Mission Outreach Visitation Education

The mandate of the MOVE Committee is to

• reach out to members and adherents of our church and others in times of personal or community need. This includes partnering with other churches and with local service organizations and agencies to support and advocate for their work.
• Provide pastoral care through pastoral visits to homes, hospitals and retirement/long term care facilities.
• Oversee the Christian Education activities that are undertaken by the congregation.

Some specific activities facilitated/supported by MOVE include:

Breakfast Bags for the Food Bank

Roger and Bonnie Burke (pictured below) continue to faithfully prepare and deliver thirty Breakfast Bags twice per month to the Brockville and Area Food Bank.  The Breakfast Bags are distributed mainly to single unhoused individuals in the Brockville community.  The Church initially was providing 30 bags once/month to the Food Bank, but due to increased need, the Breakfast Bags are now being prepared and delivered bi-weekly.

The Challenge

The Challenge, our church newsletter, is published 3-4 times yearly and is available by email, in print and on our website.  The Church Office also prepares and sends out weekly service bulletins for those who do not have access to computers to watch the services online.  Please contact the Church Office ([email protected] or 613-345-5014) if you would like a copy of the Challenge or our weekly bulletins mailed or delivered to you.

The Big Give

Together with other local churches, First Presbyterian Church has taken part in The Big Give to bless our community with generous giving over the last several years (thebiggive.ca). On June 7, 2025 a large FREE garage giveaway was held with an excellent response from many who attended.  Donations of items were generous & plentiful. Leftover items were then donated to other charity organizations. The next Big Give is June 6th, 2026.

Sunday Suppers

Sunday Suppers are prepared and served on the 4th Sunday of each month by volunteers from First Presbyterian, First Baptist & St. Paul’s Anglican Churches. Guests are invited from 2:30-4:30 to enjoy a sit-down meal in our Church Hall.  A take-out option is also available. All meals are free, but donations are appreciated.

Loaves & Fishes

Volunteers from First Presbyterian Church regularly help with food preparation at Loaves & Fishes, a local non-profit restaurant that serves the community with meals Monday-Friday:

(https://www.facebook.com/loavesfishesbrockville). Monetary gifts and donations of coffee, tea, bite-size pasta and cake mixes are collected regularly & delivered to Loaves & Fishes.

Pastoral Visits and Worship in Long-Term Care facilities

Pastoral visitors from the church visit with homebound members and adherents of our congregation to let them know we are thinking of them. The Church also leads worship services in seniors’ residences and long-term care facilities.

If you are interested in becoming a pastoral visitor or helping with the worship services, please contact the Church Office for more information and to volunteer.

Christian Education

The MOVE Committee oversees:

• A fun and growing Church School program that is held each Sunday during worship (except in July and August), capably led by a Children’s Education Coordinator and assisted by volunteers.

• Regular PA Day Camps, where we host school-age children for a day of faith-filled fun and activities, including a Mission Project for each camp.

• The Minister holds adult studies for the congregation to encourage spiritual growth and development in all ages.

• The Church has traditionally offered camp bursaries to Gracefield Christian Camp (https://gracefieldcamp.ca/).   Children aged 7 to 18 are eligible to apply to attend a week of summer camp at Gracefield. Nine children and youth received bursaries to attend camps in Summer 2024.

MOVE Committee Members

Rev. Marianne Emig Carr, Doris Hallett, Pam Dewar, Bonnie Burke, Francis LeBrun, Kathy Loughrey,  Robert Walroth, Janet LeBrun (chair) .  The Committee gladly welcomes more members!!  Please contact the Church Office if you are interested.