Ministries
Pastoral Care
Our
Pastoral Care Committee needs to grow and
needs a few more helping partners in our
ongoing effort to reach out to folks in the congregation.
We want our members all to feel at home at FPC, very much cared
about and remembered by their church. "Pastoral Care" includes acknowledging birthdays,
anniversaries, new births, extending sympathy, and also
helping the church reach out to those in area hospitals,
retirement communities and rehab facilities.
It doesn’t take much time or effort to send a card or personal
note, or to make a brief phone call or short visit. Think of a time when someone
has reached out to you. Maybe it’s time for you to pass that care along to someone else.
In addition to caring for long-time members, we’ll be following up with new members to
make sure they are plugged in to a Church School class, church
committee, Circle, Bible study or other activity. We're looking for nice people
who enjoying reaching out to and spending time with others. If you can serve in just one aspect
of this ministry, please contact Robert Lahr, Pastoral Care Committee Moderator.
Hurricane Katrina Cleanup and Disaster Assistance
A team of about 15 volunteers
from First Presbyterian Church traveled to New Orleans in early January,
2006 to assist several Presbyterian churches in their efforts to clean up
their facilities. Another group will return in January 2008.
The 2008 team will continue the mission of helping the city to recover. There remains a lot of work to do, and St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church has initiated the next phase of their Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans (RHINO) program. The new Project Restore Ferry Place is not about cleaning and gutting, but is about building. Working in partnership with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, SCAPC plans for the construction of 14 new homes on Ferry Place to provide much-needed housing for families who desire to return to their city.
To see additional information regarding Project Restore Ferry Place,
click here.
Our mission team will arrive in New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 20 and begin work at Ferry Place on Jan. 21. After a productive week of helping to restore one block of the city, we will depart New Orleans on Saturday, Jan. 26. Our plan for the week will also include one day of rest, during which we will likely see where the city is being restored and where much work remains to be done. We will once again be housed and fed in a beautiful old house adjacent to St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church.
The cost of this mission trip to participants is $75 for room & board ($15 per day for 5 days), plus transportation (approximately $180 round trip if you fly, although some may choose to drive), plus the cost of one dinner out at a local restaurant and any other discretionary spending you desire. Mission team members will also be asked to consider donating an additional nominal amount (e.g., $50) to SCAPC to help with the cost of construction at Ferry Place (which amounts to $75,000 per home). Although space for up to 25 volunteers from First Presbyterian has been reserved at SCAPC, we must confirm the size of our mission team by mid-November 2007. Contact Mike Austin or the Church office immediately if interested.
You can read two personal accounts of our 2006 trip if you
click here.
Members of our church also worked with eight displaced persons who resided
temporarily at Capital Towers. Several of our adult church school classes
"adopted" these evacuees and helped to furnish their temporary
apartments through contributions of household goods and furniture. Others
provided regular transportation for those among them who wanted to come
to our Wednesday noon service and join us for lunch or gave them rides to
perform necessary errands.
Eden School top >
Our mission in Bolivia today
is all about children. But our Bolivian mission actually began in 1996,
when representatives from FPC first visited Kwang–Ju, Korea. It has
grown from a Korean–exchange program into an active, hands–on
world mission proclaiming the Word of Christ by offering educational opportunities
and medical care to over 200 children in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Today, we support a school in Santa Cruz, the Eden School. Everyone who
has visited this school has enjoyed the experience after having a chance
to learn about people of faith from another culture and to become acquainted
with a genuinely enthusiastic and loving community of Christians. More than
20 people, mostly members of this congregation, have spent a week with kids
from the Eden School, and we extend an invitation to all members of our
church who would like to join in this hands–on ministry.
Even if you cannot travel to Bolivia, you can participate in this active,
long–term mission by supporting a student at the Eden School. Full
support for a school year is only $170. To assist this mission, write a
check to FPC and designate it for "Bolivian Scholarships."
Stephen Ministries top >
The Stephen Ministry is a nationally–supported
Christian lay ministry in which trained, caring people listen and provide
support to those in need. Today, over 10,000 Christians from many denominations
participate in this program. A Stephen Minister is a caring friend
who provides on–going Christian care to people experiencing a wide
range of life needs or crises.
A Stephen Minister serves those who are
- facing hospitalization, a disability, or the unknown;
- bereaved, lonely, or depressed;
- experiencing a personal, family, or job crisis;
- experiencing a broken relationship;
- terminally ill;
- in need of a listening friend.
A Stephen Minister is NOT
- a counselor or therapist;
- a problem-solver;
- a casual visitor.
For more information about this
national program, see the Stephen
Ministries Web site.
To request a Stephen Minister, contact , Carol Sloan, or a Stephen leader by calling the church office
(919–821–5750). You may discuss with them the need for a Stephen
Minister for yourself or for someone you know. A Stephen Minister will be
assigned only with your permission, and under conditions of strictest confidence.
The Stephen Ministry invites change in human hearts and demonstrates how
the Gospel of God’s care for the world in Jesus Christ is at work.
This ministry is a demonstration of how God comes to us through other people,
and how God comes to other people through us.
Evangelism top >
The 202nd General Assembly adopted
the following common definition of evangelism for the Presbyterian Church
(USA) in 1990:
Evangelism is joyfully sharing the good news of the sovereign love of God
and calling people
- to repentance,
- to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,
- to active membership in the church, and
- to obedient service in the world.
Our church supports the work
of mission specialists Dan and Elizabeth Turk, who have served with the
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar (FJKM) since 1998. Graduates of Davidson
College and Duke University, Dan and Elizabeth work as advisors to FJKM’s
environment and health departments, respectively.
Dan works with the FJKM environment department to promote sustainable agriculture
and the planting and preservation of native trees. Elizabeth helps rural
communities prevent and treat the major illnesses that threaten health:
malaria, measles, diarrhea, and pneumonia. She also works with the family
planning program and serves on the national AIDS Committee. For more information
about the Turks and their work in Madagascar, see their
Web page on the PCUSA Web site.
Prayer Line top >
". . . pray for one another,
so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective."
- James 5:16
First Presbyterian Church offers a Prayer Line that is set up to take your
prayer requests anytime. You can call 919–740–1400 at
any time to share a concern or request a prayerful intervention. The phone
line is set up to record your message, which is then given to a group of
individuals who have made a commitment to respond to prayer requests with
daily prayer. The line is confidential, and messages are checked frequently.
You may also make use of the lavender Prayer Request Cards provided in the
pew racks in the sanctuary. When you complete a card, you can then place
it in the offering plate or in the Prayer Request Box, which is in the narthex
on the Baucom Parlor side.
If you would like to help with this important ministry, contact Judy Schunk,
Moderator of the Evangelism Committee.
Special Offerings top >
The Presbyterian Church (USA)
sponsors several special offerings each year in support of various causes
that pertain to our central mission:
Christmas
Joy Offering
For almost 70 years, Presbyterians have given generously to a special offering
at Christmas. The Christmas Joy Offering is divided in half: one half of
the funds collected goes to racial ethnic education at Presbyterian–related
schools and colleges; the other half goes to support the assistance programs
of the Board of Pensions, which assists retired church workers. Educational
funds are distributed through the National Ministries Division of the General
Assembly Council. The racial ethnic schools supported by PCUSA include the
following nine Presbyterian–affiliated institutions of higher learning:
Barber–Scotia College (Concord, NC); Cook College and Theological
School, (Tempe, AZ); Knoxville College (Knoxville, TN); Mary Holmes College
(West Point, MS); Menaul School (Albuquerque, NM); Presbyterian Pan American
School (Kingsville, TX); Sheldon Jackson College (Sitka, AK); and Stillman
College (Tuscaloosa, AL).
Most congregations received this offering on Sunday, December 18, 2005.
One Great
Hour of Sharing Offering
Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians
through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with people
in need. This special offering goes to support disaster response, refugee
assistance and resettlement, and community development. These gifts fund
programs that help people find safe refuge, start new lives, and improve
their communities.
Funds received from the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering are generally distributed
as follows:
- The Presbyterian Hunger Program -- 36%
- The Self-Development of People Program -- 32%
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -- 32%
For more information about the intended use of this year's offering by the Presbyterian Hunger Program, click here.
Most congregations receive the
offering on Easter Sunday, Palm Sunday, or both; some receive it throughout
Lent.
The
Pentecost Offering
The Pentecost Offering was first collected by PCUSA member churches in 1998.
It is traditionally received on the Day of Pentecost (May 15th in 2005).
Some congregations choose to collect it on the Sunday they celebrate youth
in the church.
Congregations are encouraged to keep 40 percent of the Offering to support
work on behalf of children at risk. The General Assembly Council divides
the remaining 60 percent to the following PCUSA ministries:
- Ministries with youth and young adults -- 25%
- Young Adult Volunteers -- 25%
- Child Advocacy Ministries -- 10%
The
Peacemaking Offering
The Peacemaking Offering is collected each year to support peacemaking initiatives
and peace education. This offering is received by most congregations on
World Communion Sunday, which is observed the first Sunday in October. The
General Assembly recommends that 25% of the funds received be retained by
each congregation, 25% be used by synods and presbyteries, and 50% be used
by the General Assembly ministries through the Presbyterian Peacemaking
Program.
Hospitality Box and Bereavement Meal top >
The congregation and ministers of First Presbyterian Church provide loving support and care to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. One of the ways the congregation provides support is through the provision of a meal at the church on the day of the funeral. If you’d like to help out with meal preparation for a grieving church family, call the Church Office.
First Friends and Family top >
Since members of First Presbyterian Church live across Wake County (and even in adjacent counties), each family has been assigned a congregation care group with others in the same geographic area. A deacon is assigned to each group to provide a connection between church leadership and the congregation. Each First Friends and Family group is encouraged to meet occasionally for fellowship. Contact the church office if you’d like more information on your First Friends and Family group.
