Ministry Information Form Query

The need is great. Many people struggle with food insecurity in our area.  For years we hosted a weekly free dinner prepared by rotating community groups. Closing the church during the recent pandemic meant we had to pivot our food ministry.   First Presby’s food ministry evolved into monthly distribution of staples, meats, dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables. The food bag team also adds fun surprises: corn dogs, school supplies, pet food. Young people stand by ready to carry bags to cars. If it’s hot, you may find Cindy and her granddaughter handing out freeze pops to everyone.  Our congregation has been energized and blessed by recognizing needs in the community and responding to those needs.

Another vital ministry, the Men’s Fellowship, raises thousands of dollars yearly at a local festival. The Men’s Fellowship brings members and the community together for a common goal of providing Christmas to needy families. Last year when Covid cancelled the festival, the members of our congregation donated more money for this ministry than the amount usually raised.

Our vision for ministry is to come together to grow, worship and serve as the disciples of Christ.  We strive to be passionate, dedicated and skilled messengers of God’s word to each other, the local community and the world. We are eager to try new outreach to demonstrate our love of Christ and Christ’s children through fellowship, worship and service.

Food insecurity continues to be an issue for the people in our area. In addition to our food distribution, we would like to resume our free community dinners.

Clarion University is a block from our church, yet efforts to integrate college students into the life of our church have not been sustained.  We would like to learn ways to more intentionally welcome students into our church family and show them God’s love and support during their college experience.

We acknowledge our aging constituency and declining membership. Attracting and keeping younger members challenges us.  A Vacation Bible School for All Ages has been successful and we would like to expand this ministry.  A Girls Youth Group for young teenagers is a new ministry that is exciting and open for growth.

Our building houses a Head Start program during the school year and several times during the summer.  We can reach out to those families through our food ministry, the Men’s Fellowship donations and invitation to VBS and worship.

But the church of the future will require us to think outside of the box. Old programs done the same way will not get the same results in this ever changing world. We envision a leader who will help us to envision new and different opportunities to grow, worship and serve

We seek someone who will help us share God’s love with each other and our community - a pastor who brings us together to hear and study the Word of God and shows us how to live our faith in our daily lives. We are looking for a leader who helps us identify our gifts, equips and enables us to exercise those gifts and sends us out with God’s blessing to share those gifts; to be the hands and feet of Jesus. We want a pastor who will work beside us as a person and a partner in our ministries.

We need help reaching out to younger families and university students; we need help identifying new outreach opportunities for our members so that we can continue to grow, worship and serve our church family, the local community and the Clarion University community. 

The food ministry and Men’s Fellowship will both continue to serve our community, but we are hungry for a pastor who can lead us in new ways of nourishing spirits as well as bodies.

The person who is open to a call from this congregation must be a passionate child of God and demonstrate a contagious enthusiasm for sharing God’s love and grace. The pastor should be a strong worship leader, sharing dynamic and engaging messages.  We are seeking a pastor who is also a teacher who guides people of all ages on their own faith journey; who recognizes our strengths as individuals and as a congregation and equips us to do outreach. If we focus on our strengths we can accomplish the unique tasks God has called us to do. We seek a pastor who will help us grow, through prayer and study; to worship together in fellowship and to serve through our mission efforts.

We are looking for a leader who will engage with us interpersonally, someone who can build relationships of trust and respect with individuals of all ages in the congregation and the community.   The person should be able to communicate well and motivate others to step forward in faith to serve. The pastor who wins our hearts will be someone who can adapt to our ever-changing world, can respond to the needs of our congregation and community, and moves us forward as a church.

The pastor at First Presbyterian Church will be responsible for leading worship, preaching, and providing pastoral care to the congregation.

We want the pastor to help us recognize our own gifts of ministry, who will teach, encourage and inspire us to use those gifts, and share the love of Christ within the church and our community.

This person will collaborate with staff, Elders, Deacons, and ministry teams to help our church grow, worship, and serve. The staff includes a Music Director, Organist, Sound Engineer, Video Engineer, Custodian, Treasurer, and Secretary.

The pastor will support existing programs and outreach, and help us develop and implement new opportunities for children, youth, families, college students, and adults.

Other expected responsibilities include moderating Session meetings, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and a written message in the newsletter.