EVANGELICAL MISSION of THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SYNOD

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1 Your mission support is helping to Make Christ Known in these and other places: The New Beginnings Worshipping Community at the Denver Women s Correctional Facility is a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community in the Rocky Mountain Synod. The photos are of Easter morning worship. I. Congregations in Redevelopment: Mt. Hope, El Paso, TX (see report) St. Matthew s, Taylorsville, UT (see report) Our Saviors, Denver, CO (in process; to begin formally in 2017) II. Ethnic Specific Ministries: Cristo Rey, El Paso, TX (see report) HKBP (Indonesian/ Batak) Denver/ Aurora, CO ALMC Cristo Rey, Denver, CO (undergoing leadership transition) III. Synodically Authorized Worshiping Communities: Iglesia Luterana Jesus de Nazaret, Aurora, CO (see report) New Beginnings Worshipping Community (Prison Ministry), Aurora, CO (see report) Spirit of the Mountain, Golden, CO IV. Congregations Under Development: Mustard Seed House Churches, Fort Collins, Greely, CO (transitioned to a Congregation under Development from a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community in 2015) (see report) Camino de Vida ELCA/ PCUSA shared Congregation Under Development, Albuquerque, NM Well of Hope, Castle Pines, CO (undergoing leadership and location transitions) V. Aurora Area Ministry Strategy (see report)

2 AREA MINISTRY STRATEGY Aurora Area Ministry Strategy Aurora Area Ministry Strategy 2015 Established the Aurora Area Ministry Strategy in December Coordinator connected with Aurora ELCA churches and local Non-profit Agencies, City of Aurora and Aurora Public Schools. Engaged in listening to God, each other and the community. Three main foci: Area ministry strategies call ministries into partnership to have a collective impact on a specific area and in so doing re-root ministries and people in their communities. AMS rejuvenate the faith of the people who participate in them in ways that enhance their awareness of God s work and their vocation to join in that work. AMS renew the ministry of partner congregations to make the congregations more vibrant and effective in carrying out God s work 2016 Specific Goals for Aurora Area Ministry Strategy Establish a guiding coalition for the Aurora Area Ministry Strategy. Create partnerships within the community between local congregations, mission starts such as Iglesia Luterana Jesus de Nazaret and New Beginnings with local non-profit agencies. Discern how local congregations will engage more deeply in the community. Strengthen and deepen ecumenical partnerships. Create a mission statement and SMART goals for the strategy. Intentionally build relationships among the partners in the ministry through scripture study and shared ministry. SYNODICALLY AUTHORIZED WORSHIPPING COMMUNITY at the DENVER WOMEN S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY New Beginnings Worshipping Community, Denver, CO Instituted a bi-lingual worship service once a month, bringing on a native Spanish-speaking priest and guitarist for these services. Increased the card ministry to three distributions per year (over 45,000 cards) enabling the women to send cards to their loved ones outside. Cards are donated by area congregations and invididuals. Celebrated a magnificent Easter worship including a brass quartet, a dance offering from women with the help of volunteer choreographers, and Fellowship time in the gym. Celebrated a blessed and powerful Thanksgiving Eve service partnering with an outside congregation who brought pumpkin pie for all. Our Christmas Eve service was the largest service in the history of the prison: almost 300 women attended. We were allowed to have real lit candles. The Word, the communing of lines of solemn women, the guests, the carols, the time of fellowship, were ALL amazing and memorable. We created a Blue Room during Advent for women to pray, color in coloring books, do finger labyrinths, sit in silence, and for some, to simply cry. We were allowed this year to create an Inside Council that mirrors the Outside Council, giving the women a voice in their worship lives. We have a terrific website. Read our stories at We renamed our annual dinner: The Chow Hall Gala. The women inside created the vision of the dinner experience to help attendees of the dinner to better "know" them and their lives in prison. Speakers included the mother of one woman inside, and the warden. This year's dinner will be on October 7th. Please come! The Inside Council hosted a dinner for the Outside Council. Big success. We are recognized now as a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community of the RMS.

3 REDEVELOPMENT CONGREGATION St. Matthew s, Taylorsville, Utah St. Matthew s in Taylorsville, Utah is undergoing redevelopment so in 2015 we: Installed a new pastor in August to lead us in the redevelopment process Formed a Worship and Music Ministry Team Donated over $885 for World Hunger Marched as followers of Jesus in the Taylorsville Parade as fishers of people Confirmed two youth Crocheted or knitted 20 prayer shawls to be blessed and given away Partnered with St. Stephens Episcopal Church to gather and wrap gifts for the Dream Academy Presented an exhibit on Environmental Sustainability at Taylorsville Daze In 2016 we have: Identified leaders and formed the redevelopment team Participated in the Souper Bowl Challenge and donating $49 for the Panthers, $79 for the Broncos and $75 from our World Hunger Jar for a total of $203! Clothed the homeless with over 50 blankets, socks and gloves donated to the Downtown Rescue Mission in Salt Lake City Exceeded our goals and collected over $300 during the ELCA s 40 Days of Giving and gathered well over 500 food items Met with all groups using the facility to find new ways to steward its care Identified leadership through the Nominating Task Force for council elections Increased Sunday worship attendance by 10% Provided a place of healing, hope and welcome for Christ the King members after its closure Elected three leaders to oversee St. Matthew s Endowment Fund for the next three years Baptized Sherman Montgomery Chinnock into God s family of believers Trained Caring and Eucharistic Ministers Worshiped with our first Easter Vigil Launched our Stewardship Initiative this spring Gathered for our first ever council retreat with the newly elected council members Participated in Taylorsville Interfaith Day of Service and Taylorsville Daze activities Planned and prepared for breaking ground on a labyrinth for the community outreach. Give thanks as we continue to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and visit the imprisoned as God calls us to be as witnesses to the gospel. For more information, check out our website at: or like us on our Facebook page, St. Matthew s Lutheran Church, Taylorsville, Utah.

4 MISSION CONGREGATION Iglesia Luterana Jesús de Nazaret, Aurora, CO 2015 We had over 20 kids participate in camp with Rainbow Trail and in our fall break camp. We explored the themes the fruits of the spirit and discipleship. We received our first official members by way of confirmation of three young girls who affirmed their faith in August. We participated with St. Mark s Lutheran in God s work, our hands Sunday and made our own shirts! We celebrated Posada with the traditional song and procession and piñata. We had 30 people participate! We reached out with the help of our mission partners to 40 families in need with Christmas gifts We look forward to Sunday School in the Park in the Summer to bring Christian Education and kids activities to our neighborhood. We will serve our wider community once a month with a hot meal together with St. Mark s Lutheran We began ESL classes to create a program of language exchange so English speakers can learn Spanish too! We will continue to explore ecumenical partnership with St. Stephen s Episcopal Church in Aurora We are planning summer partnership with Aurora Community Connections to bring family health and wellness programming to our neighborhood. ETHNIC MINISTRIES Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey, El Paso, TX iglesiacristorey.wix.com/luterana We are committed to love God, above all things, and our neighbors. We strive to offer a beautiful worship, to be hospitable, to meet the needs of the community, and to share of ourselves with all cultures. Iglesia Luterana Cristo Rey is a community called to share the Good News and make disciples everywhere. Ministries Bilingual Worship Sunday School / Faith Formation Youth Group After School Program English Classes Border Immersion Program Juarez Ministry (across the border in Mexico) with Missionary Dr. San Juana Mendoza

5 MISSION CONGREGATION Mustard Seed House Churches, Northern Colorado It s been a great year at Mustard Seed House Churches! In 2015, we: baptized Mya Shae at our Easter Vigil (Mustard Seed s 5th baptism)! raised over $1,500 and collected two 55 gallon drums of food at Hops for Hunger (annual childhood hunger fundraiser)! coordinated 2 different stations for Loveland s Bike to Work Day launched our 4th house church (in Greeley)! witnessed to God s unconditional love by hosting a booth at Pride in Fort Collins collaborated with Lutheran Campus Ministry/CSU for services during Holy Week and Christmas Eve became an ELCA Congregation Under Development (formerly a Synodically Authorized Worshipping Community) partnered with congregations throughout Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Estes Park, and Windsor organized 2 different Beer and Hymns events with area congregations! In 2016, we are working on: new faith formation opportunities for the youth and children of Mustard Seed hiring a part-time faith formation staff person to work with our youth and children launching a fifth house church! assuming our own fiscal agent responsibilities developing and identifying new leadership (especially from within our newest house churches) continued partnerships with area congregations and non-profits As we look forward to all that this year will bring, we give thanks for your continued prayers, partnership and support! For more information, visit us online at Like our Facebook page (Mustard Seed House Churches) in order to see videos, pictures, and other important announcements from the Mustard Seed community!

6 REDEVELOPMENT CONGREGATION Mount Hope Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas priorities: Increase participation and communication with Preschool Improve finance reporting and management Renew property and physical plant Mount Hope accomplishments in 2015: Restarted a Vocal and Bell Choir Improved the Sound System in the Sanctuary Celebrated a Faith & Family Night every Wed, including a meal, small group time, and worship Began an 11am Service on Sunday Promoted a Stewardship Sunday Began using software to collect giving data Revised and renewed Mission and Vision statements Improved social media and website Began the 8:39 Cafe ministry Celebrated a New Affirmation Class for Adults using Baptized We Live Increased prayer participation using: Help Thanks Wow model Started 30 Hour Famine and Amazing Race Borderland Sent 2 youth to RMS Middle School Gathering Sent 3 youth to National Gathering What is the 8:39 Café? Responding to our context: across the street from a large public school and driven by the promise of Romans 8:39, we created a safe place for youth while encouraging them to make a positive impact locally and globally. The Café provides space for students to gather and relax, enjoy a snack or cup of Fair Trade coffee or organic chocolate, or catch up on homework while waiting for parents/guardians to pick them up after school.