A Neighborhood Church on South University Boulevard
Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit sits at 6400 S. University Boulevard in Centennial, Colorado, where it serves as a neighborhood congregation open to everyone regardless of age, economic status, race, gender, or sexual orientation. The church is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Rocky Mountain Synod, joining roughly 9,300 ELCA congregations across the United States and the Caribbean. Through those wider ties, LCHS supports ministries that serve neighbors, refugees, disaster survivors, and those facing hunger at home and around the world. The congregation's stated mission is to trust in God's grace by reaching out to all people to bring them to faith in Christ, with the understanding of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier of all.
Sunday Worship at Ten
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 a.m. and is rooted in the Lutheran liturgical tradition, with music that rotates between a contemporary praise band and more traditional offerings. Communion is celebrated every Sunday, everyone is welcome at the table, and gluten-free options are available. A Fellowship Hour follows the service. For those unable to attend in person, the church offers an online worship option and a YouTube channel. The congregation's primary pastor, Todd Hawkins, sums up the rhythm this way: "We worship reverently, we sing loudly, we walk humbly, we think deeply, we serve locally and globally, we follow Jesus faithfully, we doubt simultaneously, we hope defiantly, we receive God's forgiveness daily, and we keep showing up to try again."
Learning Together at Nine
Before the service, at 9:00 a.m., the church offers Sunday School for children using Spark resources, held from September through the middle of May. No Sunday School runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Adult Education meets at the same hour, exploring a variety of topics throughout the year. An adult study with Pastor Todd also meets after the service for anyone who wants to keep the conversation going.
Pastors and a Music Director
Pastor Todd Hawkins leads the congregation. A former newspaper reporter, he graduated from Luther Seminary in 2002 and also serves Prince of Peace Lutheran in Denver while remaining loosely affiliated with First Lutheran in Longmont, where he lives. He shares his life with Alice, his black lab, who sometimes keeps him company around the church. Pastor Ron Hartman, a retired educator and Gettysburg Seminary graduate, came to Centennial during the pandemic to be near his daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. Pastor Mark Will, now in his 49th year of ordained ministry, has served congregations in Montana, Southern California, and Alaska, and provides pulpit supply for the church.
Rick Mezey has shaped music at LCHS for more than two decades. He has served as organist since August 2001 and as organist and choirmaster since 2004. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Colorado Boulder, Mezey has been singing since he was three and finds in music a way to focus fully on worshiping God.
Music for Every Voice and Instrument
The Praise Team leads worship on the first and third Sundays of each month, welcoming musicians who play keyboard, acoustic and bass guitars, drums, or who simply like to sing. The Bell Choir rehearses on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. and invites anyone high school age or older to join; no auditions are required. Singers and instrumentalists interested in offering special music can connect directly with Rick Mezey.
A House Open to Many Community Groups
The church building serves as a gathering place for the wider neighborhood. Garden Inc. meets weekly at LCHS to cultivate cooking skills for adults with neurodiverse minds. On Sundays at noon, the building is home to Beginner AA (Happy Hour Beginners), AA (Happy Hour Sunday), and Al-Anon meetings. Other regular users of the space include Girl Scouts, Living Hope Yoga, Avid4 Adventure, Stampin' Up, Spirit Quilters, Falcon AeroLab, SparkSourceCo Voice Lessons, Peach Haus, the Arapahoe High School band and cross country team, and South Suburban Parks and Recreation.
Service Beyond the Walls
Each month before communion, children pass cans through the pews for the church's "Noisy Offering," gathering small change that adds up to meaningful support for a rotating list of local and global partners. Past and current recipients include Integrated Family and Community Services (IFCS), Lutheran Family Services, Wholly Kicks, Love, Inc. Littleton, After Hours Denver, and Guide Dogs for the Blind. The church also keeps a cart filled throughout the year for IFCS; donations can be dropped off during office hours or by appointment.
Small Groups and Weekly Rhythms
Beyond Sunday, LCHS follows a steady weekly rhythm. The Men's Breakfast Group meets twice a month at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays for fellowship and a shared meal. The Women's Bible and Book Study gathers on the first and third Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m. for discussion and friendship. The Spirit Quilters meet every Friday to craft quilts together. Opportunities to serve within worship are equally varied: assisting minister, reader, greeter, communion assistant, driver, vocalist or instrumentalist, altar guild member, small group leader, home communion server, or gardener.
Giving as Discipleship
LCHS frames giving as a discipleship ministry rather than a financial transaction, pointing to the Bible's many teachings on money and to Paul's words in II Corinthians: "Generosity, even amidst poverty, reveals our love for God." Contributions can be made online and support worship, faith formation, outreach, and the church's wider ELCA connections. Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday afternoons or by appointment, and the church can be reached at 303.794.3451.