As it supports and its members participate in a wide variety of local helping missions, First Church also provides opportunity for members to participate in outreach throughout the nation and internationally.  High school youth and adults of all ages make a big difference in the life of “strangers” while learning about themselves and their faith as they journey to different sites.    In the past First Church mission trip members have traveled to Maine, South Carolina, Washington, DC and the Dominican Republic to help “make a difference”.

First Church’s mission trip ministry is overseen by a task force that plans, organizes, arranges fund-raising for each year’s trips. Check in at this web site throughout the year to read reports from those who have gone on one of the trips and to learn where the next mission trips will be going.

New! April Trip to Binghamton, NY for Flood Relief

April 21-27, 2013 -  First Church will be sending a group of volunteers to Binghamton, NY to assist with long-term disaster recovery from Tropical Storm Lee and subsequent flooding that occurred in September of 2011.  Projects include home repair and rebuilding.  This opportunity is offered by the UCC and supported by the New York Conference.  Accommodations will be in a local UCC church with sleeping, cooking, eating, and restroom/shower facilities.  Applications are available (see below) and the registration deadline is Sunday March 24.  We need a firm commitment so that we can coordinate with the Disaster  Recovery Team in NY.  There is a $50 deposit due with your application that will cover your trip fee due to the church hosting us.  The remainder of the costs will include transportation and food and are not expected to exceed $300 per person.  The Mission Trip Task Force will be subsidizing this trip with funds raised during our events this year.  The application is available below or in the church office and can be turned in to the church office anytime up through Sunday, March 24.  Questions?  Please contact Nancy Rottman at [email protected] or 897-0008.

Heifer International’s Learning Center at Overlook Farm

July 19-23, 2013 - This trip is available for rising 6th to 8th grade youth and adult chaperones.  Located in Rutland, MA, this trip was introduced in 2012 and was a huge success.  Please watch for opportunities over this year to learn more about Heifer.  Rev. Jeff and Jan Evans will be leading a group of youth and adults to Overlook Farm to continue our efforts to learn and grow with Heifer.

Applications for this trip are now available.

Pine Ridge, South Dakota -  Sorry, no trip in 2013

For the past four April school vacations the First Church in Nashua, New Hampshire has sponsored an intergenerational mission trip to Pine Ridge, South Dakota to participate in a service/learning experience through Re-member.   Re-member is an independent non-profit agency that works with the Oglala Lakota People, forming lasting relationships and bridging two worlds.

Pine Ridge is one of the poorest communities in the United States. On past trips we have re-roofed homes, built wheelchair ramps, built and installed outhouses, fixed windows and doors, and made homes more secure for families on the reservation.

Each evening we participate in cultural programs that include native speakers, Lakota singing, dancing and craftmaking.

The Pine Ridge 2011 group – ready to go!

Mission Trips Information

The 2013 Mission Trip Application is available now.

The application for the Binghamton, NY trip is due by March 24, 2013.

The application for the Heifer trip  is due by April 15, 2013.  

All applications must be accompanied by a deposit.  Deposits are non-refundable unless another applicant is available to take your place.    An application is not considered completed unless it is accompanied by a deposit check – see the form for more details on the deposits.

A limited amount of scholarship aid is available for First Church Members; fill out a Scholarship Application to apply.