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First & Central Presbyterian Church is a diverse, accepting, and open-minded Christian community making a difference to one another and in the city. We are Presbyterian, but ecumenical, taking people as they are; celebrating the leadership of all (women, men, and our young people); embracing people of all lifestyles; and growing to meet the challenges of our urban community.

The Mission of First & Central Presbyterian Church is to proclaim the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ by:

• Ministering enthusiastically and compassionately to individual, congregational, and community needs;
• Encouraging spiritual, ecumenical, and intellectual growth;
• Being responsible stewards in our Church, community, and the world.

• Wilmington Friends Preschool at First & Central: An exciting new initiative that resulted from a partnership between First & Central and the Wilmington Friends School of Wilmington, the preschool seeks to serve the children of city center residents and workers. Fall of 2004 marked the opening of the school by welcoming two classrooms of students from intentionally diverse and varied backgrounds. This is a particularly exiting opportunity as children admitted to the preschool (as young as 2 years old) are admitted to the entire WFS program. For more information about admission and WFS, please visit their website!



• Habitat for Humanity Unity Build: Also a new initiative in 2004 is the church's participation in a Unity Build with other faith communities in the greater Wilmington area. This is an ongoing relationship and the first house was dedicated in December of 2004.



• East Side Charter School STAIR program is a community-based tutoring program held at East Side Charter School (on Wilmington's northeast side), Folks from First & Central are responsible for a reading and learning skills program on Monday afternoons from 2:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. and incorporate the S.T.A.I.R. (Start The Adventure In Reading) program along with group games and free reading time.



• Saturday Hospitality: In cooperation with the Friendship House organization, the church is open Saturday mornings from November through March for use by Wilmington's homeless population. Volunteers provide fellowship and conversation while participates enjoy a cup of coffee, in a safe, warm, and secure environment.



• Meals On Wheels: delivering hot meals to the homebound. A First & Central member and pastor brought Meals on Wheels to Wilmington 40 years ago. It continues to be an important volunteer opportunity for our members.



• The Giving Tree: Each year during three of the Sundays in Advent, folks at First & Central bring gift cards, food items, warm clothing, or other needed products that are distributed to organizations like AI Hospital for Children Childlife, YWCA Homelife Management Center, Emmanuel Dining Room, and Friendship House.



• Delaware AIDS Walk: the congregation and Youth Group participate with walking teams that raise money to benefit the AIDS Delaware organization. In addition, AIDS Delaware is receives funding through the Mission and Outreach budget of the church.



• Delaware Clothing Bank: Twice a year, the congregation donates thousands of pounds of slightly used clothing to the Delaware Clothing Bank for distribution throughout the region. Not only does this group provide clothing, but it employs women re-entering the workplace following a time of incarceration or addiction, who then move on to more permanent employment after building skills and an employment record.

In addition, First & Central Presbyterian Church provides financial, material, and /or volunteer support to:

Delaware Clothing Bank

Friendship House

AIDS Delaware

Hanover Food Closet

St. Andrew's Men's Shelter

Sojourner's Place

Latin American Community Center

YWCA Homelife Management

Names Project

MANNA

Brandywine Pastoral Institute

Narcotics Anonymous

Covenant Network (First & Central is a founding congregation)

Mission and outreach projects sponsored by the PC(USA)

community events and meetings such as the Wilmington Film Festival, Head Start, the Migrant Coalition, and "First Night."