Missions
God’s Baby Closet
For more than 20 years First Congregational Church has operated a closet that welcomes young families who are struggling to supply their children with diapers, wipes, clothing up to 5T, food, books and small baby equipment. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday mornings 10-noon and the catchment area includes southern Rockingham County. Persons who can bring ID and proof of residence are welcomed to visit and make use of this resource.
The Congregation is also involved in a number of other mission endeavors:
Yearly:
We are involved in the Exeter Area Crop Walk which earns monies to alleviate hunger at home and abroad.
Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box program is another mission that involves sending 50+ shoe boxes to countries around the globe, supplying children with a small gift and a reminder that another child cares for them.
Fund-raising for Heifer International happens during January, February and March and over the last 15 years we have supplied more than $5000 toward filling an ark of animals to be sent to families in need.
Yearly, we also support a Christian Seminary in Belgium, send 2 young children to school through the Global Ministries Sponsor Program, Support Andover Newton Theological School, Seacoast Family Promise, Seacoast Youth Services, and Church World Service Blanket and Tools program.
This past summer we helped to sponsor a young adult in our congregation who chose to spend 3 weeks in Thailand working at an orphanage.
Monthly:
We prepare a meal for 80+ residents of Cross Roads House Homeless Shelter each 4th Wednesday of the month.
We offer worship services for residents of Partridge House in Hampton and Mark Wentworth Home in Portsmouth.
National and International Crisis Giving – Currently we are sending support for Hurrican Harvey Victims to the Texas Diaper Bank and through Church World Service to help with clean-up and maintainance of daily life for survivors.