Mission on the Move
Mission on the Move is traditionally a weekday camp for older elementary children and middle school youth. In 2020, it was expanded to include anyone and everyone in the congregation with a weekend of activities to get us all moving to serve our neighbors with love and compassion. This intergenerational weekend of mission and outreach includes opportunities to learn about issues in our own community and respond through service and compassion. We learn, serve and grow together. All ages are invited to participate!
A Little More on the History of Mission on the Move
Mission on the Move has become a key part of summer programming at First Presbyterian Church over the last few years. Because connection and service to the community is at the very heart of the congregation's ministry, this event has played an important role in giving children and youth first hand experience with community partners. The vision for hands-on mission began as a summer program that invited children and adults to experience volunteering in a variety of agencies that work with those experiencing homelessness and hunger. As time passed, the event has changed into a week-long experience for children in 4th through 8th grades where they are very literally ‘on the move’ each day experiencing tough issues such as poverty, hunger, homelessness, and global waste, just to name a few. Mission on the Move takes advantage of the local, national, and global partners in which First Pres is already in relationship, which helps connect some of our younger members with the larger mission outlets of the congregation. Our hope is that Mission on the Move serves as a foundational introduction to who we are as a people of faith at First Presbyterian Church: Inspiring Disciples…Engaging the World.
In 2020, over 87 people participated in Mission on the Move, a weekend experience of devotions, mission and outreach. We received 500 sack lunches for the Presbyterian Night Shelter, 2643 bottles of water for DRC Solutions to distribute to those experiencing homelessness, and 463 jars of peanut butter and 792 tuna packets for neighbors at Community Crossroads. Participants colored a chalk art mosaic for residents at Trinity Terrace. More than the donations, church members enjoyed connecting to their congregation and to one another.