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Ways to Serve

 

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10

 

Everyone is welcome to contribute to any of our ministries, giving your talents as best suits you.​

FPC Ministries

At FPC Galveston, our members support the missions, programs, staff, and members
of the church through the following ministries. If you are interested in getting involved,
please call and speak with our church secretary.

 

1. Music and Arts Ministry
This ministry’s purpose is to care for all things related to music and the arts. This includes all
FPC musicians (Choral scholars program, choir, ensemble, handbells), music-related
finances/budget, music for the worship services, and music/arts events outside of the worship services
(ex, special concerts, art exhibits, evensong, etc).


2. Congregational Life Ministry
This ministry provides support to our church family through “care lists” and by delivering
meals to members in need, supporting college students, providing transportation as needed,
and expressing appreciation for church staff. They also help to foster fellowship and growth
within our congregation through ongoing meal groups, receptions for funeral services and
special occasions, social gatherings, crafting events, Sunday school, bible studies, and book
clubs. They also ensure that visitors and new members feel welcome and connected.


3. Worship Ministry
This ministry plans and organizes the Sunday worship service, which includes coordinating
and collaborating with ushers/greeters, audio/visual team, liturgists, music ministry, and
communion. This ministry also plans/supports other special services throughout the year
(weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc), and decorates the church for holidays (hanging of the
greens, seasonal communion tablescapes, etc).


4. Administrative Resources Management
This ministry handles many of the “behind the scenes” aspects that keep the church running.
They help to maintain the physical church building and grounds, manage the
budget/finances/memorial funds, and oversee the church staff/personnel committee. They
encourage and plan opportunities for year-long stewardship, through time and talents, as well
as monetary contributions.


5. Communications Ministry
This ministry is responsible for spreading the news about the events in the life of our church
to our congregation, as well as members of our community. They do this through the church
website, social media (FB, etc), emailed newsletters, and submissions to the newspaper/other
news outlets.


6. Missions Ministry
This ministry carries out the missions of our church through a variety of programs, and by
collaborating with and financially supporting our community partners, such as Luke Society,
Seafarer’s Center, Salvation Army, Pregnancy Support Center, Diaper Bank, Food Bank,
Meals on Wheels, and Living Waters.

Community Outreach

FPC Mission Partners: Local Hunger Relief

 

Salvation Army Evening Meals –

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  • The Salvation Army of Galveston serves a large population of adults and children who seek assistance with food, shelter, and other basic needs. Beginning in 1999, the Mission Ministry coordinated meal teams that provided food, prepared and served meals each Monday night at the Salvation Army Center (601 51st Street). Currently, we no longer provide food, and Salvation Army Staff do most of the meal preparation. FPC provides at least two volunteers each Monday to help with preparation and to serve the meals from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. Other opportunities are available to serve meals on different days of the week and to set up a continental breakfast each morning.

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St. Vincent’s House Food Pantry

  • - St. Vincent’s House is a local social service agency providing comprehensive programs for the disadvantaged and underserved population. For many years, FPC has collected non-perishable food at the church and delivered it to the St. Vincent’s Food Pantry. Church members and friends are encouraged to bring donations of food items to the church and to assist in providing food items to St. Vincent’s Food Pantry (2817 Post Office), usually once a month. Other volunteer opportunities include sorting and distributing supplies at St. Vincent’s House.

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Galveston Island Meals on Wheels - GIMOW

  • Provides nutritious meals, brief contact, and companionship 5 days a week to qualifying elderly and/or homebound individuals and other Galveston citizens who have difficulty preparing or securing meals on their own. GIMOW serves over 100 meals daily, divided into over 10 routes to cover the island. Meals are prepared and distributed from Moody Methodist Church, 2803 53rd St. Clients are asked to pay what they can for meals, but no one is denied food due to inability to pay. FPC members serve as volunteers every week, delivering meals for a specific route on the same day each week, or as a member of a team providing meals on a route one day a month, or as a substitute.

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Galveston Food Resources Card -

  • We have created a handout card listing local organizations addressing food insecurity. The card is designed to be shared with individuals encountered in the community requesting money for food, and to familiarize our congregation with referral resources—cards available in Fellowship Hall (copies in English and Spanish).

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The Luke Society Medical Mission –

  • For 30 Years, the Luke Society has operated a weekly open-air free clinic to help meet the health needs of the homeless and underserved of Galveston. Staffed by volunteer physicians, nurses, students, and lay workers, the clinic is held each Saturday morning in the FPC parking lot (20th and Church Streets). FPC also provides a storage area within our building for Luke Society supplies. Volunteers are occasionally needed to assist on Saturday mornings; members are encouraged to donate toiletries and hygiene supplies or money.

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St. Vincent’s House Free Clinic –

  • St. Vincent’s House operates a free clinic for the disadvantaged, underserved, and working poor population of the greater Galveston community. Qualified Volunteers needed to assist with this clinic held at the St. Vincent’s campus at 2817 Post Office.

 

Access Care of Coastal Texas (ACCT)-

  • Provides compassionate, community-based Access to Care for individuals in the area living with HIV, offering awareness/education, prevention, and support. FPC members assist by serving as volunteers and making monetary donations.

  • Local Partners for Children

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  • East End Preschool (EEP)

  • A non-profit parent cooperative preschool and partial-day kindergarten, which is housed in FPC.   FPC provides scholarship money via Freitag Peterson Burgess Trust for tuition for qualified students.

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Salvation Army Angel Tree

  • FPC partners with the Salvation Army in its Angel Tree program to provide Christmas presents for the children of disadvantaged families in the Galveston community. Volunteers are needed to “adopt” one or more Angel Tree children, purchase the suggested gifts, and deliver them to FPC. Help is also required to screen applicant families and to offer all gifts from the church to the Salvation Army Center.

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Pregnancy Help Center of Galveston -

  • Provides support, testing, maternal education, and material assistance to women of Galveston County during and after their pregnancy. FPC participates in the annual “Change for Change” fundraiser by collecting and donating loose change between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day to support the Center.

 

Galveston Diaper Bank –

  • Addresses diaper & incontinence hygiene insecurity, serving low-income families with infants and toddlers, and seniors or disabled individuals with incontinence needs. FPC held a Christmas Eve Diaper offering 12/24 with proceeds delivered to the Diaper Bank. Other opportunities for volunteering: assisting with sorting and packing supplies for daycare partners and

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Family outreach programs.​Galveston

 

Urban Ministries (GUM) -

  • FPC has participated in a Back to School drive for school supplies for GUM’s School Supply Store where parents can shop for items at much reduced prices. Other volunteer opportunities:

  1. Wrapping gifts at the Christmas Toy Store;

  2. Help with Adult Advocate/Professional Development Class (filling out applications, interview skills, etc.);

  3. Serve as Spiritual Advocate (engage with others in Bible Study)

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Other Local Social Service Agencies

Galveston Seafarers’ Center​

  • A non-profit organization aimed at meeting the needs of men and women who live and work at sea. The Center provides a safe place to rest, relax, and enjoy spiritual expression, and offers services such as free internet, phone cards, recreation facilities, transportation, and counseling. FPC provides financial support to the Center through budgeted quarterly payments. During the holiday season (or other times of the year), FPC collects items and assembles Seafarers’ Gift Boxes to distribute to seafarers far from home.​

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Hope Ministry –

  • Community of Hope is an international non-denominational ministry that trains individuals to be lay pastoral caregivers. After completing Initial Training and commissioning, lay pastoral caregivers volunteer pastoral care in places such as Hospice, UTMB hospitals, AIDS Coalition, or St. Vincent’s House.​Outreach Fund Grants​Since 2004.

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Outreach Fund Grants Ministry

  • ​ Since 204 the Outreach Fund Committee has The Ministry sub-committee, reviewed proposals and awarded annual grants “to develop and support innovative and inspiring outreach programs and activities” in our community. Interest earned from certain funds or trusts are allocated as the Outreach Fund, and each year annual grants are awarded to local non-profit organizations, totaling about $50,000

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​National/International Partners​Presbyterian Church USA Special Offerings –

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         FPC promotes and collected special offerings including​

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​​     One Great Hour of Sharing –

  •     collected during designated Easter season worship         services,  this offering benefits Presbyterian Disaster Assistance,

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    Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self- 

        Development of People Offering

  • collected on World Communion Sunday (October) – benefits peacemaking work in our community (25% of offering stays with our congregation), in our Presbytery and around the world Joy Gift Offering-collected during designated Christmas season worship services to benefit retired church workers and their families, and the traditionally racial/ethnic colleges of the Presbyterian Church​

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Alternative Christmas Market-Promotion of alternative gift giving-

  •  Help artisans from across the globe earn a sustainable living by purchasing gifts of fair-trade crafts and food (SERRV catalog) Or honor those on your shopping list with a gift to Presbyterian Giving Catalog or a donation to charities such as Heifer International.

community
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