7/4/25 CRFUMC Email Blast
- Matt Franks
- Jul 4
- 7 min read
Happy 4th of July
A Prayer for Independence Day
Almighty God, you rule all the peoples of the earth.Inspire the minds of all women and men to whom you have committed the responsibility of government and leadership in the nations of the world.Give to them the vision of truth and justice, that by their counsel all nations and peoples may work together.Give to the people of our country zeal for justice and strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will.Forgive our shortcomings as a nation; purify our hearts to see and love the truth.We pray all these things through Jesus Christ. Amen.
~ Andy Langford, UMC Discipleship Resources, Prayer for Independence Day
Join us this Sunday Morning
8:30 a.m. Outdoor Chapel
(To be held indoors if the weather is not favorable)
10:00 a.m. Modern Service In Sanctuary
Join us online in one place in our Connection Point
Here you can access our bulletins, prayer requests, and several other resources to connect with us.
Did the weekly email blast not make it to your email mailbox this week?
If not go to fumcccr.org and click on the I'm New Tab
and then click on Join our Email List
Also, make sure that it is not hitting your spam folder in your email.
For Prayer Requests go to: https://www.fumccr.org/prayer-request
Check out the July Newsletter
You can find it at https://www.fumccr.org/newsletter
Upcoming Events
July 4: Pastor Matt’s Birthday
July 10: Leah Circle sack lunch at Fairgrounds park, 11:30am
July 11: Friday Fellowship at Wellspring & Co. Coffee Shop, 207 Perry St., 10am
July 17: Men’s lunch at Pegasus, 11:30am
July 16: Knot Again, 6:00 pm Fellowship Hall.
July 18: August Newsletter deadline
July 20: Between services, prepare water bottles for the Fair Parade
July 26: Douglas County Fair Parade, 9:30 am
July 31st Board Game Night 6 p.m.
Knot Again Dates: The group is shifting to Wednesday’s at 6 p.m. upcoming dates are July 16th, Aug 20th, Sept 17th
Water Bottle Collection, Stickering & Distribution: The DC Fair & Rodeo Parade on July 26th is only a few weeks away. For our third year, we’lll be offering refreshing bottles of water to folks along the parade route. There are several ways to help:
Bring in a case of water
Add church logo stickers to the bottles between services on July 20
Volunteer to deliver and distribute the water from wagons and wheeled totes from the shade of the DMV Building (old courthouse square) on Wilcox.
Sign up at the Welcome Center.
Contemporary Bible Study Our next book for Monday and Friday night groups is Wesleyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity by Ashley Boggan. This book argues that "vile-tality" – inspired by John Wesley's commitment to spreading God's love to all, even if it meant being "more vile" – is core to Methodist identity. Boggan explores how early Methodists were rule-benders and outcast-embracers, and how this original spirit was lost as the church prioritized respectability. It's an engaging read that encourages us to rediscover our roots.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study will not meet during July. Consider joining this group when it reconvenes on August 5 at 9:30 as we continue our study of 1,2,3 John and the book of Jude.
Friday Fellowship in July & August Start your summer weekend off with a visit to one of Castle Rock’s many great coffee shops. Join our Friday Fellowship any Friday morning, at 10:00am, July 11- August 29. This is not a ladies’ group or a men’s group, It’s not even a coffee-lover’s group, just a multi-generational group who want to sit for a bit to chat over a glass of iced tea or a cup of coffee. On July 11 we'll meet on the patio (weather permitting) at Wellspring & Co. Coffee Shop, 207 Perry Street, CR. As we meet each week, we’ll choose a different coffee shop for the following week. Come catch up on what's happening in our community, have time to really visit with folks you can’t catch on Sunday morning, and learn where folks have been vacationing. Wear your church tee-shirt if you like. VIPP for this activity is Julie Bailey (303-981-4027). Text her for updates.
Little Library Relocated: You may have noticed our Little Library is now sits on the north wall of the gathering space opposite the Welcome Center desk. Borrow, trade or take one anytime. There are a few new Mitch Albom books, a variety of lighter summer beach reads, and recent titles such as Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese.
New Church Tshirt: Show your church pride with new tees available at www.blackbirdthreads.com/shop for $21. Choose from vibrant purple or cobalt blue. These shirts run small, so order one size up for the best fit. All purchases must be made on the website. For questions or assistance, contact Pastor Matt
Photo Directory Assistance: Pastor Matt is looking for a few people to help with updating photos and data in the church online directory. If you are able to help, please let him know.
“Play Ball!” VIPP needed for a Vibes Game: We are looking for someone to be our Very Important Point Person for a Rocky Mountain Vibes baseball game anytime they are playing in Colorado Springs this summer. If you would like to put this together, check out their group info: https://www.vibesbaseball.com/Group_and_Hospitality/Group_Outings
Prices are reasonable and groups of 20 or more receive a discount. As usual, we can find a bus driver to provide transportation for those who prefer not to drive.
Latest Cookbook Up-date: July is the month to order your Sesquicentennial church cookbook, which sells for $10 in an 8x10 large-print format. Filled with recipes, photos, prayers, and promises of great food. Order an extra copy or two to give to friends and family. Ordering now allows us to have plenty on hand for delivery in August,
Pop Up Choir Returns: The Pop Up Choir is back for the summer 8:30 service! Join us for familiar hymns. Warm up and mic check in the Outdoor Chapel at 8 am, or simply pop up and sing along with the hymn of the day. Musicians interested in solos or duets, please contact Rev. Matt or Nancy Docksey to schedule your performance.
Outdoor Service Assistance: If you can help with set-up and take-down of materials used during our outdoor service this summer, please sign-up at the welcome center or let Pastor Matt know.
Keeping the Pews Neat and Welcoming: Your help is needed in keeping the sanctuary tidier. If you notice bulletins or personal items left behind after the service you attend, please take them to one of the following places: recycling bin in the office (bulletins), trash cans (tissues and coffee cups), office counter (personal items). Thank you!
Blessing on Sunday:
Here (https://youtu.be/X9cRdh9x9pc) is the clip from the blessing of Donna and Nancy from their retirement on Sunday. Thank you Church for the kind words and celebration on Sunday. Here are the words from the prayer as well.
Donna and Nancy,
As you step into this new season of life, we gather to express our deepest gratitude and to offer you our heartfelt blessings.
Nancy, for your years of dedication as our Choir Director, we thank you. Your passion for music, your patience, guidance, and your ability to draw forth harmonious praise have enriched our worship and uplifted our spirits.
You have not just led voices, but you have nurtured souls, creating a chorus of beauty that resonated far beyond the walls of this place. May this new chapter be filled with the sweet melodies of joy, peace, and newfound adventures. May the harmony you created continue to echo in everything you do.
Donna, for your extraordinary talent and faithful service as our Organist, we are profoundly grateful. Your fingers have danced across the keys, weaving tapestries of sound that have moved us to reverence, celebration, and contemplation.
You have been the rhythmic heartbeat of our worship, providing a sacred soundscape that has guided us through countless moments of reflection and praise. May this next chapter be a grand crescendo of fulfillment, brimming with tranquility, creative expression, and all the blessings you so richly deserve.
Together, you both have been a magnificent duet, intertwining your gifts to create a symphony of devotion. Your combined ministries have touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark on our community.
As you close this chapter and open another, may you be blessed with abundant health, boundless happiness, and precious time to pursue every dream and desire.
May your days be filled with laughter, love, and the quiet satisfaction of a job beautifully well done. May you feel the warmth of God's presence guiding your every step, and may His grace surround you always.
Thank you, Nancy and Donna, for every note, every hymn, and every moment of shared music. You will be deeply missed in that space, but we look forward to your next chapter, of sharing God’s light and love in our community and beyond. Amen.
Putting Our Faith Into Practice
Weekly Readings from https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/
Monday: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Tuesday: Psalm 66:1-9
Wednesday: Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16
Thursday: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
Quote for the Week
Keep your face-always toward the sunshine---and shadows will fall behind you. Walt Whitman
Weekly Prayer
Lord Jesus, I know you are the Rock of my salvation. Your Word says that when we choose to be wise builders, we allow you to work and create peace in our families. Lord, I surrender my family to you. I ask you to take the rightful place in our home.
Loving God we lift up to you
The United Methodist Church
Mountain Sky Annual Conference
Bishop Kristen Stoneking,
Our Pastors and Staff
Little Blessings Families
For those impacted by storms and heat across our nation
Leona and Garrett Mathes, sister and brother-in-law to Chuck Bailey
Maxine Ferguson
Connie Berry, cousin of Denny Pottenger
Anne Shuman
Nick Roy, brother of Cheryl Smith
Teresa Kindt, daughter of Ken and Gayle Kindt
Gayle Kindt
Sheldon Lewis, brother of Rose Andrade
Carleen Mendez
Barb Christensen
Josh Burd, friend of the Pottenger family
Terry Tomlinson
Rosa Meeser, mother of Vince Molieri
Julie Bailey
Joan Williamson, long time friend of Louise Molieri
Paul Contreas, long time friend of Vince and Louise Molieri
Family of Bill Hurst
Family of Joyce Mendez
Family of Bud Richter
Looking for a Good Devotional Book? Check out https://store.upperroom.org/
Also don’t forget to like our Youtube Channel and Facebook to see all of our content we share.
This Focus Friday Pastor Matt invites us to think about: Words. Words are incredibly powerful. Just like in Scrabble where every word counts for points, in life, the words we choose can bring immense healing. What words will you use to uplift and heal today?
Join us for worship at Castle Rock FUMC 8:30 a.m. for Outdoor Chapel 10 a.m. Modern Service
You can catch last week's sermon on most podcast platforms or on our youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/feed/playlists
