MISSION MINISTRY

Our mission partnership in Guatemala.

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Worldwide Christmas Fair

Our seventh annual World Wide Christmas Fair was our most successful fair ever! We offer our thanks to God for the blessings of this mission. The total sales for all our vendors was just over $12,200. All the funds are used by our vendors to support the artisans/farmers/not-for-profit and service organizations in their missions.

As a community, everyone has worked hard to fulfill the committee's goals of having a local, national, and international thrust to Missions. 2008 continued to be very successful, both in terms of our "hands-on" approach to helping as well as our overall giving in financial assistance, due to the great generosity and commitment of our entire congregation.

Local Efforts

1. Habitat for Humanity: our Mission Committee continued to actively support the work of the local chapter of HFH. A Chicken BBQ was held in September to help pay for the construction of a shed behind the newly renovated property on Central Avenue in Batavia.

2. Peacemaking: the Mission Committee was able to raise money through the special peacemaking offering to once again support the Migrant Day Care Center in Batavia.

3. Backpack Project: In August, the Mission Committee led a drive to purchase and fill more than 30 backpacks, which helped support the work of Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern in providing school supplies to needy children. The backpacks were blessed at the August service and also children from the summer Bible School helped to fill and organize the backpacks.

4. Collaboration with Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern: The executive Director of GOMOC visited our Church for Worship Service and presented to the Mission Committee a program regarding their work and how we could help. The Backpack Project emanated from this discussion.

National Efforts

1. New Orleans: The Mission Committee continued to support the Presbytery's efforts to encourage our members to be part of the ongoing RHINO Project. Several in our congregation participated in Presbytery-sponsored mission trips to New Orleans during 2008.

2. Program on the relationship between faith and politics: Brigit Hurley, the Presbytery Peacemaker, came to our Church on two occasions to discuss how Christians should evaluate the national election based on our understanding of faith. This was not oriented to any particular candidate, but just an educational experience and understanding scripture and how that might be applied to the political scene in 2008.

International Efforts

1. Randall Shea's Ministry: The Mission Committee continued to support Randall Shea's ministry in Guatemala. Randall Shea visited our Church and spoke to the congregation during Worship Service. Monies were raised to continue financial support, including $1,200 dollars to fund a student going to High School.

2. Collaborative Effort with Gates Presbyterian Church and Guatemala: Our Mission Committee continues to work with the Guatemala Committee from Gates Presbyterian Church. We were able to sell Entertainment Books and raise $500 in the World-Wide Christmas Fair that went to help support women in Guatemala who are trying to become self-sufficient.

3. W or1d Wide Christmas Fair: The 2008 World Wide Christmas Fair was another huge success. Held in early November, members of the Mission Committee and others raised $10,816.14.

4. Equal Exchange Coffee: The Mission committee continues to support equal Exchange Coffee by selling it after church and also using donated EEC purchased by members and donated to our coffee hours following Sunday Worship services. We will continue to sell it and advocate its use, in that it provides monies to the workers that actually grow and harvest the coffee.

5. Program on Sudan: A Missionary sponsored by the Presbytery came to our Church and presented a program featuring her work in the Sudan.

The First Presbyterian Church is committed to following the lead of the Spirit in mission in the world through local, national and global service and advocacy efforts. In the Spirit of Christ's inclusive love, we are committed to sharing God's love with others and to making our world a place of justice and peace for all people. Our church is involved in many hand-on projects to help the poor and oppressed in our world.