Mission

"The Church is called to be a sign in and for the world of the new reality which God has made available to people in Jesus Christ." G.30200 Book of Order, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

At First Presbyterian Church, mission is not simply the acts of charity that we tack on to everything else we do, it is the purpose that defines us. We exist in order to be about God’s business in the world, to be a lighted ‘sign’ that points people to God’s new reality in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Sometimes we do this by supporting those who are already engaged in work that shows forth the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Sometimes we roll up our sleeves to pack backpacks with school supplies for children in need, or gather food items for our local food bank. Sometimes it’s simply being who we are called to be- a community that binds up one another’s wounds and practices forgiveness.

Below are just a couple of expressions of our mission.

Living Waters Working Group

We have connected with eight other area Presbyterian Churches and made covenant with Living Waters for the World to work with partners at the Trinity House in Jacmel, Haiti as they build a system that will provide clean water to neighbors rebuilding their lives after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Our plan is to reorganize the installation and education team originally scheduled to travel in February and attempt our trip to Jacmel sometime in the Fall of 2010.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Our mission is to meet once a month, except during summer, for fellowship, knitting or crocheting prayer shawls for members of the church, their family, or the community, as requested by those in the church who know of someone who is in poor health or in need of the warmth and comfort of a prayer shawl. We also have shawls available for church members getting married. All recipients and donors names are recorded in a book that is stored with the supply of shawls.

As we are working on a shawl, we ask God to provide healing and comfort to the person and pray for God’s love to surround and support the recipient as the shawl has become a mantle of love.

We have expanded to making caps, scarves and mittens for needful children in the Sioux City schools.

Anyone in the church who can do basic beginner’s knitting or crocheting is welcome to join our group for fun conversation, sharing of your talents, and help with that stitch that’s giving you trouble(!).

For more info, please give Martie Ebner a call at 605-232-4773

If you know of someone who needs a prayer shawl, please call Anne Cowley at 712-204-5182, who will help you choose from the supply of shawls.

The Church is called to undertake this mission even at the risk of losing its life, trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life, sharing the gospel, and doing those deeds in the world that point beyond themselves to the new reality in Christ. G-3.0400 Book of Order, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)