Colorado Council of Churches

'Week of Prayer for Christian Unity'
2026-01-22 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
From the Ecumenical Catholic Communion:
Dear Friends:
As we conclude the Christmas season, blessings and peace to you in this new year.
For the third year, our regional council is committed to take the initiative to participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sent out by the World Council of Churches. Our gathering will be mostly on Zoom with leaders from our communities at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 22nd. You are also welcome to join us in the sanctuary.
In this time of deep division, now as over the centuries, it is more important than ever to spend time together in prayer with each other, invoking One God to lead us to peace, to enliven us, to give us courage, to bless our hearts with Love for All. Our common ground is much broader than our differences. You are welcome to personally invite friends and neighbors of a variety of traditions to join us. We will also extend an invitation to the members of the Colorado Council of Churches.
You may immerse yourself as deeply as you have interest in the history and context of this year’s ecumenical prayer service created by the Armenian Church. EN 2026 WPCU.pdf With my strong recommendation, the planning team decided that we will pray the service as it was written by our siblings, respecting their tradition and language choices. As ecumenical Catholics, we honor the liturgy of our family in the faith.
Online Service Details
Join on this Zoom Link

Meeting ID: 894 9781 7643
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Please bring a candle to your sacred space.
You can access the worship aid HERE to view or print.

I look forward to our praying as one in the moment and toward all that draws us together for justice, compassion and peace.
Much love,
+Kae (Bishop Kae Madden)
Note: The worship aid was created by the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute, Garrison, NY 10524-0300 • www.geii.org and we paid for the rights to utilize the image and the text.

Exhibit Opening and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration
2026-01-19 12:30 - 16:00 UTC | El Pueblo History Museum, 301 North Union Avenue, Pueblo, CO, 81003, United States
El Pueblo History Museum opens the award-winning Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History exhibition on Monday, January 19, 2026 at 12:30 pm. Join us for the opening of this traveling exhibition from the Museum of Boulder which explores the history and accomplishments of Black Coloradans throughout our great state. This event is in collaboration with the NAACP and the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. march that begins at 12:00 pm at Rawlings Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave., and ends at El Pueblo History Museum. Speakers will begin at 12:30 pm with special guests from Pueblo’s community and the creators and contributors to this exceptional display of Colorado’s rich history. The exhibit will be open to the public during the celebration.
This celebration is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to let us know that you plan to attend.

January Lunch 'n' Learn: Legislation and Advocacy 101
2026-01-08 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
Rev. Roland Halpern
For our January 2026 “Lunch ‘n’ Learn” online seminar, Rev. Roland Halpern, a longtime lobbyist with Colorado Voters for Animals, will show the process of how a bill becomes a law in the Colorado General Assembly and how to be an effective advocate.

Roland Halpern is the Executive Director of Colorado Voters for Animals. Roland holds an undergraduate degree from Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Regis University, Denver, Colorado, and is an ordained animal chaplain through the Emerson Theological Institute.
Roland was instrumental in helping to pass Prop 106, the Colorado End of Life Options Act, making Colorado the sixth state to offer terminally ill individuals an additional medical treatment option at the end of life.
A staunch advocate for individual rights, Roland has been the recipient of several ministerial awards for outstanding community service in the area of social justice. He is actively involved with animal welfare groups both locally and nationally. He serves as vice-president on the board of the Colorado Council of Churches and is certified as a Human-Animal Bond Specialist by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI.)

When: Thursday, January 8, 2026. The Zoom waiting room will open at 11:45 a.m., and the seminar will begin at noon. This webinar will be recorded and placed on the CCC YouTube channel for those who can’t attend the seminar.

Cost: FREE.

Webinar Link: Register HERE.

2026 Voices for Justice Organizational Meeting
2026-01-07 15:00 - 16:00 UTC
Interested in being a faith-led advocate for social justice? We’d love to have you join us for the 2026 Voices for Justice team! An organizational meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 7th at 3 p.m. MST. At this meeting, you’ll find out what’s involved in terms of overall time commitment, meeting schedule, issues covered, etc.
Here’s the Zoom link for the meeting.
“Denver Colorado ~ Colorado State Capitol ~ Gold Dome ~ HIstoric” by Onasill ~ Bill- 81M views is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The Hope Regarding Alzheimer's - Understanding Dementia & Reducing Your Risk! A webinar hosted by the CO Council of Churches.
2025-11-12 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
With almost 91,000 Coloradans living with Alzheimer’s disease and 177,000 providing unpaid care for them, everyone should know a bit about dementia. 1 in 3 seniors have some form of dementia, and with faith leaders being uniquely positioned as a trusted leader of aging adults and their families, it is crucial for them to remain up to date on the landscape of dementia care and brain health. Join us for a webinar on Wednesday, November 12 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Register today!
This program will provide an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, including risk reduction strategies for brain health and advancements being made in early detection of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. We will also share available resources and how faith leaders can receive support for their ministry on this topic.
Participants will leave with:

A clear understanding of the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia;
Basic knowledge of advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and care;
Information on research happening that will continue to shape the landscape of the disease including risk reduction strategies;
Know how to access resources and make connections to support your ministry.

Who Stole Jesus and the Flag?
2025-10-29 12:00 - 13:30 (America/Denver) | St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2201 Dexter Street, Denver, CO, 80207, United States
Join Marty Martin (a retired evangelical pastor, ethics professor, author, past COO/CEO of Food for the Hungry, a faith-based international relief and development organization) and Adrian Miller (Executive Director of the Colorado Council of Churches) for further discussion about the current state of Christian Nationalism, its impact on our country and democracy and what we can do about it.

This event is the second in the Democracy: Code Red series co-hosted by Capitol Hill United Ministries, the Women’s Homelessness Initiative, the Colorado Council of Churches, and Principles First, an organization dedicated to working across political boundaries to restore ethical and principled governance in our nation.

Doors open at noon.

Bring your own lunch.

RSVP HERE.

Join us September 19-20th for The Prophetically Reimagining the Church Conference in Denver and online
2025-09-19 - 2025-09-20
Whether you’re a seasoned ministry leader or someone passionate about faith and justice, this conference offers a space to explore how we can faithfully respond to the needs of our time together.
In a time when our world faces rising challenges, the Gospel calls us to bold, liberative action, and radical love and justice for the diversity of God’s creation.
You are invited to be a part of the inaugural Prophetically Reimagining the Church Conference taking place September 19-20, 2025, at the Auraria Campus in Denver and online via Zoom.

Register Now. Registration for onsite participation ends 9/12, and registration for online participation ends 9/17.

Scholarships and student pricing are available.

Transcription and translation services for accessibility are available to onsite and online participants through Captional.

Keynotes by womanist biblical scholar Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney.

Skill-building workshops by amazing diverse leaders.

This isn’t just another conference—it’s an opportunity to envision new possibilities for faithful living and ministry. Through skill-building, deep reflection, and meaningful relationship-building, this gathering will equip you to embody liberative theology, build transformative relationships, and take concrete actions toward justice.
Together, we’ll engage in prophetic discernment, share wisdom, and discover new ways to live out our calling as people of faith. Come be part of a community that believes the church can be a powerful force for transformation and healing in our world.
The conference is organized by Juniper Formation United Church of Christ and Daily Ripple with sponsoring support from The University of Colorado Denver Department of Political Science, Rocky Mountain Conference United Church of Christ (RMC UCC), Denver Presbytery, The Colorado Council of Churches, Washington Park UCC at Mosaic, Highlands Presbyterian Camp & Retreat Center, Sixth Avenue UCC, Metro Denver Association of the United Church of Christ, the RMC UCC Racial Justice Team, UCC Longmont, 1001 New Worshiping Communities of the Presbyterian Church (USA), UCC FaithINFO, The Pension Boards UCC, and Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church,
For more information and to register, visit reimaginethechurch.org
For questions contact in**@**************on.org or call/text 720-580-2274

Lunch 'n' Learn Webinar with the Colorado Black Equity Study Team
2025-09-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Denver)
Lunch ‘n’ Learn Webinar
Tuesday, September 16th, noon MDT
Via Zoom (provided the day before the webinar)
Join us as the Colorado Black Equity Study team shares what they are doing to give deeper meaning to Colorado history at a time when Black history is being erased around the country.
In 2024, the Colorado General Assembly passed, and Governor Polis signed, SB24-53 requiring “History Colorado to study the ongoing effects of slavery and subsequent systemic racism on Black Coloradans that may be attributed to practices, systems, and policies of the state, and establishes a commission to assist this effort and to contract for an economic impact study.”
The commission’s team has been engaged in that work for months and they’d like to update the faith community.
This virtual event is co-sponsored by the Iliff School of Theology, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, and Together Colorado.
PLEASE REGISTER HERE

A Primer on Ethics and the Evangelical, Conservative Christian Mind
2025-09-09 11:00 - 13:00 UTC | First Baptist Church, 1373 Grant Street, Denver, CO, 1373 Grant Street, Denver, CO, 80203, United States
Democracy —CODE RED

Finding a Cure
Part I. A Primer on Ethics
and the Evangelical, Conservative Christian Mind

Hosted by Capitol Hill United Ministries,
the Women’s Homelessness Initiative
and The Colorado Council of Churches

Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p. m.
Doors open at 11 a.m.

NEW VENUE: First Baptist Church
1373 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80203

BYOL (“Bring Your Own Lunch”), Drinks and Desserts provided.

Register here: https://forms.gle/pausXtBY4RMYPfP79

If you feel hope is elusive in this present climate, join us and Marty Martin,
retired evangelical pastor, ethics professor, author, past COO/CEO of Food for the Hungry, a faith-based international relief and development organization.

He will discuss what drives evangelical thinking about key issues
facing Americans today, where he disagrees and why.

Debbie Johnson, serves as the Colorado Chair for Principles First
and has an extensive background in nonprofit work both locally and internationally. She will speak about Principles First,
an organization dedicated to working across political boundaries
to restore ethical and principled governance in our nation.

Register here: https://forms.gle/pausXtBY4RMYPfP79

Early Warning Signs for Protecting Places of Worship
2025-05-13 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
Since the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the US Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS), also known as America’s Peacemaker, provides services that improve communities’ abilities to prevent and respond to disputes, conflicts, hate crimes, and incidents of violence, including those impacting places of worship. Service offerings include facilitation, mediation, training, and consultation. CRS services are free of charge and confidential, and the agency does not hold prosecutorial or investigatory powers. Additional information about CRS is available here: https://www.justice.gov/crs/about
Join Denver Conciliation Specialist Clay Fong as he discusses CRS services, such as the Protecting Places of Worship program, and how CRS can help your place of worship become safer. Specifically, this meeting will explore how Colorado Council of Churches members can create a Distant Early Warning process to keep each other informed of incidents, such as vandalism and assault, to promote congregation safety. Such an approach can help places of worship more effectively address these incidents when they do happen and work to prevent them.
Please register at the link below.

The Power of Community, The Power of One
2025-05-01 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
The Power of Community, The Power of One

JOIN US AS A HOST SITE

Your community is invited to be a host sites participating in a sacred gathering of reflection and prayer as we hold both our grief and our hope during difficult times.
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.

IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

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**********@********er.org
Adrian Miller, Executive Director, Colorado Council of Churches
ad****@********es.org (303) 917-3864
Jill Wildenberg
ji************@***il.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),

to grieve together: holding space as we witness the sense of loss and uncertainty of our fellow humans; and
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.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE

General Program Information: We have a small group who will put together an inclusive sample program with readings and other information. You can tweak or tailor it for your community. Know that you may have other people from your neighborhood who may wish to attend this gathering at your site, who are not part of your present community. Please be sensitive to that possibility. As we said, “All are welcome”. More specifics for the program will be coming.
****
We will share more specifics soon. Below is a rough outline of the program.

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

Provided by sacred space, congregations, or group:

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

Opening and Welcome: – music

Welcome, why we are here… and the idea for our time together (we will offer suggestions).
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”:

Reading: (We will offer suggestions.)
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).
This is time to hold your experience of the hurt, fear, anger, and uncertainty you are feeling and witnessing.
Music
Action/Ritual: Participants take pebbles, representing their pain and fear, and silently put them in a bowl –
bring them up to the bowls, filled with water… as a symbol of us holding them together in community. You are not alone.
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.”

A reading (We have a sample: The Thing Is By Ellen Bass)

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

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

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.)

Each group can make little cards with a poem written on it to take.
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.

The First 100 Days: A Reflection
2025-04-29 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Denver) | Iliff School of Theology, 2323 E. Iliff Avenue, Denver, CO, 80210, United States
Don’t miss the opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking panel discussion reflecting on the first 100 days of the current administration, co-sponsored by the Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture and the Colorado Council of Churches. Join us on Tuesday, April 29th, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Iliff School of Theology, Shattuck Hall, for a deep dive into the political and social shifts we’ve experienced so far.
Moderated by Institute Director Amanda Henderson, this insightful conversation will feature a distinguished panel of experts, including Caran Ware Joseph, Miguel De La Torre, Father Michael Nicosia, and Presiding Elder Anthony Hill. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with light refreshments provided, allowing you to mingle and connect before the discussion begins.
This is a unique opportunity to reflect on the emotional and political landscape of the past few months, with experts offering valuable perspectives on the administration’s actions and decisions. Attendees will gain crucial insights into what has transpired, how it impacts communities of faith and society, and what possible paths of action might lie ahead.
This event promises to be a rich, reflective space for dialogue, and we encourage you to register early to secure your spot. Whether you’re passionate about politics, religion, or simply want to stay informed, this event is one you won’t want to miss!
Register HERE.

Here’s the Webinar Link for tonight’s event:

https://iliff-edu.zoom.us/j/97885762432…
Webinar ID:
978 8576 2432
Webinar Passcode:
[REDACTED]

Congregational Legal Talk: Sheltering Vulnerable People
2025-04-28 16:00 - 17:30 (America/Denver)
Congregational Legal Talk: Sheltering Vulnerable People
With Violeta Chapin, Associate Dean for Community and Culture and Clinical Professor of Law at the University of Colorado Boulder Law School.
Monday, April 28th
4:00 – 5:30 pm MDT
On-Site: Montview Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St, Denver, CO 80220
Online: Zoom

Please register at: https://forms.gle/JG4y7gL6ZgdP6mQo6
Faith leaders, clergy, and congregational decision makers are invited to learn about legal frameworks for sheltering vulnerable people. This talk and Q&A will include topics of:

Harboring – do’s and don’ts, risks, risk mitigation, public presence, etc.
Public vs private spaces in faith communities
The Trump immigration registration process, which went into effect on April 11th

Professor Violeta Chapin is an Associate Dean & Clinical Professor of Law at Colorado Law School in Boulder. Prof. Chapin directs the Immigration Defense Clinic, and she and her students represent noncitizen clients in a wide variety of legal proceedings, in both state and federal court. Prof. Chapin joined the Colorado Law faculty in August of 2009 after serving for seven years as a trial attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Prof. Chapin attended college at Columbia University and received her law degree from New York University School of Law.
Organizers: Juniper Formation United Church of Christ, Montview Presbyterian Church, Mountain View United Church, St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Aurora, Highlands United Methodist Church, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Interfaith Immigration Network.
Sponsors: Denver Presbytery, The Episcopal Church in Colorado, Montview Presbyterian Church, the Colorado Council of Churches, and the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church.

2025 Sermon Weekend
2025-04-25 - 2025-04-27
Please join us for Sermon Weekend, April 25-27th, and stand with us for Genocide Awareness and Prevention Month. Please visit the Coalition Against Global Genocide website and learn more about this very important event. Stand with us against genocide and crimes against humanity.

Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
2025-04-20 04:45 - 07:30 UTC | Red Rocks Amphitheater, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison, 80465, United States
Thank you for worshipping with us today! We pray that you have a blessed Easter!
Watch Livestream Here

The Worship Service Bulletin

The Weather Forecast
The current forecast for Easter Sunday morning: chilly and sunny . . . so dress for warmth and get ready for an amazing worship service!

The Details for Attending in Person
Date: April 20, 2025
Schedule:

4:45 am: Gates open
5:30 am: Pre-worship service music begins
6:00 am: Worship service begins
6:14 am: Actual sunrise
7:15 am: Worship service ends

Location:
The 2025 Easter Sunrise Service will be a hybrid of in-person and online worship!

Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Driving Directions HERE
Livestream | Watch the Easter Sunrise Service HERE

Cost:
Free and open to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Easter Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre?
This is an annual event hosted by the Colorado Council of Churches for the past 77 years. Thousands of people gather for this joyful celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For many of them, this is their only exposure to The Gospel. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Does it cost anything to attend?
No! This is a free event. You only have to pay if you want to take the extra step of getting a reserved parking space and seating. More details are below.
How do I get to Red Rocks Amphitheatre?
For information on how to get to Red Rocks, please visit: Getting Here.
How do I get reserved seating and parking?
We have SIX (6) more spots made available, but please note that these spots involve parking at the nearby T-REX Park-n-Ride lot and then taking a shuttle at 4:30 a.m. to the backstage area of Red Rocks to access your reserved seating. After you make your donation, you’ll get further instructions.
We know that this can be confusing, but here goes. You don’t have to buy a seat and parking pass if you want to attend the Easter Sunrise Service. If you don’t, you’re in the group of people who getting seating and parking on a first-come basis. HOWEVER, you have an option of getting reserved seating and parking. To do so, you need to become a sponsor. Sponsorships are available at the following levels:
$250 for 2 people plus one reserved parking spot in the Trading Post lot.
$500 for 4 people plus one reserved parking spot in the Trading Post lot.
$1,000 for 8 people and two reserved parking spots in the Trading Post lot.
All sponsors who make payment before April 10, 2025 will be acknowledged in our slide show displayed on the big screen.
To make a payment to reserve your spot, please click HERE and enter the appropriate amount of your sponsorship. You will not receive an actual ticket. Your name will be put on a VIP list. When you arrive at Red Rocks, give your name to the security team, they will check your name off the VIP list and direct you to the Trading Post. From there, you’ll be shuttled to the backstage area to have refreshments and head to your seating.
When should I arrive?
Most people arrive between 4:30 and 5 a.m. with the gates opening at 4:45 a.m. Non-reserved seating is on a first-come basis. Once Red Rocks fills up, traffic control will start turning folks away.
What time does the worship service start and end?
Pre-worship service music begins at 5:30 a.m. and the service begins at 6:00 a.m. The service usually ends by 7:15 a.m.
How should I dress?
Dress for warmth! This is an outdoor service. The forecast looks good for Sunday, but it will be chilly in the early hours.
When will the sun rise on Easter?
This year, the sun will rise at 6:14 a.m.
Will there be American Sign Language interpretation?
Yes! There is seating reserved in the front rows, stage right, for people desiring ASL interpretation.
Is there parking and seating for disabled people?
Yes! The first couple of rows are reserved for disabled people. We will have wheelchair access. Find out more here.
What do I need to know to plan my trip to Red Rocks Amphitheatre?
For answers to questions like how to get to Red Rocks and what you can bring in, please visit HERE.
Is there a bus to Red Rocks for this service?
Unfortunately, no. You’ll have to come by car or ride share.
Are you collecting food donations this year?
Unfortunately, no.
I don’t know if I want to get up that early, or I can’t attend in person. May I watch the service online?
Yes, you may watch live, or later, online using any of the following platforms:

The Colorado Council of Churches website (current page)
The Colorado Council of Churches Facebook page
The Colorado Council of Churches YouTube channel

Wow! This seems like a really big event. Do you need donations to help cover your costs?
YES! It takes considerable resources to do this free community event, and we primarily rely on donations to cover our costs. Some of the expenses include:

Renting the Red Rocks Amphitheatre venue
Hiring the wonderful Red Rocks staff who do innumerable things to make this worship service happen; Professional audiovisual equipment
Law enforcement to handle traffic control and keep us safe;
Providing the livestream seen by people around the world; and
Providing the doves we release at the end of the service.

Give
Did you know that it costs us $35,000 to host this worship service? We rely on your generosity to provide it for free to the general public. A donation of $10 from everyone who attends in person and watches this livestream will help us continue to do so. You may support this annual worship service in 3 ways by:

Check: Send a check to:

Easter Sunrise Service, Colorado Council of Churches, 2201 Dexter Street, Denver, CO 80207.

Cashapp: Send an amount to $colochurches via CashApp. THIS APP IS NOT CURRENTLY PROCESSING DONATIONS TO US.
Text: Text “ESSRR78” to 844-844-6844
Paypal: Click on the QR Code below:

Thank you for blessing the Colorado Council of Churches!
Worship Leaders

Our Preacher: Rev. Dr. Steve Van Ostran, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains

Rev. Dr. Steve Van Ostran has served as Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the Rocky Mountains since March,2008. His passion for the work of the Region grows out of his 18 years as a local church pastor. From that he has the hope of reclaiming the “incarnational” nature of the local church that the Apostle Paul depicts by calling the church “The Body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27).

​Steve seeks to help local churches reconnect with their community and to discover new avenues of ministry there. To that end, Steve is also passionate about connecting churches and pastors with cross cultural missions and missionaries around the world that they might learn from one another. He has led or participated in multiple trips to connect pastors and leaders with International Missionaries and their work around the world.

Prior to his service for ABCRM, Steve served on the ABC of the Central Region staff. Before this, he served churches in Ottawa, Ks, Carbondale, IL, Wood River, IL and Madison, IN. In addition, he has also served as an adjunct professor, served on the Planning Commission of the City of Ottawa and has served on numerous boards for non-profits and seminaries.

​Steve received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in June of 1994, his Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in May of 1987 and his undergraduate degree from Missouri Southern State College in Criminal Justice Administration.

Additional Worship Leaders

Bishop Meghan Johnston Aelabouni was elected to a six-year term as the fourth bishop of the Rocky Mountain Synod on April 27, 2024, at the synod assembly in Loveland, Colorado. She was installed on Saturday, October 5, at Augustana Lutheran Church in Denver.

Bishop Meghan was born and baptized in the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA (at Zion Lutheran, Salt Lake City, Utah) and grew up in Wyoming (at St. Paul Lutheran, Cheyenne) and in northern California. Her call to ministry grew from active participation in the church from an early age: in Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, and children’s choir; serving as an acolyte and on altar guild with her mother; attending youth group and youth gatherings; and generally getting up in front of her congregation to speak or sing at every opportunity.

After serving as an associate pastor for Youth and Family Ministry at Christus Victor Lutheran (Elk Grove Village, IL) and as co-pastor with her spouse at Trinity Lutheran (Ft. Collins, CO), Bishop Meghan began a PhD in Religion, Media, and Culture at Iliff School of Theology and the University of Denver (completed in 2021). In 2019, Bishop Meghan and Pastor Gabi were called by the ELCA into Global Mission, serving in Jerusalem with the ELCA’s partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land.

While in Jerusalem, Bishop Meghan served as a Country Coordinator for the Young Adults in Global Mission program in Jerusalem/West Bank, as the ELCA Theologian in Residence for the Middle East and North Africa desk, and as co-pastor for the English-speaking congregation of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Jerusalem.

Bishop Meghan believes deeply in the church’s calling from God to be present as the body of Christ for our neighbors in this and every time, grounded in the sure and certain love of God for us in Jesus Christ. Her preaching, teaching, and pastoral ministry have focused on connecting the Gospel and our scriptures to the here and now of the world in which we live, move, and have our being. Bishop Meghan has authored several in-depth Bible studies for Gather magazine (on the topics of theodicy, repentance, holy time, holy places, and faith “after certainty”). As a founding team member for the ELCA initiative, Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel, Bishop Meghan has frequently presented online and in person about justice issues in the Holy Land and the vital ministry of the indigenous Palestinian Christian community.

Rev. Kristin Stoneking, Resident Bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference, was elected to the
episcopal office at the July 2024 Western Jurisdiction Conference in Spokane, Washington. The
Mountain Sky Conference includes 311 United Methodist churches Colorado, Wyoming, Montana,
Utah, and small piece of Idaho.
Bishop Kristin Stoneking brings a rich and varied background and a passion for creating welcoming
communities and advocating for a more just and peaceful society to her episcopal role.
Serving churches in Chicago, Kansas and in Northern California, Bishop Stoneking has revitalized
local churches through the development of community-based ministries, attention to abundance,
generosity and stewardship, and courageous leadership.
After seminary in Chicago, Bishop Stoneking served Centenary United Methodist Church in
Lawrence, Kansas where she worked with local community groups to develop community summer
lunch programs, after school programs and organized with others against gun violence. She then
moved to California where she served as executive director and campus minister at the University of
California, Davis where she re-invigorated the United Methodist-related ecumenical campus ministry
by leading the community to found The Multifaith Living Community, building six townhouses to
house 42 students. The nationally recognized model included students from many faith
backgrounds, was structured on a dedication to faith, community, social justice, and sustainability,
and made the campus ministry financially self-sustaining.
Bishop Stoneking then served as the national executive director of the US branch of the historic
Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), an anti-racist, interfaith justice and peace organization with
consultative status at the United Nations. Part of a worldwide communion, FOR is the oldest
interfaith peace and justice organization in the United States.
Bishop Stoneking’s dedication to establishing and expanding communities that offer a sense of
belonging inspired her work as a District Superintendent and Director of Innovative Ministries and
Congregational Vitality for the California-Nevada Annual Conference of the United Methodist
Church.
Deeply committed to making theological education more widely accessible and impactful, Bishop
Stoneking has served as an associate professor of United Methodist Studies and Leadership at the
Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California and an adjunct faculty member teaching United
Methodist History at the Claremont School of Theology in Los Angeles, California.
Bishop Stoneking is a graduate of Rice University (B.A.) and Garrett-Evangelical Theological
Seminary (M.Div.). She is a former Fellow of the Pluralism Project at Harvard University where she
now serves as an advisor.
She earned her PhD at the Graduate Theological Union where she attained her Doctor of
Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies focusing on comparative theology, nonviolence education and
conflict resolution.
As the episcopal leader of the Mountain Sky conference, Bishop Stoneking brings a deep faith and
belief that a world where all can thrive and experience the love of God is not just possible, but
promised.

Worship Music Leaders

Our music will be provided this year by Bro. Tarell Martin and the C2 Mass Choir. The C2 Mass Choir is a professional, community-based choir, under the leadership and direction of musician and producer, Tarell Martin. C2 is the reignited extension of the original Stellar Award-Winning Colorado Mass Choir, created and founded by Joe Pace.

The C2 Mass Choir vision and mission is to use their gifts, graces, and abilities to do good in the community through singing that touches hearts, inspires change and growth, and encourages people to fulfill their God-given dreams.

With members of the original Colorado Mass Choir and other gifted singers from across the region, the C2 Mass Choir assembled and began rehearsing in Spring 2021. After hours of dedicated rehearsal, the C2 Mass Choir debuted during its Warmup Concert on July 3, 2021 where they also released their first single, “So Amazing.”

The C2 Mass Choir lives their vision by:

Using their gifts, graces, and abilities to do good in the community.
Allowing music to bring a diverse group of people together in love and unity.
Singing songs that create moments of introspection and reflection.
Living the truth and faith in the songs C2 choir members sing.
Being in community with fellow C2 choir members where we pray for and with each other and grow in our own personal walks of faith

Through every song they minister, the C2 Mass Choir shares the reasons why they sing based on scriptures like Psalm 13:6 (NIV): I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. And Psalm 40:3 (NLT): He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.

The C2 Mass Choir seeks to leave everyone that hears them sing better, inspired, and ignited to pursue the life God has for them.

Thank You to Our Sponsors
Adams, Jon and Lori Adams, Amy and Brad Batchelor, Rachel Douglas, Isabella Hines, Stephanie Hodge, Steve Hughes, Kim Leong Lee, Lisa Mansour, Derrick and Debbie Marris, Patricia McCall, Staci Milton, Susan Morgan, Elizabeth Newman, Rose Reese, Thomas Roberts, Michael Ryan, Lisa Siegrist, Gwen Taylor, Beth Vander Werff, David Willett, Save Our Youth.
We’d Love Your Feedback on the Service!
Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey:

Absalom Jones Saturday
2025-02-15 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Church of the Holy Redeemer, 2552 N. Williams Street, Denver, CO, 80205, United States
ABSALOM JONES
(November 6, 1746 – February 13, 1818)

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY REDEEMER INVITES YOU TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ABSALOM JONES
THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN EPISCOPAL PRIEST WITH A SPECIAL MASS

WHEN: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2025 | 10:00 A.M.
WHERE: CHURCH OF THE HOLY REDEEMER
CELEBRANT, THE RT. REV. KYM D. LUCAS
BISHOP, THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN COLORADO

LUNCHEON WITH THE BISHOP TO FOLLOW MASS
ALL ARE WELCOME!

R.S.V.P. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025, 5:00 P.M. BY EMAIL TO: NORA J. ROBINSON, CO SENIOR WARDEN – ca*******@*sn.com
Who is this Absalom Jones that Episcopalians celebrate each year in February?
Born into slavery in Delaware in 1746, Absalom Jones began to teach himself to read and write as a teenager, buying books with pennies he received from visitors to his master’s home. While still in his teens, his master relocated to Philadelphia, taking Absalom with him, thus separating Absalom from his family who were sold away along with the Delaware plantation. He worked as a clerk in his owner’s store during the day, working for himself and attending an all-Black school at night.
The life of Absalom Jones was marked by vision, faith, focus, discipline, patience and selflessness. At any point in his life, he could have made a wanton decision to take the easy route, to rebel against his condition, or to look out for himself first. In the face of adversity, Absalom Jones never did that. Putting his faith completely in God, he could see the long view of where he wanted to go, and exercise the discipline, patience and focus to get himself there. (Union of Black Episcopalians)

Know Your Rights
2025-01-28 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
We’re hosting a FREE virtual, informational webinar for churches with Ministries involving asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants. This will be recorded for later viewing. Register HERE.
