St. Michael's

The church’s continuing temptation is to turn inward and spend too much of its energy on institutional issues. The New Testament clearly tells us that first and foremost we are sent people. Archbishop William Temple once said, the Church is the only institution in the world that exists for the sake of non-members. Our model is Jesus, who himself was the sent One from God. Jesus, in turn, sent the apostles into the world to spread the good news of the kingdom by word and deed. As followers of Jesus, we are inspired to follow his example.

St. Michael’s Church has a strong commitment to the sending ministry and is recognized as being a servant church in our community. You might say that outreach and service are in our DNA. Nevertheless, we are aware of the magnitude of human need, so our goal is one of continuing to challenge and stretch ourselves.

A decade or so ago, the Vestry made the commitment to fund outreach ministries through the church budget. We have an active outreach committee that allocates those dollars. Money for various outreach programs is also raised apart from the budget. Whenever an outreach project requiring funding arises, working together, members of the congregation respond generously.

Evangelism is another part of the sending ministry. In a society that has become increasingly more secular, we realize that the church must develop new ways of sharing the gospel of Jesus to people have not heard it and who have not experienced the joy of Christian community. This is  both a challenging and necessary imperative for individual Christians and for the local church. Many Episcopalians are uncomfortable with evangelism. Therefore, it does not come easily to us. Perhaps this is the case because it is identified with certain strands of Christianity that we do not embrace. However, we believe that sharing the Good News is a necessary imperative for individual Christians and for the local church. We are in the process of developing strategies to help us carry out this part of the sending ministry.

St. Michael’s is committed to many “hands on” sending ministries. They include:

Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)

IHN houses homeless families by giving transitional shelter in places of worship throughout Colorado Springs. St. Michael’s is part of this network and we house homeless families for two weeks during the year, as well as provide financial support.

Contact Justin Morrill or Rich Page.

The Lord’s Dinner

The Lord’s Dinner On the 2nd Sunday of the month, St. Michael’s parishioners prepare and serve a hot meal for the homeless and hungry in Old Colorado City. Non-perishable food and other items are also distributed through Northern Churches Care Food Pantry (NCC). In addition to financial support, parishioners bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items to church on Sunday mornings and throughout the week.

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation

St. Michael’s parishioners participate in mission trips to Pine Ridge every year, as well as provide financial support. The work includes repairing houses, conducting Bible School and distributing needed items.

You can help by supporting our fundraising activities, donating goods, and best of all, joining us on a trip! Contact Dave Futey.

Thrift House

The St. Michael’s Church Women work at the Thrift House, which was founded by four Colorado Springs churches. Thrift House receives donations of gently used clothing and housewares. Money earned at the Thrift House is distributed to the churches and is used to fund various outreach ministries.

Hat and Mitten Drive

A Hat and Mitten Drive that provides hats and mittens for children takes place every January.

Operation Christmas Child

Parishioners fill shoe boxes for children around the world at Christmas, to be distributed by Operation Christmas Child.

Habitat for Humanity

Partnering with other churches, St. Michael’s parishioners are part of the team that builds houses for qualified individuals through Habitat for Humanity. Financial support is also provided.

Contact Rich page.

Birthday Books for Children

Children receive a book on their birthday while they are at the Red Cross Shelter, Life Support or Tessa.

Donations of new books, wrapping paper, and funds support this outreach to children whose families are in crisis facilities in our community. If you’d like to help, contact Ruth Goetzman.

Candles for the Homeless

Old candles, small coffee cans, and others with a 4″ diameter and height of 4 ½″ are collected in the labeled container by the kitchen, and then made into new candles for light and heat, and distributed at the Lord’s Dinner. Donations anytime!

Kairos

Kairos is a prison ministry that conducts Christian retreats for prisoners in Canon City. St. Michael’s provides meeting space and members of St. Michael’s are part of the Kairos teams.

Contact Lee & Gary Kulbitski.

Episcopal Relief and Development

Working in partnership with the worldwide church, ecumenical agencies, and local organizations, Gifts for Life reach more than 2.5 million people in need.

Funds are always appreciated.

Epiphany Ministry

Epiphany Ministry provides a course on basic Christianity for incarcerated youth. St. Michael’s provides meeting space and members of St. Michael’s are part of the Epiphany team that visits the youth detention center.

Contact Carolyn Moulton if you’d like to be involved.

Pajama Program

The Pajama Program provides sleepwear and books to children in need. This project is sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women, but all are encouraged to make donations.

Contact Nancy Oswell

St. Clare’s Guild

St. Clare’s Guild provides knitted and crocheted items, which include hats and afghans for newborns at area hospitals, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and helmet liners for American troops deployed.

Northern Churches Care

Non-perishable food is collected and taken for distribution through NCC to needy families. Bring items an time to put in the wagon located in either the kitchen hall or in the Gathering Area.

In addition, following is a partial list of organizations that receive our financial support.

Colorado House

Colorado House provides transitional housing and programs for families seeking to become independent.

Care and Share

Care and Share Food Bank provides food for more than 25,000 hungry people in Southern Colorado each week.

Ecumenical Social Ministries (ESM)

ESM helps families with prescription medicine, food, rent, clothing, job placement, training, etc. We also collect and donate eyeglasses for this program.

A variety of volunteer positions are available. Contact Arne Erickson for more inforation.

Red Cross After School Snacks

The Red Cross After School Snack Program provides healthy snacks for children.

Skills for Living

Churches in Kenya receive money to support their ministry, Skills for Living.

TESSA (Trust, Education, Safety, Support, Action)

Tessa provides help and safety for women and children in need.

United Thank Offering (UTO)

UTO is an Episcopal international offering that provides over $3 million in grants for needed outreach endeavors.

First Sunday Offering

During both Sunday services on the first Sunday of the month, our mission boxes are passed. The offering is distributed to various outreach ministries.

The sending ministry team seeks to guide St. Michael’s Church in this endeavor. It identifies ways that individuals and the parish as a whole can meet local, national and international needs. The team is composed of the leaders of several of our outreach ministries and other interested individuals. If you would like more information about this team, please contact Dave Futey and Debbie Womack, the current leaders of this team.