COLLECTING DONATIONS IN OCTOBER
The Food Focus for October is “Dinner.” We need items such as canned and boxed dinners and whatever non-perishable items you can think of that will help families make complete meals for themselves. Canned meat and peanut butter are always welcomed, too. Thank you for donations!
OPEN DAILY THRU HALLOWEEN
Come by the Pumpkin Patch where your pumpkin purchase raises funds for our 2025 Habitat for Humanity Home! The patch will be at Community of Grace Church. The patch will be located on the north side of the church at 78th & Wadsworth. Bring your children to the Patch and costumes are encouraged! Thank you for supporting Habitat Metro Denver!
RESUMES FRI SEPT 5 AT 3:30PM
The Friday Afternoon Bible Study will be resuming on Friday, September 5, at 3:30pm. The Zoom format will remain the same. We will read the scripture and commentary together followed by group discussion using the study prompt questions. Books and homework are not required. Each week, we will begin with 15 minutes of fellowship, and each lesson will start and end with prayer. We aim to finish one to two lessons per week, but we remain guided by the Spirit.
Our new study will be, Jesus: The Word Made Flesh, which is a 2-part study of the book of John. This study is another from the Threshold Bile Study series by Stephen Binz. These are not available on Kindle.
The links to the books on Amazon are:
Jesus the Word Made Flesh-Part One: John 1-10
Jesus the Word Made Flesh-Part Two: John 11-21
For questions, contact Linda Stackhouse (LMSLiberty@msn.com).
SIGN-UP FOR YOUR NAMETAG
We will be placing another order for nametags soon. You’ll find a sign-up sheet for these in the church Lobby near the Fellowship sign. If you’ve requested one, please make sure your name is spelled correctly and that it’s on the list. Also, remember NOT to leave your nametags in the hot sun or in a hot car. We also have extra magnet backs if you need them. Questions? Contact Ann DeMers (ademers@comcast.net).
SUN OCT 26 4-6PM AT COG
Join us for an evening of family fun in the Patch, with fall beverages and treats, pumpkin decorating, bounce house, games, and photo opps for the family. The event is at Community of Grace and takes place on Sunday, October 26, from 4-6pm. See you at the Patch!
BEGINS WED OCT 8 6:30-7:30PM / LIBRARY
Join us in October for a Bible study based on 1 Peter 3:15 to explore the importance of crafting your personal faith story in preparation for sharing it with your family, friends and others. This is a 4-week an interactive workshop/bible study led by Kathleen McCubbin. See you on any Wednesday – October 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 6:30-7:30pm in the library.
OCT 17 10AM-4PM / OCT 18 9AM-3PM
The Family in Christ Craft Fair will be held on October 17 (10am-4pm) and October 18 (9am-3pm). Our former church secretary, Margie Bessler, helps facilitate this popular event. Come pick out homemade cookies from 1000’s (support Operation Christmas Child) at the Cookie Walk, have lunch at the Little Bear Cafe, and do your Christmas shopping by browsing through the 70+ vendors. Location: 11355 N. Sheridan Blvd. Suggested admission: Non-perishable foods for local food pantries.
TUES OCT 14 AT 7:30PM
Join us Tuesday evening, October 14th at 7:30 pm, as we welcome Colorado Symphony Principal Flute Brook Ferguson, internationally acclaimed guitarist Masakazu Ito, and beloved Colorado vocalist Jake Schroeder!
The program will include works by Piazzolla and Giuliani, “Mountain Songs” by Robert Beaser, and songs by Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen, and Sting.
SAT AUG 23 10AM / SANCTUARY
Join us August 23 at 10am in the Sanctuary for a fun and informative event focused on helping families navigate the digital world with their elementary school-aged children. Learn practical tips and strategies to manage screen time, online safety, and healthy tech habits. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other parents and family members facing similar challenges. RSVP through the button below.
ARVADA HIGH SCHOOL
Our mission emphasis in August is Arvada High School. Many students do not have the resources to bring an after-school snack before their away competitions. Every Monday, the Mission team provides snack packs for athletes before they compete at away games. Each student athlete receives peanut butter crackers, a cheese stick, bag of chips, and a granola bar.
On August 27, 5:30-7pm, Arvada High School will be celebrating 125 years of serving students. There will be guided tours, musical performances, food trucks and the re-opening of the AHS History Museum. The bulletin board in the Narthex highlights the school’s history. If you are a graduate of AHS, please sign the list on the bulletin board so we can recognize our CoG alumni.
FOLLOWING WORSHIP ON SUN AUG 24
Are you interested in joining Community of Grace, a Presbyterian Church, or do you have questions about the congregation? Then join Pastor Whit for New Member Class following worship on Sunday, August 24. This will be an opportunity to discuss the church with Whit and other church leaders, learn about the membership process, and ask any questions you may have about what it means to be Presbyterian.
WAYS TO DONATE
Tom Olschner has been on a 4-week West Coast Bike Adventure raising funds for the Fuller Center for Housing in El Salvador. If you would like to support this fundraising effort you can click the button below or make a check payable to Fuller Center for Housing and leave it in the front office. Thank you for your generous support! (As of Thursday, July 3, $13,275 has been raised through your generous donations!)
Donate Money to CoG through Reusable Grocery Cards
There are reusable grocery cards available from Safeway/Albertsons on a table in the Lobby. They are free. Once you get them, you will need to go online and activate them. Access them whenever you shop at one of these stores, and if you indicate online that you’d like Community of Grace to receive the rewards, the church will receive the rewards quarterly. King Soopers/CityMarket has a similar online-only program that you may use. If you have questions, please contact Ruth Curtin (ruthmcurtin@gmail.com).
SUN JUNE 8 6-7:45PM
You’re invited to a benefit concert on Sunday, June 8, 6-7:45pm, at Wheat Ridge Presbyterian Church (9180 W. 38th Ave, in Wheat Ridge). The concert will feature an all-ages Community Choir singing from the Justice Choir Songbook with additional music by Tony Domenick. The cost is $20 in person or $12 livestream (additional donations welcome). Pulled pork sandwiches and vegetarian chili meals are available for $6. Get tickets at the door or through the button below.
The Lomagundi Clinic is run with the help of a Presbyterian church in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, serving about 6,000 patients a year with a staff of 6 and very limited resources. They provide very inexpensive care for Zimbabweans who need it, and rely on financial partnerships with some Presbyterian churches in Colorado.
You're Invited to celebrate the installation of the Rev. Dr. Whit Dempsey as the pastor of Community of Grace. The service begins at 1pm, Saturday, May 31, followed by a reception for all. Please join us for this special service for Rev. Whit and the Community of Grace faith family!
Community of Grace, located at 7755 Vance Dr. in Arvada
UPCOMING GROUP GATHERINGS IN MAY
As your new pastor, I am committed to getting to know each of you and understanding how your faith shapes your life. To facilitate this, I will be hosting eight small-group opportunities. These gatherings are not just about introductions, but about creating a space for deeper, more meaningful conversations. I am eager to hear why the Community of Grace is important to you and what you hope to see as we cultivate a culture of trust, grace, and action. I am looking forward to our conversations.
You will find sign-up sheets in the lobby. Each meeting will be approximately 90 minutes and they will be limited to 10 people per gathering. All of the meetings will be in the church Library (except Zoom).
The dates and times for the meetings are:
+ Tuesday, May 13 at 10am
+ Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30pm
+ Monday, May 19 at 2pm
+ Tuesday, May 20 at 10am
+ Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30pm (via Zoom)
+ Tuesday, May 27 at 6:30pm
+ Wednesday, May 28 at 10am
If you have any questions, please contact PNC Co-Chairs, Ann Butcher and Ruth Anne Overfelt, or Pastor Whit.
WED APR 23 1:30PM AT PANERA BREAD
On Wednesday, April 23, Whit will host his first Biscuits with Whit at the Panera Bread across the street from the CoG. He will grab a few tables at 1:30pm and will stay until about 3pm. Biscuits with Whit is designed to be very informal but informative. Come with any questions, concerns, or hopes. For those who work during the day, we will soon announce an evening coffee date, so keep your eye out.
BUILD PROJECT WITH FULLER CENTER FOR HOUSING
If you enjoy travel, helping other people, and construction work, then please consider joining Tom Olschner on a build project in El Salvador, September 27-October 5, 2025. The build is organized through the Fuller Center for Housing and will involve five days of construction near the mountain town of Apaneca working alongside the future homeowners and Salvadoran crew members. The Fuller Center for Housing is a Christian nonprofit doing an amazing work throughout El Salvador. You can learn more through the button below or call Tom at 720-394-0907.
TUES MAY 13 AT 7:30PM
The Second Tuesdays Concert Series presents Angela Mitchell, soprano and Brett Mitchell, piano, performing Spring Awakenings on Tuesday, May 13, at 7:30pm. This delightful recital will feature works by Finzi, Barber, Copland, Bernstein, Rodgers and Hammerstein and more! Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students through high school, available at the door the evening of the performance or through the button below.
JULY 6-9 / 5:30-8PM
Grace for a fun week to learn more about our world. Kids will participate in a hands-on mission project that will provide kids in North America with new warm clothes and blankets. We’ll meet on July 6-9, from 5:30 to 8pm. The $25 registration fee includes dinner and a T-shirt. https://vbspro.events/p/cogarvada or email Abby (abbym@cogarvada.org).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Pat Nevin and Mike Reed have been trying to keep up with the needs of the church building every time something goes awry, and they are ready to start up a new Facilities Team. If you’re a person who’s great at fixing things and can volunteer some of your time, we’d love to have you join us! Please contact George Coates (1georgec22@gmail.com) or 303-870-5531 if you’re interested.
PLACE ORDERS ON SUN MAR 23 & 30 IN THE LOBBY
On Easter morning, we decorate our sanctuary with flowering plants and the flowering cross which both symbolize the new life that emerges from Jesus’ death on Good Friday. The flowering plants show us how people all over the world are personally touched by our risen Lord. The flowering cross shows us how the rugged cross blooms as a vibrant and colorful symbol of resurrection. For the next two weeks, you will have the opportunity to donate and dedicate to one or both of these symbols of new life. Forms can be found in the Sunday bulletin, and the Worship Committee will be collecting forms and money this Sunday and next Sunday, March 30, in the Lobby.
WED MARCH 5 AT 6PM / ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Join us for our Ash Wednesday service, at 6pm on Wednesday, March 5. There will be the Imposition of Ashes and Communion, and it will be our first service with Pastor Whit. All are invited!
DONATED ITEMS NEEDED
Please join the CoG Mission Committee in hosting a toiletry drive for indigent women at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility. These women have no outside support and are in dire need of basic necessities. A donation table will be in the Narthex for the next two Sundays.
Donations must be the exact brand and sizes listed below by the Department of Corrections. Most items can be purchased at Dollar Tree or Amazon. Thank you so much for caring and helping those most in need.
+ Shampoo, 12 .5 oz. or less (Suave, Pantene Pro-V or VO-5, Baby Shampoo)
+ Conditioner, 12.5 oz. or less (Suave, Pantene VO-5)
+ Deodorant, (Any stick deodorant or roll-on anti-perspirant)
+ Toothpaste, 6-8 oz. (Aim Fresh Mint, Crest, Colgate, Close Up, Arm & Hammer, Sensodyne);
+ Bar Soap, (Dial, Coast, Dove)
+ Lotions, 10-12 oz. (Jergens, Cocoa Butter, any brand Shea Butter, any brand Aveeno)
+ Cotton Swabs
+ Petroleum Jelly
TUES FEB 11 AT 7:30PM / COMMUNITY OF GRACE SANCTUARY
The Second Tuesdays Concert Series is pleased to present Steinway Artist Hsing-ay Hsu in a Valentine Recital: "Two by Two." Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students through high school, available at the door the evening of the performance or thru the buttons below.
THURS JAN 30 6-8PM
Join Coloradans for the Common Good as we hear stories from immigrant families and discuss how institutions can stand with immigrants in our community. The event is Thursday, January 30 from 6-8pm at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish, 4200 Federal Blvd, Denver CO 80211. If you have questions, please contact Memory Wollenweber (memzlady@gmail.com). Please register thru the button below.
Coffee Volunteers Needed We hope you have been enjoying our Sunday morning coffee time. We have a great, but small, team that makes that possible each Sunday. We are currently in need of the following people to: + Make coffee the first Sunday of the month, + Make coffee and clean up after service on any f ifth Sunday of the month (there are about four fifth Sundays a year), and, + Substitute when coffee makers are sick or out of town. If you would like to see coffee time continue on a regular basis, please consider signing up for one of the vacant spots. Training will be provided. If you are interested, contact Mary Ray (maryray50@hotmail.com).
SAT JAN 14 AT 7:30PM / FELLOWSHIP HALL
The Second Tuesdays Concert Series is thrilled to present pianist Bryan Wallick in a recital of works by Franz Liszt. Join us on Tuesday evening January 14, at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students through high school, available at the door the evening of the performance or thru the button below.
HANDBELLS & CHOIR
Music at Community of Grace will resume practices on the week of Monday, January 6. Handbells meet on Mondays at 7pm, downstairs in the Handbell Room. Choir of Grace meets each Wednesday at 7pm in the Sanctuary. If you have questions, contact Dr. Paul Griggsby (music@cogarvada.org). Please join us!!
BEGINS TUES DEC 17 FROM 10AM-2PM SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS
Community of Grace recently shared their large labyrinth with Shepherd of the Hills, having no place big enough to lay it out. Shepherd is unveiling the gift during December beginning Tuesday, December 17 - Thursday, December 19, from 10am - 2pm daily, in Fellowship Hall. Come experience the quiet, meditative walk to focus on Advent and the true meaning of this Season. Find hope, peace, and joy as you pick your time and walk at your own pace. Never experienced a labyrinth? Come try it out! Instructions and suggestions for the experience are available.
Shepherd of the Hills is located at 11500 W. 20th Avenue in Lakewood (20th & Simms). Push the button at the front door to be let in and enjoy this sacred Advent walk.
TUES JAN 14 / DENVER ART MUSEUM
We are offering a group “adventure” to the art museum to see the Wild Things exhibit. To keep costs down, we’re planning on going during the Free Day on Tuesday, January 14. The entrance is free, and the cost for the exhibit is $15. Fellowship has some tickets for 10:40am. Interested? Talk to someone at the Fellowship Table in the Lobby after church!
TUES DEC 17 AT 6:15PM / LIBRARY
Join us for Film and Faith as we gather to watch the 2005 adaptation "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" and then discuss places that we see its themes intersecting with our faith journeys.
SUN DEC 15 AT 4:30PM / FELLOWSHIP HALL
Join us Sunday, at 4:30pm, in Fellowship Hall for a Nativity Escape Room. All ages are welcomed to join in the fun of working together to accomplish puzzles to discover the wonders of Jesus’ birth. No doors will be locked for this escape room experience.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALICE ORGAN
Help decorate this special tree in the church Lobby with warm clothing items for kids. All donations are due in the Lobby on Sunday, December 15, and then will be taken to the Jeffco Action Center on Thursday, December 19.
Who was Alice Organ? She was a former member who had a heart for ministry and started the Mitten and Sock Giving Tree to donate mittens and socks for children to the Jeffco Action Center. After she passed, her family and friends asked if she could be remembered each year as members donate. This tradition has continued long after her passing; we’ve grown to love the tree and the warmth that’s shared.
SUN DEC 29 AT 11AM / FOLLOWED BY COOKIES & COCOA
“A Llama Christmas”, a humorous Christmas skit, and a tweak on the former “Carols, Cookies, and Cocoa”, will be held in the Sanctuary and followed by cookies and cocoa in the Narthex on December 29. Cookie donations are needed!
JOIN A SMALL GROUP FOR ADVENT
During this Advent season, you are invited to take some time to prepare your heart, mind, and spirit for the mystery and joy of the coming of Immanuel, “God with us!” Be a part of an Advent Small Group Study!
Sunday Mornings, December 15, and 22 at 11:15am
Adult Sunday School, in the John E. Anderson Library. Led by Al Turner.
Sunday Evenings, December 22, at 6pm
Youth and Intergenerational! A meaningful “prayer station” experience will be featured on the 22nd. Led by Abby McCubbin.
Monday Afternoons, December 16 and 23, 2-3pm
Adult Small Group in the John E. Anderson Library. Led by Robin Olschner.
