Mission & Justice Newsletter

December 2025

Ministry Team Spotlight

Christmas Eve Offering

by Rev. John Girard

This year, 100% of our Christmas Eve offering will support the mission and ministries of First Community Church. In years past, these gifts were received for specific ministries within our Mission Department. Those offerings have blessed many lives, in many places, and in many ways – creating a ripple effect of generosity and compassion far beyond the reaches of First Community. Thank you for all the ways you have been a part of those ripples!

First Community is widening its vision this December. By directing the Christmas Eve offering to the mission and ministry of the whole church, we are able to not only support the work happening around us today—we are also opening the door to the dreams God is planting for our future. Your generosity of resources – as well as mind and spirit – helps us reach more people in more ways as we continue growing in service, compassion, and discipleship.

Your gifts this Christmas help shine Christ’s light even farther, as they strengthen the ministry we share as a community of hope, healing, and love. Thank you, First Community Mission & Justice partners, for all the ways your work and passions make our communities and world a better place. You truly do make a difference!

News & Events

Christmas Kindness Project

Participating families were chosen from current clients that have not been supported by Heart to Heart or First Community in the past three years. Twenty families created wish lists of four gifts for each of their children.

Donors can choose which of those gifts to purchase and donate. Information about these gifts is available on the Christmas Kindness Project displays outside worship spaces at both church locations. There are only 34 gifts remaining to be claimed!

The donated items should be returned with a gift receipt and the ornament tag attached. Gifts must be returned by Sunday, December 14. Once collected, the unwrapped gifts will be tagged with the children’s names for identification, and given to the families.

More information

Holiday Hours

Church Buildings & Offices

Heart to Heart food pantry

Trading Post thrift store

Mission & Justice Monthly Meeting

There is NO December meeting!

The 2026 plan for meetings, including the agenda schedule, will be announced at the our first meeting on January 20. Please keep the 6:30 - 8 pm time slot set aside on your calendars for Mission & Justice on the third Tuesday of each month next year.

Ministry Updates

Heart to Heart food pantry

• First Community's Thanksgiving worship drive on November 9 brought in a record-breaking 2,573 pounds in donations!

• The church's deacons packed 141 Thanksgiving bags and boxes using those donations (a new record), which were all distributed before Thanksgiving.

• We had 16 food drives in November and many more are scheduled for December!

• Pop-Up Pantry will serve Riverview International Center on Dec 22, while the pantry is closed for everyday operations.

Learn More

Visit h2h.FCchurch.com Call 614-488-0681

Instagram @heart_to_heart_food_pantry

Facebook @hearttoheartpantry

Contact Yohan Kim, Food Pantry Manager

Trading Post thrift store

• In October we raised $12,358, an average of $3,089 per week.

• We averaged 50 shoppers each day and counted 36 new shoppers.

• 135 plastic tubs worth of Christmas related items were donated and stored throughout this year. Then starting as the store closed Sat Nov 1, the merchandise was set up on the sales floor in the 42 hours before reopening the morning of Mon Nov 3!

1944 West First Ave. Columbus 43212

We are open 10 am to 4 pm on Mon, Wed, Fri and the first Sat of the month.

Learn More

Visit FCchurch.com/tradingpost

Store phone (614) 488-6564 tradingpost@fcchurch.com

Facebook @trivillagetradingpost

Refugee Ministry

• We are leveraging Heart to Heart and Trading Post to provide items to the family we are currently supporting.

• The father of the family has passed the written driver’s test, and we have submitted a request to Rides for Refugees to get a car for the family. Thanks to a donated laptop, he was able to take the practice tests, which helped him pass the written test.

• Please let Shirley know if you are interested in donating gift cards or an iPad to the family.

Learn More

Visit FCchurch.com/refugee

Email Shirley Barney

Good Trouble

• The team continues its ongoing legislative advocacy efforts on the topics of social justice, healthcare inequity, and food insecurity through a postcard writing campaign.

• Click here to learn more about the ministry and good trouble opportunities at:

• There will be no December meeting. The next meeting will be in January.

Learn More

Email Dan and Tami Langen