MONTHLY DONATIONS: Throughout the year a variety of items are collected for donation to organizations in the community. items can be dropped off before or after worship. Each week the collection items(s) and organizations that we support will be highlighted in the weekly email. If you have not subscribed please go to the home page and enter your email to subscribe.
DRESS A GIRL AROUND THE WORLD: Imagine a world where every little girl owned at least one dress. In many parts of the world, girls are overlooked and often abused with no one to protect them. Girls can be protected from predators by wearing a good quality dress with the Dress a Girl label on the outside. The label indicates that an organization is looking after them and just maybe a predator will pass them over. Christ Presbyterian Church has made many dresses which have been sent to girls in Africa. The girls have said “We want dignity and to know that God loves us! We want to know that we are worthy of love.”
PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY: Our church has a group of people who knit prayer shawls for those in need of comfort. We knit to console those who are grieving, comfort those who are ill, and give hope to those who despair. We also knit for new mothers and children, to celebrate anniversaries, personal accomplishments, and joyful moments. If one could wear the heartfelt sentiments in a greeting card, it would be a prayer shawl. Should you wish to give someone a prayer simply contact the church office at 717-737-0051. We welcome all who want to knit or crochet. The patterns are easy and there are those who knit and will be glad to teach you. We meet the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 1 p.m. at the church for about two hours, unless otherwise noted. We hope to see many new members join our group. This group has donated shawls to many individuals, the Hershey Medical Center, Hospice and nursing homes, and the good work continues…please come and join in the fun and fellowship. Although much of our knitting is done at home, we like the chance to “catch up” and socialize. The shawls are blessed before they are given.
DONATION STATION: We collect pull tabs for Ronald McDonald House, eyeglasses, cell phones, as well as toiletries for Downtown Daily Bread. The donation station is located in the hallway by the church office.
CPC BOOK EXCHANGE & SALE:Thank you to everyone who continues to support the book sale located outside Fellowship Hall. All proceeds from the sale of the books go directly to benevolence! Your donations of both hardback and paperback books are also welcome.
Listed alphabetically, the following receive regular volunteer and monetary support from Christ Presbyterian Church’s benevolence giving.
ALLISON HILL COMMUNITY MINISTRY: This ministry offers tutoring, support, and hot meals to children in the Allison Hill neighborhood in Harrisburg.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES UNITED: Christian Churches United is an ecumenical partnership with over 100 member churches in Dauphin, Cumberland, and Perry counties. The goal of CCU is to provide assistance to many more people in need than one church could provide on its own.
CONTACT: The Contact Helpline provides Central Pennsylvania residents with free, Confidential Listening, Health and Human Services Information & Referral 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD: Located at Boyd Center at Pine Street Presbyterian, Downtown Daily Bread is a place where hot meals are served to anyone who comes, no questions asked. 80-120 clients are served every afternoon. In addition, the “lunch plus” program offers phone, mail, lockers, showers and a variety of counseling services. Christ Presbyterian assists with serving the Wednesday meal. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please notify Jean Dankosky.
ECUMENICAL FOOD PANTRY: The Ecumenical Food Pantry is the largest pantry serviced by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and is supported by donations from churches, individuals, organizations, a state grant and USDA foods. The Pantry will provide a 3 day supply of food, based on family size to those who have a vouchers from any one of 50 cooperating agencies and churches that verify family size and need. It is staffed by over 200 volunteers and serves about 3000 people a month. Christ Presbyterian serves monthly to distribute food.
Because only food and not personal care items are distributed, the Mission in Community Commission has a monthly collection of personal items such as soap, toilet paper, etc., to be sent to the Ecumenical Food Pantry in Harrisburg. A food barrel is available in the hallway by the church office. Nonperishable food and personal care items can be placed in the barrel and are taken to the pantry by those volunteers who serve at the pantry.
JOSHUA GROUP: Joshua Farm is an urban farm located in the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg. They also offer after school learning experiences to students of all ages, and provide employment opportunities for youth involved in Joshua Group’s mentoring and academic support programs. The Joshua Group is always in need of committed and caring adult volunteers in our J Crew After-School Program and our Summer Learning Program-both in the Joshua Learning Center at 1459 Market Street.
LEND A HAND: The mission and purpose of Lend A Hand is to coordinate a reliable system of transportation, labor, housing and meals, and job assignments for volunteers who wish to help people suffering extraordinary hardship as the result of natural disasters.
LEND A HAND: CPC is one of the most, if not the most, active congregations in the Presbytery in regards to Lend A Hand. Over the years, we have contributed both financially and with volunteers to their efforts. Additional information can be found by visiting the website (lendahand.net) or, of course, speaking with Deb or Jim Davis.
SONSHINE MINISTRIES: Sonshine Ministries is a comprehensive discipleship, renewal, and development ministry for motivated men whose lives have been destroyed by addiction, sin, bad choices, and other life controlling issues.
Listed alphabetically, the following receive/have received support from other groups within Christ Presbyterian Church, including Special Offerings.
BEACON CLINIC: A faith-based, free health clinic serving the uninsured and underserved in Greater Harrisburg.
CENTRAL PA LITERACY COUNCIL: The Central Pennsylvania Literacy Council is committed to improving the literacy of all adults in Cumberland and Dauphin counties.
COMMUNITY CHECKUP CENTER: The Community Check-Up Center works to improve the health and wellness of low-income women and children through high quality compassionate care.
FAMILY PROMISE: We are looking to partner with Fishing Creek Salem United Methodist Church to assist with Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region, in a community response to homeless families. Families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population nationwide. Family Promise provides temporary lodging through local congregations, 3 meals a day, shower and laundry facilities, and intensive professional services that lead to success: case management, goal setting, accountability, life skills, parenting and budgeting. This is a place for people to go without splitting up the family. Volunteers are needed for the following:
Drive a 15 passenger van to the Day Center in Lemoyne, and to pick up at the Day Center and return families to the church.
If you are interested in helping, please submit your name, email address and phone number to the church office.
KRISLUND CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER: Krislund is a Presbyterian year-round, multi-generational ministry near State College, PA. Area congregations provide volunteers as well as supplies and scholarship assistance.
MEDICAL OUTREACH: Through our Holy Spirit Medical Outreach Service, we extend the healing mission of Jesus Christ to the homeless in inner city Harrisburg.
NEW HOPE MINISTRIES: New Hope Ministries is a Christian social service agency that shows the love and hope of Christ by serving our neighbors in times of need and supporting their efforts towards stability.
NEXT CHURCH: Next Church is a purposeful relational community of Presbyterian leaders whose mission is to strengthen a vibrant and thriving PC(USA) that shares the good news of Jesus Christ in ways that matter to and have impact on God’s evolving world.
THE PRESBYTERIAN EDUCATION BOARD IN PAKISTAN: has evolved from the time the first Presbyterian missionaries came to Pakistan in 1856 to play a critical role in educating both Muslims and Christians in a predominantly Muslim country. We had the privilege of getting to know Veeda Javaid, its executive director, who has recently become a US citizen and now goes by her official name, Veda Shaheen Gill. “The strength of America will make me strong to continue my work in Pakistan.”
Christ Presbyterian has joined with other churches to support PEB in fundraising to build a multipurpose building at PEB Lahore. This building is critically needed to provide a safe working environment for PEB staff. Following the tragedy at a school in Peshawar in December, the Pakistani government instituted new security requirements at all schools. PEB has been able to respond quickly to these demands with limited disruption to the school schedule.
You can help a deserving youngster to attend a PEB school for as little as $20 per month for a day student. Many children are waiting for scholarships. A sponsorship request form is available on the website. The mailing address is: Friends of PEB Inc., PO Box 1311, St Cloud, MN 56301.
THE PROGRAM: The Program serves and supports individuals involved with the criminal justice system, primarily women and children, to prevent recidivism and promote productive crime free lives.
PROJECT ASK (Assisting Students and Kids): is a volunteer ministry of Christian Churches United, a community ministry of which CPC is a longstanding partner congregation. The hope is that this faithful and successful ministry can be replicated in other school districts so that even more students can be encouraged and helped.
This program works with the West Shore School District social worker to provide support to children in need. When the WSSD social worker identifies a need which cannot be met by the usual Social service agencies, Project ASK works to meet the need. Project ASK does not work with any students directly, all assistance is provided anonymously and through the WSSD Social Worker. If you would like learn more about this organization and how you might volunteer or donate your time, talents or funds to this worthy cause please email us at ProjectASK@ccuhbg.org or find us on Facebook.