The foundation of all Outreach Ministry activities is the spirit of giving, with the aim of being a beacon of kindness and generosity to our community.  The following are highlights of those activities.

 

NIN Tuesday Evening Food Pantry: Partnering with Neighbors-in-Need, the food pantry distributes a bag of food from the church parking lot to 350 to 400 registered families each week.

 

Thanksgiving Dinners: A special food pantry is held during Thanksgiving week that provides families with a $25 gift certificate, a pie and 2 bags of groceries.

 

Back to School Project:  Backpacks for 75 children in the summer Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc. program are filled with school supplies, New Balance sneakers, and a first day of school outfit, which are made possible by donations.

 

Cooking for Bread & Roses: Once a month, dedicated volunteers at First Church Congregational cook and deliver 7 large pans of Chicken Pot Pie to Bread & Roses Soup Kitchen in Lawrence.

 

Ray Benedix Souper Bowl of Caring:  During the NFL playoff season, leading up to the Super Bowl, First Church Congregational collects cans of soup and donations for the Neighbors-in -Need food pantries.

 

"Let's Book It" Book Drive:  This year, 2025, marks the fourth year that Outreach has collected new and gently used books to donate to children in K through 5th Grade attending Methuen Public Schools. in a collective effort to support literacy

 

"Pampered with Luvs" Diaper Drive:  First Church Congregational, in collaboration with Communities Together, inc., asks members and friends to donation diapers, pull-ups, and wipes, as well as monetary donations, during the Lenten season which are given to families in need.

 

Prayer Shawl Ministry: The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets weekly, creating prayer shawls, lap robes, and baby blankets, as well as hats, mittens and scarves for our church family, the Mitten Tree, and other community groups.

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Lazarus House's Annual "Walk for Hope Fall Festival":  Outreach sets up a team in September for this walk, enabling people to register and/or donate.  Lazarus House's mission is to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness in our community.

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Samaritans Annual Hike for Hope:  Working with Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc. (MAN), we help children in need providing sneakers, socks, T shirts, hoodies, underwear, jeans, baseball caps, and backpacks filled with required school supplies.

 

Mental Health Awareness: First Church Congregational seeks to promote mental health support services, designating one Sunday each spring for Mental Health Awareness by inviting a speaker to participate in a worship service.

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In-Reach Ministry:  Volunteers send cards and letters to homebound parishioners each month, keeping them in contact with the church.

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Gifts to the Manger and Adopt a Child:  Donations of unwrapped toys, for children 7-18 years old, are collected right after Thanksgiving and given to the Methuen Arlington Neighborhood, Inc.  Parents are invited to choose a toy and then wrap it for their children.  Those children in need of extra care are "adopted" and their wish list is fulfilled.

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Annual Mitten Tree:  Outreach, in conjunction with the Chapel School, displays an empty Christmas tree that is decorated with donated mittens, gloves, hats and scarves placed on and under the tree.  They are donated to the Methuen Public School Family Resource Center.

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The needs of our neighbors and community have only increased our need to reach out and help them.  If you have a "heart" to serve other people, come join us!  All of us working together on Outreach's many programs, highlighted above, enable us to continue helping our community and contributing to the mission of First Church Congregational.

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"Seeking God, Caring for Each Other, and Improving our Community"

 

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