Missions

Our Missions

We are God's hands in the world; each one touch one.

At First Congregational, we take missions seriously. We are moving from a "hand-out" to a "hands-on", becoming persons who are "doing" mission. Members are encouraged to give of their time, not just of their money.

Annually, the congregation opts to support Our Church’s Wider Mission (OCWM). The Missions Committee uses a portion of their budget funded by the endowment to support OCWM. These funds are used for outreach at the Conference, National, and Global level.

Numerous projects by the congregation offer additional funding for community outreach. The projects are opportunities to become involved in service through hands-on projects and also to support the programs and services of agencies through financial contributions. In 2011, First Congregational is partnering with and supporting the work at:
Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (CSADV)
Women Aware
Sanford Center
Siouxland Mental Health (Angel Tree)
Siouxland Food Bank (Backpack – Nutrition Program)
Crossroads
The Soup Kitchen
Stella Sanford Childcare Center

Major community mission events were:
Fall Festival – over 3 months in the planning, this  weekend of activities include a rummage sale, children’s closet, and bake sale. These member activities generate significant funds for area mission support and also show-case our congregation at work making good things happen.

  • Children’s Closet – held twice each year (Spring, and during Fall Festival), this event is a premiere community event organized to provide outlets for families to sell their slightly used kids’ clothing, while other families increase their buying power to purchase reasonably priced clothes for school, church and family living.

  • Siouxland Crop Walk (3rd Sunday in October) is an international event and First Congregational members both participate and raise funds for this event to end hunger in the world.

  • Co-ops of farmers around the world offer their quality products for sale. Working with Equal Exchange, our members are able to support these small farmers by buying their products. Coffee and chocolate are the best selling products, other products are also available.

  • Families face crisis, then must “move on.” At First Congregational an innovative project called Moving On Boxes, is an opportunity for members to share unneeded or unused kitchen utensils, linens, and cleaning supplies. Because these families are facing a critical time while they are healing from crisis, this support of their transition is particularly meaningful.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like addition information about any of these activities, contact firstcongoucc@msn.com for more info.