A return to "normal" is a precarious place for many of our friends and neighbors, especially those who are immunocompromised, disabled, or otherwise at risk.

Please continue to show love and respect for all our friends, neighbors, and siblings in Christ and stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness in order to curb the spread of disease. We still encourage you to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Changes are coming to your friendly Heart of Longmont newsletter.

What's in store? Be sure to check next issue for more information!

Finding Shelter

On May 11th the city of Longmont presented an overview of plans for tackling the issues of homelessness.

Various representatives of the city spoke addressing the plans that are currently in place and detailing future projects for developing affordable housing solutions. 

In coordination with Boulder County the city uses a Housing First model. This approach looks at getting an individual into housing as soon as possible without requirements such as employment or graduating through a series of programs.

Once housing or sheltering is secured then services are offered for finding employment or treatment if needed.

Homeless individuals go through Coordinated Entry where they are screened and matched with appropriate service and housing paths. HOPE provides these services. They also offer Navigation Shelter with nightly shelter and assistance, SafeLot Street Outreach and Street Outreach to connect with individuals.

In terms of supportive housing, Longmont has existing and upcoming projects. The Suites Supportive Housing, overseen by the Longmont Housing Authority, offers 82 units for individuals at 30% below area median income (AMI). The Zinnia Permanent Supportive Project is set to open in June and will provide 55 one-bedroom units. The Hover Street project, currently under development, aims to offer 75 units for individuals within the 30 to 40% AMI.

City Manager, Harold Dominguez, aptly described addressing homelessness as peeling back the layers of an onion. The needs of individuals living on the streets are diverse. 

The city’s resource officers prioritize engagement and connecting individuals with available resources, using enforcement as a last resort. Their approach is centered around “compassionate compliance”.

The city’s long term goal is to have 12% of housing options considered affordable, which demonstrates their commitment to providing more accessible housing opportunities for the community.

Celebrating Wild Plum Staff

Heart of Longmont treated the Wild Plum teachers and staff to a hearty and delightful end-of-year breakfast. The teachers are genuinely grateful for these gestures of recognition and are excited about the strong partnership that has been established with Heart of Longmont.

Following the breakfast Jean Malchow did a presentation on the Outdoor Learning Center, highlighting the exciting developments. Jean and Karl Scott have designed special boards for tactile, auditory, visual and proprioceptive play, enhancing sensory experiences for the infants and toddlers.

The new sensory-oriented playground will be situated outside the east entrance. Its outline has been painted to showcase its size and location. Don’t miss the opportunity to check it out!

2023 April Financial Update

April was a better than expected/budgeted month with income higher than budget and expenses slightly lower than budget. It is always nice to end a month in plus territory.

Contributing to the good income month were several contributions for March that were actually deposited in April. The favorable variance for expenses was primarily related to the fact that we had no major maintenance costs/issues in the month.

Income is higher than 2022 related to several significant contributions in January/February from longtime members. Expenses are higher than 2022 with the biggest increases in utilities, payroll, and the leadership retreat. As a reminder, for most of Q1 2022, we were still having virtual services and had an open position; currently all positions are filled.

Gun Safe Giveaway Event

Gun safes save lives. Advocating for a safer Longmont, the Heart of Longmont, in partnership with the United Church of Christ, will distribute free gun safes to the public.

The event will be on Saturday, June 24th from 8 AM to noon.

You are invited to be a part of making Longmont safe. 

Sign up here.

We have some wonderful and exciting guests lined up for worship on Sunday, June 11! The Phoenix Transgender Choir will be performing and singing with us as well as leading worship. Join us at 10AM!

We are excited to see you in person, but those unable to attend physically are welcome to join us virtually on YouTube Live. We'll see you there!

HOPE Needs Help Sorting Donations

Good Morning Everyone,

Last week we were blessed with a much larger amount of donations than we usually see and would like to get those sorted this week. It looks like a total of 8 hours of work so we're looking for 4 people to help for 2 hours each either today, Thursday or Friday. All sorting needs to be done at the Outreach Center at 804 S. Lincoln Street during the day.

We are usually able to keep up but it all seemed to come at once. Good problems. Please email me if you are able to help.

Thank you,

Andy Schwartz

Outreach/Volunteer Manager

HOPE

Pews For You

We have removed the back six pews from the Chapel to make room for cupboards as storage for The Blessing Box food. The pews are in Wesley Hall. If you or anyone you know is interested in one for decoration, additional seating, etc. PLEASE let Lynn Greenhalge know and we can make a plan!

The Longs Peak Stompers Jazz Band will be at Longs Peak Methodist Church on Sunday, May 28, at 3PM for a concert benefiting HOPE. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.

Let them know you're interested on Facebook!

Grief Support Group

You don't need to grieve alone. We are starting a grief support group here at Heart of Longmont. The group will be facilitated by our very own Chris Mason.

The group will start Friday, June 9, at 1PM and will meet the second Friday of the month for about an hour and a half. The group will meet in the Grace Space (formerly called the Bride's Room).

If you have questions, please contact Tricia Grafelman. 

New Library Books Available

For Loving Homes!

The reference books are gone, but more NEW books are being added to the pool by the Library Team weekly! There are lots of good titles for free right now! Take as many as you like!

Books that don't find a new home will be boxed up and included in the All Church Garage Sale July 14 and 15.

Days for Girls

Days for Girls need the following items for our project menstrual hygiene kits for African girls.

We need dark, all-cotton materials (no flags, animals, people, or eyes in the design); dark flannel; hotel-sized soaps, new washcloths, cotton underpants (not white) in girl sizes 10.12,14 and women’s sizes 5,6,7; grosgrain 3/4” ribbon, and /or money to buy waterproof material. There is a box near the west entrance in which to put these items. Money can be given to Marty Allison to purchase waterproof materials.

Update from HOPE

(From the HOPE Longmont newsletter.)

Dear Hope Community,

A word of thanks, gratitude, and appreciation.

With the help of our volunteers, supporters, and donors, HOPE secured housing for 64 homeless people from the streets of Longmont in 2022. Additionally, because of you, we provided 10,220 overnight shelter stays, made 1,520 street outreach contacts, and serviced 2,726 walk-up assists at the Outreach Center—all life sustaining services for the unhoused.

Thank you, for all you do to change the narrative of homelessness. Where every person is treated with dignity, and everyone is worthy of a home.

OUR Center Needs

(From the OUR Center newsletter)

Critical Need for Food for our Market

We continue to see up to 30 new families per month in our Community Market, among an average of 75 families per day, stretching their budget to meet other basic needs such as housing and utilities and relying on us for healthy food and personal care items. Can you help by picking up a little something extra on your next trip to the grocery store?

Here are the items most in need at this time:

• Toilet paper
• Dish or laundry soap
• Toothpaste
• Corn
• Peanut Butter

Community Closet (Clothing Bank) Wish List

Are you doing Spring Cleaning? Perhaps we can help each other! OUR Community Closet is in need of the following items:

• Men’s & Women’s Underwear, All Sizes (NEW)
• Summer wear (Men's, Women's, Teen & Children’s, All Sizes)
• Bath towels
• Dishcloths
• Kitchenware/housewares
• Cookware

From Boulder County Health Coverage:

The continuous Medicaid coverage enacted in response to the Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE) and the PHE have ended. Thousands in our community will be impacted by this transition in the coming months. Our aim is to help those no longer eligible for Medicaid know their options and to help them enroll in health coverage that meets their needs. 

Boulder County's Health Coverage Enrollment Center's team offers free, bilingual, unbiased assistance to help people navigate the complex web of health insurance options. Financial assistance that is only available through our state's Marketplace, Connect for Health Colorado, can help make health insurance more affordable for many. 

Health Coverage Enrollment Center Team 

Phone: 303.441.4530 

Email: healthcoverage@bouldercounty.org 

Website: www.BoulderCountyHealthCoverage.org  

Boulder Office: 3460 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304 

Longmont Office: 515 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501

Help out with Sunday Kids - If you would be willing to be a "helper" either in the Nursery or Children's Church, please let Tricia Grafelman or Lynn Greenhalge know.

Sunday Kids in Mission - Sunday Kids mission project once a month. Help is needed for gathering supplies and organizing these mini-projects. Contact Lynn Greenhalge if this activity speaks to you.

Youth Group Dinners - 5:00 PM every Sunday for 12-18 youth. It is helpful if you are able to stay to clean up. Please contact Emily Farrenkopf.

Prayer Shawls Ministry of Comfort and Prayer - Knitters and crocheters are called to help build our supply of prayer shawls for our members and community. Contact Peg Howard for more information.

All Church Garage Sale Volunteers Needed - We are looking for volunteers to help with the all church garage sale in July. Contact Gloria Hinz or Lynn Greenhalge.

The Power of a Horse - Come join Pastor Claire for an afternoon grooming and learning about horses. All ages are welcome. June 11 at 2PM - 4PM at Pastor Claire's Farm. Sign up limited to the first 12 people. Sign up in the Gallery.

Mission Work Week - June 12 to June 16. More information coming soon!

Women's Retreat: Food for Life - Friday, June 16, to Saturday, June 17, in Breckenridge. Cost is $50.

The earliest followers of Jesus created deep and meaningful relationships during meals and by breaking bread together. Join us for some time away as we tell our stories and explore faith around the table. We are leaving time for spiritual growth, meaningful conversations, rest and renewal and, of course, delicious food.

The retreat will be led by Pastors Claire McNulty Drewes (Heart of Longmont UMC) and Emily Kintzel (Niwot UMC).

All who identify as women are welcome. Please reach out to Tricia Grafelman if you have any questions.

If you have a friend that might be interested, please forward this information to them!

For the Love of a Horse - June 14, July 12, and August 16 at 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Pastor Claire's Farm. Come join Pastor Claire and Marlen Steward at Pastor Claire’s farm for a two hour class on the spiritual connection between a horse and a person. Sign up in the Gallery. 6 person max per event. Events will be held weather permitting.

Pool Party - June 24, 2PM-4PM at Mark Vancura and Debra Brenner's home. Cool snacks will be provided. Bring your entire family for some fun and time to connect with other young families from the Heart of Longmont.

All Church Garage Sale - This is the year for our Bi-Annual All Church Garage Sale. It will be Friday and Saturday, July 14 & 15th, from 8 am-2 pm.

We will be setting up and marking items Monday - Thursday, July 10-13 from 9am - 3pm. We will need people to stay after church Sunday, July 9, to help set up tables.

Items can be brought in beginning Sunday, July 9, and put on the stage in Wesley Hall. We do not accept electronics (TVs, computers, iPads, etc., as we have to pay to get rid of them if they do not sell). We do not accept clothes.

If you have any large items (i.e. furniture) you must get pre-approval from Gloria Hinz and if it doesn't sell you must pick it up after the garage sale. We do not have pick-up or delivery.

Later this month (May) we will put out a signup sheet for volunteers. We need: checkers, setting up and marking, working the days of the sale, and take-down. It takes lots of people working lots of hours but we have lots of fun! Some of us have done this for 50 years!! We will call to confirm times once you've signed up. You can sign up for 1/2 days, full days, multiple days, etc.

Questions? Contact Gloria Hinz.

Community Picnic in the Park - July 22. Location and details TBD. Save the date! More information coming soon!

Courtyard Campout - August 12. Save the date! More information coming soon!

May's compassion offering supports Habitat for Humanity.

If you wish to donate to this month's compassion offering, you can do so online by clicking here and navigating to the Monthly Compassion Offering tile. Or, you may send a check to the church office with "Compassion Offering" on the memo line.

Heart of Longmont UWF have a Facebook page!

Click here to follow us at https://www.facebook.com/uwfoftheheart/

United Women in Faith Circle Information

Please come join a group and see what it's about, we'd love to have you!

Lydia Circle

Catherine Murphy (chair)

Second Thursday of the month at 5pm in the church Gallery.

Sarah Circle

Ann Yoder (chair)

3rd Thursday of the month at 9:30am in various homes.

Contact the church office for location.

Esther Circle

Nancy Swope (chair)

3rd Tuesday of the month at 9:30am, various homes or Room 104.

Call the church office for location.

Elizabeth Circle

Linda Morris (chair)

3rd Monday of the month at 1pm in Room 104.

Our Mission:

Putting More of God's Love Into The World

Helping all persons find deeper meaning and God’s purpose for their lives as committed Christ-followers.

Serving as the Heart of Longmont means:

We will welcome all persons, without reservation or judgment,

just as Jesus Christ would do.

We will work tirelessly by entering into intentional acts of compassion and social justice to make our community a place where God’s love is known by all, where poverty and deprivation are unknown by any, and where respect for the worth and dignity of each person is the norm.

We will respect and honor other religious traditions

while choosing Christ as our way of knowing God best.

We will emphasize life-long learning so that we may

engage our world from a dynamic and creative perspective.

We will work to protect God’s creation.

We will practice stewardship of all aspects of our lives,

including time, talent, financial resources, and spiritual gifts.

The office at Heart of Longmont is open

Monday through Thursday 10:00am to 3:00pm.