Over the past seven years, our congregation has been actively involved in our Presbytery's International Partnership with churches in the Presbytery of Honduras. Through the Three-Cents-a-Meal Offering (which is collected on the third Sunday of each month) we provide financial support for this ministry. We have also sent teams of "missionaries" from our congregation to Honduras for one-week mission trips in 1998, 2001, 2003 and 2005. Our next trip will be during the summer of 2007.

To see pictures from our last mission trip to Honduras, click here.

First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven has been a Covenant Partner Church with Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County since this affiliate was formed in 1987. In this relationship, our congregation has provided office space and financial support for the local affiliate, and the sole funding and labor for one Habitat House. For the past four years, we have also been a partner with six other Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations in East Polk funding and building an annual Habitat House. The construction of this home generally happens on the Saturdays of January through May.

To see pictures from a recent Presbytat House dedication, click here.

In addition to our Bag Lunch Ministry, our church operates a Soup Kitchen that serves a meal each Saturday between 4:00-5:00 in the afternoon at the 737 Building. Linda and Andy Stavres serve as the Coordinators for this ministry sponsored by the Deacons and overseen by a “Stirring Committee.” Volunteers prepare and serve the food and interact with the clients who come hungry for food and fellowship. You can sign up to help on the sheet in McLeod Hall. Call Linda or the church office if you would like more details about this program.

Our congregation is committed to addressing the needs of hunger by seeing that no person who comes to our church hungry is ever turned away. Bag lunches in our church are given to those who have need. This critical outreach is sponsored by the Diaconate of our church.

This program meets once a month (every third Saturday) to offer an opportunity for mentally and physically challenged youth and adults to have fun and fellowship together. Call the church office if you would like to participate in or help with this program.

This program equips lay persons to provide a distinctively Christian confidential one-to-one care to those who are experiencing all kinds of life needs and circumstances, both in our congregation and community.

To learn more about this specialized ministry please contact one of the pastors.

A program of intentional, friendly, and spiritual visitation by caring congregational members to our shut-ins, elderly members, and church friends.

Contact for more information about this program.

Our congregation is involved in a great mission adventure with brothers and sisters in Christ throughout our community. Under the guidance of Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County, we have launched Building On A Dream with fifteen area congregations -- Abiding Savior Lutheran, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Lake Hamilton Presbyterian Church, First Missionary Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church, St. Mathew Catholic Church, First Christian Church, Hurst Chapel AME Church, Williams Temple CME Church, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Cypress Cathedral, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and True Holiness Tabernacle. Together, we have committed the necessary financial resources and pledged to encourage members to join together in building a home for a family of God's children in our city.

We have three excellent libraries for church members. The Price Library is dedicated to general fiction, nonfiction, and large print books. It is located off the narthex. The Spencer Reference Library contains theological reference materials and is located off the north side of the sanctuary. The new Children's Library/Family Resource Center is located in the Christian Education Building in room 205. It contains children's books and parenting resources. All libraries are open on Sunday mornings and during normal office hours. Contact Jonathan or Bethany Owen at the church for more information or to inquire about a specific book.

This specialized ministry is administered by trained nurses in our congregation to provide church members with a program of holistic health: spiritual, physical, and mental. Health Fairs, blood pressure screening, and other support services are provided year round by our parish nurses.

For more information about this program please contact Charlene Glenn (324-2292), Parish Nurse Coordinator.

December 17-18

This is the second year we will sponsor a live nativity for the Winter Haven community. Congregational members present the nativity of Jesus complete with costumes, recorded narrative and live animals. Sign-up forms are available in McLeod Hall listing the various volunteer needs, or you can contact Rev. Alan Harvey at the church for more specifics.

First Presbyterian Church has an extensive screening procedure for all volunteers who work with children and youth. This includes an application process, training program, and background/reference checks for anyone working in our children or youth ministry areas. This involves teachers, staff, youth advisors, and child care personnel. Training is held the second Sunday of each month (12:00 p.m. in CE207) to enroll new members in this process.