OUR WORK IN THE WORLD

“The prophetic tasks of the church are to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair.”

Walter Brueggemann, theologian

 

“If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.”

Emma Goldman, activist and advocate

Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011

At Wash Park UCC we believe…

…in telling it like it is, in giving voice to the pain of our world, working hard to do our part to bring transformation and healing to Creation, and finding ways to rejoice and embody hope.

No small task! That’s why we gather as a community to engage our energies in this work. We work through the arts, through vigils/rituals, public witness, and areas of activism to respond to the counter-cultural call to care for creation and to fight injustice. We continue to look for ways to engage the congregation with the wider community in this work.

Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011
Healing Injustice

We are involved, in various ways with:

    • FISH, Friends in Service to Humanity,  a food pantry for east Denver operating out of WPUCC for the past 43 years
    • The national UCC Kairos Call to Action on Climate and Inequality
    • Women’s Homelessness Initiative
    • St. Francis Apartments at Cathedral Square (“housing first” apartments for those formerly experiencing homelessness)
    • Colorado Faith Communities United to End Gun Violence (CFCU)
    • The Saint Francis Center (a day center for people experiencing homelessness)
    • Network Coffee House for the homeless
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011
A Voice for Change 

We regularly participate as a church in public witness:

    • Climate Strike marches and rallies
    • PrideFest marches
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Marade
    • Women’s March
    • Homelessness Vigil

And we have hosted vigils and events around transformation and change:

    • For 20 years we led an annual Good Friday Vigil Against Gun Violence in the Denver community
    • An ecumenical Service of Lament, Anger, and Hope to allow some emotional centering after the 2016 election
    • An Interfaith Climate Justice Vigil
2019 Denver Marade
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011
A Center for Community Action

Many groups used our building prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for their planning, creating, and educational work:

    • Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
    • Extinction Rebellion
    • Colorado Poor People’s Campaign
    • CFCU
    • Universal Dances for Peace

It is a formal part of our mission to continue to look for ways to offer our building and our presence to the wider community for similar events.  “Community” is more than a Sunday gathering in a sanctuary! 

Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011

Getting Involved

Food Pantry Volunteering

Our FISH food pantry delivers food weekly to families in need.  Help with donations, driving, shelving and packing

About FISH
Helping Homelessness

We’re part of a church network, the Women’s Homeless Initiative, offering overnight stays and a meal. 

About WHI
Lunch and Learns

Several times a year following Sunday worship, we meet to better understand compassionate responses to contemporary issues.

Topics
Our Social Justice Stances

Since the 1990s, we’ve practiced our faith guided by four “stances” — just peace, whole earth, open & affirming and restorative justice. 

Our Stances
Created by potrace 1.10, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2011

Compassionate Action

From service projects to rituals to bold actions, we are committed to being agents of the healing of injustice in our world.