Our community of faith is engaged in supporting a wide variety of Old First mission projects. Our vision is to become the people God intends us to be, maturing in Jesus Christ as witnesses of Christianity in our homes, church, community and abroad. We use as our example the teaching, preaching and healing ministry of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Mission/Peacemaking Committee
In keeping with our mission the Mission/Peacemaking Committee at Old First Presbyterian Church has had a relationship with the La Iglesia Primera Presbiteriana Reformada de La Habana (The First Presbyterian Reformed Church of Havana, Cuba) for 20 years. Many members of Old First have visited Cuba with a religious Treasury permit and we have hosted members of First Havana here. This partnership demonstrates that we as Christians are united in a common mission, in peace and love.
Banner for Cuba - Made in 2008
Our Sister Church in Cuba
This all began with correspondence and bible study with the Juan G. Hall Church in Cardenas, Cuba, which is in the Matanzas Presbytery. When the Presbytery of Long Island began a partnership with the Presbytery of Havana in 1989, under the Presbyterian Church, USA, Old First began this sister church relationship with First Presbyterian Church, Havana.
First Church Havana was founded in 1890, but the present church was built in 1901, under the initiative of Rev. Dr. Joseph Milton Green. The Synod of New Jersey aided the Presbyterian Church in Cuba until the revolution in 1959. Today First Havana is one of the largest churches in the Presbytery. Now they are considered a “historic” church by the government. The church is in a densely populated urban section of Cuba’s capital city.
Our last group visit to Cuba was in July 2007. Through the years we have taken medicines, Sunday School supplies, Spanish bibles, letters and photos. We have supported church repairs, new mission house churches, and the “seniors at home” feeding program. Once a year we collect a special offering for their “Hot Lunch on Sunday” program for all who attend worship. Their loving and gracious hospitality, their faithful witness to Christ in adversity, their ability to pray, teach, laugh and salsa have given us more than we ever have given them.
Presbytery (LI) and PC (USA)
The Presbytery also has frequent trips and members of Old First can travel with other groups. Despite the continuing separation of our governments, we are connected as Christians, and believe that nothing “can separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, nor keep us separated from one another.
For more on the history and the scope of our Presbyterian mission activities in Cuba visit PCUSA – Cuba and the links listed –including Mission Connections and BBC Country Profile.
Mission Ministries
Locally the Board of Deacons reaches out to our members and our neighbors in collaborative ways to make a positive impact on their lives. This human connection is ongoing and leads us all to a better understanding of the phrase “there but by the grace of God go I.”
Each year Presbyterian Women assemble Hygiene Kits for Church World Service Disaster Relief and the children in our Church School are involved in various mission projects, such as "A Mile of Pennies" and the Heifer Project. Other local, national, and international mission projects receive the proceeds from our Fall Fair and the Live Auction. We are indebted to the exceptional business community and the Town of Huntington which continues to provide in-kind support for these events to enable us to address the needs and concerns of our neighbors. We encourage residents to join us by patronizing these wonderful businesses who generously give back to this community.
We continue to look for new ways to connect with others in our OFC Unified Mission ministries. If you are interested in assisting in our mission efforts please contact the Mission/Peacemaking Committee.
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