For Immediate Release
Highlands Ranch Churches Collecting Food
for Denver Urban Ministries
St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Hosting “The Feeding of 5,000: We Need U2”
Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5
Highlands Ranch, Colo. – Sept. 18, 2008 – The members of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and other local churches, along with the surrounding Highlands Ranch community will be coming together at St. Luke’s for an entire weekend on Saturday, Oct. 4, and Sunday Oct. 5, for the “Feeding of the 5,000: We Need U2” event in hopes of raising 90,000 pounds of non-perishable food for Denver Urban Ministries (DenUM) to feed Colorado’s hungry.
The goal set forth by the churches is to raise enough food to allow DenUM to provide 1,000 meals per day from the beginning of October through the end of December, which ends up being 90,000 pounds.
The food that is donated by community members will be loaded up on trucks by volunteers and taken to DenUM to feed individuals and families that walk through its doors every day. DenUM serves anyone who is in need of one of our most basic needs, to eat. Over the past two years the need for food at DenUM has nearly doubled, forcing the organization to have to shut its doors and turn people away several days this year due to a lack of food.
“This is unacceptable,” said Rev. Brad Laurvick of St. Luke’s UMC.
This year’s theme “Feeding of the 5,000: We Need U2” isn’t just about meeting a goal, it’s about bringing a community together.
“This (Feeding of the 5,000) is about moving past mission and ministry and moving towards the passion and commitment of the community,” Laurvick said. “It will amaze people when the community comes together.”
This year’s event will be tying the food drive and worship together with communion. St. Luke’s will be holding two worship services, one on Saturday at 7:34 p.m. and one on Sunday at 7:34 p.m. Songs from the popular band, U2, will be played by St. Luke’s own Fusion Band. Everyone is welcome to attend the services.
The event will encompass the three things that Jesus asked of his people: to get together with other people, share a meal and remember Him.
“We’re not sharing a meal together but we’re sharing 90,000 meals,” said Laurvick.
Anyone interested in making a donation of non-perishable food can bring it by St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on Saturday and Sunday between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. both days. St. Luke’s is located at 8817 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80129 approximately ½ mile south of C-470.
A monetary donation can also be made to DenUM. One dollar and fifty cents equals approximately one pound of food. Donations can also be made online at St. Luke’s secure website, www.stlukeshr.com by clicking the donation button on the “Feeding of the 5,000” tab. All donations are tax deductible and 100 percent of the money will go towards purchasing food for needy families.
Denver Urban Ministries, DenUM, was organized in 1981 as a 501(c)(3) human service agency to provide emergency and stabilization services in Denver’s most impoverished neighborhoods supplying clothing and food, www.denum.org.
Guided by the spirit of God, St. Luke’s UMC is an inclusive community of faith, seeking to meet people where they are, growing together toward full humanity, through living the teachings of Jesus: Love, Acceptance, Justice, and Hope. St. Luke’s is located at 8817 South Broadway in Highlands Ranch, one-quarter mile south of C-470. Regular office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Sunday services, led by Rev. Janet Forbes, are held at 8, 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday school and free childcare are available during the 9:30 and 11 services. For more information visit www.stlukeshr.com.
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