Mission

For more information about how to be involved in one of these ministries, call the church office (549-9284).

Our Mission is to Go into the world as ministers of Jesus Christ

We believe we are called to go into our world, to make it a compassionate, just place to live. Therefore we serve those within the church, in order to build up the body of Christ, and those in the world around us, in order to be witnesses to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Some of the ways we seek to fulfill Christ’s mission:

Ministry to serve others within the Church
The church offers many opportunities for people to discover and use their gifts. We encourage people to serve in the areas of their abilities and interests. We believe every person is a minister of Jesus Christ with something to offer others. We are learning the value of Teamwork and seek to put people in teams for more affective ministry - Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

Opportunities:
Volunteer with Kidz Club on Wednesday nights
Volunteer with a Youth Group on Wednesday nights
Teach a Sunday School class - children, youth or adult
Prepare Bereavement Meals
Prepare New Mother Meals
Prepare the Communion Elements
Prepare the chancel for Sunday Services
Decorate the Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall for holidays
Be a member of one of the adult choirs
Drive members to and from church
Be a Sunday morning usher
Be a Sunday morning gathering host
Volunteer in the nursery
Help with fellowship dinners

Ministry to serve others outside the Church
Our mission is to go into the world as ministers of Jesus Christ. We presently are involved in numerous ministries. We are constantly looking for new ideas of how to impact our world.

Projects we are involved in currently -

Programs for Volunteering Time and Talent
Sparrow’s Nest Christmas Toy Giveaway
   Help sort and give out toys to needy Athens children
   Contact Mark Rejmer: markrejmer@charter.net
Sparrow’s Nest Clothing Collection
   Donate gently used clothing
   Contact Mark Rejmer: markrejmer@charter.net
    www.sparrowsnestmission.org
Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens (IHNA)
   Be a host at Central for families seeking housing.
   Weeks of 11/18/07, 1/27/08, 4/27/08, 7/27/08
   Contact Robbie Bryan: rrbryan@uga.edu
    www.ihnathens.org
Mexico Mission Trip
   Travel to Mexico to build houses      June 13-22, 2008
   Contact John Wunderlich: wunder@uga.edu
   www.negapby.org
Noon Day Kitchen—Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen
   Prepare and serve food to the homeless
   Contact Mark Hanna    706-543-0330
The Ark
   An outreach of the religious communities of Athens-
   Clarke County that helps residents in temporary
    financial crisis. Help with client intake
   Contact Joan Duffett: joan@duffett.com
   www.athensark.org
Sewing Ministry
   Befriend residents of Grandview Care Center and
   help with   mending
   Contact Melody Cartledge: cmcartledge@yahoo.com
Knitting Ministry
   Knit items for Hospice, Presbyterian Homes
   Contact Jill Clement: cdjc@mindspring.com
Athens Pregnancy Center
   Help the center with clients
   Contact Sally McKenna: sallymac5@earthlink.com
www.athenspregnancycenter.com
Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
   Donate toys and small toiletries in shoeboxes for the
   world’s children
   Contact Joseph Whieldon: jewhieldon@aol.com
   www.samaritanspurse.org
Food Basket for Northeast Georgia Food Bank
    Donate packaged food items (pastas, canned goods,
    cereals
   Contact Brenda Glasscock: brendaglass@charter.net
   www.foodbanknega.org

Church Budgetary Support
Athens Area Children at Risk - Help for at-risk & underprivileged youth to excel beyond their situations
Athens Area Emergency Food Bank - Food for the needy
www.firstbaptistathens.org
Athens Area Nurses Clinic - Medical & Dental clinic for the indigent.
Contact Deb Williams: debwillcall@hotmail.com
Athens Homeless Shelter - Local homeless shelter
www.athensareahomelessshelter.org
UGA Campus Presbyterian Ministry - University Presbyterian Student Center
www.pscuga.org
Hispanic Ministry of NEGA Presbytery - Local Hispanic outreach
Contact Gene Younts   706-546-5394
www.gotofriendship.com
Samaritan Counseling Center of Athens - Interfaith counseling center
www.samaritannega.org
The Ark - Organization that helps residents in temporary financial crisis

Other Financial Opportunities
Heifer International - Children collect money for farm animals
Contact Patty Brooks   phbrooks@charter.net
www.heifer.org
Souper Bowl of Caring - Youth collect money in soup pots on Super Bowl Sunday for local food bank
Contact Deb Trimpe   debtrimpe@bellsouth.net
www.souperbowl.org
Relay for Life - Fundraising for cancer research
Contact Shirl Wunderlich   swunder@bellsouth.net
www.relayforlife.org
Caring Hands (Mother’s Day) Offering - Money for the   Presbyterian Homes and Villages of Georgia. Normally collected on Mother’s Day. However, due to Pentecost Sunday being on Mother’s Day in 2008, the Caring Hands offering will be collected at Central on Sunday, April 27, 2008
www.phgainc.org/church-involvement.htm
John D. Storey Fund Offering - Interest on the yearly collection is used to support the youth ministry at Central Normally collected on Youth Sunday

Central financially supports the Presbyterian Church’s four annual offerings:

One Great Hour of Sharing—collected on Easter. The Presbyterian Hunger Program receives 60% of gifts, while the Self-Development of People and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance each receives 20%

Christmas Joy Offering—collected on December 23, 2007. 50% of gifts are given to the PCUSA Board of Pensions for programs that support retired and active church workers and their spouses and families. The other 50% supports Presbyterian-related racial & ethnic schools.

Pentecost Offering—collected on Pentecost Sunday. Congregations keep 40% to support work on behalf of local children at risk. The General Assembly Council divides the remaining 60% among: Ministries w/ youth and young adults (25%); Young Adult Volunteers (15%); and Child Advocacy Ministries (10%).

Peacemaking Offering—collected on World Communion Sunday, celebrated the first Sunday in October. Central keeps 25% of the offering for local peacemaking initiatives; 25% is given to Synods and Presbyteries, and 50% is given to the General Assembly.

MISSION CALENDAR

MONTHLY PROJECTS
October
   Peacemaking Offering
   Relay for Life

November
   Men of the Church Chicken BBQ
   Operation Christmas Child Shoebox
   John 21 Fund Offering
   IHNA Families at Central
   Presbyterian Women’s Thank Offering

December
   Sparrow’s Nest Toy Give-Away
   Santa’s Express
   Joy Gift Offering

January
IHNA Families at Central

February
Souper Bowl of Caring Offering

March
One Great Hour of Sharing Offering

April
   Men of the Church Pancake Breakfast
   Caring Hands Offering
   IHNA Families at Central

May
Relay for Life

June
   Mexico Mission Trip
   Vacation Bible School

July
IHNA Families at Central

ONGOING PROJECTS
Food Basket
Kidz Club Volunteer
Youth Group Volunteer
Noon Day Soup Kitchen
Sewing Ministry
Knitting Ministry
Sparrow’s Nest Clothing Collection