Outreach Ministries at Our Father

The Outreach Ministry committee coordinates Our Father's ministry of love, especially to people in physical needs.  Activities of ministry include such things as distributing Thanksgiving food and gifts to the needy, providing food, transportation or baby sitting for members in need, home visitation of seniors and sponsoring refugee families or other low-income families.  Members who have special talents such as roofing, car repair, home maintenance, etc., and services to volunteer to people in need can contact the church office.

Here is an alphabetical listing with descriptions of some of our Outreach Ministries:

ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS - Alternative Christmas is a market put on each year the weekend before Thanksgiving by various individuals, families and groups, to provide us with an opportunity to give alternative gifts to our family and friends benefiting mission efforts worldwide to provide food, water, shelter, safety, and resources to those less fortunate.  100% of each donation goes to provide those services. 

ALTERNATIVE THANKSGIVING - Each year, a trip is organized to go to El Paso, Texas to the the Ysleta Lutheran Mission.  The group leaves the day before Thanksgiving with supplies to feed approximately 500 people in El Paso and Juarez, Mexico over the holiday weekend.  The group usually has a mission project either on the Mexican or American side of the border to work on as well as cooking for and feeding the people.

ANGEL TREE - This is an outreach to children of families connected to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM).  There are approximately 100 children to whom we deliver Christmas gifts.

BE A GOOD EGG - This is a program to reach out to unwed teenage moms and dads through Arapahoe Social Services.  Names are provided and baskets are filled with supplies needed for babies and their new parents at Easter.

BONFILS BLOOD AND MARROW DRIVES - Two or three times a year, the Bloodmobile comes to Our Father and we have the opportunity to save lives through blood donations.  On February 19, 2012, Our Father will hold its first Marrow Drive.  See the "February 2012 Highlighted Ministries" box to the right or view the following flyers for more information:  Marrow Drive Flyer,  Donation Myths and Facts, Jessa Salvador

CAMPBELL'S FOOD LABEL DRIVE FOR EMMAUS SCHOOL IN DOWNTOWN DENVER - Labels from Campbell's products plus various others are brought to church and deposited in the box located in the Library.  The labels are turned in to provide educational equipment for this school that serves inner-city Denver.

FAMILY HOMESTEAD HOUSE - Our Father participates in this local outreach to provide adequate housing needs for homeless people in the metro area.  The ministry involves cleaning, painting, home repair, etc.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - This group helps build homes for those in need in the Denver area.

HINCHEY SCHOLARSHIP FUND - Financial assistance for education of church workers preparing for careers in:  Pastoral Ministry, Teaching Ministry, Directors of Christian Education, Deaconesses and other ministries.  The Donald F. Hinchey Scholarship Fund is supported through:  offerings, endowments, memorials and bequests.  If you are interested in making a gift to the fund or applying for a scholarship, please contact the church office at 303-779-1332.  Print an application.

INTERFAITH JELLY - Our church has become known as the "Jelly Church" for InterFaith Food Bank.  We collect jars of jelly and donate them to Interfaith.  This is ongoing throughout the year so bring some jelly by and help the Interfaith Food Bank!

INTERFAITH FOOD DRIVES - Various food drives are done throughout the year for the Interfaith Food Bank. See the "February 2012 Highlighted Ministries" box to the right to read more about the food drive we did in September 2011 and the one we are currently hosting!

JOBSEEKERS - Our Father has hired a professional in the field of Career Development to assist as a "Resident Coach" to the JobSeekers group.  Valerie Ness has been in the field for over 15 years and has a Career Coaching business called Summit Careers. She has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in OD and Leadership and works as a Recruiter in Littleton.  Valerie facilitates our Wednesday morning meetings from 8:00 - 9:30.  She will review your resume, give directions, role-play difficult interviews... whatever you need to become SUCCESSFUL and EMPLOYED!  All unemployed/under-employed people are welcome to join OFLC JobSeekers.  All services provided by OFLC JobSeekers are free of charge. 

MEALS ON WHEELS - This is a metro area program that distributes meals to the elderly and the homebound.

MOPS - MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers.  MOPS exists to meet the needs of every mom...Urban, suburban and rural moms, stay-at-home and working moms, teen, single and married moms - moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be!  MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.  Our Daytime MOPS meets from September 16, 2011 through May 4, 2012 on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month from 9:15 - 11:30 AM.  Childcare is provided, however registration is required.  For more general information, registration and childcare availability, please contact Kelly Kochenberger at kellykochenberger@comcast.net or call the church office at 303-779-1332.  Also, go to our MOPS page to find out more!

MOSAIC - This is an outreach to provide a Christmas gift and meal to mentally challenged adults in our community.  People volunteer to buy the gifts that are requested by the adults, and also volunteer to decorate and serve the meal here at Our Father in December.  In partnership with people who have disabilities, Mosaic provides support and advocates that all may realize God’s gift of wholeness of life.  Mosaic was formed by the consolidation of Bethphage and Martin Luther Homes in 2003. Both organizations were formed by faith-filled Lutherans nearly a century ago to care for children, men and women with developmental disabilities and other disabling conditions. Today Mosaic is the largest faith-based provider in the United States of services to people with disabilities, serving more than 3,800 people in 15 states.  Locally Mosaic has agencies in Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Grand Junction.  To learn more, visit www.mosaicinfo.org.  Mosaic is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is recognized by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. 

NURSING HOME VISITS AND WORSHIP - Provides worship to nursing homes on several Sundays and visits in between.

READY, SET, SCHOOL - Each summer, InterFaith Task Force provides the names of children who are in need of backpacks, clothes and school supplies.  Congregation members (individuals or groups) then sponsor a child and purchase these items and return them to church.  They are then delivered to InterFaith Task Force and distributed the children. 

REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT - Refugees come to us through Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains (LFSRM) and we provide them with housing and help them with whatever their needs are to resettle.

STEVEN J. OLSEN MEMORIAL FUND - The Purpose of the Steven J. Olsen Memorial Fund is to assist individuals and/or families who are experiencing both serious medical and financial concerns.  Click on the ministry title to the left to find out more about this fund and how to apply for it.

THANKSGIVING BOXES - The Sunday before Thanksgiving we give boxes with food and supplies to families in Denver who are in need.  Members sign up to fill the boxes for a specific family a couple of weeks in advance and bring them to church, where they are picked up and delivered to Denver families in need.

YSLETA LUTHERAN MISSION - Each year, during Thanksgiving week, families from Our Father travel to El Paso to serve Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, and do a work project on Friday and Saturday. Youth and adults from Our Father have also done work projects many summers to support Ysleta.  Find out more about this ministry by clicking on the the ministry title.