Community & Care

Deacon Ministry

Deacons are called by the community to dedicate three years of service assisting fellow members of the congregation, “to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, the friendless and to any who may be in distress”. At FPCNC, our Deacons offer care and support to the church community through:

Confidential emergency financial assistance to church members in need through the Deacon Fund
Providing support and assistance to bereaved families during Memorial services and receptions
Supporting the Pastoral Care Team
Participating in the Prayer Chain
Assisting families in preparation for the baptism of their children
Driving congregation members to and from weekly worship and personal appointments
Delivering Christmas and Easter flowers to the homebound or families who have recently lost loved ones
Providing meals to members who are in temporary need of assistance
Serving breakfast to the congregation for Summer Sunday Services

Pastoral Care

We are a caring congregation, and if you are going through a difficult time, we are here to pray for you, and take the time to visit and listen to you. We have a Pastoral Care Team led by Stacy Arevalo which meets every month and confidentially shares prayer concerns and updates on those in need. Together with the pastoral team, our lay leaders offer prayer and a listening ear.

Prayer

God’s people are called to pray. In all circumstances, God calls us to “pray without ceasing” (Thessalonians 5:17).

As a community of believers, we pray together. Prayer is as essential to our spiritual well-being as breathing is to our physical health. If you have a prayer request or would like more information about prayer at FPCNC, please contact Stacy Arevalo at sarevalo@fpcnc.org.

Life Events

Baptism Information

“Let the little children come to me… for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”
— Matthew 19:14

Baptism is the sign and seal of God’s grace and covenant in Christ. As The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA) explains, baptism signifies the faithfulness of God, the washing away of sin, rebirth, putting on the fresh garment of Christ, and adoption into the covenant family of the church.

The baptism of children witnesses to the truth that God’s love claims people before they are able to respond in faith. The congregation, on behalf of the whole church, assumes responsibility for nurturing the baptized children in the Christian life, and it is for this reason that the congregation makes such a promise during the service.

The baptism of adults upon profession of faith – for those who were not baptized as a child – witnesses to the truth that God’s gift of grace calls for fulfillment in a response of faithfulness.

In the unison prayer we also remember that we too were baptized and as children of God are part of the worldwide family of faith.

To schedule a baptism please contact Wendy Starr in the church office at 203-966-0002 (ext. 1) or via email at wendy@fpcnc.org.

Memorials for Loved Ones

The PCUSA Book of Order reminds us that as Christians, a memorial or funeral service is an opportunity to stand with those in grief and mourning and give witness to the Resurrection hope we have in Christ:

Witness to the Resurrection

In Baptism each Christian shares in Christ’s dying and rising, and receives the promise of eternal and abundant life in him. We understand the Christian funeral to be the completion of Baptism. In the face of death, we affirm with tears and joy the good news of the gospel and the hope of the resurrection. We do not grieve in isolation, but are sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit and the community of faith.

The Session of the FPCNC welcomes the opportunity to offer pastoral care and support for members and friends of our congregation. We welcome the opportunity to surround those in grief with the love and compassion of Jesus Christ, and will work with families of those who have died to provide a funeral or memorial services that are simple, dignified, expressive of good stewardship, bear witness to resurrection hope, and convey the centrality of Christian community.

Setting for the Service

The service of witness to the resurrection is normally held in the sanctuary, demonstrating continuity with the community’s faith, life, and hope. When there are important reasons not to hold the service in the usual place of worship, it may be held in another place, such as a home, funeral home, crematorium, or graveside. It may be observed on any day, and may, with the approval of the session, occur as a part of the Service for the Lord’s Day. The service may take place before or after the committal of the body. The service is under the direction of the pastor, but others may be invited to share in leadership at the discretion of the pastor.

The Memorial Garden and Columbarium are located on the property of the FPCNC and are available for

For more information on arranging to meet with the pastor to discuss preparations for a memorial or funeral service, please contact Wendy Starr in the Church office at 203-966-0002 (ext. 1) or via email at wendy@fpcnc.org.

The Christian Service of Marriage

At First Presbyterian Church, weddings are occasions of both joy and reverence—joy because of the gifts of love and happiness that two people have found in each other, and reverence because of the deep commitment they have made to live out their vows under the grace of God. First Presbyterian Church is eager to help make your wedding a lovely and meaningful event and asks your careful attention to the following guidelines:

The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) includes the following principles regarding marriage and weddings in the church:

Christian Marriage
In Baptism, each Christian is claimed in the covenant of God’s faithful love. Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage involves a unique commitment between two people, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives. The sacrificial love that unites the couple sustains them as faithful and responsible members of the church and the wider community. In civil law, marriage is a contract that recognizes the rights and obligations of the married couple in society. In the Reformed tradition, marriage is also a covenant in which God has an active part, and which the community of faith publicly witnesses and acknowledges.

Preparing for Marriage

If they meet the requirements of the civil jurisdiction in which they intend to marry, a couple may request that a service of Christian marriage be conducted by a minister of the Word and Sacrament† in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), who is authorized, though not required, to act as an agent of the civil jurisdiction in recording the marriage contract. A couple requesting a service of Christian marriage shall receive instruction from the minister of the Word and Sacrament, who may agree to the couple’s request only if, in the judgment of the minister of the Word and Sacrament, the couple demonstrate sufficient understanding of the nature of the marriage covenant and commitment to living their lives together according to its values. In making this decision, the minister of the Word and Sacrament may seek the counsel of the session, which has authority to permit or deny the use of church property for a marriage service.

The Service

A wedding at First Presbyterian Church is an act of worship. Thus, the wedding service will be conducted according to the liturgy found in the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship. It is appropriate for the service to include special music, hymns, Scripture readings, and a brief homily by the minister. The presiding minister will review the order of service and appropriate options with the couple.

Presiding Minister & Organist

Ordinarily, a minister on the staff of First Presbyterian Church will be the presiding minister at all weddings. The presiding minister from First Presbyterian Church has primary responsibility for the order and conduct of the wedding service. Other clergy may participate at the invitation of the presiding minister. If you wish to include an assisting minister who is not on the staff of First Presbyterian Church, please make your request to the presiding minister.

The presiding minister designated to officiate at the service will contact the couple and set up an appointment to meet with them to counsel and to plan the service. Please know that his or her schedule may limit the minister’s participation to the rehearsal and the service, and therefore he or she may not be able to attend the rehearsal dinner or reception.

Ordinarily, our Director of Music and Fine Arts, Terence J. Flanagan, will be the organist at all weddings. He will work with you on all musical selections. If you wish to have an organist other than First Presbyterian’s, please make your request to Terry Flanagan at 203-408-2861 or via email at terry@fpcnc.org.

Readings

There is ordinarily one to two readings from the Bible in each wedding ceremony. A list of suggested appropriate passages will be provided to you by the presiding minister. Readings from outside of the Bible will need to be approved by the presiding minister from First Presbyterian Church.

Music

Because the wedding service is an act of worship, music should be sacred and appropriate for formal liturgical worship. Our Director of Music and Fine Arts, Terence J. Flanagan, will assist you in choosing appropriate music for your service. An additional fee will be charged for soloists and/or instrumentalists. Guest instrumentalists and soloists must be approved by our Director of Music and Fine Arts.