The Power of Community, The Power of One

The Power of Community, The Power of One

Thursday, May 1, 2025
6:30 to 7:30pm MST
Where:  various sacred spaces and congregations
Please respond regarding your interest by April 10.

“I am only one but still I am one.
I can’t do everything,
but I can do something.
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
~ Edward Everett Hale

Capitol Hill United Ministries, the Colorado Council of Churches and other Faith Leaders are working together to create a sacred gathering of reflection and prayer: holding space for both our grief and our hope, as we move through these uncertain times. These sacred gatherings will be held at the same time, Thursday, May 1, 6:30-7:30pm, at various sacred places and congregations in our communities throughout Colorado.

Please review the information below and let us know if you are interested in participating by serving as a host site.

 For additional information and response to our request, please call or email:

Rev. Diana Flahive, Executive Director, Capitol Hill United Ministries
303-257-8588  di**********@ch********.org
Adrian Miller, Executive Director, Colorado Council of Churches 
ad****@co********.org (303) 917-3864
Jill Wildenberg
ji************@gm***.com

Here are the details:
Why: Because so much is happening in our country and world that is creating shock, fear, anger, and uncertainty for so many, we believe it is critical to join together in community, in reflection and/or prayer (kehillah, in Hebrew),

1. to grieve together: holding space as we witness the sense of loss and uncertainty of our fellow humans; and
2. to hope together: for the possibility of healing, light, and transformation.

We believe in the POWER OF COMMUNITY AND THE POWER OF ONE.

What this is not: This is not a time for speeches or conversation about these issues. This is not a protest… this is a time for reflection and/or prayer.

When: We would like to have this gathering take place at the same time, in person, in many sacred places and congregations (with an option to add Zoom, where needed and if you have the technology), Thursday, May 1, 6:30-7:30pm MST.

Where: Many sacred places. Would your sacred space, congregation, or group be interested in participating? For more information, please contact Diana Flahive, Adrian Miller, or Jill Wildenberg, or click on the button above or below to sign up to participate..

Who: All are welcome, people of faith and goodwill.

****

We will share more specifics soon. Below is a rough outline of the program.

1. This will be a one-hour service on May 1, 6:30- 7:30pm MST
2. Simple music, live or recorded. Background music for reflection time.
3. Opening and closing readings. (We will offer suggestions.)
4. Times for reflection. (We will offer suggestions.)
5. Some simple rituals or actions along with the readings.

Provided by sacred space, congregations, or group:

1. Your site is responsible for putting on this gathering.
2. You will choose your team to facilitate, be readers, etc. for the program at your site.
3. A bowl of pebbles, one taken as people enter.
4. A bowl/s where people can place them during “We Grieve Together.”
5. Tapers for inviting in the light and calling in space for healing, hope, and possibility during “We Hope Together.”
6. Small papers or note cards/pencils that participants can write their concerns on as well as their hopes.
7. Greeters
8. Music – recorded or live
9. Communication to invite your community/congregation
10. Taking photos and a general count of how many people attended.

Opening and Welcome:  – music

1. Welcome, why we are here… and the idea for our time together (we will offer suggestions).
2. Reminder of taking a pebble and paper from the bowls provided…  the greeters can walk around with bowls of pebbles for people to take.

First half:  20ish minutes “We Grieve Together”:

1. Reading: (We will offer suggestions.)
2. Holding your pebble, a reminder of the discomfort and pain we are feeling, and the action we will take… (we will offer words to be said).
3. This is time to hold your experience of the hurt, fear, anger, and uncertainty you are feeling and witnessing.
4. Music
5. Action/Ritual: Participants take pebbles, representing their pain and fear, and silently put them in a bowl –
6. bring them up to the bowls, filled with water… as a symbol of us holding them together in community.  You are not alone.
7. Closing for “We Grieve Together”.  With a person next to you, face each other, put your hand on their shoulder and look into their eyes…. and say, “you are not alone… I see you.”
   1. A reading (We have a sample: The Thing Is   By Ellen Bass)

Second half: 20ish minutes “We Hope Together”:

1. Reading (We will offer suggestions)
2. We will hold a sense of hope and healing of mind, body and spirit (MI Sheberach prayer?)
3. Through our pain we invite light to come.
4. We call to our inner strength.
5. Listen to what you hear within.
6. We are one, and we have our own power to do what we can do.
7. What are you called to do? It can be simple or more involved.
8. Candle lighting: people can come up in silence and light a candle with their hopes…
9. They could also write their hopes and put it in another bowl.
10. Closing for “We Hope Together”:
    1. A reading (we will provide it), participants stand together and take another’s hand.

Closing for the sacred gathering…  prayer or reading or song.   (We will offer suggestions.)

1. Each group can make little cards with a poem written on it to take.
2. We can also provide a list of suggestions for how people can get involved.

Go in peace and possibility. We believe in the Power of this Community and the Power of One.