Adopt a Family at Christmas
During the Christmas season First Church partners with Penn House and the Lawrence Community Shelter to buy Christmas gifts for low income families. The Adopt-A-Family program helps approximately 50 families each year. Contact Carladyne Conyers, 842-8642.
Back to School Supply Drive
As school begins each fall, First Church partners with Penn House to provide supplies for children who cannot afford to buy them. We support approximately 150 children each year through kits that members bring and through cash donations. Contact Carladyne Conyers, 842-8642.
Community Christmas Dinner
Members of the Lawrence community provide a place for those desiring fellowship with others to come and enjoy a Holiday dinner. Volunteers are needed to help with cooking, setup, serving, meal delivery to the home bound, and cleanup for what has become a Christmas Day tradition in Lawrence. Contact Brower Burchill, 843-9199.
Emergency Service Council
Farmers'Market
First Church has participated in the Lawrence Farmers' Market since the inception of the market. Proceeds from sales of coffee, donuts, baked goods and produce go to support missions beyond the local church. Church members help with the First Church booth by providing baked goods, making coffee and/or donuts, and by staffing the booth. The First Church Farmers' Market booth begins the first week in May and runs through September. Contact Marceil Lauppe, 842-1541.
Family Promise
First Church is a host congregation for Family Promise, part of the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Once per quarter, First Church hosts up to four families with children currently experiencing homelessness. For one week we provide them with a safe place to sleep at night and three meals a day. Volunteers for cooking, spending the night, and spending time with the guest families are always needed!
Global Missions
Global Missions is about sharing the joy of Jesus beyond our borders. We can experience Christ when we meet new people and learn new customs in foreign lands. The family of God worships in many tongues and in a variety of locations in exciting ways. If you want to extend your borders (personal, physical and spiritual), considering joining us on this journey. Both mission team members and committee members are welcome. The information sheets and applications are available under Resources, Forms and Applications at this website. Contact Paula Biggar at 749-4737 for more information.
Habitat for Humanity
Jubilee Cafe
Jubilee Cafe serves free breakfasts in a restaurant setting to members of the Lawrence community that would otherwise have no breakfast. Over 100,000 meals have been served sine the Cafe opened in 1994. Breakfast is served on Tuesday and Friday from 7-8 a.m. in Brady Hall downtown. Volunteers are appreciated to help from 6-9 a.m. Contact Rose & Gary Schmidt, 856-9521.
Lawrence Community Shelter
The Lawrence Community Shelter provides a place in the Lawrence community where people experiencing homelessness, and any other individual, can access material and social resources. This shelter provides assistance in every day functions of life from showers and laundry facilities, to aid in finding employment, counseling, and social services. Volunteers or donations are always welcome! Contact Loring Henderson, 832-8864.
Lawrence Ministerial Alliance
L.I.N.K.
L.I.N.K. stands for Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen. First Church helps serve this lunch on the 3rd Sunday, every other month beginning in January. Volunteers are needed to help prepare, service or clean up. Contact Mary Jones, 865-0651.
Missionary Support in Haiti and Mexico
Round-Up for Hunger
Round-Up for Hunger is an event of the Kansas East Conference that takes place at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. First Church puts together health, layette and school kits for distribution across Kansas. Contact Marilyn Petersen, 832-1955 or Jerry Feese, 842-4330.
Trinity Food Pantry
Three time a year First Church asks members to contribute to the Trinity Food Pantry. All nonperishable foods and household items are welcome. Contact Marceil Lauppe, 842-1541.
Reconciling Hearts
Reconciling Hearts is an advocacy group of about 100 FUMC church members, who share information, plan informational activities for the church, and work toward making First Church more fully inclusive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender folks. Through its efforts our church has adopted an inclusion statement, placed the "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors" signs by church entrances, and facilitated our church becoming a Reconciling Congregation, affiliated with Reconciling Ministries Network. RMN is a coalition of many United Methodist groups working on promoting inclusion in UMC congregations and affecting changes in the UMC Constitution and Book of Discipline so that none of God’s children are ever denied membership in our churches and have a part in its polity and Christian work. During October and November of 2009, Reconciling Hearts is sponsoring a Fall Film Festival, showing documentaries expanding on the themes of sexual orientation and sexual identity.
