MISSION

The church is called to mission. As God has sent Jesus into the world, so Jesus sends us (John 20: 21). "By the Holy Spirit all who believe and are baptized receive a ministry to witness to Jesus as Savior and Lord and to love and serve those with whom they live and work" (RCA Liturgy). We are called to serve others in the name of Christ by caring for the suffering, relieving the oppressed, proclaiming the message of reconciliation, working for justice, and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. From the  goal statements

LOCAL MISSIONS

Food Pantry
The current food pantry is really a continuation of the centuries old custom of taking care of widows, orphans and the homeless through the Deacons Fund since the reformation in the 1500’s.

The food pantry serves people in the neighborhood and is managed by a Community Outreach Worker with the help of volunteers. In 2008, the food pantry served 379 families, many of them several times.

Monthly supplies of food and other grocery store essentials, such as diapers and toothpaste, are distributed. Other programs such as “Back-to-School-Night”, “Mitten Tree”, “Christmas Shoppe” and “Thanksgiving Basket” minister to children and families around the holidays and other special times of the year.

• Our Food Pantry is open every Monday and Wednesday, and each 4th Saturday of the month, from 9:30 A.M. till 11:45 A.M

• Contact Barbara Morgan, Community Outreach Worker  463-4449 

Samaritan Counseling Center
First Church hosts an office for the Samaritan Counseling Center of the Capital District.  Samaritan provides individual and family counseling on a Christian basis. Fees are on a sliding scale.
www.samaritancounselingcenter.org      518-374-3514

 

Monthly Community Meals
First Church hosts a community meal, in our fellowship room, Zimmerman Hall, on the third Wednesday of each month, excluding December, at 5:30 P.M.

This monthly gathering is an opportunity for neighbors and church members to share a meal together and to get to know one-another better.

 

CROP Hunger Walk
First Church members participate in the annual CROP hunger walk. This is a national fundraising event organized by the Church World Services which distributes the proceeds to local food pantries and to international relief efforts.
www.churchworldservice.org

 

Alcoholics Anonymous
FCA hosts a weekly AA meeting in the church parlor on Wednesdays at 12:00 noon.
www.ny-aa.org/albany

 

Julie Blair Nursing Home worship service
One of the ministers and an elder lead a worship service once a month at the Julie Blair nursing home. Other churches lead services during the other weeks.

Albany Overflow Shelter for Men
First Church supports the Albany Overflow Shelter run by the Capital Area Council of Churches. We provide one or two meals a month for the clients.  This wintertime shelter accommodates up to 20 homeless men.

 

Equinox Thanksgiving Program
Each year a workgroup helps out with the food preparation for the Equinox Thanksgiving Dinner. This event feeds those of limited income as well as persons looking for dinner company on this holiday.
www.equinoxinc.org

 

Urban Day Camp
This one week Summer Bible School event is organized with support staff from Camp Fowler, the regional RCA summer camp. The Urban Day camp is held at First Church and provides opportunities for children to enjoy games, crafts, learning, worship, and nature study. Many of the programs take place outside the building. First Church has a small park where a tent is setup to accommodate this fun event.

Participants pay on a sliding scale fee.  The program attracts both neighborhood children as well as FCA youth group members.

 

Youth Missions
Read more about the yearly youth mission trip on the Youth Group Calendar.

 

 

GLOBAL MISSIONS

 

Christmas and Easter Offerings
Special offerings are received at the Easter and Christmas worship services. This money is distributed to local and/or global charities.  In the past this has included: Capital City Rescue Mission (homeless shelter), children’s nutrition in Honduras, Habitat for Humanity, etc.

 

International Missionaries
First Church supports, together with other RCA churches, Richard and Carol Otterness who serve the Roma people (also known as Gypsies) in Eastern Europe. We also support  Bruce and Laurie Hawley who help facilitate volunteer work groups working with RCA mission partners around the world.  
www.rca.org

 

Kibera Bone Jewelry Project
FCA has established a personal relationship with the Kibera Bone Jewelry Project, a self help group of widows and single mothers who live in the largest slum in Kenya.  Bones discarded by local butchers are made into fashion jewelry and other small items.  Because no middle men are involved, all proceeds, after taxes, go directly to the project which pays the women a salary so that they can become independent and regain their dignity. The project has also established an elementary school and provides advice to the adult population.
www.kiberajewelry.com

For a recent video, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB64l1toEd0.  And for recent news, click here.

 

Personal Activities
FCA encourages its members to be involved in other mission activities such as: Church World Service, Bread-for-the-World, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, the Israel-Palestinian Peace Initiative, the yearly Ecumenical Advocacy Days in Washington D.C., and many other programs.  Our pastor and his wife have participated in a Christian Peacemaker Team.  Read their reports here and here.