-43

Wednesday: Psalm 29

Thursday: Isaiah 42:1-9

For weekly Reading this week go to

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu

Weekly Quote:

When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.” – Rumi

Weekly Prayer:

Oh Lord, I command the River of Life as my shield now from death on the earth in this hour. I bring the River of Life over me, around me, and through me and through my union with God. I bring the River of Life beneath me, before me, behind me, on every side—the River that cannot be crossed. I bring the River of Life over my home and household, around us, through us, beneath us, before, behind, on every side—the River that cannot be crossed. Amen