First Presbyterian Church

We accepted the PCUSA invitation to become a Matthew 25 church in 2019.

 

Matthew 25 is an initiative of the Presbyterian USA mission agency. It encourages congregations to become more engaged in their community by acting on the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46-that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”.  The parable reminds us that how we treat others matters to God and we must show our faith by reaching beyond the walls of our church to stand up and care for our neighbors who are hurting and facing injustice.

 

Matthew 25 asks congregations to focus on three areas:

 

• Building congregational vitality by energizing our congregation
  to share Christ’s message in word and deed by standing up and
  supporting our neighbors as they fight the injustices imposed by
  others.

 

• Dismantling structural racism by joining other faith-based and
  community organizations to advocate for action to break down
  the systems, practices and thinking that encourages the
  discrimination, bias and prejudice that keeps our neighbors of
  color from sharing equally in the benefits of our society and commerce.

 

•  Eradicating systemic poverty by working with other faith-based and community organizations to change laws, policies, plans and structures in our state and community that exploit and oppress our neighbors who are poor.

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