missions 2025 MAY6

2025

Mission First Congregational Church Boulder A Community on a Journey of Faith

do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God – Micah 6:8

Missions and Justice In Action Board A CRUCIAL CONNECTOR

Our Mission and Purpose is to serve the congregation by identifying causes and community partners aligned with our covenants and social justice ministries and then actively support those in need through the sharing of God’s gifts of money, time, and talents. The Missions and Justice in Action Board works closely with our social justice ministries.

FCC Social Justice Ministries Climate Action CAT Integrates climate concerns into our worship and actively works to reduce the church’s overall carbon footprint by educating members on practical ways to lower personal carbon emissions while also advocating for impactful public policies that reduce greenhouse gases and foster longterm environmental sustainability.

Gun Violence Prevention GVP Seeks to inspire and empower members of First Congregational Church Boulder to take faithful and effective action in keeping our community safe by providing education, outreach, and advocacy to strengthen gun safety laws locally and beyond.

LGBTQ+ And Allies LGBTQ+ Welcomes and afirms through fellowship and advocacy LGBTQ+ persons as well as encourages and expects LGBTQ+ persons to share their talents and gifts in the life, liturgy and leadership of our congregation and the world.

Racial Justice RJM Partners with local organizations doing anti-racist work by planning educational opportunities and experiential activities for self-exploration, growth and service. Works to learn and advocate more for newcomers as they immigrate to the United States.

Faith and Democracy F&D Sends out a weekly email to those who sign up to be part of a collective action group advocating for a more just world, working on voter engagement efforts as elections approach, and planning an annual worship service of Prayerful Patriotism to renew our aspirations to uphold our democratic ideals.

Mental Health/Accessible To All MHM/A2A Engages in practices committed to be Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive, and Engaged (WISE) in mental health matters. Works to welcome all by affirming our dedication to being Accessible to All through understanding, including, and empowering people.

Rep. Joe Neguse and former Colorado Rep. David Skaggs engage in a conversation after the Prayerful Patriotism Sunday Service

5 for 5 Congregation The National Office of the United Church of Christ has five special offerings it receives each year to support the larger mission of the denomination.

Those offerings are explained below. When a local congregation supports all five of those special offering campaigns, it is known as a 5 for 5 congregation. First Congregational UCC Boulder is a 5 for 5 Congregation!

One Great Hour Of Sharing One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that aids in disaster, refugee/immigration, and development ministries throughout the world.

Our First Cong Crop Walk Team

Neighbors in Need Neighbors in Need (NIN) is a special mission offering of the United Church of Christ that supports ministries of justice and compassion in the United States.

Strengthen the Church The Strengthen the Church (STC) offering reflects the shared commitment of people across the United Church of Christ to cooperatively build up the UCC. The funds raised support leadership development, new churches, youth ministry, and innovation in existing congregations.

The Christmas Fund The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over 100 years by providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.

Our Church’s Wider Mission Covenant calls us to support one another in all settings of the United Church of Christ. Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM), the giving of the local church to the wider settings, is the life blood of that Covenant. As that life flows, congregations are empowered and individual lives are changed.

In all our partnerships Our Strength Is Love

Community Partners Our community partners are nonprofit organizations who align with our covenants, values and social justice ministries and to whom we commit our congregation’s gifts from God of money, time, and talents. Each community partner is directly connected to the Missions and Justice in Action Board (MJA) or one of our Social Justice Ministries.

See the Social Justice Ministry descriptions page for more information.

350 Colorado Works to build a fossil-free future powered by 100% renewable energy by empowering communities across Colorado to join together to fight for environmental justice. CAT Association For Community Living In Boulder And Broomfield Counties Promotes and protects the rights of people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD) to be included as natural and integral parts of our communities. ACL achieves this through individual, group, and systems advocacy.

Colorado Faith Communities United To End Gun Violence (CFCU) Works to reduce injuries, deaths, and the resulting grief caused by the improper use of firearms — whether suicidal, accidental, or criminal — in areas including legislative advocacy, public health initiatives, public awareness, and increased engagement of our faith communities.

GVP

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) Aims to build community power through organizing and leadership development within immigrant communities by addressing fair and humane public policies, providing legal services and educational workshops, and implementing nonpartisan civic engagement programs.

RJM

MHM/A2A

Boulder County Aids Project (BCAP) Provides support through assisting advocacy and education to individuals affected by HIV and by assisting low-income people living with HIV with housing, utilities, transportation, oral healthcare, food, and other basic needs.

LGBTQ+ MJA

Boulder Food Rescue (BFR) Redistributes healthy food that would otherwise be wasted to low-income communities by addressing immediate food access needs and promoting participatory and inclusive programs.

MJA

Bridge House | Community Table Empowers individuals experiencing homelessness by connecting them to housing and employment opportunities. MJA

Assembling Backpacks for Family Learning Center

Community Food Share Works through a food bank to ensure everyone in Boulder and Broomfield counties has access to the nutritious food they need to not just survive but thrive. MJA Crop Walk Raises funds to provide meals for those in our community who need them and supports programs that create greater food security in communities all around the world. MJA Emergency Family Assistance Association, Inc. (EFAA) Supports families with basic needs services including food, financial assistance, and case management by offering essential aid to vulnerable households in Boulder County. MJA

Social Justice ministry members advocating at Together Colorado Lobby Day

Faith4All (Faith For All) Supports communities of faith in becoming more inclusive and empowering for individuals living with disabilities. MHM/A2A Flatirons Habitat For Humanity Partners with people in our community and across the world to help them build or improve a place they can call home. MJA Greenfaith Builds a worldwide, multi-faith climate and environmental movement by creating communities to transform lives, spiritual institutions, and society to protect the planet and create a compassionate, loving and just world.

First Cong Member testifying for climate at hearing in Erie, CO

CAT

Growing Gardens Of Boulder County, Inc. Enriches the community through sustainable urban agriculture by offering education and opportunities for people to connect with their food and the land. MJA Intercambio De Comunidades Offers in person and online English classes and citizenship test preparation for immigrants and promotes community connections and understanding. MJA Community Table Volunteers preparing to serve Christmas Dinner to unhoused neighbors

Interfaith Network On Mental Illness-Boulder (INMI) Increases awareness and understanding of mental illness among clergy, staff, lay leaders, and members of faith communities through educating therapeutic professionals, family members, and the general public about simple things that can help someone struggling with a mental illness, including their spirituality/faith. MHM/A2A Meals On Wheels Of Boulder, Inc. Aims to deliver nutritious meals to Boulder area neighbors regardless of age or income.

MJA

Rise Against Suicide Aims to reduce youth suicide rates by offering free mental health counseling to overcome financial and social barriers to treatment for at-risk youth in Boulder County. LGBTQ+ MHM/A2A

Rocky Mountain Equality (RME) Provides life-changing services to LGBTQ+ people and their families through community events and partnerships that promote connection, celebration, and education for both LGBTQ+ communities and the public at large. LGBTQ+ Soup Kitchen Provides nourishing meals and a welcoming space for those experiencing food insecurity in our community by reflectinging Christ’s love through compassionate service and fostering a sense of dignity for all. MJA St. Benedict Health And Healing Ministry Improves the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the community by providing access to healthcare resources. MJA

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Project

The Family Learning Center (FLC) Facilitates educational and economic selfsufficiency for families of diverse cultures and limited incomes to build economic mobility for low-income families. RJM Together Colorado Works to place human dignity at the center of public life in Colorado where all people live a life of dignity and have the freedom, ability, and right to flourish physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

CAT

Toward Right Relationship With Native Peoples Helps to build relationships among Native and non-Native communities based on truth, respect, justice and our shared humanity that address more than 500 years of genocide, colonization, and forced assimilation of Native peoples. RJM Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) Integrates Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion into over 150 planned environmental restoration projects by supporting training for staff, board members, and volunteers. MJA

International Partners Alternative Gift International (AGI) Aims to inspire support for humanitarian and environmental causes by offering donors the option to designate charitable gifts through carefully-selected agencies in the name of their relatives. MJA Kenya Education Fund (KEF) Committed to offering scholarships to financially challenged Kenya students, ensuring their education from high school through to the first year of college, irrespective of their gender, ethnicity, race, religion, or physical abilities. MJA Noor El-Salam Educates refugee children in Lebanon, providing humanitarian relief to communities suffering from lack of electricity, food, and water. MJA

Windhorse Guild, Inc. (Mindful Works) Aims to empower individuals through job training to overcome challenges related to mental health.

MHM/A2A

YWCA Boulder County Promotes awareness and understanding of racism, identity and allyship through the Reading to End Racism program by supporting the training of volunteers who use stories to foster an inclusive and understanding school environment. RJM

L’Shawn greets everyone at The Family Learning Center

do justice love mercy walk humbly with God -Micah 6:8

Join Us! See Volunteer Opportunities Available for All FCC’s Community Partners

1128 Pine Street Boulder CO 80302 | 303.442.1787 | www.firstcong.net