Links to Opportunities

"Sustainability boils down to this: Don't eat your seed corn.

How do we supply the present without compromising the future - at work, in our communities, markets, environment? American Public Media invites your thoughts and ideas" at Living a Sustainable Life
. . . from the website

PC(USA) The 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 the website.

Our red brick church —
highlights these
Green opportunities:

Presbyterians
For Restoring Creation
Join this intergenerational faith community of people who share an eco-justice ethic.


Springfield Old Capital Farmers Market
~ Summertime:
May 21-October 29 ~
Wednesdays and Saturdays | 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
— at Adams Street, between 4th and 6th Streets, Downtown

(Barb Elbrecht, Downtown Springfield Inc. 217-544-1723
E-mail: barb@downtownspringfield.org)

First Presbyterian Church incubated Computer Banc in 1999, providing office space, utilities and other support until the organization could grow up and move out on its own. Computer Banc provides recycled computers to needy families, enabling them to keep up with the world through advancing technology. The organization has outgrown our space and has relocated: our members remain active and orientation sessions continue to meet in our building. 
http://www.computerbanc.org/

First Presbyterian Church of Springfield incubated the “Health First” agency in 1994 — a free medical clinic housed in First Presbyterian Church and staffed by volunteers. The need was great and this agency grew, relocated, and evolved into the “Central Counties Health Centers, Inc.” (FQHC). It is now funded by federal and state grants. — Central Counties Health Centers, Inc., Forrest Olson, CEO/President, 2239 E Cook Street, Springfield, IL 62703, Phone: (217) 788-2300, folson@centralcounties.org

Mission and Justice
Information and Opportunities

Springfield Area
Homeless Ministry Opportunities




Helping Hands — is a crisis shelter for homeless men and women in Springfield.  For the past 2 1/2 years, First Presbyterian Church has provided a meal on the first Tuesday of the month. More than eighteen people have helped with this mission, and one of our members serves on the Board. (First Tuesdays, evening) http://www.helpinghandssi.org/

After a homeless man's hypothermia death in 2005, First Church member-volunteers helped develop the Springfield Overflow Shelter, an emergency shelter that operates during the hypothermia season (November - March). We continue to prepare meals and assist shelter personnel. We provided an initial $5,000 in financial assistance to institute a professional staff position for this ongoing ministry for staff. One of our nurses has also begun a foot washing ministry, offering care to homeless persons with "sidewalk damaged feet" after recognizing this urgent heath and spiritual need among those without homes. (November through March — all night)

First Church provides brown bag lunches for homeless people. (Monday through Thursday, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM each week)

Counseling and special assistance through the First Presbyterian Church Social Compassion Fund: Trained social workers offer assistance to the most needy and vulnerable in our community, by providing transportation tokens and vouchers, financial counseling, and nurture.  Meaningful relationships are established with the poorest of our community through this ministry. One volunteer works on the street directly with the homeless where they live. (Currently 10 or more are living at the public library across the street from our building.) (When funds are available: The street volunteer may be working at any hour, day or night.)

Darfur, Sudan
What is happening in Africa mocks our pieties, doubts our concern, and questions our commitment to that whole concept. Because if we're honest there's no way we could conclude that such mass death day after day would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else. —Bono

The Sudan Advocacy Forum, of which the Presbyterian Church (USA) is a part, asks its supporters to:
PRAY - that the needs of the persecuted will be met for the redemption of persecutors for guidance for peace negotiations for people giving humanitarian relief;
ACT - communicate with U.S. government officials and the United Nations to monitor violations of human rights and the adherence to provisions of the shaky peace agreement already agreed to;
GIVE - through experienced agencies that have laid the proper groundwork, such as our own PC(USA) Worldwide Ministries. Make the check out to PC(USA), write on the memo line "Sudan
DR000034".  Mail to: Presbyterian Church (USA), Individual Remittance Processing, P.O. Box 6437000, Pittsburgh, PA.  15264-3700.

Background: The PC(USA)'s history in Sudan dates back to 1901 when the first missionaries from the American Mission in Egypt were sent to Khartoum. The PC(USA) has had ongoing partnership with two Presbyterian denominations in Sudan since that time, the Presbyterian Church of Sudan and the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. The PC(USA) has also worked closely with the two councils of churches in Sudan, with Dr. Haruun Ruun the Executive Director of the New Sudan Council of Churches being a PC(USA) Mission Co-Worker. Today we continue to work through PDA (Presbyterian Disaster Assistance) with direct aid, and through church councils. Please visit our denomination's web page about Sudan here.