Written by Pastor Stephanie Lord

Christ the Servant has spent all of 2025 celebrating 40 years of ministry. Our year has been filled with creating timelines, sharing memories, and gathering in gratitude. This fall, we enjoyed the Colorado sunshine with a party at church that brought together members and leaders past and present. We also welcomed Bp. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni as preacher for an anniversary worship service. It has been a delight to gather founding members alongside our newest members and share the stories that span 4 decades of ministry. It has been my privilege to be in ministry partnership with this community for the past 12 years.

We value and live out our name of "Christ the Servant." This is such a responsive community who listens well to each other's needs and strives to be in authentic relationship with our neighbors. We see God's spirit guiding our ministries over the years including the Chrysalis Initiative which supported us after the Marshall Fire; our Host Team ministry that has accompanied multiple asylum-seeking families; and our commitment to multi-generational faith formation. We're embracing our 40's as a time of wisdom and energy as God calls us into the future!

~Pastor Stephanie Lord

How you can help:

• ✂️ All crafters (knitters, crocheters, quilters, sewers) are invited to create handmade blankets (approx. 45″×80″ individual, 60″×80″ family; baby blankets welcome) or handmade tie-blankets. Click for more information.
• 📦 Bring blankets in person to the display — or mail them to: Holy Cross Lutheran Church — 4500 Wadsworth Blvd., Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
• 🕯️ Attend the vigil to honor lives lost and show care for those still without a home.

Why it matters:

This public vigil and blanket display make visible the dignity and worth of people too often unseen. After the vigil, all blankets will be donated to individuals and families in need across Denver — a tangible act of warmth and compassion for our neighbors. Learn More.

We hope you’ll participate — in person or by contributing blankets — and join hearts and hands to bring hope and warmth this winter. An alternative location in case of inclement weather is also being worked out and will be communicated once finalized. 

Written by Theodore Otto F. Clements, Deacon Candidate

Faith Formation Coordinator 

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR) began in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, a transgender activist, to remember transgender woman Rita Hester who was murdered via hate crime in 1998 (source). 

When we gather together as a faith community to remember this day, and allow transgender individuals in our congregations and our rosters take the lead, we are doing the work of our Creator by reminding each transgender individual that they are made in the image of God, no exceptions, and that their life matters because of their they are creative beings of a Creative God. 

To remember those who we lost to hate crimes in the past year shows that these people mattered, that their life mattered. Just as every Spring we enter a liturgical season to remember the death of our Savior through a hate crime under an oppressive regime, TDoR is a way that we can remind ourselves as Christian's that hate has no place in our churches, in our world, and that part of our calling by the One Who Called Us is to speak up against injustice and see the value of every human being. 

Part of the liturgy that we, Affirming 365, employed was the reading of the names that's provided for us. 

By employing this spiritual practice, the reading of the names, the chime, and having candles lit while we read names, we are remembering those who's family of origin may not have said their name during All Saint's Day because transgender individuals are more likely to be estranged from their family, but being a part of community means that we have the privilege to remember. 

As a candidate for Word & Service, watching/hearing the names, seeing their faces and cause of death through a provided powerpoint (many of them from gun violence, or completing suicide), breaks my heart. It was seeing the Image of God, over and over, taken from us too soon. In a time where anti-transgender sentiment is on the rise (which you can keep track of via news source Erin in the Morning), it is clearer than ever that the role of the church is to stand beside the oppressed, the disinherited, and the despised, as Christ called us to do. 

The first person to name God is an escaped slave, a single mother who is a survivor of sexual violence, and she gives God the chosen name of The God Who Sees Me. May all my transgender, and gender nonconforming, siblings know this God - the God who Sees Us, and rejoices in us, and made us. 

And may the church see that the God Who Sees made all transgender people in the Image of God, not in spite of being transgender, but because they are transgender. 

~T.O. Clements 

Dear Sky Ranch Community,

The Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp Board of Directors is writing to share that Lori Bode has resigned as Executive Director of Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp, expressing that after much reflection and prayer, she has discerned it is time for Sky Ranch to be led into its next season by someone with different gifts.

Lori noted that serving this ministry has been one of the great honors of my life and she expressed deep gratitude for the trust, partnership, and shared mission that shaped her time at Sky Ranch. She highlighted the meaningful work accomplished during her tenure, including strengthening the physical and operational foundations of the camp, completing the Pavilion, expanding staff leadership, and continuing the journey as a Reconciling in Christ organization.

Most importantly, Lori shared how profoundly she valued the community of radical hospitality at Sky Ranch and the transformational moments experienced by campers and guests in this sacred community.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Lori for her leadership and care for this ministry. We ask the Sky Ranch community to join us in praying for Lori and her family as they enter into new adventures, as well as Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp.

In peace and gratitude,

Sky Ranch Board of Directors

"This image comes from my many times hiking Eagle Peak as a summer staff member. Within the 2025 summer season I had the opportunity to be a Ropes Coordinator at RTLC. Within this position, much of time was spent hiking, especially Eagle Peak. I was also fortunate enough to “steal” Dakota, Dave’s lovely canine. Dakota accompanied me many times on those trips up the mountain. While, very obviously Dakota was not my own dog, I feel as if she and I created a special bond on those trips. This happy, energetic, hiking machine of a dog, will always hold a special place in my heart and the hearts of the many children she hiked with as well. Here at RTLC, dogs are the perfect example of God’s love and compassion!"

~Jackson

It's time for Colorado Gives! You can make your gift NOW or anytime during the entire month of November leading up to Colorado Gives Day on December 9th, and it will count towards Rainbow Trail's total for Colorado Gives Day!

We have set challenging goals for this year—a base goal of $200,000 and a challenge goal of $250,000. Wouldn't it be cool if we raised $250,000 on Colorado Gives Day? We'll need a lot of people to give to be able reach these goals. Know the difference you will make. Invite a friend to do the same!

What you can do:

Share the story!

Tell people about Ali, and also about this wider problem of human rights abuses. Share the article above, or my op-ed in the Boulder Reporting Lab, or share in your own words. Together, as a community, we can make a difference. 

Send a note

Please note that the family has said the cards people are sending are a beautiful gift to know that our community stands with them. If you'd like to write the family a card, you can send it to:

Christ the Servant

c/o MA

506 Via Appia Way

Louisville, CO 80027

Call your representatives

Our Colorado representatives are aware of the situation, but if they receive calls from their constituents, they may be more forthcoming with their overt support. 

Donate

• Christ the Servant's Immigrant Host Team Fund is committed to paying for legal expenses for the family, and for any help with direct needs that come up. Should any funds remain after the family is reunited and stable, they will be used to help other families in similar situations.
• Colorado Immigrant Justice Fund: funds legal representation for folks who are detained
• CIRC (Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition) is leading the charge in our state in so many ways.

In Christ, 

Marissa

Questions? Contact Marissa Seuc–Hester

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Give a Contribution to RMS TODAY

• Rev. Barbara Berry-Bailey (she/her), Synod Minister for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, bberry-bailey@rmselca.org
• Rev. Quirino Cornejo (he/him), Director for Evangelical Mission-South & Synod Minister for Multicultural Witness, qcornejo@rmselca.org
• Rev. Chris Davis (he/him), Director for Evangelical Mission-North and Synod Minister for Generosity, cdavis@rmselca.org
• Jon Johnson (he/him), Synod Minister for Finance and Human Resources, finance@rmselca.org

• Rev. Diana Johnson, Synod Minister for Rostered Ministry, dlinden-johnson@rmselca.org
• Kurt Rager, Synod Minister for Advocacy, New Mexico, krager@rmselca.org
• Deacon Mary Stoneback (she/her), Synod Minister for Strategic Communications and Events, mstoneback@rmselca.org
• Yvonne Wilken (she/her), Synod Minister for Adminstration, office@rmselca.org
• Pastor Sara Wirth (she/her), Synod Minister for Transitions and Healthy Ministries, swirth@rmselca.org