Manifesting a Summer of Love

August 2024

Dear Beloveds,

In the midst of this summer season, I am filled with a deep sense of hope and possibility as we come together to manifest a true season of love, grounded in justice, equity, and the celebration of our diverse stories and identities. 

Our BIPOC community is a beacon of resilience and strength, and now, more than ever, we are called to step into leadership that reflects our values and visions for a new world filled with celebration of our wholeness.

We live in a time of profound challenges and opportunities. The intersection of issues like immigration, racism, reproductive rights, and queer rights demands our unwavering attention and action. We hold that our leadership must be intersectional, acknowledging the complex realities of our lives and the ways our struggles and triumphs are interconnected.

In manifesting a summer of love, let us commit to showing up and building the relationship we deeply desire. We are looking forward to having you at our upcoming activities:

• August 11th @6pm MT: Our newly ordained The Rev Lia Nagase will be joining me in leading our 2nd Sunday Community Celebration via ZOOM.
• August 18th @ 6pm MT:  Antoinette Scully will be leading a Care for Activists in Liberation Movements (CALM) Celebration via ZOOM.
• August 25th @6pm MT: Vision & Values Team Member, Aspen B will be hosting our Community Gathering via ZOOM.
• September 22nd @ 11am MT: The Rev Jen Simon, The Rev Joseph Santos Lyons, and I will be leading the Sunday Worship at Jefferson Unitarian Church (Golden, CO). Please join us online or in person.

If you are in the Denver Metro or surrounding area, please Save the Date for an evening of community and celebration on Friday evening, September 20th with DRUUMM leadership.

This summer, let us harness the power of our collective love to create a future where everyone can thrive. Your leadership, in all its forms, is vital to this vision. Let us move forward with courage, compassion, and a commitment to justice, knowing that we are stronger together. Our love must be active. Join efforts to advocate for policies and practices that promote justice and equity. Together, we can create meaningful change in our communities and beyond. We will be sharing “31 Days of Saving Democracy: Get Out the Vote” presented by the UU Justice Ministry of California and Progressive Interfaith Alliance on our website at social media with opportunities to learn more about voter suppression, the issues at hand, and how to get involved.

As a final thought, I would like to offer to you that Leadership is not about holding positions of power, but about embodying the principles of love, compassion, and justice in our daily lives. It’s about showing up for one another, and working collectively towards our shared goal of liberation for all people. I invite each of you to reflect on the unique gifts you bring to our community and how you can use those gifts to foster a deeper sense of connection and purpose. If you are interested in taking on a more active role with us at The Mountain Top UU, we would love to have you join us in creating our new and beloved community.

If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out. I am available at our Virtual Office, Monday thru Thursday from 9am – 1pm MT or by appointment. If you have a pastoral concern, please don’t hesitate to message our chaplains and one of us will get back to you ASAP. Our chaplains are: The Rev Gordon Clay Bailey, The Rev Angela Henderson, The Rev Jen Simon, and myself. 

In Service,

Pastor AJ Blackwood
Community Minister
The Mountain Top: A UU BIPOC Community

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