NOTE: We've streamlined our website and hope you like it. Please check out our new Groups & Activities > Homeless Outreach section!
Sun. Service: 10:00 am (in-person or Zoom) | Womynfolk: 1st Mon, 6:30 pm | Mennopints: 1st or 2nd Fri, 4:30 pm | Office: (970) 658-2623​ 
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Sunday, December 8, 2024
Service at 10 a.M.
"Second Sunday of Advent: Opening Hearts - What Do We Ask For?”

THIS SUNDAY   
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Church seasons such as Advent gift us with a framework to collectively reflect and repent—to turn around—that is, re-turn to the Lord. Once our hearts are opened and cleansed of debris and extra baggage, the Holy Spirit is waiting to be pour into our hearts the loving nature of God. But don’t be surprised when you receive even more than was asked for!

“Nations, like stars, are entitled to eclipse. All is well, provided the light returns and the eclipse does not become endless night. Dawn and resurrection are synonymous. The reappearance of the light is the same as the survival of the soul.”
— Victor Hugo 

“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love … and then we return home.” 
— Australian Aboriginal Proverb

“Most of us need time to work through pain and loss. We can find all manner of reasons for postponing forgiveness. One of these reasons is waiting for the wrongdoers to repent before we forgive them. Yet such a delay causes us to forfeit the peace and happiness that could be ours.” — James E. Faust
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Click to read this week's bulletin.
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​​​​​If you missed last week's service, scroll to the bottom of this column to learn about it!

TO ATTEND REGULAR INDOOR AND ZOOM SERVICES:
Most or our indoor services are also accessible by Zoom:
  • To attend a Zoom Service: CLICK HERE.
  • ​We typically post a video of any indoor worship service on YouTube if it becomes available. A list of all virtual services, their Worship Service bulletins, and sermon transcripts (if available) are published on: the Sermons web page.
  • NOTE: Masks are optional for indoor services. ​
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Did You Miss A Previous Service?
December 1, 2024 - "First Sunday of Advent: Between a Rock and
a Hard Place - How Do We Continue On?”

​The first accusation brought against Jesus was that he was “perverting our nation.”  So does that make those of us who wish to truly follow Jesus —  “perverts?”

“Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.” — Stephen Covey

“… the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around . . . But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars. And I see God working in this period of the twentieth century in a away that men, in some strange way, are responding — something is happening in our world. The masses of people are rising up.” — MLK, Jr.
 
“No difficulty can discourage, no obstacle dismay, no trouble dishearten the man who has acquired the art of being alive. Difficulties are but dares of fate, obstacles but hurdles to try his skill, troubles but bitter tonics to give him strength; and he rises higher and looms greater after each encounter with adversity.” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Click to read  last week's bulletin.​​
​FCMF: Authentic, Compassionate, And Inclusive!
​Here at Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship (FCMF), we practice the "radical inclusivity" of Jesus. This means working with, having compassion for, and getting to know people who, as Jesus said, are the “least of us” and are often on the margins of society. 
Whether it’s welcoming sexual and gender minorities into our community, helping homeless families in the Faith Family Hospitality program, welcoming homeless individuals who visit us for warmth, food, and fellowship, helping immigrants, or working for a healthcare system that benefits all, we try to walk in the footsteps of Jesus as best we can.
We use our hands to do God's work, focusing on issues of social justice, peace, and helping those in need. 

Season of Advent 2024-2025:
Together on the Journey

​One of our Mennonite songbooks evokes wonderful images of voices blending in praise as we travel together on a path toward a deeper understanding of faith. The road can be smooth for stretches but also includes rough patches that challenge or discourage. But if we pay attention, we may notice God’s guiding hand directing us.
We're in the News:
Please Donate!

The Coloradoan ran an article on Aug. 31, 2023, about the City's new Nuisance Ordinance, our church, and what we do for the homeless

Please read the PDF version of the article:
Coloradoan article

Now that you now what we're up to, please DONATE to our GoFundMe page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/true-sanctuary-for-the-homeless

Our True Sanctuary program also made the cover of Anabaptist World Magazine:
https://anabaptistworld.org/blessed-with-new-friends/

To learn more about what we do, go to our Homeless Outreach page or read our ​special sermon.

Why do we do what we do?

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​People often ask us if we think that what we are doing at the church is really making a difference. Many suggest that we do not have the resources, skills, or staff to help everyone. Others say we are contributing to the problem. And still others urge us to close down all together.
 
What we want to tell the world is, “Yes, absolutely, we are making a difference . . . one person at a time and one relationship at a time!”
 
To illustrate this, we want to share a real-life letter from the mother of a young woman we helped. She gave us permission to publish this letter. This is why we do what we do!
 
April 11, 2022
 
Pastor Steve Ramer,
 
Hello, my name is Terry Krook-Halleck. I just wanted to share my daughter Tara Krook’s successful journey story with you.
 
It is important to us to let you and others who sponsor your program know, that it is worth every effort your program offers. The people who have found their way to your church have lost their way in life. They all have different reasons, but all have found their way to your door somehow, and I believe it is through the grace of God that our daughter Tara did.
 
Her story starts after she had been on the streets for 2-1/2 years, before ending up in the hospital twice, for several weeks from drug abuse. She had been released from the hospital, out to the streets, with no place to go. She walked over to a curb (which happened to be in front of the church) and sat down with her plastic bag containing all her belongings.
 
Then, like an angel, Renee saw Tara sitting there with a look of despair. Renee invited her into an already crowded dwelling [the church], full of people just like Tara. Renee assigned Tara to a spot  that used to be the alter before Covid. This was Tara’s new safe home off the streets.
 
Renee was kind, helpful, and had a great sense of humor, even though the others were down and out too. She brought a glimmer of hope to Tara.
 
Renee helped Tara connect with other resources in the community so she could move forward. Renee also helped Tara get the courage to finally reach out to her family (me, her mom) in Minnesota. We had no idea where she was for many months. We weren’t even sure if she was alive.
 
That reconnection led us to inviting her home for Christmas. From that visit, she decided (on her own) that it was time for her to go into treatment. She did and completed 8 months of it.
 
Tara has been sober for 1-1/2 years. She got to go back to Fort Collins to visit her 3 kids who live with their dad. And she got to stop by and visit Renee at the church. It was such a happy reunion.
 
Tara now has an apartment, a part-time job and 2 cats. She is happy and doing well.
 
Renee saved her life that day. Each and every homeless person has their own story, but I am happy to be sharing that Tara is one of the lucky ones who made it through.
 
We are thankful for this church and their generosity. I pray that more can be as thankful and lucky as Tara.
 
There are angels amongst us.
 
Sincerely thankful,
 
Terry Krook-Halleck