CCUM @ Denver Gay Pride Parade

Sharing the Gay Pride Parade Experience

From Sandy Houston, Pride Parade participant:

Ben and I had an awesome experience both parading and selling the water to help Jay out! I saw people I know who rushed out to thank me; a lady on sidelines thanked Charles and me for basically representing the real spirit of Christians.

Everyone of all diversity seemed to be having fun. Young guys seemed a little amazed to walk up to our water booth and see a lady of mature years such as me and thanked me.

This is in fact the huge civil rights issue of the autumn of my life and I would love to be included in anything Ben and I can do to help. Civil rights for African Americans was the issue of the spring of my life and while I spoke up for them and did some things, I can now see my helping so much more on this civil rights issue. We are progressing, folks, step by step by step!

Let us each "Be the change we want to see in the world." --Gandhi

Chancel Choir party & workday photos!

Check out this slideshow of CCUM Chancel Choir members as they celebrate the end of their successful 2008-09 choir season! As a bonus, the slideshow continues with photos from the "choir room rehabilitation" workday from last fall.

Denver Gay Men's Chorus in worship this Sunday!

At our 10:15 a.m. worship service this Sunday, June 14, members from the Denver Gay Men's Chorus & Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men's Chorus will be presenting musical excerpts from their upcoming concert, "Songs of our Families." Please join us in worship to hear portions of a unique new musical work which challenges us to broaden our perception of "family values."

The Denver Gay Men's Chorus and Out Loud: The Colorado Springs Men's Chorus combine voices for the first time to perform a very special concert, "Songs of our Families." The centerpiece work is the Colorado premiere of This House Shall Stand: Songs of My Family -- a unique choral work which explores themes in the lives of GLBT families with soaring melodies and beautiful, touching lyrics.

Denver Performance at 3:00pm - June 21st Only

Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church

1980 Dahlia St

Colorado Springs Performance at 7:30pm - June 20th Only

First United Methodist Church

420 North Nevada Ave

A 45-minute song cycle for men's chorus and chamber orchestra, This House Shall Stand: Songs of My Family is a collection of actual stories about GLBT families from around the country set to music by Portland-based composer Robert Seeley and lyricist Robert Espindola. With the pressing issue of gay marriage rights in the forefront of the national political arena, the performance of this important musical work is more relevant now than ever. The "Songs of our Families" concert will also mark the first major performance of the Denver Gay Men's Chorus in the city of Colorado Springs.

''The inspiration came from stories from all over the country,'' shares composer Robert Seeley. ''Teenage kids to elderly folks -- it ran the gamut of family in the new millennium, how it can be defined. And we ran with it. Particularly moving was a girl whose father was gay, but who had kind of lost himself living in the closet so long. But he found a partner...and became the father she hoped he would become, through that happiness. He became a completely loving partner and individual.''

Advance tickets available online at www.rmarts.org, at Wild Flowers in Denver and Poor Richard's Bookstore in Colorado Springs.

Denver - Adults: $22 advance, $24 at door; Adults 55+: $20 advance, $22 at door; Students 13-2:1 $16 advance, $18 at door. Colorado Springs - Adults: $20 advance, $22 at door; Adults 55+: $18 advance, $20 at door; Students 13-21: $16 advance, $18 at door. Children 12 and under are always free.

Our New Neighbors: SNOOZE!

Rev. Carolyn & I were so excited to hear the news that Snooze: An A.M. Eatery was opening up a second restaurant next door to Christ Church (at 700 Colorado Blvd) that we decided to have lunch today at the original Snooze. Carolyn's been in touch with owner Jon Schlegel, welcoming him to the neighborhood, and we were hosted today by Jon's brother Adam.

Wow, did we have a great time! Check out their awesome breakfast menu, with some real-time entree photos posted below. Snooze is going to be an exciting addition to our 7th & Colorado neighborhood!

Mmmmm, pineapple upside-down pancakes:

Huevos rancheros:

Pork Benediction (so appropriate for a church lunch!):

Denver Women's Chorus

IN CONCERT

2:00 & 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 6

&

2:00 p.m., Sunday, June 7

Please join us in hosting the Denver Women’s Chorus (DWC) in concert on June 6 & 7. June marks a very special anniversary: The Denver Women’s Chorus is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, and we invite you to celebrate with us!

Our Retrospective concert will take you on a musical journey through many years of our herstory of building community through music, including many selections from our last eight years with Mark Zwilling as our acclaimed artistic director.

The DWC perform in the Christ Church sanctuary on June 6 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., and June 7 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, and are available to purchase online at rmarts.org.