Missions PDF Print E-mail

The Missions Board at First Congregational promotes church participation in community outreach and oversees the special offerings. The mission activities of the church are wide-ranging, from local to national to international. Activities are not limited to mission board members and, in fact, many are started and carried out by other members of the church. This page describes Mission activities including:

Biloxi Mission Trip

The 2012 Biloxi Mission Trip planning process has begun, including the 4th Annual Biloxi Bash on Monday Feb. 6th. Want to learn more about the trip, options for travel/lodging, and estimated costs/fundraising? Please contact John Rostykus at 303-709-5404 or john.rostykus(at)gmail.com.

The 2011 Biloxi Trip team is pictured above (read more...) Please see http://liralen.livejournal.com/927981.html and http://www.thebackbaymission.org/.

Crop Walk 2011

Pastor Luke Grobe and the Youth Group participated in the Crop Walk on October 23.  

OUR Center

  • Food and Personal Care Item Collection each fall.
  • Luncheons - Four times a year First Congregational Church purchases, prepares, and serves lunch on the weekend for the OUR Center clients. The OUR Center mission is "To unify community resources to help people in the St. Vrain region meet their individual needs and move toward self-sufficiency". Please see Our Center. 
  • The Warming Center offers adults with no place to stay a dry, safe refuge from the bitter weather. Volunteers are needed to support the staff during snowy and freezing nights (shifts from 5 pm-1 am or 1-7 am). Volunteers attend one Orientation meeting at the Warming Center, 303 Atwood St. The next orientation is Nov. 16 (see OUR Center) or contact Maggie Shearon, at 303-772-5529 or maggie(at)ourcenter.org to sign up. 

Empty Bowls

The church supports the Empty Bowls fund raiser for hunger, by painting pottery bowls to be used for the soup meal sponsored by the OUR Center. Empty Bowls is a fun event for the entire family. The Empty Bowls Dinner is Saturday, March 10, 2012 at Longmont High School, 10:30 to 1:00. The OUR Center is looking for volunteers to solicit sponsors, serve soup, set up and clean up, distribute bowls, solicit artists, help at the silent auction, and sell tickets. Contact Elaine Klotz at 303-772-5529 or elaine(at)ourcenter.org. 

Born To Read

Born to Read is a literacy program where parents of newborns at Longmont United Hospital receive information and books to read to their children. First Congregational Church adopted Born to Read when its initiators wanted to retire from the project. The goals of the project are to educate parents on the importance of providing young children with many literature experiences, to develop adult - child bonding through shared reading, and to develop literate children.

Imprinted canvas bags are stuffed with materials from the Superintendent of Schools, the Children's Librarian from the Longmont Public Library, brochures from the American Library Association, Colorado Dept. of Education and the Library Association. In addition, there are printed materials from Rosemary Wells (children's author) and a board book for the baby. Each bag also has an evaluation form. Bags are provided in Spanish and English. All are welcome to be involved with filling the bags or acquiring funding and materials.

UNICEF

The UNICEF fund raiser is a fun church activity at the end of October to collect money for this charity. On October 30, 2011 children received their boxes to trick-or-treat for UNICEF. On Nov. 6 the UNICEF boxes were blessed and accepted during the offering portion of the worship service.

Africa Bags

Africa Bags is a non-profit organization focused on creating economic opportunity in the African country of Malawi. At present, four villages are producing re-usable grocery bags on treadle sewing machines. 100% of all profits are returned to the villages. Purchasing Africa Bags not only provides a sustainable income opportunity for Malawi, it also diminishes our need for environmentally hazardous plastic grocery bags. For more information go to africabags.org.

Housing for Homeless

Please see Housing for Homeless for the 2011 plans. In May 2010 the Peace/Justice/Whole Earth (PJWE) Ministry coordinated the complete furnishing of an apartment for a homeless person through Housing First, a program of the Boulder Shelter in partnership with Boulder Housing Partners, serving homeless people in Longmont as well as Boulder. 

Alternative Christmas

Mission Board provides opportunities for people to give a gift "in name" as an alternative to traditional gift giving. This has included the Heifer Project, Oxfam, Church World Service, and blanket collection.

Giving Tree

This is an annual Christmas project in cooperation with Boulder County Social Services. Church members buy gifts for families in need, as identified by social services, and social services distributes wrapped packages before Christmas.

Special Offerings

In cooperation with the national United Church of Christ, the church participates in 4 special offerings a year. These are: Strengthen the Church, Neighbors in Need, One Great Hour of Sharing, and the Christmas Fund.

Board of Missions

The chairman for the Board of Missions for 2011 is David Jaeger.