COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Beyond our Brick and Mortar
We believe deeply that we, as people of faith, are called to serve our wider community and our neighbors, and we engage in this a number of ways. First Presbyterian tithes 10% of our pledges to Outreach and Mission. Each month, the Outreach Committee offers a different way to serve the community, some months through a Service Saturday at a Waco non-profit, other months by collecting needed items for area ministries. Throughout the year, members can expect a variety of opportunities to join in the work, no matter what your age or abilities. See the list below to get a more in depth look at some of our partners in the Waco area and the ways we support their important work.
Caritas of Waco was started years ago in the basement of First Presbyterian Church. Today, they are a thriving organization that provides help through food, clothing, household items, utilities, prescription medications, rent and mortgage assistance, temporary lodging and transportation. Caritas also has a strong case management program that works intensively with individuals to assist them in becoming more self-reliant and less dependent on emergency service programs. Each year, we love to stock the shelves of their food pantry in May to help them prepare for the high demand of summer months.
Our Service Saturday in January of 2018 took us to Talitha Koum for a morning of cleaning and organizing. For those who have never seen it, Talitha Koum is a remarkable place in our own neighborhood. It is a therapeutic nursery working with infants and toddlers to help them navigate trauma and to rise above it. The teachers at Talitha Koum create a safe and warm environment for children who desperately need routine, nurture, and brain development. They also work hard to train the parents of these children, which means Talitha Koum has an impact on entire families in our community. When you walk in, you find classrooms stocked with special toys, art projects hanging on the walls, and employees who are delighted to work with these special families. We continue to be amazed by their work and their commitment to helping children navigate trauma.
Open Table collegiate ministry is recognized by the Presbyterian Church (USA) as a 1001 New Worshiping Community with First Pres Waco as its sponsoring congregation. The 1001 New Worshiping Communities movement was founded by Presbyterian Mission (PCUSA) to ignite and support new faith communities in a diversity of contexts. In collaboration with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and our local partners (Seventh & James Baptist Church, DaySpring Baptist Church, Calvary Baptist Church), we are excited to support Open Table’s ministry.
Open Table believes that conversations about faith happen best around the table and that there is a seat for each of us. Participants share a meal, pray, study Scripture, and have conversations centered on faith, community, and belonging. Open Table is a space where questions and doubts are welcome, and participants can learn from one another in a safe and supportive environment. Open Table meets on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at Seventh and James Baptist Church and is available as a Chapel credit for Baylor University students. Rev. Karen Zimmerman, Open Table Director, facilitates the gatherings.