First Presbyterian Church is highly responsive to opportunities that allow us to share God’s grace in communion with others. This includes volunteering in a wide variety of local missions, and participating in work projects around the country.
Social Justice Team
PURPOSE
We seek to educate, lead, and engage the Church to more authentically live out our faith with actions that reflect our prophetic call to “… let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:24).
We meet monthly to learn and plan how to minister in response to and advocate for the most vulnerable in our city and beyond. We seek to address their immediate needs and reform the systems and culture that contribute to their hardships.
In 2025 we focused on these goals:
- Homelessness and Affordable Housing in our Community
- Stewardship of the Earth
This has led to our church becoming a PCUSA Earth Care Congregation
Recognizing the complexities of housing and homelessness, we seek to inform the congregation with Minute for Mission announcements during worship and monthly newsletter articles. In conjunction with Missions Committee, we actively support and work with other local housing resources, including:
Earth Care Congregation
Recognizing that the earth and all creation belong to God, and in response to God’s call to be faithful, humble stewards of the earth, First Presbyterian earned the PCUSA Earth Care Congregation designation in 2024 and qualified for recertification in 2025 and 2026. Earth Care Congregations must demonstrate significant actions in worship, education, facilities, and outreach. Each year we look for new ways to invite the congregation to expand our care for and enjoyment of God’s amazing creation.
In September we celebrate the Season of Creation with weekly worship services centered around our relationship with God’s creation. Together we also engage in other learning and fellowship activities, including listening to speakers, a blessing of the animals, and an ecumenical prayer service dedicated to earth care. We are prompted in weekly Minutes for Mission announcements to adopt more earth-friendly habits.
What our congregation is accomplishing
Limiting single use plastics by using non-disposable dishes, flatware, glasses, and tablecloths for all church functions
Using glass communion cups
Recycling paper, metal cans, cardboard, aluminum, glass, batteries, used markers and highlighters, and composting coffee grounds
Using Eco-palms on Palm Sunday
Replacing old air conditioning units with energy efficient ones
Replacing windows throughout the church with energy efficient ones
Hosting Care of Creation book discussion classes twice a month
Selling Fair Trade items to promote economic and environmental justice
Working ecumenically with Interfaith Climate Action to educate the community on climate issues
Salvation Army
Our Salvation Army ministry involves the preparing and serving of meals at the Shelter of Hope for the residents of the shelter and others in our community. Currently children, youth and adults from our congregation serve meals six nights per month and additional volunteers are always welcome to participate.
Samaritan Center
Our church supports the Samaritan Center financially and with service. We participate in food drives, attend fund-raising events and adopt families at Christmas. Members adopt a family in partnership with one of our youth groups or the deacons. Or, they can select a specific gift from the “Star” Christmas tree to purchase and wrap for the family.
Common Ground
Common Ground Community Building is an ecumenical ministry supported by Jefferson City’s First United Methodist, Grace Episcopal, Central United Church of Christ, First Baptist Church and First Presbyterian Church. The program uses a rehabilitated building at the corner of Clark Ave. and Atchison St. to host after-school mentors, community meetings, sewing and computer classes, Fair Trade Store, benevolence office, HALO and other ministries.
Habitat
River City Habitat for Humanity is an ecumenical Christian housing ministry whose mission is to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. We have been involved with this non- profit organization since it began in 1992. You can help by working on the construction jobsites, working in the Restore, picking up aluminum cans from designated bins, helping with special events and fundraising, or helping in the office.
Transformational Housing
Transformational Housing (TH) is a Christian ecumenical non-profit organization seeking to provide quality, affordable rental housing in Jefferson City. Their aim is not just to provide quality rental housing, but to foster relationships of encouragement and accountability which lead to life change. Volunteers are always needed for coaches for the families, committees ranging from family support to fund-raising, and construction.
Jeff City Room at the Inn
Jefferson City Room at the Inn, JCRATI, is an emergency, overnight, low-barrier, homeless shelter operating during winter months. Many from our congregation have volunteered at the JCRATI. Volunteers have worked at the shelter during each of the three shifts and some have provided dinner and breakfast meals to the guests. Others have provided transportation to and from the shelter using our van.
Project Homeless Connect
Jefferson City Project Homeless Connect (PHC) is a one-day event meant to help those persons who are homeless or near-homeless overcome as many barriers to permanent housing as possible. Through the help of local social service agencies, local churches, local businesses, and many volunteers this event is possible. The mission of PHC is to connect those in Jefferson City experiencing homelessness with the care they need to move forward.
The Healing House and New Beginnings
The Healing House and New Beginnings program is a Christian recovery ministry designed to help women recover from substance use disorders; grow in their faith in Christ and in their responsibility to the community. Our congregation has supported this ministry since its inception in 2015. The vision is to equip and empower women who have experienced extraordinary life struggles to make an effectual change in their lives, families and communities through the application of spiritual principles rooted in God’s unconditional love and grace.
Food 4 Kids
First Presbyterian has hosted the Food 4 Kids summer feeding program for well over a decade. Filling the gap between the end of summer school and the new school year, Food 4 Kids volunteers prepare and pack sack lunches and deliver them to six different locations every weekday for seven weeks. In 2025, volunteers came from nine churches and 19 local businesses and organizations, many of whom have participated for years. A total of 629 volunteers of all ages walked through FPC’s doors to help feed hungry children, making and distributing 4,328 lunches and snack packs.
Mission JC: In the City, for the City,
A Morning of Service
First Presbyterian joined Mission JC in 2014. Each year on the last Sunday in April, members of various churches (led by First Baptist) take their faith outside the church and into the community. Projects range from yard work at various nonprofits to sewing quilt blocks to making meals for the Salvation Army to cleaning inside the Special Learning Center and other public-school buildings to making care packages for emergency personnel and the list goes on.
Families from Afghanistan
When the US brought over 124,000 people from Afghanistan to our country in Operation Allies Refuge, Catholic Charities was on the ground to begin the process of resettling many of these refugees. In January 2022 a final family was brought to our city and our church sponsored them. They are a family with 6 children, 4 in school and 2 preschoolers. Currently, they are making the adjustment to life in America.
Presbyterian Women
The work of Presbyterian Women (PW) at First Presbyterian Church in Jefferson City continues to be three-fold: Bible study, mission and fellowship. Our mission emphasis is on those organizations that serve the girls and women of our community: the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center and Halo House.We have learned from the leaders of these organizations that paper products – toilet paper, paper towels and Kleenex- are always needed, and we try to do two or three collections of these necessities each year.
Presbyterian Preschool
The Presbyterian Preschool began in the fall of 1982 and has served over 2000 children to date, giving them a quality preschool experience based on sharing God’s love for them and the world. There are 5 classes: the Challenge class is for pre- kindergarteners; the young 4-year-old class; the 3s; and two groups of 2s.
Sunday Night Live @ 5
SNL@5 is a casual worship service followed by a shared family-style meal. Attendees actively engage in the worship service and all Scripture, liturgy, and music are projected on screens. Music is a blend of praise songs and traditional hymns. Prayers and announcements are intentionally inclusive. This worship and shared meal meet a real need in Jefferson City for spiritual support and fellowship in an accepting, non-judgmental environment.
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry is open from 1:00-3:00 every Tuesday offering non-perishable food as well as extra donations such as socks, toothpaste, and other items. You can help by bringing non-perishable food items for our Food Pantry on the first Sunday of each month or donating money to this mission. There is also a coat rack on the front porch which is available to anyone at any time of the day or night. Coats and other warm items along with seasonal clothing can be donated and are placed on the rack.
Ken Locke Apartments
FPC has a twenty plus year history of providing lunch at Ken Locke Apartments. Meals are provided twice monthly, on the second and fourth Saturdays, at 11:30am, in the Community Room, which FPC built many years ago. The food you provide can be in the form of a sit-down meal or to-go boxes/bags, which the residents can take. The Deacons are in charge of organizing this mission, but you need not be a Deacon to be a participant. Ask the Deacon Moderator to put you on the Volunteer list.
Pencils and Stars
First Presbyterian Church helps neighbors each year by providing school supplies and Christmas gifts to local families. A pencil, showing a school supply, or a Star, stating a toy or clothing item, is posted in Knox Hall, showing a need. Congregation members select a pencil or star, purchase the item, and return it to the church. At Christmas time, families also receive food gift cards. The gifts are then sorted and delivered to the families.
... and Finally
What can YOU do to be a missionary— Christ’s hands and feet—in the world?
Bring food for the Food Pantry
Help with the Room at the Inn by driving (if needed), providing meals or spending part of the night
Help with housing in construction or with resources
Select “stars” for Christmas gifts for a family in need
Pray for our missions and for people all over the world who have such great needs
Support the mission work of the church and other groups that you trust
Listen for the voice, or even nudges, from God to lead us into a new mission area