First Presbyterian Church

MISSION & OUTREACH...

Mission is an integral part of our church ministry.Our location, which is across the street from a homeless shelter, behind a food pantry and up the street from a women's shelter, makes ministry to those in need a high priority at First Church ... 

by Youth...

In 2003, our youth groups  re-established their earlier tradition of feeding the homeless staying at the Salvation Army, Booth House, across from the church. Several years later, youth began the Second Saturday Cafe and expanded to a lunch served once a month at the church to the community-at-large who were helped by this free meal.

    

Youth also began selling Fair Trade items during fellowship hour after worship in a shop, Abraham's Tent. These articles come from all over the world, and sales help offset expenses of youth projects, activities and missions, including the Second Saturday Cafe. 

                  

Youth also collects school supplies in the fall which are distributed at the Backpack Blessing service and to local shelters and food pantry. They participate in the 30 Hour Famine , through Church World Vision, and Working Together- Rebuilding Madison County,  which helps people in need with repairs to their homes at little or no cost.

by Deacons...

Deacons extend mission, both within the church congregation and to the community. The Board of Deacons extends our worship on assigned Sundays to our homebound members by taking communion to their residences and care centers.

    

Each Thanksgiving, deacons prepare food boxes for families in need. They also presented a Health Fair this year for members of the church and community. They implement a community assistance emergency fund (Simpson Fund) that helps people from the community with utility bills, prescriptions and housing costs. Deacons also use the funds they raise, through silent auctions and special dinners, to supply our congregation with a parish nurse, who calls on homebound members, takes blood pressures, etc., provides flu shot clinics and special training for on-site medical equipment at church.

Each year, deacons fill childrens' Christmas wish lists from the Presbyterian Childrens' Home in Farmington, MO, and "adopt" a family from the local women's shelter at Christmas. They also send Care Boxes to troops in the military on our prayer list, and provide bereavement meals to church members who have lost loved ones.

by the Congregation...

The congregation supports all of the missions above, as well as donates to the Simpson Fund, local food pantry with food items each month and to homeless and women's shelters. Each Advent, the members of First Church provide and share a holiday meal with the community-at-large. Special worship opportunities and activities/field trips are also offered to the community at no cost throughout the year.