Outreach and Mission Opportunities at Mt. View

Outreach is one of the most exciting and rewarding areas of participation at Mountain View. Many opportunities mean many choices in to how to be actively involved in service to others. All members are invited to suggest ideas and to use this committee as a resource. We aim to provide direct support to those in need as well as advocacy for the poor, the oppressed, and the marginalized around the world. For any of the opportunities listed below, Trudy Gygi or Bonnie Strand can be contacted for further information at 303 494 5025 or mountainviewumc@mtview.org.

NEWS

Haiti: Two Years Later

It’s almost hard to believe that two years have passed since the devastating earthquake in Haiti. During those first crucial months, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) addressed widespread emergencies, distributing food, water, and shelter assistance to hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries. We conducted needs assessments and began to devise immediate and long-term relief and recovery plans in coordination with other international agencies and our chief partner, Eglise Méthodiste d’Haiti (Methodist Church of Haiti, EMH).

Click here to read the Progress Report that describes the UMCOR’s work in the fields of education, health and hygiene, shelter and reconstruction, livelihoods, and capacity strengthening.

  12 million caught in Africa food crisis

LOCAL
 

Adopt-a-road

Mountain View has adopted Baseline road between Cherryvale and 76th for the Boulder County Adopt-A-Road program.  Groups of volunteers pick up trash along the road a few times a year. To help with the clean-up contact Glen Strand (glen.strand@comcast.net). For more information: Adopt-A-Road procedures.
 

Boulder Homeless Shelter Meals

Various groups within Mt. View prepare and serve meals at the Boulder Homeless Shelter once/month. Contact Kay Lathrop (lathropk@comcast.net). For more information: Boulder Homeless Shelter.

Bridge House (formerly Carriage House Community Table)

Evening meals are served at no cost to anyone who comes.  Mt. View hosts a Bridge House warm dinners every Wednesday evening, including driving our church van to gather those who need transportation. Volunteers from Mt. View greet guests, set up, prepare, serve and clean up on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Contact Trudy Gygi (mabelgygi@yahoo.com) or Kay Lathrop (lathropk@comcast.net). Bridge House is the new name for the long-standing organization called the Carriage House Community Table For more information: Bridge House.

Community Food Share

This is a continuous food drive that focuses particularly on canned meats, fruit, peanut butter and other high-need non-perishables. Donations can be left in the grocery cart in the Narthex, near the front entrance. Contact June Huss (junekhuss@aol.com) or Liz Sims (esims956@hotmail.com). For more information: Community Food Share.

Clothing Drives

Mt.View collects gently used clothing year-round, sorts the clothing and donates it to:

• Shiprock, New Mexico Native Americans -- churches in this area distribute much-needed women’s and children's clothing. For more information: Shiprock Thrift Store.
  
• Step13 -- Denver-based Christian organization helping homeless men get back on their feet.  For more information: Step 13.
  

In addition to donating gently-used clothing, we welcome help at periodic clothes-sorting parties. Contact Brenda Mehos (bmehos@comcast.net).

ECHO House, a project of Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA)

ECHO House, an EFAA project, provides homeless families with temporary housing. Mt. View maintains and supplies paper goods, cleaning supplies, etc. for one apartment. Contact Diane Schumpert (mountainviewumc@mtview.org). For more information: EFAA ECHO House.

Family-To-Family

During Advent, Family-to-Family provides specific new gifts selected by individual clients. If you want to help organize this year’s activities, contact Kay Lathrop (lathropk@comcast.net). For more information: Family-To-Family.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat can provide local opportunities for the professional and the beginner.  Adults as well as youth ages 16 and older are welcome to help build homes. Contact Dave Beaty (David@theBeatys.net). For more information: Flatirons Habitat for Humanity.

Jail Ministry

Used paperback books are collectedfor the Boulder County Jail.  Place your donations in the box labeled "Jail Ministry" in the Narthex, or contact Connie Balazs (brbalazs@comcast.net).

Kid’s Hope

This program engages our Mountain View members by pairing the church with Creekside Elementary School, a nearby school with a population including significant numbers of English Language Learners, Free/Reduced Lunch students, and Special Education kids.  We are seeking 10-15 Mountain View persons as mentors, each making a one child, one hour/week, one year commitment.  This makes an important difference emotionally and academically in the lives of these needy children. Contact Tula Roberge (troberge@q.com). For more information: Kids Hope.

Mini Mission "Trips"

Each summer, Mountain View offers a week-long set of opportunities to serve locally. The purpose of this “mini-mission trip” is to replicate the experience of a hands-on mission trip experience for folks who cannot travel away from home.  We have helped in Community Food Share gardens, EFAA housing, Bead for Life distribution center, Mother House, Catalyst High School and many other local agencies.

Mother House

Mother House was established in 1982 in Boulder to provide a safe haven for pregnant women who are at risk.  All board and staff members are Christian, and the home operates under Christian principles. Mt View supports Mother House through individual donations and volunteer activities.  Contact Kay Schroeder (maxkay@prodigy.net). For more information: Mother House.

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice is a complement or alternative to our conventional justice systems. Every month, Mountain View hosts the County’s restorative justice program for juvenile shoplifters. In addition, MV members support Restorative Justice activities throughout the Boulder community.  Contact PJ Hyrnik (pjhrynik@comcast.net). For more information: Boulder County Restorative Justice.

Share-A-Gift

During Advent, Share-A-Gift collects new and gently used clothing and toys for distribution to the children of these families. Opportunities to clean, repair and sort toys begin in November. There are also opportunities to work at the distribution location, translate for non-English speaking parents and wrap gifts. Contact June Huss (junekhuss@aol.com) or JoAnn Joselyn (jjoselyn@earthlink.net). For more information: Share-A-Gift.

NATIONAL

Boulder United Methodist Mission Partners (BUMMP)

Mt.View is one of a group of fourteen area UM churches that provide mission opportunities jointly. BUMMP has existed for 35 years, beginning with projects such as building chicken coops to allow persons in Haiti to be self-supporting. Local opportunities often include "fix-it" or construction tasks. Recently, BUMMP facilitated mission teams to Alaska and Louisiana, among others.  Contact Don Wisdom (donwisdom15@yahoo.com). For more information: BUMMP.

Blood Donations

Mt.View members are encouraged to donate blood through Bonfils Blood Center. When you donate, indicate that you are donating in the name of Mt. View United Methodist Church, Group 82. Contact Chuck or Elaine Morrison (c2ware@comcast.net). For more information: Bonfils Blood Center.

Family Mission Trip (summer)

This rewarding trip is open to all families with kids 8 yrs old and up. It is a week long adventure that allows us to help others in need while teaching children values like compassion and social awareness. Contact Larissa Hoffman, 720-854-5970 for more information.

INTERNATIONAL

Adopt-A-Doc / APSAR

In2005, BUMMP coordinated the continuation of a rural hospital construction project in Bolivia, with multiple medical team members who supplied a pharmacy and treated patients. This project involved 60 persons over a period of six weeks. Their work continues to support rural medicine in Bolivia through Mt View’s financial and prayer support to Adopt-A-Doc. Contact Arnie Scheer (arnoldscheer@estreet.com).

Bread Program / Bread for the World

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation’s decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Two Mt View members bring their bakery leftovers to Mountain View on Sundays and donate part of a free-will offering to Bread for the World. Letter-writing support is encouraged. Contact Dave Askey (davidaskey@me.com). For more information: Bread for the World.

CROP Walk and Blanket Sunday

Church World Service (CWS) provides emergency assistance to suffering people throughout the world. Mt.View participates in CROP Walk, a walk where participants gather pledges and raise money for CWS hunger ministries, and Blanket Sunday where a $5 donation buys a blanket for someone in need. For CROP Walk, contact Keith Brown (KBrown@northmetrofire.org).  For Blanket Sunday, contact Glen Strand (glen.strand@comcast.net). For more information: Church World Service.

Christmas Stockings

This is a once/year opportunity to contribute to a special holiday "extra giving" fund for our Covenant Missionary. Look for the stockings and Christmas cards between church services throughout December. For more information, contact Glen Strand (glen.strand@comcast.net).

Covenant Missionary Relationship

This United Methodist program matches missionaries with local churches who will "covenant" with them in support of their ministry.  Mt.View supports Mozart Adevu, the Africa Regional Coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). His main focus is providing leadership in training of farmers identified by local churches and conferences in six African countries.  In April 2011, he reported that his ministry will have a strategic focus on Sierra Leone in the coming years.  For more information: UMC Missionaries.

Fair Trade Products

To help provide a sustainable wage to those who grow our coffee and tea, Mt. View serves products that are fair-trade certified. We also make information available on how to purchase fair trade products for home use. Contact Bonnie Strand (bonnie.strand@apecsinc.com). For more information: UMC Fair Trade.

Grocery Card Sales

King Soopers and Safeway gift cards are offered for sale on Sunday mornings. As a result of our volume purchases and our non-profit organization status, we receive a 5% discount on these purchases from the grocery stores. This difference is used to fund Mt.View Outreach activities. Purchase cards with checks or cash between services in the narthex, or contact Glen Strand (glen.strand@comcast.net).

Margaret Becker (Marbeyat) School

One of our Mt View Members, the late Margaret (Peggy) Becker, worked tirelessly in Honduras for the benefit of poor children. As a result, the first private Christian school in Honduras was named in her honor.  It offers a bilingual curriculum for pre-school through 8th grade children and serves some 150 youngsters.  Mt View provides financial support to the Marbeyat School.

Support for UMCOR

The United Methodist Committee on Relief, UMCOR, is often one of the first agencies on the scene of disasters, and one of the last to leave. UMCOR manages United Methodist relief projects all over the world. We support the work of UMCOR not only through monetary donations, but also by periodically providing Health, Sewing Kits, School and Layette Kits, and mission teams. For more information: UMCOR.

AND MANY MORE

We are committed to supporting the mission-related interests and passions of our members. 

Christ's Carousel (children through Grade 5), Crossfyre (youth), United Methodist Women and United Methodist Men

All of these age and/or gender-specific groups conduct outreach activities. Leaders within these groups can provide current information.

Worship Lifting Up Christian Work in the World

Outreach activities are highlighted each year in worship opportunities such as One Great Hour of Sharing (benefiting UMCOR), Peace with Justice Sunday and Mission Sunday.

Following are some of the other Outreach programs sponsored by members of Mountain View United Methodist Church. The list below is not all-inclusive, as our members continually find new ways to serve their community and react to need both locally and around the world.

• Educational and action-oriented Forums which explore particular social issues.
• Advent Marketplace to provide members and visitors an opportunity to shop for holiday gifts at local, national, and international non-profits such as Women’s Bean Project and Heifer International.
• Letter-writing campaigns.
• Workdays at Wesley Foundation. Wesley Foundation at CU
• The “Green Team” supporting environmental activism  (like recycling) at church and in our community.
• Mission studies.
• Buckhorn Camp. Buckhorn Camp website
  
• Warren Village needs, including children’s books. Warren Village website
  
• Chinook Clubhouse. Chinook Clubhouse website
  
• Prayer Shawl Ministry
  

Additional volunteers in all these areas are always needed and are most welcome. Where your passion takes you, we can find a need. If interested, please contact the church office.  Phone 303-494-5025 or email mountainviewumc@mtview.org.

updated October 2011