First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Illinois - 321 South Seventh S
 

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Presbyterian Church Washington Office
— "When Jesus was asked to state the greatest commandment, he replied, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart ... And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." In this complex age, one way we love our neighbors is to help shape the laws and policies that define how we live together in God's world."— from PC(USA) site's "What is the Washington Office?"



Church World Service
" is a cooperative humanitarian ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox, and Anglican denominations, providing sustainable self-help and development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance in more than 80 countries." — from the site's home page.


logo: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
"provide(s) a ministry of relief and response to national and international disasters, aid to refugees and displaced persons, refugee resettlement, and efforts toward development" Out of chaos, Hope — from the site's home page.


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Tolerance.org

— a Web project of the Southern poverty law center.


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Fair Trade Online Store
Need a gift? Look here for great ideas.



The Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault offers free confidential sexual-assault services, including counseling, community education, professional training and a 24-hour hot line (753-8081).

Sojourn Shelter is a domestic violence shelter offering counseling services to victims of teen dating violence. It also offers a prevention program geared toward teens called RU4 Respect. Its 24-hour hot line is 726-5200 or (866) HELP-4-DV.



box of cans © 2007 iStockphoto.comempty

Deacons'
Food Pantry
Food of the Month:
Chunky Soup

The Deacons have asked for chunky soup for the Food Pantry. For monetary donations, make your check out to First Presbyterian Church and note that it is for the Deacon's Food Pantry. (Open M - Th, 9:00 AM - Noon)

In December —
the Food Pantry served

392 adults,
174 children, and
170 sack lunches.

December donations received:
First Presbyterian Church
- 508 items


PDF icon Good Samaritan Ministries November report can be downloaded in PDF form here.


Mary todd Lincoln with children


Influenced by the stories of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, who, with their children, occupied a pew in our congregation, we are thoughtful about spiritual journeys — where they may lead, the courage required, the love of family and children that inspire, despair that may break through, joy that revives, conviction that is necessary. We understand that our actions do affect communities of people far into a future that we will never see.

We hear the call to step into the circle of justice, kindness, and mercy . . . and know that, in the act of stepping in, we are not simply adding one more ingredient to our lives — we are choosing to put feet to our prayers, working to bring down the barriers between individuals, the barriers between God and people, and the barriers between societal expectations and people.

How do we know when we have stepped into the circle? When we cannot tell whether we are giving or receiving. That is the moment in time.

He drew a circle that shut me out — Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in!

-- Edwin Markham


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What if we ended world hunger?
Go to this site for a gift that keeps on giving:  Heifer International



logo_Presbyterian Coffee Project

Presbyterian Coffee Project
Because we drink a lot of coffee and often take for granted what is involved in getting it to our coffee cups, the Mission Committee has adopted the use of fair trade products, coffee and tea and chocolate, for First Presbyterian Church. Through an ecumenical organization called Equal Exchange, farmers earn a fair price for their products, have access to affordable credit, and gain a long-term trading partner they can trust. Small-scale farmers in Latin America, Africa and Asia benefit.
More . . .



First Presbyterian Church has played a key role in developing these Springfield area ministries that continue to flourish:

Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Sangamon County


Habitat for Humanity
of Sangamon County


Health First (Free Medical Clinic)

Computer Banc— which provides free, refurbished computers to needy families.



Serving . . .


. . . and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
— Micah 6: 8

Food Ministries
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— Lunches for the homeless —
Brown bag lunches, assembled by church members, are distributed from First Presbyterian Church's Good Samaritan Wing from 11:00 AM until Noon (as long as supplies last) Monday through Thursday.

Deacons' Food Pantry —
Non-perishable food, is distributed from First Presbyterian Church's Good Samaritan Wing, four days a week. We can always use chili, peanut butter, spaghetti with meat balls, ravioli, macaroni & cheese, and Spam. Together we can feed many hungry people. Deacons' Food Pantry Ministry reports can be found on our home page, right hand column.

— Meals on Wheels
Volunteers deliver meals two weeks each year. Each route takes approximately 1 1/2 hours to cover (from the food pick up at Memorial Hospital at 11:15 AM to the return of the ovens to the Red Cross). Please call about the next opportunity. Contact person: Mary Patton (217.546.4645).


Caregiving Ministries
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— Caregiver Interfaith Volunteer Services (CIVS)
Managed by St. John’s Third Age Living, its purpose is to help the elderly who can no longer drive to stay in their homes. Many area churches have a chapter with a coordinator and volunteers. First Presbyterian Church volunteers are Lou VonBehren, Bruce Fenimore, Don Ecklund, Roy and JoAnn Wehrle. Tom DeLay was one of the first volunteers; he participated faithfully until his recent illness. Joan Kroll is the coordinator.

Services provided by CIVS include transportation for doctor's visits, grocery shopping, beauty parlor appointments, and funerals. Minor home repair and caregiver relief are also available. Volunteers are screened by St. John's Third Age Living, and there is always a need for willing souls. Contact Joan Kroll at 217.546.0805 to become a caregiver or to request assistance.

— Good Samaritan Ministries: Counseling and special assistance through the First Presbyterian Church's Social Compassion Fund. Trained workers offer assistance with paperwork, transportation tokens and vouchers, financial counseling, referrals and advocacy.

Youth plant bulbs at Habitat House

Housing Ministries
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— SOS Shelter

After a homeless man's hypothermia death in 2005, First Church member-volunteers helped develop the Springfield Overflow Shelter (SOS), an emergency shelter that operates during the hypothermia season (November - March). We continue to prepare meals and assist shelter personnel afer providing an initial $5,000 in financial assistance to institute a professional staff position.

Habitat for Humanity — Members of all ages regularly participate in local Habitat for Humanity building projects, working with other churches and members of the community. Several youth members participated in the recent 12th Youth Build partnership. Don Ecklund (217.787.7810) is contact for this ministry.

Helping Hands is a crisis shelter for homeless men and women in Springfield.  For the past seven years, First Presbyterian Church has provided a meal on the first Tuesday of the month.  These meals are greatly appreciated by the residents and the staff who never fail to say “thank you” each time we are there. More than eighteen people have helped with this mission. 

Ecumenical Relief Ministries
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First Presbyterian Church gave $10,000 to the Salvation Army for Hurricane Relief in 2006. The Salvation Army continues to receive offerings from our events: two upcoming are the Goosebumps Organ Concert on October 31, 2009 and the 1850s Community Carol Sing on December 5, 2009.

First Presbyterian Church has given thousands of dollars for Darfur relief, and we have adopted a commitment to offer a regular U2 Eucharist worship experience in which we will raise funds to alleviate extreme poverty and population plagues globally. Please visit our U2 Eucharist page.

Four special offerings, designated by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to provide congregations direct ways of supporting specific causes that help those in need, are collected each year: the Joy Offering, the Peacemaking Offering, the Pentecost Offering, and One Great Hour of Sharing.

Broader ecumenical programs include the annual Crop Walk, with funds going to help those in developing countries; the Mitten Tree for FPC's Good Samaritan Ministries, Angel Tree Christmas, Central Illinois Community Blood Center, The Displaced Homemakers Program at Lincoln Land Community College.


International Ministries
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First Church's sister parish is Sancti Spiritus Presbyterian Church in Cuba. We have made several trips to share in ministry through the exchange of faith stories and the forging of a partnership of cultures that has opened a new door of understanding and spiritual growth for us. In 2008, we hosted three Cubans from Sancti Spiritus. Please visit our Cuba Partnership page.


"The Central Illinois Organizing Project (CIOP)
is an ecumenical, faith-based community organization. It encompasses 12 counties in central Illinois and includes the communities of Springfield Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Champaign-Urbana, Danville, Peoria, and rural Logan county." — from the site's home page.

In the spring of 2007, CIOP helped to organize HUC - Homeless United for Change. See State Journal-Register (SJ-R) Opinion about Springfield's homeless.

From Don Carlson, Executive Director Central Illinois Organizing Project (CIOP) on 9/24/2008 (Regional Office: 510 E. Washington St. Suite 309 Bloomington, IL 61701 voice: 309-827-9627 fax: 309-828-4340 www.ciop.org) ——

For more opportunities and information in mission and justice, follow this link.


To participate in the ministries listed on this page, please call the church office, 217.528.4311.
We can always use hygiene items (deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors), new socks and underwear in all sizes, non-perishable food, and financial donations. There is an ongoing need for volunteer cooks for a variety of mission meals.

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© First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Illinois | 321 South 7th Street . Springfield, IL 62701 . tele: 217.528.4311 . fax: 217.528.0768
Updated March 4, 2010

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