NORTHPORT FOOD PANTRY

Abiding Presence continually collects items for the Ecumenical Lay Council Food Pantry in Northport. This food pantry helps hundreds of families on Long Island all year long.


Our collection baskets are located in the vestibule of the main entrance of our church. The food pantry gratefully accepts food items (juice boxes, one dish meals, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, snacks and cereal) and is always in need of items for personal care, as well as toilet paper and tissues. All items are welcome! We thank all of you who contribute.


An important part of this ministry is our GARDEN OF HOPE: Do you love gardening? Perhaps you are looking for a way to help those in need? The Garden of Hope is a great way to fulfill both. The APLC Garden of Hope has always provided fresh vegetables to the Ecumenical Food Pantry – which serves about 150 families per week. Each year our garden is in need of a few gardeners who want to keep the ministry alive. 


Thank you to our volunteers or delivering to the food pantry each month. If you would like to participate in this valuable ministry, please contact Karen Wallin at kwalliny@live.com. Please provide your phone number and month(s) you would like to deliver food.


Thank you for your continued support of the ELC Food Pantry! It is making a wonderful difference in the lives of so many. 


First Presbyterian Church

330 Main Street

Northport, NY


Hours of Operation Monday - Friday 10am - 12noon


Phone: 631-261-4357

ALTAR GUILD

USHERS

LECTORS

Each Sunday, members of the Altar Guild carry out the meaningful ministry of preparing our place of worship, in particular the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Members are responsible for setting the altar each Sunday, preparing for baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and caring for the linens, and vessels. Altar Guild members serve on a rotation, so it is not an every Sunday responsibility, only one Sunday a month. If you are interested in joining this ministry, please call the church office at 631-269-6454.


We are always in need of Ushers for our church services. 

Ushers may perform some or all of the following:

seat guests

collect offerings

keep order at the entrance of the sanctuary

distribute bulletins and service programs


If you are interested in becoming an Usher, please contact Jane Stark at janestark7@optonline.net.


Church lectors are appointed each week to read lessons from the Holy Scripture. Three lectors are appointed for each Sunday liturgy. If you are interested in becoming a lector for our church services, please call the church office at 631-269-6454. The readings are prepared in advance and emailed prior to Sunday worship.



PASTA AND THE WORD

We are happy to inform you that the "Pasta" of Pasta &The Word is back!  We intend to serve a hot, pasta meal, including salad, "to go" along with a hearty brown bag lunch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Wyandanch on the 4th Saturday of each month . 


As always, it takes a village to coordinate, prepare and serve a meal.   If you are able to provide a tray of pasta or meatballs or brown bag lunches, please let us know.  


Here are the items needed for the monthly lunch program: 


  • Tray of cooked pasta
  • Fresh or frozen meatballs
  • Jars of sauce
  • Boxes of pasta (ziti or penne type preferred) 
  • Salad fixings including lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons and ranch dressing
  • Complete brown bag lunch which includes sandwich, snack, fruit and water. (If you are making complete lunch bags, please write the contents on the paper bag) or,  sandwiches, PBJ or meat and cheese (preferably turkey, chicken or beef bologna, no ham please) , whole fruit or fruit cup, water bottles, snack (cookies or chips), 
  • Brown lunch bags, sandwich and snack size zip lock bags. 


Please contact Lisa McCaffrey ay lmccaffrey@hotmail.com for more information on ways that you can help this worthwhile ministry.

 

Thank you for your support in this wonderful ministry!

GREETING CARD MINISTRY

Our greeting card ministry sends cards to those in need of encouragement, healing, support, or just to let someone know they are thought of.


If you know someone that would like to receive a greeting, please email Debra Nicholas at nicholas.debbie@yahoo.com with their name and address. 


Greeting cards can also be sent to our college bound students for support and comfort while they are away from home.


PRAYER TEAM MINISTRY

Lord, teach us to pray with open heart and mind.

Teach us to pray with hands ready to serve.

Teach us to pray with feet ready to follow you.

Teach us to pray every day and always.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.


Prayer can be rich when it’s simple and spontaneous. In fact, we can pray anywhere, at any time. It doesn’t require lofty language in a sacred space. All we need to do is see our ordinary moments as the perfect occasions for communicating with God, then speak from our heart. When we pray we create opportunities for God to act in and among us. When we pray, things happen. When we pray, we are transformed. God listens to our prayers.


We have a team of people praying for you every week. In order to submit your request for the prayer list, simply fill out the form below or fill out a form on the prayer table in the church narthex. 


If you would like to be a part of the APLC Prayer Team you will receive our prayer list and all requests that come our way. This can be done at your convenience but you must be willing to pray the requests daily. If you would like to be an active part of our APLC Prayer Team or have any questions, please contact Debra Nicholas at nicholas.debbie@yahoo.com or call the church office at 631-269-6454.




PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

Care and the love of knitting (and crocheting) have been combined into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace. Many blessings are knitted into every shawl.  The knitter begins each shawl with prayers for the recipient.

 

Intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. When the shawl is completed it is placed on the altar and blessed by the pastor.  

 

Thus, the blessing is rippled from person to person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the unconditional embrace of God.


If you are interested in becoming part of our ministry or if you know someone who would like to receive a prayer shawl, please contact Jean Oblak at jmoblak8@gmail.com.

GARDEN OF HOPE

This important ministry of Abiding Presence provides fresh produce to the local food pantry. Donations of vegetable plants (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, etc.) are greatly appreciated in the spring and summer months.  Monetary donations are also accepted and appreciated. Together in this ministry we can provide a variety of fresh vegetables for the families served by our local food pantry.  


Please call the church office at 631-269-6454 if you would like to volunteer your time to help with the Garden of Hope. 


OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Every year since, Samaritan’s Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world. Since 1993, more than 198 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. The project delivers not only the joy of what, for many kids, is their first gift ever, but also gives them a tangible expression of God’s love.


Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. Each box packed full of quality toys, school supplies, and personal care items becomes a tangible expression of God's immense love for the child. For many, it is their first gift ever! Delivered by local church partners, shoebox gifts provide an opportunity to present the Gospel to boys and girls in a clear, child-friendly way.


Visit https://www.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child/what-goes-in-my-shoebox-suggestions/ for more information on how you can support this worthwhile ministry.