Mission and CONGREGATIONAL CARE committee

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The Mission and Congregational Care Committee at Orange Presbyterian Church is one of the busiest. It's responsible for many of the outward-facing events, activities, and projects of the church, for nurturing fellowship within the congregation, and for supporting the pastoral efforts of the minister.

The committee works within the PCUSA  and with other organizations and groups  to minister to needs of others. This committee also spearheads many of OPC's Matthew 25 initiatives.

Some of the Mission and Congregational Care's responsibilities include:

Mission in the Community
  • Identify benevolent causes the church should support.
  • Identify needs in the local community and respond to them, as with the Blessing Box and the Blessing Line.
  • Organize and run an annual Holiday Market to raise funds for local services and programs.
  • Support the community’s social service programs, such as the Food Pantry and Habitat for Humanity. The committee can also help organize congregation volunteers for these programs.
  • Support the Christian Emergency Council financially and with volunteers.
  • Help members find ways to provide Christian service through their occupations.
  • Be responsible for the special offerings made on behalf of the General Assembly and Presbytery. Such offerings include the One Great Hour of Sharing, the Pentecost offering, and the Christmas Joy Gift Offering. The committee identifies to Session which offerings to support each year, and is responsible for the promotion and collection of funds. 

Fellowship in worship
  • Maintain a church worship roll
  • Periodically update and distribute a church directory
  • Celebrate members' accomplishments, awards, or life events such as anniversaries, graduations, or births.
  • Provide receptions for new members of the church
  • Provide new members with sponsoring families to help bring them into the church’s fellowship, life and work.

Fellowship outside of worship
  • Plan and direct activities that bond church members together, such as Game Night, potluck meals, and outings.
  • Organize small group gatherings and retreats for the church families.

Pastoral Care
  • Assist in coordinating the church’s response in situations of crisis for members, including deaths, illnesses, and accidents.
  • Ensure church members are nurtured personally, especially those who are homebound, infirm, or have special needs.
  • Encourage members who have moved away to transfer their membership to another church to continue in Christian fellowship.
  • Ensure the church’s membership rolls are current.

Mission and Congregational Care Committee Initiatives
Special Offerings
  • Pentecost Offering supports at-risk children and young adults. 40% of the offering remains with OPC for use with local ministries and organizations.
  • One Great Hour of Sharing supports Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People
  • Peace and Global Witness Offering equips peacemakers in congregations to address conflict and injustice. 25% of the offering remains with OPC for local peacemaking efforts.
  • Christmas Joy Gift - provides support for leadership development in communities of color and support for PCUSA church workers in times of need.

Work of the Larger Church (and in the world at large)
  • 5 Cents-a-Meal Offering (Centsability) supports the fight against hunger. 25% of the offering remains with OPC for hunger ministries; the remainder is sent to Presbytery to be used regionally. 
  • Medical Benevolence Fund - The MBF is dedicated to providing sustainable medical to the poor around the globe.
  • Presbyterian Children's Home of the Highlands - The Home provides a place for children removed from their homes and families. The Home works with the children's families and other significant people in their lives to facilitate a safe return to their home.

​Community Mission and Outreach