Outreach
Reaching out and helping those in our community is an important part of who we are at First Church. From the preschool and community theatre, to Food is Love and international mission work, our faith compels us to make a difference in our community and the world.
Village Green Preschool is housed in First Church. Founded in 1980, VGP is nonprofit and nonsectarian. It is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The preschool offers a developmentally based early childhood program for three, four and five year old children. You can visit their website here.
Sterling Community Theater has its performances at First Church throughout the year. The theatre strives to provide an outreach of fellowship and cultural enrichment, centered on family and community, by facilitating high quality theatre arts experiences within the greater Sterling community. They seek to cultivate an appreciation of the performing arts by offering live performances, educating through experience, participating in community activities, and through cooperation with other local performing arts groups and The First Church in Sterling. You can visit their website here.
Food is Love Community Lunch (First Saturday of the month) Could you use a warm meal lovingly made? Could you use some time of fellowship with others? Come and check out our free community lunch at First Church on the first Saturday of the months starting in July.
La Romana Medical Mission is a partner with deep roots at First Church. Every spring, a group (20 to 30 people) led by First Church travels from Central Massachusetts to La Romana, Dominican Republic to serve the faithful Haitian sugarcane workers and their families. The workers and their families are cut off from the rest of the world, living in desperate and impoverished conditions. They lack basic amenities such as permanent housing, clean water, electricity, education, and access to medical care. For both us and the sugarcane workers, the trip is a life-changing experience. Look out for more information on our events page, or check the La Romana website here.
The Deacons’ Fund at First Church has given away thousands of dollars in support to members of the Sterling community who are in need. Do you know of someone in need of financial assistance in our community? Contact First Church to inquire about the Deacons’ Fund.
Worcester Fellowship is an outdoor church for the homeless in Worcester, MA that happens to share a pastor with First Church. That’s right, when Pastor Zach isn’t preaching or working with the youth of First Church, he works on the street in Worcester helping folks who are unable to attend regular brick and mortar churches for whatever reason. You can learn more about this ministry here.
Climate Action Team formed in the Spring of 2022 to learn about and take action to reduce the causes and impacts of Climate Change. God’s call for all of us to be Stewards of Creation includes passing on his gift of a livable Earth to our children. We realize alone we cannot save the world, but collectively we can all take local actions and raise our voice for climate justice worldwide. Learn more about First Church’s climate initiative by visiting our webpage at www.fcsterling.org/climate-action
