Pinewood Derby

Last week was the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby! Well done to everybody involved!

Nominate a special teenager for a Douglas County Youth Initiative award

This information was originally posted on the Douglas County website. You can find the article HERE.

Do you know a special teenager, between the ages of 13 and 19, who resides in Douglas County and has overcome adversity and created positive change in their lives, as well as the lives of others?

Nominations for the 2015 Douglas County Outstanding Youth Awards are being accepted until March 27. Ten award recipients will have the opportunity to share their special night with family members, their adult supporters and elected officials at an April 29 reception hosted by the Douglas County Youth Initiative at the Douglas County Commissioners Hearing Room in Castle Rock.

Nominators will be invited to speak at the ceremony about the obstacles the individual they nominated overcame and how those individuals have inspired change.

Award recipients will receive a signed letter from elected officials recognizing the teen’s achievements, a $100 certificate for educational or activity fees to be redeemed at a later date and County-wide recognition of their award.

“The young people who are recognized with these awards are people who very often have not received public recognition for their personal achievements,” said Douglas County Commissioner David Weaver. “This event not only calls attention to the untold stories of achievement by our community’s youth, it is also an opportunity for area businesses, the community at large, civic leaders and educators to demonstrate their belief in and support of young people in our community by recognizing them for the individual challenges they have overcome.”

This one-of-a-kind award encompasses all youth: youth who have not finished their K-12 education, youth in traditional classroom settings, youth in group homes, youth in alternative schools, youth in foster homes and emancipated youth.

For more information on the Douglas County Outstanding Youth Awards, please contact Marsha Alston at 303-688-4825 or malston@douglas.co.us. Nomination forms are available online at www.douglas.co.us

The Douglas County Youth Initiative was established in 2005 to coordinate local youth-serving efforts and asses the needs of the County’s youngest residents. It is an active collaboration between Douglas County Government, the Douglas County School District, the City of Lone Tree, the Town of Castle Rock, the Town of Parker, the Douglas County Library District and the Highlands Ranch Metro District.

Savior of the World: Taking It Across the Country

Here is one family's experience with Savior of the World- via an e-mail sent to the director:

"We took a little trip to Salt Lake this past weekend to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert (which was amazing).  We were in the hotel putting our kids to bed, and I looked around and had to smile at all the Savior of the World t-shirts.  Just thought you might like to see that our family is still feeling grateful for the opportunity to bring Christ into our Christmas season!  Thank you!"

Missionary Monday: Catholic Archbishop Delivers Message on Religious Freedom at Brigham Young University

What a wonderful opportunity the students at BYU had to listed to the words from Archbishop Chaput! For those of us with Catholic friends, this is a great talk to springboard a discussion about our similarities and how we can work together by building on things we have in common.

The original article was posted on the Church News site- HERE.

SALT LAKE CITY — 

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia shared a message on the importance of preserving religious freedom to students, faculty and administrators at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, on Friday, January 23, 2015. The university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Archbishop Chaput addressed a noon gathering in the Wilkinson Student Center’s Varsity Theater. “Brigham Young University is an extraordinary university not just because of its academic excellence — or the fact that it occasionally beats Notre Dame (a comment that drew chuckles from the audience) — but because it’s a center for learning enriched by its religious identity. Please never lose that.”

Archbishop Chaput said Mormon and Catholic communities share common concerns and “have a duty to seek common ground where possible.”

“We need to work vigorously in law and politics to form our culture in a godly understanding of human dignity and the purpose of human freedom,” he stressed.

“The differences in our doctrine and practice are obvious,” Archbishop Chaput elaborated. “Ignoring them wouldn’t serve the truth. But that doesn’t preclude friendship. It doesn’t preclude working together. And it doesn’t obscure the fact that we face many of the same problems and share many of the same convictions about marriage and family, the nature of our sexuality, the sanctity of human life and the urgency of religious freedom.”

Archbishop Chaput discussed the significance of the Great Charter, or Magna Carta, that dates back 800 years in England, which promised the protection of church rights. “It started the process of carving out space for what would become civil society.”

“Its impact can be seen on the charters of the American colonies, on the First Continental Congress, on the Bill of Rights of the United States, on the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on national constitutions around the world,” he added.

“The Founders clearly understood the value of the past,” said Archbishop Chaput. “Most were Christians. Nearly all were religious believers.”

“In 2015 we’re a nation of many faith communities and no single church. That’s a gift, not a burden,” he concluded. “But as the Founders knew, and we forget at our peril, the American project of ordered liberty can’t work without the support of a moral people — a people formed by a living faith in a loving God.”

Archbishop Chaput also met with BYU faculty and administrators and visited the J. Reuben Clark Law School while on the Provo campus. On Friday evening, he will attend a special dinner with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City before returning to Philadelphia. Pope Francis is expected to visit Philadelphia in September for the Eighth World Meeting of Families.

Pinnable Quote: Mark 12:30

BYU Women’s Tennis Team Coming to Denver

BYU Women's Tennis Team Fireside:

Friday, Jan. 30, 7 pm at the Yale & Monaco Building, (2710 S. Monaco Pkwy, Denver)

Free Tennis Clinic:
Saturday, Jan. 31st, 11 am-Noon (arrive at 10:45 am to check in and go to the courts). All ages welcome.
Colorado Athletic Club Inverness, indoor courts (374 Inverness Pkwy, Englewood, CO 80112) Please
RSVP to Linda Murri, 303-882-4412, or lsmurri@msn.com

Tennis Team Match with Meet & Greet:

BYU vs. the University of Denver Pioneers
4 pm at the Denver Country Club, Indoor Courts (1700 E. First Ave. Denver, CO)

Meet the Players and Coach at 3:30pm before the match. No Jeans Please. Wear Cougar Blue!

Upcoming Service Opportunity: Project Linus

On February 21st, everyone is invited to come and help make blankets for children in crisis!

Project Title:                      Highlands Ranch Stake Relief Society Day of Service - Make a Blanket: Project Linus

Project Details:                 Assemble blankets to be given to children in our area and around the world in need.  All ages welcome, lots of ways to help.  Service hours for high school, scouting, etc.  

Project Schedule:            Saturday, February 21, 2015 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon)

Location:  LDS Church Building - 4195 Wildcat Reserve Parkway, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

All volunteers welcome for however long you can come.

See Sign up Genius link if you want to help bring needed supplies:

www.SignUpGenius.com/go/5080C4EA9AA23A57-make/

Sponsoring Organization:  Highlands Ranch Stake Relief Society

Representative Contact Information: Rachael Adams  #936-402-5067 - Email  rahrah_106@hotmail.com

Skills Needed: If you have sewing experience, we will definitely use that.  Jobs for everyone; coloring, tying knots, measuring, cutting, using safety pins, ironing.

Website:                              www.projectlinus.org

Savior of the World Part 6: Candids

For the last several weeks we have shared pictures from the beautiful production Savior of the World. To see the previous pictures, please click HERE.

Today we are sharing some pictures from the cast and crew members- to see the production from their perspective. We are grateful for these pictures, and for everyone involved with Savior of the World.

Have You Ever Dreamed of Being In Law Enforcement? Here's Your Chance!

This is a service opportunity open to all residents in Douglas County. We thought we would share!

Learn more during our open house January 24 and in our video

 

DOUGLAS COUNTY – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is holding its first Reserve Deputy Academy to train residents who have the time, talent and desire to wear a badge and help protect and serve.  The volunteers will allow the sheriff’s office to provide better—and more expanded service—across the county.

 

“We’re looking for individuals who actively want to give back to their community,” Sheriff Tony Spurlock says. “This isn’t just about driving a patrol car. This is for people who really care about their community and can volunteer time to serve side-by-side with us. We are incredibly thankful to our current reserves who help us protect Douglas County.”

 

The reserves work in every area of the sheriff’s office, including on patrol, with Investigations and in the jail. Residents who graduate from the new academy will be Colorado P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards and Training) certified as reserve deputies. Reserves are actual law enforcement officers. They are required to maintain the same standards, receive the same training and follow the same rules and laws as full time, paid law enforcement.

 

The DCSO would like to increase its number of reserve deputies from 6 to 20. Most of the reserves have full-time paid jobs and are business owners, financial consultants, security officials and other professionals.

“When I became a reserve, I realized it was my calling. I love the department, the people who work here and the overall atmosphere,” Felix Claudio, DCSO Reserve Deputy and business owner said. “Helping people and seeing the smiles on their faces after you’ve lent a hand feels really good.”

 

Learn more by watching our video about the DCSO Reserve Deputy program at http://youtu.be/hXFS1HaZoTQ.

 

Also, attend our open house on Saturday, January 24, 2015, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Facility at 6001 Ron King Trail, Littleton, CO 80125.

 

Please RSVP for the open house to Lauren Lekander at LLekande@DCSheriff.net and 303.660.7511. During the open house, you’ll be able to learn more about requirements and training.

 

If you have questions about the Reserve Deputy program, please contact Sergeant Max Young at MYoung@DCSheriff.net and 303.663.7704.

 

 

Deborah Sherman

Public Information Officer      

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Community Resources

4000 Justice Way

Castle Rock, CO  80109

D 303.814.7067  C 720.515.5692

Missionary Monday: Come and See (A Message For Those Not of Our Faith)

Pinnable Quotes: Elder Oaks

Denver Temple Closure

The Denver Temple will experience a five week temple closure for maintenance:

Monday, January 19th-

Monday, February 23

Once they do re-open, here is the current endowment schedule:

• 2015
  Monday	Closed
  Tuesday–Friday	8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 10:30 a.m.; every hour from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Additional sessions on 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 5:30, 6:30, 7:00, and 7:30 a.m.
  Saturday	Every half hour from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except at 9:30, 12:00, 2:30
  Sessions for stake and ward groups are available by appointment.

  • Maintenance Dates Closed
  • 2015
  • Monday, January 19–Monday, February 23
  • Monday, July 6–Monday, July 20
  • Other Dates Closed
  • 2015
  • Thursday, January 1
  • Saturday, March 28 (after the 2:00 p.m. session)
  • Saturday, April 4
  • Saturday, July 4
  • Saturday, September 26 (after the 2:00 p.m. session)
  • Saturday, October 3
  • Wednesday, November 25 (after the 11:00 a.m. session)
  • Thursday, November 26
  • Thursday, December 24
  • Friday, December 25
  • Thursday, December 31 (after the 11:00 a.m. session)
  • Special Openings

Savior of the World Part 5: More Production Pictures

Today we present more pictures of the production. Interspersed in between the pictures are some comments from audience members.

For more pictures previously posted on this blog, please click. HERE.

These pictures are courtesy of professional photographers Janine Rust and Joel Hill.

“Highlands Ranch Stake has done a fabulous job and such a professional performance!  Countless names I am sure, but a standing ovation and accolades to all!  Those little ones were so well behaved and your voices were just beautiful!  Thank you for adding to the Christmas Season.”

“I'm still vibrating with excitement from your performance last night. So many scriptures pulled into one drama. So many tender,sweet, loving interactions! My testimony of angels, prophets, resurrection, the Savior being the son of the Highest, and of the way Heavenly Father announces great events to His children--all these principles were there to reconfirm our testimonies. What an amazing sight you all were. The sound of the chorus, the joy of the dancers and the sight of families together in ancient and modern times all added to this great production. I feel like we all, including my neighbors, were flooded with light and truth! Tell everyone thanks and give them hugs.”

“It really is amazing!  You have done an incredible job on it”

 “I got tickets and saw tonight’s show.  It was really, really well done.  I highly recommend making it a top priority for everyone.  It is such a great way to start off the Christmas season with such a wonderful musical about Jesus Christ.  Go, invite friends, and enjoy!”

“Another wonderful night at the play—we felt the spirit strong—I had lots of goose bumps and tears!  Thanks you Savior of the World cast and crew!