Ministries

Ministry of Welcome

The purposes of this ministry are concerned with issues of invitation, welcome and response. The focus is on those who participate in the worship life or program ministries of our congregation. This ministry is centered on the power of the invitation to “come and see.”

Health and Healing Ministry

Because this ministry structure formally began in 2008, our current mission is to continue envisioning and building a model for supporting and equipping our church to be a people who are effectively caring for one’s own health and for the health of others in an expression of both love for our neighbors and responsibility for a just society.

This ministry isn’t trying to invent new programs as much as providing a network of supporting, strengthening and enhancing our present ministries under the umbrella of Health & Healing. In addition, this model for a ministry of wholeness has an inherent openness to build those vital ministries that emerge out of the organic places of our church. This is saying that new ministries may unfold in our church, as gifts and needs arise from our body of believers.

Listed are some of the present ministries around our mission. Healing Emphasis in Worship with Laying on of Hands; Stephen Ministry ( an autonomous ministry); Prayer Ministry, Knit One/Pray One; Faith Community Nurse Ministry (formerly Parish Nurse); Meals Ministry; Weddings & Funerals Ministry; Cards & Letters; and Small Groups for Intentional Support. Our ministry supports and encourages community programs using our building for their events (12 Step, Aspen Club, Exercise, Education Groups... to name some of the categories).

Stephen Ministry

The program trains caregivers and then matches them up with care receivers for one-on-one support. Any adult is welcome to train. The training is 50 hours. Contact the church office for more information.

Servant Builder Ministry

The congregation and community are invited to participate in our servant projects in collaboration with other ministries.   The purpose of the ministry is to encourage the congregation and community to serve our neighbor in need, both near and not so near, and learn about the call to serve as Christ served in this world. Servant experiences are organized within our community, like: week-long immersion in Pine Ridge (Oglala Reservation in South Dakota), 10 day rip top Nicaragua (in partnership with other churches), and timely servant Trips for hurricane relief in the Gulf Coast region. Recently, Servant Builders coordinated tornado response efforts in Windsor, CO and Weld County. Since July 2005, this ministry has collected supplies for the Honduran orphanage and has coordinated three constructions of homes with Habitat for Humanity in the past five years. We have received the Platinum Hammer from Habitat in recognition of our partnership with them.

Outside Our Walls

Outside Our Walls’ mission is to provide the congregation of OSLC with information and the avenue to donate supplies and economic support for non-profit organizations of the ELCA, the city of Fort Collins, and other organizations here and worldwide which attempt to educate, feed, clothe and encourage others in need and improve the lives of underprivileged people “outside our walls.” The Fort Collins Homelessness Prevention is one of our highly supported projects over the past 5 years. Anyone interested is welcome to join or submit ideas. Please contact the church office.

Knit One, Pray One

A prayer shawl ministry whose purpose is to make beautiful shawls for those who are going through a difficult time and need our prayers and support. Completed shawls are given to the Parish Nurses to be delivered to a member of our congregation or to someone else who needs our love and care. Anyone who is willing to knit or crochet a shawl and pray for the healing and welfare of the shawl’s recipient is welcome. Please contact the church office.

Church Nursery

The nursery is available to children 4 years old and younger during church services and on Wednesday evenings. Adult supervision and youth are available to watch children. Please contact the church office.