Outreach Committee

Members: Jenny Carmichael, Jackie Gullage, Terry Lewis, Stephen Lewis, Don Lovegrove,
Linda Miner, Juanita Owin

Our current overall goal is to assist Christians battling poverty and injustice.
The Outreach Committee tries to identify needs within the church family, the greater Billerica family, and beyond.  Our Committee is working with other church bodies (Sunday School, Youth Group, Trustees, etc.) to co-sponsor projects such as the PYF Habitat mission trip to Colorado, the collection of food for the Billerica Food Pantry on the first Sunday of each month, and a church-wide recycling program.

We are carrying out an on-going educational program during our monthly "Mission Moment" in the Sunday service to help inform our congregation about the causes we support on their behalf and how and why they were selected.

Funds pledged to and collected by Outreach are disbursed throughout the year to a variety of local, national, and international organizations, in addition to our commitment to the support of the Massachusetts Conference and the national UCC. 

Locally, this year we have contributed to the Hispanic Community Church UCC of Lowell, the House of Hope, the Outdoor Church, and our P.Y.F.’s Habitat trip to Colorado.  In May, 4 of our Mission members attended a communion service at the Outdoor Church in Boston/Cambridge and brought sandwiches & white socks for these our homeless brothers and sisters. We collected and recycled used printer cartridges and cell phones to benefit the poor in Project Chacocente in Nicaragua. We continue to provide Palm Sunday dinners for our shut-ins.

Along with a recycling program, another new initiative is sponsoring an Alternative Christmas Market with representatives coming from the Billerica Food Pantry, Equal Exchange, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International and Project Chacocente in Dale Hall on Sunday, November 30, 2008.

Last year 6 of our youth along with 2 adults chose to participate in the Greater Boston Walk for Hunger and raised almost $3,000.

Our annual Christmas Fund Offering helps supplement funds to low-income retired clergy and their families.

Nationally, we have helped in the rebuilding of a church in Kansas following a tornado, along with along with supporting Janeen Davis who works for The Navigators.  In addition, we sent contributions to Bread for the World and the Society of St. Andrew’s. Late last spring we ran a letter-writing campaign to encourage our lawmakers to act responsibly in legislation that would adversely affect struggling farmers in the U.S.

Click here for information on the church's national Neighbors in Need program.

Internationally, we have lent our support to Project Chacocente and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Project Chacocente is a Nicaraguan Christian project that helps move Managuan families out of the dump and assists them in becoming self-sufficient. The Fellowship of Reconciliation is an interfaith organization that promotes peaceful resolution of domestic issues and acts to promote peace in international disputes.

Click here for information on the church's international program One Great Hour of Sharing.

Church membership is not required to be on this Committee. Please join us!!

First Congregational Church
18 Andover Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
Phone: 978-663-8433
Interim Pastor: Rev. Katherine Adams