HOW WE SERVE

Missions

Our Mission and Evangelism Committee has a long history of outreach, both in our local community and internationally with a number of long-standing projects. Our committed members also try to find new ways to share the resources of our small congregation as we go about fulfilling our vision statement with God's help.

Here are some examples of groups we help and events we are planning in the near future as we try to do God's work at First P. C.:

Youth Service Bureau

Our congregation regularly gives monetary and other donations to this worthwhile local organization.

Community and Family Services

Community and Family Services is a government and privately funded, not-for-profit organization which oversees a number of programs over a six-county area. Those include Energy Assistance, Head Start, WICK, and Weatherization. Others include People Helping People, a food bank (including a coupon program), and a clothing center, all of which First Presbyterian supports with time and money.

Homeless Shelter

The Jay County Homeless Shelter is unique in Indiana. Our Shelter is operated by local donations. They have 12 rooms that are made available for no longer than 30 days. The building houses a small kitchen for their use and also a washer and dryer. We provide financial assistance to the shelter.

Programs

Christian Education and Youth

The Christian Education Committee develops and supervises the educational programs of our church. This includes selecting curriculum, recruiting volunteers and planning special events. Included in these events are Vacation Bible School, The Christmas Pageant, and Senior Breakfast for our graduating seniors and their families. Vacation Bible School is a time to provide a spiritual setting with story telling, crafts, games, songs, and snacks for our children in the church and reach out to include the children in the community.

Worship and Music

First Presbyterian Church of Portland, IN has several committees which strive to provide an exceptional place to worship God for everyone. One of these committees is the Worship & Music Committee. The Worship & Music Committee plans regular and special worship services in conjunction with the music staff and pastor. Other responsibilities include arranging substitutes for when the pastor is away, approval of baptisms, scheduling lay readers, ushers, communion servers and other responsibilities also. We members invite you to take part in our worship service every Sunday Morning. The Worship and Music committees welcome your input.

Session

The Session is responsible for governing the congregation and guiding its witness to the sovereign activity of God in the world so that the congregation is and becomes a community of faith, hope, love and witness. In seeking to help the congregation be and become this community, the session has an important role as it engages in prayerful discernment and attends to how God's Spirit may be at work in the congregation and in the broader community.

Shepherding Program

The Shepherding program has been created to establish care teams of one elder and one deacon. The purpose of the care teams is to strengthen member care and help us to stay in touch with our entire church family, allowing us to minister to those who need help spiritually and physically.

The Deacons

The Deacons have various jobs that they are responsible for: The Deacons prepare communion for the First Sunday of each month, and also for special services such as Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Service and Christmas Eve Service. The Deacons take care of condolence dinners, Ash Wednesday breakfast and provide food for the Senior Breakfast. The Deacons also decorate the sanctuary, maintain the kitchen and organize the church library. The Deacons willingly take charge of memorials, scholarships, visitation of shut-ins, and the ushering schedule.

Presbyterian Women's Association

Our association has existed for over sixty years. Our purpose/mission provides the basis for our yearly programs and budget. The purpose reads as follows:

Forgiven and Freed by God in Jesus Christ...We Commit Ourselves: To Nurture Our Faith Through Prayer and Bible Study: Two Women's Gatherings are held each year and include a program, business meeting, and fellowship.
To Support the Mission of the Church worldwide: Money from the Angie Wilson Fund is used to support Whitewater Valley Worldwide Missions and Women in the Synod. The members contribute to Least Coin, Thank Offering, and Birthday Offering.
To Work for Justice and Peace and to Build an Inclusive, Caring Community of Women that Strengthens the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Witnesses to the Promise of God's Kingdom: The members support various local missions including the Youth Services Bureau and our local Head Start programs.