First Presbyterian Church supports several world and local missions with guidance from the Mission Committee. The Mission Committee meets regularly on the fourth Thursday of each month. Updates on mission work are shared through the church newsletter and “Minute for Mission” presentations during worship service.
Special Offerings
The second Sunday of each month is designated for collection during worship service of the Nickel-a-Meal offering. People are encouraged to donate a nickel for each meal eaten that month. The Presbytery of WNC uses the money for both local and international hunger projects.
The Mission Committee also coordinates the four special denominational offerings of the PC(USA): One Great Hour of Sharing (Easter), Pentecost (Pentacost Sunday), Peacemaking (World Communion Sunday), and Christmas Joy Gift (December).
Foreign Missionaries (partially supported by this church)
Operation Christmas Child
First Presbyterian Church has served as a gift box collection site during November in Western North Carolina for over a decade. The collection effort is coordinated by members Flora Gammon and John Dall. The OCC effort brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world. To learn more about the Operation Christmas Child ministry, click here.
Open Door
The vision of the Open Door Ministries is to feed the hungry and provide a safe Christian environment that offers Christ-centered educational programs and assistance to everyone. They do this by providing hot meals (breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday, dinner on Saturday, and lunch and dinner on Sunday), clothing assistance for new jobs, and a special ministry for ex-inmates and families. They operate a thrift shop (Second Blessing) to help finance their programs. First Presbyterian assists in serving at the Open Door on the first and third Thursdays of the month. Please contact Doris Inbody if you are interested in serving or Madeleine Dammann if you would like to help cook. Sylvia Lonnee organizes a crew for the rare fifth Friday of the month.
Food Collection Basket
The congregation is encouraged to bring non-perishables any Sunday to help stock the pantries at the Open Door and Haywood Christian Ministries.
Haywood Christian Ministries
Haywood Christian Ministries proclaims the love of Christ to residents of Haywood County by ministering to their physical needs, which include: temporary shelter; food; utilities; clothing; household items and furniture; dental, medical, and prescriptions. They work closely with the Department of Social Services and other local ministries to provide for those in greatest need. The ministry depends heavily upon volunteers to assist with its day-to-day operations. To learn more about and volunteer with Haywood Christian Ministries, call (828) 456-4838.
The Presbyterian Home for Children
The Presbyterian Home for Children, located in Black Mountain, NC seeks to “glorify God by caring for children and families.” This 100-year-old Presbyterian ministry originally began in Haywood County taking in orphans. Currently the Home provides a stable and loving environment for over thirty neglected and abused children. A new expanded outreach has been the construction of an independent living house for older teens who are still full-time students. Each Christmas, members of the church stuff and deliver Christmas stockings for children living at the Home. A major fund-raiser is the Craft Fair held each October. Learn more about PHC in Black Mountain by clicking here.
