First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, Michigan

What's Happening at First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church reorganized early in 2006 into five major ministry areas. Each ministry unit is moderated by an Elder and assisted by staff charged with strengthening the church's overall ministry and mission through the activities with their unit. Jeff Garrison is pastor of the church.

If you click on any of the blue underlined type it will take you to more information about that item.

Adult Ministries

The Mission of the Adult Ministries Team of FPC is : “To make and strengthen new disciples for Jesus Christ by providing Christian education, fellowship, outreach and service opportunities for adult friends and members of our congregation.”

To this end, the Adult Ministries Team, under the leadership of Director, MaryMartha Melendy, strives to create:

· spiritual enrichment and deeper knowledge of God's Word through Sunday morning Christian Education studies for adults of all ages; week-day Bible Studies for men and women; church-wide small-group studies; a fall men's breakfast with a guest speaker; a spring men's breakfast series which includes study sessions led by our Commissioned Lay Pastor, Dr. Jim Spindler and others; an every-other-year Women's retreat and women's programs throughout the year;

· Special Mission Opportunities, both local and global. These opportunities range from taking medical/dental/educational teams to places such as the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, Honduras, and in the fall of 2010, Costa Rica; to responding to disasters such as flooding in Missouri, and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans; to building wheelchair ramps or repairing roofs for persons in our own community.

· fellowship opportunities such as “Dinners for Six”, Progressive Dinners, and special programs for men and women separately and in mixed groups; service opportunities, through participation in our several service teams:

o The Hospitality Team , a group of volunteers who provide food for those in need following or during medical crises; serve and provide food for dinners/luncheons for the church family throughout the year; serving as hosts for Presbytery events and other needs.

o The Transportation Team , a group of volunteers who provide transportation for those in need for medical appointments, shopping for groceries or doing the actual shopping for shut-ins, or bringing those without their own transportation to church events;

o Our Menders' Group , a group of retirees, both men and women, who meet together once a month for pot-luck suppers, some of whom also volunteer to be “menders” throughout the church when needs arise that match their “repair talents”;

o Our Welcome Team, a group of volunteers who commit to being sure visitors receive Welcome Bags and being “traffic directors” to Sunday School rooms, the nursery, as well as to the sanctuary and other areas. These volunteers are also available to answer any needs they can of people who walk through our doors, whether newcomers or “old-comers”;

o Our “Knit-Wits”, who meet together once a week on Monday evenings, to create prayer-shawls to be given to those suffering illnesses or grief, as well as other creative projects for infants and others;

o Our Prayer Ministry Team , a group of volunteers who meet monthly to discuss special needs for prayer, but who also have committed to pray daily for specific ministries of our church, as well as for those individuals who request prayer for their own situations or concerns. This group also strives to create opportunities for directed prayer and meditation during Lent and in other seasons of the church year, and for special occasions.

We are blessed with wonderful team-and-congregation members who seek to model Christ's welcoming and forgiving love, and who invite you to experience the warmth of God's love within our fellowship. We excitedly look forward to expanding the above programs in our new location on M-37, opening in September of 2010! Please visit our new facility this fall!

NOAH'S ARK PRESCHOOL

Kids coming in and out of the church really brighten things during the school year. Noah's Ark Preschool, a ministry of First Presbyterian Church, prides itself as the best children's experience in Barry County We offer a two-day-a-week preschool for three year olds and a three-day-a- week program for four year olds. Last year 95 students, with approximately 1/3 not having a church home, attended preschool. Elizabeth Witt is the Director.

Youth and Young Adult Ministries

For over 30 years our congregation has sponsred an annual youth mission trip. For most of that time, they have built homes in the Upper Peninsula. This becomes a year around focus as our youth raise money for building materials and for the trip. This ministry oversees programs, ministries and fellowship opportunities for middle high, senior high and college youth, including the mission trip. Amy Kalkman is our Director of Youth Ministries.

Worship and Music Ministries

What do you do when there's not enough room in the sancturary with two services for the people you expect on Easter Sunday? Combine the services and move to the historic and recently restored auditorium at Central School. Easter Sunday was powerful as brought together our contemporary praise team, our chancel choir, and a brass ensemble. Worship and Music Ministries oversees all our worship programs. Our early Sunday service is traditional in form and accompanied by a choir during the school year. The second service is in a contemporary format led by a praise team.

CHILDREN'S MINISTRIES

Each summer we have Vacation Bible School. Last summer, summer of 2008, we had 250 children registered for this thrilling and overwhelming event. Our Children's Ministry unit also oversees our Sunday School program, our nursery, and other activities for children and families of small children. We have an annual Christmas Program each December that the children work hard to prepare. It usually contains both music and skits and tells the Christmas Story. Tracy Solmes serves part-time as Director of Children's Ministries.