Service to others is at the heart of our faith. Jesus called us to “care for my people.” We invite everyone to join us in this work. We recognize that service is a source of our strength and, as such, encourage hands-on participation in it by members and friends of our congregation. Our high school youth group participates in an annual mission trip so they can experience the joy of helping others.
At First Church we strive to balance local and global mission support, placing emphasis on organizations with active church member involvement. In September, 2014 we hosted several of the local organizations we support at a Mission Fair to help people learn more about them. Information about many of the organizations can be found in our mission fair booklet, and photos of the fair can be seen in our mission fair photo album.
Below are some of the agencies that we have recently supported through monetary contributions, service or other donations:
Action Centered Tutoring provides faith-based, after-school tutoring for youth in Springfield
CONASPEH supports growth of Protestant churches, education, medical clinics, and economic development in Haiti. An ad-hoc committee oversees this effort. More about First Church’s commitment to mission in Haiti can be found on the Haiti page.
First Church Youth Group annual mission trip
Freedom Dogs offers custom-trained specialty service dogs to wounded members of the military returning from armed conflict
Friends of the Homeless operates the largest emergency shelter for adults in Western MA
Fuel Fund helps families of Greater Springfield pay for heating fuel
Food Bank of Western MA provides emergency food to western Massachusetts
Gray House helps Springfield neighbors in transition to achieve a more stable, safe, productive, and spiritually satisfying life through education and community service
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Springfield works to eliminate substandard housing and homelessness
Hospice Life Care/Holyoke VNA provides compassionate care to terminally ill patients throughout the Pioneer Valley
Loaves & Fishes is a soup kitchen that serves the homeless in Springfield
Minister’s Discretionary Fund
Open Pantry Community Services provides services for the hungry, homeless, or disadvantaged of Springfield
Our Church’s Wider Mission supports the collaborative local and global ministries of the United Church of Christ, including disaster relief, refugee assistance, advocacy for peace and human rights, and more
The People’s Center collects and distributes clothes to the needy
Springfield Rescue Mission provides physical and spiritual support for the hungry, homeless, addicted, and poor
