Twelve Years of Faith-Fueled Action to End Gun Violence!
In this edition of the Digest:
CFCU Interviews Josh Seftel, Producer of All the Empty Rooms
Heat Doesn't Stop CFCU from Participating in Three Safe Haven Events
Colorado Ceasefire sponsors showing of The Great Divide Tonight
First Congregational Church, Boulder Hosts Screen of Louder Than Guns
CFCU Reps Meeting on September 9
FIPI releases guidelines for managing firearms during a wildfire evacuation
ERPO Guide for Clergy and Faith Leaders Available through Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence
CFCU Interviews Josh Seftel,
Producer of All the Empty Rooms
Oscar Winning documentary producer Josh Seftel sat down with CFCU's Daryl Foelske and Rita Niblack for an interview about All the Empty Rooms. He talked about the power of image to evoke the immediacy of a child who has been taken through gun violence and the relationships he built with families of murdered children.
In 2025, Seftel directed All the Empty Rooms following Steve Hartman and Lou Bopp as they traveled across the United States to memorialize the childhood bedrooms of those lost to school shootings.The film won an Oscar for best documentary short in 2026. CFCU member congregations have sponsored two showings of the film this summer.
CFCU joined other community members in a Safe Haven Prayer Walk on August 17.
Heat doesn't Stop CFCU Members
from Participating in Three Safe Haven Events
Braving hot temperatures, members of Our Savior's and B'nai Havurah and other community members participated in a prayer walk on August 17 sponsored by Denver's Safe Haven program. Participants stopped to say prayers as they walked around the block at 16th and Dahlia to the site of the shooting--an unlicensed after hours night club, where Elijah Barr, aged 25, was killed June 7, 2026. Elijah was on his phone and not believed to be part of the argument leading to the shooting. You can learn more about this young life cut short by guns at Gun Memorial.
Another type of Safe Haven activation was held on August 25, 2026 near a shooting at Maple and Broadway in West Bar Val Wood Park. Central Presbyterian donated hotdogs and buns for this full activation, which provided food and resources to communities impacted by gun violence.
Central Presbyterian and B'nai Havurah also tag teamed to bring food donations to a full activation on September 2 for a shooting at 4300 Pecos St., in Atzlan Park.
There are three types of activations: Prayer Walks (Community walks with prayer and outreach), Resource Activations: On-site support from local organizations, Full Activations: Includes food/snacks alongside resources.
Safe Haven is a community-led response to violence, offering therapeutic services, spiritual support, outreach, and giveaways (e.g. gun locks, food). Our goal is to bring neighbors together, promote peace, and create safe spaces for connection. CFCU's Public Health Strategies Action Team promotes participation in Denver's Safe Haven. If you'd like to support this effort, contact Molly Brown at Central Presbyterian (molly@centraldenver.com)
Colorado Ceasefire Sponsors Screening of
The Great Divide
TONIGHT!
Thursday, September 3, 2026 @ 6:30 PM
Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
Join us for a film screening at the Sie FilmCenter of the documentary 'The Great Divide.' Back by popular demand, this captivating film was originally shown in Denver in 2023 to a sold-out crowd. With even more relevance today, we invite you to join us in an evening of reflection and conversation.
About the film: THE GREAT DIVIDE is an in-depth look at the origins of violence in America from its roots in Native American genocide and African American slavery to the modern-day epidemic of mass shootings that has increased in severity over the last 20 years. The film also looks at what it takes to solve this problem and begin to make change. Colorado's passage of the Extreme Risk Protection Orders law is a special focus of the film. A history of violence in America, presented in nine chapters.
The Gun Violence Prevention Ministry of First Congregational Church, Boulder will host a screening of the documentary LOUDER THAN GUNSat the Dairy Arts Center on Monday, November 9th at 7 PM. This film was the creation of Ketch Secor, lead singer and founder of the bluegrass band, Old Crow Medicine Show, after the Covenant School shooting in his hometown of Nashville, TN in 2023. Ketch is joined by NPR host David Greene, one of the film’s producers.
In the film Ketch and David tackle the extremely complicated and politically divisive subject of gun violence. They invite people from all sides of the issue to join in a conversation and take a musical journey across America to find common ground in the polarized gun debate through civil discourse and unexpected connections.
After the showing, we will continue the discussion of this profoundly American public health issue. All are welcome. The discussion will be led by David Greene, journalist and NPR host, and Doug Pray, director of the film.
First Congregational would like to invite you to partner with us for this Boulder screening and join us on November 9th. Could you help us publicize this event within your organization, congregation or circle of friends? Please contact Carol Young (ccyoung2010@gmail.com)
Ticket information will be announced soon.
As summer winds down, CFCU Reps are gearing up!
According to CFCU’s organizing structure, each CFCU Member Congregation identifies one or two gun violence prevention “champions” to serve as CFCU Representatives. These Reps are part of the Outreach and Engagement Action Team as they work to stay informed of opportunities for action, engaging their community when possible.
On Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30pm there will be a Zoom meeting for CFCU Reps to learn about two specific ACTION opportunities. One is educational, and the other is hands-on advocacy work. If you are a Friend of CFCU (not affiliated with a Member Congregation), we’d like to invite you to join us on the 9th to learn about how you could get involved!
1. September is National Suicide Prevention month. And since the vast majority of gun deaths are suicides, we encourage all of our Member Congregations to make use of CFCU's recently released video tool: Preventing Firearm Suicide 101. Alana Smart, Chair of the CFCU Public Health Strategies Action Team,will provide an in-depth preview of this new resource and we’ll strategize together on how best to use it to educate people in our communities. (I know some of you have already seen this, but please join us for the discussion!)
2. This fall, as part of the Colorado Coalition Against Gun Violence (CCAGV), CFCU will be involved with efforts to pass Permit to Purchaselegislation during the 2027 Session of the CO General Assembly. Michael Linderman, Director of the Denver Chapter of Brady United, will introduce us to this common sense gun bill and explain how congregations and Friends of CFCU can get involved in this concrete, time-limited effort.
Please RSVP here to join fellow faith-fueled CFCU gun violence prevention activists on September 9 at 6:30pm on Zoom!
FIPI Issues handout with information for handling firearms in case of fire or fire evacuation.
When someone is facing fire danger and evacuation orders because of a wildfire, what should they do with their firearms? A new handout produced by Firearms Injury Prevention Initiative gives helpful information about a decision to take firearms OR to leave firearms when evacuating, as well as safety information for returning to a burnt home, where firearms have been left during evacuation. With the danger of wildfires continuing across the west, please consider downloading and sharing this flyer.
Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, a national US faith-based, interdenominational gun controladvocacy organization, has been working together with Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions to create an ERPO Guide for clergy and faith leaders. A webinar to introduce the guide will take place on September 29 at 11:30 AM MT.
Wednesday, September 9: 6:30 pm: CFCU Reps Meeting on Zoom For more information contact Cheryl Fleetwood (membership@cfcu-co.org)
Thursday, September 24 9 - 10 AM Communications Meeting on Zoom. For more information, please contact Daryl Foelske (dfoelske@gmail.com)
Wednesday, September 30: 10 - 11:30 AM: Public Health StrategiesMeeting on Zoom. Please contact Alana Smart (publichealthstrategies@cfcu-co.org) for more information.
