As disciples of Christ, we are called to be servants to each other in this congregation, to our neighbors in our community and in the world beyond. At First Presbyterian Church the Ministry Council leads the mission and outreach of our congregation through our mission teams:
HAITI - PDA, working in collaboration with partners, continues to provide basic humanitarian aid for those most impacted by the January earthquake and to assess ongoing recovery needs. More than $510,000 has been sent to help with relief. The Haiti response reveals challenges in humanitarian work.
CHILI - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is working with our ecumenical partner Church World Service (CWS) in Chile to provide basic humanitarian assistance and to help local partners in assessing the needs. One Great Hour of Sharing funds will be used for an initial response.
What We Can Do
First Presbyterian Church sent over 300 Hygiene kits to Church World Service. Thank you to all who participated.
PDA is asking you to stand in the GAP for disaster survivors as you Give, Act, and Pray.
First Presbyterian Church has a long history of giving our time, talents, and treasure in service to others in our community. Here are local organizations we support with our financial and volunteer gifts. • Boys and Girls Club (Caretakers) – providing after-school programs that meet the recreational, cultural, educational, and health needs of our most vulnerable and challenged children.
• Winchester Child-Parent Center – helping to prevent child abuse and neglect.
• Congregational Community Action Project (CCAP) – providing assistance to those unable to meet their daily needs. • Free Medical Clinic – assisting with medical needs for those without insurance and who are unable to afford private care.
• Fremont Street Nursery – providing quality, affordable pre-school and day care on the north side of Winchester.
• Immigrant Resource Center – helping immigrants settle into life in America including assisting with documentation needs, finding housing, learning English and finding health care.
• Winchester Day Nursery – providing affordable, quality day care for special needs children.
• The ARC of Northern Shenandoah Valley – giving Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities the services and supports they need to grow, develop and live in communities across the nation
First Presbyterian Church participates in the disaster ministry of the PC(USA) through the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the Shenandoah Presbytery. Members of FPC have served the survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on five trips to the Gulf Coast. Recently, we participated with Shenandoah Presbytery in the collection of Hygiene Kits for distribution in Haiti. First Presbyterian sent more than 300 kits as part of over 2500 kits contributed by churches in the presbytery.
Ethiopia
First Presbyterian Church supports partnerships in Ethiopia on several levels. We are actively involved in the leadership of the partnership between Shenandoah Presbytery and the Illubabor Bethel Synod (IBS), Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus. Since its creation in 1989, this partnership has provided support in the following areas: • iCARE – Children’s home • HEART Project – Orphans of AIDS project • Youth shelters – Alito and Algae • Annual visits to and from Ethiopia • Church-to-church partnerships • Ministry of teaching synod leaders • Mico-economics project • HIV/AIDS ministry • Youth Center project • Medical mission projects • ESL summer classes • Clean water projects • Scholarships for pastor education • Participation with the Ethiopian Mission Network • Facilities repair and re-building projects • Interfaith Listening Project • Countless personal relationships
We also have church-to-church partnerships with the Mettu and Ketta congregations in Mettu. Beginning in 1994, these partnerships emphasize mutual prayer and spiritual support. In addition we were a major contributor to the construction of the Mettu church facility and its satellite churches at Ketta and Kolla Korma. This rich partnership supported: • Regular visits of both Ethiopians and Americans to each other’s communities • Medical clinics at Aremi and Chello • Evangelist training • English as a Second Language classes • iCARE programs • Purchase of a truck for the Gore Youth Home • Women’s Ministries of the Lydia Center in Mettu • Widows and Orphans Project
This summary in no way accounts for the special personal relationships that have been formed. Members of each congregation share what they can and receive much more in return. We feel blessed to be a part of the opportunities that have affected the lives of so many people.
Faith in Action
First Presbyterian’s Faith In Action team provides transportation to medical appointments and treatments for those who want to remain independent but can no longer drive themselves. Our regular responsibility is transporting dialysis patients on Thursday afternoons.
Jubilee Kitchen
Jubilee Kitchen currently serves between 80 and 90 persons with a nutritious lunch from 11:30 AM to 12:00 Noon each Saturday all year with the exception of Apple Blossom Weekend and the Saturday following Thanksgiving. A group of six devoted individuals prepare and cook the meals. They are assisted by volunteers from more than thirteen churches and organizations in the community. Those who have worked with us find the experience very rewarding and usually express a desire to work another time. The first Saturday of every month is reserved for volunteers from the First Presbyterian Church.
The Pastoral Care Team is under the guidance of the Ministry Council. Our mission is to minister to church members who have been hospitalized or may be recuperating at home. This is achieved through cards, caring phone calls, delivery of meals and/or flowers, throughout the year. We also help as needed, when there is a death in the family.
Parish Nurse
The Parish Nurse supports congregational health by coordinating blood pressure checks, flu shots and conducting courses in health related issues. The Parish Nurse is also available for consultation and visitation related to health issues.
Peacemaking
The Peacemaking Team has led the Session to recommit to the 1980 Committment to Peacemaking. We focus on peacemaking by taking the peacemaking offering in October, leading an adult Sunday school class on peacemaking each year, recycling, using Fair Trade Coffee and caring for our neighbors in Winchester and beyond.
Prayer
Prayer is shaped by the Word of God in the Bible and by the life of the Christian community. Prayer issues a commitment to join God's work in the world.
If you would like to be a member of the congregation's prayer chain and pray regularly for the concerns of the congregation and community, please email our prayer leader at lmcqueen@ntelos.net
Stephen Ministry
A ministry of one-to-one Christian care provided by trained lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. The Stephen Ministry helps the pastors provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it. For more information about Stephen Ministry, please visit www.stephenministries.org
U.S. and World Mission
First Presbyterian Church supports three PC(USA) mission co-workers. The links provided go to each mission co-workers profile page on the PC(USA) website. There you can find their newsletters that tell about their work and current prayer requests.
Rev. Dr. Karla Kollserves in Guatemala. Karla serves as professor of history, mission, and religions for the Latin American Biblical University with the Evangelical Center for Pastoral Studies in Central America (CEDEPCA).
Drs. Les and Cindy Morgan have been serving as missionaries for the PC(USA) in Bangladesh since 1989. They serve as advisors for the Church of Bangladesh health ministries. Les and Cindy have returned to Bangladesh following the loss of their son in December 2008.
Amanda Craft is a mission co-worker in Guatemala. She works with the women of the Sinodica, the Presbyterian Women's Organization of the Presbyterian Church of Guatemala.
