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MINISTRIES: MISSIONS: CHURCH GROUPS: WORSHIP SERVICES: NEWS: CONTACT US:
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Missions at FPC
The Salvation Army at 23rd & Broadway, where teams from First Presbyterian have prepared & served Monday nights dinners for nearly 10 years, reports they hope to have their Galveston facility open in early 2009. The cooking teams look forward to going back!
Our 30 Angel Tree gifts were delivered on December 22.
* * * Galveston Seafarers' Christmas Boxes
76 gift bags and 24 gift boxes were delivered to the Center on December 22. Thanks to all who contributed! A big portion of this year's gift items were donated by Grace Presbyterian, Plano, TX -- they knew we might have a bit of difficulty filling our usual 100 boxes.
* * * Equal Exchange tea is still available - see Janice Smith to purchase. All proceeds go to the FPC Nicaragua Medical Mission.
* * * The children & youth of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Laurel, Mississippi recently provided boxes of "care packages" for kids, infant supplies, & hygiene items to be distributed locally - these children went through Hurricane Katrina and felt called to reach out to the children of Galveston. Some boxes were distributed through the church, the gift bags were given out at the Christmas Festival on December 13, some boxes were given to children in the church, and the remaining boxes & other items were taken to the Jesse Tree on December 16.
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(Below) In the Pharmacy 2008
Click here for pictures from the 2008 Nicaragua Health Fair !
First Presbyterian has a strong mission emphasis and a long-standing medical ministry in Nicaragua. Every summer, members travel to Nicaragua to provide medical care to the people of Mulukuku and to those in surrounding areas through satellite clinics.
The congregation of FPC helps supply medicines and other needed items.
Thanks to
all who helped prepare for or
(Right) Team Leader Dr. Janice Smith jksmith@utmb.edu * * * During the 2007 trip 2301 patients were seen. Many of those who go (including some FPC senior highs) may have no medical training, but they do have willing hands and a desire to serve.
* * * Christmas Joy Gift Offering to be taken on Sunday, December 21 to aid retired church workers and racial-ethnic schools * * *
IMPACT Youth Mission Trip to Victoria, TX June 26-29, 2008
Some of the youth at our church (Connor, David, Naomi, Ndidi) had a unique opportunity to participate in the first annual “Impact Texas” youth mission event! On Thursday, June 26, four of the youth, along with their “fearless leader” Heather, made the 3-hour trek to Victoria, Texas. Once there, they joined up with youth from 6 other Presbyterian churches around the state. First Presbyterian Church in Victoria was kind enough to offer their educational building for sleeping quarters, as well as make lunch for the youth before they left on Sunday. While in Victoria, the youth spent their days serving those in the community by painting, doing yard work, and helping to assemble new playground equipment at their host church. Some wonderful work was accomplished and some great friends were made! It was a VERY successful trip and the youth are looking forward to going again next year! Here are a few pictures from the trip. To get more information and to see a slide show including more pictures, you can go to: www.impacttexas.net
In the meantime, a link to the
video slideshow: Watch for IMPACT reunion news!
Background in IMPACT 2008, from Heather Sommer
Hello all! Wanted to also tell you about a great mission opportunity for us to participate in this summer. It's called "IMPACT" (Igniting & Motivating a Presbytery Army of Christian Teens) and here is a link to the website. Please check it out! www.impacttexas.net This is a brand new program (in the Presbytery of New Covenant) -- this will be the first year for it. The first mission project will be held in Victoria, the last weekend in June. What will happen is that we will drive to Victoria Thursday afternoon on June 26. We'll stay in a local church there. On Friday and Sat during the day we will do housepainting and yardwork for local residents, who, due to old age and/or disabilities, can't do it themselves.
In the evenings, we'll get
ourselves cleaned up and have some activities at the church (games, etc).
On Sunday morning, we'll attend church service at First Presbyterian in
Victoria, where we've been staying, and share with the congregation all the
great stuff we accomplished while we were there. Then, we'll head home.
Like I said, it's a brand new program, but the man who is putting it
together (Timothy Coman of Faith Presbyterian) is patterning it after a
program that's been in place in the Methodist church for a while now called
UMARMY. Here is a link to a short video on YouTube from UMARMY (Houston
2007 project). It's a different program, but similar to what we hope IMPACT
will be like and will give you a little bit of an idea of what to expect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9vtf0wd5ZM * * *
2008 VBS Mission Project for Heifer International This year's VBS freewill offering supported the Temaxcalapa Integral Farming Youth Center Project in Veracruz, Mexico, where 160 indigenous youth from the states of Veracruz, Puebla & Oaxaca live during the week at the House of Youths. The project is providing 3000 tilapia fish, laying hens, red worms for vermiculture, a greenhouse, assorted livestock & training, and training in organic & hydroponic gardening. Total: $537.61 Heifer International has been a part of our Vacation Bible School program since 1986. Since 1944, Heifer International & its supporters have helped millions of people in over 128 countries become more self-reliant through livestock to raise, training and “Passing on the Gift” to others.
* * * Background on some of FPC's local mission projects..... Monthly Hunger Collections - first Sunday of each month
Bring non-perishables any day for St. Vincent's House Food
Pantry
here in Galveston, and 2-Cents-a-Meal (for meals eaten out this past month) for the
Presbyterian Hunger A long-standing tradition at First Presbyterian (over 20 years!).....the first Sunday of each month, there are two hunger program collections - non-perishables are collected in baskets in McCullough Hall for distribution through a Galveston food pantry; and 2-Cents-a-Meal (5-Cents suggested for each meal eaten out during the month). Donations go into baskets by the sanctuary doors, to be distributed through the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Information on hunger & homelessness to be found by clicking this link: Presbyterian Hunger Program Cash donations for the Food Pantry also go to St. Vincent's House. Cash and canned goods are also collected by our youth each year on "Souper Bowl Sunday". For more information on this national program, see www.souperbowl.org * * * The Outreach Grant Fund Ministry of First Presbyterian.... As an act of stewardship, the First Presbyterian Church created an Outreach Fund Ministry using interest earned from Trust. Funds. Grants for the development and support of innovative and inspiring outreach programs are awarded annually. An Outreach Fund Ministry was formed as a sub-committee of the Mission Committee to receive, review, and make recommendations on worthy proposals. Members of our church are involved in many community organizations and priority is given to proposals from these organizations. For more OFM information, please click here: List of program Recipients of Outreach Fund Ministry grants 2005-2007 * * * Salvation Army: First Presbyterian supports the
Salvation Army (located on Galveston Island at 23rd Street & Broadway) with
weekly dinner teams that purchase, prepare and serve meals on Monday evenings.
In December 2007, FPC members & friends once again adopted 46 "Angel Tree" children for whom to provide gifts of new clothing. * * * Jesse Tree: We are involved with and help support the Jesse Tree, a networking & referral agency for social services, located at 2622 Market Street in Galveston. Jesse Tree has a continuing need for toiletries for distribution and volunteers to help with food distribution & other projects. For more information on the Jesse Tree go to this website link: * * * Galveston Seafarers' Ministry: Over 25 years ago, First Presbyterian was a founding member of the local ministry, located at 22nd & Mechanic Streets. FPC provides ongoing support and, each November, the children & youth in the Sunday School (with adult helpers) pack Christmas boxes for distribution, over 1800 so far. 54 Christmas gift boxes (+ extra bars of soap) were delivered by FPC to the GALVESTON SEAFARERS’ MINISTRY for Christmas 2007. Website for Galveston Seafarers' Ministry: Seafarers' Center of Galveston
* * * AIDS Coalition of Coastal Texas (ACCT): The FPC Mission Ministry periodically provides Thursday Lunch for the local AIDS CCT.
* * * The Luke Society operates a free walk-up clinic in the church's parking lot at 20th & Church Street, each Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.
* * * Meals on Wheels: FPC team members deliver hot meals to the home-bound through Edgewater. Contact Eleanor Grant for more information.
* * * Alternative Christmas Gift Market: For the past five years, an Alternative Christmas "Fair Trade" Gift Market has been held in October, featuring SERRV/A Greater Gift Fair Trade Crafts. 20% of the proceeds go to our Nicaragua Medical Mission. * * *
For information from Synod of the Sun (the
Presbyterian
* * * A Presbyterian tradition for almost seventy years, the Christmas Joy Offering is one of the special offerings designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Fifty percent of the Christmas Joy Offering receipts are distributed by the Board of Pensions for assistance programs providing support to retired and active church workers, their spouses and families. The other half supports Presbyterian-related racial ethnic education through the National Ministries Division of the General Assembly Council. * * * * Christmas International House: International college students staying in the Houston area during the Christmas holidays often come to FPC one day for lunch - the Houston area programs are sponsored by the Presbytery of New Covenant. For more information about this national ministry, click link to Christmas International House * * * Global Missionaries with connections to FPC Galveston.... Malawi: Rev. Debbie Chase, a PC (U.S.A.) missionary to Malawi, is a former member of this congregation and last visited with us in March 2006. The most recent newsletter from Livingstonia is posted on the Mission bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Debbie Chase's May 2008 newsletter Contact & more info: debbiechaseccap@malawi.net http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/chased.htm Malawi Facts link and Malawi Info from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) link "Uchizi na Mtende" (Grace and Peace) * * Ecuador: The December letter on the Robin & Mike McMahan family in Quito may be found on the Mission bulletin board. * * * The annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering is taken by many denominations during the Easter season. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) divides this special offering between..... PC(USA) - Self Development of People PC(USA) - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance * * * 2008 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study Find out more about Presbyterian missionaries around the globe! This daily devotional guide features lectionary readings, prayers, and information about Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission work & missionaries in the U.S. and around the world, as well as information on every Presbytery and Synod. The Yearbook is accessible online at www.pcusa.org/pcusa/cmd/mip/mybtoday.html For information on missionaries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) see www.pcusa.org/missionconnections
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The 2008 Nicaragua Medical
Mission Team - the first report on the trip is
2008 - waiting at the clinic...
supported the 2008 mission!
Program.
January 2008 marked the beginning of
the 10th year for our weekly Monday evening dinner teams.
Each team serves one Monday per month. Can you help?
Contact the church office 409.762.8638
region
including Texas & Louisiana) on continuing post-Katrina, post-Rita relief
efforts see 