MDD News Blog

Building Beloved Community: Love Beyond Belief

Presented by MDD Justice Ministries

January 25-27, 2013
Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden CO

Featured Presenter: Rev. Dr. Thandeka, one of our most influential comtemporary Unitarian Universalist theologians. Thandeka is the founder of Affect Theology; how a theology of personal experience guides, directs, and prioritizes religious beliefs, Justice Ministries, faith development programs, liturgies, and pastoral practices in religious community.

If your congregation is not yet well acquainted with Small Group Justice Ministry, you can gain background information for January Beloved Community event by signing up for an evening on-line webinar on the topic, January 15; 7pm PST; 8pm MST. Space is limited, register soon. Click here for details -  Pacific Western Region Webinars

General Event: Friday, January 25  starting at 5:30 pm - ending with Sunday Worship, 9:15/11:00am

General Registration Fees: $350/per team of 5; $100/individuals; $50 Ministry Students

Add-On Day: Friday, January 25, 9am-4pm (separate registration required)  $45/$35 Ministry Students

This is a full community experience; High School youth, young adults, and adults are encouraged to register as congregational teams. Participating parents can register children for Heart Talk for Kids (K-6 grades) running concurrently with Saturday program. Childcare available.

Note:  Email correction for Pat Emery to arrange home hospitality - correct email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please read this article about Full Community as you consider registering teens for this event.

** REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 15, 2013

Click here for more information on program, travel, lodging, to register for Children's Program: 2013 Beloved Community

General Event Registration

Add-On Day Registration, Our Hearts Speak, Are We Listening?

Presented by Mountain Desert District Justice Ministries

Questions? Contact Rev. Deborah Holder, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Posted Wednesday, 05 December 2012 01:00 Written by Deborah Holder

You Can Help with Fire Recovery

Mountain Desert District Emergency Relief Fund

Standing in solidarity with all who have experienced the devastation of the Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs, the High Park fire in Ft. Collins, the Flagstaff fire in Boulder, the Pine Ridge fire in Grand Junction, Lightner Creek/Weber fires burning in Durango and other fires burning in Montana at the same time, we are establishing The Mountain Desert District Emergency Relief Fund.

This Fund will allow us to offer timely financial assistance to our Unitarian Universalist community as they begin to recover and rebuild following the fires. Informed by other districts where fires have raged we know there can be serious secondary impact from a fire-smoke damage, health problems, loss of employment, etc. Even with good insurance many families will incur unexpected costs due to the fires.

As we pray for containment of these wild fires we recognize the continued vulnerability of these communities to flash flooding and other natural disasters heightened by the fires. This fund will become a continuing source of assistance across the mountain west. Please give collected items to other non-profit agencies in your area.

The District Board will appoint a small task force to make awards from the fund. Procedures to apply for assistance will be available on this website very soon.

Please donate online through Paypal by using the following link:

Or you may mail your gift to:

Mountain Desert District
2242 S. Albion St.
Denver, CO 80222
Attn: Relief Fund

Thank you for your contribution. Together we can recover!

Posted Friday, 29 June 2012 14:51 Written by Nancy Bowen

Chalice Lighters 2012: First Call

The MDD Board and staff remain most grateful for ongoing support of the district’s Chalice Lighters Program – an amazing outreach of financial assistance between Unitarian Universalists in Mountain Desert District and our congregations.

Our first Chalice Lighter call this year is for the San Juan Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Farmington, NM. This small congregation owns their own building and takes care of it themselves. Recently, they recognized the need for renovation of their bathrooms to provide safe accessibility and family support with a changing table. Rather than simply add grab bars they will completely renovate two bathrooms. We all know that nice bathrooms are one of the signatures of a welcoming and thoughtful congregation. This Chalice Lighter grant will help them with the expenses of bringing their building up to the standards we all want to provide so that all may worship with us in comfort.

Please be generous in your support of the San Juan Unitarian Universalist Fellowship as they update their facilities to welcome more visitors and members. Please see the Chalice Lighters page for more information about how you can contribute.

Thank you for your contribution to growing Unitarian Universalism in the mountain west!

Posted Thursday, 09 February 2012 15:12 Written by Nancy Bowen

Pacific Northwest Regional Webinars in February

In addition to the webinars offered right here through classes.mdduua.org, the Pacific Northwest District website is hosting a series in February:

• Dip Your Toes in Adaptive Leadership with Rev. Carmen McDowell; February 2, 7pm PST
• Preaching for the Lay Leader with Rev. Dr. Marilyn Sewell; February 7, 4:30 – 5:30pm PST
• Pastoral Associates/Lay Ministry Programs- Part 2 with Rev. Stephen Ames; February 9, 7- 8:15pm PST (For those that attended Part 1 in January)
• Stewardship Follow-up with Mary Gleason; February 21, 7pm (For those who attended the PNWD Stewardship workshop on 1/21/12)
• Youth Advisor Coaching: Youth-Adult Boundaries with Anne-Marie Davidson & Nancy Combs-Morgan; February 28, 7pm PST

For more information, download this flyer (PDF: February 2012 Webinars), and register at pnwd.org.

Posted Friday, 27 January 2012 15:36 Written by Jess Cullinan