Our Values:
Mountain Light Unity Church is:
God centered
Spiritual
Loving
Healing
Truth Seeking
The Canyon Courier
newspaper in Evergreen announced on January 16, 1991 that, on January
23, “The Sunday Alternative” would begin a twelve week lecture on
12 Steps and 12 Powers which covered inner spiritual qualities. To
be held at the Life Care Center in Evergreen and facilitated by Rev.
Cathy Gram, ordained Unity minister, “The Sunday Alternative” was
affiliated with the Association of Unity Churches in Unity Village,
Missouri. Eighteen people attended Rev.Cathy’s lectures at the
Life Care Center.
Meanwhile Rev. Cathy
received many calls asking if she was to start a Unity Church in
Evergreen. Not originally her intention, the number of calls,
inspired her to call a meeting on March 20, 1991 to determine local
interest in Evergreen for a weekly Unity “service.” Approx. 30
people attended, and all urged Rev. Cathy to begin a church in
Evergreen.
In April, 1991, Rev. Cathy
began a five-week class on Unity principles. On May 22, 1991, Wed.
evening “Unity in Evergreen.” worship services began at Life Care
Center.
In October, 1991, Sunday
“church” services named “Mountain Light Unity” began at
Center Stage. (At this time, Center Stage, an old mountain theater,
had no central heating or bathroom facilities and props were
scattered about) Through divine timing, Rev. Cathy learned of a
building for rent on Buffalo Park Road and Mountain Light Unity (MLU)
had its first home. Before moving, the tiny congregation met to
clean and paint. An organ was donated, a lectern built, chairs
purchased and preparations for the first service were complete. On
July 12, 1992 the first service was held. Soon to follow was space
for the children, classes, books, fellowship and office in the lower
level of the building.
Our first Christmas
service was in December 1992 with our first “musical.” In
February, 1993, MLU was incorporated. Sunday school began and church
attendance grew in size and consciousness. On March 28, 1993, fifty
people in the congregation became our charter members.
Later in 1993, Rev. Cathy
informed the congregation that she had breast cancer. After major
medical interventions, she lost her fight and made her transition on
August 26, 1994.
From August 1994 until
March 1995, Rev. Cathy Boehm (now Norman), also an ordained Unity
minister, served the congregation as temporary minister, as the MLU
board began the search for a permanent minister. The search was
successful and in January, 1995, Rev. Doug Bottorff was hired. Rev.
Bottorff was a Unity minister with a distinguished background as
minister of a large church in Missouri and a prolific, published
writer and recording musician.
In 1995, the owners of the
Buffalo Park building decided to use their building and MLU was to
seek an alternate meeting place. Services were held at meeting
facilities at the El Rancho restaurant from July until December of
that year, when another move to Bergen Park Cinema Four was made –
known as the “gummy bear” era! It was at this time that the
congregation met to ascertain support for buying land and building a
permanent church home. In December, 1995, the church negotiated a
contract for fifteen acres on Highway 73 and closed on February 29,
1996. A special blessing on the land was held on March 3.
Working with the county to
rezone the property proved to be a test of patience and time. Three
years later we were “zoned.” Then a year and a half spent
finalizing construction plans, soliciting bank guarantees and,
raising additional funds. Difficulties with an entry to the property
resulted in resistance of the neighborhood. When a buyer came
forward, the property was sold in January, 2003.
Meanwhile other changes
were occurring. MLU moved from the theater to the Evergreen Hotel.
When Rev. Bottorff made the decision to seek another position,
Jeffrey Alan Hall was hired. Another move to Center Stage in October
2002, (now modernized!) and space became available for classes in the
neighboring Conference Center and office space was secured. A record
attendance for MLU occurred on Christmas Eve, 2002, with 173 adults
and 20 children present. In May, 2003, Jeffrey Alan Hall resigned
and Reverend Ron Jones (an MLU charter member) agreed to serve as
temporary minister. He assisted in the ministerial search which
culminated in a step of faith for our church and for our current
minister, Reverend Wendy Rumsey (now Burroughs). Rev. Wendy arrived
in Evergreen in March, 2004, and has been a whirlwind of activity
since. She organized a network of committees working in many
directions – workshops, retreats, prosperity, new member classes,
holiday services, dinners/potlucks/picnics, leadership/growth
seminars and classes too numerous to list. Together, we have climbed
mountains, walked labyrinths, cross country skied, downhill skied,
hiked a fourteener, held various fund raisers and galas. An
incredible chaplains’ program was established and our youth program
continues to grow.
Reverend Wendy has become
a significant part of the interfaith community in Evergreen and also
of the Unity movement conferences. In November, 2005, the Colorado
Secretary of State approved our name change from Mountain Light Unity
to Mountain Light Unity Church. Average Sunday attendance is now
approximately 55.
We have come a long way
since that first class of six in 1991 and we are looking forward to
all the years together yet to come – thank you, God!
