Serving in our local community

Missions Ministry Updates for time of COVID-19

• The organizational team for the fall mission trip to Pine Ridge continues to discuss future dates for the St. Patrick's dinner and silent auction.
• Bob Cotton continues to be in contact with Habitat about future build days.
• We are working with the Our Center on how to provide lunches to those in need on Sunday, April 19. The current plan is to work with a local restaurant to prepare box lunches to go. Please see below for more information.
• The Nicaragua Project Board is in contact with the administrators to stay abreast of the current situation in Somoto. We continue to provide funds on a monthly basis for the food and operational expenses of the school and money to the scholarship students.
• Manna Bible Study continues to work with Hope to provide meals to those in need.

Please contact Missions Ministry Chair Mark H. (missions@bethlehem-lutheran.net) with any questions or suggestions.

 

Quick Links

Bethlehem Mission House

Atwood Shelter

CU Campus Ministry

ELCA "God's work. Our hands."

Fair Trade

Habitat for Humanity

HOPE for Longmont

Inn Between of Longmont

Sky Ranch

Lutheran Family Services

Mother House

Musical Ambassadors

New Beginnings Prison Ministry

OUR Center

Quilters

Relay for Life

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain

Bell Ringing for Salvation Army

 

 

 

 

Bethlehem Mission House

A few years ago we repurposed our parsonage into a Mission House that is used to host groups coming to Longmont to help with rebuilding after the 2013 floods and with other area mission projects.

Since then we have had multiple groups in the Mission House.  adn more recently, we met with the leaders of St. Vrain Valley Habitat for Humanity. We again agreed to house groups that come through them in our Mission House. We continue to have groups signed up for through spring of 2019.

For 2020, our mission house is once again our parsonage on a temporary basis. Stay tuned for more additional information as the year progresses.

We are blessed to be a blessing!

 

Atwood Shelter

Monthly Collections

The Atwood Shelter in Longmont is one of four shelters in Boulder County that provides emergency housing for homeless families with children. The shelters in Longmont, Boulder, Lafayette, and Louisville are operated by EFAA, the Emergency Family Assistance Association, which is a non-profit that has been in existence in Boulder County since 1918. They provide help to low income families in the areas of health needs, education, transportation, employment, housing, and food. More information on EFAA can be found on their website at https://www.efaa.org/.

In Longmont, the shelter includes two housing units. One is a four-plex, which houses four families, and the other is an apartment complex, which houses seven families. Of these 11 units, two are transitional units which people can stay in for two years—paying rent of $500 per month. The other nine units are short term units that house families for up to 16 weeks rent free. The units are fully furnished and provide families with all the supplies they need for daily living such as toilet paper, paper towels, diapers, personal hygiene needs, dish/dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, bleach, all cleaning products, brooms, mops, bedding, towels, dishes, silverware, and pots & pans.

Bethlehem has a history of providing household needs to the shelter. Donations are always welcome—bring needed items to the bin in the narthex; write a check to Bethlehem with "Atwood Shelter" on memo line; designate the Atwood Shelter on your giving envelope; or use our online donation page and choose Atwood Shelter under Mission options. Those funds will be used to purchase items that the Longmont Atwood Shelter needs.

For more information or questions, please contact Phyllis W. (pkwright1360@gmail.com, 303-763-0755).

 

 

 

University of Colorado Campus Ministry

Bethlehem supports the CU Lutheran Campus Ministry by donations, participation in events, and encouragement. Christus Rex is a welcoming community, whose members support one another in their faith journeys. The students enjoy caring, fun, and fellowship as a part of everything they do together! Special events include weekly Sunday evening dinners following worship, movie nights, ski retreats, a fall kick-off picnic, ethnic dinners, trips to special exhibits, and so on. For more information, contact Pastor Zach Parris (303-786-7137) and the CU campus ministry website.

 

 

 

ELCA "God's work. Our hands."

ELCA congregations across the country join together on the second Sunday in September to do service projects in their local community. Bethlehem teams up with First Lutheran. We have done flood relief, highway cleanup, quilting, Habitat for Humanity work,  highway oand 

greenspace cleanup, and assembling newborn layettes for Global Health and  care packages for the homeless—for the folks we see on our street corners with their cardboard signs. Watch for more information on the 2020 God's work. Our hands.

 

 

 

 

 

Support For Local Coffee Farmers Through LWR

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) produces LWR Farmers Market Coffee in partnership with THRIVE Farmers Coffee, a coffee roaster with a passion for helping farmers lift themselves out of poverty and become self-sufficient and better able to support their families. LWR Farmers Market Coffee is sourced directly from farmers participating in LWR coffee projects. At this time, it is sourced completely from Nicaragua. Through their purchases, consumers also support and strengthen the work of LWR. For every pound of coffee purchased, THRIVE Farmers donates 80 cents to LWR's continued efforts to reach out to farmers around the world. Two varieties of LWR Farmers Market Coffee are available at BLC: Medium Roast and Dark Roast. Both are whole bean. The cost is $7.50 per bag.

For more information contact Carolyn B-G (cbuckgengler@gmail.com or 303-651-0612).

 

 

Nicaragua Fair Trade

As part of our support for the Nicaragua Mission, Bethlehem hosts an annual Nicaragua Fair Trade Fair that promotes items made by the people of Nicaragua. For more information, contact Cathy G..

 

 

 

Habitat for Humanity – St. Vrain Valley

Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley- New Builds

The mission of the Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley (HHSV) is to provide simple, decent, affordable housing to those in need. BLC supports HHSV by contributing financially, providing and serving workers' lunches, and providing volunteer workers.

 

Flood Response

BLC is currently supporting flood relief work projects in partnership with HHSVV. Once a month, volunteers work on repairing resident's homes and properties that were damaged in the Sept 2013 flood here in Longmont.

 

ReStore

The HHSV ReStore located on Ken Pratt Blvd. receives household donations that are in turn sold to the public; the proceeds provide funding for additional Habitat build projects. Members of BLC contribute time and donations to the HHSV ReStore.

 

Habitat for Humanity Build Days for 2020

Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley has an aggressive plan for 2020 which includes 14 new build homes from Dacono to Longmont to Estes Park, in addition to ten modular home repairs in Dacono. Members of our church have helped St. Vrain Habitat for 19 years, and we are asked to continue our support. Bethlehem is committed to six Saturdays in 2020 which will include work on three new builds and three home repairs.

2020 build dates:

February 22

April 4

June 27

August 22

October 2

December 5

Please consider reserving these dates on your calendar to help those less fortunate than we are. Sign up to volunteer on the board on the west narthex wall. If you have any questions, please contact Bob C. (rcc.cotton@gmail.com, 303-651-6563).

 

First Habitat Build Day Opportunity for 2020: February 22

Please sign up on the board in the narthex on the west wall for Bethlehem's first Habitat for Humanity work day on February 22. It will be a rebuild day through the Neighborhood Revitalization initiative in The Glens neighborhood of Dacono at 417 Glen Ayre. Work for the day includes removing inefficient windows, installing new energy efficient windows and trim, and adding grab bars in the main bathroom.

If you have any questions, please contact Bob C. (rcc.cotton@gmail.com, 303-651-6563).

 

 

 

HOPE for Longmont

Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement (HOPE) is an after-hours street outreach program providing life-sustaining support to the homeless community, while offering programs which encourage movement toward self-sufficiency. Bethlehem supports this outreach both financially and with volunteers; Bethlehem members donate and collect needed items; provide food; and have participants in the delivery program. Our contact is: Colleen B..

Volunteer Opportunities:

Search and Save: HOPE’s nightly search & save mobile outreach service operates seven nights a week, 365 nights per year and is designed to engage with people experiencing homelessness at a deeper level. This incredibly important work establishes supportive relationships and increases the chances that individuals will access the array of programs to help them move off the streets and into housing. Search and save volunteers connect vulnerable individuals to services and provide emergency transportation to nighttime navigation in severe weather. For more info or to volunteer see http://hopeforlongmont.org/get-involved/ .

Interested in getting involved? Contact Sandy W. (303-442-6391).

 

 

Inn Between of Longmont

The Inn Between of Longmont, Inc., provides transitional housing and services for diverse homeless individuals and families to help them achieve self-sufficiency and offers low-cost housing, case management services, parent support and education, life skills, conflict resolution, resource and referral. The Inn Between was created through a community-wide collaboration to address the problem of homelessness. The goal was to create a transitional housing program that would house the diverse client-population served by this collaboration and provide the services that would also promote stability and lead toward increased levels of self sufficiency.

 

The Inn assists residents to develop individualized plans that address their issues and needs, such as housing (first and foremost), education, job training, job search, and financial management, treatment for substance addictions, mental health issues, family relations, and goals and objectives for children when necessary.

 

Bethlehem supports the Inn Between with financial contributions, supply donations and holiday gifts for residents.

 

Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp

Sky Ranch, just north of Rocky Mountain National Park at an elevation of 9200 feet, is operated by congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Their programs and facilities are open to all.

Bethlehem provides monetary support, staff support and volunteers for maintenance projects, in addition to using the facilities for a variety of camp weeks and for staffing our Summer Day Camp in Longmont. For more information, contact Deaconess Kristen, or Pastor Katie (303-776-3290).

 

 

 

Mother House

Mother House is a safe haven for pregnant women who are at risk. The house is located in Boulder and provides shelter to homeless pregnant women while teaching self-respect and the responsibilities of parenting and/or adoption during their residency at Mother House. Bethlehem supports Mother House through donations and work projects. For more information, please contact Jane L. or the Mother House at (303) 651-9304.

 

 

 

Musical Ambassadors Bringing God's Love to the Atria

Musical Ambassadors Update

Due to the fragility of those we serve at The Atria and the guidelines given by our government and church leaders for our safety and that of others, we will not be going to sing in the Memory Care Unit at The Atria this month. For more information, please contact Jeanne P. (jeanne@phippsweb.com, 303-516-9282) or Diane P. (970-344-5120).

 

 

 

 

New Beginnings Prison Ministry

 

Cards for New Beginnings Prison Ministry

Do you have extra cards that you are not using? New Beginnings, our mission at the Women's Correctional Facility in Denver, gives cards to inmates several times a year so they can stay in touch with family and friends. There is a basket in the narthex marked "New Beginnings"! Appropriate cards of all kinds including Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Sympathy, Birthday, Valentine's Day, Blank cards, and Calendars can be donated. Questions? Contact Sandy W. (or 303-442-6391).

 

Visit Denver Women's Prison

Thanks to Mike Smith who has agreed to be the new coordinator for our outreach to New Beginnings. Please contact Mike Smith about future opportunities to visit the New Beginnings ministry.

 

Needed: Gently Used Violins, Violas And Cellos, And Music Teachers

"Musical Freedom" is an exciting initiative at the Denver Women's Correctional Facility which gives inmates free music lessons! There are approximately 1,000 women incarcerated at this facility, and response to "Musical Freedom" has been enthusiastic. Instruments are needed for the inmates so they can practice in between lessons, and additional music teachers are needed so that more inmates can benefit from the program. If you have an instrument you'd like to donate, or if you have time and interest in teaching, contact Jeanne P. (jeanne@phippsweb.com, 303-516-9282).

 

 

OUR Center

Since 1986, the Outreach United Resource Center, Inc., the "OUR Center", has worked to meet its mission to unify a safety net of available resources to help people with short term hardships meet their basic needs and move toward self-sufficiency. The priority is to assist families with children who are residents of the St. Vrain region. Assistance to households without children may be provided after a thorough assessment has been done and as resources permit. Bethlehem supports the OUR Center financially, through food and clothing donations, and by providing lunches on Sundays periodically throughout the year.

 

2020 OUR Center Lunch dates for Bethlehem:

BLC will host a luncheon for the OUR Center on four Sundays in 2020. We need six first–shift volunteers for preparation and serving from 10:00 a.m.–noon, and eight second–shift volunteers for serving and cleaning up from noon–2:00 p.m. If you haven't tried this before, it's a great opportunity to reach out to our community and have some fun with fellow volunteers. A signup sheet will be available on the table in the narthex a couple of weeks before our date to serve. Contact our Mission ministry chair with any questions or to volunteer.

2020 Lunch Dates: April 19, June 28, September 27, and November 22.

 

 

 

 

 

Quilting Groups

 

Bethlehem Quilting Queens

The Quilting Queens of Bethlehem Lutheran Church meet to tie and talk on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. The #1 priority is plenty of fellowship, fun and work. We cut, iron, sew, tie and produce an amazing number of quilts each year. We are always anxious to welcome any and all—male or female—to join us in cutting and tying patch work quilts. It's a really good time—belly laughs and giggles, eating a lot and drinking (coffee, that is)! Find more details and pictures at Connect/Quilters.

Peacemakers Quilters

Bethlehem members also participate in another quilting group in Heatherwood (founded by members from Bethlehem and Mt. Calvary Lutheran churches) who makes quilts to sell to support Lutheran World Relief, Nicaragua Mission, and ELCA World Hunger. We provide materials and members participate in the quilting. Our contact is Sandy B., who can provide more information on the Peacemakers quilting group.

 

 

Relay for Life

Relay For Life of Longmont

Relay for Life USA

Relay For Life® is a fun-filled event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives, help those who have been touched by cancer, and empower individuals to fight back against this disease. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team keeps at least one team member on the track at all times.

 

 

Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley

The Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley offers support, shelter, and information to victims or survivors of any abuse regardless of gender identification. There is also educational outreach for all which is bilingual. The Safe Shelter 24/7 Crisis phone is (303)772-0432 or (303)772-4422. More information can be found at: www.safeshelterofstvrain.org. BLC offers donations to support Safe Shelter.

 

Bell ringing for the Salvation Army

For the last several years, Bethlehem members have volunteered to be bell ringers for the annual Salvation Army Christmas Drive. If you are interested in signing up for a one hour shift, contact Duane P..

 

Lutheran Family Services

Furniture Needs

If you are doing some tidying up around the house and have any furniture or household items to donate to Lutheran Family Services' refugee families (Denver area), please call Jaime at 303-922-3433 to schedule a pickup! We are in particular need of dressers and dining tables and chairs. Also needed are lamps, side/coffee tables, night stands, sofas, living room chairs, mattresses and box springs in good shape. Or, if you don't have anything you can donate, funds to purchase furniture at thrift stores would be great too. Thanks! (We cannot accept sofa beds, TVs, desks, bookshelves, or king size beds—sorry!)

 

LFS Refugee Program Needs

The refugee program had a busy fall with increased refugee arrivals, and we hope to welcome even more refugees in the coming year—so we need your help! We are low on bedding (sheet sets, bed-sized blankets, comforters, and pillows) and cookware (pots and pans). Can you help give a warm welcome to a new refugee family by donating new or gently used items? If so, contact Jaime (jaime.blanchard@lfsrm.org or 303-217-5181).

 

LFS Annual Gala Donations

Silent auction item donations are needed for the 25th Annual Gala—LFS' largest annual fundraiser! Individuals and groups are encouraged to put together a donation. Can you donate a gift basket, gift certificate, or item to help raise funds for our human service programs? All ideas and items are welcome! All contributions are tax deductible. For more information or to schedule a pick-up, contact Katie Scherr, Special Events and Community Relations Coordinator, 720-541-6826.

 

 

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