Missions

Missions

September Mission Opportunities

Cross Roads Homeless Shelter residents are grateful for all of the back to school items they have received from generous donors. Some essentials still remain and we can help meet these needs by donations of any of the following items:

Walmart or Gas gift cards, water bottles, rain ponchos, new underwear for any and all adult sizes, and gently used twin sized sheets, blankets, and bath towels.

Anyone wishing to donate any of these items can bring them to church prior to September 26 and they will be delivered along with the meal for that evening or you may deliver them directly to Cross Roads House, 600 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH  03801-5435

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Church World Service in need of help with Disaster Relief Kits

With the increased number of disasters around the world, Church World Service, an international relief agency, has asked for help with Clean Up Bucket Kits.  If you have any of the following items, you may donate them during the month of September at the church OR a donation of $70 covers the cost of an entire bucket. These donations can be made in the large emergency buckets located in the front hall outside the sanctuary and in fellowship hall on the first floor.  THANK YOU!

  • Four scouring pads
  • Seven sponges, including one large
  • One scrub brush
  • Eighteen reusable cleaning towels (e.g. Easy Wipes)
  • One 50 oz. or two 25 oz. bottle(s) of liquid laundry detergent
  • One 16-28 oz. bottle of liquid disinfectant dish soap
  • One 12-16 oz. bottle of household cleaner that can be mixed with water (no spray bottles)
  • One package of 48-50 clothespins
  • Clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.
  • Five dust masks
  • Two pairs heavy-duty, waterproof dishwashing gloves (latex-free, non-surgical)
  • One pair work gloves, cotton with leather palm or all leather
  • 24-28 heavy duty or contractor type 30-45 gallon trash bags on a roll and removed from carton
  • One 6-9 oz. bottle of non-aerosol insect repellent

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.