The Mission activities of FPC help serve the greater community, local, domestic and foreign, by combining volunteer efforts along with members’ donations to assist others in times of need.

For a relatively small congregation, we are very busy helping others with a variety of endeavors.  Here are some examples of the ongoing efforts by members of our church. 

Every summer we combine with several other local churches to send a group of our high school youth with adult supervision down to Appalachia.   This is done thru the well-established Appalachia Service Project (ASP).  Through this week long mission trip to West Virginia or Tennessee, homes are improved for the recipients; while our youth acquire valuable spiritual lessons.  FPC’s participation has been a long standing tradition.  Fundraising events throughout the year take place to help pay for the trip.  Clothing drives, dinners and musical cafés are run by members. 

The Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) is supported by twice a year by hosting homeless families in our Community House.   The families are provided meals and shelter by member congregations all over Hunterdon County.  During the two weeks of each session, members of FPC volunteer to spend nights with our hosts while other members provide home cooked dinners. 

FPC fully supports the Open Cupboard Food Pantry in Clinton, NJ.  Members donate nonperishable food and household products each week.  Some members also volunteer time at the pantry location.  Since we restarted this effort again in 2010, contributions to this weekly mission are near 2000 lbs. 

At regular intervals, FPC invites local charities to present their program during a Sunday Service.  We have heard recently from Pedals for Progress, a group that collects used bikes, fixes them up and sends them to third world countries.  This visit resulted in FPC sponsoring a bike drive.  The Good News Home for Women provided personal testimony on another occasion and then serenaded us with their own bell choir.  FPC was able to make a financial contribution to help them with their work.  

In addition to these ongoing projects, FPC several times a year answers the call to help in emergency situations.  Special collections have been made for the Haitian earthquake, floods in Indonesia, and the earthquake in Jamaica.  Contributions made by members are matched by Session from our mission budget to maximize the relief.    Often these contributions are then sent through the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).  PDA has worldwide associations with organizations already on the ground in these locations to get help fast when and where needed. 

FPC enjoys a special partnership with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) thru our Newton Presbytery.  The Newton Presbytery of which FPC is a member, sponsors yearly visits of clergy from Nairobi.   FPC hosted the Rev. Simon Kamande and Rev. Jane Kariuki of PCEA last summer at a reception and was treated to hear Pastor Simon speak at our pulpit.  FPC helps this effort with financial contributions and the members of FPC who accommodated the pastor in their home for a week. 

All are welcome to participate in these many faithful efforts.  If you are aware of a special need or cause, we invite you to bring it our attention!