News & Events
January 25, 2008: Center of Awakening Celebrates 5 years
Parker, CO - Center of Awakening (COA), an independent Religious Science church, has been part of the Parker community for several years now and will be celebrating its fifth anniversary as a church on January 25. A special "Hawaiian theme" gala is being planned for that evening at the Mainstreet Gallery in downtown Parker, beginning at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m). There will be music, presentations, special guests, light refreshments and even activities for the children.
All are invited to help us celebrate this important milestone in the church's history. Attendees are encouraged to wear their Hawaiian shirts, leis, and bright vacation garb to support the theme and the ever-present fun atmosphere that COA supports. This event is sure to attract a rich blend of memories, stories and personalities. Join us in remembering where we came from and in planning for our bright future! We invite you to become a part of the church today and a piece of its history tomorrow.
For more information about this event, contact Chris Plant, Activities & Events Coordinator, at (303) 663-9609 or Carla Ryan, Church Administrator, at (303) 358-0069.
December 22, 2007: Center of Awakening presents Candlelight Service at new location
Parker, CO - Center of Awakening (COA), an independent Religious Science church will be hosting a Christmas Eve candlelight service on Monday evening at 4:00 p.m. at their new church location, Sagewood Middle School (4725 Fox Sparrow Rd., Parker 80134). Regular church services at Sagewood actually begin Sunday, December 23, at 10:00 a.m.
It has become a tradition for COA to present this family-centered service with a candlelight format for the past four years. This year, the "candles" will be something special. Due to the new location at Sagewood and their facility guidelines, the wax-and-flame candles will be replaced with something more high-tech. It's sure to be a special surprise for the children, and maybe the adults, too. There will be singing of familiar Christmas hymns, as well as a variety of music by the COA Band. The sermon series, Courting the Christ Light, concludes with the topic: "Lighting the Light."
If you have any questions or need directions, you can contact the church office at (303) 805-9890 or call the Church Administrator at (303) 358-0069. Also visit the Center Of Awakening website for information about classes, workshops and other activities. Go to www.CenterOfAwakening.org for details.
October 27, 2007: COA joins in National Make A Difference Day
COA Care Ministries is teaming up with The Senior Hub to make a difference in the lives of frail/disabled, chronically ill seniors living in the Aurora area. Bring your mops and rakes and be ready to clean houses and yards.
This is a great opportunity for families to work a project together and for teens to get in their community service time. Minimum age for participation is 10 years old. Sign up at COA's Guest Services by Sunday, October 14th or contact Elaine Hill at 303-840-0211. Once our list of volunteers is complete, we will get the list of people who need our assistance and teams will be identified to help those people. Teams will need to bring their own tools and cleaning supplies (rakes, buckets, cleaners, etc.) If you are unable to participate on October 27 (9:00 until Noon), but want to contribute, you can donate cleaning supplies (environmentally friendly would be great) on the 14th or make a monetary contribution to the Senior Hub. Contact Elaine about needed supplies. Further information will be available about meeting prior to going to peoples' homes and a place to meet (optional) for lunch afterward. This is a wonderful way to start off the "giving" season. Join us for fun, fellowship, and service!
Learn more about The Senior Hub at www.seniorhub.org
October 7, 2007: OPEN MIC - Be A Star!
From 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Franktown Firehouse (SW corner of State Highways 83/86), Franktown, CO. Here's an opportunity to get some "microphone time" with a loving and supportive audience. Bring your talent, your instrument(s) and have some fun in the spotlight!
Everyone Welcome! Open to all ages and all folks in the COA community, as well as the Parker, Franktown and Elizabeth neighborhoods. And it's FREE! For more details call Allen Ward at (303) 594-1157
September 4, 5 & 6, 2007: Classes begin at The Institute
Fall Semester and life-changing evening classes begin right after Labor Day. Enrollment is taking place NOW and classes are filling up. See the EDUCATION page for course descriptions, class schedules and a downloadable registration form.
If the religion of your childhood no longer serves you, perhaps it's time to seek a new direction in your search for God, Spirit or a Higher Power. Explore Religious Science (Science of Mind) through the Foundations (101) class and decide for yourself if this philosophy and its principles give you that spiritual connection you've been seeking. Contact Dr. Vern at (303) 805-9890 for more information.
September 23, 2007: COA BAND & Friends Music Concert
The COA Music Department invites you to experience the COA Band in Concert. If you've ever wanted to hear the Band play more than just one feature song
(as they do regularly on Sundays), here's your chance. The Concert begins at 2:00 p.m. Join Dale Backus, Marcy Baruch, Joe Gamble, Paul Noveshansky,
Scott Surine, Mireya Velazquez and Allen Ward. A couple of surprises are also being planned. This is a GREAT time to bring the family for an awesome musical presentation!
Cost of tickets: Love offering (to benefit the Music Department).
At the home of David & Rita McCarthy
1376 Conifer Trail - Elizabeth 80107 (for a map, please go to www.mapquest.com)
A flyer is available (click here) with more details and directions
October 20, 2007: Abundance Workshop
Rev. Dr. Vern Martin will present a workshop revolving around Abundance and Prosperity Consciousness.
This workshop is designed to assist people in shifting their limiting thoughts about money, lack, and what wealth really entails. Dr. Vern will include many of the lessons taught previously in his Prospering Tree class, so this workshop promises to be packed full of fun, information and personal growth! This will be a full-day workshop (location to be announced).
You can register at Center of Awakening in mid-September. Space is limited. Cost: $65
For more information, please contact Rev. Dr. Vern Martin at Center of Awakening (Parker) by calling 303-805-9890.
Ongoing Events
See EDUCATION page and Workshops link.
Press Releases
August 9, 2006: Local Pianist Prepares for International Competition
Larkspur, CO - Dale Backus is a Mechanical Engineer by trade, but his passion is music. He is a freelance pianist/keyboardist who competes internationally as an amateur pianist and has received many awards, including 4th place Jury Award and 2nd place Audience Award at the International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in 2003 in Paris, France. Dale is now preparing for the Berlin International Piano Competition to be held in Germany September 18-23.
One of the ways that Dale prepares for these international competitions is to perform his selected classical pieces informally at local settings. He did this recently at Wells Music in Denver (685 S. Broadway) and will be hosting another recital on September 10 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at his family's Larkspur home studio.
Dale's selection includes such classical composers as Beethoven, Rachmaninov, Liszt and Bach, with works that span over 200 years. Not only do these recitals give Dale the opportunity to do a thorough run-through for his performance, they also allow him to practice with a live audience - a key component of the competition where there will be hundreds of people watching each competitor on-stage. Among the comments of those who attended, watched and listened at his recent recital were "amazing," "wonderful," and "he's an amateur?"
Dale has been playing classical music for nearly 30 years and teaches students as well. He has several degrees, including a BA in Music from Wake Forest, a Masters in Music from University of Michigan and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman. Dale is also the main keyboardist nearly every Sunday at Center of Awakening in Parker (www.CenterOfAwakening.org) and even does a bit of backup vocals with the church band. In addition he performs with 2004 Colorado Songwriter of the Year, Marcy Baruch.
The public is warmly invited to attend the final pre-competition recital on September 10 and to cheer him on in his musical endeavors. Donations received at the September recital will be given to Center of Awakening. For directions to his home studio, contact Dale at (720) 218-1410.
August 7, 2006: Sermon Series on Peace to Conclude in Walk
Parker, CO - Center of Awakening, an independent Religious Science church, has begun a six-part sermon series "Call to Peace." The series initiated with The Nature of Peace on August 6, followed by The Ins and Outs of Peace on August 13. Continuing titles in the series are Seeds of Peace (Aug. 20), Peace with Purpose (Aug. 27), Answering the Call (Sept. 3), and the series concludes with The Divine Vision of Peace (Sept. 10). Sunday services are held at 10:00 a.m. at Northeast Elementary School in Parker (NE corner of N. Pinery and Parker roads). The Youth Church (KidZone) is held during the same time period.
Given current military and political conflict in the world, as well as domestic hostilities, Rev. Dr. Vern Martin, Senior Minister at Center of Awakening, and working with Creation Team members from the church, was inspired to "raise the peace barometer" and bring a higher level of peace-consciousness to the forefront of the Parker and surrounding communities through these topics. Dr. Vern also decided to include information from the latest book by Deepak Chopra, "Peace is the Way." Thus, the series was created and Rev. Dr. Mitzi Lynton was invited to present the first topic.
Dr. Mitzi is a Religious Science and Interfaith minister from All Faiths Church in Sun Lakes, Arizona and friend to Dr. Vern. She is closely involved with The Peace Alliance, an organization chaired by Marianne Williamson that has a bill before the Senate and the House of Representatives to establish a U.S. Department of Peace (www.ThePeaceAlliance.org). A Colorado campaign has been established to support this Department of Peace effort and information can be found at www.codopcampaign.org.
Dr. Vern is so passionate about this series and sharing the message of peace that he has inspired members of the church to organize a "Walk for Peace" in Parker as part of the nationwide event happening on September 16 to support the campaign for a U.S. Department of Peace. The Walk for Peace will conclude the sermon series and any funds raised on the day of the Walk will be donated to The Peace Alliance to support their efforts toward global peace.
For more information about Center of Awakening and the upcoming Walk for Peace, please visit the church website www.CenterOfAwakening.org or call Carol Albro, Peace Walk Coordinator, at (303) 840-0305. Details will be posted as they become available.