Mission

The mission of First Presbyterian Church is  to form disciples who are  invested in reflecting the love of Christ Jesus to the world.

 

Our Guiding Values:


Love: We desire to express love, as exhibited by our Lord Jesus Christ, to all we encounter.


Acceptance:  We intend to accept others as we meet them, recognizing that we are all flawed and in need of acceptance.


Non-Judgmental:  Striving to accept others, we wish to be non-judgmental and ready to encourage and support our neighbors.


Service:  Our goal is to serve others, beginning with each other and extending beyond our doors to our immediate community and to the global community.

 

Church Street Cafe

A ministry of hospitality, we provide groceries to our community neighbors on the second and fourth Tuesdays each month.  We work in partnership with the Midwest Food Bank to acquire some of the food we give to our guests.  We completed a summary report in May 2021 which summarizes this outreach ministry over its first five years.


 

Mission Grants

Each year we invite a dozen or so past mission partners to apply for grants which we fund from our Mission Endowment.  Three grants are usually awarded, each in the $2,000 range, for specific projects in the local community, regionally, and sometimes to missionary partners in Northwest Haiti.

Five Cents a Meal Grants

We participate in this program of the Holston Presbytery, collecting an offering the last Sunday each month which is sent to the Presbytery.  We then apply for grants from this program each July, awarded the following January, to support food or water projects from local, regional, or international mission partners.

KARM Corners of Your Field


We encourage our church members and friends to donate used but usable household goods and clothing to the Knox Area Rescue Ministries in the name of our church.  KARM then sends us gift cards to their thrift stores, which we give to our Church Street Café guests. 

Neighborhood Center Necessities Pantry

We collect items donated by our church members and friends and deliver them to the Necessities Pantry at the Jefferson County Neighborhood Center.  Low income families who are applying for Food Stamps and other assistance can obtain basic items like shampoo, soap, toilet paper, etc. that we donate to the Center.  These are necessities of life that cannot be purchased with Food Stamps, and are much appreciated by the recipients.

Prayer Shawl Ministry (Sit and Knit)

We have a dedicated group of knitters who produce shawls and scarves and baby blankets which are given to those in need of them due to illness or loss.  Anyone in the congregation can request an item, which is given or sent to the recipient with a card signed by church members who are praying for that person.

Special Offerings

One Great Hour of Sharing of the PC(USA): The three programs supported by this Offering - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People - all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. We receive this special offering on Easter Sunday.


Pentecost Offering of the PC(USA): This Offering unites us in a church-wide effort to support young people and inspire them to share their faith, ideas, and unique gifts with the church and the world. Psalm 71 testifies that a foundation of faith established during childhood helps ensure lifelong faith and service. The patterns and lessons established during these formative years continue to bear fruit throughout a person's life. By receiving the Pentecost Offering, you are nurturing the faith of those who are the church to come —  children, youth, and young adults. We receive this special offering on Pentecost Sunday.


Peace and Global Witness Offering of the PC(USA): This Offering encourages the church to cast off anxiety and fear, discord and division, and embrace our reconciling God's mission to those around the corner and around the world. Through this Offering, congregations are encouraged and equipped to find and address the anxiety and discord that is prevalent throughout this broken and sinful world. We receive this special offering on World Communion Sunday.


Christmas Joy Offering of the PC(USA): God has blessed the Church with incredible leadership in every time and place, but those leaders often need to be supported by their communities as well. This Offering addresses the support needed by some of our leaders, including supporting leadership development for communities of color, and providing support for Presbyterian church workers in their time of need. We receive this special offering on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.