Mission and Outreach
The Committee’s mission statement is to serve God by serving others. Our community service goals are to:
- Reduce hunger and improve nutrition
- Reduce homelessness and improve housing
- Improve health and happiness
Our concept of community is both near and far reaching. Mission activities take place on three levels.
First, benevolences, which include direct financial support to community organizations providing services in one of our targeted goal areas as well as our unified mission giving to the Presbytery.
Second, Special Offerings including One Great Hour of Sharing, Presbyterian Communities Benevolent Care Offering, Dimes for Hunger, Thornwell Home for Children, and Christmas Joy.
Third, a partnership with community organizations near and far to provide hands-on service. For a more in-depth look at missions, click here to link to the Mission page.
Church Growth
The Church Growth Committee works with the Membership Coordinator to raise the profile of the church, ensure a warm, welcoming visitor experience and increase the likelihood of visitors becoming active members of the congregation.
Congregational Care
The Congregational Care Committee supports our church family during difficult times and helps to celebrate in times of joy. A meal is offered to a member when returning home from a hospitalization or surgery and upon the death of a member’s immediate family. A “meal train” is set up when meals are needed for a longer period of time. In the event of the death of a church member, the family may choose to have a reception at the church following the memorial service or have a private family meal. To celebrate a new birth, the family receives a meal in their home. A bridal brunch, the morning of the wedding, is offered to a member being married at the church. This committee is comprised of seven teams, with approximately 70 members participating.
Congregational Life
Congregational Life helps the congregation develop relationships with one another and encourage overall fellowship. We strive to bring one another together through the planning and hosting of events such as: Sunday School Rally Day, The Church Bazaar/Rummage Sale, Montreat Family Church Retreat, Trunk or Treat, Cookie Walk, Santa’s Shop, the Live Nativity Scene, the Easter Egg Eggstravaganza, and Ladies’ Night Out.
Fellowship
The Fellowship Committee supports our church family by organizing various events designed to enrich our lives and relationships within the family of faith at First Presbyterian. Our mission includes only those events where a congregational meal is served. These include monthly fellowship and Bible study dinners. Often partnering with other committees, we help host receptions, socials, and charity events, such as Souper Bowl Chili and Soup Cookoff, the Christmas Dinner, Pairs and Spares Oyster Roast, River Outing/Cookouts, Flowering of the Cross and Rally Day breakfasts. Members of the committee decorate for these events in creative ways, set up, prepare and serve the meals, and clean up afterward. Congregation members are also welcome to pitch in and help on these events.
Visitation
The Visitation committee is focused on making visits to homebound congregation members, who are unable to be with the congregation in its worship and fellowship. Volunteers work closely with our Minister to make sure that all members feel included in the life of the church. Volunteers receive training from the Minister on how to extend the ministry of presence before they begin their visits.
Prayer Ministry
The Prayer Ministry is a confidential ministry who communicates to the Session and Diaconate member prayer requests from church members. Members of the church are encouraged to reach out to the Prayer Team leader when a prayer request is needed. An email is then sent to those who have agreed to serve on the Prayer team so that they can include the request in their daily prayers. Updates on each request are provided by the minister or the team leaders on a frequent basis.
Fix-It Committee
Fix-it is a service ministry for our church that provides a helping hand to members who are not physically able to perform tasks at home that they used to be able to do, such as small repairs, replacing batteries in fire alarms, changing clocks, changing heat/AC filters, replacing light bulbs and even flipping mattresses.