WAYS YOU CAN SERVE
Glorifying God Through Outreach
LOCAL MISSION OUTREACH
STEWPOT:
In 1985, the Natchez Community Stewpot opened its doors to help alleviate hunger and assist with meals for the elderly, handicapped and shut-ins of our community. First Presbyterian provides annual financial support, provides volunteers to deliver meals to shut-ins on Sundays after worship services, and cooks and serves Sunday meals once a month.
FOOD BOX MINISTRY:
Once a month, FPC provides food boxes to local people with needs, who pick them up at the church office.
DISASTER RECOVERY:
First Presbyterian Church serves a community that regularly experiences weather-related emergencies. When a tornado or severe storm destroys a part of our community, our emergency relief volunteers mobilize to help. Emergency food and shelter are among the services provided to those in immediate need.
Recently, for a period of several months, FPC provided food and emergency funds to those impacted by the tornado in Rolling Fork, MS.
BOY SCOUTS:
FPC provides financial support and in-kind services to our local Boy Scout troop, which meets weekly in the Education Building.
AA MEETINGS:
FPC provides in-kind services for our local AA organization, which meets regularly in the basement of Stratton Chapel.
PILL BOTTLE MINISTRY:
FPC participates in this Matthew 25 Ministry, along with other local churches, to provide reusable plastic prescription bottles that are used in Medical Mission work. Drop off you empty medicine bottles in the collection boxes in both Stratton Chapel as well as the church office.
DIGITAL WORSHIP STREAMING:
First Presbyterian Church provides live streaming coverage of our weekly worship service at 10:30am on Sundays. The live streaming service is available on FPC’s Facebook page as well as on FPC’s YouTube channel.
NATCHEZ IN HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS GALLERY:
Located on the second floor of Stratton Chapel, the historic photo gallery is a primary tourist destination in Natchez. Photos from the Civil War era until World War II document daily life in Natchez to the delight of thousands of visitors throughout the year. Volunteer docents make a visit to the photo gallery special as well as reflecting the connection of First Presbyterian Church to the life of the entire Natchez community.
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
Haiti
Since 2010, FPC has partnered with Haiti Outreach Ministries to spread the good news of Christ to thousands of Haitians and to provide better health and education. Nearly 2000 children attend Christian schools at four campuses. Many of them are sponsored by Presbyterians who donate $36 per child per month.
FPC sponsors an entire classroom of 30 students.
Mexico
FPC's oldest international ministry is on the beautiful Yucatan Peninsula where our partner, Rev. Fernando Ramirez, goes to remote interior villages to plant Presbyterian churches. Since our partnership began in 1998, he has established five new churches and is currently developing a congregation in the town of Iturbide. We send a monthly stipend to defray his expenses.
Brazil
Our partnership churches in Northeast Brazil (Natal and Caico) are planting new congregations in towns where there is no evangelical presence. They are also providing much-needed clean water to rural families in the dry Northeastern states of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraiba by installing cisterns to store rain during the brief rainy season. To date, about 500 cisterns have been dug.
SESSION COMMITTEES
CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: SAMMY GORE AND SANDRA BURKES
This committee explores and initiates activities designed to bring the FPC community together. This committee recently initiated a “small dinners” project that brings members together for fellowship.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS: MARC DOYLE
This committee maintains and expands FPC’s digital communications activities. These include the weekly live streaming service, the FPC website, and numerous weekly digital news letters and announcements.
EDUCATION: CHUCK BORUM
This committee oversees FPC’s Bible Study initiatives as well as a variety of additional educational activities throughout the year. These include the Men’s Prayer Breakfasts on Tuesday mornings, our Rally Day activities that kick off the Fall season at FPC, including the “Blessing of the Backpacks,” our Wednesday Night activities, including dinner, and bible study for both adults and youth, and our Book Club meetings.
FINANCE: BOBBY MEASON
This committee is responsible for managing the annual FPC budgeting process and monitoring the financial activities of FPC throughout the year.
MISSION: GEORGE BATES
This committee focuses on both our local as well as our international mission activities.
PROPERTY: ANNE VIDAL SUEN
This committee is charged with monitoring and maintaining FPC’s historic property in downtown Natchez
WORSHIP: CARA MOODY
This committee manages and provides support for FPC’s worship services: both the regularly scheduled weekly Sunday services as well as unscheduled services for weddings, funerals, etc.
