| Old First Presbyterian Church | Tel: (631) 427-2101 | |
| (Founded in 1658) |
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Fax: (631) 427-2116 |
| 125 Main Street, | Email: ofc@oldfirstchurch.com | |
| Huntington, NY 11743 |
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LOCAL MISSION Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative The Huntington Interfaith Homeless Initiative or HIHI, was founded several months ago to address the needs of men and women who were found camping in the woods during the bitter Long Island winter last season because they lacked housing. The population of approximately 25 individuals is primarily undocumented aliens of mixed citizenship who are not eligible for county emergency housing services, and may also include some of the chronically homeless who may suffer from mental illness or substance abuse. HIHI is a partnership between the Family Services League and many local congregations and religious organizations in Huntington Township. HIHI is modeled on a project called Maureen’s Haven which is a project of the Peconic Housing Initiative, on the East End. HIHI was created specifically to address the needs of this underserved and growing population. It is a grass roots effort to ensure that the homeless of Huntington Township will have a safe and warm place to sleep during the coldest winter months. The group is trying to secure the commitment of seven area churches (as of middle of November, five local churches have each agreed to provide one night of shelter per week for the months November through March. Volunteers from other churches or our own will provide meals, transportation, sleep and toiletry supplies and equipment, and funds for supplies and/or unforeseen expenses. Ideally, the group would like to find a single shelter site other than a number of churches and HIHI continue to search for such a site. Members of the Mission Committee have met with representatives of HIHI and attended HIHI meetings to gather information and discuss our concerns The Mission Committee was interested in OFC being one of those sites (for one night a week). Unfortunately, we have been unable to obtain a comfort level in working out the details to recommend this to our governing bodies at this time. Though we are disappointed, we remain committed and are excited to participate as volunteers supporting other church sites. Perhaps next year, with more information and a little experience, we could reevaluate our role and be a residential site.
In the meantime, we have partnered with
Bethany Presbyterian Church, Park Avenue: They will provide the host site but
Old First will assist with chaperones, help prepare meals, laundry and help
cover some costs. Would you be willing to commit to this project in any way?
There are many ways that you and your family can help this invisible population.
First, talk to your loved ones about embracing the values of human
dignity, respect, service, compassion, teamwork, diversity, self-determination
and confidentially. Second, get involved. Be a delegate to the HIHI meetings,
twice a month on a Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the Family Services office
on Park Avenue. Volunteers are needed to cook, drive, chaperone, and donate
money, food, clothing, cots, blankets, backpacks, and toiletry items. We invite
you to join us in this endeavor and we welcome both your participation and your
feedback. If you do not have enough information to make a decision, speak to any
member of the Mission Committee. RECENT VISITORS REV. HECTOR MENDEZ The Reverend Hector Mendez visited Old First Church September 25-29. Rev. Hector Mendez is the pastor of our sister church, La Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana. He was President of the Cuban National Presbyterian Church from 1986-1992 and he continues to serve on the National Board in different capacities. He is currently on the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. Although he has lived in Cuba all his life, since his youth he has been involved with the Latin-American Union of Ecumenical Youth, The Latin American Council of Churches and the WCC. ZIMBABWE CHURCH LEADER The Reverend Paul Neshangwe, a Presbyterian from Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, recently visited Old First! He is involved in peacemaking initiatives, and actively engaged in ministries with people living with HIV/AIDS. Reverend Neshangwe preached at Old First on October 3, World Communion/Peacemaking Sunday. What a blessing to celebrate the universal reach of God’s love with a church leader and preacher from southern Africa. He also spoke at a luncheon following worship that day. ** The OFC Mission Committee would like to thank everyone who has supported our fund raising activities. With special thanks also to church members, not on our committee, who have helped us. Don't forget our Loose Change Offering for our missionaries in Malawi, Africa. Clean out your drawers, your pockets and pocketbooks, your car and all of those areas where your loose change hides…. What we as deem insignificant and unimportant could mean the world to people who earn less than $1000 a year. If you would like to join the Mission Committee or simply just help us out, please contact us: mission@oldfirstchurch.com Old First Mission Committee focus has always had three prongs:
Old First Church Mission projects are currently divided as follows:
- Cuba Mission - contact Lucy Fetterolf - - Malawi Mission - contact Candace Moose or John Malusa - - Local Mission - contact Bernard Reverdin or Mary Porter - - Unified Mission - contact Charles Worledge - - Youth - contact Kerry Degnan -
If you are interested in joining us, finding out more information about what we do, have ideas or questions please contact any of the above. Alternatively, just come to our next meeting, third Tuesday of the Month 8pm. AFRICAN MISSION COMMITMENT The Mission Committee has pledged the $3,000 budgeted in 2004 by the Session to Basic Mission Support, which goes to the mission budgets of our presbytery, synod, and General Assembly. Additionally, the Mission Committee has pledged $3,000 to three missionaries in Malawi, Africa, of all which must be raised. OFC has supported mission in Malawi in the past through our sheet project, the AIDS Box Project and the malaria Networks project. Malawi is a long, narrow, land- locked country in southeastern Africa about the size of Pennsylvania. It has a population of about 10 million where HIV infection is pandemic, and the per capita income is $900 per year. This is the setting in which our missionaries pursue their call to the ministry. Here is a brief description of our missionaries and their responsibilities. Dr. Sue Makin is an OB/GYN physician who runs a mission hospital in Mulanje, southern Malawi, and also teaches both doctors and nurses. The 140 bed maternity hospital cares for expectant mothers and their children. She describes the challenges of obstetrical medicine in Malawi as follows, "Many of these women suffer from major health problems during pregnancy, such as malaria, anemia, malnutrition and infections, leading to protracted labor with more complications. " Dr. Makin is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Frank and Nancy Dimmock live in the capital city of Lilongwe in central Malawi. Frank has served hospitals in Africa for many years. Presently, he coordinates health management and administration for three synods in Malawi. He facilitates the sharing of ideas and solutions to health issues, providing a framework for human and material resource management. Nancy supports this ministry with hospitality through their home for visitors and raises their six children. They are from Decatur, Georgia. Jim and Jodi McGill presently live in Mzuzu, northern Malawi, where they work providing clean water, sanitation and healthcare to this small town. The average life expectancy is 35 years, which reflects the high mortality rates from malaria and HIV/AIDS. Jodi is a nurse. She, as coordinator of primary health care, works with the Synod’s three hospitals managing the malaria prevention program and the HIV/AIDS prevention and care programs. Jim is the synod coordinator of protected water and buildings.
Jodi McGill, wearing a Malawi dress with our Mission Chair, Charles Worledge taken during her visit to Delaware, Spring 2004
LOOSE CHANGE COLLECTION "A LITTLE CHANGE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE" Set aside all of your loose change and donate it to our African missionaries. Clean out your pockets, your pocketbooks, and your piggy banks. Mission giving does not have to be painful. The loose change that we deem insignificant, so much so that we don’t even pay attention to it, can make a world of difference to people who make less than $1,000 a year. Save your change. Bring it to church on Sundays. The details about the location and design of the change receptacle will be forthcoming. The collection will continue through 2004.
RECENT OFFERINGS: Cuba Hot Lunch (details below)- Moment for mission and collection: May 9th 2004 Hot Lunch Program: Only a roll with cheese and a cup of broth - but for many it is not only nourishment for the long trip home, but also a symbol that we at Old first remember them and care about their well being. We do pray for our brothers and sisters at First Havana but we also help in this simple way. Senior Program: Dr. Mario Perez has organized a program for all the churches in the Presbyterian Church in Cuba that will aid seniors that have no family. All seniors receive a government pension in pesos but older people need to live with family and have a supplement of some kind. With some dollars church members go visit senior members who cannot leave the home easily and they take them medicines and food. The church at First Havana is a large church, full every Sunday, and still growing. Please help their programs. Checks can be made to Old First Church.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING: Holy Week Old First Church asks its members for their annual contribution to One Great Hour of Sharing. In past years descriptions of One Great Hour of Sharing have been given to you via this publication, from the pulpit in Moments for Mission, and in the weekly church bulletin. This will be the 55th year members of approximately 10,000 Presbyterian congregations committed time in prayer and action to the concerns of the hungry, communities impacted by disasters, and people in poverty who reach for a better life. Undesignated contributions to OGHOS are divided among three programs: 32% Presbyterian Hunger Program, 36% Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, 32% Self-Development of People
* Our Presbytery operates a grant system, mostly in partnership with particular churches of Long Island, which focus on specific projects or organizations. Among the mission projects of the Presbytery with which we are familiar: The Cuba partnership of eleven churches including Old First. The Presbytery provided a grant of $5,000 to support Cuban church leaders. Another important partnership is the Salvadoran project to assist youth in El Salvador. Four Long Island churches are partners in this effort. The Presbytery provides other grants in partnership with churches in specific projects relating to temporary housing, to assist victims of domestic violence, to help reduce bigotry and many more. In addition, the Presbytery’s mission program includes funds which help the Long Island Council of Churches, a project in peacemaking and justice, and financial help for training in stewardship, sponsored by the Stewardship Workgroup of the Presbytery. The mission grants require the financial support of individual churches including that of Old First Church through our Unified Mission pledge. It is therefore important that our congregation provides funds in our budget on account of Unified Mission.
Mission / Peacemaking Committee
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