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Lord of the Mountains, located in Dillon, Colorado, serves Summit County,Colorado. Summit County is an area of recreational living. Four ski areas, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Breckenridge and Copper Mountain are located in Summit County. 60% of the houses are second homes.
It is a congregation of over 300 full time members and approximately 150 associate members plus a large percentage of visitors in ski and summer recreation seasons. While we are affiliated with the ELCA, our membership comes from a very diverse background as 1/3 of our membership were formerly Catholic, and another third came from other Protestant denominations.
The congregation is in an interim period following the long pastorate and retirement of Pastor Rich Mayfield and the conclusion of over ten years of dedicated service by Assistant Pastor Kari Reiquam. Pastor Ken Stenman is now serving as interim Pastor in the time of transition. An active Call Committee is conducting a thorough search for a new Pastor that fits our Mission Statement and progressive theology.
The congregation practices Progressive Christianity and has sponsored conferences in theological reflection and liturgical renewal. In April 2005, Karen Armstrong, author of "A History of God" and "The Spiral Staircase," and Marty Haugen, composer and musician, spoke to 180 people from all over the world. In 2004 Bishop Jack Shelby Spong spoke at the church, and in 2003 a Renewing Worship conference was held with Marty Haugen, Susan Briehl, Dan Erlander, Mary Preus and Tom Witt. Bishop Elias Chacour, a peacemaker from Israel has also preached here.
The education and music ministries are comprehensive in nature, spanning from pre-school through adult. In addition to a 30 member adult choir and children's choir, there is an English handbell choir. In 2007, a pipe organ was installed; one of only two in the county. Following the Sunday service and fellowship period, a Theo-Talk session is held for adults, in which contemporary religious topics associated with Progressive Christianity are discussed.
At the end of each month a "second offering" is received that supports various ministries that are led by people in the congregation. These ministries include various activities in Jeremie, Haiti; Jordan, and Peru. Support is given to an orphanage and senior center in Haiti and to individuals who do service in places like Namibia, Tanzania, Bethlehem, and Cambodia. A team of people also support West Africans who reside in Summit County. World Hunger/Disaster Relief is also supported through second offerings.
The congregation has also had a long-standing interest in the visual arts. Most recently Linda Witte Henke, textile artist, displayed her work and led discussion after worship of her "Expressions of the Word." The committee for visual arts has many new artists featured in the narthex and works to develop creative themes in the sanctuary that enhance the worship life of the congregation. |
