TO GROW THRU WORSHIP
Sunday mornings schedule:
9:15 AM: Prayer, in the sanctuary
9:30 AM: Education Hour
10:45 AM: Worship
After worship: Fellowship Time
Videos of the services and worship bulletins are available on the “Worship” page of this website, on the church Facebook page & on YouTube (“Sunday on the Square”).
TO GROW THRU EDUCATION
ADULT EDUCATION CLASS — A variety of topics is discussed at the 9:30 AM class held in the Gathering Room.
TO GROW THRU SUPPORT OF MISSION PROGRAMS
SEPTEMBER 2025: Deacons/Friends prepared meals and served 77 people at the evening meal program (“My Brothers’ Table”) at The Salvation Army.
JULY 2025:
- The Deacons & Congregation support the community’s SPY program (Summer Program for Youth), by providing sunscreen plus $ donations to buy it.
- Donations were made to the Presbyterian Disaster Agency to support flood relief in Texas.
JUNE 2025: Deacons/Friends prepared and served the evening meal (“My Brothers’ Table”) at The Salvation Army.
MAY 2025: “Blanket Sunday” was held on Mothers Day. $1,100 was donated to Church World Service for their purchase of blankets as needed due to disasters throughout the nation and world.
APRIL 2025: An offering was received on Palm Sunday to support the work of “One Great Hour of Sharing” – the largest mission of the PC(USA) church.
TO GROW THRU GIVING
First Presbyterian Church has partnered with The Presbyterian Foundation to provide an online giving option. The Presbyterian Mission Exchange is a component of the Foundation, and provides the secure transfer and maintenance of data and funds for churches enrolled in their program. You may use your credit or debit cards to make regular recurring donations to the church on a weekly, monthly, or annual schedule. You may also arrange electronic fund transfers (EFT) directly from your bank account. The online giving option is offered as a convenience for those who prefer to reduce their paper burden, and provides a means of giving used by many other charities. However, paper checks or cash will still be gratefully accepted. Currently, there are two funds listed: General Fund and Capital Campaign. Eventually, specific funds such as “One Great Hour of Sharing” and “Christmas Joy” offerings will be added.
The Church profile page and the secure link receiving the contributions reside on the Presbyterian Mission Exchange system. First Presbyterian has established a secure account at the Mission Exchange in which all funds will be held until withdrawn at the request of the church. This account is similar to the local bank accounts that our church currently uses. The church may access the system at any time to review the giving history and account balances, and to withdraw funds. The Mission Exchange charges a small service fee of 2.598% + $.026 for credit or debit card contributions. For example, a donation of $100 will incur a fee of $2.858, and the church will receive $97.14. Some churches find that their donors add a few dollars to their contribution to offset this fee for processing the account. Regardless of whether your contribution is by paper check, cash, or online, your gift to First Presbyterian Church is always appreciated and gratefully received.
TO GROW THRU PRAYER
The Prayer Community meets after worship on the 3rd Sunday of the month.
TO GROW THRU PARTICIPATION IN SPECIAL PROGRAMS
The Adult Choir rehearses Wednesdays at 7 PM (except June thru August) and offers anthems in worship September thru May. During summer months, a variety of local musicians provide special music.
Dining with the Deacons: Monthly fellowship dinners are held at 5:30 PM on the 3rd Thursday of the month at area restaurants (rides available). Locations vary.
Men’s Breakfast: Monthly men’s breakfasts are held locally at 8 AM on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 8 AM. Locations vary.
Faith Circle: Women’s Circle meetings are held in Fellowship Hall at 2 PM on the 4th Monday of each month (except June, July and August).
TO GROW THROUGH COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Lenten Concerts & Soup Luncheons: The 2025 5-part concert series was held at Noon, Wednesdays, March 12 thru Apr. 9. Soup luncheons followed the 30-minute concerts, with all donations going to Project SHARE.
Books for Babies: Gift packets containing handmade baby hats, baby books & literature on the importance of reading to babies are donated (currently) to Carlisle Area Family Life Center. Books are purchased for this project by the sale of new & used books in Fellowship Hall. Thousands of these gifts have been made to hospitals/organizations to date.
Project SHARE: Volunteers assist with monthly food collection (First Church is a designated “soup” church) and distribution. Special donations are made throughout the year also, to include donations from the annual Lenten Concerts/Luncheon series. Call (717) 249-7773 or visit http://www.projectsharepa.net for more info on their activities.
Samaritan Fellowship: Volunteers participate in this Carlisle-based group which assists community persons in need. Call (717) 243-3338 for more info.
S.P.Y. (Summer Program for Youth): Volunteer & monetary support is given to this community-supported event.
Community CARES: Clothing drives, volunteer hours and breakfast services support this local organization which serves our area’s persons in need. For more info call (717) 249-1009.
The Salvation Army: Deacons & Friends participate in The Salvation Army’s evening meal program (“My Brother’s Table”) — preparing the meal and serving it three times per year.
Meeting House Springs Cemetery: The cemetery is located west of Carlisle. A cemetery history book was completed in 2009, titled Here Lyes the Body: The Story of Meeting House Springs, authored by First Church member Richard L. Tritt. Contact the church office at fpcarl@pa.net or 717-243-4612.
Mission Trips: The Presbytery of Carlisle makes annual trips to Honduras to work on a variety of building projects.
Blanket Sunday: Each year on Mother’s Day, donations are made in honor or memory of loved ones. They go to Church World Service for their use in providing blankets to people impacted by disasters world-wide.
Presbyterian Women’s Special Offerings. Two special PC (USA) annual offerings help those in need worldwide — the fall PW Thank Offering and the spring PW Birthday Offering.
Dinner for Dads: Each year on Father’s Day, donations are made in honor or memory of loved ones to support the Deacons’ local missions of providing meals at The Salvation Army (“My Brother’s Table”) and at Community CARES.
Community Outreach thru Farmers on the Square — A farmers’ market is held on the church campus on Wednesdays — Spring/Summer (3-7 PM); Fall/Winter (2-5 PM).