First Presbyterian Church of Springfield Illinois | Mission and Justice Ministries

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. 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. Tolerance.org — a Web project of the Southern poverty law center. 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.

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

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

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 . . .

shadow profiles

A person who is homeless "lacks a fixed, regular night-time residence and is living on the street, in a car, abandoned building, etc., in a shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing for homeless people, or he/she is seven days from eviction or exit from a short-term institution (less than 30 days) with no resources and nowhere to go."

A person who is chronically homeless is an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless — living on the streets or in a shelter — for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in three years. "
— Source: Department of Housing and Urban Development

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.

Placing our Faith in Action
Mission and Justice Ministries
at First Presbyterian Church

. . . 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

— Lunches for the homeless —
Brown bag lunches, made by church members, are distributed from the First Presbyterian Church 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 the First Presbyterian Church Good Samaritan Wing, four days a week. We can always use chili, peanut butter, spaghetti with meat balls, ravioli, and Spam. Together we can feed many hungry people. Food Pantry service figures can be found on our home page, right hand column.

— Meals on Wheels
Volunteers deliver meals two weeks each year, currently for a 70 route week. 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 the church (217.528.4311) about the next opportunity. Contact person: Mary Patton (217.546.4645).

Caregiving Ministries

— Caregiver Interfaith Volunteer Services (CIVS) Volunteers assist older adults to remain independent in their homes. Services can be transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping or errands, minor home repairs, respite care - up to four hours a week, friendly visits. Volunteers do not transport wheelchairs or perform personal care services.

— Counseling and special assistance through the First Presbyterian Church Social Compassion Fund
Trained workers offer assistance with paperwork, transportation tokens and vouchers, financial counseling, referrals and advocacy. One volunteer works on the street directly with the homeless where they live. Another works closely with HUC (Homeless United for Change). This expanding ministry can always use volunteers.

Youth plant bulbs at Habitat House

Housing Ministries

— 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. One of our members, a nurse, has also begun a foot washing ministry, offering care to homeless persons with "sidewalk damaged feet."

— 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 were leaders in the recent 11th Youth Build partnership. The 12th Youth Build began this summer. 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 2 1/2 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 18 people have helped with this mission.

Ecumenical Relief Ministries

First Presbyterian Church gave $10,000 to the Salvation Army for Hurricane Relief in 2006. The Salvation Army continues to receive offerings from our fundraising events: two upcoming are The Halloween / All Saints' Organ Concert and Light Show on November 1, 2008 and the 1850s Community Carol Sing on December 7, 2008.

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

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.

First Church has provided office space for CIOP and has worked for nighttime bus service. 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) ——
Friends, Homeless United for Change (HUC-CIOP) central Illinois' only homeless rights community organization won the Humanitarian Group of the Year award in Springfield yesterday. Barb Olson (First Presbyterian Church) helped accept the award. This has been quite a year for HUC. They sponsored the Federal Inter-Agency on Homelessness and Director Mangano conference attended by a couple hundred citizens, initiated a direct action on Springfield's Mayor for inaction on earlier promises, and won some crucial victories toward eliminating homelessness in Springfield. All this was done with the leadership of homeless citizens, formerly homeless and housed leaders.

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.