Althea's 100 Year Anniversary

SUNDAY OCTOBER 16th: 100 YEAR CELEBRATION PROGRAM

Mark Upshaw, a many decades Denver Architect, practicing artist, and community leader will make an insightful presentation on how Althea’s historic, beautiful and functional building came into being in 1922. He will demonstrate how the mystical experiences and philosophy of Dr. Nona L. Brooks, founder, and spiritual director for decades, gave rise to the unique architecture of the First Divine Science Church of Denver.

Core building features will be unpacked to show how the team of Nona Books and the Architect collaborated to create this remarkable church and now a National Register Landmark. Light, symbol, economics, architectural style, civic presence and more will be revealed as the building’s form makers. The renowned and brilliant architect for the building, the late Jules Jacque Benois Benedict, will be introduced. His commanding and agile talent will be demonstrated as expressed in this building’s design.

There will be opportunities to reflect and reminisce on how the First Divine Science Church of Denver, a huge branch of the New Thought Movement, evolved into Althea Center for Engaged Spirituality, a contemporary, community spiritual center, serving the needs of the broad community. It is inclusive and caring while it celebrates its originating truths, held to be “universal” - God is alive in everything and everyone. This ethos is available for all those that enter the Althea’s doors. The Althea community strives to meet each person where they are in their journey for fulfillment and meaning. It is a lifelong endeavor founded on community and love.

A Deep Dive, after the service and community lunch, will host a brief discussion of numerology as it relates to Althea and a showcase featuring artifacts relating to the building, Nona Brooks, and Divine Science will be presented. The architectural drawings of our historical building will also be on display.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 18th from 5-7:30: HUNDRED YEAR HAPPY HOUR SOCIAL

All are welcome to join in our Hundred Year Happy Hour! We'll have food, and cocktails (mocktails too!) will be provided. This lively community event is open to all friends (new and longstanding) of Althea. We'll celebrate and share stories!

Featured Presenter:

Mark Upshaw

Mark Upshaw graduated from the College of Architecture, University of Arizona, Tucson, a long time ago. He was a licensed Architect in Colorado for nearly forty years. Although he is a former Architect, his appreciation for it continues. He worked in the private sector for twenty years during which time he collaborated with several noted area Architects on many structures that are in productive use today - some of them award winning. In his own business adventure, he designed homes in the Genesee Mountain Community.

His professional work transitioned into the public sector when he joined the City of Denver where he had an opportunity to use all his skills. They included: project management, urban design, architecture, planning, community outreach and photography. He often performed these tasks simultaneously. It made his twenty-five years with the city rich, rewarding, and challenging.

Related to this presentation, while at the City of Denver employment, Mark provided project management and leadership for the rehabilitation of: the City Park Pavilion and Bandstand in City Park, the Washington Park Boathouse in the popular Washington Park, preservation projects at the Cheesman Pavilion and others.

Mark’s passion for community was expressed when he co-founded the College View Neighborhood Association where he first lived in Denver. He was active in its leadership and improvement for many years. He is currently an engaged board member on the Dartmouth Heights Neighborhood Association. newsletter editorship and liaison with the storied Sisters Loretto Heights Campus redevelopment. He is on the steering committee for the Bear Creek Regional Park Master Plan in southwest Denver where he lives.

Mark is a practicing artist for over fifty years. His primary medium of expression is photography. He has been juried into numerous shows, won awards and recognition. Is work is included in private, corporate and public institutions. His art has recently been invited into permanent collections in Colorado and New Mexico.

Mark’s home for choice for forty-eight years is Denver, Colorado. It is where he has done most of his professional, personal, psychological, and spiritual work. Mark is a card-carrying member Althea since 2017. He is happy to be here.